Lightning Recall Ondrej Palat

[chilly666]

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Ondrej Palat from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. He will wear number 74.

Palat, 6-foot, 180 pounds, has played in 49 games with the Crunch this season, notching 11 goals and 44 points with 33 penalty minutes. His 33 assists lead Syracuse and are sixth in the AHL, while his plus-24 rating is second among forwards. Palat is third overall on the team for points. He has also added five power play goals. The 21-year-old recorded his first professional hat trick on February 26 against the Rochester Americans.

A native of Frydek-Mistek, Czech Republic, Palat has skated in 110 AHL games, last year with the Norfolk Admirals and this season with Syracuse. He has registered 20 goals and 74 points. In 2011-12 he helped Norfolk to the Calder Cup Championship, notching four goals and nine points in 18 playoff games.

Palat played junior hockey for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In two seasons with Drummondville, he accumulated 56 goals and 136 points in 120 games.

He was drafted by the Lightning in the seventh round, 208th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.