Atlanta Gladiators | CollegeHockeyPlayers

08Dec

Tim Miller(9) Springfield Falcons

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5th year, undrafted left wing Tim Miller(9) finds a new home in the minors after being traded from long-time team Chicago Wolves to Springfield Falcons for future considerations.

The Eastern Conference squad is likely hoping he can return to form from a couple of seasons ago when he notched 19 goals, 19 assists and was a +19 rating in 70 AHL games.

His numbers slipped dramatically in his next campaign and he was posting a goose egg when he was let go.

The 6′ 198 lbs. definitely plays a feisty power forward type game but seems to be more of a mucker than a play maker or goal scorer in the early going.

In 198 games in the league he has 34 goals and 34 assists (likes those consistent numbers) with an overall +12 plus/minus.

The 26-year old played a couple of half-seasons in the ECHL with Gwinnett Gladiators n the first two years of his pro career. He was just about a point-per-game guy there.

It would be no surprise to see him sign a deal in the lower league next year.

18Oct

Keven Veilleux(19) Gwinnett Gladiators

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5th year center Keven Veilleux(19) begins the 2013/2014 season in the ECHL with Gwinnett Gladiators on reassignment from the parent club (although not under contract) after attending both parent clubs, Phoenix Coyotes and Portland Pirates‘ training camps on invites.

The big 6’5″ 224 lbs. forward was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#51 overall) and signed to a three-year entry level deal but never skated with the team.

He was reassigned to their farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he suffered season ending injuries on two occasions and only played one full campaign with them.

In that year he played like the power forward he’s projected to become, scoring 12 goals and 24 assists with 122 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games.

The still only 24-year old forward inked an NHL extension for another season but was sent further down the prospect chain to their double A affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he continued to pick up his scoring pace but was also involved in a racial tirade that got his pro career in a lot of hot water.

It’s very probable that towering offensive presence will see more time in the higher league on a pto but where it goes from there is anyone’s guess, unless he steps it up.

02Oct

Justin Weller(27) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#105 overall) defenseman Justin Weller(27) was assigned to the club’s double A affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators to start his second pro season.

He’s signed to a three year entry level deal, but failed to appear in the parent club’s training camp after prospect camp and reported to Portland Pirates‘ to skate in preseason games before recently getting cut. This is the final year of his contract.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he has fairly good size but has yet to crack even their AHL team’s roster.

In 65 ECHL games in his rookie season he scored a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +7 rating. He added another tally and a helper in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

The 22-year old played 5 years of junior hockey in the WHL with Red Deer Rebels but was never a big point producer, favoring maybe a bit more of a stay-at-home defensive style.

If he can shine in his sophomore campaign, he may still be left unqualified going into 2014/2015, but could find himself a nice home for hockey overseas or look to continue to climb the ladder through the minors in North America.

20Sep

Alex Hutchings(11) Gwinnett Gladiators

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4th year left wing Alex Hutchings(11) will put on the skates for Gwinnett Gladiators in 2013/2014.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in 2009 (#93 overall), he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal but spent most of his playing time in the ECHL with affiliate Florida Everblades than he did in the AHL with Syracuse Crunch or Norfolk Admirals.

In the last two campaigns in the league, the 5’10” 178 lbs. forward recorded almost a point-per-game with 26 goals and 32 assists in 63 games.

He set similar marks in four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Barrie Colts, where he exploded for 111 goals and 97 assists.

At only 22-years old, he’ll likely continue to occupy the score sheet in the lower league and will likely receive a call-up or two but will have to contribute more to stay put.

16Jul

Riley Boychuk(45) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils shed more salary cap to pick up 3rd year larger than life left wing prospect Riley Boychuk(45) from Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the 7th round of 2010 (#208 overall).

He is in the last season of a three-year entry level deal that has seen him play mostly AA pro hockey, last year in the Central Hockey League reassigned to Fort Worth Brahmas and in his rookie campaign he played 20 games with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. player put up career high goals, assists and points (8-9-17) in his sophomore year.

He’s anticipated to join Albany Devils for 2013/2014. He was recently invited to the parent club’s development camp and will definitely be joining them again in September.

The 23-year old played 26 AHL games in his first season with Rochester Americans and had a pair of helpers but is still looking for his AAA tally.

No doubt, this is a big frame forward that needs to be stepping it up.

06May

Derek Nesbitt(16) WBS Penguins

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8th year undrafted right wing Derek Nesbitt(16) is one of those players that has consistently worked hard for every break he’s ever received playing pro hockey.

He joined his ninth team, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to help them with their AHL Calder Cup playoffs push. He was traded from Peoria Rivermen, who was out of postseason contention.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his career in the ECHL for a couple of seasons and won a Kelly Cup Championship in his sophomore campaign with Idaho Steelheads. He also put up 81 points in 66 games and another 6 goals and 12 assists in 22 playoff contests that breakout year.

It also set him up to move up to the higher league on a more permanent basis. In 211 ECHL games he has 86 goals and 154 assists.

He signed his only NHL deal with Phoenix Coyotes, a one-year two-way deal, a couple of seasons later.

He has spent most of his playing time in the AHL for the past 6 seasons, where he also has some pretty impressive numbers with 92 goals and 111 assists in 320 games.

The 31-year old is an unrestricted free agent pretty much like he’s always been, heading in 2013/2014 and is coming off his third straight 40+ point year and one where he tallied a career best 26 goals.

21Mar

Louis Domingue(37) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#138 overall) rookie goaltender Louis Domingue(37) is another prospect putting up good numbers for affiliates in his first pro year.

In 32 games with ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators he’s stepped up big since taking over the starter job, boasting a 21-9-2 record with a 2.80 GAA and .902 SV%. He has helped the team clinch a playoff berth and just about seal the top spot in the South Division.

The 6’3″ 200 lbs. net minder has also played in two AHL games for Portland Pirates, getting a 6-3 win in his only start with a 2.40 GAA and .931 SV%.

The 21-year old is signed to a 3-year NHL entry level deal through 2015, so there is definitely much healthy competition between the pipes for Desert Dogs‘ #1 spot.

His continue good play will be key to the Glads going far in the upcoming Kelly Cup Playoffs. They have a tandem in net that could take them all the way.

20Mar

Mike Lee(31) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#91 overall), rookie goaltender Mike Lee(31) has been reassigned and recalled to ECHL and AHL affiliates nine times in his first pro season, which is seemingly a lot but in turn he has received much playing time in both leagues.

He impressively won his first five starts in net for Portland Pirates before coming back down to earth posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.76 GAA and .915 SV% in 10 games until recently being sent back down, where barring any further injuries he’ll likely stay to finish out the year.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder started the season with Gwinnett Gladiators. He has a record of 14-11-1 with a 2.23 GAA and .916 SV%, has been Goaltender Of The Week on two occasions and made an appearance in the league All-Star Game.

No doubt the future is bright between the pipes for the Coyotes‘ prospects, as the top five goalie in the league will now compete with his former back-up for the starting job heading into the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, making them one tough team to beat.

The 22-year old signed a 3-year NHL entry level deal, which keeps him in the system through 2015.

11Mar

Sacha Guimond(39) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Sacha Guimond(39) received two AHL call-ups from ECHL teams (so far) this season for a total of 6 games; first a pair with Worcester Sharks and later he joined Norfolk Admirals in four appearances.

He failed to put up any points but at least for the Admirals he was pressed into all types of situations and looked pretty effective and comfortable in a 2-1 overtime loss we saw.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. blue liner did go a +1 plus/minus. The team had a 3-0 record and shootout loss with him in the lineup and he seemed to fit in with the team mix pretty well. Maybe no room for him on their roster now, so he returned to Gwinnett Gladiators, where he’s a point per game d-man with 5 goals and 13 assists in 18 games.

His first year pro numbers with San Francisco Bulls, where he started 2012/2013 were also good. In 33 games he put up 7 goals and 18 assists. He also currently leads all defensemen in league scoring by a considerable margin.

The soon-to-be 23-year old should at the very least be invited to an AHL camp next season, where he could easily stick and continue his upward progress.

01Mar

Dallas Jackson(2) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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3rd year undrafted defenseman Dallas Jackson(2) just upped his pto to an spc with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, keeping him with the team through the remainder of the 2012/2013 season.

Although his numbers (two assists in 11 games) aren’t exactly stellar, he’s a fairly big presence in the defensive zone and with a -1 rating and only two penalty minutes shows accountability when he’s on the ice.

His numbers in juniors and in the last year and a half with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL suggest that he can be an offensive-minded threat.

From 2011-2012, the 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner had 14 goals and 30 assists. He skated 9 games with them in his rookie campaign but registered zero points.

The 23-year old also played 3 games with the Sound Tigers last season and notched a +2 plus/minus in his short stint.

If he can continue to play impressively, there may be a full-time roster spot for him somewhere in the AHL next season.