8th year left wing John Kurtz(21) decides it’s time to try his game elsewhere, signing a one-year deal with Belfast Giants for 2017/2018.
The tough to play against forward split last season with Norfolk Admirals and Syracuse Crunch, two clubs he’s spent significant time with.
He had a pair of years under contract with Anaheim Ducks but failed to score a recall in a fourth line grinder role and was released.
Looking for a new deal, his next move was signing a pto with Utica Comets but after 25 AHL games was released, then picked up immediately by Toronto Marlies, where he was at the beginning of the season in training camp and played out 2015/2016.
He was able to connect better with his new team but still left him with few suitors moving forward.
As the next season got started, he was without a team until a month in agreed to terms with his former Virginia team but now in a new league.
It would be his first ECHL games in 5 years but he wouldn’t stay there through the entire year, instead he was loaned to Syracuse and played out the campaign there.
His style game should go over well in the United Kingdom league and he may even see some new career scoring highs.
John Kurtz(12) Norfolk Admirals
Norfolk Admirals‘ undrafted 4th year, tough left wing John Kurtz(12) was rewarded last season with his first NHL contract from parent club Anaheim Ducks for his consistently edgy play in the minors with their affiliate clubs.
The 6’2″ 206 lbs. forward was further endorsed by the parent club as he received a one-year extension for 2014/2015.
He’s on pace this season to set AHL career highs in all categories, which may not put him tops on the team in scoring, but for a player that is looked to as protection for their more gifted scoring prospects it’s a nice increase.
Although he will likely spend the entire current campaign with the farm club, it appears he’s being readied for a recall to flex some muscle in the big league.
At only 24-years old he wears an “A” on his jersey serving as one of the alternate captains.
He was captain for his final pair of seasons in junior hockey with Sudbury Wolves, so proven leadership is an important part of his game.