ECHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

02Oct

Kenndal McArdle(22) Norfolk Admirals

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6th year left wing Kenndal McArdle(22) was a former Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#20 overall) but has yet to realize his potential, putting it lightly.

At 5’11” 190 lbs. he really doesn’t have that much size up front yet he definitely can be a pest to play against.

He’s never had what you’d call a stellar goal scoring season in the AHL, where he’s mostly been relegated to, aside from the 42 NHL games he’s appeared in with the Panthers and last season with Winnipeg Jets one year removed.

His totals are minimal at one goal and a pair of assists.

In 54 games last season split with St. John’s IceCaps to start before being loaned to Portland Pirates, he scored 10 goals and 8 assists, while amassing 98 minutes in penalties.

He was also part of that magical Vancouver Giants‘ team that won the Memorial Cup in 2007.

The still young 25-year old signed a try-out deal to play with Norfolk Admirals in 2012/2013. There’s no time like the present for this player to start answering the bell.

01Oct

Alec Kirschner(17) Elmira Jackals

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Undrafted 5th year center Alec Kirschner(17) has worked his way through the ranks from low double A in the former IHL, a few games in Central Hockey League and 36 games over the last couple of seasons in the single A, Federal Hockey League with Danbury Whalers to scoring another contract with Elmira Jackals of the ECHL for 2012/2013.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward has easily proven he’s far too skilled for FHL with 46 goals and 38 assists or a pair of points per game player with a combined +47 plus/minus rating. The soon-to-be 26 year old is deserving of a shot in the higher league despite only posting a pair of assists in 32 games with Wheeling Nailers and the Jackals.

But still it’s an interesting team re-signing of a player on the cusp for what will be a more competitive season than usual.

30Sep

Adam Courchaine(1) Greenville Road Warriors

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3rd year undrafted goalie Adam Courchaine(1) signs a one-year deal with Greenville Road Warriors for 2012/2013.

He was in Boston Bruins‘ system for the first couple of seasons of his pro career (one year slide on his 3-year entry level contract) but only appeared in 4 AHL games with Providence (3 of those in late 2012) through that time.

The 6’3″ 185 lbs. backstop skated mostly on reassignment in the ECHL with Alaska Aces, where he appeared in 62 games amassing a 36 – 17 – 7 record that included hoisting the Kelly Cup in 2011, his official rookie season. He only played in one postseason game but was very much a key part of the championship run.

At only 23-years old he still has time to grow into his game.

29Sep

Kory Nagy(21) Trenton Titans

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New Jersey Devils‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#142 overall) left wing Kory Nagy(21) signed a 3-year entry level deal to start his pro career and ended up bouncing between their AHL and ECHL affiliates.

In his final season of the contract he skated the full year with Albany Devils playing in a career high 53 contests, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists but was not qualified an offer to stay with the organization.

For 2012/2013 he decided to stay in familiar territory, inking with Trenton Titans.

With the signing, the somewhat small-ish looking 5’11” 195 lbs., 22-year old forward will have the ability to be called up to any team in the higher league.

28Sep

Russ Sinkewich(32) Alaska Aces

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5th year, undrafted big guy (6’3″ 202 lbs.) defenseman Russ Sinkewich(32) signed on for a third season with Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

His time with the team last year was limited to only 23 regular season games as he was recalled on two separate occasions: first by Abbotsford Heat for 21 games, then Bridgeport Sound Tigers rang him up in late February and signed him to an spc out of the gate. He only skated in 8 AHL games but was also watching from the cheap seats for a lot of that call-up.

The 27-year old may spend the duration of 2012/2013 with one ECHL team, like he did with Johnstown Chiefs in his sophomore campaign, mainly due to the glut of players occupying the higher league.

He has skated AHL games in each of his pro seasons including 10 games for Lake Erie Monsters and Milwaukee Admirals after leaving his college team early in his final year. He eventually signed to a two-way AHL/ECHL deal with the latter for his 2nd season.

26Sep

Ashton Rome(44) Greenville Road Warriors

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Double draft pick, 7th year right wing Ashton Rome(44) makes an interesting move for the 2012/2013 season by signing with Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.

The move comes one season removed from his most productive AHL campaign with Portland Pirates, where he had league career highs in games played, goals and points.

He has skated in 91 games over a couple of years in the ECHL with a pair of different teams scoring 42 goals and 38 assists, so point productivity isn’t a problem for him in the lower level of hockey.

With the glut of talent being absorbed in the AHL, it’s seemingly a smart move for the almost 27-year old, who could also be setting up a path for himself post-playing pro hockey. There is little doubt he will help mentor the younger teammates and be a huge asset on ice and in the locker room.

He’ll also almost assuredly be on the short list for call-up by a number of teams and if the lockout lifts for the NHL he could find a permanent spot in the AHL sooner than later.

The 6’1 205 lbs. forward was originally a Boston Bruins’ 4th round pick in the 2004 draft (#108 overall) but was thrown back in the pool and picked up in the 5th round of 2006 by San Jose Sharks (#143 overall).

25Sep

Troy Bodie(20) Norfolk Admirals

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7th year left wing Troy Brodie(20) was part of a list of six players recently signed to an AHL contract by Norfolk Admirals, the new minor league affiliate of Anaheim Ducks.

He had a one-year, two-way deal with Anaheim last season but skated no NHL games.

In all, split half with the Ducks and one season picked up on waivers by Carolina Hurricanes, the 6’4″ 219 lbs. forward has skated in 107 games in the show registering 6 goals and 5 assists. He should be a bigger, more intimidating upfront power forward than his style indicates.

The 27-year was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 9th round pick in the 2003 draft (#278 overall).

He started his pro career with Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, put up some big numbers and that was his only stop there.

This will be an interesting year him. It’s his first without an NHL contract and he definitely has something to prove.

24Sep

Chris Cloud(39) Ontario Reign

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Undrafted 4th season right wing Chris Cloud(39) re-signs with Ontario Reign to return to the ECHL team for a second straight season, a first in his pro career that’s taken him in on what continues to be an interesting journey.

He began with Wheeling Nailers but after only three appearances was released and quickly jumped to join Central Hockey League‘s Amarillo Gorillas for the remainder of his rookie campaign.

The feisty 5’11” 186 lbs. forward started his sophomore year inking a deal with Tulsa Oilers but was again waived by the team he started the season with only to be quickly picked up by another suitor, Bloomington Prairie Thunder (r.i.p.).

It wasn’t until 2011/2012 that he found a more permanent hockey residence, signing a one-year contract with the Reign, where he arguably enjoyed his best season matching career highs in goals, assists and points; and eclipsed his former penalty minute high mark by 50.

The then 23-soon-to-be 24 year old also earned a pair of AHL call-up with Manchester Monarchs that he put to good use in 10 games and 19 pims in a limited fourth line role.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the Monarchs‘ forthcoming training camp.

23Sep

Sam Klassen(3) Connecticut Whale

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3rd year defenseman Sam Klassen(3) signs a one-year AHL deal with Connecticut Whale after spending most his first two seasons with the team while under an entry-level contract with their parent club, New York Rangers.

With all the depth on the Blueshirts‘ blue line, it was tough for the undrafted d-man to make an impression. He appeared in a career high 36 AHL games in 2011/2012 and put up his first pro point, an assist.

At 6’1 195 lbs. he doesn’t play an overly physical game but put up some offensive numbers in juniors, so the team must think the 23-year old still has the ability to become a puck-moving defenseman as a pro.

In 89 ECHL games with Greenville Road Warriors he’s scored 4 times and added 19 assists with most of those coming in his rookie campaign, when he got to spend more time with just one minor leage team.

He’ll need to step it up in training camp and early in the preseason to earn a roster spot.

22Sep

Ryley Grantham(16) Allen Americans

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4th year right wing Ryley Grantham(16) was not qualified by Calgary Flames when his 3-year entry level deal was up. He was originally their 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#168 overall).

In the final season of his contract, he was skating mostly with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL before being reassigned in a minor swap with Chicago Express.

The 6’4″ 210 lbs. bruiser played 89 AHL games with Abbotsford Heat and put up a pretty hefty 163 penalty minutes in 67 games of his rookie season. He only minimally hit the scoresheet with a goal and 3 assists.

In an interesting lock out move, the 24-year old signed a contract to play in the Central Hockey League with Allen Americans for 2012/2013. While with them he should really look to pick up his offensive game; put more points than pims on the scoresheet.