Avs' Matt Duchene exits Swedish league for Swiss team By QMI Agency

Matt Duchene, of the Colorado Avalanche, is taking off for Switzerland. (AFP)

Maybe Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene missed the mountains.

Duchene played his final game with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League Saturday, scoring the winning goal in a 3-1 decision, before moving on to a Swiss team. In 19 games with Frolunda, he had just four goals and 10 assists.

Rather than stay in Sweden, Duchene opted to sign with Ambri-Piotta of the top Swiss league, a move he announced on his Twitter account Sunday.

"Now onto my next stop... Switzerland! Excited to be the newest member of Ambri-Piotta! Can't wait to get there and get started," he tweeted.

The 21-year-old joins Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider with Ambri-Piotta. Schneider signed with the club two weeks ago.

REAVES RETURNS TO ECHL

St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves is going back to the ECHL.

Reaves, who signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract with the Blues in the off-season, will join the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, the team announced Sunday. The 25-year-old from Winnipeg previously had a short, nine-game stint with Alaska of the ECHL in 2007-08.

"Reaves is a great addition to our club," Orlando coach Drake Berehowsky said. "He brings strong leadership both on and off the ice, and the way he plays the game will set a tremendous example to the rest of our team."

Reaves had three goals and one assist, plus 124 penalty minutes, in 60 games with the Blues last season.