Undrafted 2nd year center Derek Arnold(14) plays his rookie season overseas with Lillehammer of Norway’s GET-ligaen with great results on the score sheet.
He scored 21 goals and 24 assists through 45 games with a +16 rating.
This was after 4 years at U-Mass/Lowell, where he won the 2013 NCAA/ECAC Championship.
The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward also played two years with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL and put together a point-per-game campaign in 2009/2010 getting 20 goals and 39 assists in 59 games.
As a Massachusetts native he would come back for 2015/2016 signing a one-year deal with close to home Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL.
He’s had a successful return with a healthy 16 goals and 14 assists in 42 games with a +4 plus/minus and 3 loans to AHL clubs.
In his first two recalls with Portland Pirates (4 appearances) and Ontario Reign (5 games) he would not be able to connect for points.
It would be his third and most recent visit to the higher league created the best opportunity, and in his debut with Charlotte Checkers got a goal and an assist in a 6-2 drubbing.
The 26-year old may not be blessed with the most size but plays an effective tight checking style and knows how to open up space for scoring chances.
We’ll see where pro hockey takes him next.