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28Sep

Vladimir Nikiforov(9) Quad City Mallards

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It’s a bit of a thinker why 4th year pro Vladimir Nikiforov(9) decided to sign to play with Brooklyn Aviators of the 2nd year Federal Hockey League (FHL) for the 2011/2012 season.

In 10 games, he’s put up a mighty 9 goals and 11 assists; not bad for a pint-sized 5’8″ 170 lbs forward.

Last season he had a pretty ragtag year playing with three different ECHL teams but never able to getting into a scoring groove. In two previous seasons, he posted some impressive numbers with Utah Grizzlies.

He was recently recalled to help Central Hockey League‘s last place Bloomington Blaze and did just that. In his first game with the team, they won against the league’s best team, Allen Americans and he put up an assist.

It’s quite possible that he may have just found his new team for this season.

12/1: Nikiforov scores a natural hat-trick for the Blaze in the last place team’s beating of first place in the Central Hockey League, Evansville IceMen. In two games, he has 5 points. There was just no way he is going back to the single A level.

12/5: Nikiforov is named Central Hockey League’s Oakley Player of the Week with his 5 goals and 1 assist in his league debut.

Original story: 11/29-11

He would finish the season with Bloomington Blaze scoring 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 51 games.

For 2012/2013 he moved on to join the Russian KHL development sort of league VHL signing with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl-2.

He played a full 45 game season along with 5 games in the postseason but only connected for 10 goals and 6 assists.

Maybe his experience overseas led him back or whatever but for 2013/2014 he decided to return to the former Central Hockey League to skate with Quad City Mallards.

He skated 63 games and managed to regain his scoring mojo setting a new assist mark at 31.

To follow up another good season in North America he decided it was once again time to split for a different shore and he inked a term in Germany’s DEL3 with Blue Devils Wieden but blew up the score sheet with 6 goals and 11 assists in 10 games and he sacked that deal and was off to Poland suiting up for Orlik Opole.

He lasted there 13 games, two months and left netting 8 goals and 7 helpers.

Next it was off to England’s EIHL to play out the season with Coventry Blaze and his 1 goal and 3 assists in 7 games was like the wind had been taken out of his sails from all the traveling.

Going into his 8th pro season, the soon-to-be 28-year old returns to Quad City Mallards but moves up a level of hockey to the ECHL, where he last played games in 2011.

Our money’s on him producing big.

21Aug

Patrick Cullity(3) Missouri Mavericks

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2nd year undrafted defenseman Patrick Cullity(22) scored his 1st AHL goal (to go along with a pair of assists) in his 27th career game, 17th this season with Springfield Falcons, who he signed a pto contract with in December. That’s either up for renewal soon or an upgrade to an spc.

He also skated in 5 games this season with Abbotsford Heat registering one assist. Two years ago he got his AHL debut with Syracuse Crunch right after he completed his college career at UVM. He’s under contract for 2011/2012 with Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL but may not be going back.

In his rookie season he played 71 games with South Carolina Stingrays, where he had a pair of goals and 15 assists while going a +14 plus/minus.

He was born in Tewksbury, MA.

9/21-12: The 25-year old signed a one-year deal with the ECHL Idaho Steelheads for 2012/2013. He ended last season scoring 1 goal and 9 assists in 49 AHL games for Springfield Falcons and Abbotsford Heat.

Original story: 2/6-12

He would start the new campaign with Idaho but upon his first recall to old friend Springfield he was offered an AHL contract. It didn’t end his time in the lower league as he was sent down and back on a few occasions.

Near the end of the season he was acquired by St. John’s IceCaps for the remainder of the schedule, playing 14 games with 2 assists to his credit. He was returned for the Kelly Cup Playoffs and he had a great showing notching 2 goals and 3 helpers in 9 match-ups.

As the 2013/2014 approached he was re-signed to a one-year deal with the IceCaps but was reassigned back to the Steelheads at the beginning of the season and stayed there.

He would play a career high 70 ECHL games scoring a best 4 goals and 28 assists for 32 points. He led the team in assists and points for d-men.

After what had to be a year of mixed emotions it didn’t take him long to realize he would be most served to stay put in the Great Pacific Northwest for a third stint.

The Falcons once again summoned him for a short term but once again the majority of his time was with Idaho, where he was an impressive +20 plus/minus.

Entering his 6th season, the now 28-year old leaves the nest and joins Missouri Mavericks for 2015/2016.

07Aug

Igor Bobkov(35) Admiral Vladivostok

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#76 overall), 2nd year Russian goaltender Igor Bobkov(35) found himself dropping in the team’s depth chart and reassigned to ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies to start the final year of his 3-year entry level deal. The first season had a “slide” as he was signed but returned to junior hockey with Kingston Frontenacs.

He turned pro with a pair of AHL starts in 2011 and 4 more at the end of 2012 but officially began his rookie campaign with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals last year.

The gigantic 6’6″ 235 lbs. goalie has yet to put up decent numbers on this side of the ice and there’s now a bit of a logjam in net with hot prospects, so could find himself on the trading block to see if there’s any takers.

The still super-young 22-year old will either have to find his game pretty quickly at this point or return to his home country and join a KHL team. Or he could head elsewhere.

He was recently recalled to the higher league after three starts in double A hockey but ultimately may still play out the remainder of his contract in Utah.

Original story: 10/27-13

He would bounce between Ducks‘ affiliates for much 2013/2014 playing more games with better success in the lower league, but he was still signed to a one-year extension approaching restricted free agency and continued to battle to get back on the parent club’s radar.

In his new contract year though, he would play a fewest 7 games with a less than great 4.27 GAA and .852 SV% on a Norfolk team that struggled mightily.

He reached new career highs with Utah Grizzlies playing in a high 34 contests with 19 wins and 4 shutouts and continued his good play helping them get into the 2nd round of the playoffs before their exit.

At 24-years old and looking at another season working on his game in the minors, he has decided to jump ship heading home to the KHL on 2-year deal with Admiral Vladivostok.

03Jul

Jason Bacashihua (35)

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In his 10th season, veteran goaltender Jason Bacashihua(35) was originally a 1st round draft pick in 2001 for Dallas Stars (#26 overall) but they never played a game in net for them.

After a couple of not so successful seasons with their AHL team, Utah Grizzlies he was traded to St. Louis Blues and tended goal for Worcester IceCats for a season and Peoria Rivermen before getting his chance in the NHL.

He didn’t exactly step up at the opportunity and his stock dropped causing him to get traded to Colorado Avalanche for a bag of rocks.

Two calendars years later he signs a one-year deal with the always fantastic Hershey Bears and posted his first winning record since 2005/2006.

From here he starts his vagabond journey signing another deal and a great year for him later with Colorado. He backstops their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters with a winning record and career highs in GAA 2.29 and SV% .917 and he’s on a roll at 28-years old.

He signed another one-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers but has and probably will only play with Adirondack Phantoms in the AHL. But once again, he’s winning more games than losing with decent GAA and SV%.

Original story: 1/24-12

After three seasons tending net in DEL for Straubing Tigers playing 137 games with a 2.80 GAA and a .911 SV% the soon-to-be 33 year old has decided to switch things up and moves on to Slovak Extraliga joining HC Banska Bystrica for 2015/2016.

It will be his 14th professional season.

25Jun

Teigan Zahn(18) Colorado Eagles

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Double NHL draft pick defenseman Teigan Zahn(33) was first a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2008 5th round selection (#132 overall) but went unsigned and back into the pool and later chosen by Tampa Bay Lightning in the 7th round of 2010 (#186 overall) but not tendered an offer. He attended training camps with both teams.

After his overage season serving as captain of WHL Saskatoon Blades in which he posted career bests in games played, assists, points and +39 plus/minus, he decided to go the college route and enrolled at University Of Calgary.

The 6’2″ 221 lbs. blue liner with good size and grit to his game signed a one-year AHL contract with Oklahoma City Barons to start his pro career but was dispatched to affiliate Stockton Thunder, where he stayed for most of his first campaign. He was recalled for a month and appeared in 5 games registering his first point, an assist.

To start his sophomore season he scored a training camp tryout with Anaheim Ducks before he was reassigned to farm club, Norfolk Admirals‘ camp and continued to get passed along landing with Utah Grizzlies.

The 24-year old was again summoned up and got into three more games in the higher league notching yet another assist but was returned a couple of weeks later.

In 42 ECHL games, he has 3 goals and 9 assists putting him on pace for career highs in all categories.

He will need to keep connecting and finding his game or he may be looking overseas for his next hockey home.

Original story: 2/20-14

After posting career highs for goals, assists and points (7-11-18) in 2013/2014, he signed his next contract with Colorado Eagles.

He continued to increase his totals achieving new marks for games played (70), assists (17), points (20), plus/minus (12), shots on goal (107) and more than doubled his penalty minutes to a whopping 298, good enough for 2nd in the ECHL.

Another stat that made a huge jump for the increasingly agitated skater was fighting majors, which made a big step up to 20, almost doubling what he had in two previous seasons.

The still just 25-years old agreed to return for another season in Loveland, CO and will likely continue to see his overall game step up.

14Jan

Steve MacIntyre(74) Utah Grizzlies

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Norfolk Admirals‘ absolutely huge 6’5″ 250 lbs. 13th year veteran left wing Steve MacIntyre(74) has seemingly taken his demotion to Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for the first time since 2006 in stride this late in his pro career.

He actually played the next season 2006/2007 in the old UHL with Quad City Mallards, who maybe ironically are now playing their games in the same league.

His brick wall, tough guy style and persistent attitude helped take his game to the next level when in 2007/2008 he skated a full AHL season with Providence Bruins.

It would be the last time he put up over 200 penalty minutes in a season and although he threw fists 18 times, that was easily the most fights in a campaign he’d ever settled.

Edmonton Oilers took notice and grabbed him off waivers from Florida Panthers, who reclaimed him a year later.

He would play games mostly in Alberta, but he also got some time with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 34-year old skated last season with Oklahoma City Barons but only appeared in 11 games.

He’s been held pointless for at least the last three years.

It’s pretty likely that if he wants to still play the sport he will take his game to England next and be a hero.

11Dec

Adam Morrison(31) South Carolina Stingrays

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year goaltender Adam Morrison(31) is off to his best start on reassignment with South Carolina Stingrays, where he’s spent most of his pro career.

In 8 ECHL games he has 5 wins and 3 losses with a 2.11 GAA, a .922 SV% and one shutout.

An injury that required surgery sidelined him for all but two games last season.

He was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#81 overall) but signed a 3-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Bruins in late 2012.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. back stop is in the final year of his contract and caught in a bit of a log jam for playing time as the parent club has a pair of prospects ahead of him.

He’s only appeared in two AHL games with Providence Bruins, the first when he was initially and was between the pipes for another during the current campaign but has been recalled and served as back-up on numerous occasions.

Tough to say if the 23-year will be given a qualifying offer to stay in the prospect system but if he can put in an impressive numbers and keep his team going with a deep playoff run, it will give them something more to think about.

06Feb

Aaron Dell(29) Utah Grizzlies

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Utah Grizzlies‘ undrafted 2nd year net minder Aaron Dell(29) is giving his team a chance to win games every time he’s between the pipes.

He was loaned on a pair of occasions to higher level clubs, Norfolk Admirals and Manchester Monarchs but has yet to appear in an AHL game.

The 6′ 209 lbs. goalie won the 2013 Central Hockey League President’s Trophy backstopping Allen Americans to their first title in his rookie season. It’s not even like he posted these amazing numbers during the regular season or in his 19 starts through the playoffs, but they were good enough to get the job done and win the 12 games necessary to capture the title.

He was also awarded goaltender of the year for his regular season play.

No stranger to awards, his college hockey team, University Of North Dakota won three straight NCAA (WCHA) titles.

This season since his return, the 24-year old has appeared in 18 games and posted a tidy 13-4 record with a 2.08 GAA and .920 SV%. He has the team positioned to run deep in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 24-year old will likely continue his climb and find himself under contract the next rung up for the 2014/2015 season.

28Oct

Cody Lampl(32) Saint John’s IceCaps

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Undrafted 5th year Idaho-born defenseman Cody Lampl(32) pulls a go figure move to begin the 2013/2014 season.

Under contract for another campaign with Toledo Walleye of the ECHL after a successful run, reaching a career high 6 goals and tying his point total of 15, he looked to build on the success and was invited to join St. John’s IceCaps‘ training camp.

One thing leads to another and by early October he finds himself on the an AHL roster.

In 8 games, the 5’11” 183 lbs. blue liner has yet to hit the score sheet with a -2 rating but definitely doesn’t look a bit out of place.

He has 214 ECHL games, first for a pair of seasons with hometown team Idaho Steelheads and then he moved slightly more east for a year with Utah Grizzlies.

To his credit he’s scored 8 goals and 49 assists with a +9 plus/minus.

The 27-year old played four years at Colorado College after three seasons in the USHL en route to turning pro.

However this story ends up it’s already a good one.

27Jul

Matt Reber(10) Fife Flyers

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Undrafted 3rd year center Matt Reber(10) has decided it’s time to take his game overseas after making it to the 2013 Kelly Cup Finals with Stockton Thunder.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward spent a year and a half with the team after being traded half way through the 2011/2012 season by Utah Grizzlies, where he signed after completing four years of college hockey at Dartmouth. He connected big out of the gate in his first pro postseason visit with 3 goals and 7 assists in 8 games.

He settled down some in his pair of minor league seasons, scoring 20 goals and 52 assists in 122 ECHL games.

The 26-year old signed a one year deal to join Fife Flyers of the EIHL for 2013/2014.

It’s seems likely that he detonates the score sheet in the English hockey league.

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