American Hockey League

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer First in scoring, first in the Central Division. That’s how this weekend begins for Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven as they help lead the Texas Stars into a two-game visit from the Chicago Wolves tonight and Saturday. At 11-5-2-1, the Stars have a four-point lead atop the Central Division and

by Nick Nollenberger | AHL On The Beat When the San Jose Sharks traded franchise icon Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 13, 2022, part of the compensation coming back the other way included promising young goaltender Eetu Makiniemi. Although it was a small sample size – just 14 games with the Chicago

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer The Chicago Blackhawks are counting on Drew Commesso to be a key part of their future. Chicago went for the goaltender in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, after his second season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. He went on to play three years at Boston

by Alex Thomas | AHL On The Beat On July 1, 2023, Alex Belzile did something he had not done in exactly five years: change organizations. On the first day of free agency, Belzile inked a two-year contract with the New York Rangers that ended a five-year stint in the Montreal Canadiens organization. This opened

The New York Rangers have named Paul Mara as an assistant coach on the staff of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Mara will join interim head coach Steve Smith and assistant coach Jaime Tardif, effective immediately. Mara, 44, initially joined the Rangers on Aug. 25, 2023, as a player development assistant. He will continue to

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer It’s not always going to be pretty or a straight line, this organization-wide rebuilding effort for the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers brought in Daniel Briere as their new general manager after finishing 26th overall in the NHL standings in 2022-23 and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Adam Cracknell is still going. Why? Because he can, and he wants to. The Henderson Silver Knights forward is the oldest player in the American Hockey League this season at 38. He logged his 700th AHL game on Nov.3, and has skated in 1,166 regular-season and playoff games since beginning

AHL On The Beat Shave for Change is a fundraising initiative created by the Syracuse Crunch players to help support the team’s Change for Change program and raise funds for cancer research at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and Upstate Cancer Center. What began as a fundraising program during the month of November has been extended

Kent Johnson had just settled into playing for the Cleveland Monsters when he got the news Thursday that all AHL players hope to receive. Johnson, 21, was recalled by the Blue Jackets to replace Cole Sillinger, who sustained an undisclosed injury during a 4-2 loss Wednesday to the Montreal Canadiens. As Sillinger saw a specialist

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Only an injury and a brief NHL recall have been able to slow down Toronto Marlies forward Alex Steeves. The third-year pro out of the University of Notre Dame owns the AHL’s longest point streak of the season at 11 games and counting. He also has five goals in his

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Texas Stars forwards Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven and Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs have been selected as the league’s award winners for November. Bourque, the AHL Player of the Month, totaled 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 10 games in November, helping the Stars

Seconds after taking the ice Saturday night against Toronto, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jansen Harkins skated full speed into Maple Leafs defenseman William Lagesson, delivering a bruising hit along the neutral zone wall opposite both clubs’ benches. For Harkins, it was his first shift with the Penguins in five weeks dating to Oct. 18. After the

by Jared Shafran | AHL On The Beat One of the keys to a run of hot play during the month of November for the Ontario Reign, which saw the team go 6-3-1-1 and earn points in eight straight games from Nov. 8-25, is the team’s fourth line, which has been a big help at

The Toronto Marlies have announced that Rich Clune will join the club’s coaching staff for the remainder of the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach. He joins head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Michael Dyck as assistant Eric Wellwood remains on medical leave from the club. The former Marlies captain has served on the

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Hockey Fights Cancer is more than a work initiative for the American Hockey League head office. It’s personal, and it has been for the past 25 years. Cancer doesn’t quit, but neither does the hockey world. The NHL and the NHLPA formed Hockey Fights Cancer as a joint initiative in

by Nick Niedzielski | AHL On The Beat Perched near the top of a section of seats at every Charlotte Checkers home game you’ll find a group of off-ice officials, stationed in front of laptops and sheets of paper as they compile the statistics for the game on the ice. The two men leading that

The Buffalo Sabres have loaned goaltender Devon Levi to the Rochester Americans, their American Hockey League affiliate. Levi, 21, made his NHL debut with the Sabres last spring following two seasons at Northeastern University. He also won a silver medal with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and gold at the 2023 World

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee today announced the following suspensions: Calgary Wranglers forward Alex Gallant has been suspended for four (4) games as a consequence of a cross-checking incident in a game vs. Abbotsford on Nov. 26. Gallant will miss Calgary’s games on Friday (Dec. 1) and Sunday (Dec. 3)