Newcomer Micflikier joins Paiement, Olson and Herauf in Albany
ALBANY, NY — The Albany River Rats announced today the signings of forward Jacob Micflikier along with defensemen Jonathan Paiement and Benn Olson to one-year American Hockey League contracts. The club also agreed to terms with winger Brad Herauf on a one-year, two-way AHL/ECHL deal.
Micflikier (mik-FLIK-er), 25, enters his third professional season and his first with Albany. Last season the 5-8, 180-pound forward tallied 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) in 39 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) and also added 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 10 contests with the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Micflikier completed a four year (2004-2007) college career with the University of New Hampshire, where he scored 150 points (58 goals, 92 assists) in 154 games. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native then made his professional debut at the end of the 2006-07 season with the Springfield Falcons (AHL) and split 2007-08 between Springfield and the Stockton Thunder (ECHL).
Paiement (PAY-mon), 24, enters his second campaign with the River Rats and his fourth professional season. The 6-1, 196-pound blueliner scored 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists) in 45 games with Albany last season; he also tallied 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 9 contests with Florida (ECHL). Paiment played in a trio of cities in 2007-08, splitting time between the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and Hershey Bears and the ECHL’s Texas Wildcatters. The Montreal, Quebec native spent all of 2006-07 with Texas after completing a five year Juniors career (2001-2006) with the Lewiston MAINEiacs and the Sherbrooke Beavers of the QMJHL.
Olson (OHL-sen), 22, returns to Albany after completing his rookie campaign with four assists in 36 contests in 2008-09. The 6-4, 215-pound defenseman also skated in five games with Florida (ECHL) last season. Olson Played four years of junior hockey in the WHL (2004-2008), split between the Kamloops Blazers and the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 244 WHL games, the Port McNeil, British Columbia native posted 29 points (3 goals, 26 assists) and 746 penalty minutes.
Herauf (HEHR-awf), 27, split his sixth professional season between the River Rats and the Everblades, appearing in 37 games with Albany and totaling four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and 116 penalty minutes during the 2008-09 season. The Regina, Saskatchewan native has played in 281 career games in the ECHL and the Central Hockey League, where he has 142 career points (65 goals, 77 assists) and 1,149 penalty minutes.
The River Rats are hosting their first annual “Rats Fest” prior to their September 26th pre-season home game against the Adirondack Phantoms. Entry to both the 2:00 p.m. festival and the 5:00 p.m. contest is free to the general public. Albany is set to open its 17th season in the American Hockey League against the Manchester Monarchs at the Times Union Center on October 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. River Rats 2009-10 season and flex ticket packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.
