FALCONS SIGN HOWES, ASSIGN MACLEOD TO ICEMEN

Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons, AHL affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, announced on Thursday that they have signed left wing Scott Howes to a professional try-out (PTO) from the CHL's Allen Americans. Additionally, the Falcons have assigned left wing Wade MacLeod to their ECHL developmental club, the Evansville IceMen.

A fifth-year pro, Howes is a former ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP, leading the Alaska Aces with 19 points (7g-12a) in the 2011 postseason on their way to capturing the league's championship.

Howes tops the Americans this season with 35 points and 21 goals while also adding 14 assists. In 2011-2012, the Toronto native skated in 49 contests with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, accumulating 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points after beginning the year with the Aces. Prior to helping guide the Aces to the Kelly Cup title, Howes posted 58 points (22g-36a) in 59 games with Alaska during the 2010-2011 campaign. In two seasons with the ECHL's Victoria Salmon Kings from 2008 through 2010, Howes collected 48 points (22g-26a) in 86 contests. He participated in five games with the Manitoba Moose, now the St. John's IceCaps, in 2008-2009.

Howes has garnered 168 points (78g-90a) in 230 professional games in the AHL, ECHL, and CHL combined.

Prior to turning pro, Howes played two seasons in the QMJHL from 2006 through 2008, gathering 118 points (68g-50a) in 113-career outings with the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Saint John Sea Dogs. He led the Sea Dogs with 42 goals in 59 games during the 2007-2008 season and paced the club with 26 points and 15 goals in 14 contests in that year's QMJHL Playoffs.

MacLeod, who will make his second visit to Evansville this year, played in two games with the IceMen in December and picked up his first-career hat trick in a victory over Toledo. A second-year pro, MacLeod has one assist in six games with Springfield this season. He played his entire rookie season with the Falcons in 2011-2012, scoring 10 goals and adding 19 assists for 29 points in 66 contests while registering a +6 rating, tying for the club high. The 25-year-old commenced his professional career with Springfield at the end of the 2010-2011 season, notching three points (1g-2a) in nine games.

A native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, MacLeod played four seasons from 2007 to 2011 at Northeastern University (NCAA, D-I), collecting 137 points (61g-76a) in his collegiate career. MacLeod set career highs in his senior campaign of 2010-2011 with 22 goals, 23 assists, and 45 points, led the Huskies in scoring in each of his final three seasons, and left Northeastern with a school-record 149 games played.

The Falcons welcome the Sound Tigers to the MassMutual Center this Friday for a critical Northeast Division contest. The start of Friday's game, presented by MGM Springfield, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Springfield heads to Albany on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Providence on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

Single-game tickets to see the Falcons in 2012-2013 can be purchased at the MassMutual Center Box Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. through game time on Saturday home dates, and starting four hours prior to Sunday home contests. Fans can also purchase tickets by logging onto Ticketmaster.com. For information about discounted group packages to Falcons home games, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625).