An Ode to the Minor League Super Teams

During the lockout of 2004-05, the minor leagues saw a little bit of a boon when you had some select NHL players dropping down the rank to keep in shape for a season that never happened. This lockout, we're seeing a bit of the same thing-- but with a couple more teams.

Of course, this doesn't include the AHL teams that have the young prospects-- like the Oklahoma City Barons-- who are tearing up the league because they have experience in the NHL, but I'm more talking about the AA leagues like the ECHL who have been doing well enough for their teams to thrive, but not overly dominating the league.

For example, in the 2004-05 season, the United Hockey League's Motor City Mechanics were the darling of the minor league world, as they had a roster than included Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, Bryan Smolinski, and Sean Avery, while Kris Draper was signed, but never played. It was a team that looked very good on paper, but none of those players played more than 24 games (Hatcher) and Avery was the leading scorer of all of them with 15 goals, 11 assists, and 149 PIMs in only 16 games. The Mechanics didn't make the playoffs and dissolved after the next season.

This lockout, the ECHL has been quite the travel adventure for NHLers, with the Alaska Aces really sporting the names of the NHL. While Brandon Dubinsky, Joey Crabb, and Nate Thompson have played all season, Scott Gomez just signed on to play after training for the longest time with his hometown team. Crabb has really flourished with the team with 8 goals and 21 points leading the team and 13th in the league in scoring.

Another Western ECHL team with a good amount of NHLers is the Ontario Reign who have Paul Mara, Devin Setoguchi, and Kyle Clifford are on the roster, despite none of them really turning the league upside down. Only Mara has played the entire season, while Setoguchi (6 games) and Clifford (3) are still working their way into the line-up.

Ryan Clowe has also been around the ECHL, practicing and coaching with the San Francisco Bulls, but won't play until he knows that the NHL is either coming back or going away outright. Plus, it's not like these NHLers are tearing up the scoring chart, as three Colorado Eagles-- Chad Costello, Jack Combs, and Michael Forney-- lead the ECHL in scoring.

While some in the ECHL are upset about teams stockpiling this talent when this is supposed to be a development league, I've pointed out elsewhere that the number of teams using their ECHL teams is few and far-between-- granted this is different circumstances where the NHL teams could utilize their ECHL teams more-- but still, very few really have.

There's plenty of people out there who don't like the minor leagues because it's not the NHL and won't check out minor leagues because the games there aren't as smooth (which isn't a bad thing and understandable), it seems that the longer the lockout turns on, the better the talent could get domestically rather than them going overseas.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Jiri Crha

There have been many times where European goalies have under the radar of the NHL general managers and actually got signed to have some so-so results despite their hype. This week's AGM was one of the first guys who were actually involved in such a bidding war. This week, the profile of Jiri Crha.

Before coming over to North America, Crha spent many years over in his native Czechoslovakia; starting with the club team Dukla Jihlava in the 1969-70 and 1970-71 season, playing in 51 total games and posting a 2.42 GAA in those games (no record online).

Beginning in the 1971-72 season and ending in the 1978-79 season, Crha would go on to play with Tesla Pardubice. During that time, Crha also represented the Czechoslovakian team in four World Championships-- winning bronze in 1973 (2-0-0), silver in 1974 (3-1-0), 1975 (0-1-0), and 1978 (1-0-0)-- and during the 1976 Olympics-- winning a silver medal in playing two games.

Crha decided that at age 29 he wanted to move over to North America and try out his hand in the NHL. There was actually a bidding war between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Philadelphia Flyers in the summer of 1979, in which the Maple Leafs would eventually in out and give him a contract to come over.

The first season in North America, Crha spent most of that adjusting to the North American rinks and style of play by just being the third goalie on the Leafs and watching incumbent goalie Mike Palmateer and talking to Leafs' great Johnny Bower about how to play the NHL style. Mid-season, Crha went to the AHL to play for the New Brunswick Hawks and went 4-1-2 in seven games. When Palmateer went down with injury, Crha was called up to the Leafs and posted a 8-7-0 record in 15 games and 0-2 in the playoffs.

After Palmateer was traded when disagree with Leafs' management, Crha was given the starting role for the 1980-81 season and played in 51 games, compiling a 20-20-11 record for those games and another 0-2 playoff record.

The 1981-82 season had Crha play only two games in the Central League with the Cincinnati Tigers, with a 1-0-0 record, then in the 1982-83 season, Crha played one game with the AHL's St. Catharines Saints with no record to show for it.

Crha went back to Europe following that season, heading over to Germany for the 1983-84 season, playing with SV Bayreuth, then taking a year off in the 1984-85 season, only to return in the 1985-86 season with EHC Freiburg until the 1992-93 season before he would retire.

Crha has stayed in the game, becoming a player agent after his playing career ended. He has represented NHLers like Alex Hemsky and Rostislav Klesla.

The Leafs have been known to bid on free agent talent, some of which panned out and some not. While Crha did well enough during a dark time for the Leafs, they didn't think it was enough and didn't give him a second change for just a .500 goalie. Who knows what they could have done if they gave him a chance to play more, but at his older age-- it may have still been not enough.

Expansion Stat Pack for 11.23.12

(These stats are for before the games of November 23rd)

While some things change, some things stay the same. Most teams have been standing pat when it comes to positioning, but there's other teams who make small advances and making up ground. The San Francisco Bulls seem to be the most bi-polar of teams, trying to find their identity in the ECHL and the Pacific Division.

ECHL
Orlando Solar Bears: 8-7-2-1; 3rd in South Division
     -Nick Petersen: 9g, 11a, +1
     -Olivier Fortier: 8g, 9a, -1
     -Matthew Sisca: 5g, 12a, -1
     -John Curry: 7-5-2-0, 2.82 GAA, .907 Sv%

San Francisco Bulls: 6-10-0-2; 3rd in Pacific Division
     -Justin Bowers: 5g, 12a, -4
     -Dean Ouellet: 6g, 7a, -5
     -Sacha Guimond: 5g, 8a, -1
     -Thomas Heemskerk: 5-7-0-1, 3.65 GAA, .893 Sv%

Evansville IceMen: 5-11-0-1; 5th in North Division
     -Todd Robinson: 1g, 15a, -16
     -Josh Beaulieu: 7g. 5a, -7
     -Patrick Kennedy: 4g, 6a, -3
     -Rod Madore: 3-6-0-0, 3.23 GAA, .899 Sv%

Fort Wayne Komets: 8-5-0-1; 3rd in North Division
     -Brandon Marino: 7g, 15a, +6
     -Colin Chaulk: 2g, 13a, +5
     -Josh Brittain: 6g, 4a, +6
     -Charlie Effinger: 4-3-0-0, 3.63 GAA, .891 Sv%

CHL
Denver Cutthroats: 6-7-0, 9th in Berry Division
     -AJ Gale: 9g, 11a, -5
     -Brad Smyth: 6g, 9a, +3
     -Troy Schwab: 3g, 11a, -4
     -Kieran Millan: 4-3-0, 2.36 GAA, .926\Sv%

QMJHL
Sherbrooke Phoenix: 4-18-1-1, 6th in Telus West Division
     -Cole Hawes: 8g, 15a, -3
     -Michael McManee: 8g, 14a, -9
     -Alexandre Comtois: 6g, 8a, -28
     -Jacob Gervais-Chouinard: 3-11-0, 4.80 GAA, .859 Sv%

Absurd Goalie Monday: Fern Rivard

This week's AGM is one who was able go use the juniors to get to the pros, then back to juniors, then back slowly into the pros. Though the expansion era did allow him to get some NHL time, the teams he played behind didn't do much to help him out in the long run. This week, the profile of Fern Rivard.

Rivard started in the Quebec Junior League with the Quebec Citadelles for parts of three seasons from the 1961-62 until the 1963-64 season (no record indicated), while playing one game in the AHL with the Quebec Aces, which was a win. Rivard was named to the QJHL's First All-Star Team in the 1962-63 and 1963-64 season.

The 1964-65 season saw Rivard play in the Quebec Juniors again with the Thetford Mine Aces and finish there with a 12-7-0 record before moving to the Ontario Hockey Association with the Montreal Junior Canadiens for 26 games and then seven in the playoffs (no records provided). The OHA was where Rivard was again in the 1965-66 season, playing 15 games for the Peterborough Petes.

Rivard went professional full-time in the 1966-67 season with the IHL's Muskegon Mohawks for 68 games (no record), while in the 1967-68 season, Rivard went back to the Quebec Aces and played 46 games, compiling a 19-16-7 record together.

The Flyers held Rivard's rights, but would lose them to the Minnesota North Stars in the 1968 intra-league draft held in the summer. Rivard would play for the North Stars for 13 games in the 1968-69 season, but would not fair well with a 0-7-4 performance. Rivard spent the rest of that season in the Central League with the Memphis South Stars for 29 games. The 1969-70 season saw Rivard back in Minnesota, but he would only appear in 14 games and put up a 3-5-5 record, while he went back to the CHL with the Iowa Stars and go 9-5-4 in 18 games there, then 3-4 in seven playoff games.

Rivard went to the AHL with the Cleveland Barons in the 1970-71 season, finishing with a 15-14-4 record in 36 games and lost his only playoff game he was in. The 1971-72 campaign had Rivard play in 40 games, but would finish 12-19-5 and then he would go 1-2 in four playoff games. The Barons would move to Jacksonville and Rivard would play 65 games, but no record is available.

For the 1973-74 season, Rivard would play in Minnesota for 13 games and finish with a 3-6-2 record, while he would also play for the New Haven Nighthawks in the AHL for 12 games and post a 7-3-2 record. It was another split season for the 1974-75 season, where Rivard would play in 15 games for Minnesota (3-9-0) and seven games for New Haven (1-4-1) before he would hang up the pads for good.

Though with an expansion team, Rivard tried to stick around, but was unable to have a good foothold on the NHL. Though he would get some kind of minor league recognition, but even then it was a breeze by at the best for more casual historians.

The Branding Endeavor of the University of North Dakota

Photo: KFYR

On June 14th of 2012, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education voted to discontinue the use of the Fighting Sioux moniker for the University of North Dakota, ending a long-term debate on whether or not the school will go on with using the name. This came after the 2005 NCAA ruling of sanctions being laid to teams who still held the nickname of tribal people which the NCAA deemed to be hostile and abusive.

After numerous debates, injunctions, and lawsuits-- the ruling was laid down in June and UND would be without a nickname until 2015, by amendment on the BoE's ruling.

UND Athletic Director Brian Faison felt the craziness on going when it came to going without a nickname for the better part of 18 months.

"We were prepared to make the transition, stop the transition, make the transition, stop the transition four times in the last year and a half with lawsuits and legislations," said Faison when I sat down with him last week. "We had one of the great brand identification in college sports, but you just don't replace that overnight. It'll be a process that'll take time."

And time was something that UND needed more of in some aspect. While they did get an invitation to the Big Sky Conference in other sports aside from hockey, it was during the transition away from the Sioux name. Yet, when the debate started again-- the Big Sky members were worried about what the name could bring in a controversial way and raised concerns about UND being into their conference.

The Big Sky Conference is an important part to the UND athletic program, as Faison states, saying that without a conference, it could have been doom.

"I don't think we could have survived as independent. It's difficult enough in transitioning from Division II to Division I to get games anyway, especially from where we're located geographically, it was a very concerning time for us."

Below is the 14-minute interview I had with Mr. Faison in which we tackle the ins and outs of the name change and new branding to come, what it means for the Ralph Engelstad Arena, what it means for the school, the future of the name, and why it won't be called the school's old name-- the Flickertails.

Absurd Goalie Monday: John Adams

Many goalies crave for the chance to actually get to the championships, but to do it for four straight seasons is amazing-- more amazing that a guy would go 0-for-4 in those appearances. Even so, the small-town guy was able to get his chance in the NHL and would bounce around from minors to minors. This week, the profile of John Adams.

Adams stayed close to home while starting his journey, playing for the hometown Port Arthur North Stars in the Thunder Bay Junior League in the 1963-64 season, helping them to the Memorial Cup tournament and went 3-3 in six games at the Memorial Cup. In the 1964-65 season, Adams went 13-8-1 in 22 games, against going to the Memorial Cup tournament and going 1-3 in five games. The 1965-66 season saw Adams play the regular season with Port Arthur and compile a 18-6-2 record in 26 game, but was loaned out to the Port William Canadiens for another Memorial Cup, but go 6-4 in 11 games played.

The North Stars changed their name to the Marrs, where Adams would play in the 1966-67 season, having a 20-8-2 record in 30 games, then 4-1 in five playoff games-- going to yet another Memorial Cup, as Port Arthur would lose in the Finals in five games, but Adams would go 11-8 in 19 tournament games. Adams is one of the few players to reach the Memorial Cup for four consecutive tournaments.

During the summer of 1967, Adams signed with the Boston Bruins, but would be assigned to the Dayton Gems of the IHL for the 1967-68 season for 45 games and for 32 games in the 1968-69 season (no records given), though Adams did share the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the fewest goals against with Pat Rupp.

In the 1969-70 season, Adams went to the Central League to play for the Oklahoma City Blazers and would go 18-26-7 in 51 games with five shutouts. Adams was also called up for the Bruins Stanley Cup run and despite not playing a game, his name is engraved on the Stanley Cup-- being one of the few players to have their name on the Cup before playing a NHL game.

Adams returned to Oklahoma City for the 1970-71 season and play 57 games and finish with a 25-22-10 record and 1-4 playoff record, while in the 1971-72 season; Adams went 15-15-3 in 41 games, being named to the CHL First All-Star Team and letting in the fewest goals against in the CHL.

The Bruins would use the services of Adams 14 games in the 1972-73 season, as he would post a 9-3-1 record, but he would be sent to the AHL's Boston Braves after that for 23 games (no record) and eight playoff games (4-4).

In the summer of 1973, Adams would be sent to the WHL's San Diego Gulls as the player to be named later in the Ken Broderick trade that happened in March of 1973. In the 1973-74 season with the Gulls, Adams would post a 38-26-4 record in his 69 appearances, then 0-4 in the playoffs.

The Gulls would trade Adams to the Washington Capitals in the summer of 1974 for cash, while Adams would go 0-7-0 for the first-year franchise in Washington. The Caps would send Adams to the AHL's Richmond Robins where he would play in 28 games and post a 7-13-3 record.

Adams would leave the pros to be a player/coach for the Thunder Bay Twins in the Ontario Senior League and would play from the 1975-76 season until the 1979-80 season before retiring. It was almost a decade before Adams got back into the hockey landscape, becoming an assistant coach for the Colonial Hockey League's Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks in 1991.

Adams has stepped out of the big limelight for hockey, but still gets around the Thunder Bay area. In fact, Adams still keeps in touch with the Bruins organzation, even talking to Tim Thomas when he was in a slump and lost his starting job.

Though he was able to get to the championships for four straight seasons-- it was the season he didn't play a game in which he would be forever remembered for. After that, it was a lot of shuffling and a lot of bad opportunities before Adams would finally go where his heart was-- home.

Karl Goehring on Coaching College

In college hockey, you have a lot of goalies, most carrying three goalies just in case. For University of North Dakota's Karl Goehring it's an interesting season for him. With transferring Clarke Saunders and rookie Zane Gothberg complimenting the senior stalwart Tate Maris-- it's been quite the juggling act.

Goehring has done a great job with goalies in his previous three seasons with UND and has kept it going with his troops this year, adapting what he can to the style of play that these goalies bring to the program.

"You got to apply it to the individual and make sure your message is appropriate of who you're talking to."

Of course, Goehring himself brings a lot of experience to the team. A graduate of UND, Goehring guided the then Sioux to a National Championship in 2000 and to the title game in 2001. On top of holding a lot of records for UND in wins (80), shutouts (15), and win percentage (.765)-- Goehring also spent time in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch (whom he also coached) and other various spots along the minor league path.

While some guys don't have the ability to actually move behind the bench, Goehring sees it as a learning experience.

"It's always an interesting transition as a player . You think you know a lot of things, then you go behind the scenes and do them. At least for myself, it opens your eyes. It's a blast. I've been very fortunate to have the opportunities I've had."

In the one-on-one below, Goehring talks about his team, coaching in a three-goalie system, the role of the third goalie, and the transition of playing into coaching.

Clarke Saunders on Transition and New Beginnings

Photo: UNDSports.com

"I don't think too many people know too much about Alabama. They're some people that do a lot of really good things for that program. I honestly wish them the best. They gave me two years of my life that I wouldn't trade anything for."

Despite leaving for the University of North Dakota, goalie Clarke Saunders has very fond memories when it comes to his time at Alabama-Huntsville, who became the darling of the college hockey world when they had been a contender and were put in conference limbo because of their location.

Saunders played for the Brockville Braves in the CJHL, finishing there with a 78-33-3 record over three-plus seasons-- not to mention scoring a goal, breaking a single-season win record, and setting a franchise win record. Yet, Saunders did have some struggles at UAH, playing in two years there with a 6-37-1 record in two seasons, though he would often get peppered with 40-50 shots a night, also setting a school record for most saves in regulation.

However, when UAH's hockey program was up in the air, Saunders and other players were given the green light to look for opportunities elsewhere in their college hockey career. During a road trip, Saunders went to the UND to affirm his commitment and was able to be eligible for the next season without missing a year-- which is where he's at now.

And it seems it's been a solid transition for Saunders going from Alabama to North Dakota.

"It's been unbelieveable. I was sad to leave (UAH), had a lot of good friends on that team and was treated very well down south. But the transition has been unbelievable, everyone has been amazing here and have treated me real well. How could you complain about coming here??"

It's been so far, so good for Saunders-- posting a 2-1-1 record this season with a 1.73 GAA and .933 saver percentage going into this weekend's action against St. Cloud State University.

The audio below is rest of the one-on-one with Saunders where we talk about the season so far, the nuances that UND hockey brings, and senior goalie Tate Maris's new CD coming out.
 

Back to School, Hockey Style

On Friday, November 2nd; I was able to take in a hockey game. However, this is something I hadn't experienced before, in that it was a college hockey game. Luckily for me, I planned a getaway around the University of North Dakota men's hockey team's schedule and decided to take in the weekend match-up between UND and Boston University.

Thankfully Jayson Hadju and his staff at the media office, I (along with the NHL History Girl, Jen Conway) was able to take in the game from the press box to get a bigger view of the scene...and what a scene.

Being in the Maryland area most my life, the college hockey scene was still blossoming, even though they were at a club level. They had some fanatical followers, but it was a very small sample size of people. The UND community embraces hockey as a life-blood and are very proud of the hockey stars they have groomed and have become champions after attending the school.

In my eternal ability and need to arrive to things early, Jen and I got to the rink about two hours before puck drop to get in and just have myself walk around Ralph Engelstad Arena, which is just impressive from the outside-- who knows what could be around each corner on the concourse. It had started snowing earlier in the day and created a nice slush by the time we trekked out to the arena. Even with the conditions, once we parked the car, we were greeted with throngs of UND student wrapping around The Ralph, braving the conditions in order to see UND take on Boston University in Grand Forks for the first time since 1996.

Once we got out of the cold and into The Ralph, it was just as marvelous as the people have said it was. There was plenty of stuff around the arena for alumnus who have played for UND in the past were honored and remembered in the halls and those who have won the Stanley Cup had a giant portraits hanging on the walls holding the Cup.

About halfway through the mini-concourse tour, the students came piling into the building since the section is general admission, which created for a hell of a stampede to get to the seats. Once we got around the concourse, we decided to make our way up to the press level and get situated in that aspect. The press boxes themselves are a little better than most NHL facilities I've been to, which added to the praise that the arena has gotten. Most of the arena interior is fantastic and top-notch with a bar for VIP members at each end of the rink-- adding a little class and comfortable nature to the setting.

The game itself was a hard-hitting affair with UND coming out on top 4-2 on the power of Connor Gaarder's hat trick and in spite of captain Andrew MacWilliam being ejected due to a shot to the head of BU's Ahti Oksanen (where Oksanen scored on the only shot of the five-minute PP).

More over, I was experiencing the student section, boosters, and hardcore UND fans that were chanting and singing along like it was a college basketball or European hockey game-- a very welcoming atmosphere and bringing everyone in the UND family into the game and getting lively....as in the video below.

Of course, UND is without a mascot until 2015, but that doesn't mean that the Fighting Sioux moniker and logo aren't around town. As the picture of the floor shows, the Sioux logo is still around the area and on the medallions on the seats. Even the fans shout, "SIOUX!!" when UND is introduced. While a name has yet to be thought about for UND, you can bet that people will be hard to forget the Sioux name.

As a first college hockey experience, it was a great one. It's something that will make me want to go back to it, as it seemed like something that could be an enjoy time for a weekend getaway and a cheaper alternative to whatever could be around. It's not the pros, but it's something that people could easily get into and start to follow a certain school-- for one reason or another. If you have the chance, leap at it and get to a game and soak it all in.

Absurd Goalie Monday: Ron Scott

Not many guys are able to move from Major Junior to the NCAA, no matter how hard the CHLPA tries to make you think they have the power to. However, this week's AGM was a bit of a nomad in the start-- going from major junior to NCAA to a team with no home at the end of the season. He wasn't lost in the shuffle there, but later on in his career. This week, the profile of Ron Scott.

Scott started his trek with the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL in 1978-79 and would play in 56 games and compile a 21-24-6 record, while then going 3-4 in the playoffs. During the 1979-80 season, Scott played in 41 games with a 19-11-3 record, then went 11-5 in the playoffs to help Cornwall win the President's Cup for league champion. In the Memorial Cup, Scott went 3-2 to help the Royals win the Memorial Cup.

In a time were the NCAA still allowed major junior players to be eligible for college hockey, Scott moved to the Michigan State Spartans to play in the 1980-81 season, posting an 11-21-1 record in his first season, which was able to get WCHA Freshman of the Year honors and WCHA First All-Star Team. Scott vastly improved to 24-13-1 in the 1981-82 season. The 1982-83 season had Scott go 29-9-1 in 40 games. In both the 1981-82 and 1982-83 season, Scott was awarded CCHA First All-Star Team honors and NCAA West First All-Amercian Team honors.

In the summer of 1983, Scott signed with the New York Rangers and would play in nine games with the Rangers in the 1983-84 season (2-3-3), but he would spend most his season with the Tulsa Oilers; going 13-13-3 in 29 games and would help the Oilers win the Adams Cup for CHL champion-- despite the Oilers not having a home rink to play in during the last six weeks of the season. Scott and John Vanbiesbrouck would share the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for fewest goals against on the season.

Scott spent the 1984-85 season with the New Haven Nighthawks, playing in 38 games and finishing with a 13-18-4 record. Back in New Haven for the 1985-86 season, Scott would only play in 19 games (8-8-1), while also appearing four games with the Rangers (0-3-0). Another split season in the 1986-87 season, playing in New Haven for 29 games with a 16-7-0 record, while appearing in one game with the Rangers, which was a tie.

The 1987-88 season saw Scott all over, playing 17 games in New Haven (8-7-1), eight games with the Central League's Colorado Rangers (3-4-0; 1-4 playoff), and two games with the Rangers (1-1-0). The 1988-89 season had Scott stay in the Central League with the newly named Denver Rangers, playing in 18 games with a record of 7-11-0.

The Rangers opted not to re-sign Scott, so he was a free agent until the Los Angeles Kings signed him in January 1990, where he would play in 12 games with the Kings and go 5-6-0; as well as go back to New Haven to play 22 games and post a 8-11-1 record. Scott stayed in New Haven for the 1990-91 season, finishing the season with a 5-15-4 record before hanging up the pads for good.

From champion in the major juniors to a solid college career-- Scott made his name for a solid player, but was also lost in a deep shuffle of prospect in the Rangers ranks, while not being able to make his way into the mainstream for the Kings later on in his career.

Expansion Stat Pack for 11.04.2012

Another couple weeks have past and some of the expansion teams have gotten better and worse. It's interesting the bit of a slump that the San Francisco Bulls have had, while the Denvet Cutthroats have really come on from their start of the season in the CHL. One big consistent is that the Sherbrooke Phoenix are floundering and floundering well.

ECHL 
Orlando Solar Bears: 5-3-1-1, 2nd in South Division
     -Nick Petersen: 8g, 9a, +3
     -Matthew Sisca: 2g, 9a, -2
     -Ryan Ginard: 2g, 8a, -1
     -John Curry: 5-2-1-0, 2.70 GAA, .908 Sv%

San Francisco Bulls: 2-6-0-2, 5th in Pacific Division
     -Justin Bowers: 4g, 6a, -4
     -Dean Ouellet: 4g, 5a, E
     -Jordan Clendenning: 2g, 6a, E
     -Thomas Heemskrek: 1-4-0-1, 3.99 GAA, .892 Sv%

Evansville IceMen: 2-6-0-1, 5th in North Division
     -Todd Robinson: 1g, 8a, -10
     -Brett Sonne: 3g, 4a, -1 (Recalled to AHL)
     -Patrick Kennedy: 2g, 4a, +2
     -Rob Madore: 1-4-0-0, 2.85 GAA, .903 Sv%

Fort Wayne Komets: 5-2-0-1, 2nd in North Division
     -Brandon Marino: 5g, 9a, +3
     -Colin Chaulk: 0g, 10a, +3
     -Thomas Beauregard: 5g, 2a, +2
     -Charlie Effinger: 3-1-0-0, 2.88 GAA, .918 Sv%

CHL 
Denver Cutthroats: 3-3-0, 7th in the Berry Conference
     -AJ Gale: 5g, 7a, -2
     -Troy Schwab: 2g, 8a, -1
     -Brad Smyth: 4g, 5a, +1
     -Kent Patterson: 2-1-0, 3.52 GAA, .879 Sv%

QMJHL
Sherbrooke Phoenix: 3-14-1-1, 6th in TELUS West Division
     -Michael McNamme: 8g, 10a, -8
     -Cole Hawes: 6g, 12a, E
     -Alexandre Comtois: 6g, 4a, -24
     -Jacob Gervais-Chouinard: 2-9-0-0, 5.03 GAA, .845 Sv%