Aces Sign Chris Haltigin; Release Danny Markowitz

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The Alaska Aces signed rookie defenseman Chris Haltigin and released defenseman Danny Markowitz, Aces Head Coach, Rob Murray announced. Haltigin joins the Aces roster immediately and will make his pro debut with Alaska this season.

Haltigin, 24, joins the pro ranks after spending a four-year collegiate career at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his career Haltigin posted 73 points (24g, 49a) in 147 games played from the blue line. He is the all-time leader in RIT games played. He also is second all-time among RIT defensemen in goals, and third in points. He captained the Tigers as a senior last year, notching a collegiate career-best 16 assists and finishing with 21 points. He was a finalist for the Lowes Senior Class Award and was named RIT's best defenseman. He also won the team's Art Thomas Teammate award, and was the co-winner of the Green B. Williams Award for Academic Excellence. His most productive season came as a sophomore, where he tied for sixth in the country in goals by a defenseman with 11. That year he helped guide RIT to an AHA Championship and an eventual berth in the Frozen Four. He scored the first goal, and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 6-2 win over New Hampshire in the game that clinched a spot in the National Semifinals. He was later named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team. The 6'1", 205 lbs. Oakville, Ontario native was a biomedical sciences major at RIT and attended training camp this season with the Fort Wayne Komets and Orlando Solar Bears.

Markowitz joined the Aces in November of last season and appeared in 47 games with the club. He did not play for the team this season, but was in training camp and on the opening day roster. He leaves Alaska with one goal, three assists, four points, and 13 penalty minutes.