Weller, Murley head to Coyotes

murley_200.jpgThe Phoenix Coyotes, parent club of the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, have announced the signings of left wing Matt Murley and right wing/defenseman Craig Weller to one-year contracts.

Murley, 27, played 61 AHL games with Albany last season, finishing second on the team in points (55) and assists (32). The Troy, N.Y., native also scored six points (1g, 5a) in five Calder Cup Playoff games.

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Murley has recorded eight points (2g, 6a) and 38 penalty minutes in 59 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In four AHL seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Albany, Murley has registered 71 goals and 119 assists for 190 points in 298 games. In 2004, Murley was named to the AHL All-Star Game and reached the Calder Cup Finals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Prior to his professional career, Murley spent four seasons (1998-2002) with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (R.P.I.), finishing as the 11th-leading scorer in school history. Selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (51st overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Murley holds the honor of being the highest drafted hockey player in RPI history.

weller2_200.jpgWeller, 26, served as team captain for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack the last two seasons. In 2006-07, the Calgary native registered 11 goals and six assists for 17 points in 56 games.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Weller has spent all five of his professional seasons with Hartford and posted career highs for goals (12), assists (22), and points (34) in 2005-06. For his career, Weller has recorded 84 points (38g, 46a) and 524 penalty minutes in 291 AHL games.

Prior to his professional career, Weller spent two seasons with Kootenay of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and won the Memorial Cup with the club in 2002.