PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced Saturday the signing of defenseman Alexei Emelin to a two-year contract (2012-13 and 2013-14). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The 6’2’’, 219 lbs defenseman completed his first season with the Canadiens in the NHL in 2011-12. Emelin, 26, recorded seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 67 games, tallying one of his goals on the penalty kill. He added 62 shots on goal and served 30 penalty minutes, and averaged 17:17 of ice time per game. Emelin led the Canadiens with 236 hits, ranking first among NHL rookie defensemen and fourth among league defensemen. He blocked 88 shots, finishing sixth among rookie defensemen in the NHL.

Following the NHL regular season schedule, Emelin helped the Russian team earn a gold medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship played in Scandinavia from May 4 to 20, 2012. In the nine games he played, Emelin recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and served four penalty minutes. He scored one game-winning goal and another one on the powerplay, recorded 13 shots on goal, with a +12 plus/minus ratio and 18:35 of ice time per game.

A native of Togliatti, USSR, Emelin was the Canadiens’ second pick (third round, 84th overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

(Photo: Bernard Brault, La Presse)