Shootout

DRAFT EXTRA: O’Reilly’s first interview with Avalanche

July 2nd, 2009

Check out Erie Otters center Ryan O’Reilly’s first interview with the Colorado Avalanche media on Tuesday in Denver.

DRAFT EXTRA: CHL Import Draft draws mixed reviews

July 1st, 2009

Steve Spott, Kitchener coach and general manager, likes the CHL Import Draft. Sarnia coach/GM Dave MacQueen doesn’t.

Peterborough GM Jeff Twohey believes finding impact players is “becoming tougher and tougher.” Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/GM, appreciates having a chance to select the next Jaroslav Janus every year.

OHL GMs have mixed feelings towards the annual draft of European-born prospects. But they all agree “it’s a huge challenge,” Spott said.

As MacQueen said, “The North American kids, you know what you’re getting. You can do a lot more homework. You can see them play. You can meet them in person if you have to. … But there’s so many question marks involving a lot of (European players). It’s a gamble.”

MacQueen wouldn’t mind seeing the draft disappear. But that appears unlikely. With three leagues involved - Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League - the odds of having all 60 clubs agree to disband the draft seem slim.

“You’re dealing with trying to ensure that all leagues are working and operating from the same rules and policies,” OHL vice president Ted Baker said. For example, he said, talent pools in each league might not be equal. So league would benefit from European prospects.

In the past, CHL officials have discussed altering the draft, Baker said, “whether it’s reducing the number (of rounds), whether it’s eliminating it.” Spott suggested reducing the number of rounds to one from two. “It might make it a little bit easier on everybody,” he said, “because to get 120 kids is not easy.”

Until changes are made, though, teams still have to continue scouting well, Twohey said. “If you do your homework as best you can and you accept the fact there’s no guarantees,” he said, “then I don’t see any reason not to have it.”

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

Former Otter Rupp signs with Cup champs

July 1st, 2009

Michael Rupp (Contributed/NHL)

Former Erie Otters forward Michael Rupp has signed a two-year contract with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the NHL club announced today. Rupp, 29, had nine points and 136 penalty minutes in 72 games with New Jersey last season - his second stint with the Devils in a six-year career. He won the Cup as a rookie with the Devils in 2003.

“We are excited to have Mike as a part of our hockey club for the next two seasons,” Ray Shero, Penguins executive vice president and general manager, said in a statement. “He brings a physical presence along with leadership and experience as a Stanley Cup champion.”

Rupp, a Cleveland native who makes his offseason home in Saegertown, has 53 points and 412 penalty minutes in 335 career games with the Devils, Columbus and Phoenix. He played for the Otters from 1997-2000.

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

Former Otter Montador signs with Sabres

July 1st, 2009

Steve Montador signed with Sabres (Contributed/NHL)

Steve Montador (Contributed/NHL)

Former Erie Otters defenseman Steve Montador, 29, has signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL club announced today. The deal is worth $3.1 million, according to the Otters’ Web site.

Montador finished the 2008-09 season with Boston after starting the year in Anaheim. Montador (6-feet, 210 pounds) signed the same day he officially became a free agent.

He had 21 points, 143 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 78 regular-season games this past season. He had three points and 18 penalty minutes in 11 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Bruins.

Montador, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia who spent two seasons with the Otters from 1997-99, has played in 368 NHL games with Boston, Anaheim, Florida and Calgary in an eight-year NHL career.

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

DRAFT EXTRA: CHL Import Draft picks

June 30th, 2009

Pick	Time	Team	League	Traded To	Name
Pick	DOB	Last Team	Hometown	Pos	Height	Weight	NHL Draft
1	9:00am	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL	Saint John Sea Dogs	Stanislav Galiev
1	Jan 17/92	Indiana (USHL)	Moscow, Russia	Forward	6.01	182	2010
2	9:15am	Moose Jaw Warriors	WHL	Portland Winterhawks	Nino Niederreiter
2	Sept 8/1992	HC Davos	Switzerland	Forward	6.01	203	2010
3	9:30am	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL	Plymouth Whalers	Gabriel Landeskog
3	Nov 23/1992	Djurgarden	Sweden	Right Wing	6.00	196	2011
4	9:45am	Val d’Or Foreurs		Saint John Sea Dogs	Tomas Jurco
4	Dec 28/1992	HC Kosice	Slovakia	Right Wing	6.00	175	2011
5	10:00am	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL	Moose Jaw Warriors	Antonin Honejsek
5	Dec 19/1991	Zlin U20	Zlin, Czech.	Centre	5.11	180	2010
6	10:15am	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL	Kitchener Rangers	Tomas Tatar
6	Dec 1, 1990	Zvolen	Trencin, Slovakia	Left Wing	5.10	170	Det. 2nd 2009
7	10:30am	Lewiston MAINEiacs	QMJHL	Moncton Wildcats	Kirill Kabanov
7	Jul 16/92	Moscow Spartak	Russia	Left Wing	6.03	176	2010
8	10:40am	Chilliwack Bruins	WHL		Roman Horak
8	May 21, 1991	Budejovice	Czech	Centre	6.00	189	NYR 5th 2009
9	10:50am	Kitchener Rangers	OHL	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	Robin Lehner
9	July 24, 1991	Frolunda	Sweden	Goalie	6.03	220	Ott. 2nd 2009
10	11:00am	Acadie-Bathurst Titan	QMJHL	Drummondville Voltigeurs	Ondret Palat
10	March 28, 1991	Vitkovice	Czech	Right Wing	5.11	170	2010
11	11:10am	Prince George Cougars	WHL		Jaroslav Vlach
11	Apr. 6, 1992	Liberec	Czech	Left Wing	6.03	205	2010
12	11:20am	Oshawa Generals	OHL	Barrie Colts	Alexander Burmistrov
12	Oct. 21, 1991	AK Bar Kazan	Russia	Left Centre	6.00	170	2010
13	11:30am	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	QMJHL	Gatineau Olympiques	Denis Kindl
13	Aug. 4, 1992	Pardubice	Czech	Forward	5.11	160	2010
14	11:40am	Red Deer Rebels	WHL	Brandon Wheat Kings	Toni Rajala
14	March 28, 1991	Illes Tampere	Parkano, Finland	Right Wing	5.10	163	EDM 4th 2008
15	11:50am	Oshawa Generals	OHL	Owen Sound Attack	Roman Berdnikov
15	May 18, 1992	Omsk Avangard	Omsk, Russia	Right Wing	5.11	180	2010
16	12:00pm	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QMJHL		Christopher Gibson
16	Dec. 12, 1992	Notre Dame Hounds AAA	Finland	Goalie	6.01	175	2011
17	12:10pm	Regina Pats	WHL	Everett Silvertips	Rasmus Rissanen
17	July 13, 1991	Kalpa	Finland	Left Defence	6.02	185	Car 5th 2009
18	12:20pm	Peterborough Petes	OHL		Jiri Sekac
18	June 10, 1992	Kladno U17	Kladno, Czech	Centre/Left Wing	5.11	160	2010
19	12:30pm	P.E.I Rocket	QMJHL		Adam Polacek
19	Dec. 07, 1991	HC Vitkovice	Czech	Left Defence	6.02	186	2010
20	12:40pm	Everett Silvertips	WHL		Radko Gudas
20	May 6, 1990	Berounsti Medvedi	Czech	Right Defence	6.01	195	2010
21	12:50pm	Niagara IceDogs	OHL		Petteri Simila
21	Apr. 9, 1990	Karpat Jr.	Oulu, Finland	Goalie	6.06	189	MON 7th 2009
22	1:00pm	Rouyn-Noranda	QMJHL	Rimouski Oceanic	Petr Straka
22	June 15, 1992	Plzen Jr.	Plzen	Forward	6.01	180	2010
23	1:10pm	Chilliwack Bruins	WHL	Brandon Wheat Kings	Alexander Urbom
23	Dec. 20, 1990	Djurgarden	Djurgarden, Sweden	Defenceman	6.03	196	NJ 3rd 2009
24	1:20pm	London Knights	OHL	Windsor Spitfires	Tom Kuhnhackl
24	Jan. 21, 1992	Landshut	Germany	Centre	6.02	172	2010
25	1:30pm	Victoriaville Tigre	QMJHL	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	Bohumil Jank
25	July 6, 1992	Budejovice	Czech	Right Defence	6.02	187	2010
26	1:40pm	Prince Albert Raiders	WHL		Fredrik Cedergren
26	Mar. 9, 1990	HV 71	Sweden	Right Wing	6.00	187	2010
27	1:50pm	Owen Sound Attack	OHL	Oshawa Generals	Allain Berger
27	Dec. 27, 1990	Bern 2nd Division	Switzerland	Forward	6.04	205	2010
28	2:00pm	Saint John Sea Dogs	QMJHL	Halifax Mooseheads	Konrad Abeltshauser
28	Sept. 2, 1992	Bad Tloz EC Jr.	Bad Tloz, Germany	Defenceman	6.03	192	2010
29	2:10pm	Kamloops Blazers	WHL		Matej Bene
29	Apr. 11, 1992	Nitra Jr.	Slovakia	Forward	6.00	180	2010
30	2:20pm	Erie Otters	OHL	Ottawa 67’s	Peter Mrazek
30	Feb. 14, 1992	HC Vitkovice Steel	Czech	Goalie	5.10	170	2010
31	2:30pm	Montreal Juniors	QMJHL		Evgeny Solomonov
31	May 9, 1990	HC Gomel ExtraLeague	Belerus	Left Wing	5.10	177	2010
32	2:40pm	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL		Ville Kolppanen
32	May 9, 1992	Tampere	Finland	Goalie	6.01	195	2010
33	2:50pm	Guelph Storm	OHL	Saginaw Spirit	Tadeas Galansky
33	Dec. 29, 1992	Havirov Jr.	Czech	Goalie	6.01	185	2011
34	3:00pm	Acadie-Bathurst Titan	QMJHL	Moncton Wildcats	Marek Hrivik
34	Aug. 28, 1991	Zilina U20	Slovakia	Left Wing	6.02	183	2010
35	3:10pm	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		Mikhal Senturin
35	Aug. 17, 1992	Moscow Dynamo	Russia	Forward	6.00	176	2010
36	3:20pm	Ottawa 67’s	OHL	Erie Otters	Ramis Sadikov
36	Feb. 26, 1991	Rus Moscow	Russia	Goalie	6.05	220	2010
37	3:30pm	Rimouski Oceanic	QMJHL		Jakub Culek
37	Sept. 7, 1992	Plzen Jr.	Czech	Forward	6.04	195	2010
38	3:40pm	Kootenay Ice	WHL		Petr Senkerik
38	Mar. 13, 1991	HC Zlin Extra League	Czech	Defenceman	6.00	180	2010
39	3:50pm	Plymouth Whalers	OHL	Sudbury Wolves	Stefan Stepanov
39	Sept. 23, 1992	Russia U20	Russia	Defenceman	6.00	170	2011
40	4:00pm	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	QMJHL	Shawinigan Cataractes	Kevin Puschnik
40	Sept. 2, 1991	Heilbronn, GERMAN-3	Feldkirch, Austria	Left Wing	5.10	176	2010
41	4:10pm	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	Red Deer Rebels	John Persson
41	May 18, 1992	Mora IK	Sweden	Right Wing	6.02	188	2010
42	4:20pm	Saginaw Spirit	OHL		Ivan Telegin
42	February 28, 1992	Metallurg Novokuznetsk	Russia	Left Centre	6.03	185	2010
43	4:30pm	Quebec Remparts	QMJHL		Alexander Avtsin
43	March 19, 1991	Moscow Dynamo	Russia	Right Wing	6.02	186	MTL 4th 2009
44	4:40pm	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		Joni Ortio
44	Apr. 16, 1991	Turku	Finland	Goalie	6.01	185	Cal 6th 2009
45	4:50pm	Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors	OHL	Kitchener Rangers	Patrik Andersson
45	Mar. 29, 1990	Brynas Jr.	Sweden	Left Defence	6.02	185	2010
46	5:00pm	Lewiston MAINEiacs	QMJHL	Gatineau Olympiques	Adam Janosik
46	Sept. 7, 1992	Liberec Jr.	Czech	Left Defence	5.11	165	2010
47	5:10pm	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		Dominik Uher
47	Dec. 31, 1992	HC Ocelari Trinec	Czech	Forward	6.00	178	2011
48	5:20pm	Ottawa 67’s	OHL		Matias Sointu
48	Oct. 2, 1990	Illves SM Lugu	Tampere, Finland	Left Wing	5.10	180	TB 7th 2008
49	5:30pm	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	Nikita Pivtsakin
49	July 23, 1991	Avanjard Omsk	Russia	Left Defence	5.09	174	2010
50	5:40pm	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		Teemu Pulkkinen
50	Jan. 2, 1992	Jokerit	Finland	Left Wing	5.10	175	2010
51	5:50pm	Brampton Battalion	OHL		Valeri Knizev
51	June 11, 1992	Sparta Praha Jr.	Russia	Right Wing	5.11	177	2010
52	6:00pm	Victoriaville Tigre	QMJHL	PEI Rocket	Lauri Tokoi
52	Feb. 17, 1991	Ilves Tampere	Finland	Left Defence	6.01	177	2010
53	6:10pm	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	Moose Jaw Warriors	Jakub Herman
53	Feb. 21, 1992	HC Zlin	Czech	Left Wing	6.00	185	2010
54	6:20pm	Belleville Bulls	OHL	Sudbury Wolves	Edijs Leitans
54	July 26, 1991	Latvia U-20	Latvia	Forward	6.05	216	2010
55	6:30pm	Tri-City Americans	WHL		Alexander Pechurski
55	June 4, 1990	Magnitogorsk	Russia	Goalie	6.00	190	PIT 5th 2008
56	6:40pm	London Knights	OHL	Sudbury Wolves	Pass
56
57	6:10pm	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		Hampus Gustafsson
57	April 22, 1991	Malmo	Sweden	Left Wing	5.10	174	2010
58	6:20pm	Windsor Spitfires	OHL	London Knights	Anton Klementyev
58	Mar. 25, 1990	Yaroslavl U20	Togliati, Russia	Defenceman	6.01	198	NYI 5th 2009
59	6:30pm	Vancouver Giants	WHL	Regina Pats	Michal Poletin
59	June 9, 1991	HC Slavia Praha	Czech	Left Wing	6.03	210	2010
60	6:40pm	Calgary Hitmen	WHL		Erik Haula
60	March 23, 1991	Shattucks St. Mary`s	Finland	Left Wing	5.11	170	MIN 7th 2009

Pick	Time	Team	League	Traded To	Name
Pick	DOB	Last Team	Hometown	Pos	Height	Weight	NHL Draft
61	6:50pm	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	Victor Hertzberg
61	Apr. 23, 1991	Frolunda	Sweden	Right Wing	6.00	181	2010
62	7:00pm	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL	London Knights	Kalle Ekelund
62	July 25, 1990	Nybro IF	Nybro, Sweden	Defenceman	6.03	205	2010
63	7:10pm	Val-d’Or Foreurs	QMJHL		Jakub Slahar
63	Apr, 26, 1991	Zlin U20	Czech	Centre	6.00	180	2010
64	7:20pm	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		Jacob Berglund
64	November 17, 1991	Malmo Red Hawks	Malmo, Sweden	Forward	6.01	198	2010
65	7:30pm	Lewiston MAINEiacs	QMJHL		Riku Dufva
65	July 18, 1990	JYP Jyvaskyla	Finland	Defenceman	5.11	220	2010
66	7:50pm	Acadie-Bathurst Titan	QMJHL		Ilya Mashentsov
66	Sept. 1, 1992	Vityaz Todolsk	Russia	Centre	6.00	165	2010
67	8:00pm	Prince George Cougars	WHL	Tri-City Americans	Sergei Drozd
67	Apr. 14, 1990	Minsk	Belurus	Right Wing	6.00	175	2010
68	8:10pm	Oshawa Generals	OHL		Jakub Strnad
68	Feb. 16, 1992	Kladno U17	Czech	Left Wing	5.11	170	2010
69	8:20pm	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		Jindra Barak
69	Oct. 2, 1991	Slavia Praha	Czech	Defenceman	6.00	195	2010
70	8:30pm	Barrie Colts	OHL		Denis Gladkov
70	July 3, 1992	Central Red Army Jr.	Russia	Left Wing	6.00	185	2010
71	8:40pm	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	Vancouver Giants	Sebastien Svendsen
71	July 31, 1991	Frolunda Jr.	Denmark	Left Centre	5.11	165	2010
72	8:50pm	Erie Otters	OHL		Victor Perezhogin
72	Jan. 4, 1992	Omsk Jr.	Russia	Forward	6.01	190	2010
73	9:00pm	Guelph Storm	OHL		Vadim Guskov
73	May 11, 1991	Olympiets City of Balashikha	Russia	Right Wing	6.00	187	2010
74	9:10pm	Gatineau Olympiques	QMJHL	Lewiston MAINEiacs	Oskar Orrpars
74	Jan. 6, 1992	Djurgarden U18	Sweden	Centre	5.11	174	2010
75	9:20pm	Sarnia Sting	OHL		Ted Brithen
75	Nov. 25, 1990	Rogle U20	Sweden	Centre/Left Wing	6.01	175	2010
76	9:30pm	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL		Rasmus Damgaard
76	Aug. 2, 1991	Malmo Red Hawks	Sweden	Right Defence	6.00	185	2010

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

DRAFT UPDATE: Otters select Russian forward at No. 72

June 30th, 2009

The Erie Otters selected Russia-born forward Victor Perezhogin, 17, today in the second round (No. 72 overall) of the CHL Import Draft.

Perezhogin had 14 goals and 24 points in 48 games for Omsk Jr. this past season. His brother, Alexander, spent two seasons in the NHL with Montreal (2005-07). Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said the younger Perezhogin will report to the Otters.

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

UPDATE: Otters, Sidorkiewicz reach verbal agreement

June 30th, 2009

Peter Sidorkiewicz has verbally agreed to return as Erie Otters’ assistant coach, Sherry Bassin, managing partner and general manager, confirmed today. “We’ve agreed that he wants to come back,” Bassin said, “and I want him to come back.”

Bassin expects to finalize a new contract once he returns from Israel, where he will coach Team Canada in Israel Ice Hockey Federation’s World Jewish Hockey Championships in Metulla, Israel. The tournament begins Sunday and concludes July 15. Bassin also said 2009 first-round pick David Broll has agreed in principle to sign with the Otters.

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

DRAFT UPDATE: CHL pick provides Otters with goaltending insurance

June 30th, 2009

Sherry Bassin remains uncertain if No. 1 goaltender Jaroslav Janus will rejoin the Erie Otters next season.

“I wanted to make sure that we’d have coverage there,” Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said of selecting Russian-born goaltender Ramis Sadikov, 18, in the first round (No. 36 overall) of today’s CHL Import Draft. The Otters originally held the 30th pick. But Bassin traded it to Ottawa earlier in the day for No. 36 and an 11th-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

DRAFT UPDATE: Otters select goaltender in CHL’s first round

June 30th, 2009

The Erie Otters have selected goaltender Russian-born goaltender Ramis Sadikov today in the first round (No. 36) of the CHL Import Draft. Sadikov, who stands 6-foot-5 inches and 220 pounds, played in Moscow, Russia, this past season and is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Could this be managing partner/GM Sherry Bassin’s response to goaltender Jaroslav Janus’ potential departure to pro hockey? Janus, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 CHL draft, was chosen by Tampa Bay in the sixth round of last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft.

Stay tuned to the Shootout for that answer and further updates.

– Victor Fernandes

Posted in Erie Otters | No Comments »

DRAFT UPDATE: Otters trade CHL Import pick

June 30th, 2009

The Erie Otters have traded their first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in today’s CHL Import Draft to Ottawa, the club announced today. In exchange, the Otters received the 36th pick, which the 67’s acquired from Sarnia Monday, and an 11th-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. The Otters are scheduled to make their first pick in the CHL draft at 3:20 p.m.