PITTSBURGH RECALLS CZUCZMAN, DI PAULI

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Thomas Di Pauli and defenseman Kevin Czuczman (CHURCH-man) from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

Di Pauli will be looking to make his NHL debut, while Czuczman will look to make his Penguins’ debut.

Di Pauli, 25, has skated in 19 games for WBS this season, recording four goals, five assists and nine points.

In 127 career AHL games, all with WBS, the Woodbridge, Illinois native has tallied 25 goals, 21 assists, and 46 points.

During the 2017-18 season, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound Di Pauli enjoyed his best campaign as a professional, netting 12 goals and 20 points in 58 games with WBS.

Pittsburgh originally signed Di Pauli as a free agent on August 19, 2016 before re-signing him to a one-year contract on April 30, 2019. He had been drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft held at PPG Paints Arena, but he did not sign with the Capitals.

Prior to joining the Penguins, Di Pauli skated four seasons of college hockey at Notre Dame, tallying 30 goals, 48 assists and 78 points.

Czuczman, 28, has played in 13 NHL games, all with the New York Islanders in 2013-14, recording two assists.

This season with WBS as an alternate captain, the six-foot-two, 205-pound Czuczman tallied one goal, seven assists, eight points and a plus-6 in 21 games.

In 357 career AHL games, split between Bridgeport, Manitoba, and WBS, the Port Elgin, Ontario native has notched 118 points (23G-95A).

Prior to turning pro in 2013-14, Czuczman had a strong career at Lake Superior State University where he recorded 14 goals, 31 assists and 45 points in 114 career games.

Czuczman signed with the Penguins as a free agent in the summer of 2017 and then was re-signed to a two-year contract on June 26, 2019.

Pittsburgh continues its three-game Western Canada road trip tonight, Friday, December 20 against the Edmonton Oilers. Puck drop is set for 9:00 PM ET at Rogers Place.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next game is tonight, Friday, Dec. 20, against the Providence Bruins. Puck drop between the Penguins and Bruins is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Individual tickets to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton home games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza box office, Ticketmaster.com, or by contacting the Penguins offices at (570) 208-7367. Season ticket packages for the Penguins’ 2019-20 regular season, including 22-game, 12-game, Flexbook and Premium Seating plans, are available by reaching out to the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.

Fans can also keep up with the Penguins through the AHL’s brand new high definition streaming service, AHLTV. Subscriptions for AHLTV are available now. Fans can visit theahl.com/AHLTV now to register for a free AHLTV account and purchase 2019-20 subscriptions.