AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

06Dec

Simon Despres(47) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st pick in the 2009 draft (#30 overall) defenseman Simon Desprese(47) started his rookie season with their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In 22 games, he has 3 goals and 4 assists and is a +3.

At 6’4″ 205 lbs. he’s bound to put on at least 15 more pounds of muscle in the next couple seasons to fill out his frame and overall game.

He received his first recall and had an assist in his NHL debut, a win vs. Washington Capitals.

He wears the same number 47 in the NHL as he does in the AHL.

05Dec

Niko Dimitrakos(52) WBS Penguins

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ opted out of their pto with 10-year pro center Niko Dimitrakos(25) after starting the season with the team putting up 6 goals and 4 assists in 21 games.

He was originally drafted by San Jose Sharks in the 5th round of the 1999 draft (#155 overall) and has played 158 NHL games scoring 24 goals 38 assists in 158 games with the Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers.

In the preseason, he played in games for Vancouver Canucks on a tryout invite to their camp.

04Dec

Dylan Reese(2) New York Islanders

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5th year defenseman (his 3rd in the Islanders‘ system) Dylan Reese(2) is making the most of his 1st NHL call up of the 2011/2012 season.

He potted a flutterer from the point in his 2nd game with the team, which also turned out to be a win for the team.

Originally a 7th round pick by New York Rangers in 2003 (#209 overall), the Isles is the only team he’s played in the NHL with. He has just under 300 games of AHL experience with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (his current team), Syracuse Crunch, San Antonio Rampage and Hartford Wolf Pack.

He does have the ability to be an offensive threat from the point.

03Dec

Marc-Andre Bourdon(3) Philadelphia Flyers

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2008 3rd round pick (#67 overall) defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon(3) is quietly enjoying his first four games in the NHL.

Just one season ago he played 5 games in the ECHL with Greenville Road Warriors. As a pro he’s spent more of his time guarding the blue line with their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

He is on the third year or his entry level contract. It’s almost assured that they’ll qualify him for at least another year of service, unless he looks good enough out there to attract some attention.

As said, he’s quietly enjoying his first games in the NHL. The less people notice him out there = a good thing.

02Dec

Chad Johnson(30) / Cameron Talbot(33) Connecticut Whale

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Having a hot backstop heading into the playoffs is always a recipe for success. Having two is flat out insane.

This could very well be the scenario for Connecticut Whale as they march through the 2011/2012 season.

The goaltender tandem of 2006 Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick (#125 overall), traded to the Rangers in 2009, Chad Johnson(30) and undrafted free agent signing in 2010, Cameron Talbot(33) looks to make the Whale favorites for the 2012 AHL Calder Cup.

Johnson already picked up AHL Goaltender Of The Month honors for October.

The pair played the majority of last season with the team but something for this team feels a lot different this year.

01Dec

Chris and Ryan Bourque(17)

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It was dubbed the Bourque Bowl by the folks in the media with Connecticut Whale and honestly that’s pretty much exactly what it was.

Stanley Cup Champion / Hall Of Fame defenseman, Ray Bourque‘s two sons play for a pair of AHL teams and this would be the first time in not only their pro playing career but pretty much ever that the brothers would play against each other.

Because of the 5 year age difference they really never had the chance: until now.

In his 7th year, Washington Capitals‘ 2004 2nd round pick (#33 overall), Chris Bourque(17) is absolutely tearing up the scoring sheet with Hershey Bears. His 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) have him in second amongst the league leading scorers.

His younger brother, Ryan Bourque(17) was New York Rangers‘ 2009 3rd round pick (#80 overall). He played two seasons in juniors before turning pro this season and gets his pro start with Connecticut Whale.

He’s described as a good overall player that forechecks ferociously. In 13 games he has 1 goal and a pair of assists. Listed at 5’9″ 164 lbs, he’s small like his older brother but plays much bigger than his listed size suggests.

The brothers both wear the number 17.

30Nov

Andy Miele(21) Portland Pirates

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2010/2011 Hobey Baker Award winner and college player of the year, Phoenix Coyotes‘ undrafted, entry level signing at the end of last season, rookie center Andy Miele(21) was recalled quickly to the NHL but failed to register a point in 5 games played.

He was reassigned to their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates in early November and has been lighting the lamp for them big time, putting up 7 goals and 13 assists in 14 games played.

It’s likely a no-brainer that he’ll get another look soon.

He’s small, listed at 5’9″ 175 lbs. but he’s got the finesse to set up plays and that scoring touch to finish them.

12/1: Miele is named AHL Rookie Of The Month for November.

28Nov

John Mitchell (79)

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After being acquired in a trade with Toronto Maple Leafs for a bag of rocks (7th round pick), center John Mitchell(79) spent the rest of the 2010/2011 season with New York Rangers‘ AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale and basically put up a point per game in 20 regular season and playoff games.

He was re-signed quickly in the offseason to a two-way, one-year deal and has been taking up with the Whale where he left off, notching a point in every game.

He received his first call-up to the Blueshirts and continued in the scoring column already putting up a couple of assists in his first two games with the team.

Originally a Maple Leafs‘ 2003 5th round pick (#158 overall), he has accumulated 161 games of NHL experience for 20 goals and 37 assists.

11/29: Mitchell gets his first goal with the Rangers.

In 4 games he has one goal and a pair of assists. Nice start (and hat).

28Nov

Worcester Sharks’ annual teddy bear toss

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On Sunday afternoon’s game, when the Sharks scored their first goal, teddy bears came flying out of the stands and onto the ice for the annual tradition. This year’s total number of stuffed animals hurled to donate to kids in need in the name of defenseman Mike Moore‘s “Give Moore For The Holiday” Charity was a lot.

Rookie center Nathan Moon(34) looks like he got a bit overwhelmed and bewildered.

Weird hockey fact about him, he won the Central Hockey League’s Presidents Cup last year with Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in that team’s final season as a franchise. He scored 1 goal in 7 games, joining the team after he finished up with his junior team.

He carries the cup at the end of the video. It’s kind of funny.

27Nov

Jason Jaffray(15) Winnipeg Jets

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In his 10th year, undrafted wing Jason Jaffray(15) has always been a leader for the AHL squads he’s played for.

Through 41 NHL games, most of those with Vancouver Canucks, he’s defined as mostly a character player, who does what he needs to get the job done.

With his new team for the 2011/2012 season, Winnipeg Jets, he received his first call up and has been making the most of it.

He recently notched his first point with the team, an assist, in 5 games.

He’s the captain of affiliate St. John’s IceCaps, a team he has helped to a first place overall standing in its’ debut AHL season.

He is one of the most storied players in Manitoba Moose history and holds 6 different team records.