Post by Rayven on Jun 19, 2007 23:57:30 GMT -5
A look at the goaltending and blueline talent coming to Long Island June 27 – July 2
With over 30 players coming to next week's Islanders Prospect Camp, here's a preview of the goaltenders and defensemen scheduled to attend. Part II will feature a look at the forward prospects. Following the NHL Entry Draft this weekend, more players will be invited to the camp.
The Islanders Prospect Camp will be held from June 27 to July 2 at Islanders Iceworks in Syosset, NY. The mini-camp is open to the public.
GOALTENDERS
Mike Mole
Born: Oct 12 1982 -- Orleans, ON
Height: 6'
Weight: 183
After earning praise at the Islanders' Training Camp in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia last September, Mole earned a minor league contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate. During the 2006-07 season, Mole split time between the Sound Tigers and the Islanders' ECHL affiliate, the Pensacola Ice Pilots. In 15 games with Bridgeport, Mole posted a record of 3-8-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .897 SV%. Mole was a winner of the Canadian reality TV show “Making the Cut” and earned a tryout with the Ottawa Senators.
Stefan Ridderwall
Born: March 5, 1988 – Stockholm, Sweden
Height: 6'1
Weight: 189
Drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry draft, Ridderwall starred for Djurgardens in the Swedish Junior League. He led his team to the championship series before falling to Frolunda. Ridderwall led the league in SV% (.934) and was second with a 1.93 GAA average. This will be Ridderwall's first prospect camp with the Islanders.
Jase Weslosky
Born: Aug 14, 1988 -- St. Albert, AB
Height: 6'2
Weight: 170
While Weslosky may not have played many games for the nation's fourth-ranked St. Cloud State, he performed well when he was called upon. Weslosky was an impressive 5-1-0 in his freshmen season with the Huskies, posting a GAA of 2.67 and a SV% of .899. With senior netminder Bobby Goepfert graduating, Weslosky is expected to take the reigns next year following a successful run to the NCAA Tournament by the Huskies in 2006-07.
DEFENSEMEN
Emil Axelsson
Born: March 19, 1986 -- Orebro, Sweden
Height: 6'3
Weight: 207
Shoots: Left
A physical presence on the blueline, the big Swede doesn't shy away from the rough stuff as indicated by his team-leading 85 penalty minutes during the 2006-07 season for Arboga of the second-tier Swedish League. Drafted by the Islanders in seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Axelsson has matured, garnering a two-day stint with Linkoping of the Swedish Elite League.
Drew Fata
Born: July 28, 1983 -- Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Height: 6'1
Weight: 215
Shoots: Left
Fata spent much of last season playing for the Sound Tigers, where he was force to be reckoned with. His 185 penalty minutes in only 64 games was tops on the team. Fata's steady play on the Bridgeport blueline earned him a spot with Islanders for four games, including Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against Buffalo. He made his NHL debut on Feb 4 in Washington and scored his first NHL goal on March 15 at Ottawa.
Martin Frechette
Born: July 11, 1986 -- Sherbrooke, QC
Height: 6'
Weight 200
Shoots: Right
An unsigned prospect camp invitee, Frechette has spent the past four years playing in the QMJHL for Gatineau. There, he's shown his toughness by eclipsing the 100 penalty minute mark each of the past three seasons. But Frechette has also proven he can put some points on the board, as well, by tallying 23 goals and adding 50 assists last season in 70 games.
Jamie Fraser
Born: Nov 17, 1985 -- Sarnia, ON
Height: 6'1
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
A walk-on at last year's Islanders training camp, Fraser won a spot with the Sound Tigers last season and played in 43 games, notching three goals and 11 assists. Fraser also played in two games with the Syracuse (AHL) and 27 contests with South Carolina (ECHL).
Jordan Hart
Born: Feb 18, 1983 -- Huntington, NY
Height: 6'2
Weight: 200
The son of former Islanders defenseman Gerry Hart, Jordan makes his first appearance at an Islanders prospect camp after splitting time last season between Merrimack College and the UHL. In 29 games with Kalamazoo (UHL), Hart tallied three assists. He then played in three playoff games with Chicago (UHL). Before joining the pro ranks, Hart was a three-year standout defenseman with Merrimack, which participates in the ultra competitive Hockey East Conference.
Dustin Kohn
Born: Feb 2, 1987 -- Edmonton, AB
Height: 6'1
Weight: 195
Shoots: Left
After five productive seasons in the WHL, Kohn recently signed an entry level contract with the Islanders. After developing his offensive game, Kohn honed his defensive skills once drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. The fifth and final season in the WHL saw Kohn reach career highs in assists (45) and points (50), while leading the Brandon Wheat Kings in plus/minus (+23). Following Brandon's elimination from the WHL playoffs, Kohn joined the Sound Tigers for the final two regular-season games.
Andrew MacDonald
Born: Sept 7, 1986 -- Judique, NS
Height: 6'
Weight: 188
Shoots: Left
An All-Star defenseman for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, MacDonald spent a season playing under Islanders head coach Ted Nolan during the 2005-06 season. He saved his best for his final year of eligibility at the junior level by posting a line of 14-44-58 in 65 games last season. Following the conclusion of his team's season, MacDonald joined the Sound Tigers for the final three games, giving him his first taste of pro hockey. MacDonald, who was taken in the sixth round in the 2006 NHL draft, performed well at last year's training camp and earned a spot on the Islanders' exhibition roster.
Tyrell Mason
Born: Mar 12, 1986 – Dawson Creek, BC
Height: 6'2
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left
Mason was a core defenseman on one of the best defenses in the country last season. Clarkson finished the season ranked third in the country after bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Mason was drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and just completed his sophomore year at Clarkson.
Shane Sims
Born: Apr 30, 1988 -- East Amherst, NY
Height: 5'11
Weight: 192
Shoots: Right
During the 2005-06 season with Des Moines of the USHL, Sims was the teammate of Islanders number one draft pick Kyle Okposo. Drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round last summer, Sims played in his second season with Des Moines and posted a team-high 137 penalty minutes. He also contributed on the scoresheet with 29 points in 59 games.
islanders.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319776&page=NewsPage&service=page
With over 30 players coming to next week's Islanders Prospect Camp, here's a preview of the goaltenders and defensemen scheduled to attend. Part II will feature a look at the forward prospects. Following the NHL Entry Draft this weekend, more players will be invited to the camp.
The Islanders Prospect Camp will be held from June 27 to July 2 at Islanders Iceworks in Syosset, NY. The mini-camp is open to the public.
GOALTENDERS
Mike Mole
Born: Oct 12 1982 -- Orleans, ON
Height: 6'
Weight: 183
After earning praise at the Islanders' Training Camp in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia last September, Mole earned a minor league contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate. During the 2006-07 season, Mole split time between the Sound Tigers and the Islanders' ECHL affiliate, the Pensacola Ice Pilots. In 15 games with Bridgeport, Mole posted a record of 3-8-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .897 SV%. Mole was a winner of the Canadian reality TV show “Making the Cut” and earned a tryout with the Ottawa Senators.
Stefan Ridderwall
Born: March 5, 1988 – Stockholm, Sweden
Height: 6'1
Weight: 189
Drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry draft, Ridderwall starred for Djurgardens in the Swedish Junior League. He led his team to the championship series before falling to Frolunda. Ridderwall led the league in SV% (.934) and was second with a 1.93 GAA average. This will be Ridderwall's first prospect camp with the Islanders.
Jase Weslosky
Born: Aug 14, 1988 -- St. Albert, AB
Height: 6'2
Weight: 170
While Weslosky may not have played many games for the nation's fourth-ranked St. Cloud State, he performed well when he was called upon. Weslosky was an impressive 5-1-0 in his freshmen season with the Huskies, posting a GAA of 2.67 and a SV% of .899. With senior netminder Bobby Goepfert graduating, Weslosky is expected to take the reigns next year following a successful run to the NCAA Tournament by the Huskies in 2006-07.
DEFENSEMEN
Emil Axelsson
Born: March 19, 1986 -- Orebro, Sweden
Height: 6'3
Weight: 207
Shoots: Left
A physical presence on the blueline, the big Swede doesn't shy away from the rough stuff as indicated by his team-leading 85 penalty minutes during the 2006-07 season for Arboga of the second-tier Swedish League. Drafted by the Islanders in seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Axelsson has matured, garnering a two-day stint with Linkoping of the Swedish Elite League.
Drew Fata
Born: July 28, 1983 -- Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Height: 6'1
Weight: 215
Shoots: Left
Fata spent much of last season playing for the Sound Tigers, where he was force to be reckoned with. His 185 penalty minutes in only 64 games was tops on the team. Fata's steady play on the Bridgeport blueline earned him a spot with Islanders for four games, including Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against Buffalo. He made his NHL debut on Feb 4 in Washington and scored his first NHL goal on March 15 at Ottawa.
Martin Frechette
Born: July 11, 1986 -- Sherbrooke, QC
Height: 6'
Weight 200
Shoots: Right
An unsigned prospect camp invitee, Frechette has spent the past four years playing in the QMJHL for Gatineau. There, he's shown his toughness by eclipsing the 100 penalty minute mark each of the past three seasons. But Frechette has also proven he can put some points on the board, as well, by tallying 23 goals and adding 50 assists last season in 70 games.
Jamie Fraser
Born: Nov 17, 1985 -- Sarnia, ON
Height: 6'1
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
A walk-on at last year's Islanders training camp, Fraser won a spot with the Sound Tigers last season and played in 43 games, notching three goals and 11 assists. Fraser also played in two games with the Syracuse (AHL) and 27 contests with South Carolina (ECHL).
Jordan Hart
Born: Feb 18, 1983 -- Huntington, NY
Height: 6'2
Weight: 200
The son of former Islanders defenseman Gerry Hart, Jordan makes his first appearance at an Islanders prospect camp after splitting time last season between Merrimack College and the UHL. In 29 games with Kalamazoo (UHL), Hart tallied three assists. He then played in three playoff games with Chicago (UHL). Before joining the pro ranks, Hart was a three-year standout defenseman with Merrimack, which participates in the ultra competitive Hockey East Conference.
Dustin Kohn
Born: Feb 2, 1987 -- Edmonton, AB
Height: 6'1
Weight: 195
Shoots: Left
After five productive seasons in the WHL, Kohn recently signed an entry level contract with the Islanders. After developing his offensive game, Kohn honed his defensive skills once drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. The fifth and final season in the WHL saw Kohn reach career highs in assists (45) and points (50), while leading the Brandon Wheat Kings in plus/minus (+23). Following Brandon's elimination from the WHL playoffs, Kohn joined the Sound Tigers for the final two regular-season games.
Andrew MacDonald
Born: Sept 7, 1986 -- Judique, NS
Height: 6'
Weight: 188
Shoots: Left
An All-Star defenseman for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, MacDonald spent a season playing under Islanders head coach Ted Nolan during the 2005-06 season. He saved his best for his final year of eligibility at the junior level by posting a line of 14-44-58 in 65 games last season. Following the conclusion of his team's season, MacDonald joined the Sound Tigers for the final three games, giving him his first taste of pro hockey. MacDonald, who was taken in the sixth round in the 2006 NHL draft, performed well at last year's training camp and earned a spot on the Islanders' exhibition roster.
Tyrell Mason
Born: Mar 12, 1986 – Dawson Creek, BC
Height: 6'2
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left
Mason was a core defenseman on one of the best defenses in the country last season. Clarkson finished the season ranked third in the country after bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Mason was drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and just completed his sophomore year at Clarkson.
Shane Sims
Born: Apr 30, 1988 -- East Amherst, NY
Height: 5'11
Weight: 192
Shoots: Right
During the 2005-06 season with Des Moines of the USHL, Sims was the teammate of Islanders number one draft pick Kyle Okposo. Drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round last summer, Sims played in his second season with Des Moines and posted a team-high 137 penalty minutes. He also contributed on the scoresheet with 29 points in 59 games.
islanders.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319776&page=NewsPage&service=page