FALCONS ANNOUNCE MULTIPLE PLAYER MOVES

FALCONS SIGN A PAIR TO PTO CONTRACTS
--Bill Thomas Released From Professional Tryout Agreement--

Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today that they have signed forward Rick Cleaver and defenseman Zach Tarkir to Professional Tryout Agreements.  The Falcons also announced that forward Bill Thomas has been released from his PTO contract to pursue an opportunity to play in Europe.

Cleaver has played the majority of this season with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings where he was leading the team in scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 32 games.  The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Parksville, British Columbia has also spent some time with the AHL’s Hershey Bears and Syracuse Crunch this year.  Prior to turning pro, Cleaver spent four seasons with Norwich University from 2004-2008 where he scored 92 goals and added 66 assists for 158 points in 102 games played. 

Cleaver Stats                                                 - - Regular Season - -                        - - Playoffs - -

Season

Team

Lge

 

GP

G

A

PTS

PIM

 

GP

G

A

PTS

PIM

2004-05

Norwich

NCAA

 

17

9

12

21

6

 

-

-

-

-

-

2005-06

Norwich

NCAA

 

29

28

15

43

24

 

-

-

-

-

-

2006-07

Norwich

NCAA

 

28

24

20

44

18

 

-

-

-

-

-

2007-08

Norwich

NCAA

 

28

31

19

50

16

 

-

-

-

-

-

2008-09

Phoenix

ECHL

 

1

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

Kalamazoo

IHL

 

70

27

34

61

45

 

6

1

1

2

4

2009-10

Hershey

AHL

 

2

0

0

0

0

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

Syracuse

AHL

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

Kalamazoo

ECHL

 

32

17

23

40

20

 

-

-

-

-

-


Tarkir has split time this season wit the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters and ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays.  In 29 games with the Stingrays this season, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 28 penalty minutes.  He currently leads all South Carolina defensemen in assists.

Tarkir Stats                                                              - - Regular Season - -                        - - Playoffs - -

Season

Team

Lge

 

GP

G

A

PTS

PIM

 

GP

G

A

PTS

PIM

2003-04

Northern Michigan

NCAA

 

36

2

3

5

40

 

-

-

-

-

-

2004-05

Northern Michigan

NCAA

 

35

2

8

10

51

 

-

-

-

-

-

2005-06

Northern Michigan

NCAA

 

39

3

11

14

57

 

-

-

-

-

-

2006-07

Northern Michigan

NCAA

 

41

7

13

20

46

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

Lowell

AHL

 

2

0

0

0

0

 

-

-

-

-

-

2007-08

Lowell

AHL

 

11

0

5

5

2

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

Trenton

ECHL

 

49

1

14

15

32

 

-

-

-

-

-

2008-09

South Carolina

ECHL

 

24

1

7

8

29

 

23

5

10

15

24

 

Portland

AHL

 

32

3

4

7

20

 

-

-

-

-

-

2009-10

Lake Erie

AHL

 

5

0

0

0

2

 

-

-

-

-

-

 

South Carolina

ECHL

 

29

4

13

17

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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