Undrafted 5th year defenseman Brett Motherwell(25) played his first full season in the AHL last year with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Unable to find the right deal in the offseason, he finally signed a deal in early December with Chicago Express of the ECHL to join them for 2011/2012.
It’s very likely that he’ll play some games in the AHL this season on call-up, possibly with the Express affiliate Springfield Falcons.
Undrafted rookie defenseman Matt Campanale(20) played his first NHL almost immediately after finishing his college career at UNH. He was signed and called up by New York Islanders on an emergency basis after only a couple of games with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers and then sent back for the weekend to finish up the season in Connecticut.
Odd that he wasn’t signed by anyone for the 2011/2012 season and ended up inking a deal with the ECHL Bakersfield Condors. Ever more odd, is that he was originally signed by Chicago Express but traded before the season even started. As if it could get stranger, the Express were touting him to “bolster” the team’s blue line in their press release when they signed him. More twists, his NHL player page is a bit cryptic with no picture but he has stats. He was assessed a 2 minute penalty.
In two games this season, he posted his first professional hockey goal. So now he has one point.
He’ll get called up to the AHL before too long.
11/25: He signs a pto with Binghamton Senators.
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Right wing, Tyler Donati(14) has spent most of his 5 years pro playing career in the ECHL with Elmira. He’s been called-up to the AHL for a total of 66 games (6 goals, 13 assists) but has mostly underproduced at the higher level of hockey.
Chicago Express signed him for the new season. I would expect him to earn a call-up or two, especially if he can return to the AA hockey form that won him league MVP in 2009/2010 with 38 goals and 76 assists for 114 points in 67 contests.
Undrafted, he’s still young at 24 years old but the knock on him seems to be his small-ish size (5’10” 193 lbs.) and lack of physical play.
Undrafted rookie, college standout at University Of Denver, Kyle Ostrow(19) signed a deal with Columbus that will start him in the ECHL with Chicago Express. But first he’ll see some preseason action with their AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons.
It’s just over a month away from the annual P-Bruins‘ preseason tilt, 9/30 at the New England Sports Center and the Falcons just happen to be their opponent this year.
He played 5 games with Portland Pirates at the end of regular season and didn’t look out of place but registered no points. He played no games with them in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Chaz Johnson(8) enters his 7th year pro signing an ECHL contract with Chicago Express for the 2011/2012 season.
He’s played most of his games in the ECHL over the last 5 years but has seen time in the AHL each season.
