Sundogs add a one-two punch with Sleigher, Keith

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – Arizona Sundogs Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro announced on Monday that the team has signed center Pierre-Luc Sleigher and left wing Cam Keith to their 2010-11 roster.
Sleigher, 28, has spent the past four seasons playing in top European leagues. Last season, the 5’, 9”, 185 pound native of Montreal, Quebec skated with the Kassel Huskies of the German Elite League (DEL), averaging nearly a point a game with 43 points (19 G, 24 A) and 178 penalty minutes in 49 games played. Former Sundogs center Alex Leavitt was a teammate.

“Pierre-Luc is the type of player that combines the ability to consistently find the back of the net with a tenacious, hard-working style of play that we are looking to employ this season,” Pietroniro said. “We expect him to improve our offense by contributing regularly.”
Sleigher spent the previous three seasons in Switzerland and France where he was a scoring leader with three different teams. In 2008-09, he played with EHC Olten (Swiss National League – B), accounting for 43 points (13 G, 30 A) and 42 PIM in 41 games played. With HC Martigny (Swiss National League – B) in 2007-08, Sleigher led all scorers with 65 points (33 G, 32 A) and 89 PIM in 48 games played. With HC Briancon (French Ligue Magnus) in 2006-07, Sleigher also led the team with 49 points (29 G, 20 A) in 26 games played.
Sleigher played his first three professional seasons in the ECHL with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, the Toledo Storm and the San Diego Gulls. In 175 career ECHL games, he registered 121 points (50 G, 71 A) and 388 PIM.
Four seasons of junior hockey with the Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) prepared Sleigher for his pro career. In 276 games played, he tallied 244 points (102 G, 142 A) and 1,021 PIM.    
Keith, 29, spent the 2009-10 season with SG Cortina (Italian Serie A), where he tallied 27 points (10 G, 17 A) and 14 PIM in 24 games played. He spent the previous five seasons playing in the American Hockey League and the ECHL.
The 29-year-old left wing has registered 36 points (14 G, 22 A) and 102 penalty minutes in 146 career AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, St. John’s Maple Leafs and Peoria Rivermen. He has tallied 152 points (54 G, 98 A) and 209 PIM in 213 ECHL contests with the Pensacola Ice Pilots and the Alaska Aces.
His career-best season came in 2008-09 with the Aces. The 6’, 3”, 213-pound winger registered 66 Points (20 G, 46 A) and 101 PIM as well as averaging a point per game in the post-season with 20 points (3 G, 17 A) in 20 games.
“Cam adds both size and scoring to our roster,” Pietroniro said. “He’s a veteran of more than 350 AHL and ECHL contests and we anticipate his leadership and experience will translate well to our younger players.”
Prior to turning pro, the Nelson, British Columbia native played four seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA), registering 100 points (41 G, 59 A) and 78 PIM in 144 career games. 
To date, the Sundogs have signed 16 players to their 2010-11 roster including forwards Joey Sides, Adam Smyth, Chase Watson, Steve Kaye, Jason Visser, J.C. Robitaille and Jason Williams. Defensemen Tyler Butler, Mike Novosad, Rob Lehtinen, Mike Nesdill, Clayton Barthel, Billy Bezeau and goaltender Doug Groenestege round out the group.
Training camp is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 4th and the Sundogs will travel to Rapid City, South Dakota for a pair of pre-season matches against the defending President’s Cup Champions Rapid City Rush on October 9-10th.
The team will open the regular season on the road with a two-night engagement against the Colorado Eagles on October 15-16th at the Budweiser Events Center. The Sundogs’ home opener will take place the following weekend when they host the defending International Hockey League Turner Cup Champion Fort Wayne Komets on October 22-23rd at Tim’s Toyota Center.
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
Photo Credits: Arizona Sundogs