FORMER SUNDOGS DEFENSEMAN MIKE VERNACE RECALLED BY COLORADO AVALANCHE
Vernace Becomes Second Former Sundog to Get NHL Shot this Season
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche announced Monday that former Sundogs defenseman Mike Vernace has been recalled to the NHL club from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Vernace, 22, has appeared in 65 games for the Monsters this season, tallying 17 points (3g/14a). He currently leads all Lake Erie defensemen in games played and is tied for second in points. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman was the Monsters’ top scoring blue-liner last season with 29 points (3g/26a) in 79 contests.
The Toronto native appeared in 24 games with Arizona during its inaugural season in 2006-07 before being recalled to the AHL’s Albany River Rats for the remainder of the season. During his stint with the Sundogs, Vernace recorded three goals, 11 assists and 20 penalty minutes (PIM) and was plus-1.
Vernace was acquired by the Avalanche from San Jose on June 1, 2006 in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft.