Tagged: Reading Royals

Stanislav-Galiev

Less than a year ago, Washington Capitals‘ 3rd year Russian-born right wing Stanislav Galiev(49) was barely a consideration to be recalled to the parent club when an injury took down one of the starters.

At the end of 2014 he appeared in first round playoff games for ECHL affiliate Reading Royals. He was also part of their 2013 Kelly Cup Championship team scoring 4 goals and 7 asssists in 10 games as a rookie.

All that changed at the beginning of the final campaign of his three-year entry level deal though, as he has exploded with scoring abilities for farm team Hershey Bears in 2014/2015.

The not exactly huge 6’1″ 187 lbs. forward has a career high (and team leading) 25 goals, 20 assists and 45 points through 64 AHL games with a +5 rating.

His 15 power play tallies also lead the league.

The two-time, consecutive 2011 and 2012 QMJHL Champion and 2011 Memorial Cup winner always put up big numbers in juniors taking the most assist honors in his first season 2009/2010 and leading the way in the 2012 postseason for Saint John Sea Dogs with 16 goals and 34 points.

In his first NHL game, he skated 13 shifts for 9:56 total ice with :18 on the power play and had one shot on net, one hit, one giveaway and one takeaway.

See related: 11/20-12

 

Willie-Coetzee

5th year undrafted South African-born right wing Willie Coetzee(26) has already cycled through three different leagues and two countries in his first season out of contract with Detroit Red Wings.

He started in Austria on a tryout with Graz 99ers but after 12 games was released.

A week later he signed a one-year deal with Reading Royals and went right to work in a league he was already very familiar from his time on reassignment with Toledo Walleye.

In 9 ECHL games he caught fire quickly scoring 2 goals and 10 assists, which got the attention of the injury plagued Worcester Sharks, who signed him to an spc essentially keeping him for the season.

Once again, the not huge 5’10” 185 lbs. forward stepped in attacking the score sheet unlike he did while playing for Grand Rapids Griffins, although he did have an ok sophomore campaign getting 11 tallies and 11 helpers.

In 8 AHL games he’s blowing the lid off the pace of his previous marks, amassing 4 goals and 7 assists with a +6 rating.

However the switch was activated, the 24-year old that missed all of 2013/2014 with a knee injury has seemingly arrived.

Domenic Monardo2Undrafted 2nd year right wing Domenic Monardo(40) bounced around a bit before heading into his sophomore season.

He re-signed over the summer for another year with Reading Royals, where he spent his rookie campaign scoring an impressive 27 goals and 19 assists in 70 ECHL games but was never called-up.

The not incredibly large looking 5’11” 192 lbs. forward scored an invite to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms training camp and was a late release.

He didn’t head start down the ladder though but instead received an offer to join Springfield Falcons‘ preseason.

He impressed enough in his second camp to grab a roster spot on the opening night roster and was signed to a pto.

In 17 AHL games, he’s scored 7 goals and a pair of assists with a +4 rating, good enough to earn an spc with the team for the 2014/2015 season.

At 26-years old this former Lake Superior State University captain could be turning into a difference maker.

Kenny Ryan4th year unrestricted free agent right wing Kenny Ryan(25) was offered a training camp invite via Colorado Avalanche but was released pretty early in the running.

He wound up reporting to their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters‘ camp and earned his way onto their opening night roster, so at the very least he’s signed to a pto (for now).

The former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#50 overall) skated three years in their system but never seemed to materialize.

Through 125 AHL games, he scored a not so dynamic 15 goals and 23 assists with their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

In 23 Calder Cup Playoff games the 6′ 200 lbs. forward added a goal and four helpers with a promising +5 rating.

He certainly comes from a place where he’s been a winner and able to put the puck in the net on a regular basis playing a pair of seasons with Windsor Spitfires of the OHL and capturing both the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup in the same year ’09/’10, and before that two years in the NAHL development with U.S. National Team.

The 23-year old is off to a career year start posting 3 goals and 2 assists with a +3 plus/minus is 8 games.

With stats that good, he may just play himself into another NHL contract.

Scott Dariling33Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#153 overall) 5th year goaltender Scott Darling(33) took an unprecedented long journey to his first NHL game with Chicago Blackhawks, getting the 2-1 victory in the process.

The extra large 6’6″ 238 lbs. net minder was never signed after his selection from US junior hockey.

He advanced to play a couple of campaigns for University Of Maine Black Bears putting up decent stats but still found no takers.

Deciding to turn pro he signed his first contract with the now defunct Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL and continued in the league inking for his sophomore year with Mississippi Riverkings.

He received a couple of call-ups but didn’t fare too well, although he would get a one-year deal with Wheeling Nailers for the next season.

After a solid, short run in the ECHL, Milwaukee Admirals took a chance on the backstop for 2013/2014, where he put up outstanding numbers going 13-6 in 26 AHL games with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%.

The effort earned him his first NHL deal with the Blackhawks.

Coming off a strong training camp, he was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

In 2 contests he won both and 1.44 GAA and .948 SV%.

The close to Chicago native from Lemont, IL received a well-deserved nod to start between the pipes upon his first recall.

At just 25-years old, he has gone all the way from single A to the show.

michael-hutchinson-1

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.

Dustin Gazley3

3rd year undrafted mini-right wing Dustin Gazley(10) is getting an opportunity with Hershey Bears, putting up some impressive numbers for a player that’s only 5’9″ and weighs in at a light 154 lbs.

He signed a one-year two-way deal in the off-season but started the season with affiliate Reading Royals, where he stayed through the first three months of 2013/2014 putting together 8 goals and 10 assists in 25 games.

These numbers were a bit off the mark from what he’d produced previously in a pair of ECHL campaigns under contract with Elmira Jackals.

As a rookie, he led the league in assists (60) and points (85), which easily earned him the Rookie Of The Year, John A. Daley Trophy.

Signed to rejoin Elmira for a 2nd run, he picked up where he left off, finding the back of the net 14 times and dishing out 35 more helpers in just 37 games.

He was loaned to Binghamton Senators and stuck through the remainder of the regular season, connecting for 4 goals and 5 assists in 29 contests.

The 25-year old forward received a bit of a late Christmas present when he was recalled but achieved basically the same feat from the previous year, staying put for what appears to be the rest of the season.

In an AHL career high 31 games, he’s notched an 8 best goals and will pass his assist total of 5 with one more.

He’s free to explore options for 2014/2015 but it seems like a good bet that he’ll be invited to return to Chocolatetown and help them regain the glory that’s been an integral part of the team history.

David Steckel

10th year center, former Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#30 overall) center David Steckel(39) had to hang around for a little while before he found himself a deal for the 2013/2014 season.

He was invited to join Minnesota Wild training camp and eventually signed a pto to continue with their minor league affiliate Iowa Wild but was released after only 4 appearances.

Rumor has it he was fishing for a one-year, NHL deal and there was little room there for him to sign.

So, onto the next and he takes up Norfolk Admirals but inks an spc with the promise of signing with the parent club and team he last skated with, Anaheim Ducks.

He’s played 419 NHL games scoring 33 goals and 46 assists and lead the league in best faceoff percentage in 2010/2011, his last of 6 seasons with Washington Capitals.

The mammoth 6’6″ 215 lbs. forward is killer on the dot and it could be his ticket back to the show.

He scored a handsome two-way deal, was put on waivers and sent back to the AHL.

The 31-year old is a veteran of 219 games in the league with 56 goals, 60 assists and a pretty hefty +37 rating.

His last appearance in the A was Hershey Bears‘ deep playoff run in 2007.

It would be little surprise to see him leave for the KHL to finish out his pro career.

dustin-stevenson1

Undrafted 4th year giant-sized defenseman Dustin Stevenson(9) signs a 1-year deal to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2013/2014.

After his 3-year entry level contract with Washington Capitals was up, he was not qualified for the upcoming season and became an unrestricted free agent.

The 6’5″ 220 lbs. d-man was always in the parent club’s training camp and released to AHL‘s Hershey Bears but never found a roster spot and reassigned double A affiliates.

He has skated in 200 ECHL contests (3 goals, 26 assists) in his first two years with South Carolina Stingrays and won a Kelly Cup Championship last season with Reading Royals.

His game has never been about scoring. He’s seen as more of a steady, shutdown blue liner that’s tough to play against.

The soon-to-be 24-year old did however connect for a goal and 8 assists in 22 playoff match-ups with a +17 rating. He also put up big points in 3 seasons of Saskatchewan junior hockey, so it’s possible those offensive abilities have been kick started and will blossom in his new environment.

Julien Cayer

2nd year center Julien Cayer(12) re-signs with Reading Royals for 2013/2014 after winning the Kelly Cup with the team in his rookie season.

In 49 ECHL games he had 3 goals and 6 assists with a +10 rating. He also skated in 6 playoff contests with one helper.

At 6’4″ 207 lbs. he’s definitely got a big frame, power forward size but is still waiting to really connect on the score sheet.

Through four years of college hockey at Clarkson University he posted 14 goals and 19 assists in 104 games, which seems a bit low for the big man.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th round draft pick in 2008 (#151 overall) but never inked a deal, subsequently becoming a free agent.

No doubt more improvements to his scoring game will be expect in the upcoming campaign.