Alumni Update: 3/9

Photo Courtesy of Dave Luca

NHL

• Brad Thiessen is 2-0 since being called up to the NHL for the first time in his career. He has given up just 2 goals in each of his starts and has a .917 save percentage.    His latest win came in a nationally televised came that featured many Northeastern mentions.  Thiessen has looked good in his starts and he is positioning himself for an NHL contract next season whether it be in Pittsburgh or somewhere else.  He will be a restricted free agent this summer.
• Staying in Pittsburgh, Joe Vitale is enjoying his first NHL season.  Vitale has been a  constant on the 4th line all season and he has chipped in with 4 goals and 9 assists.   The former Husky captain has also been huge for the Penguins on faceoffs.  They recently rewarded him with a 2 year, $1.1 million extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2014.

AHL

• Tyler McNeely‘s Bridgeport Sound Tigers are leading their division.  McNeely is a +11, but has just 5 goals and 10 assists in 52 games despite getting off to a hot start.
• In last place in that same division is Wade MacLeod and the Springfield Falcons. MacLeod missed some time earlier in the season with an injury but he has fared well since returning.  He has 6 goals and 14 assists in 49 games.
• Brodie Reid is having a quiet season in his first as a professional.   In 55 games, he has 8 goals and 13 assists for the Worcester Sharks who are barely hanging onto a playoff place.
• Michael Ryan may never play hockey again.  After 3 games this season, Ryan was forced out of the lineup with concussion like symptoms.   He returned in February but lasted just 5 games.  There is a chance he could come back, but there is not a lot of optimism.   Ryan, who graduated in 2003, has dealt with concussion problems for much of his career.  A career that has seen him play 83 NHL games split over 3 seasons.   Its an unfortunate situation, but hopefully his long term health will not be compromised.

ECHL

• Kyle Kraemer continues to tear it up for the first place Ontario Reign.  48 points in 46 games has him tied for 2nd best on the team.   This is Kraemer second full season of professional hockey and he has done well in both.   He could be in line for a shot at the AHL next year if he continues this pace.
• Chad Costello leads the ECHL in points with 76 in 45 games.  He has been called up to the AHL twice already but managed just 4 assists in 11 games.  In his career, he has played 19 AHL games.  He is just 0-5-5, -2 in those games.  He can dominate the ECHL all he wants, if he doesn’t start performing in his AHL chances, he will never get higher in the ECHL.   Since leaving Northeastern after his Sophomore season in 2008, Costello has played for 8 different teams in 4 different leagues.
• Dennis McCauley was traded to Chicago, but he failed his physical so the trade was cancelled and he has been returned to Reading.
• Chris Donovan: 25 GP 0-2-2, Steve Silva: 36 GP, 6-23-29,  Dave Strathman: 21 GP, 2-6-8 (since being traded to Utah), Louis Liotti: 38 GP, 2-4-6

CHL

• Jake Newton finally found his comfort zone.  After posting a 1-2-3 in 31 games with Lake Erie, Newton found himself demoted to the CHL this week.  In his first game with the Allen  Americans, he scored a goal.   Since leaving NU, Newton has played 79 AHL games over two seasons.  He is a 3-9-12, -17.  If those stats don’t justify Cronin’s response to him leaving, then this demotion definitely does.  This should serve as a warning for defenseman who think they may be ready for pro hockey but really aren’t.   But judging by the events of this offseason, it clearly hasn’t.

Juniors

• Jamie Oleksiak is having a good go of things in Niagara.  In 24 games, he has 4 goals and 13 assists to go with his +19.  His team has already clinched a playoff bid.

Intramurals

• JP Maley has 2 goals in 4 games for the Mighty Ducks.  His team needs to win their last game to grab a playoff spot after once again finishing behind Reptar on Ice.

Coaching

• Toronto fired their head coach, but Greg Cronin survived and remained on the staff.   He could be looking for a new job in the summer though if Toronto decides to clean house.
• Jason Guerriero and Holy Cross swept Army last week in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs.  This week they head to Mercyhurst for their quarterfinal matchup.

Alumni Update: 11/9

Photo Courtesy of Dave Luca

• Joe Vitale (15 g, 1-2-3)  is just one of many centers on the Pens roster, but that list just got 1 smaller, when they traded away Mark Letestu thanks in part to his solid play.  Vitale could be in  battle for playing time once Sid the Kid returns though.
• The Worcester Sharks are off to a good start thanks to one of their best rookie classes ever, which features Brodie Reid (8g, 1-2-3)
• Greg Cronin’s PK revamp up in Toronto is not going so well.  The first couple weeks were good, but now things have gone sour for Cro.  At least they dont have him running the Power Play.
• Brad Thiessen has been outstanding and has been a big part of the early season turn around for Wilkes Barre Scranton.  Brad is already 7-2, whith 2 shutouts and has only allowed 17 goals all season.   He will be the next NU player to make the NHL, its just a question of when.
• Wade MacLeod is off to a decent start in Springfield.  Through 11 games, he has 1 goal and 4 assists.
• Tyler McNeely is tearing it up for a struggling Bridgeport team.  Through 10 games, he has 5 goals and 6 assists to go with a +9 rating.  Hopefully he can keep it up and earn a shot with the Islanders.
• Chris Student sat out last year after transferring to Minnesota, and he has yet to dress for a game this year besides an exhibition game.
• Jamie Oleksiak is transitioning to major juniors well.  He has 4 goals in 18 games, as well as a +2 rating.
• I saw JP Maley at the gym yesterday.  His intramural team, the Mighty Ducks, must count on other results if they hope to make the playoffs.

Alumni Update: 10/4

Photo Courtesy of Dave Luca

Yesterday, we learned that Joe Vitale has made the Penguins initial 23 man roster.  This is obviously great news for Joe and great for Northeastern.  Despite recent success, the Huskies have not been well represented in the NHL.   Vitale came into Northeastern in 2005 from the USHL, right after he had been drafted by the Penguins.  A solid 16 point season as a freshman won him the Rookie of the Year award for Northeastern.   He was then named as an alternate captain in his sophomore season, where he again had 16 points.  He was named Captain in his Junior year and thats when it all came together for him.  He was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, as well as being Northeastern’s MVP.  Vitale’s final line was 12-23-35, along with 75 penalty minutes.   His numbers fell a bit in his final year and his college career ended in the NCAA Tournament loss to Cornell.

He immediately joined the Penguins AHL affiliate the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins and put up 4 points in their final 5 games.   He has spent the last two seasons down there putting up 30 points each year.  He got a brief call up last year, which saw him grab his first NHL goal and his first NHL fight.   He then finished the season with 3 goals in the AHL playoffs.

Now as he begins his third professional season, he looks to make it his first in the NHL.  Vitale has earned his chance with the hard work and tenacity that made him a fan favorite at Northeastern.   He is expected to see some time on the fourth line and on the penalty kill for Pittsburgh.  Here’s hoping he can stick around all season.

• Brodie Reid , Tyler McNeely, and Wade MacLeod will all begin their first full pro seasons in the AHL. All 3 will be on teams in the New England area so you may get a chance to check them out. Good luck to all 3, they will certainly be missed at NU this year.
• Brad Thiessen  is still stuck in the AHL as well. He was named the AHL Goalie of the season last year, but he sits behind Marc Andre Fleury and Brent  Johnson on the depth chart. Fleury is in the last year of his contract, but so is Theissen, who signed a 1 year deal this summer.   The best case for Theissen is that he has another great year in WBS and either gets the Penguins job next season if Fleury walks or signs somewhere else that will give him a better chance at an NHL job.
• Jamie Oleksiak was sent back to his OHL team after not making the Stars’ roster. Jamie left Northeastern this summer after being drafted in the 1st round, becoming the first Northeastern player to do so.
• JP Maley has caught on with the Mighty Ducks (NU Intramurals) and he scored 2 goals in his first game. He could have had the hat trick, but the crossbar denied him twice.
• Chad Costello is being considered for the Avs final roster, but there is a good shot he get sent back to the AHL.  Costello left NU after the 2008 season for a move to the ECHL.  After 2 season in the CHL, Chad finished last year with the AHL affiliate of the of the Colorado Avalanche.   But he looks like he could be headed back to the ECHL this season.
• Chris Student sat out all of last season after transferring back home to Minnesota.  He is eligible to play this season and may even face the Huskies when they travel to Minnesota for a Holiday tournament.