Panthers Acquire G Wilcox from Lightning

Sunrise, FL- Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon announced today that the Panthers have acquired goaltender Adam Wilcox in exchange for goaltender Mike McKenna. Wilcox will report to Florida's American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Wilcox, 24, has registered a 18-9-2 record, 2.87 goals against average, .895 save percentage and one shutout over 34 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). In his AHL career he has played 63 games, all with Syracuse, posting a 27-23-8 record. 

The 6-foot, 187-pound native of South St. Paul, Minn., owned a 73-26-14 record, 2.09 goals against average and .922 save percentage with 13 shutouts over 115 games with the University of Minnesota (2012-15). 

He was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. 

In a subsequent roster move, the Thunderbirds announced that they have recalled forward Zac Lynchand defenseman Thomas Schemitsch from the Manchester Monarchs. 

McKenna, 33, held a record of 9-10-7-0 with the Thunderbirds this season. He posted a .907 save percentage and a 2.83 goals against average. His final start as a Thunderbird on Saturday was a 32-save shutout of the Hartford Wolf Pack at the MassMutual Center.

That win came on the heels of McKenna's 200th AHL victory the prior Sunday in Hartford. He is the only American-born goalie in AHL history to reach the 200-win mark. 

The Thunderbirds get to have a lighter weekend of games following a Wednesday night tangle in Hartford. Springfield plays host to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for a second straight Friday night, this time on Bruce Landon Legacy Night on March 3. Then the Thunderbirds hit the road for their final regular season contest against the Hershey Bears from the Giant Center on Sunday. 

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds 2017-18 Ticket Memberships start as low as $12 per game and feature the most exclusive benefits, including a commemorative jersey and brand new Collectors Mug. For more information, fans may call the Thunderbirds ticket office at (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.