Trenton Titans | CollegeHockeyPlayers

16Dec

Matt Konan(6) Adirondack Phantoms

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Undrafted, rookie defenseman Matt Konan(6) looks to have all the attributes of a player that will one day make it full-time onto an NHL roster. Philadelphia Flyers think so too, as they signed the big-boy (6’4″ 190 lbs.), able puck-moving blue liner to a three-year entry level contract through the 2014/2015 season.

The 21-year old started with their farm team, Adirondack Phantoms but was left off the roster as he was rehabbing a sports hernia that occurred over the summer.

He was sent down to “get his feet wet” and score some ice time in the ECHL with Trenton Titans and appeared in 5 games with the team notching his first pro point: an assist.

Called up as the AHL team kept losing d-men to injuries and illness, he stepped right in and was a difference maker.

After being featured in five games in the upper league, contributing a pair of assists, the first year player shows no signs of giving up his spot.

06Dec

Kelsey Wilson(11) Nottingham Panthers

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After starting 2012/2013 on a training camp invite from Providence Bruins, undrafted 7th year veteran left wing Kelsey Wilson(11) was released by the team before the regular season got underway.

From there he bounced from coast-to-coast in the ECHL with San Francisco Bulls then Trenton Titans, his first appearances in the league, before finally settling on a contract overseas to join Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.

He’s skated in 395 total AHL games (mostly with Milwaukee Admirals), while signed to a somewhat undocumented 3-year entry level deal with Nashville Predators. After his contract was up he left North American hockey for a year to play in Austria, where he won the Erste Band Liga with EC Salzburg.

Upon returning he accepted his qualifying offer to rejoin the Preds‘ organization and was once again reassigned to their affiliate, Milwaukee. But his point production seemed to have ticked down a notch until the postseason, where he struck for almost a point-per-game.

In 2011/2012, the feisty 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward played the full campaign with eventual Calder Cup finalists Toronto Marlies although he appeared in only one playoff game.

At 26-years old, he’s likely still got plenty left in the tank and will probably do well with his abilities in the English pro league but will need to find it from within if he wants to climb back up the ranks in North America.

21Nov

Andrew Johnston (15)

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Undrafted rookie left wing Andrew Johnston(15) signed a three-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers that keeps him in the system through 2015.

He came out of the SJHL and lit the lamp regularly in the less dominant junior league that’s usually a buffer for college hockey as the next step for a player.

In 10 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms he has his first pro goal but no helpers yet.

The 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward was bumped down to their ECHL affiliate Trenton Titans to see if he can reignite that scoring spark in the lower league.

Chances are good this will happen but then he’ll still have to fight to find an open spot in the lineup on what’s a pretty deep prospect pool for the Flyers.

28Oct

Mike Banwell(24) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Mike Banwell(24) faced a bit of uncertainty where he was going to be playing in his sophomore season but eventually signed a deal with Trenton Titans, the team he spent 11 games with on reassignment in 2011/2012.

He played 24 games in his rookie campaign with Albany Devils under an AHL contract, notching 3 assists and appeared in another 11 ECHL contests with the Titans.

The 25-year old was an Adirondack Phantoms‘ training camp tryout invite but was returned to start 2012/2013 with Trenton, where in three games he has an assist.

Not being inked to a contract in the higher league, the 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner is free to latch on with any team looking to employ his services on call-up.

Worcester Sharks did just that as their defensive corps are depleted and he was signed to a pto joining the team for their first win of the new season.

29Sep

Kory Nagy(21) Trenton Titans

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New Jersey Devils‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#142 overall) left wing Kory Nagy(21) signed a 3-year entry level deal to start his pro career and ended up bouncing between their AHL and ECHL affiliates.

In his final season of the contract he skated the full year with Albany Devils playing in a career high 53 contests, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists but was not qualified an offer to stay with the organization.

For 2012/2013 he decided to stay in familiar territory, inking with Trenton Titans.

With the signing, the somewhat small-ish looking 5’11” 195 lbs., 22-year old forward will have the ability to be called up to any team in the higher league.

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.

07Jun

Andy Thomas(38) Olimpija Ljubljana

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Former Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2004 draft (#109 overall), defenseman Andy Thomas(38) leaves North American pro hockey to join Olimpija Ljubljana in the Austria Hockey League.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal with Anaheim Ducks and was reassigned to their AHL and ECHL affiliates, Iowa Chops and Bakersfield Condors in his rookie season.

From there he was in the Devils‘ prospect system, spending most of the next 3 seasons with Trenton Titans/Devils appearing in 157 games, scoring 5 goals and 29 assists.

The 6’2′ 220 lbs. has also skated in 70 AHL (2 goals, 5 assists) with 6 teams, including 3 in 2011/2012 alone. He failed to hit the scoresheet though.

A move to European hockey may be the best move for him as he considered a veteran in the ECHL now and some new scenery is exactly what the 25-year might need.

23Mar

Tyler Hostetter(27) Adirondack Phantoms

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Rookie defenseman Tyler Hostetter(27) was invited to Philadelphia Flyers‘ camp in 2009 and signed as an undrafted free agent to a 3-year entry level deal with the club before being returned to his junior team for another couple of seasons.

He’s played most of his first pro season in the ECHL on loan to Trenton Titans, where he has 7 goals and 7 assists in 32 games.

But he’s on a short leash to their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. He’s played only 7 games with no points but has to be near a half dozen call-ups and reassignments already this season. Matter of fact, he could already be back with the Titans‘ for this weekend games after his most recent stint.

At 5’11” 182 lbs., the 21-year old will definitely have to play bigger than he is but looks to have the ability to grow into his game with age. Eat them Wheaties.

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.

12Feb

David Caruso(35) Charlotte Checkers

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6th year undrafted goalie David Caruso(35) has played AHL games in 4 of his first 5 seasons and with his recent call-up and start in net for Charlotte Checkers he can make that 5 of 6.

He signed a contract with Trenton Titans, an organization he’s spent all of his career with (as the Devils), except his rookie year, which was with Gwinnett Gladiators with a single game with Chicago Wolves to start the run.

He has 52 games of AHL experience and 174 in the ECHL.

At almost 30 years old, it’s a bit of a wonder where netminding will take him next season.