Category: The Future

Frontenacs’ Shane Wright Named OHL Rookie of the Year

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KINGSTON, ONT – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Shane Wrightof the Kingston Frontenacs is the 2019-20 recipient of the Emms Family Award handed out annually to the OHL’s Rookie of the Year presented by Wawanesa Insurance.

“Wawanesa Insurance is proud to present the OHL Rookie of the Year award to Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs,” said Selena Hinds, Vice President of Brand, Community and Communications for Wawanesa Insurance. “Although the season was abbreviated, fans still had the opportunity to see some terrific hockey, with Shane Wright’s skill really standing out. We are excited to see what the future holds for you, Shane – way to go!”

Frontenacs’ Wright living up to exceptional expectations

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KINGSTON, ONT – After they selected Shane Wright first overall in the Ontario Hockey League draft last year, the Frontenacs invited the Don Mills Flyer product to Kingston City Hall to formally introduce him to the community.

“We forgot to mention to Sh​ane that he would have to get up and speak,” recalled general manager Darren Keily with a smile. “We said basically, ‘Hey Shane, you got to say a few words,’ and he didn’t skip a beat. He got up in front of a large crowd of people and handled himself really well. It goes to show his maturity.”

As graduation nears, former Colorado youth hockey star Cale Morris awaits NHL future

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DENVER, CO – Having grown up a short walking distance from the Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, Cale Morris has traveled far to become a historical figure in Notre Dame hockey lore.

Morris, who was named to the Big Ten all-conference team for a third consecutive year, will graduate Sunday as the Fighting Irish’s all-time leader in career save percentage (.931) and second in both goals-against average (2.18) and victories (58).

Exceptional Status Phenom Shane Wright Is Staying On Point

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KINGSTON, ONT – As the latest OHL prospect to receive the exceptional status designation to join the league a year early, center Shane Wright joined the Kingston Frontenacs with a ton of hype. As an underager, he led the minor midget Don Mills Flyers to a nearly unbeaten 2018-19 season and an OHL Cup title. Naturally, the Frontenacs snapped him up with the first overall pick in the 2019 OHL Draft and made him the focal point of a rebuild that saw the team starting from scratch.

From the outset, it looked as though Kingston wouldn’t have much firepower this year and another finish in the basement was predicted. But Wright surpassed expectations and even threatened John Tavares’ exceptional status rookie scoring record in the OHL, before the remainder of the OHL campaign was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only did Wright lead all OHL rookies in scoring with 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games (Tavares had 77 as a rookie with Oshawa; Connor McDavid had 66 with Erie), but he also led the Frontenacs in scoring, with a seven-point margin. When the season was cancelled, Kingston was in a playoff spot.

College coach believes Flames signing Connor Mackey has bright future

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CALGARY, AB – Mike Hastings, over the phone from Mankato, Minn., is being quizzed about Connor Mackey.

Which, for the head coach of the NCAA’s Minnesota State University Mavericks hockey program, is nothing new.

Every week, all winter, NHL scouts were asking about the late-blooming blue-liner who ultimately inked an entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames.

“Put it this way — he made one team happy (Friday), and I think there were a lot of others that were disappointed that they weren’t the group that had the opportunity to sign him,” Hastings said.

Flames Sign Coveted College Free Agent Connor Mackey to One Year Contract

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CALGARY, AB – The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed college free agent defenceman Connor Mackey to a one-year entry-level contract starting in 2020-21.

Mackey, a native of Barrington, Illinois plays at Minnesota State University – Mankato, where he finished the season with seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 36 games. The 23-year-old skated in three seasons for Minnesota State University – Mankato, totaling 18 goals and 43 assists for 61 points in 118 games from 2016-17 to 2019-20. The 6’2.5″ blueliner was named to the WCHA First All-Star team this past season finishing at a league-high +19 and helping the Mavericks to a league-best 31-5-2 record. Mackey was the USHL Defenceman of the Year in 2017 and also made the USHL First All-Star team.

Cole Perfetti Has The Perfect Blend Of Skill And Intellect

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SAGINAW, MI – Cole Perfetti is a very talented center who should go in the top five of the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft. He had an incredible 74 assists in 61 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He might not get back to the postseason, even though his team was good enough, the coronavirus has gotten in the way, for now, but he will soon have his day.

“Going into this year, I never expected to have 111 at this point and be on such a successful team. Have the year that I’ve had so far, and have it click the way that it has. I wanted to come in this year and bring my best and prove to the scouts and everyone watching why to pick me,” Perfetti stated.

It’s hard to say exactly where a player gets his hockey acumen from. Hockey I.Q. is so important in today’s NHL and this prospect has “it”. You can see that every time he steps foot on the ice. He does watch players in games and on YouTube. But after some digging, it seems like his education plays a big part in this part of his game.

“I think some of it has to do with being smart. I take great pride in my schooling. I’ve always achieved good grades. That kind of helps the quick thinking come across,” Perfetti said honestly.

After some digging and trying to figure out if he had a nerdy side, he remembered about a math competition that would make any honor student jealous.

New dad Pat Nagle making most of AHL chance

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Good things happen to those who wait.

Now in his ninth professional season, Pat Nagleof the Grand Rapids Griffins is savoring both his lengthiest and his most fruitful stay in the American Hockey League.

But, as they say, good things also come in pairs.

On the third day of 2020, Pat and his wife, Monica, welcomed a baby boy, Bryson.

Old adages can become cliched to the point that when something truly is relevant, it’s almost rare. So take Nagle’s recent fortunes as one of those extraordinary cases where the maxims fully apply.

Rosen returns to Toronto in trade with Avs

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TORONTO, ONT- The Toronto Maple Leafs made their first move on Monday’s trade deadline by acquiring defenceman Calle Rosen from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

The 26-year-old Rosen is a familiar face in the Leafs organization. He signed with Toronto as a free agent out of the Swedish Elite League back in 2017, going on to appear in eight NHL games for the club before he and Nazem Kadri were traded to Colorado last July 1 for Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot.

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