ECHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

21Jun

Steven Tarasuk(27) Lausitzer Fuchse

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After only a couple of seasons of North American hockey, undrafted defenseman Steven Tarasuk(27) signs with German Ice Hockey tier 2 team Lausitzer Fuchse for 2012/2013.

The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner split time in 70 ECHL games last season with Ontario Reign and Idaho Steelheads putting up career highs in goals (8), assists (30) and points (38).

He was signed to an AHL contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers after attending rookie camp with New York Islanders in his rookie season.

From there he was reassigned to Kalamazoo Wings, where he represented the team at the ECHL All-Star Classic and received a 3 game recall near the end of regular season.

He notched one assist.

At only 21 years old, he should fill out to a heavier playing weight and if he continues to affect the scoresheet, as he did in juniors, look for him to move up into higher levels of pro hockey in Europe and maybe even take a run at a full-time roster spot in the AHL.

19Jun

Patrick McNeill(2) Hershey Bears

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#118 overall), soon-to-be 6th year defenseman Patrick McNeill(2) knew as last season ended where he’d be skating in 2012/2013.

He signed a 2-year extension in June 2011 taking him through 2012/2013, making it a half dozen years he’ll be skating with the same organization.

In 2011/2012 with Hershey Bears he had his most productive season yet with careers highs for games played (71), goals (10), assists (31), points (41) and even shots on goal (103). He was 1st for d-men on the team in points.

One thing missing though is an appearance in an NHL game. He’s was recalled and reassigned on a couple of occasions in late 2011 but nothing last season.

It would be a bit surprising if the 6’1″ 200 lbs. 25-year old doesn’t get that opportunity in the final year of his current deal.

12Jun

Trevor Gillies(51) Vityaz Chekhov

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Soon-to-be 14th veteran left wing, Trevor Gillies(51) will be taking his brute force game over to Russia, joining Vityaz Chekhov in the KHL for 2012/2013.

The 6’3″ 231 lbs. forward has been with NY Islanders‘ organization for the last three seasons and appeared in 56 NHL and 50 AHL games with their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. During that time he’s amassed a whopping 474 penalty minutes in the two leagues.

At 33-years old this is in all likelihood a good move for him to make as there’s no telling how many years he can continue to use his fists to protect teammates.

He sat out a good chunk of last season with a groin injury that limited him to 29 games.

The stocky forward was also seen helping out as an “assistant coach” behind the Sound Tigers‘ bench while he was on the sidelines.

Ironically after watching him play for the last 10 years, he skating and stick work has improved greatly over the last couple campaigns since he started extra sessions with Isles’ Skills’ Development Coach Bernie Cassell.

He will be missed at North American hockey barns, because he may be one of the toughest guys to lace up the skates but he’s also one of the nicest.

07Jun

Andy Thomas(38) Olimpija Ljubljana

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Former Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2004 draft (#109 overall), defenseman Andy Thomas(38) leaves North American pro hockey to join Olimpija Ljubljana in the Austria Hockey League.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal with Anaheim Ducks and was reassigned to their AHL and ECHL affiliates, Iowa Chops and Bakersfield Condors in his rookie season.

From there he was in the Devils‘ prospect system, spending most of the next 3 seasons with Trenton Titans/Devils appearing in 157 games, scoring 5 goals and 29 assists.

The 6’2′ 220 lbs. has also skated in 70 AHL (2 goals, 5 assists) with 6 teams, including 3 in 2011/2012 alone. He failed to hit the scoresheet though.

A move to European hockey may be the best move for him as he considered a veteran in the ECHL now and some new scenery is exactly what the 25-year might need.

06Jun

Greg Amadio(5) Springfield Falcons

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Undrafted 9th year defenseman Greg Amadio(5) signed a two-year AHL only deal with Grand Rapid Griffins last season before being traded half way through the year to Springfield Falcons, where he finished up 2011/2012 with.

He’s never been the biggest point scorer from the blue line but the 6’2″ 225 lbs. is built like the trunk of a redwood and will go to bat for a teammate any time he’s needed.

The 31-year old has skated in 479 regular and postseason AHL games and won back-to-back Calder Cups with Hershey Bears.

Where his services will be employed in the 2012/2013 season is still up in the air, unless the Falcons have to honor the contract he signed. It might do the team well to invite the veteran d-man back for a full year of patrolling their zone.

04Jun

Steve Oleksy(15) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted, 3rd year defenseman Steve Oleksy(15) signed a pto joining the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in October after starting the year in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads, a team he’s played with in each of his pro years (110 total games).

He was returned after a couple of weeks but then recalled again in late November and signed an spc in late February to stay for the remainder of the season including their brief Calder Cup Playoffs‘ bid.

In 50 AHL games he had very decent point totals (a goal and 14 assists) and was an outstanding +16 plus/minus guarding the defensive zone.

The 6′ 195 lbs. also showed a willingness to mix it up when called upon.

Where the 26-year old blue liner will end up next season is anyone’s guess?

He wasn’t available to be put on Steelheads‘ protected list for 2012/2013.

The Sound Tigers should just be smart, sign him to another one-way deal for the upcoming season and be done with it.

In the meantime, he’s back home in Michigan running the Eastside Elite Hockey League, which is a summer program for pros and juniors wanting to stay game-situation sharp by skating in an 11-team non-check league.

7/2-12: Hershey Bears swoop in and grab the unrestricted free agent defenseman, signing him to a one-year AHL contract for 2012/2013.

03Jun

David Aebischer(1) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

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Once again it’s time for soon to be 14 year veteran goalie David Aebischer(1) to go home to Switzerland, joining a new team in the NLA, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

While he didn’t earn a contract with Winnipeg Jets, the team he came back to North America on a tryout agreement to hopefully sign with, the 34-year old was offered an AHL deal, took it and did pretty well with their minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps running a 15-12 record with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 GAA and helping the team to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals in their debut season.

Got to say it was still pretty cool seeing the former Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1997 draft (#161 overall) play when the IceCaps were in town and he got the start in net. He has played in 214 NHL games with a 106 wins to 74 loss record.

31May

Dany Sabourin(35) Hershey Bears

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Heading into his 13th season, Hershey Bears‘ goaltender Dany Sabourin(35) signs a one-year, two-way extension with Washington Capitals‘ organization for a third straight season.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 1998 draft (#108 overall), he has almost always consistently put together a winning season for whatever club he’s been with.

The 31-year old has played in 59 NHL games mostly with Pittsburgh Penguins over a few seasons and appeared in net with Vancouver Canucks and the Flames as well.

In the AHL he has 278 regular and postseason contests to his credit.

Whomever the Bears end up with to split time with him in the upcoming season, he is more than capable of shouldering the starting job or splitting the 76-game schedule with another netminder as he did in 2011/2012.

He has been recalled by the Caps but yet to tend for them in a game. Maybe that will change in 2012/2013.

29May

Philip-Michael Devos(88) Norfolk Admirals

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Undrafted Norfolk Admirals‘ rookie center Philip-Michael Devos(88) season couldn’t have had it much better with either of the two leagues he skated in 2011/2012.

Upon receiving his second recall from the ECHL Florida Everblades on the day after Christmas, he never looked or went back down.

Signed in the offseason to a 2-year, two-way AHL contract with the Admirals, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward would have maybe suffered a bit of a pay cut playing in the lower league, but he would have been skating with a Kelly Cup Championship team.

In 22 ECHL games he scored 6 goals and 14 assists. Up in the A, he had 7 goals and 17 assists through 52 contests and has a goal and an assist in 8 Calder Cup appearances.

With four more in the W column, he will have earned himself a spot on a Calder Cup Championship team, so this once explosive scorer from juniors really had quite a first year playing pro.

26May

Kevin Quick(4) Florida Everblades

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4th year defenseman Kevin Quick(4) signed an AHL 2-way contract with Norfolk Admirals in the offseason after spending most of the first 3 seasons of his career with the team signed to an entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning.

He appeared in 6 NHL games in his rookie year registering an assist. The blue liner also skated 18 ECHL games in that season.

In 2011/2012, the 24-year old spent most of his time with Florida Everblades and eventually won the Kelly Cup with the team.

He did skate 14 games with the Admirals and now that the lower league has reached its’ conclusion, he will likely rejoin them for the Calder Cup Finals, where he can be used pretty effectively in case one of the players goes down with injury.