Stars Add Defenseman Case Via PTO

The Texas Stars have signed training camp invitee and current Idaho Steelhead blueliner Matt Case to a PTO. I have heard good things about Case's play in Idaho and he was a candidate to be added when Texas looked to add a defenseman earlier in the year and went with Mike Berube, also a training camp invitee.

Case joins the squad as Texas has been rolling with only six healthy D since last weekend. This signing could indicate that Hubert Labrie's current injury is more serious than just a day-to-day thing. Depending on what Coach Pyle sees out of him, Case could knock Jace Coyle to the press box for either of the Stars' games this weekend.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars announced on Thursday the team has signed defenseman Matt Case to a PTO (professional tryout agreement).

Case joins Texas from the Idaho Steelheads, Texas’ ECHL affiliate. The second-year defender has played in 41 games for Idaho this year, scoring two goals and adding seven assists for nine points. Case, 25, was second on the team with 59 penalty minutes at the time of his recall. The Plymouth, MN, native has played in 111 pro games, including two in the AHL with Norfolk near the end of the 2009-10 regular season. Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot, 200-pounder played four seasons at Ferris State University. In 144 collegiate games, Case scored ten times and assisted on 37 tallies for 47 points. He played collegiately with former Texas Stars forwards Cody Chupp, Mike Embach and Brenden Connolly. Case attended training camp with Texas in the fall of 2011 and played for Stars Head Coach Jeff Pyle in Gwinnett in 2010-11.