WEISE CALLED UP 

Dale Weise has been called up by the New York Rangers replacing Corey Locke who returns to Hartford.

Weise told Howlings that he was told by Ken Gernander after the Wolf Pack head coach received a call on the bus ride back from Springfield from Rangers AGM Jim Schoenfeld.

“Kenny was really happy for me.” Weise said. “He told me I was getting my chance in New York.”

Weise has been dominant for the Wolf Pack. He’s currently on a seven game points streak with six goals and four assists over that span.

“I’m so excited about this opportunity.” He said. “This is a dream come true for me and I’m going to do everything that I possibly can to help the Rangers make the playoffs.”

Weise’s close friend and teammate, Brodie Dupont shared his perspective on his fellow Manitoba native, “He’s been good. He’s got what, 28 goals?  That’s a big year. He always knew he was a goal scorer. He’s always been a good, talented kid. He’s just got to keep working. His time is coming.”

Weise will report to New York later Sunday afternoon and have his first practice with the team Monday. He’ll then travel to Buffalo for Tuesday night’s game and play his first game at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday against Toronto. (Picture courtesy of NHL.com)

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Dale Weise has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), and forward Corey Locke has been assigned to Hartford.

Weise, 21, is currently riding an AHL career-high seven-game point streak dating back to March 21 vs. Providence, registering nine points (six goals and three assists) over the span, including a goal in each of the last four games.  He has recorded 28 goals and 21 assists for 49 points, along with 114 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating in 73 contests with Hartford (AHL) this season.  Weise currently ranks second on the team in points, goals and shots (177), third in plus/minus rating, tied for fourth in power play goals (four), fifth in penalty minutes and ranks seventh in assists.  He is also tied for the AHL lead with five shorthanded goals and fourth with seven game winning goals, while his 28 goals rank 13th in the league.  In his second professional season with Hartford, Weise has established AHL career-highs in all major offensive categories, including goals, assists, points, plus/minus rating, shots, power play goals, shorthanded goals and game winning goals.  He has recorded 10 multi-point performances, also a career-high, and has posted four multi-goal games.  Last season, Weise led all Wolf Pack rookies in goals (11), and finished second on the team among first-year players in assists (12) and points (23).  He posted a career-high four points (two goals and two assists), his first career multi-point performance, on March 21, 2009 at Springfield.  In the playoffs, Weise tied for the team lead with three goals, and tied for second on the Wolf Pack with four points in six post-season contests.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was originally selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 111th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Locke, 25, skated in three contests with the Rangers following his recall on Monday.  He returns to Hartford where he has tallied 29 goals and 51 assists for 80 points in 73 AHL contests this season, and was recently named to the AHL Second All-Star Team.  Locke ranked third in the AHL in scoring with a career-high 80 points, and ranked fifth in assists and was tied for ninth in goals at the time of his recall.  He was also tied for the league lead with 18 power play goals, and led Hartford with 189 shots on goal.  Locke has registered 11 points (five goals and six assists) in his last nine games with Hartford, including a season-high six-game point streak from March 10 at Worcester to March 21 vs. Providence.  He has tied his career-high with a team-high 23 multi-point performances, including two four-point efforts on October 31 vs. Providence (one goal and three assists) and November 19 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (two goals and two assists).  The Toronto, Ontario native was selected to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic for the fourth consecutive season, recording one assist for the Canadian AHL All-Star Team on January 19.  In addition, Locke was named the AHL Player of the Month for November, registering 19 points (five goals and 14 assists) and a plus-six rating in 13 contests during the month.

Locke was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on July 3, 2009.  He was originally Montreal’s fourth round selection, 113th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.