McNeill, Ruopp to Join AHL Teams

Prince Albert SK- TwoPrince Albert Raiders, 18-year-old centre Mark McNeill and 18-year-old defenceman Harrison Ruopp, will join their respective American Hockey League teams for the remainder of the AHL season.   

McNeill, who was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1^st round, 18^th overall in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft, will head to the Blackhawks AHL team, the Rockford Ice Hogs. The Edmonton, Alberta native was named the Raiders MVP this season and will join the Hogs who are making a push for the playoffs, sitting just 6 points out with 12 games remaining in the regular season. 

Ruopp, the 3^rd round selection, 84^th overall, of the Phoenix Coyotes last June, will join the Portland Pirates, who are also pushing for a playoff berth, sitting just 2 points out of 8^th place in the Eastern Conference. A product of Zehner, Saskatchewan, Ruopp was named the Raiders Best Defenceman, Hardest Working Player, Humanitarian, and Most Inspirational Player at the yearend awards banquet Sunday night.