ECHL ECHL

190 Players, 13 Coaches Represent ECHL In AHL Playoffs

April 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL is well represented in the Calder Cup 2004 Playoffs with 190 players on the rosters and 13 former coaches behind the benches of the teams. Each of the 20 American Hockey League teams in the postseason had no less than four ECHL players on their roster and 10 of the teams had more than 10 players. Worcester, the AHL affiliate of Peoria, has the most ECHL players on its roster with 15 and its head coach is Don Granato, who led Peoria to the Kelly Cup Championship in 2000 and was named outstanding coach of the AHL in 2001.

There has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup Champion each of the past 14 seasons, and in 2003 there were five ECHL players on the Houston roster, including Playoff MVP Johan Holmqvist.

Claude Noel, who was named ECHL Coach of the Year with Toledo in 2002-03, is the head coach of Milwaukee. Noel was named outstanding coach of the AHL for 2003-04 becoming the fourth ECHL coach in a row and the fifth ever to win the AHL coaching honor.

Former Charlotte goaltender Jason LaBarbera, who is playing for Hartford in the postseason, was named Most Valuable Player of the AHL. LaBarbera became the fourth ECHL player to earn the honor joining Eric Boguniecki in 2001-02, Martin Brochu in 1999-2000, and Brad Smyth in 1995-96.

There were former ECHL coaches behind the benches of 14 of the 28 teams in the AHL and all 28 teams had an ECHL player take the ice for them in 2003-04. The ECHL had affiliation agreements with 21 of the 28 teams in the AHL and there were over 90 players on AHL contracts in the ECHL in 2003-04. There were more than 220 players that played in both the ECHL and the AHL and the ECHL had 425 call-ups, involving 234 players, to the AHL during the regular season. A call-up is defined as a player who is either recalled or loaned from a team in the ECHL to a team in the AHL, and there can be multiple call-ups for an individual player.

ECHL Players On 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs Rosters
* - In Residence

Binghamton (5) - Andy Hedlund (Trenton, 2001-03), David Hymovitz (Columbus (Ohio), 1996-97), Arpad Mihaly (Wheeling, 2000-04), Peter Smrek (Peoria, 1999-2000) and Andrew Allen (Dayton, 2000-01 and 2002-03; Macon and Jackson, 2001-02 and Trenton, 2002-03).

Bridgeport (13) - Assistant Coach David Baseggio (Charlotte, 2000-01), Luke Curtin (Baton Rouge, 1998-2000 and Atlantic City, 2001-04), Jay Leach (Mississippi, 2001-02; Augusta, 2002-03 and Long Beach and Trenton, 2003-04), Mike Souza (Florence and Reading, 2003-04), Randy Perry (Louisiana, 2001-02 and Bakersfield and Greensboro, 2003-04), Cail MacLean (Jacksonville, 1997-99 and Trenton, 1999-2002), Ben Guite (Tallahassee, 2000-01), Kevin Colley (Charlotte, 1999-2000; Dayton, 1999-2000; Pensacola and New Orleans, 2000-01 and Atlantic City, 2001-03), Brandon Smith (Dayton, 1994-95), Dieter Kochan (Louisville, 1997-98), Ryan Kraft (Richmond, 1998-2000), Graham Belak (Trenton, 2001-03 and Cincinnati, 2002-03), Eric Manlow (Columbus (Ohio), 1996-97 and Florida, 1998-2000) and Mike Bayrack (Jackson, 1999-2000; Greensboro, 1999-2000 and 2002-04 and Toledo, 2002-03).

Chicago (12) - Eric Healey (Jackson, 2001-02), Zdenek Blatny (Greenville, 2001-02), Shawn Heins (Mobile, 1995-97), Brendan Yarema (South Carolina, 1995-96 and Charlotte, 2002-03), Luke Sellars (Greenville, 2001-03), *Paul Flache (Greenville, 2002-03 and Gwinnett, 2003-04), *Kevin Doell (Gwinnett, 2003-04), *Evan Nielsen (Gwinnett, 2003-04), *Anthony Aquino (Gwinnett, 2003-04), *Tyler Masters (Cincinnati, 2003-04), *Doug Wright (Las Vegas, 2003-04) and *Michael Garnett (Greenville, 2002-03 and Gwinnett, 2003-04).

Cincinnati (8) - Keith Aucoin (Florida, 2001-02), Sheldon Brookbank (Mississippi, 2001-02), Josh Gratton (San Diego, 2003-04), Dan Bylsma (Greensboro, 1992-94), Andy Reierson (San Diego, 2003-04), Igor Pohanka (San Diego, 2003-04), Eddie Ferhi (San Diego, 2003-04) and *Brian Gornick (San Diego, 2003-04).

Cleveland (8) - Head Coach Roy Sommer (Roanoke Valley, 1991-92 and Richmond, 1992-96), Assistant Coach David Cunniff (Jacksonville, 1996-97; Raleigh, 1996-98, Louisiana, 2001-02 and Richmond 2001-02), Shawn Mather (New Orleans, 2001-02 and Johnstown, 2002-04), Willie Levesque (Johnstown, 2003-04), Pat Rissmiller (Cincinnati, 2002-03), Yuri Moscevsky (Toledo, 2001-02 and Mississippi, 2002-03), Nick Bootland (Cincinnati, 2001-03), Nolan Schaefer (Fresno, 2003-04), Steve Hildenbrand (Johnstown, 2002-04) and Greg Labenski (Toledo, 1997-98; Dayton, 2000-01 and Louisiana and Cincinnati, 2002-03).

Grand Rapids (11) - Assistant Coach Greg Ireland (Dayton, 1998-03), Nathan Robinson (Toledo, 2002-03), Ryan Bonni (Columbia, 2001-02 and Greensboro, 2003-04), Aaron Schneekloth (South Carolina, 2001-03), David Van Drunen (Baton Rouge, 1997-98; Dayton 1998-99 and Mobile, 1999-02), Matt Ellis (Toledo, 2002-03), Ryan Barnes (Toledo, 2000-02), Darryl Bootland (Toledo, 2002-03), Joey MacDonald (Toledo, 2001-02), Nic Bilotto (Charlotte, 2001-04 and Mississippi, 2003-04), Marc Lamothe (Wheeling, 1994-95) and Kory Karlander (Columbus (Ohio), 1995-96; Louisville, 1996-97; Raleigh, 1996-98 and Peoria, 1998-99).

Hamilton (10) - Andrew Archer (Columbus, 2003-04), Gordie Dwyer (New Orleans, 1998-99), Marc-Andre Thinel (Lexington, 2002-03 and Columbus, 2003-04), Rene Vydareny (Columbia, 2001-02), Francois Beauchemin (Mississippi, 2001-02), Christian Larrivee (Columbus, 2003-04), Jean-Francois Damphousse (Augusta, 1999-2000), Olivier Michaud (Columbus, 2003-04), Ben Carpentier (Charlotte, 1998-2001) and Matt Shasby (Columbus, 2003-04).

Hartford (14) - Assistant Coach Nick Fotiu (Nashville, 1992-94 and Johnstown, 1995-98), Jayme Filipowicz (Richmond, 2002-03), Matt Kinch (Charlotte, 2001-02), Brandon Cullen (Charlotte, 2002-04), Lucas Lawson (2003-04), Layne Ulmer (Charlotte, 2001-02), Benoit Dusablon (Johnstown, 2000-01; Tallahassee, 2000-01 and Charlotte, 2001-02 and 2003-04), Jason MacDonald (Toledo, 1995-96), Lawrence Nycholat (Jackson, 2000-01), Phil Osaer (Peoria, 2001-02; Trenton and Louisiana, 2002-03), Ryan Cuthbert (Charlotte, 2003-04), Jason LaBarbera (Charlotte, 2000-02), Craig Weller (Charlotte, 2002-03), Cory Larose (Jackson, 2000-01) and Stephen Valiquette (Hampton Roads, 1998-99 and Trenton, 1999-2000).

Houston (9) - Assistant Coach Matt Shaw (Mobile, 1997-98), Jason Beckett (Trenton, 2000-02), Kevin Mitchell (Louisiana, 2001-04), Jan Vodrazka (Richmond, 1996-97 and Florida, 2001-02), Derek Boogaard (Louisiana, 2002-03), Frederic Cloutier (Louisiana, 2001-04), Maxime Fortunus (Louisiana, 2003-04), Johan Holmqvist (Charlotte, 2002-03), Kyle Kettles (Louisiana 2002-03) and *Ben Storey (Lexington, 2002-03 and Louisiana, 2003-04).

Manchester (12) - Head Coach Bruce Boudreau (Mississippi, 1996-99), Milan Hnilicka (Richmond, 1993-94), Richard Seeley (Trenton, 2000-01), Jerred Smithson (Trenton, 2000-01), Chris Schmidt (Mississippi, 1996-97 and 1998-99), Ryan Flinn (Reading, 2001-02), Leon Hayward (Pensacola, 2001-02; Richmond, 2002-03; Reading, 2003-04), Sam Ftorek (Augusta, 1999-2000; Mobile, 2000-01; Greensboro, 2002-04), Jeff Giuliano (Reading, 2002-03), Doug Nolan (Dayton, 2000-03), Greg Koehler (Florida, 1998-99), Adam Hauser (Jackson, 2002-03 and Reading, 2003-04) and Mathieu Chouinard (Peoria, 2002-03 and Reading, 2003-04).

Milwaukee (8) - Head Coach Claude Noel (Roanoke, 1990-91; Dayton, 1991-93 and Toledo, 2002-03), Brian Finley (Toledo, 2002-03), Andrew Hutchinson (Toledo, 2002-03), Simon Gamache (Greenville, 2001-02), Raitis Ivanans (Pensacola, 1999-2000; Toledo, 2001-02 and Baton Rouge, 2001-02), Nathan Lutz (Reading, 2001-03 and Toledo, 2002-03), Vernon Fiddler (Arkansas, 2000-01 and Roanoke, 2001-02), Wade Flaherty (Greensboro, 1989-90) and *Alexandre Jacques (Toledo, 1997-98 and 2000-04).

Norfolk (5) - Quintin Laing (Jackson, 2001-02), Johnathan Aitken (Jackson, 2001-02), Ajay Baines (Greenville, 1999-2000), Marty Wilford (Columbus (Ohio), 1997-98) and Jason Morgan (Mississippi, 1996-97 and Florida, 1999-2001).

Philadelphia (12) - Assistant Coach Kjell Samuelsson (Trenton, 1999-2000), Kirk Furey (Atlantic City, 2001-04), B.J. Abel (Trenton, 2003-04), Joey Hope (Trenton, 2003-04), James Laux (Trenton, 2003-04), Mark Murphy (Trenton, 1999-2000), Pete Vandermeer (Columbus (Ohio), 1996-98; Richmond, 1997-98 and 1999-2000 and Trenton, 2001-02), Ben Stafford (Trenton, 2001-02), Boyd Kane (Charlotte, 1998-2001), Neil Little (Johnstown, 1994-95), *Chris Houle (Trenton, 2003-04), *Nick Deschenes (Trenton, 2003-04) and *Mathieu Brunelle (Trenton, 2003-04).

Portland (6) - Assistant Coach Mark Kumpel (Nashville, 1994-96 and Dayton, 1996-98), Mike Vigilante (Mobil, 2001-02; Pensacola, 2002-03; Jackson, 2002-03; and Gwinnett 2003-04), J.F. Fortin (Hampton Roads, 1999-2000 and Richmond, 2000-01), Tim Branham (Johnstown, 2002-03 and Texas, 2003-04), Garret Stroshein (Mobile, 2001-02 and Richmond, 2002-03), Graham Mink (Richmond, 2001-02) and Rastislav Stana (Richmond, 2000-02).

Providence (9) - Head Coach Scott Gordon (Roanoke, 1998-2000), Robert Liscak (Augusta and Trenton, 2003-04), Martin Wilde (Trenton, 2003-04), Carl Corazzini (Atlantic City, 2003-04), Pat Leahy (Trenton, 2001-02), Peter Metcalf (Atlantic City, 2002-03 and Trenton, 2003-04), Mike Scott (Atlantic City, 2001-03; Mississippi, 2002-03 and Alaska, 2003-04), Peter Hamerlik (Cincinnati, 2002-03 and Augusta, Reading and Trenton, 2003-04), Brendan Walsh (Jackson, 2000-01; Wheeling, 2001-02 and Atlantic City, 2003-04) and Tim Thomas (Birmingham, 1996-97).

Rochester (4) - Scott Ricci (Birmingham, 1997-98), Geoff Peters (Columbus, 2001-02; Trenton, 2001-02 and Reading, 2002-03), Jeff Hutchins (Mississippi, 2002-04) and Steve Lingren (Dayton, 1994-97)

Syracuse (10) - Ben Knopp (Dayton, 2002-03), Derrick Walser (Johnstown, 1998-2000), Karl Goehring (Dayton, 2001-02), Paul Traynor (Raleigh, 1997-98; South Carolina, 1998-99 and 2001-02; Charlotte, and Trenton 2002-03), Janne Jokila (Dayton, 2003-04), Shawn Limpright (Roanoke, 2002-04), Kent McDonell (Dayton, 2000-01), Tyler Sloan (Dayton, 2002-03), Brandon Sugden (Dayton, 1998-2000; Tallahassee and Peoria 2000-01) and Andrew Penner (Dayton, 2003-04).

Toronto (12) - Head Coach Geoff Ward (Arkansas, 1999), Chad Hinz (Tallahassee, 1999-2000), J.J. Hunter (Toledo, 2000-01 and Columbus, 2001-04), Michael Henrich (Tallahassee, 2000-01), Dan Baum (Columbus, 2003-04), Mike Bishai (Columbus, 2002-03), Peter Hogan (Florida, 2000-02; Richmond, 2001-03 and Columbus, 2003-04), Sean McAslan (Columbus, 2001-03), Mike Morrison (Columbus, 2002-03), Jan Horacek (Peoria, 2000-01), J-F Plourde (Columbus, 2003-04), Mathieu Roy (Columbus, 2003-04) and Tomas Micka (Columbus, 2003-04).

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7) - Darcy Robinson (Wheeling, 2001-03), Michel Ouellet (Wheeling, 2002-03), Marquis Mathieu (Wheeling, 1993-94 and 1997-98; Raleigh and Toledo, 1994-95; Johnstown and Birmingham, 1995-96; Baton Rouge Pensacola, 2002-03), David Koci (Wheeling, 2001-03), Pauli Levokari (Greenville, 2003-04), Martin Brochu (Wheeling, 1995-96 and 2003-04) and Andy Chiodo (Wheeling, 2003-04)

Worcester (15) - Head Coach Don Granato (Columbus (Ohio), 1997-99 and Peoria, 1999-2000), Blake Evans (Peoria, 2001-02), Ernie Hartlieb (Dayton, 2000-01 and Arkansas, 2001-03), Mike Glumac (Pee Dee, 2002-03), Curtis Sanford, G (Peoria, 2000-02), Terry Virtue (Roanoke Valley, 1991-92; Louisville, 1991-93 and Wheeling, 1992-94), Trevor Byrne (Peoria, 2003-04), Greg Black (Peoria, 2003-04), Mitch Fritz (Tallahassee, 2000-01 and Columbus, 2001-04), Brendan Brooks (Mississippi, 1997-98; Dayton, 2000-01; Reading and Macon, 2001-02 and Peoria, 2002-04), Jake Moreland (Atlantic City, 2002-04), Mike Stuart (Peoria, 2002-03), Steve McLaren (South Carolina, 1994-95), Colin Hemingway (Peoria, 2003-04), Brett Scheffelmaier (Peoria, 2003-04) and Nick Lent (Columbus, 2001-02; Richmond, 2002-03 and Reading, 2003-04).

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