Former Spartan Greg Wolfe heads to Fort Wayne

Former Spartans' captain Greg Wolfe (2010-14) signs with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets.

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

Haines gets pro deal with ECHL's Royals

Ferris State Press Release

Casey Haines, a member of the nationally-ranked 2009-10 Ferris State hockey team, will continue his playing career after recently signing a contact with the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

Haines is scheduled to make his professional debut this upcoming 2010-11 season for the Royals.

Haines, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward, placed second among the 2009-10 Bulldog team leaders in scoring with 31 points on a squad second-most tying 12 goals and 19 assists in 40 games. His season points output along with his goals and assists totals all represented career single-season highs. He paced Ferris State with five game-winning goals this season while chalking up six multiple-point game outings and a plus 11 efficiency rating. Haines tallied at least a point in 24 contests for the 2009-10 campaign.

Haines was an integral part this season in helping the Bulldogs post a 21-13-6 overall record and a third-place finish in the CCHA with a 13-9-6-4 mark (49 league points). Ferris State's 21 victories for the 2009-10 campaign represents a tied for the fourth most in the program's history. The Bulldogs also made their first appearance in the CCHA championships this season since the 2002-03 season and wrapped up the campaign with a 13th-place national ranking in U.S. College Hockey Online.com's final poll.

Following this season, Haines was honored as a 2009-10 co-recipient of the Ferris State Athletics Department's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow FSU student-athletes.

The Ferris State skater concluded his four-year (2006-10) collegiate career by amassing 60 points on 25 goals and 35 assists in 142 contests. He also netted seven career game-winning lamplighters, six power-play goals, and two short-handed markers while notching a plus six efficiency rating.

Reading is an affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League along with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

Photo courtesy Ferris State Athletics

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.

Former players win ECHL championship

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Trent Campbell scored the Kelly Cup-winning goal as visiting South Carolina defeated Alaska, 4-2, on Friday night in the seventh and deciding game of the ECHL championship series.

Campbell, a 2007 Lake Superior State grad, finished the playoffs with six goals and 24 points in 23 games as the league's third-highest pointgetter. Defensemen Zach Tarkir (Northern Michigan, 2003-07) will also be fitted for a championship ring. Tarkir completed the postseason as the top-scoring defenseman for the Stingrays and tied for the overall league lead with five goals and 15 points for the Stingrays.

For the Aces, Matt Stefanishion (Ferris State, 2004-06), who scored in the last two games of the series, wound up with six goals and nine points in 16 games. Defenseman Ryan Turek (Michigan State, 2006-09) posted a 1-6-7 scoring line in 19 playoff contests.

The Hershey Bears own a 3-1 lead in the American Hockey League final and can celebrate a Calder Cup championship with another win on home ice Tuesday night.

Ferris State grads Greg Rallo (2002-06) and Derek Nesbitt (2001-05) are members of the Moose, as is Dustin Collins (Northern Michigan, 2003-07). Rallo has participated in all 20 playoff games so far and notched a pair of goals to go with two assists while Collins, in 18 appearances, has struck for one goal and three helpers. Nesbitt has been in the lineup just once.

ECHL's Falcons sign ex-WSU captain

The Fresno Falcons of the ECHL announced today that the team has signed forward Jason Bloomingburg for the 2007-2008 season.

Bloomingburg enters his first full professional season after appearing in six games with the Alaska Aces at the end of last season. The 24-year-old Canton native concluded his collegiate career last season at Wayne State University, serving as a co-captain, while also being named to the College Hockey All-Academic Team.

During the 2004-2005 season, Bloomingburg set a new school record for goals in a season with 20. Overall in 123 collegiate games, he tallied 44 goals and added 33 assists for 77 points.

"Jason comes highly recommended as a player capable of scoring goals at any level," Falcons coach-GM Matt Thomas said. "He will be an exciting addition to our team this year."