The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled goaltender Tomas Popperle and defenseman Derrick Walser and have assigned goaltender Dan LaCosta to Syracuse. The team also announced that they have signed defenseman Brett Westgarth to an amateur try- out contract.

Popperle, 22, made his NHL debut on February 2 at Calgary. He stopped seven-of-eight shots faced against the Flames in 25:42 of action in relief of Ty Conklin. In 46 games with the Crunch this season, he has posted a 24- 17-4 record with a 2.85 goals against average, a .903 save percentage and four shutouts.

Walser, 28, has appeared in six games with Columbus in 2006-07, scoring two goals, raising his career totals to 8 goals, 21 assists and 56 penalty minutes in 88 NHL games. He has also tallied 9 goals, 28 assists with 61 penalty minutes in 52 AHL games with the Crunch and Albany River Rats this season. He was acquired from Carolina on November 29 in a trade that sent defenseman Mark Flood to the Hurricanes.

LaCosta, 21, has appeared in 18 games for Syracuse this season, posting a 3-7-1 record, a 3.20 goals against average and a .879 save percentage. He served as back-up to Fredrik Norrena on Sunday, April 1. A native of Labrador City, New Foundland, LaCosta was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round, 93rd overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Westgarth, 25, has appeared in 114 career games with Princeton University (ECAC), tallying 4 goals, 20 assists and 110 penalty minutes.

The Crunch host Grand Rapids on Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the crunch office at (315) 473-4444, stopping by the Oncenter box office located on the state street side of the War Memorial or by calling TicketMaster at (315) 472-0700.

Pictured: Derrick Walser, above; Dan LaCosta, previous page.