Albany Adds 6’6” Center From ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings

ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that center Kiel McLeod has been called up from the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL and signed to a standard America Hockey League player’s contract.

McLeod, 25, (pronounced KIGH-uhl MIHK-lowd), began the year with Victoria, returning for his second season as the captain of the Salmon Kings. So far this season the Sherwood Park, Alberta native has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) and 117 penalty minutes in 48 games for Victoria. Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, the 6’6” 235 lbs center started his professional career by playing three seasons in the AHL with Springfield, Utah, San Antonio and Philadelphia, totaling 212 career AHL games, 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) and 247 penalty minutes. McLeod scored a career-high 32 goals last year with Victoria, finishing second on the team and tied for 11th in the ECHL in goals, and he led the Salmon Kings with three shootout goals and 117 penalty minutes.

McLeod played 290 career junior hockey games for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (1997-2003), scoring 261 points (123 goals, 138 assists) and helping the Rockets make the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. In his final season with Kelowna, McLeod scored 90 points (39 goals, 51 assists) in 68 games played, helping the Rockets win the 2002-03 Ed Chynoweth Cup as the playoff champions of the WHL. McLeod and Rockets went on to participate in the 2003 Memorial Cup, where he finished tenth in the tournament in scoring with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in three games before Kelowna lost to Hull in the semifinals.

The River Rats return to action on Friday, February 29th as they travel to Massachusetts for a 7:30 pm face off with the Springfield Falcons at the MassMutual Center. Albany has two home games this weekend, against the Worcester Sharks on Saturday at 7:00 pm and against the Philadelphia Phantoms on Sunday at 5:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

Partial season tickets packages and flex tickets for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

www.albanyriverrats.com - AHL Affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes