ECHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

21Nov

Andrew Johnston (15)

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Undrafted rookie left wing Andrew Johnston(15) signed a three-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers that keeps him in the system through 2015.

He came out of the SJHL and lit the lamp regularly in the less dominant junior league that’s usually a buffer for college hockey as the next step for a player.

In 10 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms he has his first pro goal but no helpers yet.

The 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward was bumped down to their ECHL affiliate Trenton Titans to see if he can reignite that scoring spark in the lower league.

Chances are good this will happen but then he’ll still have to fight to find an open spot in the lineup on what’s a pretty deep prospect pool for the Flyers.

20Nov

Stanislav Galiev(10) Hershey Bears

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Washington Capitals‘ 3rd round pick in the 2010 draft (#83 overall), Russian left wing Stanislav Galiev(10) has been put in a bit of a tight situation when he was reassigned to get a midweek game in with their new, now geographically nearby ECHL affiliate Reading Royals.

He was immediately recalled as planned after his one appearance in the league but now is having a tough time finding an open roster spot with Hershey Bears, the team he started his rookie season with through the first 9 regular season games.

The 20-year old 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward has only managed 1 assist but did also score the game-winner in his shootout debut.

He was basically a point per game guy in his junior career.

No doubt he’ll either get the nod to go again with the Bears soon or could get reassigned for a longer run.

18Nov

Alexander Avtsin(67) Hamilton Bulldogs

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#109 overall), Russian right wing Alexander Avtsin(67) has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons playing with their AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.

The 6’3″ 193 lbs. forward is signed to a three-year entry level deal, which will keep him in the organization through 2014, but has yet to exhibit the signs of becoming the power forward the Habs thought they were getting.

He’s a bit light for his size and needs to show a willingness to get into the mix for scoring chances. Maybe at the young age of 21-years old he’s still struggling with the North American style of hockey but needs to snap to it quickly or may face reassignment to the ECHL this season to get him up to speed.

Through the first 11 games of the 2012/2013 season he was a healthy scratch from the lineup, finally getting his opportunity to play in game 12.

He must have gotten the message loud and clear because he struck for a goal and an assist in a big win for the Bulldogs but will have to keep up the pace to stay on the big club’s radar.

17Nov

Alden Hirschfeld(7) Providence Bruins

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Undrafted rookie forward Alden Hirschfeld(7) signed an AHL contract with Providence Bruins a month before the 2012/2013 was to start.

He was impressive in training camp and a pair of exhibition games but ultimately reassigned to start his pro career with their new ECHL affiliate South Carolina Stingrays.

The 6’1″ 206 lbs. right-handed shot has been quick to pick up his game throwing 4 goals and 4 assists on the scoresheet in 16 contests with a team that looks outstanding on paper but has struggled to put together wins.

He gets rewarded with his first AHL recall, which turns out to be part of a winning effort. He played one game with Portland Pirates last season after his college career wrapped up.

15Nov

Will Weber(8) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#53 overall), defenseman Will Weber(8) earns his first call-up to the AHL Springfield Falcons.

The extra-large 6’4″ 231 lbs. blue liner is certainly filled out enough to tackle offensive threats but spent the first couple weeks of his rookie season in the stands until he was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Evansville IceMen to get some ice time and game action in.

In 8 games he failed to connect on the scoresheet and went a -5 plus/minus on a team that has had its’ struggles in the early going of 2012/2013.

The 24-year old is not really known as a puck-moving d-man but with his size has the ability to move any attackers out from in front his own net. He is signed for the next two seasons on an entry level contract.

09Nov

Scott Pitt(44) Greenville Road Warriors

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Undrafted 2nd year center Scott Pitt(44) won the ECHL Kelly Cup in rookie season with Florida Everblades, the team he joined fresh out of college at the end of the year before.

The 6′ 175 lbs. forward was a bit of a scoring machine popping in 22 goals and 36 assists in 63 games.

Going into the 2012/2013 season, he signed a deal with Greenville Road Warriors that led to a training camp invite from Connecticut Whale.

He actually played in their opening game but was released from his pto soon afterwards and sent back down.

In 10 games with the Road Warriors he’s at it again tallying 3 goals and 7 assists already.

What the 24-year lacks in overall size he definitely makes up for in the speed and getting into those open spaces on the ice department.

He played 6 games on recall with Charlotte Checkers last season, scoring 0 points but regardless of that expect him to get another crack at the Whale lineup as soon as the injury bug starts biting.

06Nov

Keven Veilleux(44) Wheeling Nailers

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Few players have been bitten by the injury bug more than Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#51 overall), right wing Keven Vellieux(44).

He’s only skated almost one complete season over the course of a 3-year pro career in 2010/2011 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But even then, skating in 66 games he missed over a dozen contests.

The 6’5″ 218 lbs. forward did put up some decently impressive numbers potting 12 goals and 24 assists, while going a +17 plus/minus on what was a very good team that year, and added another 4 points in the postseason.

2011/2012 however got scrapped entirely due to a blown out knee in preseason play that required surgery setting him back yet another full campaign, when he was diligently looking to continue to prove himself.

Penguins‘ brass still have hopes for the 23-year old though as they qualified him for another go in 2012/2013.

Still not full recovered from his injury 9 match-ups into the new season, he has been reassigned to ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers for the first time to get his game on. He should light the lamp and pound some fists consistently in the lower league quickly leading him back up to the AHL.

05Nov

Mike Matczak(54) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Mike Matczak(54) has been recalled from Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL to Manchester Monarchs for the first time in short pro career. He did sign an ato fresh out of college and played 4 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms at the end of 2010/2011, so it’s not like he’s a complete novice.

He’s currently spending his second season in a K-Wings‘ jersey, where in 69 games he’s scored 11 times and added 25 assists. He only has one assist so far this year but did produce pretty well for them in the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a goal and 4 assists in 14 contests.

The slightly small 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner spent training camp with the Monarchs and played in exhibition games with the team, so he’s on their radar.

He made zero mistakes in his first game, a 1-0 shootout loss, and the Manchester defense corps are currently beat up, so the 24-year old could possibly stick around awhile.

03Nov

Sebastien Piche(7) Greenville Road Warriors

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After viewing the first 8 Connecticut Whale 2012/2013 regular season games from the stands, defenseman Sebastien Piche(7) gets reassigned to help their ECHL affiliate Greenville Road Warriors.

Originally undrafted he was signed by Detroit Red Wings to a 3-year entry level deal but spent most of his playing time with either their AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins or in the lower league with Toledo Walleye.

He somewhat luckily went from skating (or not) last season with the Griffins but was traded in a late transaction that sent him to Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was immediately sent all the way down to Florida Everblades for the remainder of the year; and his contract. He was given a qualifying offer at the end of the season.

The 6′ 202 lbs. blue liner played in all 18 Kelly Cup playoff games with the Everblades on their way to winning the Kelly Cup. He scored 2 goals and added 9 assists in postseason play.

He has the ability to connect with the scoresheet and looked pretty solid in the one preseason game we saw him take part in; and also put up numbers in juniors.

Maybe the 24-year is continue to work his game. He signed an AHL contract for 2012/2013 and bets are good he’ll receive a call-up quickly but will need to contribute.

31Oct

Jordan Hill(5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted 3rd year Ontario Reign defenseman Jordan Hill(5) signed a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers to help their recently depleted blue line guards and in his debut at the end of the weekend scored his first AHL goal of the season in the team’s 5-2 loss.

In 58 games over the last two years with Manchester Monarchs he has a total of 2 goals.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. d-man had only one assist in six ECHL games before his recall, so it’s not like he’s exactly known for lighting the lamp. Although he did have some decent totals in juniors.

He inked a one year deal to rejoin the Reign for 2012/2013, the team he started his pro career with before traveling back and forth between coasts on pto’s with Manchester.

The 23-year plays a feisty, gritty style but is too often on the minus side of the scoresheet. He needs to add more muscle into his game and better ability to move the puck from defense to offense.

We’ll see where this scoring surge goes but he could find himself hanging around in the AHL as he has league experience.