The Patrice Cormier era is about to begin for the Atlanta Thrashers.
The Thrashers recalled the 20-year-old Cormier from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves on Tuesday ahead of the clubs’ tilt against the Pittsburgh Penguins. To make room for Cormier on the roster, they reassigned forward Tim Stapleton to Atlanta’s top farm team. Stapleton cleared waivers earlier this month.
It’s better late than never for the hard-working center, who broke his foot blocking a shot at the team’s rookie prospect evaluation camp right before training camp. Atlanta assigned Cormier to their top farm team once the injury had healed.
Cormier was a cornerstone – if not the cornerstone – of the trade that shipped former captain Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils last season. The Thrashers love the grit, leadership and scoring abilities of the New Brunswick native, who got into a bit of trouble for his hard play last season.
The Atlanta center was suspended for the remainder of his last junior season with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after landing an elbow to the head of Mikael Tam. He was signed to a tryout contract with Chicago to assist on the playoff run last season and played in nine games.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound center had five points (two goals and three assists) in 11 games for the Wolves this season.
Cormier, who is expected to play on Tuesday aside Ben Eager and Fredrik Modin, will wear No. 45 for Atlanta.
I’m just going to go out there and work hard and help the team win,” Cormier told the AJC’s Chris Vivlamore. “I got the call yesterday, flew in this morning and I’m pretty excited. Now it’s just a matter of turning that nervousness into excitement and being ready.
“I’m going to make the best of it. You only play one first game.”
Cormier was recalled on a day when the Thrashers had an optional skate prior to their game against the Penguins. Jim Slater, Ron Hainsey, Zach Bogosian and Brent Sopel elected not to participate in practice according to Vivlamore, but they should all play in the game.
Ondrej Pavelec will start in net against Sidney Crosby’s Pens. Freddy Meyer and Niclas Bergfors – another piece of the Kovalchuk trade – will be the likely scratches.
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