Lake Erie Monsters | CollegeHockeyPlayers

28Sep

Russ Sinkewich(32) Alaska Aces

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

5th year, undrafted big guy (6’3″ 202 lbs.) defenseman Russ Sinkewich(32) signed on for a third season with Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

His time with the team last year was limited to only 23 regular season games as he was recalled on two separate occasions: first by Abbotsford Heat for 21 games, then Bridgeport Sound Tigers rang him up in late February and signed him to an spc out of the gate. He only skated in 8 AHL games but was also watching from the cheap seats for a lot of that call-up.

The 27-year old may spend the duration of 2012/2013 with one ECHL team, like he did with Johnstown Chiefs in his sophomore campaign, mainly due to the glut of players occupying the higher league.

He has skated AHL games in each of his pro seasons including 10 games for Lake Erie Monsters and Milwaukee Admirals after leaving his college team early in his final year. He eventually signed to a two-way AHL/ECHL deal with the latter for his 2nd season.

13Sep

Joe Charlebois(51) Kalamazoo Wings

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

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.

01Jul

Ryan Del Monte(16) Starbulls Rosenheim

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

28-year old right wing, Ryan Del Monte(16) joins the exodus from North American pro hockey to Europe (and beyond). He signed with Starbulls Rosenheim for next season after 4 years in the ECHL and AHL.

He played his first full season in the AHL last year, appearing in 52 games with Worcester Sharks scoring 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, all bests for the 6′ 190 lbs. forward in the league.

He won the Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010 and signed with the team in the next season before being traded to South Carolina Stingrays but spent the majority of it with Rochester Americans and the Sharks.

Although he was undrafted and has no appearances in the show, the NHL did a nice story on him a few years ago talking about the route he took from a couple of seasons in junior hockey to four years of college to earn a degree and then finally turning pro.

30Jun

Mike Carman(26) Washington Capitals

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

3rd year center Mike Carman(26) re-signs with Washington Capitals for another year, two-way contract after they obtained him in a late season trade from Colorado. He was originally a 3rd round pick of the Avalanche in the 2006 draft (#81 overall), but due to become a restricted free agent this year after his two-year entry level deal was up.

In 32 games with Hershey Bears he scored 5 goals and 7 assists and finished the season, split with Lake Erie Monsters with 18 points in 60 total AHL contests.

The 24-year old 6′ 185 lbs. forward definitely seemed to be pretty enrolled in the game we saw him play . Skating a full season in Chocolatetown, he should be able to put up points.

18Jun

Brian Willsie(24) Hamilton Bulldogs

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

14-year veteran right wing, Hamilton Bulldogs‘ assistant captain Brian Willsie(24) maybe didn’t have the most productive point totals of his career, but his 18 goals and 26 assists were first in team scoring for 2011/2012.

As of July 1 he becomes an unrestricted free agent and could potentially sign with his fourth different team in the last 4 seasons.

With 381 games of NHL experience (52 goals, 57 assists and 5 full years with teams), no doubt the leadership quality he brings to any team he plays for is worth the price of his contract.

He played in his last big league contest as recently as two seasons ago with Washington Capitals (a team he’s skated 132 of his career league games with) and even got an assist in the one game he appeared in.

He was originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1996 draft (#146 overall).

It’s a bit of a wonder why the Canadiens didn’t call him up, when they brought a few of the younger guys in the system up and down on a number of occasions.

What’s next for the 34-year old? We wait.

04Jun

Steve Oleksy(15) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted, 3rd year defenseman Steve Oleksy(15) signed a pto joining the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in October after starting the year in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads, a team he’s played with in each of his pro years (110 total games).

He was returned after a couple of weeks but then recalled again in late November and signed an spc in late February to stay for the remainder of the season including their brief Calder Cup Playoffs‘ bid.

In 50 AHL games he had very decent point totals (a goal and 14 assists) and was an outstanding +16 plus/minus guarding the defensive zone.

The 6′ 195 lbs. also showed a willingness to mix it up when called upon.

Where the 26-year old blue liner will end up next season is anyone’s guess?

He wasn’t available to be put on Steelheads‘ protected list for 2012/2013.

The Sound Tigers should just be smart, sign him to another one-way deal for the upcoming season and be done with it.

In the meantime, he’s back home in Michigan running the Eastside Elite Hockey League, which is a summer program for pros and juniors wanting to stay game-situation sharp by skating in an 11-team non-check league.

7/2-12: Hershey Bears swoop in and grab the unrestricted free agent defenseman, signing him to a one-year AHL contract for 2012/2013.

02May

Mike Vernace(48) Connecticut Whale

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

6th year defenseman Mike Vernace(48) has been on quite the ride through the AHL this season as he was traded twice and is currently playing for his third team in the 2011/2012 season.

Ironically all three teams he skated for are still in the postseason.

He started the year with Norfolk Admirals, the team he’d been with for the entirety of 2010/2011 and even got into 10 games with the parent club Tampa Bay Lightning.

From there he was dished to Florida Panthers but skated only with San Antonio Rampage.

That relationship lasted only 22 games before he was once again passed along to New York Rangers in a trade deadline deal and reassigned to Connecticut Whale, where he’ll play his former team, the Admirals in the AHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in a best-of-seven series.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 7th round pick in the 2004 draft (#201 overall), the 6’ 216 lbs. blue liner has only appeared in 22 NHL games throughout his playing career.

It’s a bit doubtful that he’ll crack New York Rangers‘ lineup next fall or if they’ll even sign him up for another year, as he’ll be a UFA at the conclusion of the playoff run.

We still think he’s got plenty of pop to crack a big league lineup.

19Mar

Matt Ford(25) Adirondack Phantoms

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

4th year right wing, Matt Ford(25) may have been a bit surprised when he was traded in his first season signed to an NHL contract with Washington Capitals. He was mostly playing for their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears putting up a very respectable 10 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.

Dealt before the trade deadline, he has found a formidable home in Philadelphia Flyers‘ organization with Adirondack Phantoms and has lit the lamp fairly big striking for 11 goals and 5 assists in 19 games.

He was originally picked in the 8th round of the 2004 draft (#256 overall) by Chicago Blackhawks but never signed with them and instead started his pro career in the ECHL with Charlotte Checkers before being called up to Hartford Wolf Pack and then Lake Erie Monsters, a team he stayed with for a couple of seasons.

If he continues to work hard and find the back of the net, he could find himself with a spot in the show with the Flyers out of training camp next season.

18Mar

Kyle Cumiskey (7)

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

6th year defenseman Kyle Cumiskey(7) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in 2005 (#222 overall) and went on to play 5 years in their system amassing 132 NHL games scoring 9 goals and 26 helpers.

At the beginning of the 2011/2012 season he was traded to Anaheim Ducks for a prospect but has only seen ice time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch despite a pair of call-ups.

In 2009/2010, he played his first full NHL season but was limited to 18 games the next year due to recurring head injuries. He did put up a goal and 7 assists in that time though.

He’s not huge at 5’10” 185 lbs. but could be paired with a bigger guy for his offensive upside, although he really doesn’t sacrifice anything on defense.

Through 44 games with Syracuse Crunch he’s scored three goals and 20 assists and was an even plus/minus.

02Mar

Mike Connolly(18) Lake Erie Monsters

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted rookie forward Mike Connolly(18) found himself strung onto a multi-player deal between his former team, San Jose Sharks and his now current club, Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline.

He will really be shuffled from one affiliate, Worcester Sharks to another, Lake Erie Monsters.

In 40 AHL games this season he’s put up some impressive numbers (10 goals, 20 assists and +4 plus/minus).

He’s another small-sized “power” forward at 5’9″ 180 lbs. that plays a tenacious style game, sees the ice well and gets into those open spaces for good bids on net.

He has yet to appear in an NHL regular season game but that should change.