PRO SIGNINGS - 2012-13 OFFSEASON

The following is a list we will continue to update over the spring and summer months as players from Michigan colleges sign professional contracts.

FERRIS STATE
Eric Alexander, Sr., F, South Carolina (ECHL)
Kyle Bonis, Sr., F, Norfolk (AHL)
Matthew Kirzinger, Sr., F, St. John's (AHL)

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
Kellan Lain, Jr., F, Vancouver (NHL) *
Domenic Monardo, Sr., F, Gwinnett (ECHL)
Nick McParland, Sr., F, Orlando (ECHL)
Buddy Robinson, So., F, Ottawa (NHL) *

MICHIGAN
Jon Merrill, Jr., D, New Jersey (NHL) *
Lindsay Sparks, Sr., F, Fort Wayne (ECHL)
Jacob Trouba, Fr., D, Winnipeg (NHL) *

MICHIGAN STATE
Chris Forfar, Sr., F, Evansville (ECHL)
Matt Grassi, Sr., D, Hamilton (AHL)
Anthony Hayes, Sr., F, Florida (ECHL)
Kevin Walrod, Sr., F, Bakersfield (ECHL)

MICHIGAN TECH
Carl Nielsen, Sr., D, Syracuse (AHL)
Steven Seigo, Sr., D, Abbotsford (AHL)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Jared Coreau, Jr., G, Detroit (NHL) *
Scott Macaulay, Sr., D, Bakersfield (ECHL)

OAKLAND
Dustin Hopfner, Sr., D, Evansville (ECHL)

WESTERN MICHIGAN
Dan DeKeyser, Jr., D, Detroit (NHL) *
Mike Leone, Sr., F, Kalamazoo (ECHL)
Dane Walters, Sr., F, Worcester (AHL)
Luke Witkowski, Sr., D, Tampa Bay (NHL)

* Signed contract with NCAA eligibility remaining

PRO SIGNINGS: 2012 OFFSEASON

The following is a list we will continue to update over the spring and summer months as players from Michigan colleges sign professional contracts.

FERRIS STATE
Chad Billins, Sr., D, Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Jordie Johnston, Sr., F, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
Fred Cassiani, Sr., F, Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)
Kyle Haines, Sr., D, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)
Kyle Jean, So., F, New York Rangers (NHL)
Zach Trotman, Jr., D, Boston Bruins (NHL)

MICHIGAN
Chris Brown, Jr., F, Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Luke Glendening, Sr., F, Providence Bruins/Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Shawn Hunwick, Sr., G, Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Greg Pateryn, Sr., D, Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
David Wohlberg, Sr., F, Albany Devils (AHL)

MICHIGAN STATE
Torey Krug, Jr., D, Boston Bruins (NHL)
Brock Shelgren, Sr., D, Alaska Aces (ECHL)

MICHIGAN TECH
Jordan Baker, Sr., F, Colorado Eagles (ECHL)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Andrew Cherniwchan, Sr., F, Colorado Eagles (ECHL)
Justin Florek, Sr., F, Boston Bruins (NHL)
Tyler Gron, Sr., F, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)

WESTERN MICHIGAN
Derek Roehl, Sr., F, Fort Wayne Komets (CHL)
Greg Squires, Sr., F, Stockton Thunder (ECHL)
Matt Tennyson, Jr., D, San Jose Sharks (NHL)

LIST: 2010-2011 Offseason Pro Signings

Over the course of the 2011 offseason, MiCHO will update this list of Michigan-based players who have signed professional contracts.

(Last updated: September 28)

FERRIS STATE
Mike Embach, Sr, F (Texas – AHL)
Pat Nagle, Sr, G (Tampa Bay – NHL)
Zach Redmond, Sr, D (Atlanta – NHL)
Scott Wietecha, Sr, D (Elmira – ECHL)

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
Will Acton, Sr, F (Toronto – AHL/Reading – ECHL)
Matt Cowie, Sr, D (Victoria – ECHL)
Tyson Hobbins, Sr, F (Idaho – ECHL)
Chad Nehring, Sr, F (Idaho – ECHL)
Rick Schofield, Sr, F (Anaheim – NHL)

MICHIGAN
Brandon Burlon, Jr, D (New Jersey - NHL) *
Louie Caporusso, Sr, F (Ottawa - NHL)
Carl Hagelin, Sr, F (NY Rangers - NHL)

MICHIGAN STATE
Dustin Gazley, Sr, F (Greenville – ECHL)
Derek Grant, So, F (Ottawa – NHL) *

NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Greger Hanson, Sr, F (Florida - ECHL)

WESTERN MICHIGAN
Max Campbell, Sr, F (Connecticut - AHL)
Jerry Kuhn, Sr, G (Idaho – ECHL)

ADRIAN
Brad Fogal, Sr, G (Quad City - CHL)
Shawn Skelly, Sr, F (Texas – CHL)
Quinn Waller, Sr, D (Quad City - CHL)

* underclassman

PRO SIGNINGS: 2009-2010 EDITION

The following players have signed professional contracts since the end of the regular season and as their teams were eliminated from the post-season.

Players noted with (*) gave up remaining NCAA eligibility to sign.

This list will be updated regularly. LAST UPDATED JULY 19 (Haines).

FERRIS STATE
Matt Case, D, Norfolk (AHL)
Cody Chupp, F, Texas (AHL)
Casey Haines, F, Reading (ECHL)
Blair Riley, F, Springfield (AHL)

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
Simon Gysbers, D, Toronto (AHL)
Steven Kaunisto, D, Reading (ECHL)

MICHIGAN
Steve Kampfer, D, Boston (NHL)
Brian Lebler, F, Syracuse (AHL)
Chris Summers, D, Phoenix (NHL)

MICHIGAN STATE
Bobby Jarosz, G, Wheeling (ECHL)
Jeff Petry, D, Edmonton (NHL) *
Andrew Rowe, F, Philadelphia (NHL) *
Corey Tropp, F, Buffalo (NHL) *

MICHIGAN TECH
Drew Dobson, D, Gwinnett (ECHL)
Malcolm Gwilliam, F, Reading (ECHL)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Erik Gustafsson, D, Philadelphia (NHL) *
Ray Kaunisto, F, Los Angeles (NHL)
Mark Olver, F, Colorado (NHL) *
Brian Stewart, G, Adirondack (AHL)/Philadelphia (NHL)

WESTERN MICHIGAN
Jordan Collins, D, Bakersfield (ECHL)
Riley Gill, G, Kalamazoo (ECHL)
Tyler Ludwig, D, Texas Stars (AHL)
Cam Watson, F, Bakersfield (ECHL)

MICHIGAN NATIVES ON NON-MICHIGAN TEAMS
Brett Blatchford (Temperance), D, Notre Dame, Chicago (AHL)/Idaho (ECHL)
Ian Cole (Ann Arbor), D, Notre Dame, St. Louis (NHL) *
Kyle Lawson (New Hudson), D, Notre Dame, Carolina (NHL)
Kyle Page (Wixom), D, Bowling Green, Toledo (ECHL)

In addition, former Wayne State defenseman Jeff Caister (2006-2008), who played the last two years with St. Lawrence, signed with South Carolina of the ECHL.

CCHA alums seek pro titles, awards

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Playoff Success -- Three Michigan college hockey alums will be competing in the Calder Cup Finals for the American Hockey League title and two others have helped their teams secure titles in minor pro leagues during the playoff season.

Former Ferris State Bulldogs Greg Rallo and Cody Chupp and MSU Spartans Ethan Graham and Andrew Hutchinson helped the Texas Stars advanced out of the Western Conference by defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs in a seven-game series.

The Fort Wayne Komets won their third straight Turner Cup in the International Hockey League with the help of Fort Wayne native and Spartan alum Brandon Warner.

Bulldog alum Gio Flamminio is also a member of the President’s Cup-winning Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League.

Next Up? Stanley Cup-- Michigan State’s Duncan Keith and Michigan’s John Madden will be attempting to help the Chicago Blackhawks capture their first Stanley Cup title since 1961.

Keith, an alternate captain and finalist for the Norris Trophy, has been a force on the Blackhawk blue line, notching a goal and nine assists, as well as a plus-3 rating. Keith is also third among all skaters in time-on-ice per game at 27:52.

Madden is seeking his third Stanley Cup ring, having won with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003. The former Wolverine and penalty-kill specialist has played in all 16 games of the playoffs for the Blackhawks.

Award Time-- Michigan State alums Ryan Miller and Duncan Keith and former Michigan Wolverine Jed Ortmeyer have been named finalists for NHL awards.

Miller, who set the NCAA shutout record of 26 in his three seasons at Michigan State, is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded for outstanding goaltender.

Miller finished second in the league in goals-against average (2.22) and save percentage (.929), and fourth in wins (41). Miller also led the Buffalo Sabres to a Northeast Division title.

Keith finished second among all NHL defensemen in points (69) and assists (55) and had a plus-21. rating.

Ortmeyer, of the Pacific Division champion San Jose Sharks, is a finalist for the Masterton Trophy which is awarded to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." A former captain of the Wolverines, during his professional career Ortmeyer has suffered a pulmonary embolism, a torn ACL and blood clots in his leg. This season, Ortmeyer played in 76 games, registering eight goals and 11 assists.

The 2010 NHL Awards will take place June 23 in Las Vegas.

Chupp inks pro deal with Texas Stars

Ferris State Press Release

Cody Chupp (Big Rapids) of the nationally-ranked 2009-10 Ferris State University men's ice hockey team will officially begin his professional playing career after signing an ATO (amateur tryout agreement) with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL) this Friday (March 26) in a release issued by the Texas Stars organization.

Chupp placed third among Ferris State's leading scorers this 2009-10 season with a career season-high tying 30 points on nine goals and a single-season best 21 assists in 35 contests as the Bulldogs posted a 21-13-6 overall record. The two-time (2008-09 and 2009-10) team captain recorded a team-best plus 13 efficiency rating to go with five power-play lamplighters, one game-winning marker, and one game-tying goal. The 6-1, 192-pound right wing's 30 points matched his career season-high 30 points (11-19=30) established in 39 outings for the 2007-08 campaign.

In 144 career games, Chupp accumulated 95 points with 35 goals and 60 assists. He produced 15 power-play goals, two short-handed tallies, seven game winners, and a plus 30 efficiency rating during his four-year (2006-10) Ferris State career. Chupp is presently listed tied for 33rd place on FSU's all-time leaders list in assists, 35th in points, and tied for 42nd place in goals scored.

Chupp is the newest Stars' addition and represents the second Ferris State skater currently on the 2009-10 team's roster. Chupp will now join former Bulldog forward Greg Rallo (2002-06), who's in his first season with the club after playing the previous two seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09) with the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Rallo was a member of the FSU's record-setting 2002-03 team which went 31-10-1 overall and were crowned as the program's first-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) regular-season champions.

Texas has presently compiled a second-place 40-24-3-4 record (87 points) in the AHL's West Division and is under the direction of first-year head coach Glen Gulutzan. Texas is an affiliate of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Dallas Stars.

Ferris State's 21 victories this season tied for the fourth most in the program's history. FSU, which made its first CCHA Championships appearance last weekend (March 19-20) at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich., since 2002-03, finished 13th nationally in U.S. College Hockey Online.com's final poll for the 2009-10 season.

Photo courtesy Ferris State Athletics

Oystrick, Fretter win Calder Cup

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Former NMU Wildcat Nathan Oystrick and MSU Spartan Colton Fretter helped the Chicago Wolves to the American Hockey League’s 2008 Calder Cup championship with a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before 9,808 fans at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday night.

Oystrick, a 2007 AHL All-Rookie defenseman, scored the first goal of the game as the Wolves defeated the Penguins four games to two to win their second AHL title and first since 2002.

Oystick finished the playoffs with three goals and eight assists. In the regular season, he posted 15 goals with 23 helpers.

Fretter saw limited action during the regular season with the Wolves, compiling a goal and three assists in eight games. He also saw time with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators this season.

The Wolves are the top development team of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves