Nelson's Kinrade one of 16 players released by Ottawa Senators
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
When your play once every five games the odds of making the big club are pretty, well, they’re very, very low.
Which is why Geoff Kinrade was one of 16 players sent to the American Hockey League as the NHL’s Ottawa Senators reduced its roster Wednesday.
Kinrade was joined by goaltenders Mike Brodeur and Barry Brust; defencemen André Benoit, Eric Gryba, and Craig Schira; and forwards Jason Bailey, Erik Condra, Corey Cowick, Kaspars Daugavins, David Dziurzynski, Colin Greening, Mike Hoffman, Jim O’ Brien, Tim Spencer and Roman Wick.
The Sens training camp roster now consists of 32 players — three goaltenders, 11 defencemen and 18 forwards.
Kinrade, 25, had played just one contest during the preseason, a 4-2 loss last Friday to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
The Nelson Minor Hockey grad logged 13-plus minutes in the contest. He was whistled for a two-minute minor penalty and recorded one shot on goal.
The players now join the B-Sens training camp with opened Wednesday in Corner Brook, N.L.
During the summer Kinrade inked a one-year deal with Ottawa. He spent the entire 2009-10 season with the Sens’ minor league affiliate in Binghamton.
It’s in the AHL where the 6-foot, 195-pound defenceman recorded a professional highs in goals (seven), assists (20) and points (27 while accumulating 59-minutes in penalties. He ranked first among B-Sens and finished tied for 14th in the AHL in plus/minus with a +27 rating.
Kinrade came to the Senators as a free agent after four years at Michigan Tech University. Prior to playing for the NCAA school, the slick skating rearguard played Cowichan Valley Capitals of the B.C. Hockey League.
Kinrade started his junior career with the Nelson Leafs of Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
