U-M recruit backs out, signs with L.A.

The Los Angeles Kings have signed center Trevor Lewis to a three-year entry level contract.

Lewis was selected by the Kings in the first round (17th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The 19-year-old Lewis played in 56 regular-season games for Des Moines of the USHL this past season and had 75 points (35-40--75) and 69 penalty minutes. In 11 playoff games, Lewis had 16 points (3-13--16), 16 penalty minutes, two power-play goals, one game-winning goal and a plus-nine rating.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound native of Salt Lake City, Utah, also played on the USHL Viking Cup team in 2006 as well as the 2006 USHL All-Star Game. He was the recipient of three USHL awards - player and forward of the year, and the Curt Hammer Award for Most Gentlemanly Player and he was selected to the USHL First All-Star Team.

At the time of his selection by the Kings, Lewis had committed to attend the University of Michigan.

Photo courtesy of the L.A. Kings

Ex-WSU goalie Guerrera back in CHL

The Rocky Mountain Rage have signed former Wayne State goaltender David Guerrera for the inaugural 2006-07 season.

Guerrera, from St. Leonard, Quebec, returns to the Central Hockey League after playing a year in Europe. He marks the fourth signing for the Rage this off-season.

"I'm glad Guerrera is coming to play for us," said Rage head coach Tracy Egeland. "He is definitely one of the top guys that you have to build a team around. I've seen him play a lot and he is a championship-caliber goaltender."

Guerrera, 27, played the 2005-06 season for the IF Frisk Asker Tigers from Eliteserien, a Norwegian Hockey League. He earned a 2.89 goals-against average and .897 save percentage during 23 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he had a 3.86 GAA and a .902 SV % for Frisk.

Guerrera jump-started his professional career playing two seasons (2003-05) for the Laredo Bucks (CHL). In his rookie season season, he went 26-4-5 with a 2.10 GAA and a save percentage of .932. On home ice, Guerrera was even better going 14-0-1 with a 1.65 GAA and a .934 save percentage. He helped the Bucks to a CHL-best 48-8-8 regular season record and the President's Cup playoff title. Guerrera had the second best save percentage in the CHL, was tied for the second-best GAA, tied for fourth in shutouts with four and was fifth in wins.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder captured the CHL Rookie of the Year award for his performance in the regular season. He started 12 straight games and went 10-0-2 with a 1.81 GAA. In the post-season, Guerrera posted an 8-2 record with a GAA of 1.65 and a save percentage of .934. Guerrera's save percentage was tied for the second best in the post-season, his GAA was third-best and he was a perfect 3-0 in overtime. He helped the Bucks become the first team in CHL history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to win the President's Cup title. For his performance, Guerrera was named the 2004 CHL playoff MVP.

Guerrera stayed consistent the following season by posting a 2.29 GAA, .912 save percentage and 17-12-2 record.

Prior to turning pro, Guerrera played four years at WSU. He had a save percentage over .900 all four years of college and helped lead his team to three straight College Hockey America conference titles and a berth in the 2003 NCAA tournament. Guerrera was named to the All-CHA First Team and was named CHA Player of the Year during his 2001-02 campaign. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in exercise science and was a member of WSU's first-ever senior class.

Two former Huskies ink NHL deals

Former Michigan Tech hockey players Chris Conner and Clay Wilson have each signed two-year entry level contracts with National Hockey League teams during the past week. Conner inked with the Dallas Stars, while Wilson signed with the Anaheim Ducks. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"We are very happy for both of these individuals," said MTU head coach Jamie Russell. "Chris and Clay represented Michigan Tech very well during the time they played here and have continued to do so since their professional careers began. It's always great to see players that work really hard to get to this level be rewarded by signing NHL contracts."

Conner (above) began his professional career with the Iowa Stars in the American Hockey League upon completing his tenure at Michigan Tech in 2005-2006. The 5-foot-7, 180-pound forward recorded five points in 15 regular-season games with the Stars before collecting two points in seven Calder Cup playoff contests.

The Westland native led the Huskies in scoring for the second time in his four-year career last season with a 17-12--29 line. He also paced Tech with nine multi-point games and two multi-goal games in his final collegiate campaign. Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17, Conner also poured in three game-winning goals and three shorthanded tallies.

Conner is also Tech's all-time leader in career shorthanded goals (15) and ranks second on the NCAA's shorthanded goals chart. The former All-American finished with 69 goals and 129 points in 151 games and is one of 60 Huskies in the 100-point club. He ranks 19th among all MTU players in goals and 35th all-time in points.

"I wouldn't have had the opportunity to play at the professional level without my experiences at Michigan Tech," said Conner. "I learned so much playing for the Huskies and I will need to continue learning to be successful in the NHL. I am really excited to be a part of a great organization like Dallas where some former college hockey players have earned playing time."

A 6-foot, 205-pound defenseman, Wilson (left) registered 37 points in 60 games for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in 2005-2006, good for third among all rookie defensemen. Wilson garnered AHL Player of the Week accolades on Dec. 26, becoming the first Griffins defenseman to ever win the honor after chipping in four goals and an assist in three games. He ended the regular season with a plus-17 rating. In 16 Calder Cup playoff outings, the blueliner compiled a 0-3--3 line with eight penalty minutes.

Before moving to Grand Rapids, Wilson appeared in 13 games with the Muskegon Fury of the UHL. He had 12 points with nine penalty minutes.

A four-year standout at Michigan Tech from 2001-2005, Wilson amassed 17 goals and 57 points with 119 penalty minutes in 148 career games. He was a two-time recipient of the Gitzen-Loutit Memorial Award as the Huskies' outstanding defenseman.

"My path to Anaheim started at Michigan Tech," said Wilson. "I had a lot of great experiences with the coaching staff and players and will always remember those four years of Tech hockey. It's really a dream come true to have the chance to play for Anaheim in the NHL. It wasn't the easiest path starting in the UHL and moving up the ranks to the AHL, but all the help I have received along the way has made it all worth it."

Conner and Wilson will report to their respective training camps in Dallas and Anaheim in September.

Wilson photo courtesy Deanna Bradford.

Kallay leaves Michigan Tech staff

Michigan Tech assistant hockey coach Ian Kallay will leave his post immediately to pursue private business interests.

"It was a very hard decision for my wife and I to leave Michigan Tech," said Kallay. "A business opportunity has presented itself that we couldn't turn down.

"I have enjoyed my time here and value the relationships I have made along the way. I will miss working with the coaching staff and would like to thank them as they have been great to me. Jamie (Russell) and Pat (Mikesch) are very passionate and dedicated to the program. The program is going in the right direction and will be successful in the future. The hardest part is leaving the players. Watching them develop as student-athletes and helping them achieve their goals is the best part as a coach, and I will miss that."

Kallay completed his third year as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech in 2005-06 after being appointed to the position on July 1, 2003. In addition to his recruiting duties, Kallay was responsible for on-ice coaching, video breakdown, game analysis, and played a vital role in coordinating the Huskies' specialty teams.

"Although we are sad to lose an outstanding coach like Ian, we know that he is doing something outside of hockey that will provide the best future for him and his family," said MTU head coach Jamie Russell. "The goal of every coach is to leave a program better than when they arrived and Ian certainly accomplished that here. Not only was he a very good coach, but his work on the recruiting trail was crucial for the future success of this program."

During Kallay's tenure at Tech, he coached two All-Americans, four All-WCHA selections, one Hobey Baker Award finalist and 31 WCHA All-Academic Team recipients.

"While we would like to have Ian here for a longer period of time, we respect his decision to enter a business career," said Michigan Tech athletic director Suzanne Sanregret. "We wish Ian well and thank him for the many contributions he made to the Michigan Tech hockey program."

Kallay returned to college hockey after two highly-successful seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. During the 2001-02 campaign, he led Drayton Valley to the AJHL title and a 44-17-3 record. Then, in 2002-03, Kallay guided the team to a 37-20-7 mark and was named the AJHL Coach of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Drayton Valley, Kallay spent two years as an assistant coach in the United States Hockey League, including the 1999-2000 campaign with the Sioux City Musketeers and the 2000-01 season with the Green Bay Gamblers.

The Whitecourt, Alberta, native was a standout college hockey player for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux from 1995-97. He recorded 45 points on 23 goals and 22 assists in 35 games played in 1995-96 in helping UND to a 19-18-1 mark. The next season he recorded 16 goals and 23 assists in 41 games played and helped the Sioux win the national championship. He then went on to play professionally but suffered a career-ending back injury and returned to his alma mater to serve as a graduate assistant coach.

A national search to fill Michigan Tech's assistant coaching vacancy is underway.

"We'll move as quickly as possible," said Russell. "That being said, we will take enough time to ensure that we bring in a strong individual."