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

Adrian's Skelly signs CHL contract

Courtesy Daily Telegram

Shawn Skelly feels ready for another playoff run.

Two weeks after the Adrian College men’s hockey team finished as NCAA Division III runner-up, the high-scoring forward looks to help his new team chase a championship.

Skelly has signed a professional contract with the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League. He joins Texas during its best-of-five series against the Odessa Jackalopes in the first round of the CHL Ray Miron President’s Cup playoffs. Texas and Odessa split the first two games of the series and play Game 3 on Tuesday night.

“It’s a lifetime goal of mine,” Skelly said shortly before his flight to Texas on Sunday night. “I grew up always wanting to play pro hockey. It’s an exciting time that I was given this opportunity, and hopefully I can excel at it.

“...It’s going to be different coming into a team where I don’t know anyone. I hope they embrace me coming in, and hopefully I can help them out.”

Adrian College hockey standout Skelly signs professional contract

Former MTU goalie named CHL's best

Central Hockey League Press Release

The Central Hockey League announced today that Robby Nolan of the Missouri Mavericks has been named the recipient of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League’s Most Outstanding Goaltender award (Scott Brower Award).

The award is ‘presented annually to the Central Hockey League’s most outstanding goaltender, in memory of Scott Brower, former Memphis goaltender and Corpus Christi employee.’

Voting was done by CHL head coaches, communications departments and selected media members in each market.

In what turned out to be the most decisive award race, Nolan earned 39 votes of the 60 ballots returned (65%) followed by former Lake Superior State goalie Jeff Jakaitis (Dayton), who had 13 votes.

Nolan is at or near the top in nearly every goaltending category. On the season, the Sherwood Park, Alta., native is 26-13-5 helping the Mavericks secure home-ice advantage in at least the opening round of the upcoming CHL playoffs.

The all-star leads the league with seven shutouts, a 2.07 goals-against average and is third with a .928 save percentage. In his 26 wins, the 2010 IHL All-Rookie Team performer has allowed just 31 goals (1.22 GAA). Five of Nolan’s seven shutouts have come since February 8.

The former Michigan Tech star is also one of five finalists for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, which will be announced early next week.

Ex-Ferris star Lewicki wins CHL award

Central Hockey League Press Release

The Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that Rio Grande Valley forward Aaron Lewicki has been selected the recipient of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League Rookie of the Year award following balloting among CHL head coaches, communication’s departments and selected media members in CHL markets.

The Rookie of the Year award is ‘presented annually to the Central Hockey League player adjudged to be the most proficient in his first year of professional competition.’

Lewicki was selected on 24 of the 60 ballots submitted, finishing ahead of Tulsa’s Gary Steffes, who received 20 votes.

The Livonia native leads all first-year players with 50 points, 22 goals, 28 assists and 204 shots on goal. He is also tied for the league lead among rookies with three shorthanded goals and four game winning goals and second with seven power play goals.

The 6-foot, 200-pound forward was named a member of the 2011 CHL All-Star team that played the Rapid City Rush at the 2011 CHL All-Star Game in Rapid City, S.D.

The former Ferris State University star averaged nearly a point a game in the months of December, January and February totaling 13 goals and 22 assists in 36 games played. Three of Lewicki’s five goals scored in the month of February served as game-winners for the Killer Bees.

Earlier in the week, Lewicki was named a member of the 2010-11 CHL All-Rookie Team, receiving the most votes of all first year forwards.

Photo courtesy Central Hockey League

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.

Huskies, Wildcat win CHL championship

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Two former Michigan Tech players, Tyler Skworchinski and Peter Rouleau, and ex-Northern Michigan defenseman Justin Kinnunen helped the Texas Brahmas to the Central Hockey League championship last Thursday night.

The Brahmas posted a 6-2 win over the Colorado Eagles to claim the Ray Miron President’s Trophy and its first championship in 11 years.

Skworchinski picked up an assist on the Brahmas second goal of the game, while finishing the season seventh on the team in points with 38 (16 goals, 22 assists) in 64 games. He played in 113 games for Tech from 2003-2007, tallying 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists).

Rouleau finished the year eighth on the Brahmas in points with 36. The Hancock native scored 13 goals and added 23 assists in 52 games for the Brahmas. He recorded 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) in 95 games in a Tech uniform from 2005-2008.

Kinnunen, who played at Northern Michigan from 2000-2004, appeared in 16 playoff contests for the Brahmas and scored four goals to go with seven assists.