The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled center Ben Simon. The team also announced that they have reassigned goaltender Mike Ayers to Dayton (ECHL).

Simon, 27, has appeared in 54 games with Syracuse this year, scoring 12 goals, 19 assists and 65 penalty minutes. In 11 NHL games with the Blue Jackets this season, Simon has recorded four penalty minutes. The Shaker Heights, Ohio native has four shorthanded goals tying him for third in the AHL this season, one shy of the league lead.

Ayers, 26, has appeared in 21 games with Syracuse this season, posting a 12-6-1 record, a 2.59 goals against average and .920 save percentage. In 21 games with Dayton, Ayers posted a 7-12-1 record, and 3.57 goals against average. A native of Hingham, Massachusetts, Ayers signed an AHL contract with Syracuse, November 17, 2005.

The Crunch host Albany on Friday, March 17 for a 7:30 p.m. game. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473- 4444, at the Oncenter Box Office, located on the State Street side of the War Memorial at Oncenter or by calling TicketMaster at (315) 472-0700.

Pictured: Mike Ayers, above; Ben Simon, previous page.