Adirondack Flames | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Tagged: Adirondack Flames

29Jul

Corban Knight (11)

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Calgary Flames‘ 2nd year center Corban Knight(10) has already found himself happily involved in the parents’ club early season recalls after his hot start with minor league affiliate Adirondack Flames, where he’s recorded 5 goals and 3 assists in 16 AHL games.

He recently appeared in his first pair of games of 2014/2015, getting 10 shifts in each contest with just over 6 minutes total ice time and was fantastic in the face off dot, although was held without a point.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#135 overall), he was obtained by Calgary in an off season trade before he even got out of the gate.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward was a strong skater in four years at University of North Dakota posting at least a point-per-game average in his last three seasons, winning consecutive NCAA/WCHA Championships from 2010-2012 and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior.

He managed to continue his strong play upon turning pro on reassignment with then farm club, Abbotsford Heat finishing his rookie campaign in the top five scoring (18-27-45).

The now 24-year old also got the nod for his first NHL action and potted his first big league goal in 7 games.

He was recently sent back to Adirondack but it proved to be more of a paper transaction and he was once again summoned mid-trip and back in the lineup, although marked as healthy scratch, for now.

Even though he’s at the end of his 2-year entry level contract and set to become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of this season, if he can start to produce may stay where he is.

Original story: 11/28-14

Dealt in a mid-season transaction that sent him back to draft team Florida Panthers he was reassigned to affiliate San Antonio Rampage, where he stayed for the remainder of the regular season and skated in all three playoff contests scoring one goal.

He concluded 2014/2015 with 16 goals and 20 assists in 58 AHL games with a +2 rating.

Going into restricted free agency, the Panthers signed him up for another season on a two-way deal.

Set to turn 25-years old just before the start of the forthcoming season, he may start with Portland Pirates, the new affiliate of his new team but if turns up the scoring early again could find himself as part of an early recall.

15Jul

Brian McGrattan(22) Anaheim Ducks

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

For his 14th pro season Brian McGrattan(22) signed a one-year two-way deal with Anaheim Ducks and could find himself playing a decent amount of NHL for the first time in a couple of campaigns to protect all the players in that deep pool of talent in California.

He’ll turn 34-years old before the new season starts.

The huge force, who’s obviously in great shape and last had 11 fights playing for Calgary Flames in 2013/2014, just keeps on ticking.

Original story below 3/15-15:

Calgary Flames‘ 13th year right wing Brian McGrattan(22) was reassigned to the minors for the first time in a couple of seasons, joining affiliate Adirondack Flames .

He last played six games on a conditioning loan with Milwaukee Admirals while under contract to Nashville Predators but returned to Calgary (he spent 2009/2010 with the team) via trade.

The larger than life 6’4″ 240 lbs. rugged forward skated only 8 games (no points) with the parent club and was listed as a healthy scratch all too often, so the parent club ultimately decided it was best to see if some more ice time could get him back into the lineup on what had become a much speedier squad.

In 2013/2014, he achieved career highs for games played (76), goals (4) and assists (4) while keeping the peace on ice.

The big man was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 1999 draft (#104 overall) but first signed with Ottawa Senators, who he spent his first six seasons with, scoring his first NHL goal.

After a trade to then Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, he bounced around from team-to-team on one-year deals and even spent the full 2010/2011 with a pair of farm clubs.

A veteran of 278 AHL games he has the record for the most penalty minutes and fighting majors in one season (2004/2005) with Binghamton Senators, when he drop the mitts 39 times and recorded 551 minutes in the sin bin.

The 33-year old enforcer has skated in 317 big league contests but is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

He may either decide to take his game overseas for a year as he’s yet to explore the landscape outside of North America or hang up those skates and continue to help players with substance abuse problems, an issue of close importance to him.

See related: 11/1-10, 1/19-11, 2/17-11, 9/18-11,

12Apr

John Ramage (49)

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#103 overall) 2nd year defenseman John Ramage(49) was rewarded for his career year with affiliate Adirondack Flames, where he put up a career high 3 goals and 11 assists after only getting a single assist in 50 AHL games as a rookie.

The two-time former captain of University Of Wisconsin had his best college points mark as a senior, when the Badgers won the 2013 NCAA/WCHA Championship.

The 6′ 200 lbs. blue liner is definitely considered more of a stay at home style with good accountability.

In his NHL debut he skated 25 shifts for 18:10 total ice with a somewhat surprising 4 shots on net, 2 hits, 1 play breakup and went only a -1 in a 5-1 drubbing.

The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season but will join the parents club practice squad for the playoffs and almost assuredly be qualified to stay.

His dad is Rob Ramage, who was the 1979 1st pick in the draft and played 18 years, 1044 games and won the 1989 Stanley Cup with Calgary, so this one has come full circle. Although he was selected by Colorado Rockies.

11Apr

Fight Card: Mathieu Tousignant(16) vs. Garret Ross(26)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | Leave a comment

March 3, 2015: Adirondack Flames‘ fight leader at 14 bouts, the not exactly large 5’11” 185 lbs. center Mathieu Tousignant(16) is fed up with the way the game is going so picks a fight from some feistiness in front of the opposing net with Rockford IceHogs‘ 2nd year left wing Garret Ross(26) who is credited with 4 mix ups this season and is similarly sized at 6′ 182 lbs.

It was basically a draw with some good punches thrown.

Tousignant was just named “Man Of The Year” too.

23Mar

Marcus Granlund(60) Calgary Flames

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Calgary Flames‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#45 overall) Finnish-born, 2nd year center Marcus Granlund(60) has been on a roller coaster ride between the parent club and farm team Adirondack Flames having been recalled and reassigned 8 times this season.

He puts up points with ease in the minors striking for 9 goals and 8 assists in 21 AHL games, and was equal to the task as a rookie with 25 tallies and 21 helpers in 52 contests.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward is a small-ish sized great skater with amazing stick handling abilities but could be stronger on the puck, which will likely improve as he does play with a good deal of gusto.

In 40 NHL games he has 5 goals and 9 assists with a -2 rating in the current campaign and is being pushed to continue to climb higher. Appearing in his first 7 games in late 2014, he got his first goal and 2 assists.

He is one of many European skaters that come to North American pro hockey after already skating two full seasons, 99 appearances in his home country’s top league SM-liiga with HIFK.

As a first year player he led the league in goals, assists and points with 15-19-34.

The 21-year old definitely has plenty of potential.

Signed through 2015/2016, he just needs to put it on display with more frequency in the show.

17Mar

Corey Potter(28) Calgary Flames

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Almost a month after his 2nd recall from affiliate Adirondack Flames, Calgary Flames‘ 9th year defenseman Corey Potter(28) finally got into a couple of games to extend his streak of big league appearances to seven seasons in a row.

In 125 NHL big league contests, for two seasons with Edmonton Oilers he appeared in games only at the highest level and has skated the bulk of his games with the Canadian club (111).

Otherwise, he’s had a few nods here and there: from draft team (4th round in 2003, #122 overall) New York Rangers over a couple of seasons, 1 with Pittsburgh Penguins and most recently 3 looks from Boston Bruins after being grabbed off waivers.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. has played 352 AHL games scoring a modest 28 goals and 125 assists but is an absolute mammoth of on ice accountability with an overall +97 rating.

At 31-years old he still has some more seasons left in the tank but it’s a bit of a wonder if he gets another major contract or plays out his time in the minors mentoring prospects and heads into coaching when it’s time to finally hang up the skates.

See related: 3/28-11

14Feb

Emile Poirier(21) Adirondack Flames

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#22 overall) winger Emile Poirier(21) has goal scorer written all over his game.

He comes out of a point per game performance in three years of juniors with Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL. He did so well he belonged to the 30/30 club as a sophomore skater and a 40/40 mark in his final campaign before turning pro.

As soon as the ink on the 3-year entry level contract was dry he was ready to jump and sign an ato to join then affiliate Abbotsford Heat for the remainder of the regular season and short playoff run.

He scored 2 goals and 2 assists with a +4 rating in 2 AHL games (3 of those points came in one contest) and added another tally in the postseason.

Ready to go as soon as he was reassigned from training camp to new affiliate Adirondack Flames, the 6’2″ 200 lbs. power forward that never shies away from the rough stuff, started in on the score sheet.

In 40 games he’s potted 14 goals and 16 assists with a +11 rating.

He also was selected to appear in the 2015 All-Star Game and came away with one goal and a pair of helpers in the 14-12 Western Conference win.

It’s a bit of a wonder why the parent club has yet to give the 20-year old a shot at the show but maybe there’s a method to how they groom his development.

01Feb

David Wolf(45) Calgary Flames

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Calgary Flames‘ undrafted rookie left wing, the German-born David Wolf(45) already had 7 years of pro experience playing for teams in his home country, including 5 in the top league DEL, before signing his one-year deal.

He was reassigned to Adirondack Flames to start his first season in North America.

In 35 AHL games he’s posted 12 goals and 9 assists with a +8 rating and 4 fighting majors.

He’s tied for the team lead in scoring, 3rd overall in points and second for time in the sin bin.

The big 6’3″ 215 lbs. power forward never shies away from the rough stuff and was the most penalized player in 2011/2012.

His all around solid style and ability to connect with the score sheet earned him a recall from the parent club.

In his NHL debut he skated 16 even strength shifts for 7:27 of total ice time, was 50% on the face off dot, had 1 shot on net, 2 hits and one takeaway in a 4-2 come from behind victory.

The 25-year is getting a bit of a late start but may be at the right point of game maturation to stick.

30Jan

The AHL moves west

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

At 3:30pm ET AHL president Dave Andrews announced the creation on a Pacific Division that will play in the Western Conference of the league starting 2015/2016.

The cities effectively losing teams are Oklahoma City Barons, which happened earlier this season, Norfolk Admirals, Glens Falls/Adirondack Flames after only one run, Worcester Sharks and rivals Manchester Monarchs.

Picking up teams will be soon to be former ECHL franchises Ontario (Los Angeles), Bakersfield (Edmonton) and Stockton (Calgary). San Diego (Anaheim) will be a new city for triple A hockey although did at one time have a Gulls, and San Jose‘s farm club will play out of the same building as the Sharks; and will likely be renamed.

It’s fairly well-thought that Manchester, Adirondack and Norfolk make announcement to join the double A league and there’s rumors racing around Worcester is exploring the options and would have the best chance at success by resurrecting the Ice Cats, while Oklahoma City may get back into the fold under their old successful Blazers‘ banner after a year on the sidelines.

This move was 100% inevitable and can easily make fiscal sense. Those west coast teams draw fairly well with their fan base of hockey lovers.

On the plus side for Eastern Conference folks, chances are Utica, Rochester, Charlotte, Hamilton and even possible Toronto enter in their rivalry picture.

The big news is the top level of minor league hockey in California has arrived.

21Jan

Taylor Vause (34)

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted, 3rd year mini-center Taylor Vause(34) has earned every inch of the ice he’s played on.

He joined Texas Stars on an ato after four plus seasons of junior hockey in the WHL, where he was team captain with Swift Current Broncos scoring more than a point-per-game in his last campaign (37-46-83 in 72 games).

Generously listed at 5’10” 185 lbs. he was able to put up his first pro goal and an assist in 5 AHL contests.

He signed a pto to continue in the lone star state for his rookie year and re-upped with a second tryout before getting a full-on contract.

While it took him a little time to find his spot in the lineup, once in he was a bit slow to start but finished with 4 goals and 13 assists in 55 games, which was a decent debut for the tenacious forward.

He also appeared in 3 postseason matches registering no points.

It was reported he signed a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads in the off-season but after attending Texas‘ training camp was kept on board once again and split his playing time with both clubs gaining more consistency on the score sheet.

And even though he played in only a pair of playoff games, he did have his name included on the 2013 Calder Cup Trophy.

The 23-year decided to ink his next deal with Colorado Eagles and quickly established himself as a scoring threat.

It didn’t take the Calgary native to earn a recall and signed another pto with Adirondack Flames.

He had been in their training camp.

The small pivot made an impact almost immediately and one month in was given an spc to stay with the team, although he was later reassigned back down after cooling off.

It only took him a week to return as he exploded for a 3 goal, 3 assist performance in his 3-game ECHL stint.

He’ll certainly have to keep his energy level up and connect but he might have found his home for at least the short term and will likely get an NHL camp look.

« Older posts