The Phoenix Coyotes assigned three players to the Portland Pirates, their new AHL affiliate, and returned one player to his junior club late Saturday night.

Veteran goaltender Justin Pogge and veteran defenseman Dean Arsene and Tyler Eckford were assigned to the Pirates, while defenseman Brandon Gormley was returned to the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

As of this morning, 31 players remained in the Coyotes’ training camp. Phoenix has until its Oct. 8 opener against the San Jose Sharks to reduce its roster to league-minimum 23 players.