NCAA Division 3, college hockey
Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft, rookie forward Eric Wellwood(22) has done decently in his first year playing in the AHL with Adirondack that he earned 3 games in the NHL, where he put up 1 assist.
He, along with 8 other Phantoms, has been called up to Philadelphia for the playoffs making up the “Black Aces” squad in practices. All players are eligible to play in games if needed.
New York Rangers‘ 2010 4th round draft pick (#100 overall) Andrew Yogan(49) is an NHL scoring machine in the making.
Watching him take warm-ups at the XL Center recently before one of the final regular season games for the Connecticut Whale, I could tell right away this kid bleeds hockey.
Then in his first pro game he scored a pair of goals and was named first star of the game.
He’s from Boca Raton, FL, a hotbed of hockey talent and was the first Sunshine state player ever to be drafted by an NHL team.
Undrafted Carolina Hurricanes‘ forward Jerome Samson(17) was in the first year of a new 2-year two-way contract this season. He spent 23 games in the NHL, a career high but only recorded 2 points and no goals, the same total he had last year in 7 games.
No word on if he’ll be reassigned to Charlotte Checkers for their AHL Calder Cup run but he should be. He’s a point per game player in AAA.
Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall) forward Thomas Kubalik from the Czech Republic recently received his first NHL call-up and responded with a couple of assists in 4 games played.
I could see him cracking the Jackets‘ roster on a more permanent basis next season.
6th year defenseman Danny Syvret(25) has had quite the 2010/2011 season.
Signed in the offseason to a 1-year deal with Anaheim, he played there and in Syracuse before Philadelphia picked him back up early in the season. He’s been mostly down with Adirondack in the AHL but he’s up when it counts, playoff time and may just get to see some action.
Sharks‘ defensemen Nick Petrecki(29) and Sean Sullivan(37) come out after the team’s disappointing final home game loss to Portland to donate the hair they’ve grown out all season to “Locks Of Love“.
18 soon-to-be 19-year old Jordan Weal(19) is an absolute scoring stud in the WHL with Regina but his current 5’8″ 160lbs soaking wet frame might be a little light for effectiveness in the NHL, let alone the AHL, where he is now with Manchester on the way to a first round Calder Cup playoff series. In 6 games he has 0 goals and 1 assist.
He was the LA Kings 3rd round pick (#70 overall) in last year’s draft.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick (#81 overall) in the 2008 draft, defenseman Corey Fienhage(5) signed an ato with Portland.
At 6’4″ 221 lbs, he’s big and can move pretty well but seems a bit clumsy. Maybe it’s just the early transition from junior hockey to pros and he’ll excel in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs.
Boston Bruins 2007 6th round draft pick (#159 overall), defenseman Alain Goulet(18) has spent more time in the ECHL with Reading this season than he has in the AHL with Providence. Last year he played the full season with the P-Bruins.
He basically finished up the year in the AHL, but Providence failed to make the playoffs so he was recently sent back down to help the Royals in their quest for the Kelly Cup.
Boston Bruins 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#86 overall) defenseman Ryan Button(5) is somewhat of an enigma.
He signed an ato with Providence Bruins and has played 4 games registering 0 points. I have my doubts about this one.
