Wichita Defenseman Gets AHL Call-Up

Jeremie Bucheler is having a fine rookie season thus far. On Wednesday, the 24-year-old defenseman received a call-up to the AHL.

The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, AHL's San Jose Barracuda and powered by Toyota, announced today that Bucheler has been recalled to the Barracuda.

Bucheler makes his first trip back to San Jose since he was loaned to the Thunder during training camp. The Montreal, Quebec native was named to the ECHL Midseason All-Star Team and has been particularly impressive on special teams.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-shot blueliner leads the league among rookies in power play assists (14) and power play points (16). In 52 games with the Thunder this season, he has recorded 32 points (6-26-32).

Prior to turning pro, the rookie defenseman skated in 143 career NCAA games between Northeastern and Vermont. Bucheler finished with 46 points (10-36-46).

Last weekend, the Thunder took a 5-3 victory over the Idaho Steelheads in Boise on Friday before falling 5-4 in overtime Saturday. Wichita returns home for two games this weekend beginning on Friday night against Tulsa, with puck drop set for 7:05 Pm CT.

The Thunder currently sit in third place in the ECHL Mountain Division at 30-17-4-1 and 65 points. They are 6-2-2-0 over their last 10 games and 3-0-1-0 over their last four.

Friday is QT Buy In Night. Fans can head over to any Wichita-area QuikTrip location to get a complimentary upper-level ticket voucher. Fans will need to redeem the vouchers for an actual ticket to the game. This can be done at the Thunder office, box office or the night of the game.