Uncategorized Archives - Boutique Hockey Agency

Canucks: Ian Cole set to join unique playoff club

Posted on April 18, 2024

VANCOUVER, BC – The NHL record for the most teams a player has made the playoffs with is eight.

Only one player has ever hit this mark: former Vancouver Canucks centre Mike Sillinger.

Sillinger joined the Canucks in a trade from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the trade deadline in 1996 and ended up playing six games for the Canucks in the playoffs that year, making Vancouver the second team he played in the post-season with. He went onto eight Stanley Cup playoffs with eight different teams.

And now Ian Cole is about to match that record. When he makes his 2024 Stanley Cup playoff debut, presumably in game one of the coming first round, Cole will have made the post-season with his eighth NHL franchise.

It’s a remarkable record. Without a doubt, Cole knows first hand how hard teams that make the playoffs have to work.

Ottawa Senators sign forward Stephen Halliday to entry-level contract

Posted on March 23, 2024

OTTAWA, ONT- Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios announced today that the team has signed forward Stephen Halliday to a two-year, entry-level contract which will commence with the 2024-25 season. For the duration of 2023-24, Halliday has signed an amateur tryout agreement and will report to the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators.

A native of Ajax, Ont., Halliday, 21, recently completed his second season of college eligibility with the Ohio State University (Big-10) Buckeyes, where he led the team in both assists (26) and points (36) while ranking second in goals (10). He also registered 30 penalty minutes while skating in each of Ohio State’s 38 games.

Wright on track maturing game with Firebirds

Posted on March 21, 2024

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA – It only seems that Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Shane Wright is older than his birth certificate indicates.

Wright, after all, has been a household hockey name for years. Nothing has been normal or routine for him.

He was barely a teenager when he was already attracting attention as an emerging star in the ultra-competitive world of minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Area. His teammates with the Don Mills Flyers included the likes of eventual NHL first-rounders Brandt Clarke and Brennan Othmann. It was that kind of environment that Wright dominated.

Then came 2019 and Hockey Canada granting Wright exceptional-player status, a decision that allowed him to join Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League as a 15-year-old. He delivered on the hype, providing 39 goals and 66 points to win top rookie honors in both the OHL and the Canadian Hockey League.

Pierre Edouard Bellemare Joins NHL Player Inclusion Coalition

Posted on March 11, 2024

TORONTO, ONT – The National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) today announced the completion of a Leaguewide educational tour led by members of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition (NHL PIC). Beginning at the start of the 2023-24 season, NHL PIC members hosted one-hour guided conversations with active Players in all 32 locker rooms where discussions focused on diversity and inclusion, emphasizing how inclusion builds the foundation for stronger and higher-performing teams.

Compher receives standing ovation from Avalanche fans in return to Colorado

Posted on March 7, 2024

DENVER, CO – JT Compher was welcomed back to Colorado with open arms on Wednesday.

The veteran forward received a standing ovation from Colorado Avalanche fans in his first game at Ball Arena since signing with the Detroit Red Wings in the summer.

Avalanche fans got on their feet to applaud Compher after a tribute video of his highlights in Colorado aired on the arena video board.

Rangers Agree to Two-Year Contract with Connor Mackey

Posted on March 1, 2024March 2, 2024

NEW YORK, NY – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Connor Mackey on a two-year contract extension.

Mackey, 27, has recorded two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 36 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) and a team-high plus-13 rating. He has also played one game for the Rangers this season (Jan. 27 at Ottawa), where he was a plus-1 in 16:27 of ice time.

In three AHL seasons between the Wolf Pack and Stockton Heat, Mackey has compiled 63 points (10G-53A) and a plus-25 rating in 116 games. In 2021-22 with Stockton, he led team defensemen with 36 points (5G-31A) in 53 games. He was named an AHL All-Star in 2021.

Red Wings’ Compher Excited For PWHL Visit To Detroit

Posted on March 1, 2024

DETROIT, MI – The PWHL is headed to the Motor City for the league’s ‘Takeover Weekend’ March 16-17 when PWHL Boston and PWHL Ottawa drop the puck at Little Caesars Arena.

PWHL Toronto forward Jesse Compher’s brother, J.T. is a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He has had him following the PWHL avidly this season and is excited for the league to come to Detroit. His only regret about the PWHL’s visit to Detroit is that Jesse Compher and PWHL Toronto will be in Pittsburgh that weekend playing Montreal instead of Detroit.

J.T. Compher explains Red Wings fit; Avalanche fall 2-1 in overtime

Posted on February 23, 2024

DETROIT, MI – It’s strange to see J.T. Compher wearing a Red Wings jersey.

Compher played seven seasons for the Avalanche, and Thursday night in Detroit, he faced his old team. Compher played 20:57 of ice time with the Red Wings beating the Avs, 2-1, in overtime.

Compher still appreciates how the Avalanche and coach Jared Bednar shaped his NHL journey.

“He stuck with me and believed in me. He taught me the details and all the things it takes to be a good hockey player,” Compher said at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit before the game. “It wasn’t just him, though. It was the coaching staff and the other players on the team. The leaders like Gabe (Landeskog), Nate (MacKinnon), Mikko (Rantanen) and (Erik Johnson). Those guys all take it so seriously and treat hockey the right way. The way that it takes to win. … I’m super proud of my time there.”

Respect is mutual.

Connor Mackey’s spark a stark Rangers wake-up call

Posted on January 30, 2024

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Every game, every season and every team has a turning point, for better or for worse.

For the Rangers on Saturday night, it was Connor Mackey dropping the gloves with Senators captain Brady Tkachuk after the AHL call-up upended Ottawa’s darling third-overall pick, Tim Stützle, in the second period.