The Chicago Wolves announced Tuesday that forwards Zach Pochiro, Ryan Tesink, Samuel Blais, Jaedon Descheneau, and Chandler Yakimowicz and defensemen Thomas Vannelli and Dmitrii Sergeev have joined the fold ahead of Wednesday’s opening game of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs.
POCHIRO, TESINK, SERGEEV, and VANNELLI were assigned by St. Louis (NHL) from Prince George (WHL), Alaska (ECHL), Kitchener (OHL), and Medicine Hat (WHL), respectively. BLAIS, DESCHENEAU, and YAKIMOWICZ were all signed to Amateur Tryout contracts (ATO).
VANNELLI joins the Wolves after the completion of his junior season with Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. The Tigers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs on Friday to end their postseason run, during which he contributed four assists in 10 games.
The 20-year-old posted 35 points (12G, 23A), a +19 plus/minus rating, and 52 penalty minutes in 44 games this season, leading team defensemen in goals and ranking second in points. He accrued 76 points (26G, 50A) and 86 penalty minutes in 104 career WHL games spanning two seasons with Medicine Hat (2013-15). He has appeared in 28 postseason tilts for the Tigers, collecting 12 points (2G, 10A) and 12 penalty minutes.
The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their first selection, 47th overall, in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
POCHIRO, 20, recently completed his third season with Prince George in the WHL. In addition to the 147 points (61G, 86A) and 297 penalty minutes he has accrued in 169 regular-season games, he has contributed six points (4G, 2A) in five postseason matchups. He spent time with the Wolves late last season and during training camp and has skated in 17 ECHL games, posting four assists, with Kalamazoo (2013-14) and Alaska (2014-15).
The Las Vegas, Nevada, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their third selection, 112th overall, in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
TESINK, 21, skated in his first pro season this year with Alaska (ECHL), posting 11 points (2G, 9A) in 36 games. Prior to that he spent four seasons in the QMJHL with Saint John (2010-13) and Blainville-Boisbriand (2012-14), recording 152 points (51G, 101A) in 183 regular-season games and 32 points (18G, 14A) in 54 postseason games. He also has spent time with the Wolves, both late last season and 2014 training camp.
The Saint John, New Brunswick, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their seventh selection, 162nd overall, in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
BLAIS, 18, enjoyed a career year with Victoriaville (QMJHL), posting 82 points (34G, 48A) in 61 games and another five (2G, 3A) in four playoff games. In total he has registered 96 points (38G, 58A) in 86 regular-season QMJHL games spanning two seasons (2013-15) and six points (2G, 4A) in eight postseason tilts.
The Montmagny, Quebec, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their ninth selection, 176th overall, in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
DESCHENEAU, 20, is coming off his fourth WHL season, all of which he spent with Kootenay. He has compiled 271 points (111G, 160A) and 158 penalty minutes in 263 career WHL games spanning four seasons. In addition he tallied 31 points (15G, 16A) and 12 penalty minutes in 29 postseason tilts.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their seventh selection, 124th overall, in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
SERGEEV, 19, joins the team following his second OHL season with Kitchener, during which he more than tripled his offensive production. He has recorded 37 points (7G, 30A) in 103 regular-season games and two assists in six playoff games with the Rangers.
The Chelyabinsk, Russia, native was signed by the St. Louis Blues as a free agent on Sept. 28, 2014.
YAKIMOWICZ, 19, completed his second OHL season with London, having produced 40 points (16G, 24A) and 140 penalty minutes in 96 games. He appeared in 19 postseason contests, recording four points (3G, A). Prior to joining the OHL, he trained with the United Stats National Development Team.
The Kingston, Pennsylvania, native was selected by the St. Louis Blues with their eighth selection, 172nd overall, in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
The Wolves earned a playoff berth for the 17th time in their 21-year history and play their first two postseason games at home against the Utica Comets on Wednesday and Friday. To find the best ticket specials for the Calder Cup Playoffs, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
