Tagged: NCAA hockey

Louie Caporusso

3rd year left wing Louie Caporusso(11) signs a one-year contract with 2013 Kelly Cup ChampionsReading Royals for 2013/2014.

He was originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#90 overall) and played a couple of seasons with minor league affiliates Binghamton Senators and Elmira Jackals.

In 36 AHL games he scored a single goal with 5 assists, which isn’t that amazing but in 70 ECHL match-ups he’s a point-per-game guy at 35 goals and 42 assists with a +20 rating. He continued on that scoring tear in 6 playoff games, getting a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.

The small looking 5’10” 200 lbs. forward was also a sniper in four years of NCAA hockey at University Of Michigan posting 68 goals and 76 assists in 160 games with an outstanding +48 plus/minus.

At still only 24 years old the former Hobey Baker Award finalist will be added to an already deep talent pool and definitely help the Royals defend their title in the upcoming campaign.

Original story: 8/16-13

After attending a week of Worcester Sharks‘ training camp, he reported back to Reading to start the season and once again was putting up lots of points (7-21-28 in 24 games) before deciding halfway through to split overseas and skate the remainder of the campaign with Augsburger Panther of DEL, where he continued on a similar tear.

He resigned with the team for another year and although his production slipped slightly he was still connecting with the net on a regular basis finishing 2014/2015 with 15 goals, 23 assists in 47 games.

For his 5th pro season, he signs on with the enemy, agreeing to play for Iserlohn Roosters and at only 25-years old he’s probably still just getting started.

paul-carey

Colorado Avalanche 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#135 overall), rookie center Paul Carey(28) is another player that quietly had himself a good first pro season.

He spent his entire debut campaign with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters scoring 19 goals and 22 assists with a +2 rating on a team that sits just outside of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoff picture. He also played a couple of games at the end of 2012 when

The 24-year old was also a good point producer in college hockey with Boston College Eagles. He won a pair of NCAA titles in 2010 and 2012 with them, and even scored the gwg in the most recent win.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward signed a two-year entry level deal through 2013/2014, when he’s set to become a restricted free agent.

He has yet to earn his first NHL recall but if he continues to put up the numbers, he can almost be assured his number will be called.

 

kyle-flanagan-1

Undrafted, center Kyle Flanagan(39) signed a conservative one-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers upon completing is final season of college hockey at St. Lawrence University.

He was a Hobey Baker Award top ten finalist as top college player for 2012/2013 and finished the year as top scorer in the NCAA.

The diminutive 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward was more than a point-per-game skater in his final two seasons posting a career highs in goals, assists and points in his final campaign.

He picks up where he left off starting his pro career on an ato with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

In his debut, the 24-year old notched an assist and scored his first pro tally a few games later, while adding to his helpers total for 5 points in 5 contests.

He’s quick and has a knack for the net but like any smaller sized player will have to find the open areas of the ice to continue his effectiveness.

Regardless, he’s off to a great start.

brian-flynn

Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted rookie right wing Brian Flynn(10) signed a very conservative one-year entry level contract with the team following an NCAA college career that saw him as basically a point per game player.

Starting on reassignment with their affiliate Rochester Americans, while the NHL goes on prolonged lunch break, the 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward is continuing in the pro ranks where he left off. In 20 AHL games he’s well in front of all first year players with 9 goals and 8 assists and is 3rd overall in team scoring, ahead of a roster that is stacked with proven talent. His totals also put him in the top 10 of rookie point totals thus far.

If he stays on this pace, the Sabres would be wise to extend his contract for at least a couple more seasons as he’ll probably fill out that still undersized frame and looks to become a nice power forward pick-up with plenty of scoring punch.

 

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 his NCAA Atlantic Hockey Association college career and signed a deal with the Ice Bears. The 5’11” goaltender 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.

Undrafted, Pittsburgh-born goaltender Kenny Reiter(30) will start his pro career after 3 years of college at UMD, which included an NCAA Division I Championship in 2011, with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He was with the team on an ato late last season and received an invite to participate in New York Islanders‘ prospect camp in June. He turned enough heads to almost immediately get offered an AHL contract for 2012/2013.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. backstop will turn 26 years old right after the start of his rookie season and hopes he continues to impress enough not be reassigned to their ECHL affiliate. Regardless, you know he’ll work hard toward that ultimate goal, reaching the NHL.

What do you think, odds good?

joe-whitney-1

Undrafted rookie right wing Joe Whitney(9) signed his first pro contract, an AHL deal with New Jersey Devils to play in Albany late last summer and has been putting up points as soon as the 2011/2012 season got started.

In 46 games, he has 12 goals and 14 assists, which has him tied for the team lead in points and 1st at putting the puck in the net.

The 22-year old has to be one of the smallest guys in the league at only 5’6″ 170 lbs but he obviously knows how to find his way into the openings on the ice.

For the month of January, he earned the reGen® Recovery Beverage/AHL Performance of the Month Award.

He’s from Reading, MA and played 4 years for the BC Eagles winning two NCAA Championships with the team.

3rd year wing Matt Schepke(45) has skated mostly in the ECHL in his pro career and this year is not much different than the last two as he signed a deal in the offseason to join Reading Royals‘ stacked squad in hopes of capturing the Kelly Cup Championship that’s eluded the team, especially in 2010 and 2011 playoffs.

On call up he’s played in 6 AHL games with 3 different teams but has yet to put up any points on the scoresheet.

He scored the first goal in Greenville Road Warriors history and was a part of the Michigan State University Spartans‘ team that won the NCAA Championship in 2007.

Last year he played a career high 4 games at the end of the regular season with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2010 2nd round draft pick (#37 overall) defenseman Justin Faulk(3) joined their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for the Calder Cup Playoff run after his college team won the NCAA title. He played 13 games registered a couple of assists and went a bit lowly -7.

He reportedly played well in the recently held Traverse City Rookies Tournament and may develop quicker than the ‘Canes figured he would. He’s all of 19-years old, turning pro after only a single season of playing college.