Author: Colin Campbell

Arizona Coyotes Acquire Robbie Russo from Detroit

Posted on

GLENDALE, ARIZONA –  Arizona Coyotes President of Hockey Operations & General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have acquired defenseman Robbie Russo from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2019 conditional seventh round draft choice.

The 6-foot, 192-pound Russo registered 9-23-32 and 81 penalty minutes (PIM) in 75 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) in 2017-18. The 25-year-old native of Westmont, IL has recorded 21-82-103 and 160 PIM in 204 career games with the Griffins. He has also skated in 19 career games with the Detroit Red Wings.

Russo was originally drafted by the Islanders in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2011 Entry Draft.

Rangers’ Damiani could be a steal at NHL draft

Posted on

KITCHENER, ON –  Riley Damiani is used to being overlooked.

Opponents and scouts have underestimated the Kitchener Rangers centre at every level of hockey.

“I feel like I’m one of those guys that flies under the radar,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been one of those guys my whole life.”

And because of it, the Mississauga native may be a steal at this year’s NHL draft, which runs next Friday and Saturday in Dallas.

Damiani is one of a handful of Rangers up for the draft.

Defenceman Giovanni Vallati leads the pack and is rated 57th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Team scoring leader Adam Mascherin is re-entering the mix after failing to reach a deal with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him in the second round two years back, while imports Rickard Hugg and Adam Liska are considered long shots.

Sparks, Rosen Lead Marlies to Calder Cup Championship

Posted on

TORONTO, ON – Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said his team went through “championship moments” during its long run through the American Hockey League post-season.

Responding after giving up a goal. Pinching in at the right time. Managing to shift momentum when needed.

The Marlies delivered again when it mattered most Thursday night, giving them a championship moment they’ll never forget.

Raising the Calder Cup.

Toronto defeated the Texas Stars 6-1 in the decisive seventh game of the AHL final to the delight of the towel-waving sellout crowd at Ricoh Coliseum.

Sparks Leads the Way of Marlies Who have Helped Their NHL Chances with Calder Run

Posted on

TORONTO, ON – For players longing to step into (or step back into) the NHL, to what extent can a successful American Hockey League playoff run really affect their chances? A handful of Toronto Marlies could well find that out in the coming months.

The Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) have won nine straight postseason contests in back-to-back series’ sweeps en route to a berth in the Calder Cup Final, which opens Saturday against the Texas Stars.

Regardless of how these playoffs end, certain Marlies – blueliner Travis Dermott and forward Andreas Johnsson, for example – are pretty clear on what’s next. Both Dermott and Johnsson rejoined their AHL club after lengthy call-up stints with the Leafs, and will be prime candidates to start in the NHL come fall.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old defensive prospect Timothy Liljegren has only one professional year under his belt, and is likely to need more seasoning before he graduates to the NHL. And then there are players languishing somewhere in between – some who have gotten a taste of life with the Leafs before and some who are still waiting on their NHL debuts.

Whether those opportunities come in Toronto or beyond, being on the bubble makes every AHL game (especially in the playoffs) a fresh audition. Five Marlies in that position have used this run to their advantage in that respect, and in turn could be putting themselves on the radar for a potential NHL gig next season.

Golden Knights get boost from Bellemare, fourth line in Game 1 against Capitals

Posted on

LAS VEGAS, NV – Tomas Nosek‘s face betrayed little. There he was, standing in the far reaches of the Vegas Golden Knights dressing room, surrounded by reporters eagerly tossing questions in his direction. The forward seemed unmoved, though, stoic, not exactly overflowing with the emotions of what had just happened to him and his team and his linemates.

“I am excited,” Nosek insisted.

He had cause to be. In a game that was as back-and-forth as any in Stanley Cup Final history, he and the fourth line clinched Game 1 for the Golden Knights, a raucous, over-the-top, sloppy, exhilarating 6-4 winagainst the Washington Capitals at T-Mobile Arena on Monday. Their line scored three goals in the third period: the tying goal by Ryan Reaves (2:41), the game-winner by Nosek (9:44), and an empty-net goal by Nosek (19:57). They were the difference

Riley Damiani Among 5 Most Underrated NHL Draft Prospects

Posted on

DALLAS, TX – There is plenty of value available in this year’s NHL Draft.

Although it’s critical to hit on your early picks, it’s just as important to find the hidden gems. The player who scored the winning goal in last season’s Stanley Cup Final was the very last pick of the draft. He’s also turned in a solid career. If Patric Hornqvist can go last, every pick matters.

We’re going to start a series here at the Hockey Writers going from league to league and country to country. We’re not looking for the obvious names. We’re looking for those who have the chance to surprise us and eventually turn into good NHL players. We’ll start out with the OHL.

I have identified five players who aren’t getting the attention I think they deserve. These are players who should get drafted but probably will later than they should. I’ll also give my rationale. In this case, I have seen these five players live. These are notes I’ve collected on them and will share with you now.

Arvidsson, Ekholm Win Gold for Sweden at World Championship

Posted on

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK –

It’s a golden moment for the Nashville Swedes.

Filip Forsberg scored the winner in the shootout as Sweden defeated Switzerland by a 3-2 final in the Gold Medal Game at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. As a result, Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson andMattias Ekholm collect their first World Championship gold medals of their careers, while Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala earn silver medals, the second time Josi has taken home silver.

Josi and Fiala assisted on Switzerland’s first goal of the contest, and Josi also added a helper on the second Swiss goal. Ekholm tallied an assist on Sweden’s first marker of the game before Forsberg scored in the shootout, and then Swedish netminder Anders Nilsson made one more save to send the Swedes flying off the bench.

Vince Pedrie Climbing the New York Rangers Ladder

Posted on

NEW YORK, NY – Vince Pedrie saw several close friends get the call that they were heading to New York during his first full season as a professional this past year with the Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League.

There were obvious feelings of happiness for his teammates, but there was also a different emotion for Pedrie.

“I was so pumped for Neal [Pionk] and John [Gilmour] to get up there and do so well,” Pedrie said. “You get your buddies up there and you want to get there even more. For one, you miss them and you want to see them again, and obviously it’s the National League and it’s pretty special. It just makes you want it that much more.”

Goalie Sparks pushing Toronto Marlies closer to Calder Cup final

Posted on

TORONTO, ON – When Toronto Marlies goalie Garret Sparks was a kid growing up in Illinois, his mom, Lisa, would help him prep for big games. Sparks would stand in front of the family pool table as his net. Lisa would hurl tennis balls at him, picking them out of a big bucket one by one.

“You gotta do what you gotta do at that age to get yourself in the zone,” Sparks says with a laugh. “And it worked.”

Sparks and the Marlies face their biggest game of the season so far when Toronto hosts the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the opener of their American Hockey League third-round playoff series on Saturday at Ricoh Coliseum.

ADVOCACYMENTORSHIPFAMILY

Contact KO Sports

AMA Sports Agency AB

© 2025 KO Sports. All Rights Reserved.