Winnipeg Jets | CollegeHockeyPlayers

29Apr

Ben Chiarot(18) St. John’s IceCaps

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Unlikely hero, St. John’s IceCaps‘ defenseman Ben Chiarot(18) scores the overtime game-winner on a slapper from the point to take the 1-0 series lead in the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Albany Devils, who were at home.

It was his first playoff point in his first AHL playoff game.

He is in the final season of his 3-year entry level contract with Winnipeg Jets.

He’s made one NHL appearance with no points and went an unfortunate -3 plus/minus in a 5-1 shellacking.

The 6’3″ 215 lbs. d-man easily had a break out minor league career year in 2013/2014, recording a clearly better 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points with a +29 rating.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is probably on the likely list to be given a qualifying offer for another run in the system but will have to work that much harder to get another look for the show.

The series has since been tied at 1.

See related: 3/23-12

11Apr

Michael Hutchinson (33)

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Goaltender Michael Hutchinson(33) has been on quite the ride through the hockey ranks this season since being left unqualified by the team that drafted him, Boston Bruins.

Originally a 3rd round pick in 2008 (#77 overall), he spent the first three years in their prospect system tending net mostly with Providence Bruins.

He was reassigned on a couple of occasions to ECHL affiliate Reading Royals through his first two campaigns.

None of it compares to the roller coaster ride he’s still on this season backstopping cages in three different leagues.

The almost unassumingly large 6’3″ 192 lbs. free agent net minder signed fairly quickly with Winnipeg Jets for a 1-year 2-way contract.

He was in training camp but quickly reassigned to AHL farm team St. John’s IceCaps and it didn’t stop there as he was sent along to Ontario Reign to start his fourth pro season.

This was where he stepped it up because in 28 starts he won 22, good enough for third in the league, lost a lowest 4 contests and posted a 2.08 GAA and .921 SV%.

He would receive an early Christmas gift on recall but it didn’t last as he was sent back down again. In early 2014 though, he was summoned once again and due to injuries ended up splitting starting duties.

Earning his time in net, he managed a 15-5 record, helping to solidify the IceCaps‘ postseason berth.

The stellar play of the 24-year old also earned him his first NHL games, making him a rare case of a player to skate games in three different leagues in a single frame.

In three appearances he won 2 and lost 1.

One of his wins was against his former team in a shootout and his 1.64 GAA and .943 SV% should almost assuredly score the future restricted free agent an extension.

First up though, he could be on his way to help bring the Calder Cup to the Rock.

22Feb

J.C. Lipon(34) St. John’s IceCaps

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Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#91 overall), rookie right wing J.C. Lipon(34) is having the kind of first year pro that he’ll easily be able to build on.

He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect system through 2016.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps, he’s posted a tidy 6 goals and 21 assists in 48 AHL games with a -7 rating.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward also exhibits a willingness to stick his nose into developing situations, never shying away from any of the rough stuff and is a bit of a pest to play against.

He’s on his way to putting up triple digits in penalty minutes much like he did in three seasons with Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.

He also showed signs of marking up the score sheet with a lot of assists passing out 99 helpers to go with 55 goals in his final pair of junior hockey campaigns.

The still super-young 20-year old is very likely to get a look in the show and could stick with his feisty play.

14Jan

Ivan Telegin (22)

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After refusing to start his sophomore campaign with minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps, Winnipeg Jets‘ Russian-born left wing Ivan Telegin(22) is being loaned back to his native country to skate in the KHL with CSKA Moskva for the balance of the regular season.

Originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#101 overall), he only managed to play in 34 AHL games in his rookie year due to concussion symptoms that dragged on into the off-season.

He posted 3 goals and 7 assists in his limited time on ice.

In his three seasons of OHL junior hockey with a pair of teams he was over a point-per-game player.

The fairly large 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015 but may only lace up his skates again in North America if he’s traded.

For now it’s a wait and see process for the 21-year old’s future.

31Dec

Adam Lowry(47) St. John’s IceCaps

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Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall) rookie center Adam Lowry(47) has all the size and skill set to become a power forward in the NHL but needs to prove his worth first with minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps before he gets his opportunity.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. skater has 3 goals and 4 assists in 23 AHL games with a -3 rating but is always positioning himself in the middle of the action, using his extra large frame to control the puck.

He was awarded WHL Player Of The Year for 2012/2013, tallying 88 points (45 goals, 43 assists) with a +18 rating and 102 penalty minutes for a well-rounded campaign.

In four seasons of junior hockey with Swift Current Broncos, he was very nearly a point-per-game player and served as team captain in his final run.

The still very young 20-year old is signed to a three year entry level contract and may never quite get the point production expected of him but when he receives his recall he’ll likely never look back.

20Nov

Brenden Kichton (8)

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Double draft pick (most recently Winnipeg Jets‘ 7th round in the 2013 draft, #190overall) rookie defenseman Brenden Kichton(8) was making a huge splash on the back line in his last few years of juniors with Spokane Chiefs.

He managed 240 assists in 202 WHL games, good enough for most helpers in the league from 2010-2012 and lead all d-men in points those years as well.

It’s surprising his number slipped so far down in the most recent draft, especially considering his offensive explosion.

He was originally taken by New York Islanders in the 5th round of 2011 (#127 overall) but failed to work out a contract with the team.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner was also invited to join Detroit Red Wings‘ prospect camp in 2010.

He was reassigned to Winnipeg‘s minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps to start his debut campaign and has continued to effectively head man the puck for scoring chances.

In 17 AHL games he has 2 goals and 9 assists with a +5 rating.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 21-year old looks to have a bright future ahead of him and will likely realize his first NHL recall this season.

11Nov

Randy Jones(12) Portland Pirates

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Undrafted, 11th year defenseman Randy Jones(12) signed a pto to join Portland Pirates.

So far he’s played in three contests recording no points and has a -2 rating.

He has skated 174 AHL games with 15 goals and 51 assists and made 18 appearances late last season with Oklahoma City Barons in a similar situation and added another 17 playoff match ups with the team.

A former Calder Cup Champion with Philadelphia Phantoms in his second pro season while under contract with parent club Philadelphia Flyers, he played with them for 6 seasons before moving onto a few one-year deals.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner is a veteran of 365 NHL games with 105 points to his credit.

At 32-years old it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll be able to secure a spc or will be heading elsewhere.

17Jul

Will O’Neill(23) St. John’s IceCaps

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2nd year defenseman Will O’Neill(23) signed a 1-year entry level deal for 2012/2013 with Winnipeg Jets after completing his college playing career at University Of Maine, where he was team captain and had a knack for feeding scoring chances.

He was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 7th round pick back in 2006 (#210 overall) before he started a couple of seasons in the USHL, American junior hockey with Omaha Lancers.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner played 59 games with AHL affiliate St. John’s IceCaps last season, scoring 3 goals and 18 assists. He had also joined them on an ato to finish out 2011/2012 and notched his first professional hockey tally.

Heading into the new year, the 25-year was set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The IceCaps took care of that inking him to a one-year contract to stay with the team. He could also score himself an invite to the parent club’s training camp.

07Jun

Tomas Kubalik(19) HC Lev Praha

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3rd year, Czech Republic-born right wing Tomas Kubalik(19) was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), signed to a three-year entry level deal.

He was playing in his third season with their AHL team, Springfield Falcons, where in the last couple seasons his point production had slipped to a level that was equal to the totals of his rookie campaign.

Although part of that story can be attributed to the injury bug that seemed to follow him.

Reports suggested the 6’3″ 220 lbs. skater with all the attributes of a power forward wanted out of town, because he wasn’t get a fair shot with the parent club.

In 12 NHL games over a couple of seasons he had one goal and three assists with a -6 rating.

He was involved in a late season trade of minor league players with Winnipeg Jets that had him reassigned to their affiliate St. John’s IceCaps for the remainder of his contract.

He only connected for 3 assists in 10 games, which resulted in at least a couple of games as a healthy scratch.

The 23-year old, who has been playing pro hockey since he was 16, was set to become a restricted free agent but decided it’s time to take his game back overseas, signing a 1-year deal to join HC Lev Praha of the KHL.

One has to think if he is able to connect there, he may be invited back for another go at the North American style game.

10Apr

Cody Sol (41)

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Big as a redwood, Winnipeg Jets‘ rookie defenseman Cody Sol(41) scored his first AHL goal to go along with 3 assists in his 21st game for minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He started his first pro season in the ECHL with Colorado Eagles (5 goals, 3 assists, 25 games) and has been recalled three times with the most recent one occurring in mid-February; and from there he’s stuck with the team.

The absolutely massive 6’6″ 242 lbs. d-man is signed for another season on a three-year entry level deal, one of which appears to have been paid even though he spent the season in his final skate in juniors with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

He was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ (r.i.p.) 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#125 overall) and actually played a single game with then affiliate Chicago Wolves at the end of 2010.

At 22-years of age, there’s literally no where to go but up. He plays with all the grit and fight you’d want from a player with his size, but still seems to be finding the finer points of his game.

It’s still officially only his debut season and with the goal we’re sure more confidence follows.