Defenseman Brett Bellemore, who began this season with the River Rats before being hurt, has been reassigned to the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers.

The move leaves Albany with eight defenseman: Mark Flood, Tim Conboy, Josef Melichar, Brett Carson, Jonathan Paiement, Casey Borer, Bryan Rodney and injured rookie Benn Olson.

Here's the Rats (edited) press release:

Hurricanes Reassign Brett Bellemore To OHL

Rookie Defenseman Returned To Plymouth Whalers After Six Games In Albany

ALBANY, NY – The Albany River Rats announced today that rookie defenseman Brett Bellemore has been reassigned by the Carolina Hurricanes from Albany to the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

Bellemore, 20, played in six games for the River Rats this season before suffering an injury that forced him to miss 27 straight games. The Windsor, Ontario native signed an amateur tryout contract with the Rats on March 31, 2008 and made his professional debut with Albany on April 2, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; he skated in four regular season games and five Calder Cup Playoff games during the 2007-08 season. Bellemore returns to Plymouth, where he has played in 152 career OHL games and has 36 points (6 goals, 30 assists).

Albany will return to action next Friday, January 9th as they travel to Massachusetts for a 7:05 pm face off with the Worcester Sharks at DCU Center. The River Rats next home game takes place on Saturday, January 17th at 7:00 pm against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the (former Knickerbocker Arena).