Tagged: Knoxville Ice Bears

Undrafted 2nd year goalie Kyle Rank(35) got himself a nice training camp invite from Connecticut Whale coming all the way up from the single A SPHL Knoxville Ice Bears.

He got a period and a half of playing time in the team’s 3rd preseason game making 13 saves on 14 shots but unfortunately the lone goal happened to be the 2-1 game-winner.

The 25-year net minder turned pro opting out of the final year of hisĀ NCAA Atlantic Hockey Association college career and signed a deal with the Ice Bears. The 5’11” goaltenderĀ ended up posting a handy 9-4-4 record with a 2.54 GAA and .925 SV% and backstopped them into the semi-finals.

If he has another season like his rookie year, he could easily find himself climbing up a rung. With his one exhibition appearance, he’s put himself on the radar for a call-up.

8th year veteran goaltender Nick Niedert(39) was first reported last Spring to be returning to Danbury Whalers for another season after successfully guarding the net for them in 2010/2011.

But then just recently word has it that he will heading down south to play for the first year SPHL Mississippi RiverKings (formerly of the Central Hockey League, where the team spent 19 years). It will be their 20th season as a pro hockey organization.

He’s small at 5’8″ 185 lbs but plays aggressively and has shown flashes of brilliance at the single A level. Last season he led the league in a number of categories, including games and minutes played, saves and shutouts (a measly 2 in the FHL, a league know for more football-like scores).