Bodie, Gostisbehere sent down

by Ryan Fay

When NHL training camps opened a couple weeks ago, there were nine former Union Dutchmen vying for NHL spots.

Bodie (l) and Anthony Duclair (r) during the Rangers'
4-2 preseason loss to the Flyers on Tuesday,

That number shrunk to two Wednesday after defensemen Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere were sent to the AHL.

The New York Rangers assigned Bodie to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Bodie picked up an assist in the Rangers' 4-2 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. It was his only preseason appearance for the Rangers.

The Flyers assigned Gostisbehere to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He didn't play on Tuesday, but had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 setback to the Rangers on Monday. He finished the preseason with two goals and an assist in three contests.

Goaltender Keith Kinkaid (New Jersey Devils) and forward Josh Jooris (Calgary Flames) are the remaining former Dutchmen hoping to break camp with an NHL team.

The other five players were sent down to the AHL over the past week. The San Jose Sharks assigned goaltender Troy Grosenick to the Worcester Sharks. The Montreal Canadiens sent forward Daniel Carr to the Hamilton Bulldogs. The St. Louis Blues assigned forward Jeremy Welsh to the Chicago Wolves. The Flyers sent forward Matt Hatch to the Phantoms, while the Devils assigned forward Kelly Zajac to the Albany Devils.

The NHL regular season gets underway Oct. 8.

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