Syracuse, NY (Saturday, Oct. 23, 2011) – The Syracuse Crunch announced today that they have signed defenseman Derrick LaPoint to a professional tryout contract.

This season LaPoint, 23, has played one game and registered one point (1a) with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. A native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, LaPoint played four years for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux totaling 44 points (7g, 37a) in 149 games. LaPoint was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round, 116 overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The Crunch play their third game in as many days Sunday afternoon in Hershey. They will travel to take on the Lake Erie Monsters on October 26 before returning home to the War Memorial to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on October 28. Both season tickets and single game tickets for the 2011-2012 season can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located at the War Memorial on 800 South State Street in Syracuse, or by calling the office at (315) 473- 4444. For all the latest Crunch information and updates, fans can visit the team's official website at (www.syracusecrunch.com) or follow the club on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/syracusecrunch).