Shawn Waskiewicz, the Erie Otters’ assistant general manager of administration, was presented with the Franchise Cup for his years of service to the OHL club during the 16^th annual Summer Awards Banquet at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel on Friday night.

He was the first honoree since Mark Jeanneret, the club’s former play-by-play announcer and director of media relations, and administrative manager Jaime Cieszynski in 2006.

The Buffalo Sabres have added another former Erie Otter into their organization.

Shawn Szydlowski has signed a NHL entry-level contract with the Sabres. He will report to the AHL’s Portland Pirates, where he rejoins Mark Jeanneret, the Otters’ former play-by-play broadcaster and media relations director. He’s the Pirates’ play-by-play voice and director of communications and team services.

The Sabres already have former Otters Brad Boyes, Tim Connolly and Steve Montador on the roster.

Szydlowski, 20, an undrafted free-agent forward, set career highs with 41 goals, 37 assists and 78 points in his final season with the Otters. He finished his four-year career ranked fifth in franchise history with 94 goals and sixth in points with 197. Szydlowski attended an Ottawa Senators’ rookie camp before this season. The Pirates played at the Providence Bruins on Friday night.

He joins three current and former Otters – forwards Anthony Luciani (Florida Panthers) and Greg McKegg (Toronto Maple Leafs) and defenseman David Shields (St. Louis Blues) – to earn deals the past few weeks. Defenseman Tyler Hostetter signed with the Philadelphia Flyers before the 2009-10 season.

In other Otters’ news, Otters forward Andrew Yogan has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Connecticut Whale, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate. Yogan trained with the club during his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery. The Whale faced the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Yogan, the Rangers’ fourth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, had three goals and four points in 10 games this season. He has 55 goals and 108 points in 174 OHL games with the Otters and Spitfires.

Luciani, who was assigned to the AHL’s Rochester Americans, was expected to make his professional debut on Friday night against the Binghamton Senators. He could face McKegg Saturday night, when Rochester meets the Toronto Marlies in Toronto. The Peoria Rivermen (Shields) and Adirondack Phantoms (Hostetter) faced the Chicago Wolves and Manchester Monarchs on Friday night.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that right wing Shawn Szydlowski has signed an entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres.

Szydlowski completed his Otters career sixth in all-time point scoring with 197 and tied for fifth in goals with 94. He scored a career-high of 41 goals in his overage campaign, and was an invite to Ottawa Senators rookie camp before the season.

The native of Michigan was initially drafted in the 10th round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection by the Otters. His father, Steve, played professionally for three seasons, including the 1985-86 season with the Erie Golden Blades of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

Szydlowski is expected to report to the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates, where he will reunite with former Otters play-by-play broadcaster Mark Jeanneret. Former Otters Brad Boyes, Tim Connolly and Steve Montador all play for the Sabres, making up the largest contingent of Otters alumni within the NHL. Earlier in the week, Otters forwards Anthony Luciani and Greg McKegg signed pro contracts with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.

- From Erie Otters news release

Former Erie Otters play-by-play announcer Mark Jeanneret, now with the AHL’s Portland Pirates, will replace his father Rick‘s for two Buffalo Sabres‘ games in December. Read more by clicking the link.