Tagged: Lake Erie Monsters

03Feb

T.J. Hensick(28) Hartford Wolf Pack

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TJ Hensick

7th year veteran center T.J. Hensick(28) returns to North American hockey after a half season away in the SHL with MODO.

He was released by the team after under-producing on the score sheet.

Signed to an AHL contract by Abbotsford Heat but then claimed off waivers by Hartford Wolf Pack, his last two pro years were spent with Peoria Rivermen, under a 2-way contract with St. Louis Blues.

The 5’9″ 195 lbs. forward was originally a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#88 overall) and played three seasons with the team and in their system.

He’s played 112 NHL games scoring 12 goals and 24 assists, last appearing in the league in 2012 with the Blues.

The 28-year old has skated in 332 minor league games with impressive numbers: 103 goals and 246 assists, making him more than a point-per-game player.

He had impressive numbers through his college career at University Of Michigan, winning a national championship in 2005 and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in two of his four season.

Where he goes next year is up for grabs but his contributions with his new team are already being noticed.

18Dec

Dan DaSilva(22) Worcester Sharks

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Dan DaSilva

Undrafted 9th year right wing Dan DaSilva(22) was leading the ECHL in total point with 7 goals and 19 assists through 14 games, when he was called up and signed to a pto to help a struggling, young Worcester Sharks‘ club find their identity.

Although the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has only a pair of assists, it’s the intangibles he brings along with leading by example that has the team playing better hockey and back in the hunt posting a 5-3-1 record since his arrival.

His return to the minor league club he spent three seasons from 2008-2011 with before leaving for a campaign overseas that never quite seem to fit too well happens after concluding a successful run on loan to Houston Aeros in 2012/2013.

The 28-year old was recently signed to an AHL contract in hopes his veteran presence will continue to gel with the squad and get them into a playoff position.

See related: 11/18-10, 1/25-11, 9/2-11

01Nov

Brett Skinner(24) Norfolk Admirals

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Brett Skinner

9th year veteran defenseman Brett Skinner(24) interestingly signed with the Central Hockey League Allen Americans, eventual President’s Cup winners, after returning from a couple of seasons overseas. Two years ago he ended up playing for teams in Germany, Finland and Sweden, but in the season before that one he played a full campaign in the KHL.

He put up some pretty impressive numbers in the lower league, skating 27 games, scoring 7 goals and 30 assists with a +4 rating.

Grand Rapids Griffins swooped in and signed him to a pto half way through 2012/2013. They upped that to a standard players contract in short order and their season culminated 100 games later as the 2013 Calder Cup Champs.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner was originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2002 draft (#68 overall) but only played a single year in their system before bouncing around with a few AHL teams until he signed in the off-season of 2008 with New York Islanders for a spell, played his only 11 NHL games with them. The next season he scored some fairly decent numbers reassigned to minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters while under contract with Colorado Avalanche.

Probably helped him get some decent money in Russia.

At 30 years old with his new team Norfolk Admirals, he already has three assists in 7 games. His AHL stats are pretty amazing at 369 games (and counting) 28 goals and 151 assists.

It’s all about the break out pass.

02Sep

Dean Strong(23) Valpellice Bulldogs

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Dean Strong

Entering his fifth pro season, small but sturdy right wing Dean Strong(23) will once again try his hand overseas.

He signed a one-year deal with Italy’s Valpellice Bulldogs for 2013/2014.

It’s his second stint playing hockey outside of North America, as the 5’8″ 190 lbs. forward spent his sophomore campaign successfully in Germany2 with Eispiraten Crimmitschau before he returned, joining Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for the remainder of the regular and postseason run.

He put up point per game numbers and was re-signed to continue with K-Wings but started his third year with Chicago Wolves out of training camp on a pto before being sent back.

Later loaned to Lake Erie Monsters he found his spot and finished off the year with the team after being inked to an spc midway through. He re-upped for 2012/2013 but suffered and injury that derailed his progress.

He was reassigned for a very short time in the Central Hockey League with affiliate Denver Cutthroats but was quickly back with the Monsters to complete the season.

The 28-year old has played in 106 AHL games scoring 11 goals and 24 assists.

He will likely break out on a scoring spree once again in the lower tier league and will likely continue to move up over there as age and veteran status will start to factor in to any future signing.

21Aug

Joel Chouinard(2) Hamilton Bulldogs

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joel-chouinard

4th year defenseman Joel Chouinard(2) signs a one-year AHL contract to skate with Hamilton Bulldogs or ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers in the 2012/2013.

Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#187 overall), he was left unqualified after three seasons in the their prospect system, where he played in 98 games with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but only 10 last year.

Instead he was reassigned for most of the campaign to the Central Hockey League appearing in 42 contests with Denver Cutthroats.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner posted career highs in assists and points in the lower league.

He had similar strong marks in his rookie season, putting up a team leading 8 goals and 9 assists in only 35 AHL games.

This first year pro performance extended what he was able to accomplish in his final run of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres. He struck for phenomenal 23 tallies, good for first in the league and 35 helpers, which made him a more than point per game guy as a d-man.

The 23-year old will need to step it up again to spend the full season with the Bulldogs.

28Jul

Gary Steffes(25) Bakersfield Condors

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Gary Steffes1

4th year undrafted center Gary Steffes(25) has played under contract with Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League for all three years of his pro career.

He’s skated in 169 games scoring 61 goals and 68 assists but ran up an abysmal -26 plus/minus.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward was called up by Lake Erie Monsters, where he appeared in 16 AHL games pocketing his first higher league tally and added 2 assists.

He also appeared in training camp with Oklahoma City Barons but was released before the start of the regular season.

For 2013/2014 he has signed a one-year deal to suit up for Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.

The 26-year old is likely a shoe-in for another recalled especially if he can put up numbers in the higher double A league.

27Jun

Philippe Dupuis(19) Hamburg Freezers

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Heading into his eighth pro year, unrestricted free agent center/right wing Philippe Dupuis(19) will take his game to Germany joining Hamburg Freezers of DEL for the 2013/2014 season.

He was last spotted with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but only appeared in 34 games scoring a pair of goals with 9 assists and a -7 plus/minus. He was signed by Pittsburgh Penguins for a 1-year, two-way deal and did appear in their shortened training camp before getting waived.

The previous season he was playing on a similar contract with Toronto Maple Leafs but unfortunately put up a goose egg in 30 games.  His luck was far better with their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies, where he put up 15 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +12 rating and did even better going all the way to the 2012 Calder Cup Finals. In 17 postseason games he had 4 goals and 10 assists with a +6.

In 2010/2011, the 6′ 196 lbs. forward skated almost the complete season in the NHL with Colorado Avalanche. He appeared in 74 games registering 6 goals and 11 assists.

He was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2003 draft (#104 overall), spending a couple of seasons in their prospect system and even spent time in the ECHL with Dayton Bombers and went on a nice Kelly Cup run with the team.

It won’t be a surprise to see him become a point per game guy overseas, which he basically was throughout juniors.

Philippe Dupuis

25Jun

Brent Henley(44) Nottingham Panthers

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Giant-sized 6’7″ 249 lbs., undrafted 11th year defenseman Brent Henley(44) will don the jersey of his 21st pro hockey team, when he jumps shores to continue his career in the EIHL with Nottingham Panthers for 2013/2014.

He has skated most of his time in the ECHL amassing 248 games and 1189 penalty minutes in the league, while posting 9 goals and 38 assists.

He’s also played in 114 AHL contests, most recently last season in 5 appearances with Lake Erie Monsters.

The 32-year old was a member of Fort Wayne Komets through three different leagues, playing 164 games and won a pair of titles with the team, 2008 IHL Turners Cup and 2012 Central Hockey League President’s Cup.

Most awesomely though, he started his career with Colorado Gold Kings of the WCHL in 2001/2002.

Brent Henley1

15Jun

Bill Thomas(29) Medvescak Zagreb

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29-year old, undrafted 8th year right wing, Bill Thomas(29) has decided it’s time to leave North American pro hockey and joins Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL for 2013/2014.

He had been signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado Avalanche for 2012/2013 but failed to receive a call-up in the lockout shortened season. It was the first time since he was on an AHL agreement for ’09/’10 with Springfield Falcons that he didn’t play in an NHL game.

He also left mid-season that year for the NLA in Switzerland but returned for the next campaign signing with Florida Panthers.

The unassuming 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward has played 87 contests in the show scoring 16 goals and 12 assists with three different teams.

He has 388 minor leagues games with 115 goals and 136 assists to his credit.

Seems like the right choice for the veteran player and chances are he will find his scoring touch.

See related: 12/29-10

Bill Thomas

25May

Eric Hunter(15) Stockton Thunder

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Double draft pick, 2nd year center Eric Hunter(15) was the hero in game 4 with 2 tallies, including the game-winning goal, giving Stockton Thunder a heartbeat in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 8th round pick in 2004 (#229 overall) he was never signed and went back into the pool only be selected again a couple of years later by New York Rangers in the 6th round (#174 overall). They also didn’t sign him.

After five seasons of junior hockey with Prince George Cougars, he elected to attend college in Canada and played for another four years with University Of Alberta.

He maintained a close to or more than a point per game production since his second campaign in juniors and upon completion of his higher education inked his first pro contract, a 1-year AHL deal with Lake Erie Monsters.

The very decently sized 6’1″ 194 lbs. center skated 75 games in 2011/2012 scoring 6 goals and 10 assists, although wasn’t retained by the team for another season.

Looking at a crowded hockey landscape due to the impending NHL lockout, he signed another one-year agreement to join Stockton. In 60 games, he was regaining that scoring touch with 17 goals and 22 assists.

He continues the pace in the postseason with 5 goals and  7 assists in 21 games, while holding a +4 rating.

He was also recalled by Oklahoma City Barons on 4 occasions putting up a goal in 11 contests. After attending training camp with the team, he was sent back to start the regular season but later added to the roster on an spc.

The 26-year old is likely in line for another AHL tour of duty for 2013/2014.

Eric Hunter