Category: ECHL

02Nov

Kenny Ryan(25) Lake Erie Monsters

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Kenny Ryan4th year unrestricted free agent right wing Kenny Ryan(25) was offered a training camp invite via Colorado Avalanche but was released pretty early in the running.

He wound up reporting to their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters‘ camp and earned his way onto their opening night roster, so at the very least he’s signed to a pto (for now).

The former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#50 overall) skated three years in their system but never seemed to materialize.

Through 125 AHL games, he scored a not so dynamic 15 goals and 23 assists with their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

In 23 Calder Cup Playoff games the 6′ 200 lbs. forward added a goal and four helpers with a promising +5 rating.

He certainly comes from a place where he’s been a winner and able to put the puck in the net on a regular basis playing a pair of seasons with Windsor Spitfires of the OHL and capturing both the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup in the same year ’09/’10, and before that two years in the NAHL development with U.S. National Team.

The 23-year old is off to a career year start posting 3 goals and 2 assists with a +3 plus/minus is 8 games.

With stats that good, he may just play himself into another NHL contract.

01Nov

Frederick Roy(91) retired

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Frederick Roy91Undrafted 23-year old, would be third year left wing Frederick Roy(91), son of Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy, has decided it’s time to hang up the skates.

Having signed a pair of successive AHL contracts with Rochester Americans and being without a solid deal going into 2014/2015, he probably was unwilling to move down to the ECHL to see what could materialize.

Also, possible there were little offers from Europe as well.

Regardless, the somewhat small 5’10” 170 lbs. forward with a ton of well-documented feistines (he’s credited with 10 fighting majors last season) stops playing much too soon.

He showed much potential scoring and checking line promise, especially in his fourth season in the QMJHL with Quebec Ramparts.

The word on his wiki suggests he’s decided it’s time to go back to school.

We still wish him well and of course, he comes from good hockey stock so we probably haven’t heard the last of him.

27Oct

Scott Darling(33) Chicago Blackhawks

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Scott Dariling33Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#153 overall) 5th year goaltender Scott Darling(33) took an unprecedented long journey to his first NHL game with Chicago Blackhawks, getting the 2-1 victory in the process.

The extra large 6’6″ 238 lbs. net minder was never signed after his selection from US junior hockey.

He advanced to play a couple of campaigns for University Of Maine Black Bears putting up decent stats but still found no takers.

Deciding to turn pro he signed his first contract with the now defunct Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL and continued in the league inking for his sophomore year with Mississippi Riverkings.

He received a couple of call-ups but didn’t fare too well, although he would get a one-year deal with Wheeling Nailers for the next season.

After a solid, short run in the ECHL, Milwaukee Admirals took a chance on the backstop for 2013/2014, where he put up outstanding numbers going 13-6 in 26 AHL games with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%.

The effort earned him his first NHL deal with the Blackhawks.

Coming off a strong training camp, he was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

In 2 contests he won both and 1.44 GAA and .948 SV%.

The close to Chicago native from Lemont, IL received a well-deserved nod to start between the pipes upon his first recall.

At just 25-years old, he has gone all the way from single A to the show.

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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Scott Munroe39th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

25Oct

Spencer Asuchak(23) Allen Americans

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Spencer AsuchukExceptionally large undrafted center Spencer Asuchak(23) spent his rookie season with Allen Americans eclipsing all his high point marks from 4 years of juniors in the WHL and one year of college before helping the team to win the Ray Miron’s Presidents Cup in the final season of the Central Hockey League.

For his sophomore campaign he got a surprise phone call offering him to join Boston Bruins‘ rookie camp and eventual training camps with the club and it’s minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

The 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward scored a goal in preseason action but was released as they have a logjam of players signed.

He decided to return to Allen for another round as they moved up the hockey ladder merging with the ECHL for 2014/2015.

This isn’t his first experience in the league as he signed an ato with Ontario Reign and skated three games at the end of his time with Prince George Cougars. He recorded no points.

The still super-young 22-year old will very likely get another chance to show his might with a recall to P-Bruins or another AHL squad.

19Oct

Nick Jones (8)

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Nick-Jones-1

Undrafted rookie defenseman Nick Jones(8) played a couple of AHL games with Worcester Sharks after four years at Mercyhurt College came to a close.

He didn’t record any points but did come away with a +1 rating and had a fairly high 6 shots on goal.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner mostly showed point production increases in each of his campaigns at school and healthy plus/minus marks in his final couple of seasons but was fairly well-known as unafraid to take a shot from the point (or closer).

He signed a one-year two-way minor league deal for his rookie campaign right before the start of 2014/2015.

Invited on a tryout to attend San Jose Sharks‘ training camp, he was among the first cuts sent down.

The 24-year was further reassigned to start his pro career with Indy Fuel but is already making a statement.

In two ECHL games he’s struck for his first goal and added 2 assists while firing 7 shots at the net.

13Oct

Eric Knodel (40)

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Eric Knodel

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#128 overall), the absolutely huge 6’6″ 225 lbs. defenseman Eric Knodel(40) will start the first full season of his pro career on double reassignment to Orlando Solar Bears.

He signed an ato after completing his fourth year at University Of New Hampshire, where as a senior he was named team captain.

Skating in 10 AHL games with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies he recorded his first two points, assists and was a +1 plus/minus.

He’s definitely shown flares for putting up points, especially helpers but might need a little more coaching and practice on the next level to give him the confidence to produce.

He attended a pair of Leafs’ prospect camps and this year’s training camp but was cut early.

At 24-years old he’s a bit of a late starter but easily has the size to blossom into a powerhouse on the blue line.

He’ll need to do it quickly though, as he’s only signed to a one-year entry level deal.

06Oct

Andrew Yogan(6) San Antonio Rampage

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Andrew-Yogan-1024x682

New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#100 overall), center Andrew Yogan(6) was quickly falling off the depth chart with the parent club and found himself reassigned down the pro hockey ladder to their ECHL affiliate Greenville Road Warriors through his two years in the system.

The big-ish 6’3″ 203 lbs. power forward excelled fairly big in the lower league performing at nearly a point-per-game level through 31 games and recording 7 goals and 11 assists in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

After a quick start on his first ato with AHL farm club Connecticut Whale, where he notched a quick pair of goals in his debut and added an assist in another, his totals slumped upon signing his 3-year entry level deal.

He played 5 seasons of juniors in the OHL showing he could connect with the score sheet on a regular basis.

The 22-year old was recently involved in a minor trade that sends him back home down south to Florida Panthers.

He’ll start 2014/2015 with San Antonio Rampage to see if he can find that spark in his game that got folks talking about his potential as the first player ever drafted from the Sunshine State.

05Oct

Tommy Grant(17) Aalborg Pirates

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Tommy Grant4th year undrafted left wing Tommy Grant(17) decided to take his game overseas to Denmark, joining Aalborg Pirates after tearing it up for a season under contract with Idaho Steelheads.

In 64 ECHL games he had 23 goals and 27 assists.

It wasn’t his first time skating in the league either. While under contract with San Jose Sharks he was double reassigned to San Francisco Bulls where he had one tally and four helpers in 5 contests.

The pretty big 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward was initially property of New York Rangers playing exclusively for their minor league affiliate the then Connecticut Whale, once again Hartford Wolf Pack.

He was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after three outstanding seasons of college hockey at University Of Alaska-Anchorage and joined the team at the completion of school for 7 regular season games (3 assists) and 8 Calder Cup Playoff matchups (1-1-2).

He had decent enough campaigns with the team too, scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 34 AHL games before getting dealt.

When he reported to Worcester Sharks all the air seems to be let out of the tires. Maybe he potentially realized the time on his 2-year entry level was up and he’d be looking for a new place to play for his third year.

He seems to be fitting in kind of nicely in his new surroundings as he’s credited with a pair of goals and 1 assist in 4 games.