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Tagged: Wheeling Nailers

20Mar

Cody Sylvester(12) Wheeling Nailers

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Cody Sylvester(12) netted ECHL Player Of The Week for March 10-16, his second time being selected this season.

In 43 games with Wheeling Nailers he has a solid 22 tallies and 16 assists with a +14 rating. He’s also unloaded a team third high total of 134 shots on goal.

The 5’11” 191 lbs. forward played 5 campaigns of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen. He won the 2010 WHL Championship with them and took his scoring touch up a notch in the playoffs, which set up 2 years of more than point-per-game production in his final pair of seasons before turning pro. He also served as team captain as an over-age player.

He’s mostly been on reassignment since attending the first part of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on an invite, then with the WBS.

He was recalled for almost a couple months of action in the higher league and played 17 AHL games, getting a pair of goals before being sent back down.

The 21-year old will likely be a key contributor to any potential Kelly Cup Playoff quest or rejoin the Baby Pens in their postseason run, but however his first year ends up, should return for another look next season or will find a new home to continue strengthen his overall game.

14Feb

Anton Zlobin(18) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#173 overall), Russian-born rookie right wing Anton Zlobin(18) has been tearing up the score sheet on every level he’s played leading up to his recall from ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers to direct farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In his 9 games in double A hockey he posted the usual point-per-game (or better) production with 4 goals and 5 assists.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 198 lbs. forward knows how to find his space on the ice.

He skated in 186 QMJHL games through 3 seasons scoring 92 goals and 120 assists for a mammoth 212 points. He also concluded his career in juniors at a stellar +61 rating and won a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes in 2012.

The just turning 21-year old was quick to sign a three-year entry level contract and turn pro after his selection.

In 28 AHL games he has yet to completely catch fire with 5 goals and 4 assists but at a +10 he’s on the ice a good amount of the time when the puck goes in the net, which will likely lead to more opportunities for him to connect.

08Feb

Eric Hartzell(35) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie goalie Eric Hartzell(31) is continuing his successes from an outstanding 4-year college career at Quinnipiac University, where he basically help set all kinds of team and individual records en route to the 2013 National Champion Title Game, into the pro ranks. To his credit, he was chosen as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

In 19 AHL games for farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he’s posted a 9-5 record with 1.85 GAA and .925 SV%. His goals against average is currently tops in the league and already has 3 shutout efforts.

The fairly large-sized 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder was selected CCM/AHL Goaltender Of The Month for January with his even more outstanding play in the time period.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal to join the parent club fresh out of college and was quickly extended for two more years in the off-season, keeping him in the system through 2015.

Look for the 24-year old to get a look with the big club if injury sidelines one of their top two net minders.

18Oct

Keven Veilleux(19) Gwinnett Gladiators

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5th year center Keven Veilleux(19) begins the 2013/2014 season in the ECHL with Gwinnett Gladiators on reassignment from the parent club (although not under contract) after attending both parent clubs, Phoenix Coyotes and Portland Pirates‘ training camps on invites.

The big 6’5″ 224 lbs. forward was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#51 overall) and signed to a three-year entry level deal but never skated with the team.

He was reassigned to their farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he suffered season ending injuries on two occasions and only played one full campaign with them.

In that year he played like the power forward he’s projected to become, scoring 12 goals and 24 assists with 122 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games.

The still only 24-year old forward inked an NHL extension for another season but was sent further down the prospect chain to their double A affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he continued to pick up his scoring pace but was also involved in a racial tirade that got his pro career in a lot of hot water.

It’s very probable that towering offensive presence will see more time in the higher league on a pto but where it goes from there is anyone’s guess, unless he steps it up.

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

28Aug

Carl Sneep(4) Idaho Steelheads

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4th year, former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#32 overall), towering defenseman Carl Sneep(4) somewhat surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2013/2014.

He was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal in which he appeared in his only NHL game and even recorded his first big league point, an assist. He also suffered injuries that limited his play in his sophomore campaign.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner was extended for another season but something seemed to go amiss as he was inserted into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ lineup for a mere one appearance and spent most of his time watching from the stands before being reassigned to Wheeling Nailers, where he skated in 29 games before being dished to Dallas Stars.

He played 25 games with Texas Stars and received one recall but did not skate with the parent club and was once again bounced on loan late in the season to Peoria Riverman.

Not surprising, his point totals suffered, probably from changing addresses so much but he was never really viewed as a big point-getter since high school hockey.

He’s more of a big shutdown d-man that is tough to play against and holds a highly accountable +28 rating in 133 AHL games; and added another +12 in 29 ECHL games, but also was able to put up some marks on the score sheet (3 goals, 12 assists).

With his big frame though, he could easily put a bit more punishing grit into his style of play.

In four years with Boston College Eagles he was a part of two national championship teams.

Joining Idaho may be a strategic move for the 25-year old, as it would be no surprise to see him attend affiliate Texas Stars‘ training camp, rejoining the team and log some miles between the two western states.

See related: 12/18-11.

21Aug

Joel Chouinard(2) Hamilton Bulldogs

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4th year defenseman Joel Chouinard(2) signs a one-year AHL contract to skate with Hamilton Bulldogs or ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers in the 2012/2013.

Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#187 overall), he was left unqualified after three seasons in the their prospect system, where he played in 98 games with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but only 10 last year.

Instead he was reassigned for most of the campaign to the Central Hockey League appearing in 42 contests with Denver Cutthroats.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner posted career highs in assists and points in the lower league.

He had similar strong marks in his rookie season, putting up a team leading 8 goals and 9 assists in only 35 AHL games.

This first year pro performance extended what he was able to accomplish in his final run of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres. He struck for phenomenal 23 tallies, good for first in the league and 35 helpers, which made him a more than point per game guy as a d-man.

The 23-year old will need to step it up again to spend the full season with the Bulldogs.

18Aug

Max MacKay(17) Wheeling Nailers

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It was a very trying rookie season for undrafted right wing Max MacKay(17) due to a series of injuries and a reported terrible bout with the flu that sidelined him for all but 16 games in 2012/2013.

Signed to an AHL contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he was limited to only 8 appearances notching 3 assists.

Loaned to Wheeling Nailers to gets his wheels working the 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward was still bugged skating in only 8 ECHL games but struck for a pair of goals and 4 assists.

Taking an odd route through the Atlantic Junior Hockey program before turning pro, he was a 2-point-per-game player in the tier III league, leading the team in scoring and to a pair of championships.

The 22-year old inked a one-year deal to re-join Wheeling for the upcoming season and get back on the radar in hopes to continue his climb up the pro hockey ladder.

He was an invite to the 2012 New York Islanders‘ development camp. His uncle is in fact, coach Jack Capuano.

26May

Christiaan Minella(14) WBS Penguins

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Third year, undrafted right wing Christiaan Minella(14) signed a pto with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and appeared in his first 8 AHL games after spending all of his first three seasons in the ECHL.

Most of his time was with affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he has scored 17 goals and 22 assists in 114 regular and postseason games. He did, however, start his career with hometown team Cincinnati Cyclones and appeared in 41 games (10 goals, 8 assists) before getting traded.

Almost ironically he wasn’t exactly doing especially well connecting for points in the 2012/2013 campaign before his recall, but at 6’2″ 220 lbs. he’s got big power forward size and quite possibly they saw something that would translate into higher league play.

He’s so far only appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff contests but got his first AHL goal, the game-winner to start the Eastern Conference Finals.

This could be the type of confidence builder he needs to run up his scoring totals.

At the end of this run, he’ll once again become an unrestricted free agent, but if he can continue marking up the score sheet may not have to look too far for a new contract.

22May

Peter Merth(4) WBS Penguins

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3rd year, undrafted defenseman Peter Merth(4) has seemed to enjoy his playing time in the pros with Wheeling Nailers. He signed three successive one-year deals to stay with the club.

He’s also received AHL call-ups for the past couple of seasons and training camp invites from Adirondack Phantoms and Abbotsford Heat.

The sturdy 6’3″ 225 lbs. d-man had season bests in 2012/2013 for assists (16) and points (17) but surprisingly only received one pto deal with Hamilton Bulldogs for 7 games. He fared better the previous year appearing in 11 contests with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, connecting for a pair of helpers and was with them through a winning streak.

With 167 ECHL games to his credit, he has scored 5 goals and 36 assists with a mammoth +24 rating and not a lot of unnecessary time in the sin bin.

The 26-year old was recently brought back up to rejoin WBS Penguins’ Calder Cup run as their defense corps became depleted with injuries.

He was inserted into the lineup at exactly the right time, as the team was down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals but made a comeback charge to tie the series at 3 apiece going into a decisive game 7.

He has one assist and a +2 plus/minus in the three contests he’s suited up for.

Seems likely that he’ll make a more permanent jump to the higher league in 2013/2014.

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