ECHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Jul

Patrick Mullen(14) Vancouver Canucks

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4th year, undrafted defenseman Patrick Mullen(14) tries his hand with a new team for 2012/2013, signing a one-year, two-way deal with Vancouver Canucks that will in all likelihood start him with their affiliate Chicago Wolves. He was an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.

He’s coming off his best AHL season yet with Manchester Monarchs that saw him put up more goals, assists and points in one year (13 + 28 – 41) than he did in his first two combined. Plus, he skated in 69 games, which eclipsed his previous high by a couple.

Initially signed to a 2-year entry level contract with Los Angeles Kings in 2009, the 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner could still use some extra weight to throw around out there but has obviously spent some quality time improving his offensive capabilities.

It will be interesting to see what he does in a new conference and if he can score his first NHL call-up.

He is the son of three time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall Of Fame defenseman, Joe Mullen.

09Jul

Mathieu Beaudoin(26) Hershey Bears

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6th year right wing Mathieu Beudoin(26) is set to join Hershey Bears for the 2012/2013 season. It will be his fifth AHL team in the last five years for the undrafted, 28-year old.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is definitely capable of finding the back of the net with reasonable consistency but was injured for two months in the middle of last season with a dislocated thumb and couldn’t find the groove with Portland Pirates after reaching career highs in goals, assists and points in 2010/2011.

He was on the Texas Stars‘ team that went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals and lost to these very same Bears.

So, once again becoming an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season after his one-year two-way deal with Phoenix C oyotes was up, the Bears wasted no time signing him to an AHL contract to fill the roster with more veteran leadership.

For the first time in recent memory, Hershey‘s team seems to be full of intangibles. It’s a bit of a wonder what type of season they’re going to have, which never happens.

05Jul

Evan Rankin(15) Rochester Americans

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Undrafted, 5th year pro, right winger Evan Rankin(15) spent more time in the AHL this season with Rochester Americans than he did in a lower league.

He spent his most of his first three campaigns almost entirely in the ECHL or the CHL, where he played in his rookie year.

Called up in late November, he signed to a pto and never looked back.

By early March, the 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward inked an spc to finish out 2011/2012 with the team.

He arguably ended up having a career year scoring 15 goals and adding 14 assists in 35 games.

His time in the penalty box much was limited as well with 12 pims and he’s accountable +9 plus/minus.

For 2012/2013, he was rewarded with an AHL contract to return to the Amerks.

This 26-year old could be a late bloomer.

We love this moment from his personal life that’s made it’s way to youtube. masterful.

01Jul

Ryan Del Monte(16) Starbulls Rosenheim

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28-year old right wing, Ryan Del Monte(16) joins the exodus from North American pro hockey to Europe (and beyond). He signed with Starbulls Rosenheim for next season after 4 years in the ECHL and AHL.

He played his first full season in the AHL last year, appearing in 52 games with Worcester Sharks scoring 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, all bests for the 6′ 190 lbs. forward in the league.

He won the Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010 and signed with the team in the next season before being traded to South Carolina Stingrays but spent the majority of it with Rochester Americans and the Sharks.

Although he was undrafted and has no appearances in the show, the NHL did a nice story on him a few years ago talking about the route he took from a couple of seasons in junior hockey to four years of college to earn a degree and then finally turning pro.

29Jun

Ryan Garlock(14) Vålerenga

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Headed into his 7th pro season, center Ryan Garlock(14) is heading out of the country for 2012/2013 to skate with Vålerenga of GET-ligaen (Norway).

He was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#45 overall) but has yet to play in an NHL game.

The 6’ 196 lbs. forward has 321 AHL games to his credit putting up 22 goals and 57 assists. He also spent parts of 3 seasons in the ECHL, where he easily was a point per game player.

He signed an spc with Springfield Falcons shortly after he joined the team on a pto last season, his second stint but first full year with the team.

He’s a tough one to figure out, because he’s got the size and tenacity and mostly plays an agitating style, leaving it all on the ice but other times he looks like he’s land of the lost and unable to follow the play.

See related post: 10/21/11

28Jun

Marco Rosa (19)

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Entering his 10th pro season, center Marco Rosa(19) skips the country to play with Espoo Blues of the SM-liiga for the 2012/2013 season.

Hampered by post-concussion symptoms, he was limited to just 31 games during the regular season but did manage to produce close to a point per game with 6 goals and 21 assists.

He was on par to beat his career high point totals from 2 years ago until he got sidelined.

Although he did return for 9 postseason contests, he wasn’t nearly the same player, getting only one assist.

Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 8th round pick in the 2001 draft (#255 overall), the 6’ 180 lbs. forward worked his way up through the ranks first with a few years in the ECHL and for the last 5 seasons he’s been an AHL mainstay.

At 30 years old, no doubt he’s making the right decision to possible play his final years in Europe.

25Jun

Colin Long (10)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ restricted free agent center Colin Long(10) may have been reading the tea leaves with his decision to join Dusseldorfer EG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for 2012/2013, leaving that status on the table for now.

It was the final year of his 3-year entry level contract, which saw his playing time limited to just 53 AHL games with San Antonio Rampage and last season Portland Pirates, due to head and upper body injuries that continued to follow him.

He also played 50 games in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers during his second year and was almost a point per game skater.

The former Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#99 overall) doesn’t exactly have the size out there at 5’11” 186 lbs. but he does bring an edginess to his style, when he’s fully involved in the game.

Coming from a couple of years of big numbers in juniors, bigger things were expected of him but sidetracked due to multiple injuries to the 23-year old.

There’s still plenty of time for him to develop if he can stay healthy.

24Jun

Jacob Micflikier(18) EHC Biel

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Entering his 5th pro season undrafted, under-sized as previously stated in a previous post, forward Jacob Micflikier(18) flies from North American hockey to skate with EHC Biel of the Swiss NLA.

It’s a move that makes sense for the 27-year old, unrestricted free agent. For 2011/2012, he signed a one-year, two-way deal with Washington Capitals but spent the entire season with Hershey Bears. He also was injured and limited to 57 games but had a career year for assists with 35 and would have been on par for highs in points and possibly goals too.

He leaves on a high, which is probably why the climate change likely makes it more appealing from a player standpoint. He’ll probably do pretty well playing this style hockey and we wish him all the best.

See related posts: July 18, 2011 & November 30, 2010

24Jun

Michel Ouellet(28) Boston Bruins

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10th year veteran right wing Michel Ouellet(28) was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, where he won the Calder Cup Championship last season with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, to Boston Bruins in a draft day deal.

If signed, he’ll most likely be reassigned to Providence to start 2012/2013.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2000 draft (#124) has 190 games of NHL experience 52 goals and 68 assists.

In the AHL he has 105 goals and 131 assists in 330 regular and postseason games.

No doubt the 30-year old, 6’1″ 210 lbs. forward will bring some much needed size to the P-Bruins‘ lineup but they are certainly going to need him to regain that scoring touch to help them get back into the playoffs for the first time in a few seasons.

He could also pull some effective 4th line duties for the big club if injuries occur.

23Jun

Marc Cheverie(30) Pittsburgh Penguins

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2nd year goaltender Marc Cheverie(30) has split his first couple of seasons between ECHL and AHL teams with most of his appearances in the former.

In 2011/2012, he posted his best numbers yet with Gwinnett Gladiators winning 10 games, 4 losses and a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% on a team that should have gone much further in the Kelly Cup Playoffs than their first round exit.

He was involved in a draft day Pittsburgh Penguins‘ trade with Phoenix Coyotes that could land him the job as a back-up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and/or maybe continue in AA hockey with their affiliate Wheeling Nailers.

The 25-year backstop is decently sized at 6’2″ 185 lbs. and should continue to improve his game, making him a nice pick-up for the Pens‘ system.

He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2006 (#193 overall).