Category: ECHL

25Jun

Teigan Zahn(18) Colorado Eagles

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teigan-zahn

Double NHL draft pick defenseman Teigan Zahn(33) was first a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2008 5th round selection (#132 overall) but went unsigned and back into the pool and later chosen by Tampa Bay Lightning in the 7th round of 2010 (#186 overall) but not tendered an offer. He attended training camps with both teams.

After his overage season serving as captain of WHL Saskatoon Blades in which he posted career bests in games played, assists, points and +39 plus/minus, he decided to go the college route and enrolled at University Of Calgary.

The 6’2″ 221 lbs. blue liner with good size and grit to his game signed a one-year AHL contract with Oklahoma City Barons to start his pro career but was dispatched to affiliate Stockton Thunder, where he stayed for most of his first campaign. He was recalled for a month and appeared in 5 games registering his first point, an assist.

To start his sophomore season he scored a training camp tryout with Anaheim Ducks before he was reassigned to farm club, Norfolk Admirals‘ camp and continued to get passed along landing with Utah Grizzlies.

The 24-year old was again summoned up and got into three more games in the higher league notching yet another assist but was returned a couple of weeks later.

In 42 ECHL games, he has 3 goals and 9 assists putting him on pace for career highs in all categories.

He will need to keep connecting and finding his game or he may be looking overseas for his next hockey home.

Original story: 2/20-14

After posting career highs for goals, assists and points (7-11-18) in 2013/2014, he signed his next contract with Colorado Eagles.

He continued to increase his totals achieving new marks for games played (70), assists (17), points (20), plus/minus (12), shots on goal (107) and more than doubled his penalty minutes to a whopping 298, good enough for 2nd in the ECHL.

Another stat that made a huge jump for the increasingly agitated skater was fighting majors, which made a big step up to 20, almost doubling what he had in two previous seasons.

The still just 25-years old agreed to return for another season in Loveland, CO and will likely continue to see his overall game step up.

24Jun

Andrew Courtney(27) Missouri Mavericks

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3rd year, undrafted forward Andrew Courtney(27) continues his pro career with the only team he’s ever suited up for under contract, Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League.

In 114 games for the team he has 49 goals and 50 assists, which is good but probably would have been even better if he hadn’t been injured and put on the shelf for a month in 2012/2013.

In the postseason he has really shined with 14 goals and 11 assists in 24 games.

He was clutch in the 2013 President’s Cup Playoffs with a game-tying tally and the eventual winning goal in overtime then adding a hat trick in successive contests that helped push the series to a deciding game 7.

The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. player also frequently hit the score sheet in five years of Canadian college hockey at University Of Lethbridge.

Last season he was invited to Connecticut Whale‘s training camp but released to their affiliate before deciding to return to the Mavericks.

At 28 years old he’s older than most other players that have only been playing a few years but seems to have plenty left in the tank to continue.

Original story: 6/23-13

For 2015/2016 he returns for a fifth season with Missouri after scoring a career high 36 goals in 72 ECHL games last season.

In his previous campaign he had a best 68 points (34-34) in 62 Central Hockey League contests.

The now 30-year old should be able to continue at close to or better than a point-per-game production as he pushes forward.

Andrew Courtney

24Jun

Alex Friesen(8) Utica Comets

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Alex-Friesen

Vancouver Canucks‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#172 overall) 3rd year center Alex Friesen(8) had a career year with affiliate Utica Comets and is continuing on his tear in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

He skated in a career high 60 AHL games scoring a best 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points with a +13 rating.

The not huge 5’10” 186 lbs. forward has added another 3 goals and 5 assists in 13 postseason contests with a +4 plus/minus.

He played 5 years in the OHL for Niagara IceDogs doing better on the stat sheet in each successive campaign.

He was a more than a point-per-game player in his final two seasons and managed to end his junior hockey time with an eye-popping +70.

The 24-year old is a restricted free agent at the conclusion of 2014/2015 but looks good to receive a qualifying offer from the parent club to keep increasing his game.

Original story 5/25-15

With his three-year entry level deal expiring and restricted free agency looming the Canucks waste little time re-upping for another two years with the small-ish speedy forward.

He just concluded a career year playing a high 60 AHL games scoring 10 goals, 20 assists for 30 points and a +13 rating with 85 shots on net and 57 penalty minutes.

He continued to help his argument for an extension with an outstanding playoff performance getting 4 goals and 6 assists in 23 Calder Cup games.

Alex-Friesen2

22Jun

Art Bidlevskii(27) Kallinge/Ronneby

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Art Bidlevskii

Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Art Bidlevskii(27) has decided to stay put with Bakersfield Condors for the 2013/2014 season.

He played 10 games with the team at the end of his rookie year after being dished at the trade deadline by South Carolina Stingrays, where he was released to and signed after attending Providence Bruins‘ training camp on a tryout.

The 6’ 198 lbs. blue liner started his pro career in the AHL signed to an ato by Bridgeport Sound Tigers after 5 years of juniors with Prince George Cougars.

He plays a style of hockey that seems like he constantly has a chip on his shoulder and is not afraid to drop the mitts. He had 9 dust ups last season and a 2nd career high 14 in his final WHL season with another four more scuffles in his first 10 pro games. He’s regularly in the triple digit club for penalty minutes.

The 22-year old has never been known for his point totals; last season 2 goals, 3 assists in 54 ECHL games but could work his way up with a strong defensive zone game and maybe a few more marks on the score sheet.

Original story: 8/8-13

Literally right before the 2013/2014 season started he got traded to Ontario Reign. He stayed with the team for 26 ECHL games before sort of unceremoniously getting traded to Gwinnett Gladiators, where he finished out the season scoring a career high one goal and 8 assists with a +8 rating. He also had 8 fighting majors.

With an offer to come back to Gwinnett for another season, he took it but ended up getting injured early in the campaign and only managed to appear in 13 games getting three assists.

For 2015/2016 the now 24-year old has decided to take his game overseas signing a one-year deal with Kallinge/Ronneby IF of Sweden’s Hockeyettan.

21Jun

Sebastian Wannstrom(38) Rogle BK

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Sebastian-Wannstrom

St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#44 overall) Swedish-born center Sebastian Wannstrom(38) decided to leave North American hockey and head home signing a two-year deal with Rogle BK of the SHL.

Despite having put up career high assists (9) and points (12) in 36 AHL games with affiliate Chicago Wolves, he’s only really ever put up big numbers in his final year of SuperElit with Brynas J20 team.

Otherwise, he’s been a healthy scratch and even through 115 games in his home country’s top league he only has 8 goals and 9 assists in that span.

His overall numbers in the minors (89 games with 9 goals and 16 assists) are fairly short of amazing.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he’s big enough to be a power forward but the 24-year old with already 7 years of pro hockey to his credit is going to have to put himself straight into the mix to get results.

19Jun

Brandon Yip (18)

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Brandon-Yip

5th year right wing Brandon Yip(32) appeared in his first NHL game of the 2013/2014 with his new team, Phoenix Coyotes.

The unrestricted free agent signed a one-year, two-way deal after spending a season and a half with Nashville Predators.

He was originally a Colorado Avalanche 8th round pick in the 2004 draft (#239 overall) and inked a one-year entry level deal and extended for another two seasons.

After posting no points in 10 games he was dispatched to their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but never made it before getting claimed off waivers by the Predators.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward was able to pick up his scoring pace but still fell short of the even modest numbers he notched in his first two campaigns.

The 28-year old has already been reassigned and recalled 6 times in the early going and skated in his first AHL games since 2009 with the parent club’s farm team Portland Pirates.

In 2 appearances he has a quick 2 assists to his credit.

Original story: 10/23-13

After a pair of games with Phoenix, he was reassigned back to the farm team and spent the entire season in the minors scoring 14 goals and 20 assists with a -22 rating.

Heading into 2014/2015 he was an invite to Anaheim Ducks‘ training camp but released and inked a contract with affiliate Norfolk Admirals, where he skated 31 games getting 3 goals, 9 assists and a -11 rating.

He was reassigned for the first time in his pro career down to Utah Grizzlies and stuck around for 7 ECHL games before seeking to be released from his contract.

Within a couple of days he signed with Adler Mannheim, finished out the regular season and skated the entire playoffs of 14 games recording 4 assists to help the team to a DEL Championship.

They liked what they saw, because the 30-year old will be back for more in 2015/2016, his 7th year pro.

brandon-yip-1

16Jun

Bobby Raymond(9) Iserlohn Roosters

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After spending his 1st year of pro hockey playing in France, undrafted defenseman signed with the ECHL Florida Everblades in 2010/2011 to start his North American rookie campaign.

He skated in all 72 games with the ‘Blades and 4 postseason contests as well, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists, while going a big +26 plus/minus.

With his debut season completed, he received a bit of an unexpected call-up to join Binghamton Senators for the 2011 AHL Atlantic Division playoff series.

He played in 9 games through three more rounds leading up to the eventual Calder Cup win.

For the 2011/2012 season, he signed a one-year, two-way deal with the B-Sens and started the year by raising the championship banner to the rafters of Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. d-man split time between the two leagues, appearing in 38 AHL games and was eventually reassigned for the remainder of the season in late February to help the Everblades get into playoff position.

Well, two full seasons playing hockey in the top developmental leagues for the NHL and the 27-year old has captured both championships as Florida Everblades won their first ECHL Kelly Cup in the team’s 14-year existence by knocking off Las Vegas Wranglers.

Original story: 5/24-12

For the 2012/2013 season he would return to Florida Everblades but spent a majority of his time on loan to Charlotte Checkers and eventually ink an spc to finish out the year with the team, where he achieved a career high 4 goals and 14 assists in 44 AHL games.

He would next decide to go play across the pond for Iserlohn Roosters and found the bigger sheets of ice worked well for his game as he scored 7 goals and 20 assists.

He would switched allegiances in the league in the following season, signing with Adler Mannheim and won the DEL Championship.

For 2015/2016, the now 29-year old will spend his third year in the league and returns to Iserlohn Roosters.

15Jun

Philipp Grubauer(31) Washington Capitals

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Philipp-Grubauer2

Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#112 overall), German-born goaltender Philipp Grubauer(31) has been stonewalling the offense in the ECHL through his first year and a half in the league.

He was the starter for South Carolina Stingrays in his rookie campaign going 23-13-5 in 43 appearances with a 2.22 GAA and .918 SV%.

The 6′ 180 lbs. net minder took up in his sophomore season where he left off posting a 19-5-1 record in 26 games and a 2.30 GAA and .912 SV% for Reading Royals before being recalled to split duties for Hershey Bears.

He’s off to an impressive start with a 2-2 mark and another solid 2.05 GAA and .926 SV%.

The 21-year old signed a 3-year entry level deal that keeps him in the system through 2015 and if it wasn’t for the logjam in the AHL net last season, he may have scored some playing time.

He recently was also cleared to attend the ECHL All-Star Game, where he was chosen as a starter and got the nod to kick off the festivities between the pipes. For now he’s having fun but could figure into the Capitals‘ long term plans pretty easily.

Original story: 1/24-13

In the 2013/2014 season he would be one of the few players each year to play a game in all three tops leagues: NHL, AHL and ECHL.

It would also signify the last time the net minder would see double A hockey as he would play 17 games with the Caps in 2013/2014 posting a 6-5-5 record with a 2.38 GAA and .925 SV%.

Even though he saw only one game with the parent club in 2014/2015, due to a veteran goalie signed in the off-season taking on most of the back-up role.

He would however be called on to start a first round Stanley Cup Playoff game getting the win, two firsts for a German-born backstop.

The only 23-year old signs a 2-year one-way extension but still may spend some time with the farm club to continue to hone his skills.

Philipp Grubauer

 

14Jun

Michael Caruso (24)

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Michael-Caruso4

Michael Caruso(24) spent six seasons in Florida Panthers‘ prospect system after being chosen 4th round of the 2006 draft (#103 overall).

He was thought of as a player that could compete for a spot on the blue line in his development but spent the first four years skating for minor league affiliate Rochester Americans, then San Antonio Rampage before finally deemed to be ready and made his debut on the opening night roster to start the 2013 lockout shortened campaign.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. defenseman quickly got his first taste of the NHL suspended when he broke his wrist early in his second appearance.

Upon coming off ir he was reassigned to the the AHL but the injury bug continued to follow him and despite signing a his third one-year deal in the offseason to continue with the organization, he was limited to 35 games with the farm club in 2013/2014.

Heading into unrestricted free agency the damage of being sidelined for extended periods hurt his chances for another opportunity and he was left unsigned.

He found his way into the training camp of Springfield Falcons but was released after only a week.

Unsure of where he was going next to play his 7th pro season, after the first month passed he decided to sign with Reading Royals, his first stint in the ECHL.

He would assume the role of assistant captain and reached the 20 point mark for the first time since his final pair of years in the OHL with Guelph Storm.

The soon-to-be 27-year old knew that hockey life may take him overseas if he wanted to play at a higher level and for 2015/2016 he’s signed on to join Dornbirner Bulldogs of Austria’s Este Bank Liga.