Hawks give defenseman Cullimore more shifts with Rockford

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Jassen Cullimore and assigned him to continue playing with the Rockford IceHogs, their AHL affiliate.

Cullimore, 37, began the season with Rockford, recording 5 points (2G, 3A) and 36 penalty minutes in 40 games after originally signing a professional tryout contact with the club on Oct. 22, 2009.

The Simcoe, Ontario, native is a veteran of 776 career National Hockey League regular-season games, racking up 77 assists, 103 points and 696 penalty minutes with the Vancouver Canucks (1994-96), Montreal Canadiens, (1996-98), Tampa Bay Lightning (1998-2004), Blackhawks (2005-07) and Florida Panthers (2007-09).

Cullimore, who helped Tampa Bay capture the 2004 Stanley Cup, tallied 14 points (2G, 12A) and 117 penalty minutes during his two seasons in Chicago. Currently in his 17th professional campaign, Cullimore has also appeared in 35 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.