Published: August 23, 2008 12:03 am      

Martens sent west

The Johnstown Chiefs traded two-year defenseman Andrew Martens to the Ontario (Calif.) Reign for the rights to two players who made a significant impact with the Texas Wildcatters last season.

The Chiefs obtained the rights to 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenseman David Schulz and 25-goal scorer Max Taylor.

Schulz is the key to the deal because Taylor has an AHL contract and might be in line for a long-term stay in that league.

“Schulz is a mobile defenseman with size,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said. “He is someone I was talking to last year. He ended up going to Texas. He played a few games with Manitoba (in the AHL) last year. If he doesn’t stick with Manitoba, he will be a good addition to our club. He will give us size and mobility.”

Schulz had eight goals, 20 points and a plus-26 rating in 49 games with Texas, a team that relocated to Ontario. Taylor had 45 points in 59 games, with nine power-play tallies and four game-winners.

“Taylor probably will be spending most of the time in Toronto,” Herbers said. “He signed an American League deal. If it doesn’t work out for him, we’d love to have him in Johnstown. He’s a very dynamic player. It was kind of a wild-card thrown in. If it pans out, it’s a big plus for us. If it doesn’t, there is nothing lost. It’s worth a try.”

Martens played 142 regular-season games with the Chiefs, scoring 15 goals and 68 points.

Several other former Chiefs have moved on, including four-year veteran Jean Desrochers, who will play in Italy. Johnstown’s record-breaking, 29-win goaltender Ryan Nie has agreed to terms with Fresno, Herbers said. Defenseman Nathan Saunders recently signed with Stockton.

Herbers is confident veteran captain Randy Rowe and alternate captain Jason Spence will return.

“We expect Randy Rowe back,” Herbers said. “He’s been helping with the recruiting trail and he’s been involved in the community this summer. Same thing with Jason Spence.”