STEVE OLEKSY RETURNS TO HERSHEY BEARS

January 22, 2014

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Nate Schmidt from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Schmidt, 22, made his NHL debut at Colorado on Oct. 12 and has skated in 28 games with the Capitals this season, recording six points (two goals, four assists), six penalty minutes and a plus-four rating. The St. Cloud, Minn., native registered his first NHL point with an assist at Calgary on Oct. 26 and scored his first NHL goal on Dec. 7 against Nashville.

The 6’0”, 198-pound defenseman has appeared in 16 games with Hershey this season, recording seven points (1g, 6a) and six penalty minutes. In 24 career AHL games with the Bears, Schmidt has earned 11 points (2g, 9a) and eight penalty minutes. 

In a separate transaction, defenseman Steve Oleksy has cleared waivers and has been loaned to Hershey.

Oleksy, 27, appeared in 33 games with Washington this season, recording 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and a plus-seven rating.  

The 6'0", 190-pound native of Chesterfield, Mich. was signed by Washington to a three-year contract on March 4, 2013, and was immediately recalled.  He contributed one assist in his first NHL game on March 5 vs. Boston, and one game later led the Capitals with 22:13 of ice time and added two asissts in a 7-1 win over Florida.  He scored his first NHL goal in his fourth career game, on March 10 vs. NY Rangers.

Oleksy has played in a total of 61 NHL contests with the Capitals, tallying 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) and has a cumulative plus-16 rating.

He has also appeared in 122 career AHL games with Bridgeport and Hershey, registering 33 points (three goals, 30 assists), 288 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating.  Oleksy led the Bears with 151 penalty minutes last season prior to his NHL recall.