Tagged: Youngstown Phantoms

 

nathan-walker

After attending training camp on an invite from parent club Washington Capitals, where he impressed, Hershey Bears‘ undrafted rookie left wing Nathan Walker(12) becomes the first Australian player to skate in an AHL game

It’s well documented that this is a guy that wants to debut for his country in the NHL.

At 5’11” 185 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest power forward out there, but knows how to get into those open spaces for scoring chances and plays a hustle style.

In 35 games he’s potted 5 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating and almost 2 shots on net per contest.

He’s most definitely had an interesting path to take him to Chocolatetown, first appearing in 4.5 years of junior level hockey in of all places the Czech Republic.

He also played two years of pro Czech Extraliga (another first) before joining USHL junior hockey Youngstown Phantoms for the last third of the regular season.

He was pretty much a point-per-game guy as you’d expect.

The only 20-year old forward also had a couple of super-young visits in the Australian pro AIHL.

By all means, the player originally born in the United Kingdom just might achieve his goal.

scott-mayfield-1

New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#34 overall), defenseman Scott Mayfield(10) is using his large 6’4″ 210 lbs. to establish his shutdown, heavy hitting style of play.

He averaged well over triple digit penalty minutes in two years of USHL with Youngstown Phantoms and slightly under the mark through less games in another pair of seasons at University Of Denver.

He’s very much on track for another season of over 100 pims. In 54 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers he’s racked up 82 minutes with 6 fighting majors to his credit.

The rangy player is also showing an ability to put up points and may even surpass his American junior hockey career highs in goals and assists. He has 3 goals and 11 assists with a +9 rating on a squad that is just over an even record.

The 21-year is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016 and will likely get a long look at next year’s NHL training camp as the parent club definitely has to make some tough decisions about their defensive core.