U SPORTS Report: OHL grads sign AHL and ECHL contracts

A total of 217 OHL alumni are playing in the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this season. Throughout the year the U SPORTS Report will keep tabs on former OHL names doing great things in the OUA, AUS and Canada West ranks on the road to the 2023 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 16-19 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

With the regular U SPORTS men’s hockey season coming to an end last week, OHL grads continue to use their scholarship packages as a way to further build their careers on and off the ice.

Daniel Walker – North Bay Battalion/Oshawa Generals –> Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

The American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch signed University of Waterloo Warriors men’s hockey forward Daniel Walker to a one-year AHL contract, per a team announcement last week. The 23-year-old Val Caron, Ont. native played four years in the OHL, splitting time between the North Bay Battalion and Oshawa Generals. While leading the OHL in penalty minutes with 129 in the 2018-19 season, Walker found his goal-scoring touch throughout his U SPORTS career, finishing his time at Waterloo with 24 goals in 35 games (24-13-37).

The 6-foot-6, 230lb. forward skated in 23 games with the Warriors this season and led the team in points (16-4-20). He also recorded a team-leading eight power-play goals and two game-winning goals. Walker was the Battalion’s 10th round (197th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection from the U16 AAA Sudbury Minor Wolves hockey program.

149 OHL Alumni were included on AHL rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season.

NEWS: F Dan Walker (@dvwalk99) has signed with the AHL's @SyracuseCrunch, the top minor league affiliate of the @TBLightning.
Congrats, Walks! Go chase that dream – we'll be rooting for you! #AlwaysAWarrior https://t.co/g0EFO7pjqu

— Waterloo Warriors Men’s Hockey (@WlooMHKY) February 17, 2023

Franco Sproviero – Sarnia Sting –> Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)

The ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings signed Western University Mustangs men’s hockey forward Franco Sproviero to an ECHL contract last week. The 5-foot-9 centreman scored 60 points (22-38-60) in his final OHL season with the Sarnia Sting in 2018-19, and will now get the chance to begin his professional career.

Across just over three full seasons played from 2015-2019, Sproviero amassed 48 goals with 86 assists in 206 games played with the Sting. Spoviero’s time at Western was just as productive from 2019-2023, as he notched 78 points (30-48-78) in 64 games played despite the Covid canceled season. He was the 2019-20 OUA West Rookie of the Year and finished fourth in the OUA’s scoring race with 31 points in 26 games this season.

Sproviero made his pro debut Saturday and then scored Sunday in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Fort Wayne Komets.

After posting 78 points in 64 games at the University of Western Ontario, Franco Sproviero is coming to Kalamazoo!#maintainthetraditionhttps://t.co/8vSU4PpEwT

— Kalamazoo Wings (@KalamazooWings) February 17, 2023