Generals acquire pair, sign rookie

The Flint Generals completed a trade with the Quad City Mallards today.

The Generals traded the rights to defenseman Brent Currie for the rights to forwards Chris Gignac and Sean Kotary.

Gignac (pictured), 32, played the last two seasons for the Motor City Mechanics and has played eight seasons of professional hockey, including two seasons in Germany. Last season, Gignac played in 56 games for Motor City and had 43 points on 15 goals and 28 assists. His rights were acquired by Quad City in a dispersal draft earlier this summer.

Gignac played juniors in the early 1990s for the OHL's Detroit Junior Red Wings (now Plymouth Whalers).

The 25-year-old Kotary, a ninth-round selection of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, has played one season of professional hockey. Kotary finished his college career at SUNY-Oswego before beginning his professional career. Last season he played for Port Huron and Elmira and finished the season with Quad City. He scored 19 points on one goal and 18 assists in 73 games with all three teams last season.

The Generals also announced the signing of rookie forward Steve Richards. After playing three seasons of junior hockey, he played eight games for the Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL last season. His best season in juniors was 2002-03 when he had 34 points in 44 games playing for Amherst and Yarmouth in the MJAHL.

“We feel we are putting together a very competitive team this season and all three of these players will add to our success.” said Flint GM Al Sims. “Richards is a player in the mold of our coach Kevin Kerr. He’s a feisty player that is a bit of an agitator and will be fun to watch him during our camp.”