St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today the club has signed forwards Philip McRae, Anthony Peluso and Brett Sonne.
In a separate transaction, Peoria Rivermen center Trent Whitfield was recalled by the Blues under emergency conditions.
McRae, 18, was drafted by the Blues in the second round, 33rd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, McRae has played in 57 games for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season and has registered 60 points (29 goals, 31 assists). He was a member of the Western Conference in this season’s OHL All-Star game. McRae played one year of hockey at St. Louis' CBC high school before playing junior. His father Basil played four seasons in St. Louis from 1992-1996.
Peluso, 19, was drafted by the Blues in the sixth round, 160th in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He has split time this season between the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Brampton Battalion and has recorded 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists) in 61 games played. The King City, Ontario is currently 24th in the OHL with 123 penalty minutes.
Sonne, 19, was drafted by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Sonne has played in 60 games this season with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and ranks third in the league in points (97), second in goals (47) and tied for 12th in assists (50).
Whitfield, 31, played in two games for the Blues this season, registering one assist. He has skated in 56 games for the Rivermen this season, collecting 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) along with 33 penalty minutes. The 5-11, 204-pound forward has played in 176 National Hockey League games, recording 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) and 97 penalty minutes. The Alameda, Saskatchewan native was originally drafted by Boston in the fourth round, 100th overall in the 1996 Entry Draft.
The Rivermen return home to take on the Quad City Flames on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. It is the final Comcast/Journal Star/Fun on the Run/Coke Family Day of the season. Tickets for children 12 and under will be available for just $1 at the box office. From 2-3p.m. in the Great Hall there will be free balloon animals, face painting and inflatable games and inside the arena, hot dogs, cokes and chips will be available for $1 each. Following the game, kids will have the opportunity to skate with the team. Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center box office, by calling (309) 673-3200 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.
