Category Archives: ECHL

Late-season signings making impact across league

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Over its 38-season history, the ECHL has carved its niche in the hockey world, developing players to advance to the American Hockey League and National Hockey League. One of the key components of the League’s success has been giving undrafted players a chance to show what they can do in the professional hockey world.Late-season signings making impact across league

A great opportunity for these young players to get experience in the pro game comes near the end of every season, after their college season has concluded and ECHL teams are seeking players to fill out their lineup, and get an early look at players for the next season.

From February 16 through March 24, 93 players from 43 different college programs signed with ECHL teams. Leading the way was Canisius University with seven players, followed by St. Cloud State University with six players ands Ferris State University with five players.

One of the more notable names to join the ECHL over the last five weeks is Jackson Niedermayer, who signed with the Tulsa Oilers after the completion of his senior season at Bowling Green State University. The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer and nephew of 17-season NHL veteran Rob Niedermayer has two points (1g-1a) in his first six pro games. During his five-year collegiate career split between Bowling Green and Arizona State University, the 25-year-old totaled 44 points (20g-24a) in 124 games.

Niedermayer has been joined in Tulsa by Zachary Murray, the son of Oilers’ head coach Rob Murray. The 24-year-old had 53 points (21g-32a) in 92 career games at Division III Amherst College before signing with Tulsa on March 6. Murray has six points (2g-4a) in his first nine pro games, including a two-goal game in his second game on March 7 at Allen and a two-assist effort on March 21 at Idaho.

Jack Pascucci signed with Norfolk on March 6 after wrapping up his collegiate career with Canisius, joining the same organization his dad, Ron, played 133 games for from 1993-96. The stay-at-home defenseman recorded seven points – all assists – over his 75 college games with the Golden Griffins and the University of Connecticut. After not scoring a goal since the 2021-22 season when he was with Des Moines of the United States Hockey League, the 24-year-old lit the lamp for his first pro goal on March 20 against Greensboro.

By Joe Babik
ECHL Senior PR/Historical Specialist 

Tarr Records First Pro Goal in Loss to Kansas City

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WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita continued its four-game miniseries against Kansas City on Tuesday night, losing 4-1 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Tarr Records First Pro Goal in Loss to Kansas City

Oliver Tarr provided the lone Thunder tally with helpers to Cameron Mitchell and Robert Kincaid. Roddy Ross suffered the loss, stopping 23 shots.

After a scoreless first, Justin Janicke broke the ice just 15 seconds into the second. He worked into the offensive zone, cut across the top of the slot and fired a shot past Ross for his 15th of the year.

Marcus Crawford made it 2-0 at 7:49 on the power play. Jack Randl unloaded a one-timer from the deep slot that Crawford redirected past Ross for his 14th of the campaign.

Late in the second, Tarr put the Thunder on the board. He took a drop pass at the left circle, walked in and beat Jack LaFontaine to the short side and cut the lead to 2-1.

In the third, Lucas Sowder scored a pair of goals to help Kansas City pull away. He tallied his first at 4:16, firing a shot that found its way into the net from the top of the left circle.

His second came at 11:32 as he beat a Thunder defender to the top of the crease and redirected a shot from Bobo Carpenter to make it 4-1.

Tarr tallied his first professional goal while Mitchell recorded his first pro point with an assist.

Wichita went 1-for-2 on the power play. Kansas City was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

The two teams play once again at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Allen’s Katic named ECHL Player of the Week

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Danny Katic of the Allen Americans is the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for March 16-22.Action photo of Danny Katic of the Allen Americans

Katic scored four goals and added three assists for seven points in three games at South Carolina last week.

The 25-year-old had a goal and assist in a 5-3 loss on Friday, scored a pair of goals while adding an assist in a 5-4 loss on Sunday and had a goal and assists in a 7-1 win on Sunday.

Under contract to Belleville of the American Hockey League, Katic ranks second in the ECHL with 31 goals while adding 22 assists for 53 points in 51 games with the Americans this season. He has also skated in four games with the Senators.

A native of South Porcupine, Ontario, Katic has tallied 164 points (86g-78a) in 202 career ECHL games with Allen, Bloomington and Norfolk while adding four points (1g-3a) in 18 career AHL games with Belleville and Chicago.

Prior to turning pro, Katic recorded 16 points (4g-12a) in 17 games at the University of Toronto and 68 points (23g-45a) in 170 career games with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League.

On behalf of Danny Katic, a case of pucks will be donated to an Allen youth hockey organization by Inglasco, the exclusive puck supplier of the ECHL. Since beginning its sponsorship of the award in 2000-01, Inglasco has donated more than 53,000 pucks to youth hockey organizations in ECHL cities.

ECHL Today – March 24

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ECHL Today text with today's date

Kansas City Mavericks (48-10-3) at Wichita Thunder (24-25-10)           

  • Jackson Jutting leads Kansas City against the Thunder with five goals.
  • Wichita’s Matt Davis is third with a .928 save percentage.
  • Mavericks are 23-3-2 on the road, outscoring their opponents 107-52.
  • Thunder are league’s fourth-least penalized team with 9.86 penalty minutes per game.

 

Kelly Cup Playoffs Update

Kansas City can clinch the Mountain Division title on Tuesday if:

Kansas City wins OR Kansas City loses in overtime/shootout

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Icemen Gain Ground in the Standings with 2-1 Win Over Greenville

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – Topias Leinonen stopped 19 of 20 shots to help guide the Icemen to a 2-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Sunday evening. With the win, coupled with a Savannah loss on Sunday, the Icemen now pull within two points of the final playoff spot in the South Division.

It took the Icemen just 29 seconds to strike in this one, as Will Hillman netted his 14th goal of the season to give the Icemen the early 1-0 lead.

That score remained until the second period, when forward Craig Martin took off into the Greenville end for a breakaway chance and cleanly carved a backhanded shot into the corner of the net to give the Icemen the 2-0 edge.

Greenville tried to rally in the third, Denis Smirnov netted a tally to pull the Swamp Rabbits within one, but the Icemen would close this one out with a 2-1 victory.

The Icemen have some much needed time to rest before facing Atlanta in Duluth on Saturday.

With Jacksonville Icemen match report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

 

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Gladiators Lose 4-1 in Jacksonville

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Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 4-1 on Friday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Adam McMaster scored a pair of goals for the Icemen to help them earn the win in the second of three straight games between the two clubs.

After a 2-0 loss to the Icemen at home on Wednesday night, the Gladiators looked for revenge in enemy territory in the rematch on Friday night. Ethan Haider started in net for Atlanta while Topias Leinonen started for Jacksonville.

The Gladiators came out with some great chances to begin the game but could not get the puck to bounce in their favor. Ryley Appelt fought Jaden Condotta 7:31 into the game, igniting some passion into the Gladiators’ game. The Gladiators had a chance on the power play 9:53 into the period but did not convert. With 7:04 left in the first period the Icemen broke the scoreless tie, with Adam McMaster scoring in transition from Jaques Bouquot and Holden Wale to make it a 1-0 Jacksonville lead.

After a scoreless second period, the Icemen broke free in the third period, extending their lead with a power play goal from McMaster. His snipe from the left circle beat Haider to make it 2-0 with 11:50 to play from Jed Pietila and David Jankowski. Almost a minute later, Jacksonville extended its lead to 3-0 after a pass angled perfectly off the end wall found Craig Martin backdoor with 9:08 to play. Martin’s goal was assisted by Jaden Condotta and Tyler Kopff. Trying to claw their way back, the Gladiators managed to rifle in a power play goal from Ryan Conroy with 8:07 to go in regulation. Conroy’s bid from the blue line hit the twine and made it a 3-1 game. Despite their best efforts, it was too little too late. Jacksonville buried an empty netter from Will Hillman with 30 seconds on the clock to seal the final score at 4-1.

Haider stopped 23/26 in the loss, while Leinonen stopped 22/23 for Jacksonville. The Gladiators went 1/3 on the power play and 2/3 on the penalty kill, and were outshot 27-23.

With Atlanta Gladiators match report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockynews.com