University Of North Dakota | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Tagged: University Of North Dakota

29Jul

Corban Knight (11)

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Calgary Flames‘ 2nd year center Corban Knight(10) has already found himself happily involved in the parents’ club early season recalls after his hot start with minor league affiliate Adirondack Flames, where he’s recorded 5 goals and 3 assists in 16 AHL games.

He recently appeared in his first pair of games of 2014/2015, getting 10 shifts in each contest with just over 6 minutes total ice time and was fantastic in the face off dot, although was held without a point.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#135 overall), he was obtained by Calgary in an off season trade before he even got out of the gate.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward was a strong skater in four years at University of North Dakota posting at least a point-per-game average in his last three seasons, winning consecutive NCAA/WCHA Championships from 2010-2012 and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior.

He managed to continue his strong play upon turning pro on reassignment with then farm club, Abbotsford Heat finishing his rookie campaign in the top five scoring (18-27-45).

The now 24-year old also got the nod for his first NHL action and potted his first big league goal in 7 games.

He was recently sent back to Adirondack but it proved to be more of a paper transaction and he was once again summoned mid-trip and back in the lineup, although marked as healthy scratch, for now.

Even though he’s at the end of his 2-year entry level contract and set to become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of this season, if he can start to produce may stay where he is.

Original story: 11/28-14

Dealt in a mid-season transaction that sent him back to draft team Florida Panthers he was reassigned to affiliate San Antonio Rampage, where he stayed for the remainder of the regular season and skated in all three playoff contests scoring one goal.

He concluded 2014/2015 with 16 goals and 20 assists in 58 AHL games with a +2 rating.

Going into restricted free agency, the Panthers signed him up for another season on a two-way deal.

Set to turn 25-years old just before the start of the forthcoming season, he may start with Portland Pirates, the new affiliate of his new team but if turns up the scoring early again could find himself as part of an early recall.

24Mar

Rocco Grimaldi(9) San Antonio Rampage

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Florida Panthers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#33 overall), tiny 5’6″ 160 lbs. rookie center Rocco Grimaldi(9) made hockey history when he skated a late morning tilt with minor league affiliate San Antonio Rampage and then was boarding a plane before the shootout end, so he could join the parent club for their night game in Los Angeles.

He plays an energized game and scored in his last NHL appearance with the big club before being sent back down.

As a skater that knows his size is a factor, he doesn’t let it stand in his way and has no problem answering questions with a sense of humor about being small, as he’s quite the scoring machine with 11 goals, 27 assists and a +11 rating in 55 AHL games.

He played three years as University Of Dakota winning the 2012 NCAA/WCHA Championship after two seasons in the USHL and US Development Program, where he put up some outstanding numbers showing scouts he could compete.

The still young 22-year old signed to an entry level deal through 2017 will always be proving his game but in all likelihood has the will-power to succeed at the highest level.

29Mar

Carter Rowney(20) WBS Penguins

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie right wing Carter Rowney(20) signed a two-way minor league contract.

He won three straight NCAA/WCHA Championships in his first years at University Of North Dakota, which followed 6 years of bantams, midgets and junior hockey with hometown team Grand Prairie Storm through his teens.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. power-sized forward has mostly managed to connect with the score sheet, especially in his latter years at each level.

Invited on a try-out to attend Pittsburgh Penguins‘ training camp, he was released and reported to the Baby Pens.

He was reassigned to begin his first season with affiliate Wheeling Nailers. and showing he can light the lamp in the lower league on a regular basis.

In 39 ECHL games he has 13 goals and 31 assists with a monster +23 rating.

The 24-year old has been recalled on three occasions but is still looking to prove his mettle, as he has only one marker and two assists in 17 AHL games.

He also has another goal in his short post-school stint signed to an ato with Abbotsford Heat.

If he is unable to lift his game as the schedule pushes towards playoffs, he may sign a double-A deal for 2014/2015 and look to make impressions on pto’s or take his game to another shore.

06Feb

Aaron Dell(29) Utah Grizzlies

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Utah Grizzlies‘ undrafted 2nd year net minder Aaron Dell(29) is giving his team a chance to win games every time he’s between the pipes.

He was loaned on a pair of occasions to higher level clubs, Norfolk Admirals and Manchester Monarchs but has yet to appear in an AHL game.

The 6′ 209 lbs. goalie won the 2013 Central Hockey League President’s Trophy backstopping Allen Americans to their first title in his rookie season. It’s not even like he posted these amazing numbers during the regular season or in his 19 starts through the playoffs, but they were good enough to get the job done and win the 12 games necessary to capture the title.

He was also awarded goaltender of the year for his regular season play.

No stranger to awards, his college hockey team, University Of North Dakota won three straight NCAA (WCHA) titles.

This season since his return, the 24-year old has appeared in 18 games and posted a tidy 13-4 record with a 2.08 GAA and .920 SV%. He has the team positioned to run deep in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 24-year old will likely continue his climb and find himself under contract the next rung up for the 2014/2015 season.

31Oct

Danny Kristo(29) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Rookie right wing Danny Kristo(29) is off to a hot start with his pro career.

In 9 AHL games with Hartford Wolf Pack he already has 6 goals and 3 assists, which basically picks up where he left off at University Of North Dakota.

Through four years, he put up 68 goals and 93 assists in 157 games, good for just over a point-per-game.

He also was a part of three straight NCAA Championship teams, won a gold medal with USA at the World Juniors and on a personal level was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round draft pick and played 9 games signed to an ato with their minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs at the end of last season. He tallied three helpers in the stint.

He inked to a two-year entry level deal but at the start of free agency he found himself switching jerseys and headed to New York Rangers.

The 23-year old definitely has smooth hands for scoring and play-making and also possesses a bit of a grinder mentality to his game despite his smaller size.

He should realize his first NHL recall sooner than later and will probably stick as soon as he gets a chance.

24Oct

Derek Forbort(3) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#15 overall) defenseman Derek Forbort(3) decided to ditch his fourth and final year of college hockey at University Of North Dakota and start his pro career, inking a 3-year entry level deal.

He signed an ato and skated in 6 regular season and 4 playoff games with minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where he put up one assist.

After attending both prospect and official training camps with the parent club, the big 6’4″ 218 lbs. rejoins the Monarchs to begin his rookie season and in 8 AHL games already has his first goal and another helper with a +4 rating.

He was never quite known as a scorer, putting the puck in the net on a regular basis but has been effective with the outlet pass to get the play moving up ice for scoring chances and is known mostly for his shutdown defensive abilities.

The 21-year old also won back-to-back NCAA Championships, so knows what it takes to win, which was probably a factor in his top selection spot.

07Aug

Jason Gregoire(17) Södertälje

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3rd year unrestricted free agent left wing Jason Gregoire(17) signs a one-year deal to join second tier Swedish pro league team, Södertälje in Allsvenskan for the 2013/2014 season.

He was originally a New York Islanders‘ 3rd round draft pick in 2007 (#76 overall) but never signed and instead inked a two-year entry level contract with his hometown team, Winnipeg Jets. He was not given a qualifying offer to continue in the prospect system.

The 5’11” forward was virtually a point per game player in 3 years at University of North Dakota and won an NCAA Championship in ’09 and ’10. He was also selected twice to the All-Academic Team.

Upon turning pro he spent two seasons in the AHL with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He skated in a career high 60 games, posting sophomore season marks slightly above what he had in his rookie campaign with 10 goals and 18 points, but his two-year totals at 16-16 in 104 may have been a bit underwhelming.

The still very young 24-year old will probably light the lamp big in Europe and progress to greater heights overseas and could return to North America in the future.

04Aug

Brett Hextall(24) Phoenix Coyotes

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#159 overall), 3rd year right wing Brett Hextall(24) signed his qualifying offer to stay in the team’s prospect system for another season.

He was initially signed to a 2-year entry level deal after three seasons at the University Of North Dakota, where he won a championship in 2009.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward excelled in scoring in college hockey with 39 goals and 42 assists in 115 games but in 138 AHL contests with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates has just 16 tallies and 14 helpers.

His numbers were virtually identical in his first pair of pro seasons but he’ll likely have to take that up a notch to gain the notice of the parent club potentially score his first NHL call-up and stick around.

Although he does play a strong energy game and is good at getting in the face of opposing skaters, so could fill 4th line duties quite well if given the opportunity.

16Apr

Chay Genoway(4) Hershey Bears

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Undrafted, 2nd year defenseman Chay Genoway(4) was originally signed to a one-year entry level deal by Minnesota Wild after putting up point-per-game numbers in college hockey with University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

He received a 2-year extension after connecting for 7 goals and 29 assists with AHL affiliate Houston Aeros in 72 games in his rookie season but fell out of favor on the roster as his point totals diminished in his sophomore campaign.

The small 5’9″ 177 lbs. may have been off the mark on the scoresheet but his on-ice accountability went up to a +11 rating on a team that was good at winning games but their goals for advantage wasn’t exactly miles apart from their goals against.

He was recently traded to Washington Capitals for a conditional 2014 seventh-round pick and reassigned to their farm team, Hershey Bears. In 10 contests he has five assists and is a +2.

The 26-year old has appeared in one NHL game and picked up an assist. Tough to say if he gets another shot in the show but if he picks up his stats again, his chances become more likely. He’s small but plays a smart style game that knows how to turn defense into offense.

09Apr

Brad Malone(42) Colorado Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#105 overall), 2nd year center Brad Malone(42) notched his first NHL goal in 15 tries.

He is currently on his 2nd recall from their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, where he’s skated in 133 AHL games scoring 21 goals and 40 assists in regular and postseason play. He’s also a pretty lousy -20 overall plus/minus on a team barely above the .500 mark in 2012/2013. They were a much better team the previous season, just missing a playoff berth.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. power forward was up for 9 games in his rookie campaign connecting for his first points in the show, a pair of assists.

He put up big numbers in his last two years of college hockey with University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

The 23-year old is in the final season of his two-year entry level deal and set to become a restricted free agent. It’s seems likely that he’ll be qualified for at least another season to continue his development.