Pens Trade Lovejoy, Promote USC Native Reese
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- The Penguins announced late Wednesday night that defenseman Ben Lovejoy has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 entry draft.
In concurrence, the team has promoted defenseman Dylan Reese from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 28-year-old Upper St. Clair product will wear No. 42 when the big club skates against the Washington Capitals at 7:00 Thursday at CONSOL Energy Center.
Reese joins Nate Guenin (Hopewell), Bill Thomas (Fox Chapel), and current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone, another USC native, as only the fourth alumnus of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) to also play NHL hockey for the Pens.
A depth chart casualty, Lovejoy played sparingly in just three games this abbreviated season, registering zero points and a minus-2 rating. Over parts of five NHL seasons with the Pens, he recorded four goals, 25 points, and a plus-20 through 98 games.
Reese (6'1", 201 lbs.), known as a puck-moving, offense-oriented defenseman, played high school and junior hockey in the greater Pittsburgh area before playing college hockey at Harvard. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in 2003 before spending parts of three seasons with the New York Islanders. In 74 career games with the Isles he put up three goals, 17 points, and a minus-8.
Be sure to join Chris Mueller after the game Thursday night for FAN Reaction (10:00-11:00 P.M.), followed by The Late Shift with Chris Mueller (11:00 P.M.-2:00 A.M.), on SportsRadio 93.7 The Fan.
