Wellman gets point in NHL debut, Montreal signs Bishop

Former Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Hunter Bishop has signed a two-year, free-agent contract with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and has been assigned to the franchise's AHL affiliate in Hamilton. Bishop played on the 2004-05 Clark Cup champion RoughRiders team, scoring 12 points in 50 games.

He spent the last two seasons at Ohio State, scoring 15 goals this season.

Also, Casey Wellman, who signed this week as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild, became the sixth former RoughRider to play in an NHL game, picking up an assist Friday night in Minnesota's 4-2 loss at Columbus.

Wellman signed a two-year, $1.8 million deal after playing two seasons with the University of Massachusetts.

"He's my best friend, and I couldn't be more happy," said RoughRiders winger

David Boehm, who roomed with Wellman at UMass before leaving the school in January and returning to Cedar Rapids. "He's the best kid in the world, and more than anybody, he deserves it."