Thursday, February 2, 2012

Veteran Defenseman Joins Waterloo

Press Release

The Waterloo Black Hawks have acquired defenseman Alex Barron from the Indiana Ice in exchange for Trevor Owens and Peter Hand in a trade which was finalized Thursday.

In his second season with the Ice, Barron was Indiana’s captain and tied for the best plus-minus among Indiana players at +17. The stat also tied him for eleventh overall in the United States Hockey League. With three goals and twelve assists in 36 appearances, Barron ranked second in scoring among Indiana defensemen. The 20-year-old Glendora, California, native had 14 assists and a +24 rating in 51 regular season games as a USHL rookie in 2010-2011. He notched another goal, assist, and was +5 during five 2011 Clark Cup playoff games. Barron is committed to Quinnipiac University for the 2012-2013 academic year. His older brother, Loren, is currently a junior for the Bobcats and helped the Ice to the Clark Cup in 2009.

“By adding Alex, we are acquiring a mature, responsible defenseman capable of also helping our forwards with a break out pass,” said Black Hawks head coach and general manager P.K. O’Handley.

Owens had two goals, five assists, and was +6 in 28 games this season with the Hawks. As a rookie in 2010-2011, he recorded two points in 30 regular season contests. Hand, Waterloo’s penalty minute leader (69), had five assists in 26 games. The Hawks had added Hand to the roster over the summer as the result of a trade with Chicago after he had spent two years with the Steel.

The deal is the latest move to alter Waterloo’s defensive corps. Over the weekend, the Hawks debuted 16-year-old Russian defenseman Vladislav Lysenko. Just prior to the season opener, a trade with the Green Bay Gamblers brought the Black Hawks top point-producing defenseman, Mitch Witek (15 points), to Waterloo.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: