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Peoria Rivermen

Wellar Reassigned from ECHL Alaska; Benson Signed to PTO

February 27, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (February 27, 2007) - Peoria Rivermen General Manager of Hockey Operations Kevin McDonald announced today that defenseman Patrick Wellar has been reassigned from the ECHL Alaska Aces by the NHL's St. Louis Blues. In addition, McDonald also announced that left wing Hans Benson has been signed to a 25-game professional try-out.

Wellar, 23, skated in two games for the Rivermen in late October this season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of Carrot River, Saskatchewan, has posted 14 points (7g, 7a) in 53 games for the Aces this year with +17 plus/minus and 101 penalty minutes (PIM). Last season, the third-year professional helped the Aces capture the 2006 ECHL Kelly Cup by appearing in all 22 playoff games and recording four playoff points (2g, 2a).

Benson, 23, has registered five points (2g, 3a) and 205 PIM in 33 games for the Aces this season. The third-year professional spent his first two seasons with the Central Hockey League's Laredo Bucks and was a member of last year's Bucks team that claimed the CHL Ray Miron President's Cup Championship. With Laredo, the 6-foot, 210-pound native of Menlo Park, California, collected 27 points (8g, 19a) and 429 PIM in 113 regular-season games; in the playoffs last season, he notched five points (3g, 2a) in 16 games with 47 PIM.

On Saturday, March 3, the Rivermen host the Houston Aeros at 7:00 p.m. in the first of two in a row between the clubs at Carver Arena. It is Peoria Air National Guard Team Poster Night for the first 5,000 fans. There's also a St. Patrick's Day Celebration, presented by Kelleher's Irish Pub, and the team will wear special St. Patrick's Day jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. On Sunday, March 4, the teams will do battle again at 4:00 p.m. It is an Insight Family Day with four (4) tickets, four (4) Cokes, four (4) hot dogs and four (4) bags of Kitchen Cooked chips for just $38. U.S. Cellular's 25 Greatest Rivermen of All-Time continues with Trevor Baker player cards to the first 2,500 fans; Baker will also appear and sign autographs.

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