A pair of #31 goalies share an end of series handshake at center ice.
Adirondack Thunder rookie goaltender Ken Appleby(31) had a heck of a run securing 4 wins against 1 loss with a 1.75 GAA and a .942 SV% in 5 ECHL Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals games shakes hands with his opposition, Manchester Monarchs‘ 2nd year net minder Doug Carr(31).
The ironies of the match-up were definitely not lost on us: both guys tended the cage this season for Albany Devils, albeit the one that got the victory is property of New Jersey Devils, signed to a three-year entry level deal.
Carr actually was on a pto with Albany at the beginning of 2015/2016 but was released a couple months later with only three games to credit, so two most definitely crossed paths before this postseason meeting.
Another similarity for the two back stops is Carr was signed by Adirondack Flames last season and played 13 AHL games with them, splitting time with Colorado Eagles, so both have spent some quality time in Glens Falls, NY.
That’s likely where this story ends though.
8th year center Bud Holloway(21) agreed to a one-year two-way deal with Montreal Canadiens to return to North American hockey after spending three seasons with Skelleftea AIK, where he won a pair of SHL Championships in 2013 and 2014, then split for Switzerland’s NLA joining SC Bern.
The 28-year old did get into the NHL game he’d been seeking to play but didn’t get with draft team Los Angeles Kings (3rd round in 2006, #86 overall), but it was only a single game before being returned to affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.
In his big league debut he skated a very limited 10 shifts for 7:19 total ice time with one shot, one giveaway and 2 takeaways.
He’s pretty much considered a seminal player in the minors but as was on display overseas knows he can do better.
In 8 less AHL games this season (70) he equaled his 61 points he put up in 2010/2011 on reassignment to Manchester Monarchs.
He put up a career high 42 assists this season.
It’s hard to think he would stick around for a similar contract heading into 2016/2017, when he could play a slightly higher level of hockey, play lesser games and make more doing it.
8th year center Bud Holloway(21) agreed to a one-year two-way deal with Montreal Canadiens to return to North American hockey after spending three seasons with Skelleftea AIK, where he won a pair of SHL Championships in 2013 and 2014, then split for Switzerland’s NLA joining SC Bern.
The 28-year old did get into the NHL game he’d been seeking to play but didn’t get with draft team Los Angeles Kings (3rd round in 2006, #86 overall), but it was only a single game before being returned to affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.
In his big league debut he skated a very limited 10 shifts for 7:19 total ice time with one shot, one giveaway and 2 takeaways.
He’s pretty much considered a seminal player in the minors but as was on display overseas knows he can do better.
In 8 less AHL games this season (70) he equaled his 61 points he put up in 2010/2011 on reassignment to Manchester Monarchs.
He put up a career high 42 assists this season.
It’s hard to think he would stick around for a similar contract heading into 2016/2017, when he could play a slightly higher level of hockey, play lesser games and make more doing it.
6th year center Garry Nunn(9) had a career season in two different leagues with 3 teams.
Originally signed by Atlanta Gladiators, he returned to where he spent most of the previous year, which is a bit of a surprise considering it was a late season transfer to playoff contending Ontario Reign when he began his explosion on the score sheet getting a tidy 4 goals and 17 assists with a +10 rating in 15 ECHL games.
He then continued on that pace in the Kelly Cup Playoffs notching another 9 goals, 12 assists in 19 contests with a +12 plus/minus en route to the Western Conference Finals, losing to the eventual winner, Allen Americans.
The small 5’9″ 184 lbs. forward started 2015/2016 on a training camp invite from Providence Bruins, where he would eventual head back to for his first 11 AHL games and leave a month later with a pair of assists.
Meanwhile his game was continuing to be on a tear in the lower league as he strung together 11 goals and 33 assists in 43 match-ups.
The struggling San Antonio Rampage were next to give him a look. He blended right in and got comfortable connecting for 7 goals and 7 assists in 16 more games with a +8, which is pretty crazy considering the type of squad he was on.
The 26-year old had a few successful seasons as a junior in the WHL mostly with Vancouver Giants, then won the 2011 Kelly Cup as a rookie with Alaska Aces and even left for a year to play in Italy’s Serie A for Valpellice.
After the type of campaign he had this year, it would be a bit surprising to not see him play in the league one step away from the NHL.
Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#23 overall) rookie defenseman Michael Matheson(56) was recalled on an emergency basis at the end of the regular season, skated his third game and stuck around for the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was a healthy scratch for the opening game of the series but inserted into the lineup after the team dropped game 1.
Over two postseason match-ups 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner has already seen increased ice time (up to 17:22 with :32 on the power play in game 3), has 1 shot on net, 3 breakups, 1 giveaway and 1 takeaway with a +2 rating in a win and a loss.
Playing a steady, almost unassuming style game he has been solid with affiliate Portland Pirates in his first year with 8 goals, 12 assists in 54 AHL games with a +10 rating.
This continues what he started in three campaigns at Boston College, where he was just about a 20 assist per season guy before turning pro.
The 22-year old is signed to a three year entry level deal through 2018 and will be competing for a full-time spot for his sophomore run.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#32 overall) right wing Christian Fischer(21) signed his three-year entry level deal after a pair of successful seasons in the USNDTP skating both USHL and USDP as a virtual point-per-game performer.
This move preempted his imminent start at Notre Dame University and instead had him assigned by the parent club to join Windsor Spitfires for the start of 2015/2016.
The 6’1″ 212 lbs. power forward really excelled in juniors scoring a team leading 40 goals and 50 assists in 66 OHL games with a +35 rating.
After his first year of playoffs concluded he signed an ato with affiliate Springfield Falcons for their end of the regular season contests.
In his 5th AHL game he scored two goals on the way to a 3-2 overtime victory for the non-playoff squad to give him three points.
The just turned 19-year old could return to the Spitfires at the start of the new season but our guess is he will either make the big club or will continue in the minors for a full campaign.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#32 overall) right wing Christian Fischer(21) signed his three-year entry level deal after a pair of successful seasons in the USNDTP skating both USHL and USDP as a virtual point-per-game performer.
This move preempted his imminent start at Notre Dame University and instead had him assigned by the parent club to join Windsor Spitfires for the start of 2015/2016.
The 6’1″ 212 lbs. power forward really excelled in juniors scoring a team leading 40 goals and 50 assists in 66 OHL games with a +35 rating.
After his first year of playoffs concluded he signed an ato with affiliate Springfield Falcons for their end of the regular season contests.
In his 5th AHL game he scored two goals on the way to a 3-2 overtime victory for the non-playoff squad to give him three points.
The just turned 19-year old could return to the Spitfires at the start of the new season but our guess is he will either make the big club or will continue in the minors for a full campaign.
Adirondack Thunder took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of 7 ECHL Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Manchester Monarchs as the series heads to Glens Falls Civic Center for games 3 and 4.
4-3 overtime goal scorer Peter MacArthur(21) gets jumped by Ryan Lomberg(10) in the celebration of the game-winner.
Finishing up his 8th pro season much like he did the previous one, Chad Costello(13) won the ECHL scoring title and league MVP with Allen Americans for his second straight year with slightly fewer overall totals at 24 goals, 79 assists for 103 points in 72 games but still bested the next higher player by over 20.
He was named captain for the campaign and helped guide the team to another outstanding regular season record as they head into another postseason to defend their 2015 Championship.
The small power forward with a nose for the net put another outstanding 229 shots on net, which easily helped pace his prolific presence on the score sheet.
Turning 30-years old in the off-season it will be interesting to see where the veteran skater from Johnston, Iowa goes next (or happily stays put).
Florida Everblades‘ undrafted rookie right wing Matt Willows(29) was named ECHL Rookie Of The Year after leading first year players in scoring and assists.
He also had a mighty 236 shots on net with a +14 rating in 71 games.
He was originally signed by AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers but reassigned to begin 2015/2016.
This deal came from an impressive performance on an ato with Worcester Sharks (3 goals, 2 assists in 11 games) after completing four years at University Of New Hampshire, where he was named team captain last season and basically a point-per-game player in his final pair of campaigns.
It’s very surprising the small 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward was never recalled to the higher league with such good numbers.
The 24-year old is only signed for through the end of the current season and readies for the start of the Kelly Cup Playoffs on a strong squad.
Heading into 2016/2017 he will likely once again compete for a spot on the next level of hockey but could also take his great start and head overseas for greener pastures.
