The Atlanta Thrashers have reassigned defenseman Mike Vernace from the Chicago Wolves to the Hamilton Bulldogs, while the Montreal Canadiens have reassigend left wing Greg Stewart from Hamilton to Chicago.
Stewart has posted five goals and five assists for 10 points and 90 penalty minutes in 45 games with Hamilton this season. The 23-year-old forward is in his fourth professional campaign and has accrued 22 goals, 22 assists, 44 points and 397 penalty minutes in 165 career American Hockey League games with the Bulldogs.
Stewart played two seasons for current Wolves coaches Don Lever and Ron Wilson in Hamilton.
The Kitchener, Ont., native also has appeared in 26 National Hockey League contests with Montreal, notching one assist and 48 penalty minutes, which includes collecting 11 penalty minutes in five outings with the Canadiens this season.
Vernace has appeared in 47 contests with Chicago this season, recording 10 assists, 12 points and 29 penalty minutes during his fourth professional campaign.
Vernace, a 23-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., has played a total of 221 AHL games with the Wolves, the Lake Erie Monsters and the Albany River Rats, recording a total of 70 points (nine goals, 61 assists) and 175 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defender also played in 12 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2008-2009 but was held pointless while earning eight penalty minutes.
Vernace was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 201st overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
