Tagged: Long Beach Ice Dogs

29Aug

Chris Collins(21) Bakersfield Condors

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Chris Collin

8th year undrafted left wing Chris Collins(21) has bounced around a lot in his pro career.

He will don the jersey of his 10th team when the 2013/2014 campaign starts and he puts on a Bakersfield Condors‘ sweater.

The mini 5’8″ 186 lbs. forward finished up 2012/2013 with Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins appearing in 20 regular season and 13 playoff games. He scored a combined 3 goals and 6 assists but also left them with a -8 rating. It was his second stint with the organization. His AHL totals are 44-51 in 226 appearances.

He’s appeared in 144 contests overseas, mostly in the top German DEL and has really excelled on the bigger ice surfaces posting 51 markers and 66 helpers.

The 29-year old is also prolific in the ECHL, where he’ll once again skate in the upcoming season, so we expect him to help a team that has struggled the past couple of seasons as a leader in the locker room and on the score sheet. It’s possible that he could be selected as their captain.

He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in his last year with Boston College Eagles, when he put up 1.5 points per game. His outstanding performance led to an NHL contract with Boston Bruins but skated only with their affiliates.

27Jul

Jay Leach(2) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ defenseman Jay Leach(2) will be entering his 12th pro year at the start of next season. He re-signed for another 0ne-year, two-way deal that will possibly see him taking over as team captain for their AHL affiliate in Albany.

Originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 1998 draft (#115 overall), it wasn’t until four years of bouncing between ECHL and AHL teams that he got his first taste of NHL action with Boston Bruins. He’s appeared in 70 games with 5 different teams scoring only one goal and adding a pair of assists.

He’s never really been counted on for his scoring touch so much as his 6’4″ 215 lbs frame to keep the attackers at bay.

The almost 33-year old has what seems to be a small-ish count of 439 regular season AHL games to his credit. You’d think he’s played more but he also has a surprising 177 ECHL contests on his resume.

This could be his final season playing. We could see him going into coaching with ease, if that’s where he sees the next step in his hockey career.  He barely play any last season succumbing to what seemed like a series of injuries.

 

 

 

16Jul

Jimmy Bonneau(43) Worcester Sharks

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Big and tough guy Jimmy Bonneau(43) signed up for another season to keep the opposing players honest for Worcester Sharks, a job he handled with ease for the team in 2011/2012.

Going into his 8th pro year, the 6’3″ 220 lbs. left wing inked an AHL standard player contract to return.

He isn’t exactly looked to for goal scoring but put in a modest pair of pucks in the net, while dishing out 3 assists. His penalty minutes were up there for 54 games played at 168, which tied him for team lead in the category and was the leader in fighting majors with 22. Worcester led the entire league in fights (120).

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 8th round pick in the 2003 draft (#241 overall), he skated mostly with their ECHL affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones before bouncing around the AHL with a few clubs, including another trip back to Hamilton Bulldogs.

For the time being though, he’s found a home in Central MA.

16Jul

Eric Neilson(29) Syracuse Crunch

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8th year right wing Eric Neilson(29) is known mostly for not shying away from any on ice situation and it certainly serves a much needed role on any team. In 47 games last season he scored one goal and was assessed 74 minutes in the penalty box, a surprising career low.

For the 2012/2013 he signed a one-year standard AHL contract with Syracuse Crunch, which essentially keeps him in the same system that he spent last season with, the Calder Cup winning Norfolk Admirals. He did not appear in a playoff game though.

Still at 6’1 201 lbs., the almost 28-year old forward is one of those players that’s better to have on your team than have to play against.

He was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2004 draft (#143 overall) but really didn’t spend any time with the team but rather played a few seasons in the ECHL before moving up a notch.

He was also one of the guys on that 2005 Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL champion team with Sidney Crosby.

28Jun

Marco Rosa (19)

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Entering his 10th pro season, center Marco Rosa(19) skips the country to play with Espoo Blues of the SM-liiga for the 2012/2013 season.

Hampered by post-concussion symptoms, he was limited to just 31 games during the regular season but did manage to produce close to a point per game with 6 goals and 21 assists.

He was on par to beat his career high point totals from 2 years ago until he got sidelined.

Although he did return for 9 postseason contests, he wasn’t nearly the same player, getting only one assist.

Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 8th round pick in the 2001 draft (#255 overall), the 6’ 180 lbs. forward worked his way up through the ranks first with a few years in the ECHL and for the last 5 seasons he’s been an AHL mainstay.

At 30 years old, no doubt he’s making the right decision to possible play his final years in Europe.