Jackals Add 6-foot-6 240-pound Justin Sawyer

ELMIRA, NY - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that they have acquired forward Justin Sawyer from the Rapid City Rush in exchange for future considerations. Additionally, the Jackals announced that they have signed forward Ryan Hand to a Standard Player Contract.

Sawyer, 29, brings a physically imposing presence to the Jackals lineup. The 6-foot-6 240-pound skater appeared in two games with Rapid City this season and collected 12 penalty minutes. The 10th-year pro from Oshawa, Ontario has played 485 professional games in North America split between Rapid City, Wichita, Odessa, Bloomington, Oklahoma City, Stockton, Columbia and Toronto in the IHL, CHL, ECHL and AHL. Sawyer has recorded 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) and 1675 penalty minutes in his pro career in North America. He also added one goal and 80 penalty minutes in 11 EIHL games with Cardiff. 

Hand, 29, joins the Jackals after starting the season with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League. In eight games this season, Hand has amassed one assist and 49 penalty minutes for Fayetteville. The 6-foot-2 215-pound forward is in his seventh professional season and sixth in North America. Hand has recorded 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and 589 penalty minutes in 201 pro games in North America combined between Laredo, Rapid City, Utah, Reading, Wichita, Huntsville, Allen, Fort Worth and Fayetteville in the SPHL, CHL and ECHL. He also added 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) and 266 penalty minutes in 54 EIHL games.