Darryl Bootland Assigned to Jackalopes
AHL’s Sound Tigers Send Forward to Permian Basin

ODESSA, TX – The Odessa Jackalopes announced today that forward Darryl Bootland has been assigned to the team from their American Hockey League affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Bootland will be on the ice with the team when training camp begins on Monday morning.

The 28-year-old Bootland (BOOT-land) has played the majority of his career in the AHL, but has also appeared in 32 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders.  During his time in the NHL, Bootland racked up 85 penalty minutes and in his pro career overall has over 2,000.

“I’m excited about the experience,” said Bootland.  “This will be a new team and new league for me.  I’ve had great talks with coach Gillis about this team, my role, the organization.  I know this team has a real shot at a championship, and they’ve been close recently so I’m excited go and be apart of it.”

“Darryl’s going to bring a lot of experience to our team,” added Jacks head coach Paul Gillis.  “He’s played at the highest level of hockey.  He brings a physical presence to our team.  He’s played with some of the guys in our locker room already and we all believe he can be a real impact on our club.”

Earlier in their careers, current Jacks players Phil Plante, Dave Van Drunen, and Todd Robinson all played alongside Bootland with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Bootland began his pro career in 2002 with the Toledo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League, where he recorded 17 goals and 19 assists to go along with 322 PIM’s in 54 games.  During the 2003-04 season is when he received his first call-up to the NHL with Detroit.  Bootland appeared in 22 games for the Red Wings that season, recorded a goal, an assist, and added 74 PIM’s.  His other two stints in the NHL came in 2006-07 and 2007-08.  Bootland played in six games for the Red Wings, then four games for the Islanders.

His best season as a pro came in 2005-06 with Grand Rapids when he tallied 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists) in 77 games.  Along with the points, Bootland also set a career high in PIM’s with 390.

The Schomberg, Ontario native is a product of the Ontario Hockey League, where he played a four-year career with the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and Barrie Colts.  In 248 contests in the OHL, Bootland scored 127 goals, added 136 assists, and recorded 608 penalty minutes.