PENGUINS SIGN FORWARD MIKE COMRIE

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Mike Comrie to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

The contract is for the 2010-11 season and is worth $500,000.

Comrie, 29, has played nine NHL seasons with Edmonton, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Ottawa and the NY Islanders. In 568 career games, he has posted 167 goals, 192 assists, 359 points and 48 power-play goals. Comrie has appeared in 32 postseason contests, totaling 10 points (4G-6A).

Comrie (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) has scored 20 or more goals five times in his career, and twice hit the 30-goal mark. The Edmonton, Alberta native, who broke into the NHL in 2000 with his hometown Oilers after the club drafted him in the third round (91st overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, set career highs with 33 goals and 60 points (tied) in 2001-02.

Comrie, whose uncle Fred Comrie was drafted by the Penguins in 1973 (eighth round, 119th overall) but never suited up for Pittsburgh, has represented Canada in three World Championships (2002, ’03 and ’06). He helped his country earn a gold medal in the 2003 tournament.

Comrie starred in two seasons with the University of Michigan. He totaled 43 goals, 60 assists and 103 points in just 82 collegiate games. In his second and final season as a Wolverine, Comrie led the team in goals (24), assists (35) and points (59). His 59 points ranked fifth (tied) in the NCAA, and he was named as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best college hockey player.

Comrie helped Michigan win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff championship as a freshman. He was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team, CCHA First All-Star Team and CCHA Rookie of the Year after posting 44 points (19G-25A).

WINTER CLASSIC WEEK TO FEATURE AHL-NCAA DOUBLEHEADER

ON DECEMBER 30 AT CONSOL ENERGY CENTER

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton vs. Hershey; Robert Morris vs. RIT

A unique doubleheader featuring an American Hockey League game and an NCAA Division I game will be played Thursday, Dec. 30 at CONSOL Energy Center – part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ weeklong celebration of hockey in the week leading up to the 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic.

Pittsburgh’s Robert Morris University, which last year shocked the college hockey world by upsetting No. 1 Miami, will take on 2010 NCAA Frozen Four participant RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in the college game at 3 p.m.

The Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, will then meet the rival Hershey Bears in the minor pro game at 7:30 p.m. Hershey is the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate.

The Penguins and Capitals will play in the Bridgestone Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at Heinz Field.

“This is the first of a series of events we’ll be announcing to celebrate all levels of hockey in the week leading up to the Winter Classic,” said James Santilli, the Penguins’ vice president of marketing. “The doubleheader is a great way to showcase AHL hockey and NCAA hockey and give those players the opportunity to play in a new NHL arena.”

One ticket will allow fans to attend both games of the doubleheader. Ticket pricing and an on-sale date will be announced in the near future.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey have developed a strong AHL interstate rivalry over the years, and the teams will feature top prospects from both the Penguins and Capitals organizations.

“The opportunity to participate in the festivities leading up to the Bridgestone Winter Classic is one we couldn’t pass up,” said Jeff Barrett, CEO of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. “Not only will the fans in Pittsburgh get to see some of the future Penguins stars, they’ll also get to experience one of the greatest rivalries in the American Hockey League. Games between the Penguins and Bears are nearly as intense as those played between the NHL Penguins and Capitals. This will be the perfect lead-in to the outdoor contest being played two days later.”

Robert Morris and RIT will combine to provide a glimpse of the excitement of NCAA Division I hockey in the first game of the doubleheader

“We are very excited that the Penguins have asked us to participate in this special hockey event,” Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley said. “We feel this is going to be a great event for our student athletes as well as our university. We are privileged to be able to be part of such a wonderful event.

RIT last year won the Atlantic Hockey Association title, earned a berth in the Frozen Four and finished ranked as the No. 10 team in the country.

“This is a great opportunity and I am proud that our program gets to be a part of the Winter Classic events,” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson, the 2010 NCAA Division I coach of the year. “We play a very good team in Robert Morris in a brand new, state-of-the-art arena, which will be a great experience for us.”

PENGUINS SIGN TWO PROSPECTS

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the parent club of the AA affiliate Wheeling Nailers, have announced the signings of two prospects. It is unknown what team they will be assigned to in the upcoming year.

Defenseman Carl Sneep and goaltender Patrick Killeen have been signed to entry-level contracts that begin for the 2010-11 season, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Sneep, 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, is coming off of his second NCAA National title with Boston College following the Eagles’ 5-0 defeat of Wisconsin at Ford Field in Detroit on April 10. He also won the title in 2008 with the Eagles as a sophomore.

Sneep, the Penguins’ second-round pick (32nd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, has played four seasons with Boston College. In that span, the Nisswa, Minnesota native has compiled 17 goals, 47 assists and 64 points in 157 contests.

The senior defenseman set career highs this year in goals (11), assists (17), points (28), plus-minus rating (+9), power-play goals (6) and shorthanded goals (2). His 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points led all Boston College blueliners.

Killeen, who is currently with the Penguins’ top minor-league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, just completed his fourth season with Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League. In four seasons with the Battalion, Killeen posted a 63-48-7-10 record, 2.74 goals-against average, .902 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Killeen, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, posted several careers highs with Brampton during the 2009-10 campaign: games played (63); wins (23); goals-against average (2.42); save percentage (.913); and shutouts (5). The Carp, Ontario native saw action in 11 playoff games this season, going 4-7.

Season tickets for the 2010-2011 season of Wheeling Nailers hockey are on sale now by calling the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL. For more information, visit the team’s website at wheelingnailers.com