Tagged: Utah Grizzlies

25Jun

Brent Henley(44) Nottingham Panthers

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Giant-sized 6’7″ 249 lbs., undrafted 11th year defenseman Brent Henley(44) will don the jersey of his 21st pro hockey team, when he jumps shores to continue his career in the EIHL with Nottingham Panthers for 2013/2014.

He has skated most of his time in the ECHL amassing 248 games and 1189 penalty minutes in the league, while posting 9 goals and 38 assists.

He’s also played in 114 AHL contests, most recently last season in 5 appearances with Lake Erie Monsters.

The 32-year old was a member of Fort Wayne Komets through three different leagues, playing 164 games and won a pair of titles with the team, 2008 IHL Turners Cup and 2012 Central Hockey League President’s Cup.

Most awesomely though, he started his career with Colorado Gold Kings of the WCHL in 2001/2002.

Brent Henley1

05Jun

Riley Gill(30) Reading Royals

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3rd year undrafted goaltender Riley Gill(30) is likely used to being bounced around from team-to-team in his thus far short pro career.

By our count, he’s worn a minor league sweater for 8 different teams and played in games for 7.

He started with Kalamazoo Wings right after finishing up four years at University Of Michigan. He played a few regular season games and then appeared in four more in the playoffs, almost getting them past the opening round.

After that impressive performance, he was given a one-year deal.

The 6’1″ 211 lbs. net minder was recalled twice to the AHL and got in between the pipes for one game with Worcester Sharks and a pair with Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Both outings were less than impressive.

He signed an extension to continue with the K-Wings and spent virtually the entire year with the team, helping them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, but found himself without a contract for 2012/2013 as the NHL lockout was trickling down talent and few doors were open for the 28-year old.

Utah Grizzlies invited him to their training camp but he failed to catch on and ultimately dropped down, signing on to play with Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL.

As just about anyone would have predicted, he excelled in the lower league with most wins and shutouts before leaving the team a month prior to the end of the season. His play earned him Goaltender Of The Year honors.

He was recalled to join Reading Royals, where he stepped right into action, posting a 10-3-1 record with a 1.28 GAA and .952 SV% to go along with three shutouts in 14 games played.

He would continue the stellar play into the playoffs, where he would snatch the starting goalie spot in short order as he showed no signs of slowing down putting up a 13-3 record with a 1.91 GAA and .930 SV%, while adding another 4 shutouts.

For his efforts, he was named Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP as winning goaltender for the 2013 Championship team.

There’s a push to have him under contract for the 2013/2014 with parent club Washington Capitals but it remains to be seen if what materializes next for the journeyman backstop.

See related: 12/4-10

Riley Gill

 

 

24May

Warren Peters(43) WBS Penguins

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Undrafted 10th year center Warren Peters(43) is the type of veteran skater you want on your team come playoff time for his on ice determination and game leadership he brings.

An unrestricted free agent after two seasons in the Minnesota Wild system, he signed a one-year two-way contract with Pittsburgh Penguins that’s seen him contribute with all the aforementioned qualities during the regular season, but in the postseason with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it’s on a whole other level. It’s also good reason for him to wear an assistant captain “A” on his sweater.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward has made it to Calder Cup Finals in two of the last three seasons, first with Texas Stars and followed it up with Houston Aeros.

He’s appeared in 96 NHL with 3 different teams in each of the last four seasons (4 goals, 4 assists) and only likely didn’t receive a recall this season due to the shortened campaign.

As a player that started his career in the ECHL and even spent his entire sophomore season in the league during the other most recent lockout, we can appreciate the fact that he’s worked his way up to the show with lots of hard play and persistence.

The 30-year old is back on the market this summer but chances are the Penguins will offer him a one-year extension.

Warren Peters

 

 

 

10Mar

Victor Bartley(64) Nashville Predators

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victor-bartley

Nashville Predators‘ undrafted 4th year defenseman Victor Bartley(64) signed a two-year, two-way contract to join the team after spending a successful season overseas with Rögle of Allsvenskan, the second tier Swedish pro league.

He started his career after his fifth season in juniors, playing as an overage skater, in the ECHL with Utah Grizzlies.

His numbers in the league were good enough to get him an All-Star Game nod and subsequent call-up to the AHL by Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He unfortunately suffered an injury that put a stop to his rookie campaign.

Returning to North American hockey he appeared in all 76 games in 2011/2012 with Milwaukee Admirals scoring 9 goals and 30 assists while going +12 plus/minus.

The 6′ 203 lbs. blue liner picked up pretty much where he left off on the scoresheet in the current season notching 7 goals and 19 assists in 54 contests. He also was chosen to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

His consistent play has earned him a first recall and in his NHL debut.

He skated 23 shifts for 19:15 total ice time, third most on the team in a 6-0 blasting of Edmonton Oilers.

At the end of the season the 25-year old becomes a restricted free agent.

He’s likely a no-brainer to be signed for another one or two-year extension.

09Mar

Ian Schultz(21) San Francisco Bulls

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 3rd year right wing prospect Ian Schultz(21) has been shuffled around a bit more than he likely planned this season.

After two campaigns with AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs (6 goals and 17 assists in 60 games last season, all career highs), he failed to make the team out of training camp and was reassigned to ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers (13 games, 2 assists). He wasn’t alone either; it was a pretty big group of names. From there though he was moved again within the league to join Utah Grizzlies.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward had better luck with that squad putting up 7 goals and 8 assists in 27 games but is better known for his fisticuffs than goal scoring strength.

He earned a short-lived recall to the Bulldogs that lasted only a couple of games before being returned.

Recently he was shuffled again in a minor league deal that the parent club allowed him to be traded to San Francisco Bulls for the remainder of the year.

The 23-year old was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#87 overall) but was dished to the Canadiens as a minor piece of a bigger transaction before his skates ever hit officially hit the ice for the team.

His 3-year entry level deal expires at the end of the season and where he ends up from here is anyone’s guess.

Ian Schultz

05Feb

Jeff Taffe(20) Hershey Bears

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Hershey Bears‘ 11th year, veteran center was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2000 draft (#30 overall) but was traded before ever playing with the team.

He signed his first AHL only contract since the last lockout in 2004/2005, when he was a member of Utah Grizzlies for a partial campaign.

Despite only appearing in 180 NHL games, the almost 31-year old forward has managed appearances in each of his pro years. He has 21 goals and 25 assists to his credit, skating with 6 different teams.

In the minors though, he’s amassed a hearty 533 games, scoring 185 goals with 244 helpers.

At 6’3″ 209 lbs. he’s always a big presence to contend with in front of the net and is the consummate team guy.

What the future holds for him is anyone’s guess but with 9 strikes and 29 assists in 43 contests, he leads the Bears . in scoring.

He’s good to have around if a team needs some points and has five 20 goal seasons and 8 years of 20+ assists (with one year where he hit the 50 mark).

He was selected to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game when a teammate was on call-up.

Jeff Taffe

 

30Dec

Peter Mannino(35) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 5th year goaltender Peter Mannino(35) had quite the wild ride in his rookie season playing minutes in three different leagues: ECHL (Utah Grizzlies), AHL (Bridgeport Sound Tigers) and NHL (New York Islanders).

He was officially signed to a one-year entry level deal with the Isles before being scooped up by Atlanta Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent for sophomore run. His solid play in net for their farm team Chicago Wolves got him re-signed for another two seasons in their system.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. netminder eventually found himself, after a bit of a logjam in the St. John’s IceCaps‘ backstop prospects, returned to the ECHL to play with the now extinct Chicago Express. Eventually the former NCAA Championship goalie was loaned to Portland Pirates for the remainder of the regular season in a minor league transaction to finish out the remainder of his contract.

Looking into 2012/2013, the 28-year old found himself in unchartered territory without a place to play. He signed a training camp invite with Manchester Monarchs that turned into a pto and was recently upped to a one-year AHL spc.

He’s off to a fantastic start with a 7-3 record in 12 appearances and a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV%, as he looks to be regaining his form. He’s played NHL games in each of his pro career years.

Got to love the old style look to the pads he uses. Although rumor has it he’s in line for some more modern looking gear.

Peter Mannino

20Oct

Micheal Haley(18) CT Whale

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Our favorite player movement of the 2012 offseason.

6th year undrafted fists of fury forward Micheal Haley(18) didn’t have to trade in his number when he to the drive up the street to join his new team.

After 5 straight seasons in New York Islanders‘ prospect system playing mostly for their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, the now veteran 26-year old calls Hartford home.

In the offseason the unrestricted free agent was signed to a 1-year 2-way deal with New York Rangers and is currently playing the same role and penalty killing for Connecticut Whale.

He had career highs in goals (15), assists tie (10), points (25) and even managed less penalty minutes, but not by much.

He’s the type of player we love to see out there. At only 5’11” 198 lbs. he’s all guts and glory.

The pic is post-first fight to bloody up the new uniform a bit with old teammate Blair Riley.

22Sep

Ryley Grantham(16) Allen Americans

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4th year right wing Ryley Grantham(16) was not qualified by Calgary Flames when his 3-year entry level deal was up. He was originally their 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#168 overall).

In the final season of his contract, he was skating mostly with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL before being reassigned in a minor swap with Chicago Express.

The 6’4″ 210 lbs. bruiser played 89 AHL games with Abbotsford Heat and put up a pretty hefty 163 penalty minutes in 67 games of his rookie season. He only minimally hit the scoresheet with a goal and 3 assists.

In an interesting lock out move, the 24-year old signed a contract to play in the Central Hockey League with Allen Americans for 2012/2013. While with them he should really look to pick up his offensive game; put more points than pims on the scoresheet.

 

 

26Aug

Tyler Ruegsegger(7) Alaska Aces

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Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#166 overall), center Tyler Ruegsegger(7) was suppose to figure in the team’s future plans based on his stats leading up to his selection and then later with his excellent play in the last year of his college career.

Somewhere along the line though something happened because he didn’t sign to start his rookie season until late October of 2010; and that was with Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

From there he gets traded to Alaska Aces, but in the final month of his first year the then 23-year old gets his first AHL called-up by Abbotsford Heat. scoring 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games. He was returned to the Aces just in time to help them win the 2011 Kelly Cup.

In a surprising move for his second campaign, the 6′ 195 lbs. forward re-signed with the Aces to continue with the team for 2011/2012. Once again, he was recalled: first by Bridgeport Sound Tigers, then the Heat for a second run.

If he wasn’t accidentally clocked in the face by a one-timer in practice, it’s speculated that he could have played his first Calder Cup Playoff games or participated in another playoff run with the Aces.

For the upcoming 2012/2013 season, the now 25-year old re-signs for his third go with Alaska.

In 105 ECHL games he has 29 shots on goal into the net and assisted on another 25. Will this be his breakout year?