Sean Avery has been returned to the Connecticut Whale after clearing waivers for the second time this season and according to Head Coach Ken Gernander will be joining the team on Sunday for their trip to Portland, Maine.
With the addition of Avery and the injury to Wade Redden, Gernander said that the Whale are AT the veteran limit. When Redden returns form hi leg injury Gernander will need to shuffle someone in and out to comply with the league veteran rule.
The Whale are on the road for five of their next six games. Monday at 1pm they will play in Portland against the Pirates and then in Binghamton on Friday January 6th before returning to Hartford to start a home-and-home series with the Falcons.
Avery will be reunited with Aaron Voros, one of his closest friends and a business partner of Henrik Lundqvist in a restaurant/bar in New York City called, “Tiny’s and the Bar Upstairs.”
Here’s the official release:
NEW YORK RANGERS TRANSACTION UPDATE
Sean Avery Assigned to Connecticut
New York, December 31, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Sean Avery has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).Avery, 31, has registered three goals and 21 penalty minutes in 15 games this season. He has not dressed in the previous 10 games. Avery returns to Connecticut where he has recorded one goal, along with seven penalty minutes and 11 shots on goal in two games. He tallied a goal in his season debut with the Whale on October 28 at Adirondack after missing the first seven games of the season due to a shoulder injury.
The Pickering, Ontario native was acquired by the Rangers off re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars on March 3, 2009. He was originally signed by the Detroit Red Wings as an undrafted free agent on September 21, 1999.
