American Hockey League

by Bob Rotruck | AHL On The Beat “I wasn’t even supposed to be here today.” — Dante Hicks, Clerks. That famous line from the 1994 film from Kevin Smith could also apply to Lehigh Valley Phantoms rookie Zayde Wisdom even though he was born eight years after the movie. The 18-year-old rookie, who was

Mar 2, 2021 By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com During a recent American Hockey League game at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Jordan Samuels-Thomas noticed the new look of hockey. Two of the Ontario Reign’s top prospects, Quinton Byfield and Akil Thomas, faced off against Henderson’s Jermaine Lowen. The three Black players represented significant milestones – Lowen as the

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Max Willman has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 28, 2021. Willman scored five goals in three games last week, surpassing his output from his previous 28 career AHL contests. Willman notched the first

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Chicago Wolves forward Rem Pitlick, San Diego Gulls defenseman Jamie Drysdale and Henderson Silver Knights goaltender Logan Thompson have been selected as the league’s award winners for February. Pitlick, the CCM/AHL Player of the Month, scored eight goals and totaled 10 points in eight games

Three-time AHL All-Star forward Colin McDonald announced his retirement on Sunday. McDonald played 13 pro seasons, skating in 757 regular-season games in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons, Oklahoma City Barons, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He won the Willie Marshall Award in 2010-11 after leading the league with 42 goals,

Beginning his pro career out of Ohio State, Nick Schilkey appreciated Mike Vellucci’s honesty. Schilkey, now 26, played under the former Penguins head coach in Charlotte from 2017-19, going from a rookie trying to earn his stripes in the AHL to key contributor for the still-defending Calder Cup champions. “It took me some time to

Four games were enough for Nick Robertson, who is one of the NHL’s few players of Filipino descent, to believe he belongs in the big leagues. The Maple Leafs rookie scored a goal while averaging 12:05 in ice time during Toronto’s qualifying-round loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in August. In the months after the

by Kevin McGlue | AHL On The Beat The Colorado Eagles were saddened to announce the loss of team founder Ralph Backstrom, who passed away on Feb. 7 at the age of 83. Backstrom founded the Eagles in 2002 and served as team president from 2003 to 2007. Backstrom played on six Stanley Cup winning

WINNIPEG – The significance of the moment was not lost on Cole Perfetti, even if he didn’t grasp the enormity to its full extent in the immediate aftermath. To the untrained eye, it looks like a simple inter-change during a four-on-three power play, yet the subtleties located just below the surface is what makes the

Marc Roberts has spent over 20 years performing in silence. Well, silence in voice, at least. One can’t call being a member of the Blue Man Group silent, per se. Since moving to Las Vegas from the midwest in 2003, Roberts has been one of many to don the blue body paint and bald cap.

by Nicole Del Villano | AHL On The Beat During an unpredictable season requiring constant flexibility and adjustments, the Cleveland Monsters’ coaching staff knew they’d need to rely on the team’s leadership core to keep things steady day-to-day. Under the guidance of second-year head coach Mike Eaves and returning assistant coaches Steve McCarthy and Trent

Ben Birnell   | Observer-Dispatch Wacey Hamilton took some inspiration from a well-known actor as he takes the next step. Hamilton — known for his work ethic, grit and leadership over the last six seasons with the Utica Comets — has made the decision to retire from hockey after nine pro seasons and 432 total American

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today released the full schedule of games for the five teams in the Canadian Division. In addition, the AHL Board of Governors has approved the provisional relocation of the Belleville Senators to play their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ont., for the 2020-21 season.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Chicago Wolves forward Morgan Geekie has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 21, 2021. Geekie joined the Wolves ahead of their two-game weekend series against Iowa and posted four goals and an assist to help Chicago maintain its perfect

ROCHESTER – Seth Appert’s gut told him rookie Jack Quinn deserved an opportunity to follow C.J. Smith in the shootout. After starting his pro debut slowly, Quinn, 19, grew comfortable as Thursday’s game progressed. Late in the third period, the Sabres prospect created Steven Fogarty’s tying power-play goal for the Americans. So when Appert needed

The 2020-21 AHL campaign finally got underway earlier this month, several weeks after the puck dropped on the NHL season. The seven Canadian NHL clubs are all currently playing in the same division. It’s a similar-yet-not-identical setup in the AHL with affiliate teams for Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg making up the Canadian Division,

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced that due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Tucson Roadrunners, their three games this weekend against the San Jose Barracuda have been postponed. Tucson was scheduled to host San Jose on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. Make-up dates have not been determined.

An influx of first-round picks from recent NHL drafts has hit the American Hockey League. The AHL is playing a condensed schedule, which started Feb. 5, due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Among the changes for this season is the opportunity for players drafted from a team in the Canadian Hockey League with remaining junior