Category: ECHL

03Apr

Mathieu Aubin(40) Cincinnati Cyclones

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6th year Cincinnati Cyclones‘ center Mathieu Aubin(40) won the ECHL Reebok Plus Performer Award for the 2011/2012 season with a +25 plus/minus.

He was originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 5th round pick in the 2005 draft (#150 overall) and played in their system for his first few seasons with the Cyclones and Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL.

He has 76 career AHL games with the Bulldogs, Lake Erie Monsters and this season appeared in 4 with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he scored one goal and one assist.

He’s played 224 games with Cincinnati (106 goals, 127 assists in the regular season), so obviously feels at home with the team having spent five seasons and winning two championships with the club.

Considering they failed to make the Kelly Cup Playoffs, he was quickly signed to a pto with Milwaukee Admirals, the new AHL affiliate of the Cyclones.

02Apr

Corey Cowick(23) Binghamton Senators

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Last season, Binghamton Senators‘ 2nd year left wing Corey Cowick(23) split time his playing time equally between the AHL and ECHL Elmira Jackals.

In 2011/2012, the Ottawa 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#160 overall) has doubled his time with the B-Sens playing in career high 52 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists.

By no means did these numbers immune him from getting reassigned, as he was sent down in early February for the first time this season and has been on the road between the two New York hockey teams on a pair of occasions.

The 22-year old, 6’3″ 208 lbs. forward is signed to an entry level deal with Ottawa through 2012/2013. He’s going to have to use that size more to his advantage next season is how we see it.

 

29Mar

Allen York(35) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#158 overall) rookie goaltender Allen York(35) has played games this season with their affiliates Chicago Express of the ECHL, Springfield Falcons of the AHL and in the big club in the NHL.

No start was more surprising for the 22-year old than when he was recalled on an emergency basis to the Blue Jackets to serve as the back-up netminder and was given the nod after their main guy was injured during the team’s morning skate.

Getting his first win at home in a 29 save effort against Detroit Red Wings also had to put a smile on the big goaltender’s face.

It’s a bit amazing that he’s only played 24 games all season in three different leagues. Should be able to retain his rookie status going into 2012/2013.

 

28Mar

Frederic St. Denis(32) Montreal Canadiens

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Undrafted 4th year defenseman Frederic St. Denis(32) is getting his chances to play in the NHL with the only team he’s ever been signed with, Montreal Canadiens.

In 11 games he picked up his 1st NHL goal and just got his first assist to go with it. He’s also been an accountable zero plus/minus.

He’s played 196 AHL games with Hamilton Bulldogs scoring 12 goals and 53 assists on what has always been a good team with the exception of this season, where it’s just so-so.

It will be interesting to see if Montreal re-ups with him for a 5th campaign as they look to rebuild.

27Mar

Braden Holtby(1) Washington Capitals

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braden-holtby

Washington Capitals‘ third year goaltender Braden Holtby(1) is working hard to steal the number one job with the parent club heading towards a postseason bid.

He’s played a career high 40 AHL games with Hershey Bears collecting a season best 20 wins. His 15 losses is also a regular season personal worst.

After posting 10 wins in 14 games with the Caps last season, it’s a bit of a thinker why they didn’t give him a longer look for the starter position this season.

Although despite being in his 3rd pro season, he’s still only on the 2nd year of his 3-year entry level deal. So they may be taking it slowly with his development.

He was originally a Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#93 overall).

26Mar

Ben Guite(28) Worcester Sharks

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12th year veteran center, Worcester Sharks‘ Ben Guite(28) has missed a majority of 2011/2012 due to complications from a concussion he sustained early in the AHL season.

He recently returned to the team and is contributing in their push toward the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In 15 games this year he has 2 goals and 7 assists but despite not being a prolific goal scorer, he’s look to for his leadership and playing intensity on the ice.

He’s appeared in 175 NHL games (all but seven of them with Colorado Avalanche from 2006 – 2009) scoring 19 goals and 26 assists.

In 574 AHL games he has 101 goals and 172 assists.

He was originally picked by Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round of 1997 draft (#172 overall). The 33-year old signed a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks in the offseason.

 

 

 

 

23Mar

Ben Chiarot(18) St. John’s IceCaps

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Rookie defenseman Ben Chiarot(18) started the season with St. John’s IceCaps and played 14 games registering a goal and an assist.

In late January he was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Colorado Eagles, where he’s fit in nicely, helping the team win scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 24 games.

The big 6’3″ 222 lbs. blue liner was an Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#120 overall).

He was recently recalled back to St. John’s probably to tune up a bit in the higher league and give some of their regulars a rest as they have already punch their ticket into the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Chances are good that the 20-year old won’t be going back to Loveland, CO unless the IceCaps are given a swift exit from the postseason.

 

23Mar

Tyler Hostetter(27) Adirondack Phantoms

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Rookie defenseman Tyler Hostetter(27) was invited to Philadelphia Flyers‘ camp in 2009 and signed as an undrafted free agent to a 3-year entry level deal with the club before being returned to his junior team for another couple of seasons.

He’s played most of his first pro season in the ECHL on loan to Trenton Titans, where he has 7 goals and 7 assists in 32 games.

But he’s on a short leash to their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. He’s played only 7 games with no points but has to be near a half dozen call-ups and reassignments already this season. Matter of fact, he could already be back with the Titans‘ for this weekend games after his most recent stint.

At 5’11” 182 lbs., the 21-year old will definitely have to play bigger than he is but looks to have the ability to grow into his game with age. Eat them Wheaties.

21Mar

Ethan Cox(40) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted 2nd year right wing, Ethan Cox(40) waited the whole season to receive his first call up to the AHL but he’s fortunate to join a potent Bridgeport Sound Tigers in their quest for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

He was recently involved in an late season ECHL deal that sent him from Alaska Aces, a team he’d been with for two seasons and won the Kelly Cup with in his rookie year, to Reading Royals.

He barely got in a pair of games when he was called up. In 3 games he has one assist but already been released from his pto and will rejoin Reading as they push towards a spot in the postseason.

He played three AHL games last season with Portland Pirates and Peoria Rivermen, recording one assist.

19Mar

Matt Ford(25) Adirondack Phantoms

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4th year right wing, Matt Ford(25) may have been a bit surprised when he was traded in his first season signed to an NHL contract with Washington Capitals. He was mostly playing for their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears putting up a very respectable 10 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.

Dealt before the trade deadline, he has found a formidable home in Philadelphia Flyers‘ organization with Adirondack Phantoms and has lit the lamp fairly big striking for 11 goals and 5 assists in 19 games.

He was originally picked in the 8th round of the 2004 draft (#256 overall) by Chicago Blackhawks but never signed with them and instead started his pro career in the ECHL with Charlotte Checkers before being called up to Hartford Wolf Pack and then Lake Erie Monsters, a team he stayed with for a couple of seasons.

If he continues to work hard and find the back of the net, he could find himself with a spot in the show with the Flyers out of training camp next season.