Texas Assigns Montgomery to Idaho; Signs Russ Sinkewich to SPC

Russ Sinkewich (Credit: Steven Christy)

The Texas Stars announced two separate transactions today. First, the team will be returning Brock Montgomery to the Idaho Steelheads. Montgomery only made it into two games while in Cedar Park this go round.

The second part of news is that Texas has signed Russ Sinkewich to an AHL standard player contract. He has only gotten into six games since being signed December 18th to a PTO. He collected his first career AHL goal with Texas on January 3rd but hasn't played since then. If he were to be assigned to the ECHL, he would likely go back to Toledo unless his rights were traded inside the ECHL.

Texas's blue line now features ten skaters: Button, Meech, Oleksiak, Gaunce, Fortunus, Jokipakka, Wrenn, Labrie, Sinkewich and Nemeth. Nemeth is still injured and out for a time. Ryan Button has also been playing as a forward for a few games. To me, this could presage one of two things. Either Dallas is anticipating a move and would like to ensure that the Texas Stars will have enough defensemen in the case of the likely recall of Cameron Gaunce in that case. The other case would be that Texas is expecting to somehow move Sinkewich's rights in the ECHL to Idaho and assign him there. After losing Etienne Boutet to the college route, the Stars are a little thin at the defensive position in the ECHL. Both of their ECHL defensemen, Labrie and Button, are playing in Texas at the moment.

Here's the release:
The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey league affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that the club has returned left wing Brock Montgomery on loan with the Idaho Steelheads, their ECHL affiliate. Texas also announced that defenseman Russ Sinkewich was released from his professional tryout contract on Wednesday, January 15th, and signed to a standard AHL contract.

Montgomery, 21, made his professional debut with Texas on October 5th against the Chicago Wolves and has played in five AHL games with the Stars this season, notching no points and nine penalty minutes. The Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan native was originally loaned to Idaho on October 25th and has appeared in 21 ECHL games for the Steelheads, recording 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists), 11 penalty minutes and a +6 rating. Montgomery signed an AHL contract with Texas on March 30, 2013 after completing his fourth season of major junior hockey with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. In 243 career WHL games he had 119 points (65 goals, 54 assists) and 328 penalty minutes.

Sinkewich, 28, originally signed a PTO with Texas on December 18th, has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and two penalty minutes in six games for Texas this year, including scoring his first career AHL goal on January 3rd at Charlotte. The Westlake, Ohio native also has eight assists and 25 PIMs in 20 ECHL games for the Toledo Walleye and has one assist in one AHL game for the Lake Erie Monsters.

Comments

  1. This signing definitely makes you shake your head wondering what trade is coming. Players do not develop much without game action. Opposite issue from last year, when they were grasping around the ECHL to fill defensive holes -- maybe it is as simple as not wanting that problem again,
    - PBG

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    1. Hi PBG- Check my post below I wondered if you had any input? Thx Kara

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  2. Hi! So today it was announced (today the 21st) that Russ Sinkewich was loaned back to Toledo ECHL. I'm curious what thoughts everyone has on this update in regards to the article above from the 17th.

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    1. Oh and sorry my name is Kara

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    2. Texas is getting healthier now. With Meech ready to go and Gaunce back in Texas, they don't need as many bodies. It would help to send Sinkewich to Idaho if they could, but I guess there wasn't a trade to be made there.

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