American Hockey League

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer It’s another deep collection of incoming AHL rookies this season, a group that comes complete with a class full of NHL first-round picks. Start with the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and it’s a who’s-who of young talent beginning their pro careers this season. Seven other first-rounders from

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed defenseman Libor Hajek to an American Hockey League contract for the 2023-24 season. Hajek, who attended training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins, skated in 24 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack last season, posting two goals and four assists. He added one assist in five Calder Cup Playoff contests.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover. Rathbone had one goal in two weekend games for the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to begin 2023-24. After missing most of his first pro season due to injury, Rathbone was

Phillips prefers to view it as proving the people who believed in him right, but the 25-year-old is used to being doubted because of his size. Generously listed at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, Phillips played in just three NHL games in seven seasons with the Flames organization, including two last season, when he led the Calgary

The Chicago Wolves have signed forward Max Comtois to an American Hockey League contract. Comtois, 24, was a second-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Draft and has collected 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points in 210 NHL games with the Ducks. Comtois has also skated in 35 games in

Goaltender Matt Tomkins became the 150th IceHogs alumni to reach the NHL on Oct. 15, 2023 when he started for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Ottawa Senators. Tomkins spent parts of three seasons from 2017 to 2021 in the Stateline area with Rockford and laced up the skates for total games with the IceHogs.

The Ajax, Ontario native has some NHL experience, having appeared with the Coyotes for a combined 30 games over the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. He’s amassed six goals and three assists over that span, bringing a degree of speed and strength to an Arizona lineup that prides itself on gritty, tough-nosed play. The ability to

The Colorado Eagles have signed forwards Joel Kiviranta and Peter Holland to American Hockey League contracts for the 2023-24 season. Both had attended training camp with the Colorado Avalanche. Kiviranta has played 163 games in the NHL with the Dallas Stars over the last four seasons, recording 16 goals and 12 assists. He also reached

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee today announced that San Jose Barracuda forward Ozzy Wiesblatt has been suspended for three (3) games as a consequence of an interference incident in a game vs. Rockford on Oct. 13. Wiesblatt will miss San Jose’s games today (Oct. 14) vs. Rockford and Oct. 20

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer In Hershey, they only raise championship banners. But this is pro hockey, and there is always another task ahead. So the Bears will celebrate their 2023 Calder Cup championship – the league-leading 12th in club history – with a banner-raising at Giant Center on Saturday night. Then they will host

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Opening night is here as the AHL’s 88th season gets underway with a 12-game slate. Here is a team-by-team look at storylines to watch across the AHL: The Abbotsford Canucks finished fourth in the Pacific Division before giving powerhouse Calgary a good fight in the playoffs. They have reigning Eddie

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League opens its 88th season of play tonight, with 12 games on the schedule to kick things off. All 32 clubs will play 72 games during a 2023-24 regular season that will run through April 21. From there, 23 teams will qualify for postseason play, with five rounds of

The San Jose Barracuda have signed forwards Justin Bailey and Tanner Kaspick to American Hockey League contracts for the 2023-24 season. Bailey enters his ninth pro season after collecting 19 goals and 13 assists in 58 games with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors a year ago. In 354 career AHL games with Bakersfield, Abbotsford, Utica, Lehigh

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … Hockey leagues across the United States and Canada have come together to form the Respect Hockey Culture Center – a centralized platform which provides access for players, coaches and employees to confidentially receive mental health support services and to report on incidents of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination. This unprecedented alliance includes

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Change is constant in the American Hockey League. Here is some of the change you might have missed as the AHL gets set for opening night on Friday. Lots of talented AHL players secured National Hockey League jobs coming out of training camp, including four members of the 2022-23 First

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer Each summer brings a parade of moves across the hockey world as National Hockey League front offices go about reconstructing their rosters and depth charts. At the AHL level, prospects also need the help that veterans can provide, and that experience is at a premium once the offseason arrives. NHL

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … As the National Hockey League opens its 2023-24 season, the American Hockey League is proud to have 583 graduates across the NHL’s 32 opening-day active rosters, making up more than 82 percent of the NHL’s initial player pool to begin its campaign. Many of last year’s notable AHL players have made the

The Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed defenseman John Ludvig off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Ludvig, 23, has skated in 70 AHL games over three pro seasons with the Charlotte Checkers and Syracuse Crunch, totaling five goals and 20 assists along with a plus-21 rating. He also has two assists in 10 Calder Cup Playoff contests.