April’s CHL Alumni Roundup
Sports remain on pause as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but Canadian Hockey League alumni still found ways to stay active and in the news.
Here’s a look back at some of their highlights:
Reigning Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano (Owen Sound Attack) of the Calgary Flames speaks for us all with words of support for healthcare workers and others on the frontlines keeping us safe. He also stresses the importance of hand washing and social distancing to help stop the coronavirus spread.
https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1252039279162736640
Another important message was delivered by Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Oceanic) offering love and support to everyone in his home province of Nova Scotia affected by the violent tragedy that claimed the life of RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, among others.
Cole Harbour, N.S. native Sidney Crosby sends his love and support back home to grieving Nova Scotia ❤️@CBCNS pic.twitter.com/kjypBXbadA
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) April 25, 2020
Adding to the difficult times last month was the sad passing of Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave (Swift Current Broncos). The entire hockey world mourned the loss of the 25-year-old former WHL captain who had been placed in a medically-induced coma following surgery for a brain bleed.
The NHL mourns the passing of @EdmontonOilers forward Colby Cave. https://t.co/oJH0WO7lBq pic.twitter.com/Pbq6wV67Ep
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 11, 2020
Despite the tragedies and disappointments of being away from the rink, CHL alumni have done their best to stay optimistic, active, and through the power of social media have also found ways to entertain their fans by providing unique perspectives of every day life at home. Like Max Jones (London Knights) of the Anaheim Ducks who brings new meaning to #HockeyAtHome.
Max Jones (@Jones_Max19) is ready to go at ANY TIME. #HockeyAtHome
(📸: IG/maxjones98) pic.twitter.com/9lRFH763l5
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2020
Max’s former teammate Mitch Marner (London Knights) of the Toronto Maple Leafs shows us he’s still working hard on his game with a little help from his dog. Detroit Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and Phillip Danault (Moncton Wildcats) of the Montreal Canadiens are also keeping busy with a stick in their hand on the street and on some different ice.
Hockey players are a different breed these days pic.twitter.com/KGRN1KLGKY
— Mitchell Marner (@Marner93) April 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1255498364323495937
https://twitter.com/phildanault/status/1253332829691195398
The boundaries were also pushed on the popular #HockeyAtHome hashtag to showcase players in a variety of other activities like Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters) rollerblading with his dog, Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes) perfecting his bean bag toss, Carey Price (Tri-City Americans) practicing his fishing cast, Tyler Bertuzzi (Guelph Storm) showing off his golf game, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (Quebec Remparts) having fun in the pool, Michael Grabner (Spokane Chiefs) pumping some serious iron, Dustin Brown (Guelph Storm) in the kitchen, and Andrew Ference (Portland Winterhawks) teaching us some composting techniques.
Smol legs = Maxmium Speed 🐶 #HockeyAtHome
(🎥 Alex DeBrincat, @Brinksy97) pic.twitter.com/DZRdGNoTZT
— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2020
Samuel Girard (@girardsam94) n'est pas seulement bon au hockey… il est INCROYABLE au jeu de poches!!! 🎯😱😱🎯#GoAvsGo
🎥: Tony Girard/FB pic.twitter.com/PsJrWaFxpT
— LNH (@LNH_FR) April 22, 2020
Carey Price: Master Caster 🎣 #HockeyAtHome
(🎥 @CP0031) pic.twitter.com/0Ip2MBOA6Y
— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2020
Tyler Bertuzzi's (@tylerbertuzzi) trick shot game stays 💯. #HockeyAtHome
(🎥 IG/theaussie_aspen) pic.twitter.com/WLHf01XLFk
— NHL (@NHL) April 20, 2020
Locals only, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (@Vlasic44). 🏄🤣 #HockeyAtHome
(🎥 IG/mrsvlasic) pic.twitter.com/6wJ5QW1Jd4
— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2020
Leg day? Yeah, Michael Grabner's heard of it. 💪 #HockeyAtHome
(🎥 @grabs40, @ArizonaCoyotes) pic.twitter.com/1aH38GmasD
— NHL (@NHL) April 20, 2020
The form @DustinBrown23 is displaying is FLAWLESS. 😂 #HockeyAtHome
(🎥: @LAKings) pic.twitter.com/6xf7bAvcf1
— NHL (@NHL) April 14, 2020
On this #EarthDay, Andrew Ference (@Ferknuckle) is perfecting his at-home composting. ♻️ #NHLGreen pic.twitter.com/NK6LWBptCa
— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2020
When it comes to social media, nobody has been better during the pandemic than Habs forward Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants), specifically on the platform TikTok with entertaining videos like the one below.
.@BGALLY17 has really been working on his French. 😂
🎥: b.gally11/ TikTok pic.twitter.com/vI6djFmo3i
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2020
Even away from the rink the competitive spirit hasn’t been lost among 23 former CHL stars who make up nearly half of the NHL’s 50 participants going head-to-head in the league’s Player Gaming Challenge.
Cam Fowler (Windsor Spitfires), Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats), Jake DeBrusk (Red Deer Rebels), Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights), Warren Foegele (Erie Otters), Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters), Jamie Oleksiak (Niagara IceDogs), Madison Bowey (Kelowna Rockets), Anthony Mantha (Val-d’Or Foreurs), Caleb Jones (Portland Winterhawks), Darnell Nurse (Soo Greyhounds), Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs), Michael Amadio (North Bay Battalion), Devan Dubnyk (Kamloops Blazers), Victor Mete (London Knights), Nick Suzuki (Guelph Storm), Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts), Matt Martin (Sarnia Sting), Chris Tierney (London Knights), Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants), Robert Thomas (Hamilton Bulldogs), Tyler Johnson (Spokane Chiefs), and Ryan Reaves (Brandon Wheat Kings) will all represent their clubs in the EA Sports NHL20 tournament for bragging rights and to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts.
The NHL Player Gaming Challenge presented by @Honda will pit nearly 50 players in head-to-head series of @EASPORTSNHL to support @CDCFound. Details: https://t.co/459jzJEyDk pic.twitter.com/7c5h1BmOqO
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 23, 2020
Another player in the spotlight is the charismatic P.K Subban (Belleville Bulls) who looks more comfortable than ever behind the camera in his role as host of NHL Hat Trick Trivia, a new weekly game show that welcomes special guests and features fan interaction focused around hockey trivia from home.
NHL Hat Trick Trivia Hosted by P.K. Subban is a new weekly show premiering April 11. The 30-minute show will feature fans answering a trio of hockey trivia questions from their homes. https://t.co/qcp61VlgcK
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) April 9, 2020
Everyone has a different story about how they’re coping during the pandemic or how they’re connected to frontline workers. But as we learn in this New York Islanders catch up story with Ryan Pulock (Brandon Wheat Kings) his thoughts are on his hometown more than ever where girlfriend Paige is an ER nurse.
.@rpulock has a special appreciation for the healthcare heroes working on the front lines. His girlfriend Paige is an ER nurse in Brandon, Manitoba. 💙 https://t.co/PJk2RA94Mw
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 21, 2020
Another New York Islander defenceman thinking about home is Noah Dobson. And by home we mean his home away from home during the first two years of his CHL career in Bathurst where he won a Memorial Cup title with the Titan. The NHL rookie recently shared a message for fans from in New York.
Another former captain with a message for Titan fans. This time it's @_ND53 checking in from New York!
Un autre ancien capitaine avec un message pour les fans du Titan. Cette fois, c'est Noah Dobson depuis New York!#StayHome #RestezChezVous pic.twitter.com/wQFv1ngME8
— Titan Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) April 9, 2020
The impact a CHL community has on a player’s life, even after they’re gone, is truly special. This is certainly the case for Jeff Skinner (Kitchener Rangers) who made quite the difference with his recent support for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region donating a symbolic $53,000 in honour of the number he proudly wore for the blueshirts.
There isn't enough room in this Tweet to list the 53 reasons we are honoured to have @JeffSkinner as an alumnus, but let’s start with his support of @FoodBankWatReg for the increased demand they are preparing for during this health crisis.
📰 https://t.co/FcsPs00NT7#RTown pic.twitter.com/wW4p9lx6fB
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) April 7, 2020
Making a difference doesn’t always need money. Just ask the young hockey players in Truro, Nova Scotia, who were uplifted when their hometown hero Brad Marchand (Halifax Mooseheads) dropped in with a surprise digital visit during the team’s year-end video call.
The Truro Peewee C Orange Bearcats of @HockeyNS got a big surprise from @Bmarch63, who dropped in on their team's year-end video call as part of their #HockeyComesTogether event.https://t.co/dSAcFyPCf7
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) April 26, 2020
NHL superstar Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) is trying to make a difference by inspiring fitness among fans of all ages with help from with his trainer Gary Roberts (Guelph Platers). McDavid posted several workouts throughout the month of April with exercises that can be completed at home.
Final workout of the month! Hope you guys enjoyed them. What would you like to see next? #stayhome #stayfit
•Single leg glute bridge x10
•Side plank 30sec/side
•Shoulder taps 10x/shoulder
•Back burn 5 times pic.twitter.com/GeAzbhNcOp— Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97) April 27, 2020
McDavid was also in the spotlight with another famous Edmonton Oilers captain when he joined Wayne Gretzky (Soo Greyhounds) for a unique one-on-one for GQ Magazine.
.@WayneGretzky and @Cmcdavid97 have an epic conversation for #GQSports: pic.twitter.com/Xb9G5bU6qk
— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) April 2, 2020
Turning the page now to some former NHL stars, two-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Vertseeg recently announced his retirement after 643 regular season games. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native played three full seasons with his hometown Hurricanes from 2002-05 before a final WHL season split between the Kamloops Blazers and Red Deer Rebels. The majority of his NHL career was spent as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks where he hoisted Lord Stanley in 2010 and 2015.
After 643 regular-season games and two Stanley Cups, Kris Versteeg has announced his retirement. pic.twitter.com/XjEsgsa8Y2
— NHL (@NHL) April 14, 2020
Another recent retiree is Joel Ward who enjoyed a successful career from unheralded beginnings. First going undrafted to the OHL where he played four seasons with the Owen Sound Attack, to playing at the University of Prince Edward Island, to making the jump to the AHL and then NHL despite being undrafted. Ward’s NHL career included 726 games over 11 seasons in Minnesota, Nashville, Washington, and San Jose.
Congrats on a great career, @JRandalWard42!
A look back on his journey from going undrafted to playing 726 career regular-season games in the NHL. ⬇️ #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Ju0v5mOjdn
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 27, 2020
1990 Memorial Cup champion Eric Lindros (Oshawa Generals) has found something new to do during his own retirement. The Hall of Famer is returning to the Philadelphia Flyers where he spent the first eight seasons of his career to serve as the club’s community ambassador attending various events, fan appearances, and corporate partner engagements once the season resumes.
"I look forward to being back with my Flyers family and kicking things off in a way that makes a positive impact during a time of need.” –@88EricLindros on becoming an official team ambassador. https://t.co/iVsASSFdjj
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 24, 2020
To NHL hopefuls, 2016 third round pick Markus Niemelainen (Saginaw Spirit) has signed a two-year entry-level contract. The defenceman played two OHL seasons from 2015-17 before spending the last three years in his native Finland.
The #Oilers have signed defenceman & 2016 third-round pick Markus Niemelainen to a two-year, entry-level contract.
The 21-year-old just completed his third season in the Finnish SM-Liiga, posting one goal & six assists with @PorinAssat. pic.twitter.com/jXHd44Hhxn
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 30, 2020
The American Hockey League is also still on pause but did announce individual team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year awards for outstanding contributions to local community and charitable organizations during the 2019-20 season.
That list includes 16 former CHL players including Keegan Lowe (Edmonton Oil Kings), Morgan Klimchuck (Brandon Wheat Kings), Christopher Gibson (Chicoutimi Sagueneens), Derek Sheppard (Gatineau Olympiques), Oscar Dansk (Erie Otters), Chris Terry (Plymouth Whalers), Kale Kessy (Kamloops Blazers), Mike Liambas (Erie Otters), Kurtis Gabriel (Owen Sound Attack), Jimmy Oligny (Rimouski Oceanic), Brett Sutter (Red Deer Rebels), Nathan Paetsch (Moose Jaw Warriors), Manuel Wiederer (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), Zac Leslie (Guelph Storm), Daniel Walcott (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), and Carter Bancks (Lethbridge Hurricanes).
The AHL has announced the 31 team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year awards, chosen for their outstanding contributions to their community and charitable organizations this season.
Nominees: https://t.co/WyjREaghS3 pic.twitter.com/b6lntXcFpP
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 6, 2020
While the balance of the 2019-20 AHL season remains in question, a trio of 2019 CHL grads including Morgan Frost (Soo Greyhounds), Joe Veleno (Drummondville Voltigeurs), and Alex Formenton (London Knights) were in news stories highlighting their impressive rookie campaigns.
From his @NHL debut with the @NHLFlyers to a trip to the #AHLAllStar Game, @LVPhantoms forward Morgan Frost had a memorable rookie season.
→ https://t.co/uJE5fB0FH9 pic.twitter.com/Ms2JWtCAYA
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 13, 2020
Young @DetroitRedWings prospect Joe Veleno has had an impressive first pro season with the @griffinshockey.
→ https://t.co/XbqpFv895N pic.twitter.com/uLtIINTDM6
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 5, 2020
First year pro Alex Formenton has had an impressive rookie season with the @BellevilleSens.
→ https://t.co/F9sFqeThFU pic.twitter.com/zgL6VgPAuM
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 6, 2020
In March it was announced that the balance of the 2019-20 East Coast Hockey League season would be cancelled. In April, the league began recognizing their annual award winners which featured a number of CHL graduates.
Defenceman of the Year was awarded to Alex Breton (Gatineau Olympiques) of the Allen Americans, while Spencer Watson (Mississauga Steelheads) of the Indy Fuel was named Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year. Breton was also named a first team All-Star leading all defencemen with 55 points in 61 games. Miles Liberati (Kitchener Rangers) of the Tulsa Oilers was named a second team All-Star finishing second in points among defencemen with 46 in 56 games. Joining him at forward was Tim McGauley (Brandon Wheat Kings) of the Utah Grizzlies who scored 62 points in 49 games, and Jesse Schultz (Kelowna Rockets) of the Cincinnati Cyclones who scored 64 points in 62 games a year after earning league MVP honours.
Alex Breton of the @AllenAmericans named 2019-20 #ECHL Defenseman of the Yeaerhttps://t.co/HDw7JIpNNM
— ECHL (@ECHL) April 8, 2020
Spencer Watson of the @IndyFuel receives 2019-20 #ECHL Sportsmanship Awardhttps://t.co/HMoTW8l3ZA
— ECHL (@ECHL) April 7, 2020
All-#ECHL First and Second Teams announcedhttps://t.co/ItMKx2c9lN
— ECHL (@ECHL) April 3, 2020
Two of the league’s most recent alumni were named to the ECHL All-Rookie team including Samuel Asselin (Halifax Mooseheads) of the Atlanta Gladiators and Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion) of the Newfoundland Growlers. Asselin finished the season tied for second among rookies with 26 goals and third with 52 points, while Brazeau led all rookies and was tied for fifth overall in the league with 27 goals in 57 games and finished second in rookie points with 55.
#ECHL announces 2019-20 All-Rookie Teamhttps://t.co/S9N5VGGhY2
— ECHL (@ECHL) April 2, 2020
F Samuel Asselin has been named to the @ECHL All-Rookie Team!
RT to give @asselin_samuel his props! ➡️ https://t.co/KvIJIxq3AV pic.twitter.com/iamHq9C8fk
— Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) April 2, 2020
◼️ECHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM◼️
Justin Brazeau has been named to the 2019-20 ECHL All-Rookie Team.
More info –> https://t.co/LpNZvU5ciP#StayHome | #StandOnGuard pic.twitter.com/7HZ310twHk
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) April 2, 2020