University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers in the Pros
9/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
An update on the professional hockey whereabouts of former Golden Gophers.
Nick Angell, D
Will play the 2006-07 season with Bryns IF in Sweden.
P.J. Atherton, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Began in the Lightning training camp before being reassigned to the Springfield Falcons (AHL) camp.
Reggie Berg, F
Will play the 2006-07 season with the Florida Everblades (ECHL).
Stands as the Everblades’ all-time leading scorer with totals of 116-138--254 in 222 career games.
Keith Ballard, D, Phoenix Coyotes
Currently participating in the Coyotes training camp.
Had two shots and four penalty minutes in 3-1 loss to Edmonton in the Coyotes’ preseason opener (9/19).
Had one assist, two shots and six penalty minutes in 3-2 preseason win over Dallas (9/20).
Owns totals of 8-31--39 in 82 career NHL games.
Kris Chucko, F, Calgary Flames
Began in the Flames training camp before being reassigned to the Omaha Ak-Bar-Sen Knights (AHL) camp.
Ben Clymer, D/F, Washington Capitals
Currently participating in the Capitals training camp.
Had one assist in 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay in the Caps’ preseason opener (9/20).
Had one goal in the Capitals’ 3-1 loss to New Jersey (9/24).
Had three assists in the Caps’ 6-1 win over Philadelphia (9/26).
From washingtoncaps.com:
Wednesday’s game marked the return of Ben Clymer to his natural defense position. Converted to a wing position by the Lightning more than five years ago, Clymer has played almost exclusively up front since. He looked comfortable in his first game at his “old” position, using his body well and closing the gap on opposing forwards on a couple occasions.
“I thought he played well,” said Caps coach Glen Hanlon. “With Benny, we’re not going to try to achieve this in one big swoop. We’re going to take a look at the tape, break it down, give him some things to look at, say Okay, this is what you did well, this is what we’re going to work on, and we’ll go from there.’”
“It felt okay,” said Clymer. “There were some things that weren’t great, but I think there were some things that I’ll be able to build on after the scrimmages, which was nice to feel out there. Some of the reads on the rush and what not, I’ll need to get better at but that’s going to come with repetition. Being able to watch the video of tonight’s game tomorrow will help a ton. Just to be able to see from an overhead view what the truth is versus your perspective from your eye, because you’re so low to the ice you can’t see the depth of the play. Being able to recognize exactly what’s going on will be a good deal.”
For the night, Clymer logged 21:32 in ice time, including 9:06 of power play time. He finished with a minus-1, three shots on goal, two hits and a team-leading three blocked shots. He also picked up an assist on Matt Pettinger’s second period power play goal.
Owns totals of 45-64--109 in 372 career NHL games.
Won the 2004 Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Matt DeMarchi, D
Will play the 2006-07 season with Sibir Novosibirsk in Russia.
Gino Guyer, F, St. Louis Blues
Began in the Blues training camp before being reassigned to the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) camp.
Chris Harrington, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Began in the Maple Leafs training camp before being reassigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) camp.
Darby Hendrickson, F
Currently with EC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
Played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche.
Owns totals of 65-64--129 in 518 career NHL games.
Danny Irmen, F, Minnesota Wild
Began in the Wild training camp before being reassigned to the Houston Aeros (AHL) camp.
Played 6:36 in the Wild’s 3-2 win over Detroit in the preseason opener (9/19).
Craig Johnson, F
Currently with the DEG Metro Stars in Germany.
Played in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals.
Owns totals of 75-98--173 in 557 career NHL games.
Peter Kennedy, D
Will play the 2006-07 season with the New Mexico Scorpions (CHL).
Phil Kessel, F, Boston Bruins
Currently participating in the Bruins training camp.
Had two assists and was named the game’s third star in the Bruins’ 5-2 win over Montreal in the preseason opener (9/19).
Had two shots in the Bruins’ 3-1 win over Montreal (9/20).
Matt Koalska, F, New York Islanders
Began in the Islanders training camp before being reassigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) camp.
Has played in three career NHL games.
Ryan Kraft, F
Will play the 2006-07 season with the Kassel Huskies in Germany.
Owns totals of 0-1--1 in seven career NHL games.
Cory Laylin, F
Will play the 2006-07 season with the Fredrikshavn White Hawks in Germany.
Jordan Leopold, D, Colorado Avalanche
Expected to miss the first 3-5 games of the regular season after a hernia operation.
The Avs acquired Leopold, a 2006 second-round pick and a conditional second-round pick in either 2007 or 2008 from the Calgary Flames for left wing Alex Tanguay.
Helped Calgary to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
Member of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team.
Owns totals of 15-52--67 in 214 career NHL games.
Paul Martin, D, New Jersey Devils
Currently participating in the Devils training camp.
Does not yet have a signed contract signed with the Devils but will be allowed to participate in the majority of camp. Martin will not likely be able to participate in preseason games until signed.
Member (alternate) of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team.
Owns totals of 11-50--61 in 150 career NHL games
John Pohl, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Currently participating in the Maple Leafs training camp.
Had one shot in the Leafs’ 4-0 loss to Buffalo (9/18).
Had two shots in the Maple Leafs’ 3-1 win over Ottawa (9/20).
Has also been a member of the St. Louis Blues during his career.
Owns totals of 3-1--4 in eight career NHL games.
Grant Potulny, F, Ottawa Senators
Began in the Ottawa Senators training camp before being moved to the Binghamton Senators (AHL) camp.
Had one shot and a five-minute fighting major in the Sens’ 3-1 loss to Toronto in the preseason opener (9/20).
Had three shots in the Senators’ 4-3 loss to Philadelphia (9/23).
Ryan Potulny, F, Philadelphia Flyers
Began in the Flyers training camp before being reassigned to the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) camp.
Owns totals of 0-1--1 in two career NHL games.
Erik Rasmussen, F, New Jersey Devils
Currently participating in the Devils training camp.
Does not yet have a signed contract signed with the Devils but will be allowed to participate in the majority of camp.
Had two shots in the Devils’ 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers (9/19).
Had four penalty minutes in the Devils’ 2-1 loss to Philadelphia (9/21).
Has also been a member of the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings during his career.
Owns totals of 49-69--118 in 474 career NHL games.
Mike Ramsey
Currently as assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild.
Todd Richards
Currently the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL.
Played in eight career NHL games with the Hartford Whalers.
Troy Riddle, F
Free agent for the 2006-07 season.
Andy Sertich, F
Will likely play the 2006-07 season with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL).
Wyatt Smith, F, Minnesota Wild
Began in the Wild training camp before being reassigned to the Houston Aeros (AHL) camp.
Played 6:21 and had one shot in the Wild’s 3-2 win over Detroit in the preseason opener (9/19).
Has also been a member of the Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators and New York Islanders during his career.
Owns totals of 7-16--23 in 125 career NHL games.
Judd Stevens, D
Will play the 2006-07 season with Allsvenskan in Sweden.
Jeff Taffe, F, Phoenix Coyotes
Currently participating in the Coyotes training camp.
Played 16:20 in 3-1 loss to Edmonton in the Coyotes’ preseason opener (9/19).
Owns totals of 11-11--22 in 83 career NHL games.
Jake Taylor, D, New York Rangers
Currently participating in the Rangers training camp.
Played 14:53 and had one shot in the Rangers’ 2-0 win over New Jersey (9/20).
Barry Tallackson, F, New Jersey Devils
Currently participating in the Devils training camp.
Has been placed on the top line with Zach Parise and Scott Gomez during training camp.
Scored one goal in 5-0 win over Boston in the Devils’ preseason opener (9/17).
Had four shots in the Devils’ 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers (9/19).
Had two shots in the Devils’ 2-0 loss to the Rangers (9/20).
Owns totals of 1-1--2 in 10 career NHL games.
Thomas Vanek, F, Buffalo Sabres
Currently participating in the Sabres training camp.
Had an assist in the Sabres’ 4-0 win over Toronto in the preseason opener (9/18).
Had one shot in the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Columbus (9/19).
Had a hat trick in Buffalo’s 4-3 win over Montreal (9/22).
Had one shootout goal in the Sabres’ 3-2 win over Pittsburgh (9/23).
Owns totals of 25-23--48 in 81 career NHL games.
Jon Waibel
Currently an assistant coach with the Chicago Steel of the USHL.
Dan Welch, F
Currently with HC Morzine-Avoriaz in France.
Erik Westrum, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Currently participating in the Maple Leafs training camp.
Had two shots in the Leafs’ 4-0 loss to Buffalo (9/18).
Had three shots in the Maple Leafs’ 3-1 win over Ottawa (9/20).
Had two assists in the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 win over Montreal (9/23).
Has also been a member of the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild during his career.
Owns totals of 1-2--3 in 25 career NHL games.
