Category: AHL

08Oct

Binghamton Senators 2011 Calder Cup Champions banner

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Binghamton Senators‘ players watch as the team’s 2011 Calder Cup Champions banner is raised into the rafters of their home arena, Broome County Veteran Memorial Arena in a pre-game ceremony before the 2011/2012 opening night game.

It was the 1st trophy for the city in 39 years of professional hockey that started in 1973 with the Broome Dusters.

The team also established an AHL record for road wins (1o) to win it. It was also the first playoff appearance for the team since 2005 and they did it crossing over into the Atlantic Division to start the postseason since they had a better record than the fourth place team to clinch the playoff berth.

 

08Oct

Jhonas Enroth(1) Buffalo Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres 2006 2nd round draft pick (#46 overall), goaltender Jhonas Enroth(1) was re-signed in the offseason as the back-up for started Ryan Miller after putting up impressive numbers last season when called-up from Portland Pirates of the AHL and put into the game (14 games, 9-2-2 record, 2.73 GAA, .907 SV%).

He’ll probably get the start in 20+ contest this season. He’s small for a goaltender at 5’10” 166 lbs. but very quick and his size doesn’t hinder his ability to stop the puck in any way.

04Oct

Andrew Joudrey(24) Springfield Falcons

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andrew-joudrey

Washington Capitals‘ 2003 8th round pick (#249 overall) center Andrew Joudrey(24) will skate for only his second pro team going into his fifth year pro.

Former captain for Hershey Bears, he signed a two-year, two-way deal with Columbus and will be a leader for their AHL affiliate, Springfield Falcons.

Late last month he played his first preseason game at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA vs. Providence Bruins after being reassigned from Blue Jackets‘ training camp..

03Oct

Mark Voakes(27) Rochester Americans

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Heading into his third pro season, winger Mark Voakes(27) signs himself an AHL contract for the 2011/2012 season with Rochester Americans after signing a pto late last year with Portland Pirates, the now former affiliate of Buffalo Sabres, and posting some impressive numbers (6 goals, 5 assists in 18 games and 3 goalsand 5 assists in 10 playoff games). He spent the entire early season in the ECHL with Greenville Road Warriors putting up good totals there too (60 games, 17 goals and 37 assists).

AHL News carried a good story about his pro career and him being a bit of a late bloomer.

One thing is for certain, in the games he skated that I was in attendance for, this guy’s got some skills. If he does get sent down again, it would be to Gwinnett Gladiators, where 2008 draft pick Corey Fienhage will likely start the year with a contract.

02Oct

Joe Loprieno(3) Bakersfield Condors

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After two seasons with Worcester Sharks, undrafted defenseman found himself looking for a new team for 2011/2012.

He recently signed a contract to play in the ECHL with the seemingly stacked Bakersfield Condors.

He was invited to Chicago Wolves‘ training camp but was cut when they received reinforcements from their new parent club, Vancouver Canucks.

Last year the big defenseman (6’3″ 220 lbs.) found himself playing a few games at the forward position and not too surprisingly it yielded his first professional hockey goals. The trend to put him up front will probably continue with the Condors. And it’s also likely that he’ll receive a call-up or two in the upcoming season.

02Oct

Ty Wishart(15) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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No surprise former San Jose Sharks‘ 2006 1st round draft pick (#16 overall) defenseman Ty Wishart(15) was recently reassigned from New York Islanders‘ training camp to the team’s AHL affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Picked up in a trade last season from Tampa Bay, he played 20 games in the NHL (1 goal, 4 assists) and 20 in the AHL (0 goals, 9 assists) with the Sound Tigers.

The large-framed d-man (6’4″ 218 lbs.) seems to be still growing into his game. He mostly looked out of place in preseason games, so this is no surprise.

There’s still tons of potential here. He’s only 23 years old but he’s going to have to show it soon or his third team in 5 years pro or find himself playing in some league like the KHL.

01Oct

Obi Aduba(37) Springfield Falcons

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3rd year undrafted local pro from Walpole, MA (played his college hockey at UMass-Amherst), Obi Aduba(37) got an invite to Springfield Falcons‘ AHL training camp after posting some good numbers last season with Quad City Mallards (21 goals, 30 assists in 66 games) in the Central Hockey League. It was his second year with the team that he’ll in all likelihood rejoin for the 2011/2012 season after recently signing a new contract.

At age 27, he’s the type of player that very well could be a bit of a late bloomer and find himself climbing the professional hockey league ladder.

Seeing him in action for the first time since his rookie season with Danbury Mad Hatters, I wouldn’t doubt if he scores himself a couple of call-ups.

29Sep

Antoine Roussel(24) Vancouver Canucks

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2nd year forward Antoine Roussel(24) scored himself an invite to Vancouver Canucks‘ training camp after Boston Bruins didn’t pick up his option following his rookie season.

He managed to impress the brass in camp and throughout NHL preseason games enough to stick around longer than most would have expected him to. Assigned to camp with first year AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves he looks poised to pick himself up a contract for 2011/2012.

In 42 games with Providence last season he scored 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) but brought a feisty attitude onto the ice with every shift. Kind of surprised to see he was a +5 skater for the team.

28Sep

Zach Hamill(52) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#8 overall) center Zach Hamill(52) had to clear waivers before being reassigned to the AHL Providence Bruins. He’s on the fourth year of his entry level contract.

Usually players can go up and down between leagues for the first three years, which was the case with him. But this season since he’s already had three full campaigns in the AHL (due to a late birthday and initial contract signing), he has to clear waivers each time he’s called up and sent back down.

The Bruins have a lot of depth at the center position, so this may be his last season in the system.