Alaska Aces | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Tagged: Alaska Aces

10Aug

Chris Langkow (11)

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted center Chris Langkow(54) started his fourth pro season much like he did the three previous campaigns, signed for a one-year minor league deal to play in the ECHL.

He posted career highs in scoring last season with 20 goals and 41 points, first with Reading Royals, who he signed with in the off-season and then traded to South Carolina Stingrays.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward re-signed for another campaign with the Stingrays but after getting off to a fast start was loaned to Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the second time in his career and made it stick.

He was first with the team for most of the year in 2011/2012 but only appeared in 7 games scoring a goal and 4 assists before succumbing to injury and being returned to Alaska Aces some 4 months later.

He won the Kelly Cup with the Aces in his rookie season and was impressive throughout.

The 24-year old recently signed an spc to play out the remainder of the regular season in southern Connecticut.

His grinding 4th line style of play works well with the young Bridgeport team and with AHL career highs in games played (35), goals (2) and assists (7) he has the ability to dot the score sheet.

It would be no surprise to see him score a higher league contract out of the gate in 2014/2015. After all, he is a Langkow.

Original story: 2/9-14

He did manage to secure a deal to stay with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for 2014/2015 and played in a career high 69 AHL games scoring a best 8 goals but his assists and point production did tick down slightly from the previous campaign.

Heading into the new season the 6th year veteran somewhat surprisingly moves back into the ECHL signing with Elmira Jackals.

He should be invited to a higher league’s training camp and could impress enough with his spark plug style game to earn a spot, so we’ll see where the soon-to-be 26-year old ends up lacing up his skates.

19Feb

Ryan Walters(15) Iowa Wild

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Iowa Wild‘s undrafted rookie left wing Ryan Walters(15) has been virtually a point-per-game performer while on reassignment with Alaska Aces.

In 26 ECHL games he scored 10 goals and 13 assists.

The 2013 Hobey Baker Award Finalist needed to regain the scoring confidence that had him net 22 goals and 30 assists in his third year and another 27 helpers in his final campaign at University Of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 6′ 190 lbs. power forward was also a bit of a sniper for two years in the USHL with Des Moines Buccaneers.

Without a contract for his first season, he signed an ato to join Bridgeport Sound Tigers after his college career wrapped up.

He skated 11 games potting his first pro goal and added a pair of assists on a very young squad.

As an invite to Minnesota Wild training camp the inner state native did all he could to stay on the radar.

The 23-year was sent down under the watchful eye of the parent club and ultimately inked a one-year AHL standard player contract.

He was recently recalled and in 16 games he has a goal and 5 assists, which is pretty good, but easily more is expected of this prospect.

05Mar

Justin Johnson(49) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ right wing Justin Johson(49) 8-year minor league journeyman’s career finally got some vindication as he scored a two-way NHL contract with parent club New York Islanders for the remainder of the 2013/2014 season.

He may not play any big league games but can now be easily recalled to help protect some of their skilled, younger prospects as they look to be spoilers.

After four years of college hockey at University Of Alaska, his hometown school of higher education, he went undrafted and signed a deal with the local club, Alaska Aces but was cut only 4 games into his rookie season.

He would tour the ECHL suiting up for 3 other teams before circling back to play another campaign with the Aces.

The somewhat stocky looking 6’1″ 220 lbs. has never been one to produce on the score sheet much but NEVER backs down from mixing it up with the opposing team’s biggest bruiser.

He would get a recall from Manchester Monarchs at the beginning of 2010/2011, signing a pto and stayed with them for the duration.

Heading into the next session he scored himself a 2-year extension to stay in New Hampshire.

The 32-year old would finally move on when he had interest from Bridgeport to sign for a season and become the enforcer for their young squad. He was even invited to join the Islanders‘ training camp and play in exhibition games.

Regardless of where he goes next, a stick-to-it attitude and perseverance pays off.

See related: 2/11-11, 9/4-11, 9/1-12

07Jan

Chris Bruton(16) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ 3rd year undrafted center Chris Bruton(16) was given a one-year, two-way NHL contract for 2013/2014 by New York Islanders to captain the young minor league affiliate squad.

Unfortunately he broke his hand early into the campaign and missed a month of action, leaving the team to field three assistants in his absence.

Upon his return, he has skated in 26 AHL games scoring a goal and an assist but is mostly counted on for his leadership and backing up his teammates when called upon.

He was team captain in his last season with Spokane Chiefs when they won both the Western Hockey League Championship and Memorial Cup. There was also an unfortunate incident that happened with the latter trophy.

At only 5’11” 205 lbs. he isn’t exactly the biggest guy out there but as his fighting record and time spent in the penalty box indicate, he welcomes any challenge.

One of those was after his junior career wrapped up, instead of turning pro immediately he decided to attend Acadia University.

After three years in school he signed his first contract with Alaska Aces after attending training camp with Peoria Rivermen but on his second loan to the club inked a deal in the higher league and re-signed for a 2012/2013.

The 26-year old definitely seems to be enjoying his time as mentor and could be headed for a nice coaching career once he’s ready to step off the ice.

19Jul

Bryant Molle(3) Reading Royals

Posted in ECHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted, 3rd year defenseman and consecutive, two-time minor league champ, Bryant Molle(3) re-signs for another year with Reading Royals, the team he won the Kelly Cup with last season.

He played 54 regular season ECHL games and added another 22 playoff games in 2012/2013.

The sizable 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner started his first full pro season in the Central Hockey League with Fort Wayne Komets and won the team’s last Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup before switching leagues.

He also appeared in a couple of games with his hometown Alaska Aces upon completing four years of college hockey at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Although never the biggest point getter (2 goals and 19 assists overall), he maintains an outstanding, combined +48 rating over a pair of seasons.

At 26-years old, he’s probably just starting to hit his stride and build a mountain of confidence that may earn him a look from the higher league in the upcoming 2013/2014 campaign.

22Mar

William Wrenn(45) Texas Stars

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#43 overall) rookie defenseman William Wrenn(45) was never signed by the team for his first pro season. Even though he attended minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks‘ training camp and didn’t make their opening night roster, he wasn’t simply reassigned to their ECHL team, San Francisco Bulls.

Instead, in all likelihood with the blessing of the parent club, he signed a deal to join him home town team in the league, Alaska Aces.

His first AHL recall was to Worcester Sharks, where he appeared in three games before being sent back and continuing to do well with 5 goals and 16 assists in 51 games playing for what is always an elite squad. He was also chosen to play in the All-Star Game.

A month later the 6’1 210 lbs. d-man received another call-up. This time inking a pto with the Western Conference leading Texas Stars.

It’s been a good fit for the 22-year old, as he’s skated in 12 games and scored 2 goals and 2 assists. He’s also been firing the puck on the net a ton, got into a couple of scraps and even had a three-game point streaking working for him.

Is San Jose taking notice? They are reporting news on him, so probably are.

19Mar

Adam Huxley(32) Las Vegas Wranglers

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

After playing 8 games on a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers to fill-in their tough guy role, 9th year right wing Adam Huxley(32) was just released and rejoins Las Vegas Wranglers, as they ready for another Kelly Cup Playoff run.

He has spent his entire pro career in the ECHL playing exclusively for Western Conference teams. He’s played in 479 games in the league with 45 goals and 63 assists to his credit, along with 1863 pims. He regularly eclipsed the 200-minute mark in 6 seasons of play.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward has also appeared in 31 AHL games with three different teams scoring one assist and always putting up a healthy amount of time in the sin bin.

Hockeyfights credits him with 178 regular season bouts but there’s none listed for his rookie season, when he amassed his career high almost 300 penalty minutes. He also has two NHL preseason fights.

Where the 29-year old decides to sign for his 10th campaign will be interesting to see. It always is for the pro whose playing style is akin to a stick of dynamite.

11Dec

Patrick Wellar(33) Hershey Bears

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

9th year veteran defenseman has skated in his last five seasons with Hershey Bears or their ECHL affiliate.

He was originally a Washington Capitals‘ 3rd round pick in the 2002 draft (#77 overall) but didn’t start playing within their organization until 2009. He has yet to sign an NHL contract with any team.

The 29-year old d-man won the Kelly Cup with South Carolina Stingrays in 2009 and Calder Cup in 2010 with Hershey as he split time during both seasons playing games for each team.

He’s a big presence out on the ice at 6’3″ 231 lbs. but could utilize all his size a bit more effectively knocking down opposing players that dare to stand around in front of his net putting condiments on their sandwich as they wait for scoring chances.

For the first time in a couple of seasons he was sent down to skate 18 games with new affiliate Reading Royals before recently getting called back up.

It would be little surprise to see him get his name on the Kelly Cup a second time, as the Royals have the kind of team that could very well go the distance.

He’s played a career 282 AHL regular and postseason contests and 360 in the ECHL.

30Sep

Adam Courchaine(1) Greenville Road Warriors

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

3rd year undrafted goalie Adam Courchaine(1) signs a one-year deal with Greenville Road Warriors for 2012/2013.

He was in Boston Bruins‘ system for the first couple of seasons of his pro career (one year slide on his 3-year entry level contract) but only appeared in 4 AHL games with Providence (3 of those in late 2012) through that time.

The 6’3″ 185 lbs. backstop skated mostly on reassignment in the ECHL with Alaska Aces, where he appeared in 62 games amassing a 36 – 17 – 7 record that included hoisting the Kelly Cup in 2011, his official rookie season. He only played in one postseason game but was very much a key part of the championship run.

At only 23-years old he still has time to grow into his game.

28Sep

Russ Sinkewich(32) Alaska Aces

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

5th year, undrafted big guy (6’3″ 202 lbs.) defenseman Russ Sinkewich(32) signed on for a third season with Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

His time with the team last year was limited to only 23 regular season games as he was recalled on two separate occasions: first by Abbotsford Heat for 21 games, then Bridgeport Sound Tigers rang him up in late February and signed him to an spc out of the gate. He only skated in 8 AHL games but was also watching from the cheap seats for a lot of that call-up.

The 27-year old may spend the duration of 2012/2013 with one ECHL team, like he did with Johnstown Chiefs in his sophomore campaign, mainly due to the glut of players occupying the higher league.

He has skated AHL games in each of his pro seasons including 10 games for Lake Erie Monsters and Milwaukee Admirals after leaving his college team early in his final year. He eventually signed to a two-way AHL/ECHL deal with the latter for his 2nd season.

« Older posts