Tagged: Alaska Aces

26Aug

Tyler Ruegsegger(7) Alaska Aces

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Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#166 overall), center Tyler Ruegsegger(7) was suppose to figure in the team’s future plans based on his stats leading up to his selection and then later with his excellent play in the last year of his college career.

Somewhere along the line though something happened because he didn’t sign to start his rookie season until late October of 2010; and that was with Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

From there he gets traded to Alaska Aces, but in the final month of his first year the then 23-year old gets his first AHL called-up by Abbotsford Heat. scoring 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games. He was returned to the Aces just in time to help them win the 2011 Kelly Cup.

In a surprising move for his second campaign, the 6′ 195 lbs. forward re-signed with the Aces to continue with the team for 2011/2012. Once again, he was recalled: first by Bridgeport Sound Tigers, then the Heat for a second run.

If he wasn’t accidentally clocked in the face by a one-timer in practice, it’s speculated that he could have played his first Calder Cup Playoff games or participated in another playoff run with the Aces.

For the upcoming 2012/2013 season, the now 25-year old re-signs for his third go with Alaska.

In 105 ECHL games he has 29 shots on goal into the net and assisted on another 25. Will this be his breakout year?

16Jul

Eric Neilson(29) Syracuse Crunch

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8th year right wing Eric Neilson(29) is known mostly for not shying away from any on ice situation and it certainly serves a much needed role on any team. In 47 games last season he scored one goal and was assessed 74 minutes in the penalty box, a surprising career low.

For the 2012/2013 he signed a one-year standard AHL contract with Syracuse Crunch, which essentially keeps him in the same system that he spent last season with, the Calder Cup winning Norfolk Admirals. He did not appear in a playoff game though.

Still at 6’1 201 lbs., the almost 28-year old forward is one of those players that’s better to have on your team than have to play against.

He was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2004 draft (#143 overall) but really didn’t spend any time with the team but rather played a few seasons in the ECHL before moving up a notch.

He was also one of the guys on that 2005 Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL champion team with Sidney Crosby.

27Apr

Tom Mele(10) Alaska Aces

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tom-mele-1

Undrafted rookie right wing Tom Mele(10) skated his first season with Fort Wayne Komets of the Central Hockey League and now his team is looking at a best of 7 finals to claim the Ray Miron President’s Cup trophy.

He also appeared with them in two postseason games last season.

In 12 playoff games he has a pair of goals and an assist.

The 6′ 188 lbs. 25-year old recorded 7 goals and 11 assists in 51 regular season games with a +11 plus/minus.

Before joining the Komets he signed an AHL training camp tryout with Springfield Falcons scoring a goal and making it through their preseason schedule before being released.

His hometown is listed as Bronx, NY, which isn’t exactly a hotbed of hockey talent.

8/31-12 update: For his sophomore season, the forward signs a one-year deal with Alaska Aces, jumping up a notch to the ECHL.

His former team, the Komets are also making the league switch.

21Mar

Ethan Cox(40) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted 2nd year right wing, Ethan Cox(40) waited the whole season to receive his first call up to the AHL but he’s fortunate to join a potent Bridgeport Sound Tigers in their quest for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

He was recently involved in an late season ECHL deal that sent him from Alaska Aces, a team he’d been with for two seasons and won the Kelly Cup with in his rookie year, to Reading Royals.

He barely got in a pair of games when he was called up. In 3 games he has one assist but already been released from his pto and will rejoin Reading as they push towards a spot in the postseason.

He played three AHL games last season with Portland Pirates and Peoria Rivermen, recording one assist.

15Mar

Corey Syvret(6) Trenton Titans

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2nd year defenseman, Corey Syvret(6) was originally drafted by Florida Panthers in the 6th round of 2007 (#181 overall) but only played 4 games with their then AHL affiliate Rochester Americans after his junior career finished.

He was signed a one-year two-way deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his first pro season but was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings without seeing any action in a higher league.

For the 2011/2012 season he inked a deal to play with newly re-hatched Trenton Titans and set career highs for games played (50) goals and assists (4 apiece).

He received his first call-up of the year to Portland Pirates, where he skated in 3 games, registering no points but did go a +1 before being returned to Trenton, where he will likely finish out the season.

It’s a bit of a wonder why he isn’t under contract with an AHL team but maybe he’s a bit of a late bloomer and needs to grow into his game a bit more. He stands 6’2″ and weighs in at 195, so it not a question of size.

His older brother is Danny Syvret, also a defenseman, has seen action in 59 NHL and 396 AHL contests.

9/19-12: Alaska Aces traded for the signing rights of the 23-year old defenseman. Chances are good that he’ll work out a contract with the team for ’12/’13.

11Jan

Tim Spencer(33) Springfield Falcons

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5th year, undrafted forward Tim Spencer(33) started the 2011/2012 season in the ECHL with Chicago Express and Trenton Titans but it didn’t take long for him to earn a call-up to the AHL with Springfield Falcons.

Originally signing a pto with the team in November, he was recently upped to a standard player contract after just 12 games and three fights where he just pummeled his opponent.

He’s oversized at 6’6″ 230 lbs. and has no problem stepping in to protect his teammates or give a beat down on a deserving member of the other team.

17Dec

Scott Howes(13) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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4th year undrafted forward Scott Howes(13) burst onto the scoring sheet when he joined Bridgeport Sound Tigers on a pto scoring 4 goals in his first 5 games with the team.

In 9 games he has 6 goals and 2 assists and may have found himself a home in the AHL for the season if he continues along at this pace.

Previously his only other call-up was with Manitoba Moose in the 2008/2009 season. A stint that netted him zero points in 5 games.

Last season in the ECHL, where he has spent most of his pro career, with Alaska Aces he was voted the playoffs MVP with 7 goals and 12 assists in 12 straight wins to help the team capture the Kelly Cup. He also tore it up offensively in the regular season with 22 goals and 36 assists in 59 games.

9/12 – 12: Seemingly out of nowhere, the now 25-year old signs a one-year deal with Central Hockey League‘s Allen Americans. Our guess is he’d be an easy call-up to skate with Texas Stars if needed.

11Sep

Zack Fitzgerald (14)

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Hamilton Bulldogs inked grizzly 7th year veteran defenseman Zack Fitzgerald(14) to an AHL contract for 2011/2012.

He led the league in penalty minutes with 311 in ’09/’10.

He’ll no doubt be called upon to protect some of the younger prospects in the Canadiens‘ system.

In the 2007/2008 season he did get a 1 game wink in an NHL game when he was signed by the Canucks for a couple of seasons.

The last two years he’s been signed with Carolina Hurricanes.

Fitzgerald was a 3rd round pick in 2003 (#88 overall) by St. Louis and played for two years with their minor league affiliates in Peoria and Alaska.