DEKANICH AND ATKINSON ASSIGNED TO FALCONS

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS ACTIVATE GOALTENDER MARK DEKANICH, ASSIGN HIM, RW CAM ATKINSON TO AHL’S SPRINGFIELD FALCONS
 
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated goaltender Mark Dekanich off injured reserve and assigned him to the Springfield Falcons, Columbus’ American Hockey League affiliate, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today.  The club also assigned right wing Cam Atkinson to Springfield.

Dekanich (pronounced DECK-an-ihch) was injured during a preseason game vs. Winnipeg on September 20 and has missed the season’s first 14 games. One of the top goaltenders in the American Hockey League in 2010-11, he went 23-12-2 with a 2.02 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and four shutouts in 43 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators’ top affiliate. He led the AHL in save percentage, ranked third in goals-against average and was selected to play in the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic.

Nashville’s third pick, 146th overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft, Dekanich spent the past three seasons in the Predators organization. He made his NHL debut with Nashville vs. the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 18, 2010 and stopped 22-of-25 shots in 50 minutes of action. In 122 career AHL games with Milwaukee, he fashioned a 65-38-11 record, 2.25 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and nine shutouts.  He was signed by Columbus as a free agent on July 1.

The 25-year-old North Vancouver, British Columbia native played four seasons at Colgate University (ECAC) from 2004-08. He went 51-44-16 with a 2.25 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 118 career games, concluding his career as the school’s all-time leader in games played, saves (3,071), save percentage and shutouts.

Atkinson, 22, has registered one goal in five games with the Blue Jackets this season.  He made his NHL debut vs. Nashville on October 7 and scored his first NHL goal against Vancouver on October 10.  He has also collected 4-2-6 and four penalty minutes in 10 games with the Falcons and is tied for the team lead in goals. Columbus’ eighth pick, 157th overall, in the 2008 Entry Draft, he appeared in five games with Springfield at the end of the 2010-11 season and recorded 3-2-5 and was +2 in five games.