JACKS ACQUIRE PEPLINSKI FROM MICHIGAN

Press Release

ODESSA, TX– In an effort to shake up their sixth-place roster, the Odessa Jackalopes’ coaching staff acquired veteran forward Jimmy Peplinski Wednesday from the NAHL North Division’s Michigan Warriors, in exchange for future considerations. Peplinski, a 6’3”, 195 lb. winger and native of Howell, Michigan, notched 12 goals and 28 total points in 56 career NAHL games, 16 with Michigan this season and 40 with the New Mexico Mustangs in 2011-12.

Peplinski will wear number 14 for the Jackalopes and is expected to make his Odessa debut Friday vs. the Wichita Falls Wildcats in the first of a four-game homestand for the Jacks. “We saw a lot of [Peplinski] last year in New Mexico,” said Jackalopes Head Coach Paul Gillis on Thursday, “He’s a skilled forward, he’s a big guy and we hope he can come in here and add a spark.” In eight head-to-head meetings with the Jacks in 2011-12, Peplinski scored two goals and notched five total points for New Mexico.

In order to make room for Peplinski and the arrival of two affiliate players from the Dallas Stars U18 midget program for the weekend, the Jacks released veteran forwards Tyler Cayemberg and TJ Sennott Thursday. In 49 games for the Jackalopes, 34 in 2011-12 and 15 more this season, Cayemberg scored 11 goals and 28 points, including four goals and six points so far in 2012-13. In 40 career games for the Jacks, spanning the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, Sennott tallied one goal and three total points, a -9 rating and 81 penalty minutes. So far this season, the Naperville, Illinois native had yet to tally a point for Odessa.

When asked about his team’s suddenly fluctuating roster, Gillis replied Thursday, “Our record is not where it should be and if [players] are not going to play the way we want, they are not going to be here.” Entering a four game homestand that begins Friday vs. Wichita Falls, the Jackalopes are 3-10-2 overall, winless in their past eight games and mired in sixth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)