Maine Hockey Journal

Bissonnette signs with Portland; Southorn assigned to Gwinnett

Trevor Gillies #14 of the New York Islanders fights Paul Bissonnette #12 of the Phoenix Coyotes during their game on December 18, 2010 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.   (December 17, 2010 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

Trevor Gillies #14 of the New York Islanders fights Paul Bissonnette #12 of the Phoenix Coyotes during their game on December 18, 2010 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
(December 17, 2010 – Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)

The BizNasty show is coming to Portland.

Paul Bissonnette, who goes by the handle BizNasty2point0 on Twitter, signed a professional tryout with Portland Pirates on Monday.

Bissonnette, 29, is known for his exploits on the social media app Twitter where he has over 586,000 followers.

The six-year NHL veteran joins the Pirates after opting out of a contract with the Cardiff (Wales) Devils of the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League. He entered the off-season as an unrestricted free agent after he was not re-signed by the Pirates’ NHL parent club, Arizona Coyotes, this summer. He attended the St. Louis Blues’ training camp on a tryout basis and later released.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Welland, Ontario spent the last five seasons with the Coyotes where he appeared in 187 games, scoring 21 points (7G, 14A) with 318 penalty minutes.

Bissonnette, drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, began his pro career with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He played four seasons in the Penguins organization.

Bissonnette last played in the AHL in 2008-’09 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he scored 13 goals, 17 assists for 30 points and 387 penalty minutes.

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Bissonnette’s signing was not the only transaction done by the Pirates on Monday as they assigned defenseman Jordon Southorn to their ECHL affiliate, Gwinnett Gladiators.

Southron, 23, has played two games for the Pirates this season, going scoreless. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native from Montreal, QC was signed as a free agent this summer and earned a spot on the opening day roster for the Pirates.

Southorn is expected to join the Gladiators in time for their Wednesday night home game against the Orlando Solar Bears.

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