BICKEL AND SUTTER TO MINNESOTA, IOWA SIGNS CHOUINARD

BICKEL AND SUTTER TO MINNESOTA, IOWA SIGNS CHOUINARD

Iowa Concludes Roadie in Hamilton on Tuesday, Returns Home Feb. 13

DES MOINES, IA – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled defenseman Stu Bickel (BIH-kuhl) and forward Brett Sutter (SUH-tuhr) from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team also announced it has placed forwards Ryan Carter and Jason Zucker (ZOOK-ER) on Injured Reserve due to upper-body injuries. In addition, Iowa Wild General Manager Jim Mill announced the AHL club has signed defenseman Joel Chouinard (schwah-NARD) to a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

Bickel, 28 (10/2/86), has tallied one assist and ranks second on the team with 46 penalty minutes (PIM) in nine games with Minnesota this season. He has recorded eight points (2-6=8) and 51 PIM in 23 games with Iowa. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Chanhassen, Minn., has totaled 10 assists and 203 PIM in 76 career NHL games with the New York Rangers and Minnesota. Bickel signed as a free agent with the Wild on July 1.

Sutter, 27 (6/2/87), has recorded three assists and a plus-1 rating in five games with Minnesota this season including his first career multi-point game when he notched two assists at Winnipeg on Dec. 29. He has 18 points (7-11=18) and 27 PIM in 45 games with Iowa this season. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Viking, Alta., owns 10 points (2-8=10) and 40 PIM in 59 career NHL games with the Wild, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Sutter signed as a free agent with Minnesota on July 1.  

Chouinard is a fifth-year pro, who has spent the majority of the 2014-15 season with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. In 34 games with Toledo, the veteran defenseman has five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. He also played in two games for Grand Rapids this season, going scoreless in his only AHL action of the year. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has played in 167 career AHL games, mostly for the Lake Erie Monsters. From 2010-13, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native played in 98 games for the Monsters, securing eight goals and 27 points with Lake Erie. He also played in 67 games for Hamilton in 2013-14. Chouinard was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round (#167 overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Iowa concludes a four-game road trip with a stop in Hamilton on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. (CT). The Wild returns home at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 to face the Texas Stars, the start of a three-game home stand. Before Friday’s game, the Wild is holding a Career Fair from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the Career Fair is free, and any participants taking part in the fair receives a free ticket to Friday’s game. On Saturday Feb. 14, Iowa hosts Texas and is celebrating Pink in The Rink. The first 7,500 fans at Saturday’s game receive a pink LED light, presented by Susan G. Komen of Iowa and 1700 The Champ. As part of Pink In The Rink, Iowa dons pink-in-the-rink themed specialty jerseys. After the game, the team is holding a live postgame jersey auction, with the proceeds benefitting Susan G. Komen of Iowa. Fans may purchase the Brewdog Pack, presented by Legends American Grill. The package starts at $15 per fan, consisting of a ticket, a Wild puck, a hot dog and a beer at the game. Fans also receive a beer at Legends American Grill – downtown location.

Iowa finishes its three-game home stand at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb.15 against the Oklahoma City Barons. Sunday’s game is Crash’s birthday party, where the team celebrates with a superhero and mascot party. Numerous local mascots and super heroes will be on hand to help ring in Crash’s big day. The first 1,500 fans at Sunday’s game will receive an Iowa Wild insulated lunch bag, sponsored by Star 102.5. Fans may purchase the More 104 Subway Combo Pack, which starts at $12 per person, including a ticket, a hot dog, a soda and a Subway coupon.

The Iowa Wild 2014-15 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.

 

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