Dylan Reese gets call-up from Pens

Dylan Reese, a Jewish defenseman and Pittsburgh area native will finally get a shot to play for his hometown team.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Wednesday they have recalled Reese from their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate of the American Hockey League. A space on the roster became available after Penguins traded Ben Lovejoy to Anaheim for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft. According to the Penguins, Reese, 28, has spent the entire season with WBS, leading all team defensemen in scoring with 15 points (3G-12A) in 39 AHL games.

The Upper St. Clair native, a bar mitzva of Temple Emanuel of South Hills and the son of Barry and Marcie Reese, becomes only the fourth Pittsburgher to play for the Penguins in the history of the franchise, joining Ryan Malone, Bill Thomas and Nate Guenin.

Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

The 6-foot, 205-pound defenseman previously appeared in 74 NHL games with the New York Islanders. Last season, He established career highs at the NHL level in 28 games, and chalking up six assists seven and points. Originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Reese played four seasons of college hockey between 2003-2007. Prior to attending Harvard, Reese played high school hockey for Upper St. Clair and junior hockey for the Pittsburgh Forge of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Prior to the start of the strike-shortened season, Reese and other minor leaguers were called up for scrimmage games with the club at Consol Energy Center. The Chronicle will be following Reese’s progress while he’s with the Penguins and will file stories about the favorite son.