Ex-Rocket signs with AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pat McGrath. Photo by Darrell Kennedy.

 Former P.E.I. Rocket forward Patrick McGrath has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team announced yesterday.

McGrath, 22 - known more for his fists and fighting than for his hands and scoring - is the first local hockey player to join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins organization.

The Shavertown, Penn., native spent parts of the 2011-12 season and the full 2012-13 season with the P.E.I. Rocket.

In 2011-12, McGrath skated in 11 games picking up 58 penalty minutes with the Rocket. He spent the rest of the season with the Summerside Western Capitals of the MHL scoring a goal and four points while collecting 186 penalty minutes. The following season, McGrath skated in 61 games with the Rocket, scoring a goal and two points while collecting 171 penalty minutes. His 171 penalty minutes was the most of any QMJHL player during the 2012-13 season.

Following the Rocket, McGrath has skated in 104 regular season ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers scoring three goals and nine points with 422 penalty minutes.

McGrath signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Penguins on Dec. 26, 2014 and appeared in two games and picked up 12 penalty minutes.