VIK Vasteras HK | CollegeHockeyPlayers

09Jun

Brock Montpetit(72) Leksand IF

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Undrafted center Brock Montpetit(72) has decided to start his pro career overseas with Vasteras in Sweden’s tier two league Allsvenskan.

After four productive seasons at University Of Nebraska-Omaha, which followed three years of equally great play in US junior hockey with Waterloo Black Hawks, he signed an ato joining Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the end of 2013/2014.

He only appeared in a pair of AHL games scoring no points.

It will be interesting to see how the 5’10” 195 lbs. forward develops and if he can find his scoring touch on the next level.

At 24-years old, he’s getting a bit of a late start but could find big success playing on the bigger ice surfaces across the pond.

Original story: 5/14-14:

After a decently successful rookie campaign (7 goals, 9 assists with a -6 rating), for his sophomore season he decides to switch squads in the same league signing for a year with opponents Leksand IF.

Now still only 25-years old, he’s the type of player that needs to keep working hard and reaching, points will come.

15Apr

William Karlsson(22) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#53 overall), Swedish-born center William Karlsson(22) already has 4 seasons of pro hockey in his home country, including the last pair in the SHL with HV71.

He scored 19 goals with 46 assists in 105 games and previously played 60 contests as a teenager in the tier 2 league, Allsvenskan.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy with a +25 rating in 2011/2012 for Västerås.

Signing his 3-year entry level deal for the current campaign, he was loaned by the parent club to skate one more season in Sweden.

With their playoff elimination, he was recalled to join minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 6 AHL games he has his first North American pro hockey goal and a 3 assists, while playing a hard-working, highly skilled style.

At 21-years old he’ll most definitely be competing for a NHL roster spot for his official rookie year, 2014/2015.

05Feb

Stefan Warg (8)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#143 overall), sizable 6’3″ 220 lbs. Swedish-born defenseman Stefan Warg(8) heads back to his home country to play the remainder of the season with Skellefteå of the SHL.

Before signing a two-year entry level deal, he had already played three pro seasons in the lower Allsvenskan league after completing a pair of campaigns in the WHL.

There was definitely a buzz after last season’s performance with Västerås, where he put up 4 goals and 15 assists with a +21 rating in 52 games.

In his rookie season the 24-year old was mostly on the AHL roster with affiliate Norfolk Admirals but all too often a healthy scratch until injuries to the blue line basically forced the team to play him.

In 21 games he only had an assist playing a very conservative brand of defense that wasn’t always pretty to watch but had a good level of accountability.

Word has it that overall he was somewhat uncomfortable fitting in with the minor league American lifestyle and was going to be bought out of the remainder of his contract.

He moves back home with a new 2-year deal.

21Jul

Brendan Mikkelson (26)

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8th year defenseman Brendan Mikkelson(26) signs with his 4th NHL team for the 2013/2014 season, inking a one-year two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins that will likely see him added as a veteran presence with their minor league affiliate Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to help with the squad of younger players in the system.

He’s skated in 131 NHL games scoring just 1 goal and 9 assists.

In 196 AHL games with 5 different teams those numbers tick upwards slightly to 18 goals and 48 assists but the large 6’3″ 210 lbs. d-man has never been noted for his offense production.

Almost ironically though he did strike for 4 goals and 3 assists in 17 contests for Västerås in Allsvenskan, the 2nd tier Swedish league during the lockout last season.

The blue liner only just turned 26-years old.

He was a part of the Syracuse Crunch team that went to the 2013 Calder Cup Finals but still seems to have untapped potential that no club has been able to locate.

Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#31 overall), if it doesn’t work out he would likely have a good ride playing the remainder of his pro career overseas.