Texas Stars Send Russ Sinkewich to ECHL Toledo

Russ Sinkewich (Credit: Steven Christy)

The Texas Stars have sent Russ Sinkewich back to the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. Sinkewich joined Texas on a PTO in mid-December and was converted over to a standard AHL contract on January 15th. The Stars have Fortunus, Meech, Wrenn, Labrie, Gaunce, Jokipakka and Oleksiak all healthy in their lineup now. Jokipakka was out on Saturday, putting Sinkewich in the lineup. Patrik Nemeth is still out recovering from foot surgery after a stress fracture.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that defenseman Russ Sinkewich has been loaned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

Sinkewich, 28, originally signed a PTO with Texas on December 18th, has three points (1 goal, 2 assist), a +1 rating and two penalty minutes in seven 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. Sinkewich originally signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with Texas on December 18th and was signed to a standard AHL contract by the Stars on January 15th.

Undrafted after playing four years at Bowling Green State University, Sinkewich is currently in his fifth pro season and has played in 275 career pro games, including 70 in the AHL for Texas, Lake Erie, Milwaukee, Abbotsford, Bridgeport and Portland, recording seven assists and 47 penalty minutes. The six-foot-three, 215-pound blue liner made his Calder Cup playoff debut last season with the Portland Pirates in their first round series against the Syracuse Crunch. Sinkewich won the 2011 Kelly Cup Championship as a member of the Alaska Aces.