NCAA | CollegeHockeyPlayers

05Mar

Chase Balisy(13) Portland Pirates

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Winnipeg Jets invited unrestricted free agent left wing Chase Balisy(13) to their training camps after encouraging him to sign a minor league deal with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#170 overall), he was left unsigned and free to roam after a successful 4-year campaign with Western Michigan University, where he was captain in his senior year and won the 2012 NCAA/CCHA Championship.

The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward is having an eye-opening rookie campaign.

After being a healthy scratch to start the season, in 56 AHL games he is tied on the team for second with 14 goals, his 19 assists has him sitting at third and is also third with 33 points, which has him very much in the lead for as the top scorer amongst first year players.

The irony of his stats is he is close to surpassing the numbers he put up in a single season in college and already better than his two in US juniors.

He has also done it without unloading a whole lot of shots on net, only 82.

The recently turned 23-year old California native is putting himself into a position where the parent club has to give him a look for an entry level contract.

He’s easily well-deserving of one.

27May

Nic Kerdiles(8) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#36 overall) left wing Nic Kerdiles(8) leaves two years of college on the shelf after a pair of successful seasons to sign his entry level deal that runs through 2016.

He was a more than a point-per-game player at University Of Wisconsin and won an NCAA/WCHA Championship as a freshman. He was named MVP after a 10-point tournament effort.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward joined minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals on an ato to finish off 2013/2014, where he notched his first pro goal and three assists, helping the team to a Calder Cup Playoff berth.

In 10 postseason contests through the first two rounds he added another 3 tallies and another helper to help solidify his standing as he heads into his rookie year.

The only 20-year old born in the heart of hockey, Lewisville, TX, skates an aggressive game, always digging for the puck and getting himself into the open spots for scoring chances.

He should make an impact going into training camp and make it difficult to send him down to start his first full season in the AHL.

29Mar

Carter Rowney(20) WBS Penguins

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie right wing Carter Rowney(20) signed a two-way minor league contract.

He won three straight NCAA/WCHA Championships in his first years at University Of North Dakota, which followed 6 years of bantams, midgets and junior hockey with hometown team Grand Prairie Storm through his teens.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. power-sized forward has mostly managed to connect with the score sheet, especially in his latter years at each level.

Invited on a try-out to attend Pittsburgh Penguins‘ training camp, he was released and reported to the Baby Pens.

He was reassigned to begin his first season with affiliate Wheeling Nailers. and showing he can light the lamp in the lower league on a regular basis.

In 39 ECHL games he has 13 goals and 31 assists with a monster +23 rating.

The 24-year old has been recalled on three occasions but is still looking to prove his mettle, as he has only one marker and two assists in 17 AHL games.

He also has another goal in his short post-school stint signed to an ato with Abbotsford Heat.

If he is unable to lift his game as the schedule pushes towards playoffs, he may sign a double-A deal for 2014/2015 and look to make impressions on pto’s or take his game to another shore.

08Feb

Eric Hartzell(35) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie goalie Eric Hartzell(31) is continuing his successes from an outstanding 4-year college career at Quinnipiac University, where he basically help set all kinds of team and individual records en route to the 2013 National Champion Title Game, into the pro ranks. To his credit, he was chosen as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

In 19 AHL games for farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he’s posted a 9-5 record with 1.85 GAA and .925 SV%. His goals against average is currently tops in the league and already has 3 shutout efforts.

The fairly large-sized 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder was selected CCM/AHL Goaltender Of The Month for January with his even more outstanding play in the time period.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal to join the parent club fresh out of college and was quickly extended for two more years in the off-season, keeping him in the system through 2015.

Look for the 24-year old to get a look with the big club if injury sidelines one of their top two net minders.

06Feb

Aaron Dell(29) Utah Grizzlies

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Utah Grizzlies‘ undrafted 2nd year net minder Aaron Dell(29) is giving his team a chance to win games every time he’s between the pipes.

He was loaned on a pair of occasions to higher level clubs, Norfolk Admirals and Manchester Monarchs but has yet to appear in an AHL game.

The 6′ 209 lbs. goalie won the 2013 Central Hockey League President’s Trophy backstopping Allen Americans to their first title in his rookie season. It’s not even like he posted these amazing numbers during the regular season or in his 19 starts through the playoffs, but they were good enough to get the job done and win the 12 games necessary to capture the title.

He was also awarded goaltender of the year for his regular season play.

No stranger to awards, his college hockey team, University Of North Dakota won three straight NCAA (WCHA) titles.

This season since his return, the 24-year old has appeared in 18 games and posted a tidy 13-4 record with a 2.08 GAA and .920 SV%. He has the team positioned to run deep in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 24-year old will likely continue his climb and find himself under contract the next rung up for the 2014/2015 season.