Phantoms Sign Two More Players
September 13, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Adirondack Phantoms have announced that they have signed two forwards to American Hockey League contracts for the 2013-14 season. Chris VandeVelde and Doug Clarkson have both agreed to one-year deals.
Chris VandeVelde is a 26 year old center from Moorhead, Minnesota who is entering his fourth season of professional hockey. He has spent the past three years with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL with some call-ups to the Edmonton Oilers. The University of North Dakota product has played 28 career games in the NHL scoring one goal and two assists. He has played 194 career AHL games scoring 26 goals and 34 assists for 70 points.
Last year with Oklahoma City, he played in 57 games and scored seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points while registering 27 penalty minutes. The 6'2" tall 190 pounder with a lefty shot also played 11 games in the NHL with Edmonton recording zero points. His career high for goals came in his rookie season in 2010-11 when he scored 12 for Oklahoma City. In 2011-12 he set career highs for assists (16) and points (23).
VandeVelde was a four-year regular at the University of North Dakota from 2006-10 playing 166 games in his collegiate career scoring 52 goals and 65 assists for 117 points. He was named UND Male Athlete of the Year his senior season, 2009-10. VandeVelde was a fourth round selection of the Oilers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft out of his juniors team, the Lincoln (Neb.) Stars of the USHL. He made his NHL debut on March 17, 2011 for Edmonton against Phoenix and the following season scored his first career NHL goal on March 25, 2012 for the Edmonton Oilers at the Columbus Blue Jackets against current Flyers goaltender Steve Mason.
VandeVelde is the second player to join the organization from Oklahoma City and Edmonton. Veteran goaltender Yann Danis also spent the past couple of seasons with the Barons and Oilers. Together, they helped guide Oklahoma City to the Western Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the last two seasons.
Doug Clarkson brings a large frame to the Phantoms as he enters his second season of professional hockey checking in at 6'5" and 242 pounds. Last season as a rookie, he split time in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye and the Trenton Titans. The left-handed shooting Clarkson played 25 games with Toledo scoring four goals and four assists and was traded to the Trenton Titans in February where he played in five games and scoring zero points.
Doug is the younger brother of NHL veteran David Clarkson, currently of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has played 426 career games for the New Jersey Devils scoring 97 goals.
The 24-year-old previously played with Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario in the Canadian collegiate hockey ranks. He scored 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points with 77 penalty minutes in just 26 games played for the Lakers in 2011-12. In 2007-08 he played 48 games in Major Juniors with the Kitchener Rangers and Erie Otters.
Opening Night for the first home game of the 2013-14 season is Saturday, October 12 against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Purchase a special Opening Night Package for only $40 (plus tax) including two tickets to Opening Night, two flex tickets valid for any other home game at the Glens Falls Civic Center, and a commemorative pint glass celebrating the 25th season of AHL excitement in Glens Falls. Offer available while supplies last. Call the Phantoms to reserve your package at 518-480-3355.
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