2012-13 Around the AHL Thread

[Jntg4]

Discuss the AHL in general here, btw, they have an app you can download to your phone.

Three Illinois teams: Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford, other nearby times in places like Milwaukee.

 

[icehogfan08]

AHL season set to open tonight

(AP) — Marcus Foligno considers himself among the fortunate with the NHL lockout preparing to enter its second month.

As much as the hard-hitting forward would prefer to be wearing a Buffalo Sabres uniform, Foligno can appreciate there are far worse things than opening the season with Rochester of the American Hockey League.

Just ask his older brother Nick Foligno, a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who's back home in Sudbury, Ontario, going stir crazy during the NHL lockout.

"He reminds me every day," said Foligno, who unlike his brother is eligible to play in the AHL.

"People think it's tough to be down here, but it isn't. It's a great opportunity for myself," he said. "And I know from talking to Nick, he's pretty bummed out every day, and he's bored."

The NHL season, which was supposed to open on Thursday, remains on indefinite hold.

It's "Game On" in the AHL, though, which prepares to open its season with a seven-game slate on Friday.

"I'm actually one of the lucky ones," said Foligno, the son of former Sabres captain Mike Foligno. "I'm excited, ready to get going."

From Albany, N.Y., to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Charlotte to San Antonio, Foligno will be one of about 100 NHL-caliber players competing in the 30-team AHL for however long it takes the NHL and the NHL Players' Association to resolve their differences.

Two of the Flyers top youngsters, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, are playing for Adirondack in Glens Falls, N.Y. Forward Adam Henrique, a rookie of the year finalist with the Devils last year, is in Albany.

There's a goalie glut in Abbotsford, the Calgary Flames affiliate, where the Heat feature three players with NHL experience, Leland Irving, Danny Taylor and Barry Brust

And then there's the Oklahoma City Barons, whose lineup will include Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the first pick in the 2011 draft, highly touted free agent Justin Schultz and Jordan Eberle. And don't forget Taylor Hall, who is pegged to join the Barons once he's fully recovered from a shoulder injury.

"They've pretty much got the first line from the Edmonton Oilers playing," AHL president/CEO David Andrews said. "I think it will probably have a number of fans sample the game that might not have. And we believe that once fans sample the game, and they see the caliber of play that it'll gain some traction."

Andrews, however, has mixed emotions.

He's excited about the influx of talent and the chance for the league to gain additional exposure in being the only game in town. And yet, Andrews would rather not have the extra attention come at the NHL's expense.

"We would prefer the NHL would be playing," he said. "We think that's the engine that drives the business of hockey and interest in the sport. So with the NHL not playing, it's not a positive in terms of the long-term growth of our business."

Andrews didn't have immediate figures on league-wide ticket sales for this season, but expects them to be up based on how AHL attendance increased during the last NHL lockout, which wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.

In Rochester, the Americans roster will feature eight players with NHL experience, including Foligno and center Cody Hodgson, who was one of Buffalo's prized additions after being acquired in a deal with Vancouver in February.

Hodgson, who has 20 goals and 23 assists in 91 NHL games, considers playing in the minors as a chance to help him develop.

"I'm in full support of the union and what we're trying to accomplish," Hodgson said. "Everyone's looking to play hockey in the NHL, and everyone wants it to start. But I can just make sure that I'm ready and playing well here, and doing what I can to help this team."

Hodgson is already forming a bond with his teammates, and sharing an apartment with Foligno and defenseman Brayden McNabb.

Foligno is benefiting from Hodgson's presence in more ways than one. Not only will the two likely play on the same line, Hodgson also is credited for making a mean egg for breakfast.

"He asks me what I want and he makes them," Foligno said, noting Hodgson uses organic eggs and adds coconut oil. "So I just sit at the kitchen table and wait for it, and it's golden."

It's another reason for Foligno to remind himself how good he's got it.

"If the NHL doesn't start, and I play a whole year here, if that's the worst case, then I don't think that's pretty bad," Foligno said. "We'll see. But hopefully it gets resolved."

 

[Capt. Serious]

Eberle, RNH & Hall should pwn the AHL if the NHL season doesn't happen.

 

[icehogfan08]

lol prolly going to be the best line in AHL

 

[DewsSox79]

wish there was a KHL sub forum

 

[Jntg4]

wish there was a KHL sub forum

It would only be relevant until the end of the lockout, at least this can serve as a form of Hawks Prospects forum after play resumes.

Perhaps an "International and Minor Leagues" forum would be better, similar to what we have in the Fire Forum where any other league or national teams (World Cup and other competitions, or in hockey's case the World Championships) and if Chicago ever gets an ECHL team again, we could do that. Could always follow Juniors too.

 

[Crystallas]

This is just an experiment. If the forum keeps activity, then there is some demonstrated demand for it. If not, we have lots of options and alternatives to move the threads into the Hawks/All-Sports forum.

At least you guys have a great infrastructure for Hockey with local teams. When the NBA was locked out, we had the D-League and a poorly covered FIBA/EL overseas.

 

[Jntg4]

This is just an experiment. If the forum keeps activity, then there is some demonstrated demand for it. If not, we have lots of options and alternatives to move the threads into the Hawks/All-Sports forum.

At least you guys have a great infrastructure for Hockey with local teams. When the NBA was locked out, we had the D-League and a poorly covered FIBA/EL overseas.

True, I'd say that the AHL is the best minor league in any sport as far as entertainment. Teams operate on a semi-independent basis, able to sign and trade their own players in addition to having the parent teams' players, and they often operate in or around major markets.

 

[Jntg4]

No games today, Binghamton @ Rochester tomorrow

 

[icehogfan08]

Player of the Week: Dan Ellis

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that Charlotte Checkers goaltender Dan Ellis has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 28, 2012.

Ellis was perfect in two appearances last week as the Checkers continued their season-opening road trip and held onto the best record in the Western Conference.

On Friday night in Grand Rapids, Ellis came on in relief early in the second period and stopped all 15 shots he faced in 38:51 of work, holding down the fort as Charlotte erased a 4-1 deficit and rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Griffins. Then on Saturday, Ellis got the start and made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season, backstopping the Checkers to a 4-0 win in Peoria.

Charlotte, which is beginning the 2012-13 season with nine consecutive road games, sits atop the Western Conference with a league-high 13 points (6-1-0-1).

Ellis, who signed a tryout with Charlotte on Sept. 24, 2012, is 3-0-1 in four appearances for the Checkers. He ranks second in the AHL with a 1.07 goals-against average and first with a .967 save percentage, allowing just four goals on 120 shots to date. The native of Saskatoon, Sask., returned to the AHL this fall after spending the last five seasons in the National Hockey League, where he led the league in save percentage in 2007-08 and shows a record of 72-57-15 with 12 shutouts in 165 games with Dallas, Nashville, Tampa Bay and Anaheim. Originally a second-round draft choice by Dallas in 2000, Ellis is 64-67-3 with 10 shutouts in 144 career AHL appearances.

In recognition of his achievement, Ellis will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Checkers home game.

 

[DewsSox79]

its sad that we are talking dan ellis player of the week in the AHL.

 

[icehogfan08]

Justin Schultz has 6 goals and 6 assists in 7 games for the Oilers farm team. 2 are shorthanded goals

 

[Capt. Serious]

Justin Schultz has 6 goals and 6 assists in 7 games for the Oilers farm team. 2 are shorthanded goals

Oilers have a possible stud in him.

 

[HawkWriter]

Justin Schultz has 6 goals and 6 assists in 7 games for the Oilers farm team. 2 are shorthanded goals

Saw he was named number 1 star of the week recently. Looks like he may live up to the hype and the Oilers could definitely use some help on defense.

 

[icehogfan08]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that Trent Whitfield of the Providence Bruins and Quintin Laing of the Abbotsford Heat have been selected to serve as playing captains for the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic, to be held January 27-28 in Providence, R.I.

Captains for the American Hockey League All-Star teams are selected by the league president in recognition of their outstanding service and leadership to the AHL.

Trent Whitfield has spent part of each of his 15 professional seasons in the American Hockey League, including the last four with Providence. The 35-year-old native of Alameda, Sask., has played 769 career AHL games and is a four-time 20-goal scorer, totaling 240 goals and 343 assists for 583 points with Portland (1998-2005), Peoria (2005-09) and Providence (2009- ). Originally drafted by Boston in 1996, Whitfield has also skated in 194 career NHL games with the Bruins, St. Louis, the New York Rangers and Washington.

Whitfield, who made his only previous AHL All-Star Classic appearance in 2003, will captain the Eastern Conference AHL All-Stars.

Now in his 13th professional season, Quintin Laing has appeared in 650 career AHL contests with Norfolk, Hershey and Abbotsford, registering 95 goals and 167 assists for 262 points and winning a Calder Cup with the Bears in 2009. Drafted by Detroit in 1997, Laing is one of the AHL’s top defensive forwards and has worn the captain’s “C” in each of his three AHL stops – including the last two seasons with the Heat.

Laing, a 33-year-old native of Harris, Sask., has played 79 NHL games with Chicago and Washington, and will be making his AHL All-Star Classic debut as captain of the Western Conference All-Star team.

Tickets for the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic are on sale now by calling the Providence Bruins at (401) 273-5000 or visiting www.providencebruins.com. All-Star 2-Packs are $55 and $75 and include admission to both the 2013 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 27, and the 2013 AHL All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 28. All-Star 4-Packs are $75 and $100 and include admission to the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game, as well as the Post-Skills Party (January 27, 9:30 p.m.) at the Rhode Island Convention Center and the 2013 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 28, 11 a.m.) at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic in Providence will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League. Of the 597 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since the event was reinstated in 1995, more than 92 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Daniel Briere, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Mike Cammalleri, Zdeno Chara, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Cory Schneider, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal.

Here ya go