Atlanta Gladiators | CollegeHockeyPlayers

30Jan

Matt Anderson(29) New Jersey Devils

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Minor league feel good story of the year (so far): undrafted 6th year right wing Matt Anderson(29) gets his first recall with New Jersey Devils and plays in his NHL debut vs. Boston Bruins, a 2-1 shootout loss at 30-years old.

He skated 6:57 of ice time with no other real stats, which isn’t always a bad thing.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward originally signed an AHL contract with Albany Devils in 2010, his first new team since three seasons with Chicago Wolves, also under a minor league agreement.

In 2011, he scored his first big league deal, signing for one-year, two way with New Jersey.

He has a combined 351 AHL regular season and playoff games with 70 goals, 114 assists and a Calder Cup Championship ring to his credit.

He’s always been considered a team leader and plays that style of game, consistent, hard-working.

The Devils got lucky in a similar veteran call-up situations with Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier, so this could be a formula, especially in a shortened season.

And they would know: 1995.

25Oct

Evan Bloodoff (25)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#157 overall) left wing Evan Bloodoff(25) never signed a deal with the team but upon being reassigned to their affiliate Portland Pirates out of training camp inked a two-year AHL contract that started in 2011/2012.

In 48 games last year, he hit the scoresheet for 6 goals a pair of assists, while going a shaky -10 plus/minus.

The 5’11” 205 lbs. forward was also a healthy scratch for way more games that he would have liked to have been in the stands for.

He skated in only one game so far for the Pirates in 2012/2013 and has been reassigned for the first time in his short pro career to get some more playing time in the ECHL with their affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators.

He should get some quality ice time down there which should help his game.

06Oct

Tony Lucia(12) Gwinnett Gladiators

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3rd year left wing Tony Lucia(12) signs a one-year ECHL contract to join Gwinnett Gladiators for the 2012/2013 season.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#193 overall), he wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the team after his 2-year entry level contract was up.

He spent his entire rookie season in the AHL with Worcester Sharks dealing with post concussion syndrome, limiting him to only a pair of games; and that even bled over to his 2nd season, although he did manage to appear in 46 games and scored a healthy 8 goals and 19 assists, while being a very accountable +8 plus/minus.

There’s was talk of Portland Pirates signing the 6′ 190 lbs. forward to an AHL deal as he was the only tryout player invited to their camp, but instead he inks with their ECHL affiliate and is probably on the short list for a recall.

22Sep

Ryley Grantham(16) Allen Americans

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4th year right wing Ryley Grantham(16) was not qualified by Calgary Flames when his 3-year entry level deal was up. He was originally their 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#168 overall).

In the final season of his contract, he was skating mostly with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL before being reassigned in a minor swap with Chicago Express.

The 6’4″ 210 lbs. bruiser played 89 AHL games with Abbotsford Heat and put up a pretty hefty 163 penalty minutes in 67 games of his rookie season. He only minimally hit the scoresheet with a goal and 3 assists.

In an interesting lock out move, the 24-year old signed a contract to play in the Central Hockey League with Allen Americans for 2012/2013. While with them he should really look to pick up his offensive game; put more points than pims on the scoresheet.

27Aug

Corey Fienhage(5) Rochester Americans

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2nd year defenseman Corey Fienhage(5) re-signs with Rochester Americans for 2012/2013, while still under the guidance of the parent club Buffalo Sabres.

He was a 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#88 overall) but has only been signed to standard AHL contracts. He also was reassigned to Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL for a good chunk of his first season, where he has managed a bit better success on the scoresheet so far.

In 32 games last season he had 5 goals and 8 assists while going a -4 plus/minus.

In the AHL he’s a +2 with 4 assists in 20 games.

At 6’2 215 lbs. he plays like a big defenseman out there but at only 22-years old it could be said he’s still growing into his pro game.

23Jun

Marc Cheverie(30) Pittsburgh Penguins

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2nd year goaltender Marc Cheverie(30) has split his first couple of seasons between ECHL and AHL teams with most of his appearances in the former.

In 2011/2012, he posted his best numbers yet with Gwinnett Gladiators winning 10 games, 4 losses and a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% on a team that should have gone much further in the Kelly Cup Playoffs than their first round exit.

He was involved in a draft day Pittsburgh Penguins‘ trade with Phoenix Coyotes that could land him the job as a back-up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and/or maybe continue in AA hockey with their affiliate Wheeling Nailers.

The 25-year backstop is decently sized at 6’2″ 185 lbs. and should continue to improve his game, making him a nice pick-up for the Pens‘ system.

He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2006 (#193 overall).

07Apr

Jeff Prough(22) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted forward Jeff Prough(22) played in 17 games this season on call-up to Connecticut Whale (the team he signed a one-year two-way deal with for 2011/2012) but as they were suffering some overcrowding for spots up front, he was reassigned to Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL to see if he could put some life into their Kelly Cup Playoff postseason run, who were on the brink of opening round elimination.

He scored their first goal but unfortunately it wasn’t enough as they were overmatched and sent packing until 2012/2013.

He’s a point per game guy in the ECHL but the 25-year old, 5’10” 170 lbs. left winger has been less consistent in mostly a fourth line role in the AHL.

He will be back up with the Whale soon as he’s on their clear day roster for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

12Feb

David Caruso(35) Charlotte Checkers

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6th year undrafted goalie David Caruso(35) has played AHL games in 4 of his first 5 seasons and with his recent call-up and start in net for Charlotte Checkers he can make that 5 of 6.

He signed a contract with Trenton Titans, an organization he’s spent all of his career with (as the Devils), except his rookie year, which was with Gwinnett Gladiators with a single game with Chicago Wolves to start the run.

He has 52 games of AHL experience and 174 in the ECHL.

At almost 30 years old, it’s a bit of a wonder where netminding will take him next season.

30Jan

Edward Pasquale(40) St. John’s IceCaps

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2nd year Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 2009 4th round pick (#117 overall) goaltender Edward Pasquale(40) looks to put up career highs this season playing very impressively for their AHL Eastern Conference leading affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

In 16 games he has a 10-6 record with a 2.88 GAA and a so so .897 SV% but he’s been very focused and tough to beat in net the couple of starts we’ve seen him play recently. He notched his 1st shutout of 2011/2012 last weekend going into the AHL All-Star Game break.

He split his rookie season with Chicago Wolves and Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL and played decently for both.

21Dec

Igor Gongalsky(22) Gwinnett Gladiators

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After starting the season on a pto with Portand Pirates, the team he spent most of last season with, 5th year undrafted wing Igor Gongalsky(22) was released and signed an ECHL contract with their affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators.

In 13 AHL games he only registered an assist, but in 5 games with Gwinnett he already has a goal and a pair of helpers.

He’s played most of his pro career in AA hockey (almost 200 games with four different teams) but he’s really a player on the cusp of the higher league.

Maybe he’s just a bit of a late bloomer considering he’s only 25 years old.

12/21: Gongalsky signs a pto with Rochester Americans.