Syracuse Crunch | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Oct

Maksim Mayorov(16) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2007 4th round pick (#94 overall) Maksim Mayorov(16) has consistently played a few games each of his four seasons in the organization but had only managed one goal in 12 games.

He found himself on the 2011/2012 opening night roster but was a healthy scratch in the team’s first loss of the season. For their second game he had a spot in the lineup and potted a goal. The quick scoring start may help win the argument to keep him playing in the NHL.

In 214 AHL games with Syracuse Crunch and Springfield Falcons he has 53 goals and 43 assists for 96 points.

24Sep

Dylan Reese(2) New York Islanders

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5th year defenseman Dylan Reese(2) looks to become a full-time NHL player after splitting time with New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers the last couple seasons.

He scored the Isles first two goals in their preseason game against the Bruins on 9/23 (a 6-3 loss) and looked good offensively but less stable in the defensive zone.

It’s almost certain that he’ll be making a few car trips between Long Island and Connecticut again in 2011/2012.

Originally drafted by New York Rangers in the 7th round of the 2003 draft (#209 overall), he only skated 10 games with Hartford Wolf Pack at the end of his college career with Harvard Crimson but never signed with the team.

18Sep

Brian McGrattan(38) Anaheim Ducks

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Mammoth-sized (6’4″ 235 lbs) 10th year vet, Brian McGrattan(38) signed a one-year, two-way deal to stay in the Anaheim Ducks‘ system after he was traded late last season by Boston in what amounted to a 4-player minor league swap.

He had played mostly in the NHL for the prior five seasons but last year failed to catch on with a club in the big league. The Ducks already have a guy named George Parros to do their dirty work, so he’ll likely find most, if not all of his playing time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

12Sep

Joel Martin(49) Herlev Hornets

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9th year pro goalie Joel Martin(49) has bounced around many different North American leagues and teams in his career but for the first time he’s looking elsewhere, overseas to continue.

For the 2011/2012 season he signed with Herlev Hornets of AL-Bank Ligaen (Danish Pro Hockey League).

Last season, the 28-year old netminder appeared in a career high AHL games (18 with Bridgeport Sound Tigers).

He also played in 29 games with Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League and was called-up as an emergency back-up for one game with New York Islanders.

02Sep

David Ling(21) HC Val Pusteria / Providence Bruins

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Veteran forward David Ling(21) enters his 17th year pro signing a contract to play with HC Val Pusteria (Wolves) of the Italian Hockey League.

He was originally drafted in 1993 by Quebec Nordiques in the 7th round (#179 overall) and has skated in 93 NHL games. For the last 5 or so seasons he’s played mostly overseas stopping back to skate in the AHL with Toronto Marlies ’07/’08 and last year with Providence Bruins.

At 36 years old, it seems like the little guy (a generous 5’10” 197lb) just won’t quit.

30Aug

Ryan Keller(28) Edmonton Oilers / Binghamton Senators

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Binghamton Senators‘ captain Ryan Keller(28) leaves the team after two years and 6 games with Ottawa, his first in the NHL. He failed to register a point and last year never received a call-up but was a force in the AHL with Binghamton, leading the team to a memorable Calder Cup Championship.

He signed a one-year, two-way deal with Edmonton Oilers, which may get him some more NHL playing time opportunities but mostly he will be counted on to lift Oklahoma City Barons to deeper playoff contention than their first round exit this past season.

We’ll miss him in the Eastern Conference.

24Aug

Olivier Labelle(27) Rouen Dragons

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6th year pro Olivier Labelle(27) re-signs for 2011/2012 with Reading Royals, the ECHL team he spent 38 games with last season, plus 7 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

For the other half of the season he was signed to a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.

Throughout his career he’s been mostly a AA player with the exception of his rookie season, when he played 74 games with Syracuse Crunch, putting up 11 goals, 20 assists and 153 pims. In the following 4 seasons, he played almost exclusively in the ECHL, until last year’s run with Bridgeport.

22Aug

Oren Eizenman(19) High 1 / Connecticut Whale

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Israel-born, 5th year pro forward Oren Eizenman(19) trades in North America and signs for 2011/2012 with High 1 of the 7-team Asia League Ice Hockey featuring teams from South Korea, Japan and China.

He’s another player that has bounced around a lot from team-to-team never quite finding a home with any one. In 2008/2009, he played games with no less than five teams in the ECHL and AHL (Fresno Falcons, Stockton Thunder, Manitoba Moose, San Antonio Rampage, Milwaukee Admirals).

21Aug

Mike Sgroi(17) Evansville Icemen / Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Central Hockey League‘s newest team, Evansville Icemen recently signed 6’5″ 235lbs of grit in Mike Sgroi(17) for the upcoming season.

A 12-year veteran, he usually finds himself playing for multiple minor league teams each season, either with call-ups or trades for his services. In 2008-2009, he played games for no less than 6 teams in the AHL and ECHL (Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Senators, Norfolk Admirals, Johnstown Chiefs, Utah Grizzlies, Elmira Jackals).

Last season, seeming out of nowhere, he signed a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers and appeared in a couple of games at the end of the season registering no points and more surprisingly no penalty minutes.

21Aug

Trevor Frischmon(19) New York Islanders / Springfield Falcons

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6th year vet, undrafted winger Trevor Frischmon(19) has never experienced pro hockey outside of Columbus Blue Jackets system. He’s played the last five seasons almost exclusively with their AHL affiliates, first in Syracuse and last season in Springfield.

Right after free agency began, the Islanders stepped in to sign the unrestricted free agent to a one-year, two-way contract for 2011/2012.

His point total has continued to rise each season and in ’09/’10 he got in the first NHL games of his career (3 games, 0 points). He’s almost assuredly was signed to help Bridgeport Sound Tigers attempts to reclaim a playoff spot.