PITTSBURGH RECALLS PESONEN

WILKES-BARRE, PA -  The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Janne Pesonen from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Pesonen, 26, has played seven games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, ranking third on the team with nine points (two goals, seven assists).  He is also tied for the team lead with a plus-9 rating with the Penguins.  In the preseason with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pesonen scored two points in three appearances.

The 5-11, 180-pound forward led the Finnish Elite League last season, recording 78 points (34 goals, 44 assists) in 56 games with the Oulu Karpat.  He contributed 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) during the post-season, helping lead Karpat to its fifth league championship. 

Pesonen, appeared in six contests for the Finnish National Team during the 2007-08 campaign.  He played three games at the 2007 Karjala Cup, scoring one goal and also played in three games during the Sweden Hockey Games, posting three points (one goal, two assists) and six penalty minutes.

Pesonen has won four league championships with Karpat and was the playoff MVP in 2007, recording seven points (four goals, three assists) in nine games.  He was named Rookie of the Year in 2003-04, notching 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 56 contests.  Pesonen has played in 285 career games all in the Finnish Elite League, collecting 216 points (94 goals, 122 assists), along with 200 penalty minutes.  He has also appeared in 62 playoff games, registering 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. 

The native of Suomussalmi, Finland was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the ninth round (269th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.  Pesonen signed with the Penguins as a free agent July 7, 2008.

Group and Season Ticket packages for the Penguins 10th season are on sale through the Penguins Ticket Offices at 570-208-7367.