Rochester Americans | CollegeHockeyPlayers

17Jun

Philip Varone(22) Rochester Americans

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Rochester Americans‘ rookie center Phil Varone(22) is another 1st year player that has to have a smile on his face looking back at the results of his pro debut.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in 2007 (#147 overall), the 21-year old signed an AHL deal to start 2011/2012 with the Amerks after attending Buffalo Sabres‘ training camp.

In 76 regular season games he posted 11 goals and 41 assists, which sat him at number 10 in the league for rookie scoring and his helpers total was good enough to tie him for first overall. His 52 points led all Rochester players in points as well and he had a team 2nd best +17 plus/minus.

Near the end of the season, the Sabres stepped back into the picture and signed him to a 3-year entry level deal that will keep the 5’10 186 lbs. forward with the organization through 2015.

Good work!

10Jun

Michael Kostka(21) Norfolk Admirals

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Unlikely hero award: undrafted, 4th year Norfolk Admirals‘ defenseman Michael Kostka(21) scored both the game 3 and game 4 Calder Cup Championship series’ winning goals, which certainly makes it an odd AHL playoff stat I’m sure.

He managed just 7 goals in 52 games during the regular season, yet in 18 postseason contests he had 6 goals and 6 assists, good enough for first in scoring among defenseman in the playoffs.

When Tampa Bay Lightning traded for him back in December, they definitely saw some point-scoring potential from the 26-year d-man.

He put up 16 goals and 39 assists in 80 games with Rochester Americans in 2010/2011, which led the team but were picking him up mostly for some added depth in their own zone.

Signed to a one-year, two-way deal by Florida Panthers, he was a bit surprisingly one of the last roster cuts before being reassigned to their AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

Originally on a 2-year entry level deal out of college with Buffalo Sabres, the 6’1″ 210 lbs. blue liner will in all likelihood be rewarded with at least a two-year extension to stay in the system and a taste of some NHL playing time can’t be far behind.

25Apr

Mike Brodeur(29) Houston Aeros

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For the first time in his 8-year pro career, goaltender Mike Brodeur(29) didn’t sign a contract to play with a team for the 2011/2012 season.

This is after two seasons in the Ottawa Senators‘ system, where he appeared in 7 games from 2009-2011. Last season he appeared in NHL, AHL and ECHL games.

Then seemingly out of nowhere, he signs a pto 3 weeks before the end of regular season with Houston Aeros and finds himself to be the back-up but would come in to relieve an injured Matt Hackett in each of the first two games AHL Calder Cup Playoffs and got the call to start game 3 backstopping 31 shots for the 1-0 win to put them back in the series.

Aeros did get bounced from the Calder Cup Playoffs by Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday night.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#211 overall), it’s a wonder where the 29-year old will end up next season. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him go the Europe route.

10Apr

Steve MacIntyre(33) WBS Penguins

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10th year veteran tough guy at a mere 6’5″ 250 lbs. Steve MacIntyre(33) most definitely didn’t take the easy way to the NHL but has made his mark in the league through 90 games.

His “pro” career started in a Continental Elite Hockey League (CEHL) and made its way through, surviving the QSPHL (LNAH), WHA2, UHL and ECHL.

Undrafted, he always played a game of hard knocks totaling over 200 penalty minutes in each of his first 6 seasons. It should be noted he hasn’t come close to that much time spent in the box since 2008.

The season that followed saw him skate his first NHL games with Edmonton, a team he would spend most of the next three seasons with.

For 2011/2012 he was signed by Pittsburgh Penguins and has split time with their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was recently recalled for their last game of the regular season to keep the peace in a game vs. Philadelphia Flyers before being reassigned again.

There’s little doubt he will police the ice for the Baby Pens in their quest for the Calder Cup.

It’s a wonder where the 31-year old will end up playing next season, if he’ll stay in Steel City or move on.

15Mar

Corey Syvret(6) Trenton Titans

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2nd year defenseman, Corey Syvret(6) was originally drafted by Florida Panthers in the 6th round of 2007 (#181 overall) but only played 4 games with their then AHL affiliate Rochester Americans after his junior career finished.

He was signed a one-year two-way deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his first pro season but was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings without seeing any action in a higher league.

For the 2011/2012 season he inked a deal to play with newly re-hatched Trenton Titans and set career highs for games played (50) goals and assists (4 apiece).

He received his first call-up of the year to Portland Pirates, where he skated in 3 games, registering no points but did go a +1 before being returned to Trenton, where he will likely finish out the season.

It’s a bit of a wonder why he isn’t under contract with an AHL team but maybe he’s a bit of a late bloomer and needs to grow into his game a bit more. He stands 6’2″ and weighs in at 195, so it not a question of size.

His older brother is Danny Syvret, also a defenseman, has seen action in 59 NHL and 396 AHL contests.

9/19-12: Alaska Aces traded for the signing rights of the 23-year old defenseman. Chances are good that he’ll work out a contract with the team for ’12/’13.

12Mar

Marcus Foligno(71) Buffalo Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#104 overall), rookie left wing Marcus Foligno(71) has received a pair of one-game cracks at the NHL…and in his second look in the show, he scored himself his first NHL goal, the game-tying goal in the third period to an eventual shootout win.

In 55 AHL games with Rochester Americans he’s got 14 goal and 20 assists, which is tied on his team for 3rd in scoring, first among rookies. He’s also a +13 plus/minus, which is pretty big on a team with 181 GF and 177 GA.

At 6’3″ 216 lbs. he already plays to his size and will probably add some more muscle to his game, just like his dad Mike Foligno used to for 10 seasons with the Sabres. As the 20-year old gets some more games in, he’ll no doubt do just that.

His older brother Nick plays for Ottawa Senators.

09Feb

Evan Oberg(27) Tampa Bay Lightning

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With a rash of injuries Tampa Bay Lightning has been suffering through this season, call-ups from their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals are plentiful, but no one player has seen more time in airports and on airplanes so far than 3rd year, undrafted defenseman Evan Oberg(27).

It honestly seems like he’s been recalled a dozen times in the first half of the season, but in actuality it’s more like 7 or 8 times. He’s played a whopping 1:21 minutes in the one NHL game he did skate in.

Seeing that this is the last season of his 3-year entry level deal he originally signed with Vancouver Canucks, some insiders are looking at him as potential trade bait. He was picked up this season in a minor league deal with Florida Panthers that brought the Lightning a pair of defensive prospects for their system.

He only skated in 5 games in the big league with no points to his credit and has already been returned once again to the minors with no appearance.

10Jan

Mike Duco(14) Vancouver Canucks

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One of the last cuts from Vancouver Canucks to be reassigned to their new AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves, wing Michael Duco(14) was making the decision tough for them with his smart preseason play.

He was recalled for the first time this season to play against the only other team he’s played an NHL game with, Florida Panthers. He played 12 games with them over the last two seasons registering no points.

Originally signed to a multi- year entry level contract as an undrafted, free agent out of juniors, he played almost 200 games with Rochester Americans in his first three seasons.

Right before getting called-up he posted his 1st pro career hat-trick with the Wolves.

1/15: After 3 games and his first NHL point (an assist) he is reassigned by Vancouver back to the AHL.

01Jan

Shaone Morrisonn(26) Rochester Americans

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10th year veteran defenseman Shaone Morrisonn(26) was waived at the beginning of the 2011/2012 by Buffalo Sabres to get the team under the salary cap and reassigned to their AHL affiliate Rochester Americans. Accepting the designation he has appeared in 27 games. More importantly he is helping the team stay very much in the thick of the playoff race and has even put up a couple of goals and 7 assists.

He was signed to a 2-year contract by the Sabres last season, appearing in 62 games tallying only a single goal and four assists.

Originally a Boston Bruins 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#19 overall), he spent a year and a half with them before getting traded to Washington Capitals, where he played for 6 seasons.

To his credit he has 480 NHL games played and only just turned 29 years old.

26Dec

Derek Whitmore(21) Buffalo Sabres

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After scoring AHL Player Of The Week honors the last week of November for his 5 goals, +3 performance in a couple of games with Rochester Americans, assistant captain, left wing Derek Whitmore(21) received his first ever call-up to the NHL.

Originally undrafted, he has played in Buffalo Sabres‘ prospect system for 4 years. He was re-signed twice in the past two seasons as his numbers have steadily increased playing for their AHL affiliates.

In two games, he has yet to put up a point but has played over 10 minutes in each of the contests. He’s always been a very accountable player out there.

He currently leads the Amerks in scoring with 13 goals and 7 assists in 29 games.