PENGUINS SIGN CENTERS CHRIS MINARD, NATHAN SMITH

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed centers Chris Minard and Nathan Smith, it was announced Monday by Penguins Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Minard, 25, spent last season with the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League, recording 49 points (32+17) in 65 games. His 32 goals were 12th in the AHL, while his eight game-winning tallies placed him third in the league.

The 6-1, 200 pound native of Owen Sound, Ontario split the 2005-06 season between the Albany River Rats (AHL) and the Alaska Aces (ECHL), recording 19 points (7+12) in 37 games with Albany and 42 points (26+16) in 33 games with Alaska.

Minard’s 26 goals with the Aces tied for second on the team, despite playing in fewer than half the team’s regular season contests. He also led the entire ECHL with 14 goals in the playoffs, as Alaska captured the Kelly Cup Championship.

Minard led the ECHL with 49 goals during the 2004-05 season, and finished fourth in scoring with 78 points.

He made his professional debut with the Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL) in 2002-03, appearing in all 72 of the team’s regular season games. He finished eighth on the team in points (32) and fifth in goals (15).

Playing for the Central Hockey League’s San Angelo Saints in 2003-04, Minard finished tied for third in the league with 39 goals, and finished in the top 20 in scoring with 75 points.

Smith, 25, has appeared in 293 games with the Manitoba Moose during a five-year professional career, recording 102 points (44+58) and 301 penalty minutes. He set new career highs in goals (19), assists (21) and points (40) in 72 games with Manitoba last season.

A former first round draft pick (23rd overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft), Smith has also appeared in four regular season games with the Vancouver Canucks, going scoreless.

The 6-2, 190 pound native of Strathcona, Alberta played four seasons with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League, recording 212 points (76+136) and 228 penalty minutes in 231 games.

Season ticket packages for the 2007-2008 season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey are on sale now, and available by contacting the Penguins’ ticketing office at 570-208-7367.