Kalamazoo Wings | CollegeHockeyPlayers

13Sep

Joe Charlebois(51) Kalamazoo Wings

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4th year defenseman Joe Charlebois(51) re-signs a one-year deal with Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for 2012/2013.

He’s been with the the team for the last couple of seasons and has skated in 112 regular and playoff games scoring 3 goals and 31 assists with a +22 plus/minus.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. d-man was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#188 overall) but never officially signed him. Instead he agreed to an spc with their minor league team, Rockford IceHogs. He spent most of his time with their ECHL affiliate Toledo Walleye though.

In 2010, he returned to Toledo inking for a year with them but was traded to the K-Wings, where the 26-year old has found a home of sorts.

In 2011/2012, he was recalled for 13 games by Manchester Monarchs and Lake Erie Monsters. In 28 AHL games he has yet to register a point.

21Jun

Steven Tarasuk(27) Lausitzer Fuchse

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After only a couple of seasons of North American hockey, undrafted defenseman Steven Tarasuk(27) signs with German Ice Hockey tier 2 team Lausitzer Fuchse for 2012/2013.

The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner split time in 70 ECHL games last season with Ontario Reign and Idaho Steelheads putting up career highs in goals (8), assists (30) and points (38).

He was signed to an AHL contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers after attending rookie camp with New York Islanders in his rookie season.

From there he was reassigned to Kalamazoo Wings, where he represented the team at the ECHL All-Star Classic and received a 3 game recall near the end of regular season.

He notched one assist.

At only 21 years old, he should fill out to a heavier playing weight and if he continues to affect the scoresheet, as he did in juniors, look for him to move up into higher levels of pro hockey in Europe and maybe even take a run at a full-time roster spot in the AHL.

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.

02Feb

Joel Rechlicz(19) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals is in desperate need of adding some necessary roughness to their game and turn 5th year undrafted tough guy Joel Rechlicz(19) contract into an NHL deal and he’s immediately recalled from his AHL team, Hershey Bears. In 27 games he has 1 goal and 1 assist to go along with 184 penalty minutes, which pretty much equal career highs all around for him in a season.

In a pair of games for the Caps he’s played a minute and a half and 2:37 of ice time in each of the games with no fighting majors (yet). This season he leads the AHL in penalty minutes.

He did have 23 games of NHL experience with New York Islanders, a team he spent a couple of seasons with, first playing in the ECHL with Utah Grizzlies and AHL with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He has one assist to his scoring credit and 95 pims. At 6’4″ 220 lbs. he could convert himself into some sort of power forward but doesn’t have the most deft hand abilities, except for fighting. He’s very much a Dale Hunter, coach of the Capitals‘ style of player.

06Jan

Joe Sova(36) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Joe Sova(36) skated in 11 AHL games with Albany after his final college season was over.

He started his rookie year with Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL but was recalled in early December. In 11 games he has a couple of goals and a couple of assists and looks pretty comfortable and accountable out there.

Look for him to continue to move up the depth chart and potentially step into his first NHL even before the end of the current season. He’s fairly big at 6’3″ 190 lbs and is all of 23 years old.

04Nov

Tyson Sexsmith(31) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#91 overall) goaltender Tyson Sexsmith(31) is in his 3rd year pro and third with Worcester Sharks, but is still considered a rookie in the AHL, because he hasn’t appeared in enough games to qualify him for a complete season.

He’s currently the #2 leading goalie in the league after 4 games played with 2 wins, 0 losses and 2 overtime losses and a 1.69 GAA and .930 SV%.

In 19 ECHL games over two seasons with Stockton Thunder and Kalamazoo Wings he posted a 12-3-3 record.

San Jose has a ton of good goalies in their system. His nickname is Sexy. It’s written on his mask.

03Nov

Joe Sova(6) Kalamazoo Wings

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Undrafted defenseman Joe Sova(6) was signed by New Jersey Devils to a two-year entry level contract upon completion of his college career.

He was assigned to Albany Devils and appeared in their last 11 games of the regular season, where he put up a goal and 3 assists but was an unfortunate -6 on a team that struggled.

To start his pro career he was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings.

In this early part of the 2011/2012 season, he finds himself a +8 player, good enough to get him the nod of AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer Of The Month for October.

Pretty likely we’ll see him back up in the AHL sooner than later.

11/4: Good ECHL player feature story was just put out there.

29Oct

Harry Young(32) Kalamazoo Wings

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New Jersey Devils‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#202o overall) starts his second season as part of their prospects system with their new ECHL affiliate, Kalamazoo Wings.

Last season he played 52 games with Albany Devils and another 3 with Trenton.

He’s a large presence on the blue line standing at 6’4″ 225 lbs. Not known for putting up a lot of points on the scoresheet, he does however not back down when challenged by an opponent.

Look for him to be called up soon and in all likelihood play most of the season in Albany for a second straight season.

12Sep

Joel Martin(49) Herlev Hornets

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9th year pro goalie Joel Martin(49) has bounced around many different North American leagues and teams in his career but for the first time he’s looking elsewhere, overseas to continue.

For the 2011/2012 season he signed with Herlev Hornets of AL-Bank Ligaen (Danish Pro Hockey League).

Last season, the 28-year old netminder appeared in a career high AHL games (18 with Bridgeport Sound Tigers).

He also played in 29 games with Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League and was called-up as an emergency back-up for one game with New York Islanders.