PrairieThunder add three, Christie honored by former team

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Bloomington PrairieThunder Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie announced the addition of three more players to the pre-season roster on Wednesday afternoon.
Forwards Brent Clarke, Jason Dale and defenseman Matt Woodard bring the club’s total number of signees to 10.

Clarke, known for his speed and versatility, is entering his fourth pro season. The 24-year-old native of Bolton, Ontario saw action with three teams in three different leagues last season – the Flint Generals (IHL), Columbus Cottonmouths (SPHL) and the West Michigan Blizzard (AAHL). He registered a combined 23 points (10G, 13 A) and 24 penalty minutes in 36 games played. Clarke, who has also shown an ability to win face-offs, was a member of the PrairieThunder during his first two pro seasons, during which he contributed 33 points (16 G, 17 A) and 63 penalty minutes.
Dale, 21, joins the PrairieThunder after spending his rookie season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and Bakersfield Condors, scoring a total of nine points (3 G, 6 A). The Pickering, Ontario native played junior hockey with the Brampton Battalion (OHL) where he tallied 93 points (34 G, 59 A) in 185 games played. The Battalion qualified for the OHL Playoffs in each of Dale’s three years, including 2008-09 when they won the Eastern Conference Championship before falling to the Windsor Spitfires in the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals. Dale contributed 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in 30 career post-season contests. 
Woodard, a native of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is returning to Bloomington for his second pro season. The 6’, 0”, 195 pound defenseman split his rookie year with the Fort Wayne Komets (49 games) and the PrairieThunder (19 games) with a total output of 16 points (6 G, 10 A) and 39 penalty minutes. Before turning pro last season, the 25-year-old blueliner played four years of college hockey at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. 
The trio will join forwards Craig Macdonald, Jon Booras, John Snowden, Brett Holmberg and Matt McIlvane on the PrairieThunder’s pre-season roster. The team has also added defensemen Shaun Arvai, Jamie Lovell and goaltender Marco Emond.
In other news, Head Coach Jason Christie learned on Thursday that he has been selected as the lone inductee to the Peoria Rivermen’s 2010 Hockey Hall of Fame. Christie becomes the fifth coach in the American Hockey League team’s history to be honored (following Pat Kelly, Wayne Thomas, Don Granato, and Bob Plager).
Christie closed his 10-year playing career as an assistant captain with the Rivermen in 1999-00, contributing to the team’s Kelly Cup Championship win. He was named head coach the following season and still holds the franchise record with 233 wins over five seasons. The Rivermen will hold an induction ceremony for Christie sometime during the upcoming season.
The PrairieThunder will meet the Quad City Mallards for two pre-season contests on Saturday, October 9th (at Quad City) and Sunday, October 10th (at Bloomington). They’ll travel to the Independence Events Center to start the regular season against the Missouri Mavericks on Saturday, October 16th. Their home opener at the US Cellular Coliseum will be held six days later when the Odessa Jackalopes come to town. Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com