Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have recalled forwards Kevin Porter and Jeff Hoggan from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
In addition, left wing Steven Goertzen and center Alexander Nikulin have been re-assigned to San Antonio while left wing Viktor Tikhonov has been activated from injured reserve and assigned to the Rampage.
Tikhonov, 20, has recorded 3-4-7 and 12 penalty minutes in 38 games for the Coyotes this season. The rookie has missed the last 10 games due to injury dating back to Jan. 10. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Tikhonov was selected by the Coyotes in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 Entry Draft.
Goertzen, 24, has collected two assists in eight games with the Coyotes this season, the first points of his NHL career. He has also played in 41 games with San Antonio this season, recording 5-6-11 and 65 penalty minutes (PIM).
Nikulin, 23, made his Coyotes debut in last night’s game at Nashville. He has recorded 5-9-14 and 12 PIM in 37 games with San Antonio this season since being acquired from Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Drew Fata on Nov. 3, 2008. Prior to the trade, Nikulin scored two goals in five games with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.
Porter, 22, has recorded 5-5-10 and four PIM in 33 games this season for the Coyotes, including two game-winning goals. He has also registered 4-4-8 in 14 games with San Antonio this year. The 6-foot, 190-pound Porter won the 2008 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player last season as a senior at the University of Michigan. Porter ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring by collecting 33-30-63 in 43 games and led Michigan to its 23rd Frozen Four appearance in school history while also serving as team captain. Following the completion of the college season, Porter joined San Antonio for the Calder Cup Playoffs and collected four assists in seven games. A native of Northville, Mich., Porter was originally drafted by the Coyotes in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.
Hoggan, 31, currently leads San Antonio with 18 goals on the season and ranks 4th on the team in scoring with 18-10-28 in 48 games. Last season, Hoggan registered 29-31-60 in 71 games with Providence of the AHL while leading the league with a +39 rating. The 6-foot, 190-pound Hoggan has played in 99 career NHL games with St. Louis and Boston, recording 2-8-10 and 67 PIM. In 330 career AHL games with Houston, Worcester, Providence and San Antonio, Hoggan has collected 94-77-171 and 336 PIM. In 2003, he registered 1-2-3 and 23 PIM in 14 playoff games for Houston as they captured the Calder Cup Championship. The native of Hope, British Columbia signed with the Coyotes as a free agent on July 15, 2008.
