Chirps from Center Ice

Wilkes-Barre announced the signings of four players to its Black Ace squad this morning.

Joining the club is F Chris Barton, the Wheeling Nailers second leading scorer this year with 23-20-43 in 47 games this season. Barton has played four games for the Penguins this season.

Also coming in is D Harrison Ruopp, who was part of the trade this past offseason with the Phoenix Coyotes. Ruopp completed his junior season with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Ontario Hockey League and plays a very physical game. He was 1-15-16 in 65 games for the Raiders.

Goalies Scott Darling, who was 13-12-3 in 31 games for the Nailers with a 2.80 GAA and a .906 save percentage and Matt Murray from the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League who posted 26-19-4 record in 53 games with a 3.67 GAA and a .894 save percentage round out the additions made today.

Barton and Darling signed professional tryout agreements (PTOs) and Ruopp and Murray signed amateur tryout agreements (ATOs)

A name not on the list is Keven Veilleux. The often injured Veilleux was sent to Wheeling when he finally got healthy then found himself in trouble when he used a racial slur in a game that got him suspended 10 games. I would assume that his playing days for the Penguins organization are over.

So that’s that. Penguins take host the Albany Devils tonight at 7 p.m. Gameday for that affair will be up here at 3 o’clock.

Let’s Go Pens!