San Jose Sharks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

15Oct

Todd McLellan(coach) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks “5th year” bench boss Todd McLellan is probably going to be taking in a lot more of the team’s AHL affiliate in Worcester‘s games this season than he would have a chance to if this were a normal NHL season.

He was already spotted during their only preseason home game at Holy Cross recently keeping an eye on potential prospects.

In his four years as head coach he has always maintained a winning record, ended regular season as Pacific Division champs 3 times and taken the team to the Western Conference Finals on a pair of occasions.

He won a Stanley Cup with Detroit Red Wings in 2008 as an assistant coach before being hired the next season by San Jose. The 45-year old also won a Calder Cup Championship with Houston Aeros in 2003.

As a player he only skated pro for two years in the late 80’s. He was drafted by New York Islanders and played 5 games (1 goal, 1 assists) but appeared in over 100 games with Springfield Indians of the AHL.

06Oct

Tony Lucia(12) Gwinnett Gladiators

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3rd year left wing Tony Lucia(12) signs a one-year ECHL contract to join Gwinnett Gladiators for the 2012/2013 season.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#193 overall), he wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the team after his 2-year entry level contract was up.

He spent his entire rookie season in the AHL with Worcester Sharks dealing with post concussion syndrome, limiting him to only a pair of games; and that even bled over to his 2nd season, although he did manage to appear in 46 games and scored a healthy 8 goals and 19 assists, while being a very accountable +8 plus/minus.

There’s was talk of Portland Pirates signing the 6′ 190 lbs. forward to an AHL deal as he was the only tryout player invited to their camp, but instead he inks with their ECHL affiliate and is probably on the short list for a recall.

26Sep

Ashton Rome(44) Greenville Road Warriors

Posted in ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Double draft pick, 7th year right wing Ashton Rome(44) makes an interesting move for the 2012/2013 season by signing with Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.

The move comes one season removed from his most productive AHL campaign with Portland Pirates, where he had league career highs in games played, goals and points.

He has skated in 91 games over a couple of years in the ECHL with a pair of different teams scoring 42 goals and 38 assists, so point productivity isn’t a problem for him in the lower level of hockey.

With the glut of talent being absorbed in the AHL, it’s seemingly a smart move for the almost 27-year old, who could also be setting up a path for himself post-playing pro hockey. There is little doubt he will help mentor the younger teammates and be a huge asset on ice and in the locker room.

He’ll also almost assuredly be on the short list for call-up by a number of teams and if the lockout lifts for the NHL he could find a permanent spot in the AHL sooner than later.

The 6’1 205 lbs. forward was originally a Boston Bruins’ 4th round pick in the 2004 draft (#108 overall) but was thrown back in the pool and picked up in the 5th round of 2006 by San Jose Sharks (#143 overall).

06Sep

Fight Card: Dane Byers (34) vs. Sena Acolatse (14)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | 1 Comment

Opponents got much more than they bargained for mixing it up with Worcester Sharks‘ rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse(14) last season than they probably expected.

Standing in at only 5’11” 205 lbs. he may have not seem like a lot to handle, but once those gloves come off opponents quickly found him to be much stronger than his size might indicate and on the losing end of the battle.

Springfield Falcons 6’3″ 202 lbs. veteran left wing Dane Byers(34) got himself acquainted, only to get pummeled in his exchange with the smaller player.

Both guys will be around again with their respective teams for 2012/2013, so we’ll see if any rematch ensues.

Watch the fight here.

03Sep

Fight Card: Mike Moore(8) vs. Micheal Haley(18)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | 1 Comment

Former Worcester Sharks‘ captain/defenseman Mike Moore(8) and former Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ left wing Micheal Haley(18) had an axe to grind all season mixing it up on a number of occasions when the two teams met during the 2011/2012 season. The sluggers match up fairly well at roughly the same size and weight.

They won’t get to see much of one another next year though as both players have signed contracts that will see them play in different conferences.

Moore will likely be guarding the blue line for Milwaukee Admirals, while Haley moves up the highway joining Connecticut Whale.

Both could see some time in the NHL with affiliates Nashville Predators and New York Rangers, which could reopen the can of worms.

01Sep

Fight Card: Frazer McLaren(10) vs. Justin Johnson(49)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | 1 Comment

San Jose/Worcester Sharks‘ big and tough guy Frazer McLaren(10) will rise up to whatever challenger he faces and during more than one occasion in his severely shortened 2011/2012 he was called out by Manchester Monarchs‘ resident maniac Justin Johnson(49).

Injuries hindered most of last season, limiting the 6’5″ 240 lbs. forward’s availability to just 20 AHL games (and 7 in the NHL).

Manchester Monarchs‘ bruiser Johnson is always a menacing presence to opposing players. The 5’10” 222 lbs. ball of fire amassed 187 minutes in the box through 44 games played, surpassing his total from the prior year by 60 seconds.

There will be more chances for the two players to meet up in 2012/2013 as the former signed on for another season and the latter has one more left under his current contract.

30Jul

Matt Pelech(23) San Jose Sharks

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6th year, former Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#26 overall) redwood tree tall defenseman Matt Pelech(23) re-signed for another 0ne-year, two-way deal for 2012/2013 with San Jose Sharks that will likely see him skating mostly with their AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks, where he spent all of last season.

The 6’4 235 lbs. menacing blue liner played in 59 games with 1 goal and 8 assists. He was sometimes sent out there as a forward in certain games when they were short up front. That may have been how he got his goal.

He’s appeared in 269 regular season and 13 Calder Cup Playoff games, mostly in his first four years with the Flames‘ affiliate Quad City Flames, then Abbotsford Heat.

Last in the 2008/2009 season he was recalled for his only 5 NHL games. The almost extraordinary part is that he notched 3 assists and even a +1 plus/minus.

But that was it. Not another even toe dip on the ice in the show.

The soon-to-be 25 year old does have a bit of an awkward, seemingly almost off balance skating style but he’s such a big dude that some skating coach should work with that and turn him into a machine. He can obviously throw down some punches when necessary; he had 168 pims that included 16 fights in 2011/2012.

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.

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!

09Apr

Matt Tennyson(5) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted defenseman Matt Tennyson(5) signs a two-year entry level contract with San Jose Sharks, leaving the last year of college behind for now.

He also signed an ato with their AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks and over the weekend scored his first professional goal.

At 6’2″ 210 lbs. he’s already a pretty big almost 22-year old blue liner and in three games seems to play a pretty smart game out there with reasonable accountability.

Great little fact: he’s from the San Jose area and started as a Junior Sharks‘ player, making him the first to be signed from that far back in the team system.