The roster news today keeps on rolling in as the Milwaukee Admirals have announced that they have signed defenseman Aaron Irving to an ATO contract. Irving was selected by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft. Irving is now the fourth member of that draft class on the Admirals roster alongside Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, and Jack Dougherty. He joins Anthony Richard, Marek Mazanec, and Corey Potter as part of the team’s roster moves today.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee— Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has assigned defenseman Corey Potter, goaltender Marek Mazanec and forward Anthony Richard to Milwaukee. In addition, the Admirals have signed defenseman Aaron Irving to an Amateur Try-Out Contract (ATO) and reassigned goalie Brandon Whitney to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

Potter played in his first game with the Predators in their 3-2 loss to Dallas last Saturday night. He has three assists in 16 games for the Admirals since joining the Nashville organization at the Trade Deadline, helping them to a 12-2-2 record in that span. In 77 total AHL contests this season with Milwaukee and Springfield, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Lansing, Michigan has 20 points (5g-15a). Potter also has 130 NHL games to his credit with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Boston and Calgary since 2008-09, posting 32 points (8g-24a). A fourth-round selection (122nd overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2003 Entry Draft, Potter spent four seasons at Michigan State University from 2002-06. He won gold medals with Team USA at the 2002 Under-18 World Championship and the 2004 World Junior Championship.

Mazanec, who backed up Carter Hutton in the Preds season finale last Saturday, has posted a 19-14-5 record with four shutouts (tied for sixth in the AHL), a 2.33 goals-against average (eighth) and a .916 save percentage in his third season in North America in 2015-16. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound native of Pisek, Czech Republic has appeared in 27 career NHL games since 2013-14, and was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2013 after going 5-4-1 with two shutouts, a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Mazanec was Nashville’s ninth choice, 179th overall (sixth round), in the 2012 Entry Draft, and catches with his right hand; only five of 91 goalies to appear in the NHL this season do so.

Richard recently completed his fourth QMJHL season with Val-d’Or, tying for 11th in league points (25g-36a-61pts), ranking 12th in assists and tying for 14th in goals despite missing the final three weeks of the regular season due to injury. The Trois-Rivieres, Quebec native also tied for the league lead in shorthanded points (5g-3a-8pts), ranked second in game-winning goals (8) and third in shorthanded goals. A season ago, Nashville’s third choice, 100th overall (fourth round), in the 2015 Entry Draft ranked eighth in the QMJHL in goals (43) and tied for eighth in league points, then tied for third in the 2015 QMJHL Playoffs in goals (12) and ranked ninth in postseason points (22) as the Foreurs advanced to the league semifinals. In his first full season with Val-d’Or in 2013-14, he helped the club win the 2014 President’s Cup and advance to the Memorial Cup, ranking fourth on the team and tying for seventh among all skaters in postseason goals (10).

Irving recently completed his season with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL where he finished second among team defenseman and fourth overall with 40 points (9g-31a). The Predators sixth round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft has spent the parts of the past four seasons with the Oil Kings, accumulating 83 points on 24 goals and 59 assists to go along with 240 penalty minutes in 205 games. The Edmonton, Alberta, native put up 30 points (9g-21a) in 63 games for the Oil Kings in 2013-14 and helped them win their first Memorial Cup in franchise history.

The Admirals begin the final week of the regular season when they host the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday night at 7 pm in Amtrak Rivalry Action at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Tickets for any Ads game can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Groups of ten or more can receive great discounts over single game prices. Those interested in booking a group can call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.
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It’s worth noting that, unlike Richard, Irving has yet to sign his entry-level contract with the Predators. This signing is an amateur try-out contract. It’s not to say the Predators won’t be penning the 20-year old defenseman to that ELC deal in the near future but just worth pointing out.

Irving just finished up his third full-season with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL where he enjoyed his best season of junior hockey. In 72 games he produced 40 points (9 goals, 31 assists). During his WHL career he has logged 205 games, all with the Oil Kings, and scored 83 points (24 goals, 59 assists).

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