Category: ECHL

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Nick Johnson

Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

20Sep

Alex Hutchings(11) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Alex Hutchings1

4th year left wing Alex Hutchings(11) will put on the skates for Gwinnett Gladiators in 2013/2014.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in 2009 (#93 overall), he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal but spent most of his playing time in the ECHL with affiliate Florida Everblades than he did in the AHL with Syracuse Crunch or Norfolk Admirals.

In the last two campaigns in the league, the 5’10” 178 lbs. forward recorded almost a point-per-game with 26 goals and 32 assists in 63 games.

He set similar marks in four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Barrie Colts, where he exploded for 111 goals and 97 assists.

At only 22-years old, he’ll likely continue to occupy the score sheet in the lower league and will likely receive a call-up or two but will have to contribute more to stay put.

13Sep

Andrew Rowe(6) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Andrew Rowe

After virtually exploding on the score sheet in a full season of lower league play, undrafted 4th year winger Andrew Rowe(6) scores himself an AHL contract with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2013/2014.

In 66 ECHL games, he led Elmira Jackals in goals, assists and points (28-43-71) with a +5 rating. He even managed to put an exclamation mark on his stats in the postseason with 4 goals and 4 assists in 6 games.

The 6’2″ somewhat light 181 lbs. forward also received a two-week, 5 game recall to Norfolk Admirals.

He put up 15 goals and 8 assists over two seasons with Adirondack Phantoms as a part of Philadelphia Flyers‘ prospect system, where he was signed to a 2-year entry level deal.

The 25-year old also spent a few spells with Greenville Road Warriors in his first pair of pro seasons.

They just happen to be the affiliate of Hartford. No doubt, he’ll be looking to raise his game with his new team to avoid any more time down south.

12Sep

Matt Tassone(26) Las Vegas Wranglers

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Matt Tassone

4th year center Matt Tassone(26) bounced around lots last season and somehow ultimately ended up skating in 5 Kelly Cup Playoff games with Elmira Jackals scoring three points, a pair of goals and an assist.

Making sense of his movement through the 2012/2013 campaign is a whole other deal.

Initially the 6′ 200 lbs. forward was signed to an AHL contract by Lake Erie Monsters but was either released or reassigned and inked with Wichita Thunder before moving on within the Central Hockey League to Arizona Sundogs and then getting recalled by the Monsters and signed to a pto, where he appeared in 13 games scoring his first and thus far only league tally.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#176 overall) but never came to terms with them and eventually bounced down to their farm club, Texas Stars. This lasted no time though, as they sent him to their ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads.

As a rookie he played 32 games generating 10 points but also suffered injuries that sidelined him for a good chunk of the year.

For his sophomore season he signed with Ontario Reign but was once again was challenged to stay healthy and eventually released before the end of the regular season.

Once again, for 2013/2014 he commits to another ECHL team, Las Vegas Wranglers.

The 23-year old seems poised for a breakout on the score sheet and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him join the 20/20 club or better.

06Sep

Yanni Gourde(18) Kalamazoo Wings

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yanni-gourde

Small 2nd year left wing Yanni Gourde(18) somewhat surprisingly signs for one-year with ECHL Kalamazoo Wings after spending his entire rookie season under an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks.

In 54 games the 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward scored 8 goals with 6 assists adding to his first pro goal and a pair of helpers he posted at the end of the previous year signed with the team to an ato.

He did get reassigned for a brief spell with affiliate San Francisco Bulls and lit the lamp for 4 goals and 6 assists in 8 games.

The young 21-year old will probably continue on a tear through the lower league and it would not be surprising to see him get called up somewhere for the long-term.

In four years of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres he was a 1.11 point per game guy in 199 games and won the most valuable player and scoring titles in his final campaign.

See related: 4/17-12

04Sep

Matt Bergland(17) Stockton Thunder

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Matt Bergland

Undrafted, 2nd year left wing signs on for another season with ECHL Stockton Thunder.

In his rookie campaign he skated in 59 games scoring 11 goals and 18 assists with a +6 rating. He added another 6 goals and 4 helpers in 22 playoff games all the way to the 2013 Kelly Cup Finals.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward doesn’t look like the biggest guy on the ice but he’s starting his pro career much the same way he did in his first season with Providence College Friars. He posted his best point totals as a first year guy but they continued to decline until graduating.

He’ll definitely be looking to avoid a sophomore slump but chances are the 23-year old will continue to step up his game.

02Sep

Dean Strong(23) Valpellice Bulldogs

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Dean Strong

Entering his fifth pro season, small but sturdy right wing Dean Strong(23) will once again try his hand overseas.

He signed a one-year deal with Italy’s Valpellice Bulldogs for 2013/2014.

It’s his second stint playing hockey outside of North America, as the 5’8″ 190 lbs. forward spent his sophomore campaign successfully in Germany2 with Eispiraten Crimmitschau before he returned, joining Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for the remainder of the regular and postseason run.

He put up point per game numbers and was re-signed to continue with K-Wings but started his third year with Chicago Wolves out of training camp on a pto before being sent back.

Later loaned to Lake Erie Monsters he found his spot and finished off the year with the team after being inked to an spc midway through. He re-upped for 2012/2013 but suffered and injury that derailed his progress.

He was reassigned for a very short time in the Central Hockey League with affiliate Denver Cutthroats but was quickly back with the Monsters to complete the season.

The 28-year old has played in 106 AHL games scoring 11 goals and 24 assists.

He will likely break out on a scoring spree once again in the lower tier league and will likely continue to move up over there as age and veteran status will start to factor in to any future signing.

29Aug

Chris Collins(21) Bakersfield Condors

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Chris Collin

8th year undrafted left wing Chris Collins(21) has bounced around a lot in his pro career.

He will don the jersey of his 10th team when the 2013/2014 campaign starts and he puts on a Bakersfield Condors‘ sweater.

The mini 5’8″ 186 lbs. forward finished up 2012/2013 with Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins appearing in 20 regular season and 13 playoff games. He scored a combined 3 goals and 6 assists but also left them with a -8 rating. It was his second stint with the organization. His AHL totals are 44-51 in 226 appearances.

He’s appeared in 144 contests overseas, mostly in the top German DEL and has really excelled on the bigger ice surfaces posting 51 markers and 66 helpers.

The 29-year old is also prolific in the ECHL, where he’ll once again skate in the upcoming season, so we expect him to help a team that has struggled the past couple of seasons as a leader in the locker room and on the score sheet. It’s possible that he could be selected as their captain.

He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in his last year with Boston College Eagles, when he put up 1.5 points per game. His outstanding performance led to an NHL contract with Boston Bruins but skated only with their affiliates.

28Aug

Carl Sneep(4) Idaho Steelheads

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Carl Sneep

4th year, former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#32 overall), towering defenseman Carl Sneep(4) somewhat surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2013/2014.

He was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal in which he appeared in his only NHL game and even recorded his first big league point, an assist. He also suffered injuries that limited his play in his sophomore campaign.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner was extended for another season but something seemed to go amiss as he was inserted into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ lineup for a mere one appearance and spent most of his time watching from the stands before being reassigned to Wheeling Nailers, where he skated in 29 games before being dished to Dallas Stars.

He played 25 games with Texas Stars and received one recall but did not skate with the parent club and was once again bounced on loan late in the season to Peoria Riverman.

Not surprising, his point totals suffered, probably from changing addresses so much but he was never really viewed as a big point-getter since high school hockey.

He’s more of a big shutdown d-man that is tough to play against and holds a highly accountable +28 rating in 133 AHL games; and added another +12 in 29 ECHL games, but also was able to put up some marks on the score sheet (3 goals, 12 assists).

With his big frame though, he could easily put a bit more punishing grit into his style of play.

In four years with Boston College Eagles he was a part of two national championship teams.

Joining Idaho may be a strategic move for the 25-year old, as it would be no surprise to see him attend affiliate Texas Stars‘ training camp, rejoining the team and log some miles between the two western states.

See related: 12/18-11.

25Aug

Jeff Frazee(31) Valpellice Bulldogs

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Jeff Frazee

New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#38 overall) goaltender Jeff Frazee(31) became an unrestricted free agent at the end 2012/2013.

He was originally signed to a 3-year entry level deal and extended for another couple of seasons but despite being recalled, practicing and serving as back-up, had only played in one NHL game with the parent club last season.

His time in the cage was brief at 19 minutes of playing time, only facing three shots but at the very least he blocked each one of them.

The 6′ 195 lbs. net minder has appeared in 187 AHL games with their minor league affiliates Lowell and Albany Devils posting a 3.02 GAA and .906 SV%. Almost ironically he had one of his best seasons in 2012/2013.

Entering his 6th pro season, the 26-year old signed a one-year deal to join the Italian Elite A League Valpellice Bulldogs.

He should be able to slam the door shut on his opponents, which will either potentially open the door to better league play overseas or another opportunity with a different club in North America.

See related: 10/20/10