News | 8/9/2011 4:42:05 PM | ROCHESTER AMERICANS

Voakes with the Portland Pirates in 2010-11

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today the Rochester Americans have signed forward Mark Voakes to an American Hockey League (AHL) contract.

Voakes, 27, recorded 11 points (6+5) and six penalty minutes in 18 regular season games for the Portland Pirates of the AHL last season.  He also added eight points (3+5) in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games for Portland.  Prior to joining the Pirates in March, Voakes appeared in 60 games for Greenville of the ECHL where he registered 54 points (17+37) and 28 PIM. 

The 6-foot, 182-pound Voakes split the 2009-10 season between Cincinnati and Bakersfield of the ECHL, recording 21 points (11+10) in 33 total games before notching eight points (3+5) in eight postseason contests for Bakersfield. 

Prior to his professional career, Voakes played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario from 2005 to 2009.  A native of St. Thomas, Ontario, Voakes recorded 154 points (56+98) in 102 career games to graduate as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer.  He was also the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and was a two-time First Team All-OUA selection.