Author: Colin Campbell

Riley Damiani Named to AHL All-Rookie Team

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SPRINGFIELD, MA – The American Hockey League has announced the 2020-21 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 28 active member cities.

Riley Damiani, 21, led all AHL rookies in scoring and tied for third in the overall scoring race with 36 points in 36 games for Texas in 2020-21, his first pro season after four years with Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League. A fifth-round selection by Dallas in the 2018 NHL Draft, Damiani notched two goals and an assist on opening night and later posted five consecutive multiple-point games, including his first pro hat trick on Mar. 13 vs. Colorado. The native of Mississauga, Ont., finished the campaign with an eight-game scoring streak.

Bellemare, Larkin and Turris Nominated for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

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NEW YORK, NY – The National Hockey League today announced the 31 team nominees for the 2020-21 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

The nominees were selected by their respective NHL teams. The winner will be chosen by a committee of senior NHL executives led by Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. The selection committee will apply the following criteria in determining the finalists and winner:

* Clear and measurable positive impact on the community
* Investment of time and resources
* Commitment to a particular cause or community
* Commitment to the League’s community initiatives
* Creativity of programming
* Use of influence; engagement of others

J.T. Compher’s hat trick lifts Avalanche to 6-0 victory and shot at the Presidents’ Trophy

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DENVER, CO – J.T. Compher scored a hat trick and the Avalanche exploded offensively without superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 6-0 at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

The Avs host the Kings in the 56th and final regular-season game on Thursday and a victory will clinch the West Division title and the Presidents’ Trophy. Colorado (38-13-4, 80 points) is two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights, who won their regular-season finale at San Jose on Wednesday to keep their Presidents’ Trophy hopes alive.

Lightning sign free agent forward Simon Ryfors to one-year contract

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TAMPA BAY, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free agent forward Simon Ryfors to a one-year, two-way contract, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.

Ryfors, 23, skated in 51 games during the 2020-21 regular season for Rogle BK of the SHL, posting 25 goals and 45 points to go along with 53 penalty minutes. He led his team for goals and ranked second for points. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound forward also appeared in 14 playoff games, notching a goal and 10 points.

 

Canada beats Russia to Capture Gold at U18 World Championship with Shane Wright Leading as Captain

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FRISCO, TEXAS – Canada is golden at the under-18 men’s hockey championship after another strong performance from two of the youngest players at the tournament.

Led by 17-year-old captain Shane Wright and 15-year-old Connor Bedard, the Canadians beat Russia 5-3 on Thursday in the championship game, going undefeated along the way.

Wright had two goals and an assist while Bedard added a goal and a helper.

Brennan Othmann scored a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal for Canada, which got another from Logan Stankoven.

Benjamin Gaudreau made 31 saves and was named top goaltender at the 10-nation event.

Wright and Bedard — two of only seven players in Canadian Hockey League history to be granted exceptional player status to join major junior a year early — finished 2-3 in tournament scoring behind Russia’s Matvei Michkov.

Wright ended the tournament with nine goals and 14 points in only five games — scoring at least a goal in each contest. Bedard wrapped up the event with seven goals and 14 points in seven games.

Craig Smith has come as advertised

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BOSTON, MA – Over the past two months, Craig Smith has been on fire. The Boston Bruins‘ winger has been a points machine and has helped make the B’s second line dominant. With Smith’s first regular season with Boston nearly in the books, the Wisconsin native has come as advertised. The Black and Gold’s secondary scoring needed a spark which Smith has helped provide.

In 49 games this season, Smith has scored 13 goals and recorded 19 assists. His 32 points are the fifth most on the Bruins’ roster. In Smith’s first season in Boston, he has provided the offense the Bruins expected when he was signed in free agency.

Cole Perfetti Named April CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month

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WINNIPEG, MB – The American Hockey League announced today Moose forward Cole Perfetti has been named the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for April.

Perfetti, 19, tied for the lead among AHL rookies, and the Moose, in scoring in April. He recorded 13 points (4G, 9A) in just nine games. Perfetti’s 13 points also left him in a tie for seventh among the league’s top point-getters for the month. His plus-eight rating tied for the lead among rookies and was tied for ninth overall. The Whitby, Ont. product recorded eight of his nine helpers as the primary assist this month. Perfetti also tallied nine points (2G, 7A) at even strength in April. The Winnipeg Jets’ 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft saved his best for when the game was on the line during the month, posting three of his goals in the third period and six of his 13 points in the third frame or overtime.

Acquired early in season, defenseman Ian Cole fits right in with Wild

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Ian Cole has a system for packing.

He takes three or four hockey bags, fills them with clothes and then loads the bags into his car that’ll be shipped to his next destination.

“The car shows up all packed to the gills,” he said.

And when it’s time to meet his new teammates, the veteran NHL defenseman also knows what to do.

“Hey,” he says. “I’m Ian.”

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with almost 600 games of experience, Cole was traded for the fourth time in his career when the Wild acquired him from Colorado earlier this season. He ended up being the final addition to the 2021 roster, with the team letting last week’s trade deadline pass without making any changes.

But despite being the last to arrive, Cole is no longer an outsider. He has fused to the Wild with his enthusiasm and rugged style of play.

Josiah Slavin Off to Red-Hot Start in Rockford

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ROCKFORD, IL – One of the newest Blackhawks signings has wasted no time making an impact at the next level.

Take a look at some of the top prospect performers across the organization over the last two weeks of action:

1. Josiah Slavin

The college-to-pro jump is going well for the Colorado College product. After notching a goal in his first pro game on March 28, Slavin has kept it rolling with two goals and two assists in his three tilts since while finding the scoresheet in all four pro games.

He scored the game-tying goal in the second period of an eventual 4-2 loss to Chicago on April 3, registered two assists in a 4-3 win over Chicago three nights later and, most recently, picked up the lone tally while shorthanded in a 4-1 loss to Iowa on Tuesday night. Of his three pro tallies in total, one has come at even strength, one on the power play and one while down a man.

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