Rangers Recall Heikkinen
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Heikkinen, 25, has skated in 24 games with Hartford this season, registering five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, along with eight penalty minutes. He is currently tied for fifth among AHL defensemen in goals, sixth in points and ninth in assists. He also ranks second on Hartford overall in shots (54), fifth in points, and is tied for second on the team in shorthanded goals (one), third in assists and seventh in goals.
Heikkinen has recorded four multi-point performances on the season, including two multi-assist efforts. He tallied a point (assist) in his AHL debut on October 3 at Binghamton, and notched his first career AHL goal on October 11 at Providence.
The Rauma, Finland native skated in 283 career SM-liiga games with Lukko and HIFK over six seasons prior to joining Hartford, registering 31 goals and 82 assists for 113 points, along with 255 penalty minutes. He finished last season ranked third among all SM-liiga defensemen in points (34) and led HIFK defensemen in goals (eight), assists (26) and points, while finishing second on the team overall in assists, fourth in points and seventh in goals. In 2007-08, he established SM-liiga career-highs in goals (11), assists (26), points (37), and penalty minutes (96).
Heikkinen signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 20, 2009.
