Manchester signs tough guy Justin Johnson, 3 others to PTOs

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MANCHESTER, NH - The Manchester Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, have signed center Robert Czarnik, right wing Zach Harnden, defenseman Jordan Hill and right wing Justin Johnson to American Hockey League tryout agreements, Monarchs Director of Hockey Operations Hubie McDonough announced today.

Czarnik, 20, split the 2009-10 season between the University of Michigan and the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers. Despite only playing 43 games with the Whalers, the 6-foot, 188-pound native of Detroit, Michigan ranked fourth on the team with 49 points (17-3249). Selected by the Kings in the third-round (63rd overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Czarnik collected six points (3-36) and four penalty minutes with the University of Michigan last season.

Harnden, 21, ranked third on the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs with 60 points (24-3660) and 75 penalty minutes in 65 games during the 2009-10 season. The 6-foot-3, 199-pound native of Thunder Bay, Ontario spent the previous four seasons (2005-09) with the OHL's Peterborough Petes. In 248 career games with the Petes, Harnden recorded 105 points (51-54105) and 104 penalty minutes.

Hill, 21, made his professional debut with the AHL's Manitoba Moose on April 4, 2010. In two games with the Moose, the 6-foot-2, 204-pound native of Sarnia, Ontario was held off the scoreboard. Hill split the remainder of the 2009-10 season between the OHL's Saginaw Spirit and the Sarnia Sting. In 28 games with the Spirit, he recorded 19 points (3-1619) and 18 penalty minutes. Hill also recorded 19 points (4-1519) and 55 penalty minutes in 41 games with the Sting.

Johnson, 29, has appeared in 190 games over the last five seasons (2005-10) with the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones, Utah Grizzlies, Idaho Steelheads and Alaska Aces while recording 43 career points (24-1943) and 669 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound native of Anchorage, Alaska collected a career-high in penalty minutes with the Aces last season with 249 penalty minutes in 54 games. Johnson also played four seasons (2002-06) with the University of Alaska-Anchorage and registered 35 points (13-2235) and 147 penalty minutes in 143 games.