WHEN talking about Manchester, England in the sporting world it’s usually perennial world club soccer power Manchester United that comes to mind, but it’s actually hockey that has brought Joe Tallari to the English city.
That is because the Thunder Bay native has signed on with the Manchester Phoenix of the English Elite Hockey League.
The 26-year-old forward heads overseas after spending last season with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.
In joining his new club the former college hockey standout at Niagara University begins his fourth full-time year in the professional ranks having earlier stops in both the AHL and ECHL.
He has played in 199 games as a pro and Tallari has picked up 133 points on =2 goals and 61 assists.
CHL BOUND: Central Hockey League teams continue to stockpile their respective club rosters with talent from Northwestern Ontario adding two more players =his past week.
Thunder Bay product Colt King was the first local inked to a deal signing with the Rocky Mountain Rage, who are based in Broomfield, Colo.
The former fourth round NHL draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche back in 2001 joins his fourth pro team. He had spent 2006-07 with Port Huron in the former United Hockey League where he had personal career highs in goals (20), assists (22) and points (42).
In 197 overalls games since he turned pro King has notched 51 goals added 7 assists and amassed 651 penalty minutes.
The second area CHL signing was made by the Austin Ice Bats who secured the services of Dryden’s Blair Grennier for the upcoming campaign.
Grennier heads south after wrapping up his CIS playing career at York University where captained the Lions last season. He finished up at the collegiate level with his best offensive season yet with 25 points in 28 games.
NHL CAMP: While the regular area NHL players head to their respective team training camps this week another will be trying to crack the regular season =ine-up for the first time.
Aaron MacKenzie of Terrace Bay is off to St. Louis to attend the Blues main camp, which opens Thursday.
MacKenzie has spent the last number of years with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Peoria serving as team captain while anchoring the club’s defensive corps.
PROSPECT UPDATE: The local players competing in an eight-team NHL prospects tournament are on course to meet in the championship game =t the event in Traverse City, Mich.
Both Marc Staal and Tom Pyatt along with the New York Rangers rookie team are 2-0 in their division heading into their final round-robin game against Detroit Monday evening.
Staal had a power play tally in an opening night 6-4 win over Tampa Bay while Pyatt is still in search of his first point.
Meanwhile the other city native competing is Chris Porter who had an assist in a 5-0 victory as the St. Louis Blues rookies blanked their Dallas rivals improving to 2-0 as well.
Should the Blues defeat the Minnesota rookies Monday and the Rangers also win they’ll square off in the tourney’s title game on Tuesday.