Tagged: Oklahoma City Barons

30Jan

The AHL moves west

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AHLfaceoff

At 3:30pm ET AHL president Dave Andrews announced the creation on a Pacific Division that will play in the Western Conference of the league starting 2015/2016.

The cities effectively losing teams are Oklahoma City Barons, which happened earlier this season, Norfolk Admirals, Glens Falls/Adirondack Flames after only one run, Worcester Sharks and rivals Manchester Monarchs.

Picking up teams will be soon to be former ECHL franchises Ontario (Los Angeles), Bakersfield (Edmonton) and Stockton (Calgary). San Diego (Anaheim) will be a new city for triple A hockey although did at one time have a Gulls, and San Jose‘s farm club will play out of the same building as the Sharks; and will likely be renamed.

It’s fairly well-thought that Manchester, Adirondack and Norfolk make announcement to join the double A league and there’s rumors racing around Worcester is exploring the options and would have the best chance at success by resurrecting the Ice Cats, while Oklahoma City may get back into the fold under their old successful Blazers‘ banner after a year on the sidelines.

This move was 100% inevitable and can easily make fiscal sense. Those west coast teams draw fairly well with their fan base of hockey lovers.

On the plus side for Eastern Conference folks, chances are Utica, Rochester, Charlotte, Hamilton and even possible Toronto enter in their rivalry picture.

The big news is the top level of minor league hockey in California has arrived.

14Jan

Steve MacIntyre(74) Utah Grizzlies

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Steve-MacIntyre2

Norfolk Admirals‘ absolutely huge 6’5″ 250 lbs. 13th year veteran left wing Steve MacIntyre(74) has seemingly taken his demotion to Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for the first time since 2006 in stride this late in his pro career.

He actually played the next season 2006/2007 in the old UHL with Quad City Mallards, who maybe ironically are now playing their games in the same league.

His brick wall, tough guy style and persistent attitude helped take his game to the next level when in 2007/2008 he skated a full AHL season with Providence Bruins.

It would be the last time he put up over 200 penalty minutes in a season and although he threw fists 18 times, that was easily the most fights in a campaign he’d ever settled.

Edmonton Oilers took notice and grabbed him off waivers from Florida Panthers, who reclaimed him a year later.

He would play games mostly in Alberta, but he also got some time with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 34-year old skated last season with Oklahoma City Barons but only appeared in 11 games.

He’s been held pointless for at least the last three years.

It’s pretty likely that if he wants to still play the sport he will take his game to England next and be a hero.

23Nov

Kellan Lain(19) Oklahoma City Barons

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Kellan Lain2Undrafted Vancouver Canucks‘ exceedingly large 6’6″ 222 lbs. center Kellan Lain(19) found himself in an early season mostly minor league deal that ships him to Edmonton Oilers‘ prospect system for the final year of his two-year extension.

Initially signed to an entry level deal for just one season coming out of his third tour with Lake Superior State University, he started his pro career with 13 AHL games for then affiliate Chicago Wolves.

Although he was credited for no points he must have played with enough jam to keep the restricted free agent around for more than one more look.

In his official rookie season with Utica Comets he is credited for 7 tallies and 12 helpers in 63 games with a +4 rating on a mostly struggling first year squad.

He earned himself a pair of call ups after the new year and stuck around for 9 NHL game scoring his first big league goal and was a +1 plus/minus.

Heading into a contract year, he was maybe a bit slow out of the gate, getting reassigned to the farm club early in training camp and coming out of the gate slowly with only 1 assist in 10 games.

Maybe the new surroundings skating with Oklahoma City Barons will wake the sleeping giant.

17May

Dane Byers (38)

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Dane Byers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hershey Bears‘ 9th year veteran Dane Byers(38) needs not worry where he’ll play next season as the team captain been invited back to continue his role in Chocolatetown.

Maybe a bit of a less than surprise move, as the 28-year old left wing signed his first minor league deal to join the much-storied AHL team last season.

The solid 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward has appeared in only 14 NHL games, 6 with New York Rangers (drafted 2nd round, 46th overall in 2004) and 8 with Columbus Blue Jackets.

He was able to pot one goal.

A proven leader on and off the ice, he plays a gutsy style that never shies away from delivering a crushing hit or fisticuffs if called upon to drop the gloves.

He had the most penalty minutes last season, 211 since his rookie campaign in 2006/2007.

No doubt what will be foremost on his mind will be returning the club to a postseason berth, which they missed for the first time in 8 straight years of appearances.

See related: 11/14-10, 12/25-10, 9/8-11, 9/6-12

27Jan

Mike Marcou(26) Greenville Road Warriors

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Mike Marcou

2nd year, undrafted defenseman Mike Marcou(26) signed a one-year two-way AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2013/2014.

He had an outstanding rookie season with affiliate Greenville Road Warriors putting up 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points, which led d-men; and had a team second-best +19 rating.

Reassigned to the ECHL to start his sophomore campaign, he is set to eclipse those first year marks, already scoring 6 goals and 14 assists at the half way point.

The somewhat bigger looking than his 5’11” 180 lbs. stats might suggest recently received his initial call-up and skated in a couple games before being returned. He also played in 2 contests with Oklahoma City Barons after his college career at UMass-Amherst finished up and was recalled once by San Antonio Rampage last season.

The 24-year old may still be looking for his first point in the higher league but in his short stint was a +2 plus/minus and looked to fit in nicely with team chemistry.

Given the opportunity there’s every reason to believe he will find a more permanent spot on a triple A roster.

10Dec

Chris VandeVelde(26) Adirondack Phantoms

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chris-vandevelde

4th year center Chris VandeVelde(26) was an invite to Philadelphia Flyers‘ training camp and one of the last cuts reassigned to their minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms to start the 2013/2014 season.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward signed an AHL contract in mid-September, but was given every chance to up his status and make the parent club’s opening night roster.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#97 overall) he has played in 28 NHL through his first three seasons scoring one goal and a pair of assists.

His entry level deal was for two years and added a one-year extension before being left unqualified as an unrestricted free agent going into the current campaign.

The 26-year currently leads the minor league team in goals scored with 7 and is second on the team in points at 13 in 23 games.

He’s on pace to set career highs in all categories potentially approaching a 20/20 season and maybe scoring that elusive big club contract.

19Nov

Yann Danis(34) Adirondack Phantoms

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Yann Danis

Undrafted 10th year veteran goalie Yann Danis(34) has played NHL games in four of his five last seasons. He had one campaign on the interim in the KHL.

Signed to a 1-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers, he’s splitting time between the pipes for their minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms and is an invaluable mentor to young prospects in the system.

He has 284 regular season games of AHL experience with a roughly 2.46 GAA and .913 SV%. He was named goaltender of the league in 2012 for his consistent play.

The 5’11” 182 lbs. net minder also has 53 NHL games, mostly in one run with New York Islanders but also appearances with Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and most recently for Edmonton Oilers.

His numbers in the show are a bit less impressive at 3.02 GAA and .891 SV% but they’ve mostly been when called in as the back-up.

The 32-year old will likely get his chance at another big league game and the trend will continue.

It will definitely be interesting to see where he lands for his 11th season in 2014/2015.

11Nov

Randy Jones(12) Portland Pirates

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Randy Jones

Undrafted, 11th year defenseman Randy Jones(12) signed a pto to join Portland Pirates.

So far he’s played in three contests recording no points and has a -2 rating.

He has skated 174 AHL games with 15 goals and 51 assists and made 18 appearances late last season with Oklahoma City Barons in a similar situation and added another 17 playoff match ups with the team.

A former Calder Cup Champion with Philadelphia Phantoms in his second pro season while under contract with parent club Philadelphia Flyers, he played with them for 6 seasons before moving onto a few one-year deals.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner is a veteran of 365 NHL games with 105 points to his credit.

At 32-years old it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll be able to secure a spc or will be heading elsewhere.

07Nov

Zack Stortini(26) Norfolk Admirals

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Zack Stortini

Mammoth 6’4″ 234 lbs., 9th year right wing Zack Stortini(26) is in familiar playing territory leading the AHL in penalty minutes with 66 and 8 fighting majors, currently skating for a good squad in Norfolk Admirals this season. In 12 games he also has a goal and an assist.

He signed a 1-year, 2-way contract with Anaheim Ducks for 2013/2014 early in free agency. He was coming off a pair of single campaigns with Hamilton Bulldogs and Nashville Predators, all but one game in the minors, after spending the first 6 years in Edmonton Oilers‘ system.

Originally an Oilers‘ 2003 3rd round pick (#94 overall), he appeared in 256 NHL games with the team scoring 14 goals and 27 assists while amassing 718 pims.

It may be a little late in the 28-year old’s pro career to change up his playing style, especially considering he looks poised to lead the league in time spent in the box and fisticuffs’ battles, but he has shown some skill to be a power forward.

He did put up a point in every other game through four years of OHL juniors and was captain for Sudbury Wolves in three of those years but also learned how to battle ferociously in his early playing days.

25Sep

Ty Rimmer(39) Oklahoma City Barons

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ty-rimmer

Undrafted rookie goaltender Ty Rimmer(39) signs his first pro deal, a one-year AHL contract with Oklahoma City Barons for the 2013/2014 season.

He’ll have some tough competition during training camp to stay with the team and could very well find himself reassigned to their new ECHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors to start his first campaign.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. net minder played a ton of games in three WHL seasons for a variety of teams, posting a 2011/2012 league best 2.43 GAA and .922 SV% with Tri-City Americans.

He followed that up with continued impressive numbers in the playoffs and in the next year shattered the single season saves record at 2,106 for Lethbridge Hurricanes.

After completing his final run of junior hockey, he signed an ato to join Manchester Monarchs for the remainder of last season.

He appeared in one game, taking the loss with a 4.12 GAA and .900 SV%.

The 21-year old definitely knows he has a lot to prove now that he’s playing hockey with the big boys and a year in double A might be the best start for the young goalie.