FALCONS SIGN ALEARDI TO AHL CONTRACT

Press Release

Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons, AHL affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, announced on Wednesday that they have signed right wing Alex Aleardi to a one-year contract for the 2013-14 season.

Aleardi played three games with the Falcons near the end of the 2012-13 season under an amateur try-out agreement following the completion of his junior-hockey career. The 20-year-old scored the game-winning goal in his professional debut with Springfield on Mar. 28, helping the Falcons complete a 5-4 comeback victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers that evening. Aleardi notched two points (1g-1a) in his three contests with the Falcons.

A native of Farmington Hills, Mich., Aleardi skated the last five seasons in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, Belleville Bulls, Plymouth Whalers, and most recently, the Windsor Spitfires. In 321-career OHL contests from 2008 through 2013, Aleardi scored 104 goals and added 123 assists for 227 points while accumulating a +22 rating. Aleardi, combined for a career-high 71 points (27g-44a) in 2012-13 with Plymouth and Windsor. He notched a personal-best 36 goals with the Whalers in 2011-12.

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