SUNDOGS AGREE TO TERMS WITH THREE, ROSTER AT 14
Signees Include Former Rage Forward

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The 2008 Central Hockey League Ray Miron President’s Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs, in preparation for the 2008-09 season, today announced the re-signings of goaltender Marco Emond and defenseman Adam Wood and the addition of former Rocky Mountain Rage forward Chip Dunleavy.

2008-09 CHL Off-Season Transactions

Goaltender Marco Emond began the 2007-08 season with the Colorado Eagles but was dealt to the Wichita Thunder in a midseason trade. Never having appeared in a game as a member of the Thunder, Emond was acquired by the Sundogs in exchange for Jonathan Bernier before the league’s February trade deadline. In 16 games with the Eagles before ultimately joining the Sundogs, the Valleyfield, Quebec, native was 13-3-0 with a 3.25 goals against average (GAA) and a .903 save percentage (SV%). The 5-foot-10, 195-pound netminder appeared in nine regular season contests for the Sundogs, compiling a 5-3-0 record, 4.50 GAA and .879 SV%. The 30-year-old Emond backstopped Arizona to a 1-0 series lead over the Laredo in the 2008 CHL Southern Conference Finals, helping the Sundogs to a 4-games-to-3 series win. Emond is the only player in CHL history to have won three President’s Cup titles with three different teams. He won his first championship as a member of the Laredo Bucks in 2004, his second as a member of the Colorado Eagles in 2007 and his third with Arizona in 2008.

“Marco Emond is a proven goaltender in this league, having won three championships with Laredo, Colorado and us,” said Sundogs Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro. “It isn’t an accident that he has won multiple titles. We expect Marco to backstop our Club to a number of wins this season and we know he is up to the challenge.”

Adam Wood, 25, registered four assists and 20 penalty minutes (PIM) in 17 regular season games with Arizona last season. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman played in playoff contests, adding one assist and 10 PIM. Prior to joining the Sundogs, the Toronto, Ontario, native  appeared in 32 games with three teams in the ECHL and Southern Professional Hockey League in 2007-08, tallying one goal, three assists and 69 PIM.

“Adam is a defensive-minded player that can establish a physical presence on the ice,” added Pietroniro. “He’s a situational player that will certainly see time on our penalty kill.”

Forward Chip Dunleavy comes to the Arizona Sundogs after spending his first two full seasons as a pro with the Northwest Division Rocky Mountain Rage. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound native of Littleton, Colorado saw limited playing time due to injury in 2007-08. In 43 contests, Dunleavy tallied 21 points and collected career-highs in assists (13) and PIM (61). He again saw limited time because of an injury during his rookie season in 2006-07, registering 12 goals, 12 assists and 43 PIM with the Rage.

“Chip is a player that has a significant amount of offensive potential, but has been unlucky with injuries. We’re looking forward to his arrival and expect him to have an immediate impact with our Club.”

With the addition of Emond, Wood and Dunleavy, the Sundogs now have 14 players under contract for the 2008-09 season including Chris Bartolone, Karl Sellan, Jason Visser, Kyle Hood, Tyler Liebel, Rob Lehtinen, Matt Suderman, Peter Cartwright, Josh Coyle, Joel Irving and Andre Selander.