(Rochester, October 14)... Rochester Americans Vice President of Hockey Operations Ted Nolan announced today that the Florida Panthers have assigned forward Shawn Matthias to the Amerks.

Matthias joins the Amerks as the team prepares for its home-and-home series with the Toronto Marlies this weekend. Rochester kicks off the weekend on Friday, October 16th as the Marlies make their first trip to The Blue Cross Arena this season. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the first of back-to-back tilts and the first of eight scheduled meetings between the North Division rivals this season. The matchup will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester’s Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Time Warner SportsNet Channel 26.

Matthias, 22, arrives in Rochester after scoring one goal in five National Hockey League games with the Panthers to start the 2009-10 campaign. Last season with the Amerks, the Mississauga, Ontario, native made his American Hockey League debut, registering 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 61 games. In 25 career NHL games with Florida, the 6-foot-3, 211-pound centerman has tallied five points (3+2) and four PIM. Originally a second-round selection (47th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Matthias was acquired by the Panthers in a trade that sent forward Todd Bertuzzi to the Wings.

Prior to turning pro, Matthias played four seasons (2004-08) with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, where he amassed 188 points (84+104) in 221games.