Alumn-ICE Report: October 22, 2024
Graham Sward
Photo Credit: Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild
A proud second-year member of the Western Hockey League, the Wenatchee Wild are continuing a celebrated WHL legacy that dates back to Edmonton, Alberta in 1996, continuing in Cranbrook, British Columbia and Winnipeg, Manitoba. These are the ICE alumni, who are now also members of the #WildFamily, making news in American pro hockey this week:
NHL
SAM REINHART (2010-15) – Has picked up right where he left off last year with the Florida Panthers – of his seven appearances so far, he has points in six and multiple points in four. He is one of only five players with four or more multi-point games already on the season, and has a chance to add to it Tuesday night with a matchup against the Minnesota Wild.
BRAYDEN McNABB (2006-11) – Scored his first goal of the season for the Vegas Golden Knights last Thursday in a 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay – that goal came on Vegas’s very first shot of the game. He also opened his season with an assist against the Colorado Avalanche. That game also featured CONOR GEEKIE (2019-24), who made his NHL debut this season.
PEYTON KREBS (2017-21) – Saturdays have been good for Peyton, with two assists on the early season, both in Saturday games (Oct. 12 vs. Florida, Oct. 19 at Chicago).
AHL
CHASE WHEATCROFT (2021-22) – Has wasted no time populating the score sheet, with points in all four of his appearances for the Texas Stars so far this season. Chase had a goal and an assist in both games of the Stars’ trip to face the Tucson Roadrunners this past weekend, including a power play goal on Saturday.
ZACK OSTAPCHUK (2022-23) – Was named an alternate captain this season for the Belleville Senators, and has rewarded his club with points in three straight games coming out of a home weekend against the Utica Comets and Syracuse Crunch. He had a goal and an assist in Belleville’s 5-4 win Saturday over Utica.
MIKEY MILNE (2018-22) – Has four points in as many appearances for the Iowa Wild, including three assists Sunday as part of Hunter Haight’s first career hat trick at the San Jose Barracuda. Milne’s appearance at San Jose on Saturday was his 100th in the AHL.
CALE FLEURY (2014-18) – Was recalled to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken Tuesday after the club placed Vince Dunn on long-term injured reserve. His most recent AHL outing with the Coachella Valley Firebirds ended with a hat trick on Friday, in a 6-5 win at the San Diego Gulls.
MATTHEW SAVOIE (2019-24) – Has started his first full AHL season with points in all three appearances, registering a goal Friday in the Bakersfield Condors’ 4-1 win at the Ontario Reign. In total, Savoie has played nine games in the AHL and registered a point in eight of them. He also registered an assist in the eventual game-winner in a 2-1 decision on October 11, teaming up with NOAH PHILP (2015-17), who was making his first appearance in the AHL in nearly 18 months and also posted an assist.
LUKE PHILP (2011-16) – Made his 2024-25 debut on October 11 with a goal and an assist in the Hershey Bears’ win over the Cleveland Monsters.
CARSON LAMBOS (2018-23) – Has two assists in four appearances so far for the Iowa Wild, picking up points in both the team’s October 12 loss to the Manitoba Moose and the team’s loss Sunday at the San Jose Barracuda.
ECHL
OWEN PEDERSON (2018-23) – Had assists in both of his appearances over the Maine Mariners’ opening weekend, picking up one helper in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Wheeling Nailers and two assists in Saturday’s 4-1 win. .
EASTON ARMSTRONG (2022-24) – Made his pro debut for the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday against the Indy Fuel, and earned his first ECHL points with a pair of assists in Sunday’s 3-0 victory in Duluth.
JON MARTIN (2011-16) – Got his season off to a flying start for the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday, posting an assist just 1:56 into the game in a 3-2 overtime defeat of the Cincinnati Cyclones.
NOLAN ORZECK (2017-22) – Had an assist on the Allen Americans’ go-ahead goal Saturday in a 6-3 win over the Tulsa Oilers.
BOBBY RUSSELL (2016-18) – Opened his Greenville Swamp Rabbits season Friday with an assist in Greenville’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Orlando Solar Bears.
OTHER PRO DEBUTS: Graham Sward (2022-24) – Norfolk Admirals, Briley Wood (2022-24) – Utah Grizzlies, Chase Bertholet (2019-22) – Fort Wayne Komets
Also on Wenatchee’s alumni list are the standouts from its Junior A era (2008-2023) – these players laid the foundation for the WHL’s future success in the Wenatchee Valley. These are Wenatchee’s Junior A alumni who are making news in American pro hockey this week:
NIC DOWD (2008-09) – Registered his first point on October 15 with an assist, helping the Washington Capitals hand the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-2 loss, their first defeat of the season..
DEVIN COOLEY (2016-17) – Got his first AHL shutout Saturday in his 70th appearance in the league, a 4-0 win for the Calgary Wranglers at the Henderson Silver Knights. Cooley leads the AHL through the second weekend of the season with three wins.
SAM MORTON (2016-18, 19-20) – Picked up assists in three of his first five games with the Calgary Wranglers, scoring his first goal of the season on Saturday to close out a 4-0 defeat of the Henderson Silver Knights.
LUKAS SVEJKOVSKY (2018-19) – Jammed home a loose puck Friday for his first goal of the AHL season in a 5-2 Syracuse Crunch win over the Laval Rocket.
DREW BAVARO (2019-20) – Picked up his first assist of the season on Saturday, in the Providence Bruins’ 4-2 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds.
KYLE MAYHEW (2016-17) – Notched points in both of his first two games with the Fort Wayne Komets, scoring back-to-back goals in Friday’s 6-5 win at the Iowa Heartlanders before assisting on the overtime winner the following night in a 2-1 victory.
BRENDAN HARRIS (2013-17) – Posted a pair of assists in his first game of the season for the Jacksonville IceMen, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Everblades.
CHARLIE COMBS (2015-17) – Returned to the United States after three years in the European pro ranks and scored a go-ahead goal in the third period in the South Carolina Stingrays’ 4-3 overtime win against the Orlando Solar Bears.
BRYAN YOON (2015-16) – Opened his 2024-25 campaign with an assist in the Utah Grizzlies’ 7-2 loss at the Idaho Steelheads.
DAKOTA RAABE (2014-17) – Was named an alternate captain for the Iowa Heartlanders, and earned an assist in Friday’s 6-5 home loss to the Fort Wayne Komets.
MICHAEL BULLION (2014-15) – Took the loss Saturday for his first decision of the season, a 2-1 Worcester Railers loss to the Reading Royals. Bullion made 14 saves in the game.
MARKO REIFENBERGER (2018-19) – Scored his last point of the regular season last Saturday with the last South Carolina Stingrays goal in a 5-3 win over the Jacksonville IceMen.
