EVANSVILLE, IN— The Evansville IceMen, proud ECHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League and the Springfield Falcons and Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League, have announced on this date several more significant player moves impacting their current player roster.
On this date, the Columbus/Springfield connection has assigned goaltender PAUL DAINTON to the IceMen effective immediately. In a related move, goaltender ALLEN YORK and left wing WADE MACLEOD have been summoned from Evansville and re-assigned to the Springfield club.
DAINTON (DAYN-tin), 26, is in his second full pro season, having seen service in 5-games thus far this season for the first place AHL Falcons. In those 5-appearances, the 5-11, 185lb product of Halifax, Nova Scotia has posted a record of 5(1-3-1) with a stellar and stingy GAA of 2.22 and lustrous SPCT of .930. In his initial pro campaign of 2011-12, the former collegiate star at UMass-Amherst played in 28-games with Springfield, compiling a mark of 26(13-12-1) with a 3.11 GAA and .893 SPCT. In that same season, he also saw action in the ECHL with the since-extinct Chicago Express, playing in 18-games, registering a record of 12(6-3-3) with 1-shutout, 3.25 GAA and .896 SPCT. Danton also had a brief stint with the Reading Royals, posting a 3(1-2-0) log in 3-outings with a 3.03 GAA and .933 SPCT. He actually made his pro debut in the 2010-11 season with Springfield coming directly off the campus of UMass-Amherst to perform his craft in 5-games for the Falcons, posting a 4(2-2-0) record, 2.63 GAA and .912 SPCT.
Prior to his pro career, Dainton enjoyed a four-year career at UMass-Amherst compiling an overall mark of (45-61-12) with a .908 SPCT, 2.79 GAA and 2-shutouts.
YORK and MACLEOD each were distinguished in their brief stints in Evansville. York was 5(3-1-1) in 5-appearances with a 2.72 GAA and .919 SPCT. He was in goal for each of the IceMen last 3-victories during the club’s current 5-game undefeated streak; 5(4-0-1) while Macleod fired Evansville’s first 3-goal “hat trick” in over 2-years in a masterful debut last Friday night in the IceMen 8-5 triumph over visiting Toledo.
On another front, the IceMen have announced the signing of left wing MATT SCHEPKE, a 27-year-old 5-year pro who divided last season with ECHL Wheeling and Reading; 70(16-26-42)38-PIM. Schepke is a former Michigan State star who was a member of the 2007 MSU NCAA National Championship team. The 5-11, 196lb forward has played his entire pro career in the ECHL.
The IceMen have also announced today that high-scoring right wing KEVIN BAKER has arrived and participated in his first practice session with his new Evansville club. The 33-year-old 9-year veteran was obtained from the Orlando Solar Bears in a major three player trade completed late last Friday. In the deal, the IceMen sent right wing Dan Gendur and center Dale Mahovsky to Orlando.
Recognized as a premiere goal-cannoneer, Baker has authored nearly 220-goals in his illustrious pro career played predominantly in the ECHL. The 6-1, 202lb product of Kingston, Ontario was the ECHL goal-scoring and point-scoring champion and League MVP in 2008-09 when he led the Florida Everblades with 102-points in 70-games on a career-best 57-goals, 45-assists.
DAINTON, SCHEPKE and BAKER are all expected to make their IceMen premiere appearances this weekend when the IceMen look to sustain their surge in the ECHL Eastern Conference North Division standings through a 3-games in 3-days road excursion.
Evansville will launch the sojourn Friday night at Kalamazoo in a 6:30 pm CST face-off against the Wings before traveling to Toledo for a duel with the Walleye on Saturday night at 6:00 pm CST. The IceMen wrap-up the trip Sunday in a 1:00 pm CST matinee affair at Wheeling.
All three IceMen road games this weekend as well as all games are broadcast on radio flagship home “Magic 98.5 FM” and 1400 AM WEOA as well as on the IceMen Radio Network.
