AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

24Apr

Andrew Joudrey(24) Springfield Falcons

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Springfield Falcons‘ 7th year center Andrew Joudrey(24) is coming off his most productive, third season with the team.

He recorded new career highs with 20 assists and 32 points; good enough to tie his regular season mark for helpers and second most overall total.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 185 lbs. forward, previously noted for his assistant captain, leadership qualities more than his ability to connect on the score sheet, signed his first non-NHL contract, a one-year deal for 2013/2014.

He’s only ever skated a single game with Columbus Blue Jackets in the show.

He won an NCAA Championship with University Of Wisconsin in 2006 and a pair of back-to-back 2009 and 2010 Calder Cup Titles with Hershey Bears.

The 29-year old scored the overtime, winning goal in the first game of the AHL Eastern Conference Calder Cup Quarterfinals and could very well also be on his way to new postseason personal bests.

Where he will end up next is anyone’s guess, but he could easily signed for another couple seasons to stick where he is.

23Apr

Nicklas Jensen(17) Utica Comets

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#29 overall) Danish-born rookie right wing Nicklas Jensen(17) is off and flying start in his first full season of North American pro hockey.

He suited up for 17 NHL games with the parent club, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists with a -1 rating on a team that struggled to find chemistry through most of 2013/2014.

In 54 AHL contests with affiliate Utica Comets, the sizable 6’3″ but skinny 186 lbs. forward produced a tidy 15 goals and 6 assists in his first season in the minors.

He started was signed as an 18-year old to a 3-year entry level contract but in the first of two-entry level slides went back to his junior club, Oshawa Generals and then started the next season in the SHL with AIK before joining their minor league team Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2012/2013.

It’s unlikely he’ll return to the farm team for any more extended periods of time but if his numbers or play slips up in the show, he may find himself on reassignment as a wake-up call.

Odds are that he’ll stick and will be contributing big-time in his sophomore campaign.

22Apr

Steve Quailer(13) Manchester Monarchs

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Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#86 overall) right wing Steve Quailer(13) was involved in a mostly minor league that sent him to Los Angeles Kings, who are notorious for developing size up front.

At 6’4″ 209 lbs. he’s certainly a big frame and has been using it in his time with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs. In 19 games he’s posted 3 goals and 3 assists pushing him to modest yet new career highs for helpers and points.

He played for a season and a half with Hamilton Bulldogs.

In the final season of his 2-year entry level deal, he signed after he finished four years at Northeastern University, where he served as assistant captain.

Already 24-years old, he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign, but should be retained for one more shot in the prospect system to see if he’ll turn the corner the way they think he might by picking him up.

He’ll be playing in his first forthcoming postseason games.

21Apr

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Game 2: Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings

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Boston Bruins‘ celebrate the 4-1 win over Detroit Red Wings in game 2 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to even the series at one game apiece.

Providence Bruins‘ forward Justin Florek(57) on recall to the parent club had the opening tally and 2nd year defenseman Torey Krug(47) had a pair of assists.

Both teams have three tough wins to punch their ticket into the 2nd round.

20Apr

Joey Martin (14)

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Stockton Thunder undrafted center Joey Martin(10) posted career highs for games played, assists and points in his third ECHL season.

He skated in 66 contests, scoring one less goal than he did as a rookie, with 21 tallies and a new record 45 helpers, 66 points; all team leading offensive totals.

He also managed to tie his AHL scoring mark in 2013/2014 with a pair of goals on loan to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers; and his 2 assists for 4 points with a +3 rating in 9 games were new personal bests.

He’s skated in higher league games in each of his years.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward is now once again lighting up the postseason score sheet and will undoubtedly eclipse his former totals as in just 2 games he has already evened up with his 5 points, including a new best 4 assists.

19Apr

Utica Comets vs. Toronto Marlies handshake

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A site never seen to conclude a regular season game: both squads line up to shake hands at the conclusion of the second to last game of the regular season, a 3-2 battle in which the home team Utica Comets won a contest over AHL Western Conference rivals Toronto Marlies that had little meaning in the standings.

Tough to recall what started this gentlemanly gesture, but it’s believed two opposing friends came together to exchange some good will and it escalated into plenty of fuzzy feelings to go around.

18Apr

Lukas Sedlak(28) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#158 overall), Czech Republic-born rookie center Lukas Sedlak(28) had himself a decent first year with minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons.

He appeared in 54 AHL games scoring 8 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating.

The 6′ 209 lbs. skater played like a power forward and got his share of dings throughout the regular season.

He’s been in a few training camps with the parent club since he was selected and was grabbed in the 1st round of the CHL import draft by Chicoutimi Sangueneens to put his game on display in North America.

He already had four seasons of junior hockey in his home country and arrived somewhat late to these shores as an 18-year old and would turn pro after only two campaigns putting up 32 goals and 47 assists in 98 games in the QMJHL.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015/2016, he should compete for an NHL roster spot in his sophomore campaign.

A strong showing for the now 21-year old in the Calder Cup Playoffs will definitely help his chances.

15Apr

William Karlsson(22) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#53 overall), Swedish-born center William Karlsson(22) already has 4 seasons of pro hockey in his home country, including the last pair in the SHL with HV71.

He scored 19 goals with 46 assists in 105 games and previously played 60 contests as a teenager in the tier 2 league, Allsvenskan.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy with a +25 rating in 2011/2012 for Västerås.

Signing his 3-year entry level deal for the current campaign, he was loaned by the parent club to skate one more season in Sweden.

With their playoff elimination, he was recalled to join minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 6 AHL games he has his first North American pro hockey goal and a 3 assists, while playing a hard-working, highly skilled style.

At 21-years old he’ll most definitely be competing for a NHL roster spot for his official rookie year, 2014/2015.

14Apr

Coach Roy Sommer Worcester Sharks

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Worcester Sharks‘ coach Roy Sommers stood behind the bench for his now league leading 1,257th AHL game.

He started his journey 16 years ago in 1998 with then San Jose Sharks‘ farm club Kentucky Thoroughblades, then moved with the team to 5 minor league famed seasons at the helm for Cleveland Barons.

Continuing his move with affiliates east, he achieves the record feat in his 8th year in Central Massachusetts.

The 56-year old former played only three NHL games but managed to score his only goal in the show in his debut.

He also won a Calder Cup trophy with Maine Mariners in 1984 and skated in 147 AHL and 195 IHL games.

He hung up his skates after 8 seasons, just after his 30th birthday.

Straight after retirement, he started as an assistant coach for a pair of seasons before moving on to 5 winning campaigns in the ECHL and two more as an assistant in the NHL.

13Apr

Derek Whitmore(11)

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Undrafted 6th year left wing Derek Whitmore(11) was having problems fitting in to a veteran laden Hershey Bears‘ lineup after signing a one-year minor league contract with the team upon his return from a short, half season stint in Germany’s DEL skating for Augsburger Panther.

He did reasonably well overseas connecting for 9 goals and 14 assists in 26 games.

Loaned in a player swap at the trade deadline to Adirondack Phantoms, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has benefited, scoring almost as many points with his new squad in half the time.

He’s well off his 40+ point pace from 2010-2012 in Buffalo Sabres‘ affiliate system but given another full season workload could find the mark again.