Where Are They Now? Former Tigers competing in the pros

While there is talk and/or hope of a resumption of the NHL schedule, it is the offseason for many former Colorado College Tigers now plying their skills in the professional ranks in North America or overseas.
I listed everyone I could track down who was under contract this past season with whatever information I dug up on websites and databases (IHDB.com, Eliteprospects.com). I did not include any players who did not play. I include some links to past articles where relevant.
The list is organized by where the former Tiger played the majority of his games or where he was when that league’s season was suspended or canceled. I included some links to past articles if you want to read more.
Former Tigers currently in the pros
NHL
Curtis McElhinney, G — The Ontario native, 36, went 8-7-0-3 in 18 appearances (2.89 goals against, .906 saves percentage) in a backup role for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is now 90-89-0-18 in 237 NHL games (.909. 2.82 goals).
Jaden Schwartz, F — The 27-year-old winger was on a tear, recording 57 points (22 goals) in 71 games for St. Louis this season. He was second in the NHL with tip-in goals (seven) behind San Jose’s Evander Kane (eight). He led the Blues with 12 playoff goals during the 2018-19 playoffs, which culminated in hoisting the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Now in his eighth full NHL season, the Saskatchewan native, 27, has 364 points (146 goals) in 520 appearances.

Jaccob Slavin, D — The Erie, Colo. native, 25, recorded 36 points (30 assists) in 68 games for the Carolina Hurricanes this season. He is now at 151 points (122 assists) in 377 NHL career game since his debut on Nov. 18, 2015. And he continues to improve. He was named to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, where he won the accuracy shooting competition. His time of 9.505 seconds was the best since the NHL expanded to five targets. He is under contract with Carolina through the 2024-25 season.

AHL
Teemu Kivihalme, D — Recorded 18 points (14 assists) in 55 games for Toronto Marlies before receiving a short call-up by the Maple Leafs (DNP). The 24-year-old spent the previous two seasons playing for Karpat in his father’s native Finland.
Gustav Olofsson, D — The native of Sweden recorded 16 points (15 assists) in his first season with the Laval Rocket. The 25-year-old has 11 assists in 59 NHL appearances, including three Canadiens games (no points) this season. His contract with the Montreal organization was extended on March 21 and lasts through the 2020-21 season.
Nate Prosser, D — Recorded 10 points (nine assists) in 59 games (his first full AHL season) for Lehigh Valley after signing a one-year deal with the Flyers organization. The Phantoms assistant captain, 33, spent his previous nine pro seasons with the Minnesota Wild. He has recorded 47 points in 354 NHL contests (one game, no points, 2017-18 Blues).
Peter Stoykewych, D — Manitoba Moose captain’s season was cut short by injury (12 games, one assist). The Winnipeg native, 27, has 72 points in 267 games for his hometown AHL team.

ECHL
Mason Bergh, F — Started the 2019-20 season with AHL Ontario Reign (three points, 25 games) before being sent down to Fort Wayne, where the 25-year-old recorded 19 points (10 goals) in 29 contests.
Trey Bradley, F — The 23-year-old winger recorded 34 points (14 goals) in 48 games for the defending champion Newfoundland Growlers.
Trevor Gooch, F — The New Jersey native, 25, put together a solid first full pro season with 22 points (12 goals), 22 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating in 40 games for the Reading Royals.
Alex Krushelnyski, F — The 29-year-old fought through injuries to record 30 points (11 goals) in 28 games for the Indy Fuel.
Overseas
Richard Bachman, G — The 32-year-old started the season with AHL Utica before being loaned by the Canucks organization on Feb. 12 to last-place Oskarhamn of the top Swedish league. His season ended with three appearances overseas.
Nick Dineen, F — The former Pikes Peak Miner, 31, is under contract for his 10th pro season (2020-21) in Europe. He served as captain in his third year with Norway’s Lillehammer (site of the 1994 Winter Olympics), recording 50 points (22 goals) in 45 games.
Hunter Fejes, F — We should only hope for his frequent flyer miles. The 25-year-old forward finished this season with his 10th pro team, LInz of the Austrian league, where he tallied 21 points (13 goals) in 24 games. He also played this season with ECHL Orlando Solar Bears (10 points, 15 games) and the AHL Manitoba Moose (one assist, seven games).

Cody Lampl, D — The 33-year-old fan favorite recorded six assists in 45 games in his third season for the Mannheim Eagles. The 13-year pro has 92 points (69 assists) in 228 games in German league after playing in 276 ECHL games (87 points, 71 assists) earlier in his career. He is under contract for his 14th season (fourth in Mannheim) in 2020-21.
Alex Leclerc, G — The Quebec native, 25, appeared in 56 games, winning 23, while stopping a Elite Ice Hockey League high 1,773 shots for the Dundee (Scotland) Stars, which named him as the franchise’s player of the year.
William Rapuzzi, F — The 30-year-old Anchorage native recorded 27 points (15 goals) in 39 games for Austria’s Dornbin.
Rylan Schwartz, F — The center ended the season with the Stavanger OIlers of Norway, recording seven points (three goals) in eight games. During his seventh full pro season, the 30-year-old left the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of Germany on Feb. 11 after tallying 10 points (five goals) in 31 games.
Mike Testwuide, F — He played his second season with the Daemyung Killer Whales (21 points, 35 games). He has 283 points in 267 games over seven seasons in the Asia League. The Vail native, 33, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and South Korea, allowing him to play for the host team in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

 

 

In the pros: Dineen leads Finnish team with video

Former Tiger captain Nick Dineen‘s pro career has taken off in Mestis, the second-tier Finnish league.

He centers his team’s top line with Aatu Hämäläinen and Pasi Salonen and leads KooKoo with 32 points (15 goals) in 43 games after a slow start.

Dineen has clearly adjusted well to the Finnish league even if the language proves more challenging, judging from the team’s YouTube channel.

Looks like Nick is having fun.

In the pros: Dineen receives league’s monthly award

The article is in Finnish but based on what his father Dick Dineen told me and what I could glean from an online translator, former Tigers captain Nick Dineen was named as player of the month for the Mestis League in Finland for the month of November.

He is tied for the KooKoo team lead with 19 points (nine goals) in 26 games, which puts him in 10th in the league.

Here is the article and a recent video interview:

In the pros: Connelly, Dineen, McElhinney

Former Tiger Brian Connelly, pictured making a crossing pass last season,  is fifth among AHL defensemen in scoring with 10 points (two goals) in nine games for Houston.

Former captain Nick Dineen found his scoring touch again for KooKoo of the second-tier Finnish pro league with two goals Friday and another pair on Saturday.

Curtis McElhinney is fifth among AHL goalies with a 1.61 goals against, .945 saves percentage  and a 6-1-1 mark in eight games for Springfield.  No doubt, he should be rated higher because those listed ahead of him have as few as two games.

 

In the pros: Dineen sparks KooKoo to win

Former Tigers captain Nick Dineen scored twice in a 3-1 win by KooKoo in its Finnish pro league. Here is the boxscore.

Friday reading: Gross, Fejes, Duluth, UND, WMU, Tech

Pine Creek HS graduate Taylor Gross, far left, models the new Penn State hockey home uniform. The captain of the women’s hockey team is joined by former CC standout Guy Gadowsky, the men’s head coach, third from left.

Incoming Tigers freshman Hunter Fejes is one of the rookies to watch this season according to this North Dakota blogger.

Senior forward Mike Seidel will need to have a good year producing those hard-work points to help Minnesota-Duluth remain a league contender after losing Hobey Baker winner Jack Connolly to graduation.

Here is the 2012-13 schedule for the CHL expansion franchise Denver Cutthroats, which includes a couple former Denver Pioneers. While checking out the home games, keep in mind that former Tiger Brian McMillin plays for the Allen Americans.

Western Michigan added a goalie for this season.

North Dakota’s beat writer explains the team’s TV broadcast deals for this season and next.

Freshman forward Blake Tatchell will need to step in and step up to replace the offense lost to graduation for Alaska-Anchorage.

The Mining Gazette offers a detailed first look at the Michigan Tech Huskies, who have high hopes after reaching the WCHA Final Five last season at the expense of the Tigers. Junior defenseman Daniel Sova will be a big reason (excuse the pun) why Tech fans have such high expectations.

Tuesday reading: Dineen playing in Finland, Lucia, Duluth, Merrimack

Nick Dineen is pictured playing for ECHL Elmira last season.

Former Tigers captain Nick Dineen signed a one-year contract with KooKoo of the 12-team Mestis league in Finland in late July, according to a Facebook message from his father (Thank you). Kouvolan Edustuskiekko (full club name) plays in a 6,000-seat arena in Kouvola, Finland. The club was established in 1965.

Judging from a Facebook post by the club on August 8, Dineen will be centering the third line:

Antti Roppo – Jan-Mikael Juutilainen – Aatu Hämäläinen
Mikko Alikoski – Ville-Matti Koponen – Timo-Pekka Heikkinen
Tomi Tuomisto – Nick Dineen – Olli Julkunen
Niklas Appelgren – Mikko Virtanen – Jere Espo

Miihkali Teppo – Marko Kiprusoff
Jarno Lippojoki – Julius Nyqvist
Markus Västilä – Matt Nickerson

Jaakko Lehtonen   Miro Hämynen (Ville Husso)

Since I cannot read Finnish, this could be a lineup for a preseason scrimmage (season starts on Sept. 14, guessing from web site headline). I hope to get more information in English from the club later via a Facebook message. Regardless, congrats to Nick on the move overseas.

In other news, Notre Dame freshman Mario Lucia suffered a broken leg and left ankle ligament damage during an offseason practice drill. He may miss up to three months.

The Merrimack athletic director who was put under paid administrative leave for a personnel matter has resigned.

AIC’s Steve Mele will be relied on to deliver a big season for the Atlantic Hockey Association school. Three other hockey subjects are profiled by Inside College Hockey as well.

Alaska-Fairbanks hired Gary Gray from Montana State-Billings as its new athletic director.

UPDATED: Dineen records first pro goal (playoff game-winner)

Former Tiger captain Nick Dineen assisted the tying goal and scored the game-winner on a hard-work goal in front later to lift the Elmira Jackals to a 5-2 win over the Reading (Pa.) Royals in the first round of the ECHL playoffs.

Here’s the scoresheet and team write-up. Reading leads the best-of-five series 2-1 and can clinch it starting at 5:05 Mountain tonight in New York.

Elmira Jackals head coach Pat Bingham and forward Dustin Gazley spoke in this video on the team’s overall play, the goal by Dineen and his success in the face-off circle, and what the team needs to do to get a victory in Game 4. Gazley discussed the win and Dineen’s goal.

Here’s some good detail on the game-winner from the Reading Royals’ writeup:

“With time ticking down in the third, the Jackals got a favorable bounce that resulted in the game winner with just 3:43 left in regulation. Mario Larocque took a hard slap shot from the left point that hit Nick Dineen, who was skating through the slot, in the right calf. The puck ricocheted to the right wall and bounced directly back to the stick of Dineen, who quickly turned and wheeled to beat Owuya low blocker for his first of the playoff season.”

In the pros: Dineen will debut with ECHL Elmira tonight

Former Tiger captain Nick Dineen has signed with the Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals as expected and is on the roster for the ECHL team entering its final two regular-season games this weekend.

Dineen said the coaches told him he will make his debut Friday night at home against the Reading (Pa.) Royals. The Jackals confirmed that a few minutes ago. Here is a link to the live video feed. It costs money (probably $8).

He signed an amateur tryout deal with Elmira lasting the rest of the season, which could be a while for the Atlantic Division champions.

The team is connected with the Ducks and Senators and their AHL affiliates, Binghamton and Syracuse, where Gabe Guentzel plays.

Dineen becomes a free agent this summer, when I would expect he will be invited to an AHL training camp.

Dineen will sign with ECHL Elmira

Former Tigers captain Nick Dineen, pictured shooting against Minnesota Duluth, used the past couple weeks to heal and focus on finishing his economic degree at Colorado College.

Former Tiger captain Nick Dineen is flying to Elmira, N.Y. Thursday morning to sign his first professional contract and start his career with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals, the Atlantic Division champions.

Dineen said the coach told him to plan on making his debut Friday against the Reading (Pa.) Royals in the first of the final two regular-season games.

“It all happened pretty quickly from 8 p.m. (Tuesday) on,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “Elmira called and needed a center. They are a first-place team and need me to play right away. I felt I was ready to go. It was an easy decision.”

Dineen said the amateur tryout deal lasts for the rest of this season, meaning he will be a free agent against this offseason.

Dineen was slowed by a tweaked knee sustained during his first shift on March 2 against Michigan Tech, he said, but now feels ready to resume playing. The economics major also used the last couple weeks to finish up his classwork.

“I feel a lot better,” he said.

Dineen is the fifth of the six Tiger seniors to move on to the pros. Arthur Bidwill (CHL Allen), David Civitarese (AHL Hershey), Gabe Guentzel (AHL Syracuse) and Tim Hall (ECHL Alaska) have all signed deals.

Dineen recorded 67 career points (34g, 33a) in 140 games as a Tiger, including 26 points (14g, 12a) in 34 games as a senior.