BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL announced today that defenseman Nic Bilotto (buh-LAHT-toh) has been loaned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
Bilotto, 25, netted a goal last night in his Mississippi debut, on his first shift, as the Sea Wolves edged Louisiana 2-1 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The 6-foot-2 and 215-pound Bilotto was reassigned by Springfield of the AHL yesterday after tallying four goals, 12 points, plus/minus of +2 and 32 penalty minutes in 18 games. The native of Montreal, Quebec was acquired by Mississippi at the trade deadline on February 18 from the Charlotte Checkers for defenseman Andrei Lupandin (AHWN-dray lew-PAHN-dihn). Bilotto, who attended Grand Rapids 2003 training camp, also appeared in 49 games this season with Charlotte notching seven goals, 28 points, plus/minus of +13 and 66 penalty minutes. Bilotto was also selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round, 149th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Bilotto is expected to make his Grand Rapids debut tonight, as the Griffins visit the Utah Grizzlies at the �E� Center in West Valley City.
Bilotto becomes the sixth Mississippi player to receive an AHL call-up this season, joining Greg Gardner (Rochester), Brent Gauvreau (Bridgeport), Jeff Hutchins (Houston and Rochester), Travis Lisabeth (Manchester) and Jim Baxter (Grand Rapids).
The Sea Wolves get back into action at 4:05 p.m. tomorrow against the Columbus Cottonmouths at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The game marks the 2nd annual "Faceoff Against Kids Cancer" charity event. A $15 T-shirt is your ticket into the game followed by the postgame party and jersey auction at the Beau Rivage Magnolia Ballroom to benefit Caps For Kids and Candlelighters. The game also features Honor Roll Night, sponsored by Cellular South and WXXV Fox 25. In addition, the party four-pack is available, which consists of four tickets, four hotdogs and four soft drinks starting at only $44. Game coverage begins at 3:50 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com.
Tickets for the Columbus game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are on sale by calling (228) 275-WOLF.
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