Thursday, October 13, 2005

Alpena makes roster transactions

Johnny Morrow, Eric Curtis and Travis Peterson are in and Justin Marriott, Mitch Rybicki and Jake Hovick are out.

The Alpena IceDiggers signed Morrow (Romeo), a goaltender, and Peterson and acquired Curtis (Grand Rapids), a forward, in roster transactions made yesterday.

Morrow (pictured above) left the NAHL's Fargo-Moorehead Jets to join the IceDiggers. He hadn't appeared in any Jets’ games this season.

"Johnny may be a rookie, but he brings a lot to the table," Alpena coach-GM Kenny Miller said. "We had chance to look at Johnny during the summer and liked him then. We're giving him an opportunity to compete for the No. 1 job.

To make room for Morrow, Miller released goaltenders Marriott and Rybicki.

"It's tough to let players go," said Miller. "But the goal is to assemble the best possible hockey club and our staff believes this is the best direction for our team. We wish Justin and Mitch well.

The IceDiggers picked up Curtis from the North Iowa Outlaws in exchange for a third round pick in the 2006 NAHL Draft. Curtis fills the roster spot of Hovick, who had season-ending shoulder surgery. Alpena is Curtis' third NAHL club since the beginning of the season as he began 2005-2006 with the Helena Bighorns before a very brief stop in North Iowa, where he did not see any action. In Curtis, the IceDiggers get a veteran forward who has spent parts of three seasons in the NAHL. In four games with the Bighorns, Curtis didn't record any points, but did lead the team with 20 penalty minutes.

Peterson played his first IceDigger game on Oct. 8 after starting the year with North Iowa. In Peterson, Miller is looking for an all-around player, "one who can put up some numbers, but also work hard along the wall."

The IceDiggers resume play with their home opener tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. at Northern Lights Arena versus the Traverse City North Stars. Friday’s game in will be broadcast on WATZ 1450 AM with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

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