The Chicago Blackhawks, parent club of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, have signed left wing Pete MacArthur and defenseman Richard Petiot each to a one-year contract.
MacArthur, 24, led all rookies and ranked seventh on the IceHogs with 14 goals in 2008-09. His 25 points in 64 regular season games was good enough to earn him the team’s Rookie of the Year award last season. In three games with the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons the Clifton Park, New York, native also notched four points (2g-2a) before making his AHL debut on Oct. 31, 2008 against Manitoba.
“I was really hoping for something coming into the summer,” MacArthur said. “I came in last year under a one-way American Hockey League contract and they told me that if I did everything I was told, kept my head down and was a professional on and off the ice, I would be rewarded. I’m really thankful for the opportunity I’m getting.”
The winger finished a four-year career at Boston University (NCAA) in 2007-08, leading the squad with 21 goals and 45 points and ranking second with 24 assists before being named to the NCAA East Second All-American Team and the Hockey East First All-Star Team. He made his professional debut on March 28, 2008, registering one assist and six penalty minutes in nine AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
MacArthur led Boston University in points during his sophomore, junior and senior years, finishing his career with 147 (64g-83a) and 120 penalty minutes in 123 contests from 2004 to 2008. He served as a co-captain of the club during his senior season.
He becomes the second player skating under a Rockford IceHogs contract in 2008-09 to sign with the Blackhawks over the summer. The NHL club announced on Jun 8, 2009 they had signed winger Rob Klinkhammer.
Petiot, 26, posted his first career National Hockey League points with three assists in 11 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. The Daysland, Alberta, native spent the majority of the 2008-09 campaign in the AHL, notching three goals and 11 assists in 45 contests with the Toronto Marlies. He was also held scoreless in one match-up with the Norfolk Admirals.
Petiot has registered 37 points (10g-27a) and 192 penalty minutes in 162 career AHL regular-season games with the Manchester Monarchs (2005-08), Marlies (2008-09) and Admirals (2008-09).
He made his NHL debut in two games with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2005-06 season. Petiot was originally selected by the Kings with their sixth choice, 116th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Prior to turning pro, Petiot skated for four seasons at Colorado College (2001-05), collecting 33 points (11g-22a) and 224 penalty minutes in 142 career tilts.
