ECHL ECHL

35 Former Players, 14 Coaches In Stanley Cup Playoffs

Published on April 14, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL has 35 former players and 14 former coaches on 15 of the 16 teams competing in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It is the fifth year in a row that there have been at least 30 former ECHL players and the seventh-consecutive season that over 25 players with ECHL experience have competed in the NHL postseason.

The ECHL has been represented on the last nine Stanley Cup champions and there are 14 former players who have their name engraved on the Stanley Cup: Dan Bylsma and Ruslan Fedotenko (Pittsburgh - 2009), Aaron Downey (Detroit - 2008), Francois Beauchemin and George Parros (Anaheim - 2007), Andrew Hutchinson and Chad Larose (Carolina - 2006), Ruslan Fedotenko, Nolan Pratt and Andre Roy (Tampa Bay - 2004), Corey Schwab (New Jersey - 2003), Manny Legace (Detroit - 2002), David Aebischer and Nolan Pratt (Colorado - 2001), Krzysztof Oliwa (New Jersey - 2000) and Kevin Dean (New Jersey - 1995). Fedotenko and Pratt are the only former ECHL players to have their name engraved twice on the Stanley Cup.

It is the sixth straight year that the ECHL has been represented by at least six coaches including Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma, who played in the ECHL with Greensboro in 1993-94 and last year led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup championship, and Washington's Bruce Boudreau, who led Mississippi to the Kelly Cup championship in 1999. Other former ECHL coaches in the Stanley Cup Playoffs include Philadelphia head coach Peter Laviolette, who became the first former ECHL coach to have his name on the Stanley Cup as head coach of Carolina in 2006; Chicago assistant coach Mike Haviland, who won the Kelly Cup in 2003 with Atlantic City and in 2005 with Trenton; and Buffalo associate coach Brian McCutcheon, who was the ECHL Coach of the Year in 1997.

Thirty-five ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Charlotte Checkers and Reading Royals defenseman Dean Arsene (Edmonton on Nov. 16), former Augusta, Greenville, Pensacola and Toledo goaltender Mike Brodeur (Ottawa on Dec. 19), former Wheeling Nailers left wing Luca Caputi (Pittsburgh on Jan. 5), former Idaho Steelheads left wing Richard Clune (Los Angeles on Feb. 11), former Gwinnett Gladiators and 2006 ECHL All-Star right wing Guillaume Desbiens (Vancouver on Oct. 11), former Cincinnati Cyclones center and 2008 ECHL Most Valuable Player David Desharnais (Montreal on Nov. 25), former Stockton Thunder and 2007 ECHL All-Star goaltender Devin Dubnyk (Edmonton on Nov. 28), former Dayton, Kalamazoo, Mississippi and South Carolina goaltender Jeremy Duchesne (Philadelphia on April 1), former Las Vegas Wranglers, Reading Royals and South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Deryk Engelland (Pittsburgh on Nov. 10), former Dayton Bombers defenseman Mark Flood (New York Islanders on March 25), former Louisiana IceGators defenseman Maxime Fortunus (Dallas on Dec. 19), former Dayton Bombers and Charlotte Checkers center Trevor Frischmon (Columbus on March 28), former Idaho Steelheads center Aaron Gagnon (Dallas on Oct. 16), former South Carolina Stingrays and Utah Grizzlies center Micheal Haley (New York Islanders on April 10), former Victoria Salmon Kings defenseman Shaun Heshka (Phoenix on Nov. 7), former Mississippi SeaWolves defenseman Scott Jackson (Tampa Bay on April 11), former Wheeling Nailers right wing Nick Johnson (Pittsburgh on Jan. 21), former Alaska Aces center Tomas Kana (Columbus on March 30), former Florida Everblades and Texas Wildcatters goaltender Anton Khudobin (Minnesota on Feb. 4), former Wheeling Nailers right wing David Laliberte (Philadelphia on Oct. 31), former Wheeling Nailers center Mark Letestu (Pittsburgh on Nov. 14), former Alaska and Las Vegas left wing and 2004 ECHL All-Star Charles Linglet (Edmonton on April 2), former Texas Wildcatters defenseman Maxim Noreau (Minnesota on April 8), former Stockton Thunder right wing Colin McDonald (Edmonton on Nov. 27), former Stockton Thunder center Ryan O'Marra (Edmonton on Nov. 10), former Reading Royals right wing Scott Parse (Los Angeles on Oct. 24), former Florida Everblades and 2008 ECHL All-Star goaltender Justin Peters (Carolina on Feb. 6), former Charlotte Checkers center Tom Pyatt (Montreal on Nov. 5), former Johnstown Chiefs defenseman Jay Rosehill (Toronto on Oct. 1), former Bakersfield Condors right wing Dan Sexton (Anaheim on Dec. 4), former Bakersfield Condors center MacGregor Sharp (Anaheim on Nov. 19), former Idaho Steelheads left wing Francis Wathier (Dallas on Oct. 21), former South Carolina Stingrays center Kyle Wilson (Washington on Dec. 15) and former Cincinnati Cyclones right wing J.T. Wyman (Montreal on Nov. 24) and former Charlotte Checkers and Idaho Steelheads goaltender Matt Zaba (New York Rangers on Jan. 23).

The ECHL had a record 78 players on NHL opening-day rosters, surpassing the 71 from a year ago and marking the seventh year in a row that there have been over 50 former ECHL players on opening-day rosters. Every ECHL team has an affiliation with an NHL team and the league has affiliations with 28 of the 30 NHL teams, marking the 13th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

There have been 443 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including a record 52 who made their debut in 2008-09. The ECHL has had 251 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 187 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last five seasons for an average of more than 35 per year.

There were six players who played in the ECHL and the NHL this season: Kyle Calder with Bakersfield and Anaheim, Tomas Kana with Alaska and Columbus, Jeremy Duchesne with Kalamazoo and Philadelphia, Dan Sexton with Bakersfield and Anaheim, MacGregor Sharp with Bakersfield and Anaheim and Matt Zaba with Charlotte and the New York Rangers.

The first ECHL player to play in the NHL was Johnstown Chiefs goaltender and current New York Islanders head coach Scott Gordon, who played his first game with the Quebec Nordiques against Buffalo on Jan. 30, 1990. The 100th player honor is shared by Jean Sebastien Aubin and Manny Legace, who both made their debut on Oct. 21, 1998 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings, respectively. The 200th player was Brett McLean with the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 10, 2002 while the 300th was David Liffiton with the New York Rangers on Apr. 11, 2006 and the 400th was Phil Oreskovic on Mar. 9, 2009 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

There are 29 coaches with an ECHL background are working behind the benches of teams in the NHL including Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau, New York Islanders head coach Scott Gordon, Philadelphia Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Claude Noel and St. Louis Blues head coach Davis Payne while former ECHL player Dan Bylsma is head coach of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. It is the fifth consecutive season that there have been 11 or more coaches with an ECHL background working in the NHL. Boudreau, who coached Mississippi for three seasons winning the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2007-08 becoming the first former ECHL coach to receive the award.

There are 20 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2009-10 with referees David Banfield, Francis Charron, Chris Ciamaga, Ghislain Herbert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh, and linesmen Steve Barton, Bryan Pancich, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak and Jay Sharrers.

Former ECHL broadcasters working in the National Hockey League include John Ahlers and Steve Carroll of the Anaheim Ducks, Tom Callahan of the Nashville Predators, Dave Goucher of the Boston Bruins, Chris Kerber of the St. Louis Blues, Dave Mishkin of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bob McElligott and John Michael of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Rob Simpson, who is a producer/host for The NHL Network.

Ryan Stanzel and Jeremy Zager, who were both recipients of the ECHL Media Relations Director of the Year award, are working in the communications department for the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings, respectively. Former ECHL assistant director of communications Joe Siville and Kelly Murray are now with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals, respectively, while former ECHL director of communications Jason Rothwell is the creative director for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Former ECHL and current Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was the recipient of the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL and was also presented the William Jennings Trophy with teammate Manny Fernandez as the goaltenders finishing the season having surrendered the fewest goals. Thomas was also named First Team All-NHL after registering a career-high 36 wins while leading the NHL with a goals-against average of 2.10 and a save percentage of .933 to help the Bruins finish with the most wins (53) and points (116) since 1971-72.

Former ECHL Coaches and Players In Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Boston Bruins (Reading Royals)
Assistant coach Geoff Ward (Arkansas, 1999-00), Michael Ryder (Tallahassee, 2000-01 and Mississippi, 2001-02) and Tim Thomas (Birmingham, 1997-98)

Buffalo Sabres
Associate coach Brian McCutcheon (Columbus, 1996-97), Matt Ellis (Toledo, 2002-03) and Patrick Lalime (Hampton Roads, 1994-95)

Chicago Blackhawks (Toledo Walleye)
Assistant coach Mike Haviland (Richmond, 1990-91; Winston-Salem, 1990-91; Trenton, 1999-2001 and 2004-05 and Atlantic City, 2001-04) and assistant coach John Torchetti (Carolina, 1988-89; Winston-Salem, 1989-1991 and Greensboro, 1993-95)

Colorado Avalanche (Charlotte Checkers)
Chris Durno (Gwinnett, 2003-06), Matt Hendricks (Florida, 2004-05), David Koci (Wheeling, 2001-03) and Cody McLeod (San Diego, 2005-06)

Los Angeles Kings (Ontario Reign)
Assistant coach Jamie Kompon (Hampton Roads, 1989-90; Cincinnati, 1990-91 and Winston-Salem, 1990-91), Richard Clune (Idaho, 2007-08), Raitis Ivanans (Pensacola, 1999-00; Toledo, 2001-02 and Baton Rouge, 2001-02), Scott Parse (Reading, 2007-08) and Jonathan Quick (Reading, 2007-08)

Montreal Canadiens (Cincinnati Cyclones)
Scott Gomez (Alaska, 2004-05), Jaroslav Halak (Long Beach, 2005-06), Glen Metropolit (Nashville, 1995-96 and Pensacola, 1996-97) and Tom Pyatt (Charlotte, 2007-08)

Nashville Predators (Cincinnati Cyclones)
Assistant coach Peter Horachek (Nashville, 1990-91 and Trenton 2001-02), Francis Bouillon (Wheeling, 1996-97), Dan Ellis (Idaho, 2003-04) and Jerred Smithson (Trenton, 2000-01)

New Jersey Devils (Trenton Devils)
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (Trenton, 2006-08)

Ottawa Sentaors (Elmira Jackals)
Chris Neil (Mobile, 1999-00)

Philadelphia Flyers (Kalamazoo Wings)
Head coach Peter Laviolette (Wheeling, 1997-98), Daniel Carcillo (Wheeling, 2005-06) and Riley Cote (Dayton, 2003-04)

Phoenix Coyotes (Las Vegas Wranglers)
Paul Bissonnette (Wheeling, 2005-08), Vern Fiddler (Arkansas 2000-01 and Roanoke 2001-02), Jason Labarbera (Charlotte, 2000-02) and Daniel Winnik (Phoenix, 2006-07)

Pittsburgh Penguins (Wheeling Nailers)
Head coach Dan Bylsma (Greensboro, 1992-94) and Ruslan Fedotenko (Trenton, 1999-00)

San Jose Sharks (Kalamazoo Wings)
Assistant coach Jay Woodcroft (Jackson, 1999-00), Assistant coach Matt Shaw (Mobile, 1997-98), Goaltending coach Corey Schwab (Cincinnati, 1991-92), Thomas Greiss (Fresno, 2006-07) and Jay Leach (Mississippi, 2001-02; Augusta 2002-03; Long Beach 2003-04 and Trenton 2003-05)

Vancouver Canucks (Victoria Salmon Kings)
Alexandre Burrows (Greenville 2002-03; Baton Rouge 2002-03 and Columbia 2003-05)

Washington Capitals (South Carolina Stingrays)
Head coach Bruce Boudreau (Mississippi, 1996-99), Assistant coach Bob Woods (Johnstown, 1990-94; Hampton Roads 1995-96; Mobile 1996-97; Tallahassee 1997-98 and Mississippi 1998-2005), Goaltending coach Arturs Irbe (Johnstown, 2003-04), Joe Corvo (Hampton Roads, 1998-99), Quintin Laing (Jackson, 2000-02), Tyler Sloan (Dayton, 2002-03 and 2004-05 and Las Vegas 2005-06) and Dave Steckel (Reading, 2004-05)

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