QC Flames add three - Watt, Armstrong, and Aulie

[Drunk Skunk]

FLAMES SIGN TRIO TO AMATEUR TRY-OUT AGREEMENTS
Pair of Forwards and Defenseman Signed
For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 3, 2008

Moline, IL – The Quad City Flames announced today that three players have been signed to Amateur Try-Out Agreements (ATOs) for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. Right wing J.D. Watt, center John Armstrong and defenseman Keith Aulie were all added today after completing their junior careers earlier this spring.

Watt split his final junior season between the Red Deer Rebels and Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 6-foot-2, 196 pound winger appeared in 58 WHL games this season while recording 37 points (13 goals and 24 assists) with 169 penalty minutes. Watt, a fourth round selection of Calgary in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has played parts of the last five season in the WHL. He recorded 141 points (62 goals and 79 assists) in 255 games during his junior career which included time with the Vancouver Giants before joining Red Deer to begin this season.

John Armstrong is a 6-foot-2, 188 pound center that spent the last four seasons playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). This year as a member of the Peterborough Petes, he netted 21 goals with 36 assists for 57 points in 65 games. Armstrong began his junior career with the Plymouth Whalers before being traded to Peterborough during the 2006-07 season. In 243 career OHL games, Armstrong recorded 158 points on 60 goals and 98 assists. He was selected by Calgary in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Keith Aulie is a defenseman from Regina, Saskatchewan. He has spent his entire junior career with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. This year, in 72 games, Aulie recorded 17 points on five goals and 12 assists. The 6-foot-6, 218 pound rearguard has appeared in 176 WHL games over the last three seasons. He has six goals with 22 assists for 28 points during his junior career.

The Flames close out the 2007-08 regular season this week with a pair of home games and a trip to San Antonio. On Wednesday night, the Houston Aeros visit for the final Wild Wednesday of the year. Upper bowl tickets are available at the i wireless Center Box Office for just $5.00. During the game, 12-ounce draft beers are just $2.00. The Quick Change Artists from America’s Got Talent will perform to entertain fans during the intermission. Their appearance is presented by Newschannel 8 WQAD. On Friday, the Flames play their home finale against Iowa. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Player awards will be presented during a pre-game ceremony on the ice.

This Flames travel to San Antonio for a pair of showdowns with the Rampage this weekend. On Saturday, game time is 7:00 p.m. Sunday’s game will begin at 5:00 p.m. Fans in the Quad Cities can watch the game live at b2 Viewing Parties at Bleacher Bums in Davenport or Parkside Grill and Lounge in Moline. The can also be heard on 93.9 FM WYEC beginning 25 minutes prior to face-off with The Hayman’s Ace Hardware Pre-Game Show. After the game, stay tuned for The Kinetic Fitness Post-Game Show.

[SparkyOne]

Hey, DS....meant to tell you after we were talking about Armstrong the other night....

You were right. (And I had him on my list correctly....just a bad memory...) He's a center!!

It'll be cool to see these boys play with the guys. Makes the trip to San Antonio ever more fun!!

[dustygoon]

Flames have some good shift disturbers coming up in Prust, Watt, and Didiomete. In seems we draft one every year to keep a good revolving door of guys that teams hate to play against.

The new goon so to speak.

[Dorkmaster]

Seems interesting that there is no Puustinen. Why is that?

[icarus]

Upper bowl tickets are available at the i wireless Center Box Office for just $5.00. During the game, 12-ounce draft beers are just $2.00.

Wowwee. Why would anyone in Quad Cities not want to attend for this?

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by icarus

Wowwee. Why would anyone in Quad Cities not want to attend for this?

Because some people are retarted!

[icarus]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Because some people are retarted!

I would go watch friggin competitive knitting if this deal was offered.

[Drunk Skunk]

Holy jumpin' .. Aulie is a BIG kid.

[lambeburger]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

Holy jumpin' .. Aulie is a BIG kid.

Yeah, I couldn't get over that either after seeing him up-close at a WHL game I was at earlier this season.

[Canada 02]

Armstrong is a lot bigger than 188; that may have been his draft weight, but he's now much bigger. The Petes have him at 205lbs

watched a handful of Petes games this season; he's going to be a good two-way centre

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by lambeburger

Yeah, I couldn't get over that either after seeing him up-close at a WHL game I was at earlier this season.

I'm 6'1", and he towered over me. Kind of small for that height though, but he still has a couple years to put on pro weight.

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Armstrong is a lot bigger than 188; that may have been his draft weight, but he's now much bigger. The Petes have him at 205lbs

watched a handful of Petes games this season; he's going to be a good two-way centre

I will agree with that too. I would ballpark him at 215-220. He was quite a bit bigger than I thought he would be.

[SparkyOne]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

Holy jumpin' .. Aulie is a BIG kid.

Kinda hard to miss the kid on the concourse!

Can't wait to see what he looks like after he bulks up!!!

[Freeway]

Trio of games left for the QC Flames. It's gonna be interesting to see which of the young'uns draw in and which don't.

[dante48]

I'm really keen on seeing these guys play - could someone please post a link where I can pick it up on my computer.

[Drunk Skunk]

The newspaper today said that they most likely won't get into a game. I went down to practice today and was pretty impressed by both Watt and Armstrong.

[PIMking]

DS when do they have practice?

What do you do just walk into the imark and walk upstairs and watch?

[Drunk Skunk]

It was at 11 today. We just walked in the receiving door, but you can walk in the lobby and just go up the stairs too, or go in the "floor entry" doors and go up that way. This is from the weekly email -

Friday, April 11th 10:00 a.m. Practice at
i wireless Center