The Syracuse Crunch announced today that they signed defenseman Alex Johnstone to a professional try-out contract.

Johnstone, 21, appeared in a total of 55 East Coast Hockey League games this season with Columbus, Columbia and most recently New Orleans, recording 2 goals, 1 assist and 222 penalty minutes. In three games with Syracuse earlier this season, Johnstone recorded 1 goal and 18 penalty minutes. A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Johnstone was a teammate of former Crunch star Jody Shelley at Halifax (QMJHL) during the 1996-97 season.

The Crunch will open their first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against Cincinnati, Rochester or Philadelphia (dates to be determined). Tickets are available and can be purchased 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.