Recchi, Stillman Introduced in Iqaluit

Two of the newest Rovers, Mark Recchi (left) and Cory Stillman (centre) are introduced by a Rovers PR staffer at Wednesday's news conference.

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

As the Baffin Island Rovers returned home from their mid-season retreat to Banff, Alberta, the phone lines coming into Rover HQ were burning off the hook. Not content to rest on the laurels of a very successful first half, talk was the the team was looking to deal for a top-flight winger. However, when the dust settled no one expected there to be two new acquisitions. But there they were, bringing nearly 500 RHL goals and almost 1200 points between them to a team that already led the RHL in scoring at the midpoint. First, in a deal with the San Diego Aviators, the Rovers acquired Mark Recchi, uber-PKer Antii Laaksonen, and a 3rd round draft pick in exchange for Alexander Korolyuk, rookie Ryan Malone, and Russian prospect Igor Grigorenko. Then, Cory Stillman, prospect Brian Boyle, and a second round draft choice were plucked from the Winnipeg Freeze for Nils Ekman and defenseman Aaron Ward.

"The Recchi deal had been in the works for a few weeks now, and was delayed slightly due to the front office changes in San Diego", Stringer said during the press conference. "Fortunately that transition didn't derail the deal, and Andy [Bartalone] and I were able to complete the trade. I had inquired about Stillman early in the season, but he was unavailable at that time. I tried again last week and found that he could be had. That deal actually happened very quickly, but I'm pleased with the outcome.. with both outcomes. Nils and Sasha [Alex Korolyuk] were two guys can signed here and played well for us. However, we were looking ahead to the playoffs and wanted some more veteran forwards. Recchi and Stillman both bring plenty of offense and lots of experience. We were also keen to get Laaksonen in the trade; he's a very good penalty killer and an underrated player overall. He's the type of third-line guy that every team wants in the playoffs. He was an important part of the deal, no doubt".



Recchi talks to reporters after the press conference.





Experience is what the Rovers were after in these deals. Recchi comes to the Rovers tied for seventh in all-time games played with 933 and 29th in career points with 738. He scored his 300th RHL goal two weeks ago against the Stingers, and led the Aviators in points with 29. He came to San Diego early in the season as the key return in the Jaromir Jagr trade to Waterloo. He has a Kings Cup ring from the RHL2 Westlock Wildcats and has 95 career points in the playoffs. Stillman brings Kings Cup winning experience from two squads, the RHL3 and RHL7 Calgary Vampyres. He has scored 197 goals and 247 assists for 444 points in 692 career games with nine different teams. This season he has 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points on a Freeze squad struggling to score.

Expectations in Baffin Island certainly aren't low, but both guys sound up for the challenge. "Given my contract status and age, I was expecting to be traded sometime", Recchi admitted to the media afterwards. "But when Mr. Farley told me I was going to the Rovers, I was thrilled. You always want to play for a winner, and those guys know how to win. They've been in the finals for two straight seasons, and are strong again this year. If you win when you're young, as I was fortunate enough to do, you think it will happen every year. But now it's 13 years later and I haven't tasted it since. I want to get there again, and this is the team that can do it".

"It's a great day for me and my family", Stillman said. "The Rovers are saying to their team and to their fans that they believe in the guys in the room and they are going out and making the team stronger for the playoffs. That's all you can ask for from ownership. I'm very proud to be here and am ready to help this team go all the way".

Laaksonen, the third player acquired in the trading, had to attend to a family matter in San Diego before joining the team and could not attend the press conference. In his eighth RHL season, he has scored 151 points in 401 games, though he value goes beyond the scoresheet as he has been a key penalty killer for the Aviators this season. All three players are expected to be in uniform tonight as the Rovers host the fourth place Sockeyes. The Rovers hold a slim four point lead over South Edmonton, who are a single point behind the Capones for third place and hold an equal 8-2 record over their past ten games as the Rovers.