Falcons ink Simon, Micflikier

The Springfield Falcons and the parent Edmonton Oilers announced today that forwards Jacob Micflikier and Ben Simon have been signed to standard American Hockey League contracts.

Simon is entering his eighth season of professional hockey after recording 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 77 AHL games between Syracuse and Grand Rapids last year. The 6-foot, 195-pound native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a veteran of 357 career AHL games, collecting 64 goals and 94 assists for 158 points and 396 penalty minutes, and won a Calder Cup championship with Chicago in 2002.

Simon has also appeared in 81 career National Hockey League contests recording three goals and one assist for four points and 47 penalty minutes for Atlanta and Columbus.

“Ben is a solid veteran who by all accounts will be a great leader for our club,” said Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon. “He will be a strong character guy for our team while also providing a good amount of pro experience. He is a very steady center who is good in all three zones.”

Micflikier played in nine games with the Falcons towards the end of the 2006-07 campaign, collecting three goals and one assist for four points. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound native of Winnipeg, Man., made his AHL debut on Mar. 28, 2007, vs. Lowell and scored his first AHL goal on Mar. 30 at Providence.

Micflikier played his collegiate hockey with the University of New Hampshire from 2003-2007, collecting 58 goals and 92 assists for 150 points in 153 career games played. Micflikier was the Wildcats’ most valuable player during the 2005-06 campaign, ending that season as the team’s leading scorer with 42 points.

“We signed Jacob to a tryout last spring and he played well for us down the stretch,” said Landon. “He has good speed and Jacob will provide us with quality depth at the forward position heading into training camp.”