Capitals Assign Philipp Grubauer and Casey Wellman to Hershey

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have assigned goaltender Philipp Grubauer and forward Casey Wellman to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Grubauer, 21, made his NHL debut last night in Philadelphia, stopping all 14 shots he faced in 25:05 of ice time. He has posted a record of 6-4-1 with a 2.10 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage and one shutout (he also combined for second shutout with Dany Sabourin on Jan. 13) in 12 games during his rookie season with Hershey. He spent the first half of the season with Reading of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and was named a starter in the ECHL All-Star game after compiling a record of 19-5-1 with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage in 26 games played with the Royals. The ECHL Player of the Month for November, Grubauer ranks sixth in goals-against average and tied for fifth in the league in wins despite splitting time between the ECHL and AHL.

The 6’1”, 185-pound goaltender has collected a 42-18-5-1 record in two seasons in the ECHL with South Carolina and Reading. In addition to being named a starter for the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game, Grubauer was named to the 2012 ECHL All-Rookie team last season with South Carolina. The Rosenheim, Germany native represented Germany in the World Junior Championships in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, winning the 2010 U-20 D1 gold medal while compiling the best goals-against average and best save percentage in the tournament. He led the Windsor Spitfires to the 2010 Memorial Cup Championship, winning all four games in the Memorial Cup round after helping Windsor win the OHL Championship.

Grubauer was originally drafted in the fourth round, 112th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Wellman, 25, has recorded 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 48 games this season with Hershey and San Antonio in the AHL. He has tallied 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 11 games with Hershey since being acquired from Florida for Zach Hamill on Jan. 31, 2013. Wellman’s combined statistics rank him third in points on the Bears and second in assists. The Brentwood, Calif., native has collected 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 41 NHL games with Minnesota from 2009-2012, and has recorded 117 points (47 goals, 70 assists) in 147 career AHL games with Houston, Connecticut, San Antonio and Hershey.

The 6’0”, 185-pound forward was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Minnesota in March 2010. He spent two seasons at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and compiled 78 points (34 goals, 44 assists) in 75 games and was named to the NCAA Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2009 and the Hockey East All-Academic Team in 2010.