ECHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Category: ECHL

08Apr

Maxim Kitsyn(48) Ontario Reign

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#158 overall) Russian-born left wing Maxim Kitsyn(48) had a bit of a struggling first half of his rookie season, finding himself in an out of the lineup with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

His 3 goals and 1 assist in 20 contests wasn’t enough to crack a tough roster of skaters that have mostly been together in the prospect system for awhile.

The sturdy 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward already has five seasons, 110 games of KHL experience to his credit. He put together 10 goals and 9 assists, playing in the league since he was 16-years old.

He also spent the latter half of 2010/2011 playing in the OHL with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and parts of seasons in the Russian tier two league and juniors in his home country.

He was almost routinely a point-per-game guy in these levels of hockey.

Reassigned to double A affiliate Ontario Reign, he has managed to produce at a similar clip.

In 31 ECHL games he’s potted a handy 13 goals and 15 assists with an amazing +15 rating and has unloaded 100 shots on the net.

The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level contract and is definitely the exact kind of big frame offensive-minded player they call up to the NHL and sticks.

He can easily bring his game up to another level but will have to want it bad to get the look.

04Apr

Wacey Hamilton(36) Binghamton Senators

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd year undrafted center Wacey Hamilton(36) is putting up some career high AHL marks with farm team Binghamton Senators.

Although maybe not the biggest numbers at 13 assists and 15 points, they do show a fairly good increase, doubling what he had in two campaigns for helpers and achieving almost the same in the overall category.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 185 lbs. forward achieved over point-per-game status in his final two runs with Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL (he was team captain in 2010/2011) but continues to look for that scoring touch as a pro, while playing a mostly checking line role.

He is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current season upon completion of his 3-year entry level deal.

The parent club may take a bit of a while before qualifying the 23-year old to see if more can delevop or could release him to seek playing time elsewhere.

Regardless, this is a player that needs to ignite more fire in his game to elevate it.

03Apr

Cade Fairchild(2) Portland Pirates

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

3rd year defenseman Cade Fairchild(2) was picked up in an AHL trade deadline deal by Phoenix Coyotes for future considerations and reassigned to their farm club, Portland Pirates.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft, he skated mostly with their minor league affiliates apart from 5 NHL games in his rookie season (one assist).

In a somewhat surprisingly move he was also sent down to the ECHL for a pair of contests for Kalamazoo Wings near the beginning of the current season.

The slightly small-ish looking 5’11” 178 lbs. blue liner has appeared in 150 AHL contests scoring 10 goals and 55 assists with a massive +30 rating.

He dished out his fair share of helpers in four years at University Of Minnesota.

Tbe 25-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current campaign after signing a one-year extension.

It will be interesting to see where he ends up playing in 2014/2015, but I doubt anyone will be surprised if he decides to take his talents overseas.

27Mar

Dustin Gazley(10) Hershey Bears

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

3rd year undrafted mini-right wing Dustin Gazley(10) is getting an opportunity with Hershey Bears, putting up some impressive numbers for a player that’s only 5’9″ and weighs in at a light 154 lbs.

He signed a one-year two-way deal in the off-season but started the season with affiliate Reading Royals, where he stayed through the first three months of 2013/2014 putting together 8 goals and 10 assists in 25 games.

These numbers were a bit off the mark from what he’d produced previously in a pair of ECHL campaigns under contract with Elmira Jackals.

As a rookie, he led the league in assists (60) and points (85), which easily earned him the Rookie Of The Year, John A. Daley Trophy.

Signed to rejoin Elmira for a 2nd run, he picked up where he left off, finding the back of the net 14 times and dishing out 35 more helpers in just 37 games.

He was loaned to Binghamton Senators and stuck through the remainder of the regular season, connecting for 4 goals and 5 assists in 29 contests.

The 25-year old forward received a bit of a late Christmas present when he was recalled but achieved basically the same feat from the previous year, staying put for what appears to be the rest of the season.

In an AHL career high 31 games, he’s notched an 8 best goals and will pass his assist total of 5 with one more.

He’s free to explore options for 2014/2015 but it seems like a good bet that he’ll be invited to return to Chocolatetown and help them regain the glory that’s been an integral part of the team history.

20Mar

Cody Sylvester(12) Wheeling Nailers

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Cody Sylvester(12) netted ECHL Player Of The Week for March 10-16, his second time being selected this season.

In 43 games with Wheeling Nailers he has a solid 22 tallies and 16 assists with a +14 rating. He’s also unloaded a team third high total of 134 shots on goal.

The 5’11” 191 lbs. forward played 5 campaigns of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen. He won the 2010 WHL Championship with them and took his scoring touch up a notch in the playoffs, which set up 2 years of more than point-per-game production in his final pair of seasons before turning pro. He also served as team captain as an over-age player.

He’s mostly been on reassignment since attending the first part of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on an invite, then with the WBS.

He was recalled for almost a couple months of action in the higher league and played 17 AHL games, getting a pair of goals before being sent back down.

The 21-year old will likely be a key contributor to any potential Kelly Cup Playoff quest or rejoin the Baby Pens in their postseason run, but however his first year ends up, should return for another look next season or will find a new home to continue strengthen his overall game.

06Mar

Rob Bordson(9) Adirondack Phantoms

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Adirondack Phantoms‘ 4th year, undrafted left wing Rob Bordson(9) looks to be on his way to AHL career highs for goals, assists, points and penalty minutes.

To start his pro career he signed a two-year entry level deal, which included his final season of college hockey at University Of Minnesota-Duluth, with Anaheim Ducks and was reassigned to then minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, but was traded only a couple months into his rookie campaign to Philadelphia Flyers‘ system.

This represented his first tour of duty with the Phantoms, where he put up decent numbers (7-14-21) with a +13 rating.

Heading into the off season he was part of his second trade in less than a year that sent him to Los Angeles Kings‘ organization but never laced up the skates, as he was left unqualified heading into his sophomore season.

With big league suitors lining up, the 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward inked his next contract with Trenton Titans of the ECHL.

He was with the club putting up better than a point-per-game numbers and recalled to Rochester Americans for a short stint before being returned at the start of the new year.

Six weeks later Adirondack came back around hoping to re-employ the battler with an spc for the balance of the regular season.

Heading into his third year, he signed with the team again, playing in all 76 games.

He was extended once again and earned an invite to the Flyers‘ training camp before being sent back down to start the current campaign.

The 25-year old plays a hard-skating, battler style of game that should either lead him to continue where he is or get adopted elsewhere.

05Mar

Justin Johnson(49) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ right wing Justin Johson(49) 8-year minor league journeyman’s career finally got some vindication as he scored a two-way NHL contract with parent club New York Islanders for the remainder of the 2013/2014 season.

He may not play any big league games but can now be easily recalled to help protect some of their skilled, younger prospects as they look to be spoilers.

After four years of college hockey at University Of Alaska, his hometown school of higher education, he went undrafted and signed a deal with the local club, Alaska Aces but was cut only 4 games into his rookie season.

He would tour the ECHL suiting up for 3 other teams before circling back to play another campaign with the Aces.

The somewhat stocky looking 6’1″ 220 lbs. has never been one to produce on the score sheet much but NEVER backs down from mixing it up with the opposing team’s biggest bruiser.

He would get a recall from Manchester Monarchs at the beginning of 2010/2011, signing a pto and stayed with them for the duration.

Heading into the next session he scored himself a 2-year extension to stay in New Hampshire.

The 32-year old would finally move on when he had interest from Bridgeport to sign for a season and become the enforcer for their young squad. He was even invited to join the Islanders‘ training camp and play in exhibition games.

Regardless of where he goes next, a stick-to-it attitude and perseverance pays off.

See related: 2/11-11, 9/4-11, 9/1-12

23Feb

Kelly Zajac(11) Albany Devils

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Albany Devils‘ undrafted 2nd year center Kelly Zajac(11) is making a statement on the score sheet in his sophomore season with the team.

After being sidelined for a majority of his rookie year with a nagging lower body injury, limiting him to only 14 games (2 goals, 2 assists), he returned for 2013/2014 healthy and ready to contribute.

Appearing in 46 AHL games, he’s easily posted career highs with 8 goals, 22 assists and a +5 rating on a squad that’s poised to make a playoff run for the first time in a long while.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 175 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy in his last two campaigns of college hockey at Union, helping them win the 2012 NCAA (ECAC) Championship.

He’s only been signed to a pair of 1-year minor league contracts but is definitely making a bid to get noticed and move up.

The 25-year old spent parts of his first season in the ECHL with Trenton Titans, most of the time to likely get some games under his belt, and was able to produce at a rate of 6 goals and 10 assists in 15 contests in the lower league.

He may not be sure where he will end up under a deal for his next campaign but should be able to score a training camp invite to show the higher ups what he can do.

21Feb

Zach O’Brien(10) Manchester Monarchs

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Super-mini, undrafted rookie right wing Zach O’Brien(10) has to be enjoying his first season pro.

After three seasons in the QMJHL with Acadie-Bathurst Titan, where he led the league in goals and points as a rookie then pulled off another goal scoring title the next year with 50 tallies and 101 points. He slumped in his final campaign with only 92.

The possibly overlooked 5’9″ 178 lbs. forward was invited to attend his hometown minor league club, St. John’s IceCaps‘ training camp after playing one game on an ato at the end of the previous season.

He didn’t stick and was reassigned to Ontario Reign to start the season despite being under some kind of vague contract.

He skated in 5 ECHL games scoring a quick pair of goals and assists.

One month into the 2013/2014 season and Manchester Monarchs come knocking and were able to sign him to a pto that is now 28 AHL games in.

With 6 goals, 8 assists and +6 rating to go along with his tenacious play, it looks like he’s a lock to stick.

19Feb

Buddy Robinson(10) Binghamton Senators

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Ottawa Senators‘ undrafted, big 6’5″ 225 lbs. right wing Buddy Robinson(10) is doing nicely for himself in his rookie season with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators.

In 43 AHL games he has 8 goals and 9 assists with a +10 rating. He was said to have a good training camp with the parent club.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal he’ll be in the system through 2016 after spending two seasons at Lake Superior State University.

He also skated a pair of successful campaigns in the OPJHL with Hamilton Red Wings. that got him a scholarship to go the academic route.

Never exactly a big point scorer on his way to turning pro or even the type of player to mix it up with his extra large-sized frame, there’s easily hope that with some good coaching he can add some nice increases to his game.

He’s been reassigned down once for a single contest with Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.

The 22-year old started out quickly with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 6 games signed to an ato at the end of last season and even found himself in the lineup for a couple Calder Cup Playoff games.

We call this one another work in progress.

« Older posts

Newer posts »