Syracuse, NY (March 3, 2010) – The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired right wing Chad Kolarik from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for left wing Alexandre Picard and assigned him to the Crunch. In addition, Columbus has acquired the rights to center Matt Rust from Florida in exchange for defenseman Mathieu Roy.
Kolarik, 24, has appeared in a combined 135 games for San Antonio over the past two seasons, tallying 37 goals, 58 assists and 88 penalty minutes. In addition, he contributed six points (4g, 2a) in seven Calder Cup Playoff games for the Rampage during the 2007-08 campaign. A native of Abington, Pennsylvania, Kolarik was selected by Phoenix in the seventh round, 199th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Rust, 20, has appeared in 37 games for Michigan (CCHA) this season, notching 11 goals, 21 assists and 20 penalty minutes. Over the past three years with the Wolverines, Rust has recorded 34 goals, 43 assists and 128 penalty minutes. A native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, he was selected by Florida in the fourth round, 101st overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Picard, 24, has appeared in 42 games with the Crunch this season and ranks second on the club in scoring with 35 points (17g, 18a). He has spent the last five seasons in the Columbus organization and ranks among the all-time leaders in a number of categories for the Crunch, including games played (234 – 6th), goals (72 – 7th) and power play goals (32 – t-5th). A native of Les Saules, Quebec, Picard was selected by Columbus in the first round, eighth overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Roy, 26, has appeared in 14 games with the Crunch this season, notching four assists. In addition, he has skated in 31 games for Columbus this year, recording 10 penalty minutes. A native of St. Georges, Quebec, Roy was originally selected by Edmonton in the seventh round, 213th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
The Crunch’s next game is Friday, March 5 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at 315-473-4444, stopping by the Oncenter Box Office, located on the State Street side of the War Memorial or by calling Ticketmaster at 315-472-0700.
