Dutchmen Ex-Files - 12/29/13

by Ryan Fay

The latest round-up in former Dutchmen news for the week ending December 29:

Ex-Union Player of the Week
G Keith Kinkaid (Albany, AHL)

Kinkaid won his 50th game at the AHL level and recorded his league-high fourth shutout of the season with 19 saves in a 2-0 blanking of Adirondack on Friday. The shutout, the ninth of his career, also tied an Albany franchise record for shutouts in a season - and it's only December.

Things have been pointing in the right
direction for Kinkaid this season

Kinkaid extended his shutout streak to 95 minutes and 46 seconds before allowing a second period goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over Portland. He finished the night with a season-high 38 stops.

The sterling performances helped Kinkaid gain the league lead in goals against average at 1.92. He's also in the top five in wins (13, 5th) and save percentage (.927, 5th).

“He’s a good goalie and the team plays well in front of him,” Adirondack head coach Terry Murray told the Troy Record following Friday's contest.

With another organization, those kind of numbers might put him in line for a look with the parent club, but the need just isn't there with New Jersey, which has a formidable duo in net with Cory Schneider and future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur.

Albany will be glad to have Kinkaid in the meantime.

In other former Dutchmen news:

D Greg Coburn (Las Vegas, ECHL)
Coburn registered an assist in Las Vegas' 5-2 defeat to Idaho on Friday. Coburn, who took a career-high six shots on goal, has three goals and three assists in 24 contests.

G Troy Grosenick (Worcester, AHL)
Grosenick didn't have his strongest week, though apparently he didn't receive a lot of help. He tied his career-high with four goals allowed in a 4-0 loss to Portland on Thursday. On Friday, he surrendered a goal on three shots in relief duty during a 5-2 win against St. John's. He sits at 6-4-0 on the year with a 2.27 GAA (8th in the league) and a .916 save mark.

F Josh Jooris (Abbotsford, AHL)
Jooris had one of his better games as a pro in Friday's 5-1 victory over Oklahoma City. He notched a goal and an assist and finished the night with a career-high plus-3 rating.

Jooris has come on of late, picking up seven points (2 g, 5 a) in his last 12 games after being held off the scoresheet in the 12 games before that. He has a 3-9--12 line in 31 games this season.

F Wayne Simpson (South Carolina, ECHL)
Simpson assisted on what proved to be the game-winning goal in South Carolina's 3-2 win over Greenville on Friday. He's up to 15 points (8 g, 7 a) in 23 games this season. The 24-year-old still hasn't taken a single penalty this season.

D Shawn Stuart (Drakkars de Caen, French Elite League)
Stuart chipped in an assist in Drakkars' 5-3 loss to Angers on Sunday. He's the club's top scoring blueliner with six points (g, 5 a) in 16 games.
Recent feature: Catching Up With... Shawn Stuart

D Nolan Julseth-White (Las Vegas, ECHL)
Julseth-White scored his second goal of the season in Thursday's 4-3 setback to Bakersfield. The 25-year-old also has three assists in 27 games.

F Kelly Zajac (Albany, AHL)
Zajac collected an assist in Albany's win over Portland on Saturday, raising his season totals to 2-13--15 in 24 games.

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Dutchmen Ex-Files - 12/23/13

by Ryan Fay

The latest look at what various former Dutchmen have been doing on the ice over the past week:

Ex-Union Player of the Week
F Wayne Simpson (South Carolina, ECHL)

Simpson

Simpson keeps on rolling for the Stingrays.

He recorded his first multi-goal game at the professional level with a pair of tallies against former Clarkson netminder Paul Karpowich in a 4-2 win at Gwinnett on Friday.

The 24-year-old then scored his first game-winning goal as a pro with a second period tally in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the same team.

He has 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) in his last 10 games. At that rate, it's only a matter of time before he's up in the AHL.

On the season, Simpson has an 8-6--14 line in 20 games.

In other news:

F Kyle Bodie (South Carolina, ECHL)
Bodie picked up an assist in Friday's win at Gwinnett, giving him four points (one goal, three assists) in five games since being acquired from San Francisco earlier this month. Between stops in South Carolina, San Francisco, and Cincinnati, Bodie has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 21 games.

F T.J Fox (Denver, CHL)
Fox collected two assists in a 6-5 loss to Rapid City on Saturday, raising his season point total to 13 (four goals, nine assists) in 26 games.

G Troy Grosenick (Worcester, AHL)
Grosenick is adjusting to the AHL just fine. He took over the league-lead in goals against average after stopping 29-of-31 shots in a 3-2 win at Hershey on Saturday. The Brookfield, Wisconsin native has a 2.01 GAA in 10 games this season to go with a 6-3-0 record and a .924 save percentage.

F Josh Jooris (Abbotsford, AHL)
Jooris assisted on the game-tying goal at 4:47 of the third period before Abbotsford topped Hamilton, 3-2, in a shootout on Sunday. Jooris has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 26 games.

G Keith Kinkaid (Albany, AHL)
Kinkaid isn't far behind Grosenick on the league GAA leaderboard. He's tied for second at 2.09. Kinkaid most recently played on Saturday, brushing aside 26-of-29 shots in a 3-2 overtime setback at Binghamton. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Kinkaid, who fell to 11-4-1 on the year.

F Trevor Mingoia (Providence, Hockey East)
Mingoia has made a quick impact at Providence for former Union head coach Nate Leaman. Mingoia, who left Union in October 2012, has a point in each of his first four games with the fifth-ranked Friars. His first goal with Providence came in Friday's 4-1 win over Army.

F Kelly Zajac (Albany, AHL)
Zajac chipped in a helper in Saturday's loss at Binghamton, pushing his season line to 2-12--14 in 22 contests.

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Union Hockey ex-files - 12/1/13

by Ryan Fay

A round-up of a busy Saturday in Union men's hockey alumni news...

F Kyle Bodie (San Francisco, ECHL) scored a power play goal in San Francisco's 5-2 loss at Utah. It was his first goal since being acquired from Cincinnati on November 13. Between the two stops, he has two goals and an assist in 16 games.

F T.J Fox (Denver, CHL) had a goal and an assist in Denver's 6-2 loss at Rapid City. Fox has two goals and seven assists in 19 games.

F Josh Jooris (Abbotsford, AHL) registered a goal, but Abbotsford fell to Utica, 4-3, in overtime. He led Abbotsford with seven shots on goal. Jooris, who hadn't scored a goal since the season-opener, has two goals and five assists in 22 games.
Video: Jooris postgame (11/30)

F Trevor Mingoia (Providence, Hockey East) added an assist in Providence's 3-2 win over Brown. He assisted on a Drew Brown goal; Brown originally committed to Union before following Nate Leaman to Providence in 2011. Mingoia has assists in both games since gaining eligibility for the Friars.

F Wayne Simpson (South Carolina, ECHL) chipped in an assist in South Carolina's 3-2 shootout win at Kalamazoo. Simpson has two goals and two assists in his last three games. Overall, he has three goals and four assists in 13 games.

F Kelly Zajac (Albany, AHL) picked up two assists in Albany's 8-6 loss to Bridgeport. Zajac has a goal and six assists in his last five contests. Overall, he has two goals and seven assists in 15 games.

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Ex-Union netmidner Kinkaid posts shutout (with video)

by Ryan Fay

Former Union goaltender Keith Kinkaid collected 24 saves to earn his second shutout of the season on Wednesday, leading the AHL's Albany Devils to a 3-0 win over Hartford at the Times Union Center.

Kinkaid, who also blanked Hartford behind a 25-save showing last Friday, was at his best late in the game with 11 third period stops.

It was the netminder's sixth consecutive victory, tying Jeff Frazee's franchise record. Kinkaid improved to 7-1-1 on the season with a league-leading 1.75 goals against average. His .930 save percentage ranks fourth.

Kinkaid's former Union and current Albany teammate, Kelly Zajac, picked up a second period assist in Wednesday's triumph. The forward has a goal and two assists in 11 contests this season.

On Monday, Kinkaid was named AHL Player of the Week after going 3-0 with a 0.97 goals against average and a .963 save percentage in three starts last week.

 Kinkaid's postgame (via thealbanydevils.com)



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Catching Up With Adam Presizniuk

by Ryan Fay

Former Union men's hockey star Adam Presizniuk still remembers getting recruited to play for the Dutchmen like it was yesterday.

"Union recruited me while I was playing in the BCHL for the Powell River Kings," Presizniuk recalls. "I remember former Union assistant Bill Riga watched me play a few times. After he told me that they were interested, I received a call from former head coach Nate Leaman, who wanted me to fly down to visit. At the time of my fly down, I already knew one of the players who I had played with the year before in Powell River, Mike Wakita. I knew I was going to get straight answers from him whenever I had any questions.

"I knew after visiting that I wanted to go to Union. I really liked the trimester system as well as the campus. As far as the hockey, I felt like I had a good opportunity to play if I played well. I liked the coaching staff and the players that I had met on the team. It just felt right, and after my four years there, I know it was the right decision."

The Alberta native, who was also recruited by Quinnipiac, Providence, and RPI, was rewarded for picking Union as the program was on an upswing during his four years in Schenectady. The Dutchmen won 14 games the year before Presizniuk came but won 26 during his senior season, a year that also included the school's first Cleary Cup.

"To win the Cleary Cup on senior night in front of our family, friends, students, and fans was an amazing feeling," Presizniuk said.

But there were other memories, like the 2010 quarterfinals series win over Quinnipiac.

"We beat them in three games after losing the first one in 5 OT," Presizniuk remembers. "It was our first time advancing to the ECAC championship weekend and I will always remember celebrating that series win down by the student section. They were going nuts."

Presizniuk had a great run for Union, ending his four-year career as the program's Division I era points leader with 131 while being named Team MVP three times and alternate captain on two occasions.

"It’s an honor to be the Division I era leading scorer for the Dutchmen," says Presizniuk. "I was lucky to play with such great players as Mario Valery-Trabucco, Jason Walters, Jeremy Welsh and Kelly Zajac. With the program making strides the way it is, I'm sure it won't be long before someone moves ahead of me on the points list."

After a decorated Union career, Presizniuk moved up to the pro ranks. He spent the summer following his graduation (2011) in rookie camp with the Boston Bruins and then with their AHL affiliate in Providence.

Presizniuk (Trenton/ECHL)

"My agent set up everything with the Boston Bruins organization from the Boston rookie camp to the Providence main camp," said Presizniuk. "The Bruins rookie camp was pretty cool since I got to play with some high draft picks and hang out with some of the current Boston Bruins. The Providence camp went well and I felt that I was playing better each day. Unfortunately, I didn't stick with the team but I think that I learned a lot from those experiences in Boston and Providence."

The forward wasn't out of work for long as he quickly signed a contract with Trenton of the ECHL, a league generally seen as one step below the AHL.

"After I got let go from Providence, the head coach there said he knew that Trenton needed a few players," Presizniuk said. "The assistant coach with Providence was the head coach of Trenton the year before so he still had some contacts with the coaching staff there. I thought it was a good spot because it was close to quite a few AHL clubs so it might be easier to get a call up."

That gamble proved to be a good one. After scoring 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in his first 15 games with Trenton, Presizniuk was back in the AHL with Providence via a loan.

"It was a good experience to play with Providence, especially since we played two road games in Hershey and Norfolk. They were fun arenas to play in," he recalled. "I thought I was playing well as did the coaching staff. I guess the toughest part is that when I got called up, I only played a few minutes a game on the fourth line, which makes it tough to show what you can do."

Those two road games were the extent of Presizniuk's stint in Providence as he was cut loose and spent the rest of the season back in Trenton, finishing seventh on the team in goals with 13 and third in assists with 27. That kind of play prompted Trenton to re-sign the Union product for the 2012-2013 season, but he was released before playing another game for them.

"Trenton received eight to ten forwards from the AHL affiliates after the NHL lockout continued on through training camp," said Presizniuk. "That forced their coaching staff to release some players. It was a numbers thing and they told me they wanted me to stay but couldn't release any of the AHL players. It was unfortunate because I knew once the lockout ended that they would be strapped for players -- and they were."

A few other ECHL teams subsequently expressed interest, but the now 26-year-old said the circumstances weren't right.

"I knew that all of the ECHL teams would have so many players [from the lockout] that it just didn't seem worth it to go somewhere else and sit in the stands," he said.

Instead, Presizniuk decided to move on from professional hockey.

"I am living back in Calgary and getting into the oil and gas industry, which is big in Alberta," he said. "I will also be playing on a summer hockey recreational team with former Union teammate Andrew Buote, who is also living here in Calgary."

As for the differences between college hockey and pro hockey, Presizniuk said there were a few.

"The ECHL was more of a different style of game," he said. "College is played at a higher tempo so you have to make decisions a little faster. The ECHL is a more controlled game where you don’t run around too much. There is a jump of skill from the ECAC to the AHL. Everyone has skill and can skate. It doesn't matter if you’re on the first line or fourth line."

Kinkaid and Zajac: From Dutchmen to Devils

by Ryan Fay

It's understandable if Union supporters have their eyes on the New Jersey Devils organization.

Keith Kinkaid, the starting goaltender on the 2010-2011 Cleary Cup winning team, was recalled to New Jersey this week while Kelly Zajac, who served as an assistant captain on last year's Frozen Four squad, was bumped up to the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League on Monday.

KINKAID

The Farmingville, New York native left Union and signed with the Devils organization in April 2011 after a breakthrough sophomore season that resulted in a minuscule 1.99 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.

The netminder was in the midst of his second season with Albany prior to getting recalled on Wednesday and posted a solid 2.69 GAA and a .905 save %, similar figures to what he finished with a year ago.

"From what I’ve observed, the coaching staff is pleased with Kinkaid’s improvement from his rookie season and are acknowledging that with the amount of playing time he receives," said Times Union Albany Devils beat writer Pete Dougherty. "Until his NHL call-up, he had started 33 of [a possible] 51 games."

While Martin Brodeur has been a rock between the pipes for nearly two decades, the 40-year-old can't play forever. And his backup, Johan Hedberg, is 39-years-old. Eventually, the Devils will have multiple openings on its goaltending depth chart.

According to New Jersey Star-Ledger Devils beat man Rich Chere, Kinkaid is seen as a "serious candidate" to be one of New Jersey's top goaltenders once Brodeur retires, but he'll face heavy competition from fellow prospect Scott Wedgewood, a third rounder in the 2010 draft.

The 20-year-old Wedgewood has a 3.31 GAA and an .895 save % for Trenton of the ECHL, a league one step below the AHL.

"Wedgewood may be the likely number one on a post-Brodeur Devils team, but these projections often have a way of changing when a player matures and steps forward," said Chere. "I could, in fact, envision Kinkaid and Wedgewood sharing the goalie duties in a few years. The scouting department feels Kinkaid has the size and skills to make it in the NHL."

The latest recall is the third NHL recall of Kinkaid's young career, but the 23-year-old has yet to see any ice time at hockey's highest level. But with Brodeur nursing a sore back, now is as good of a time as any.

The Devils placed Brodeur on injured reserve on Tuesday, meaning he can't return until at least Monday when the Devils venture to Toronto. In the meantime, New Jersey travels to Winnipeg tonight ahead of a trip to Buffalo on Saturday. Kinkaid will likely need something to happen to Hedberg to see game action.

If Kinkaid receives ice time, he'll become the second goaltender in Union hockey history to play in an NHL game. The other was Steve Baker, who played in parts of four seasons with the New York Rangers from 1979-1983.

Even if Kinkaid doesn't get off the bench, it's still a win-win.

"I had a lot of fun backing up last year," he told the New Jersey media on Tuesday. "Obviously, you want to get that first game, but the time will come. It starts in practice. You show them what you got and hopefully they trust you enough to put you in. Just being with the team is an accomplishment."

ZAJAC

When Kelly Zajac's Union career concluded last spring, he ranked second on the program's Division I era points list with 128, three behind Adam Presizniuk.

The Manitoba native quickly signed an amateur tryout contract with Albany last April and was held without a point in three games at the end of the season. He was subsequently inked to a one-year AHL deal.

"Some skeptics may have seen signing Kelly as a favor to [his older brother] Travis before he was signed to a long-term contract extension, but Kelly will be given a chance to make it on his own," said Chere.

One thing that has hindered Zajac from making it so far has been health, a surprise considering he was remarkably durable during his Union career. Between stops in Albany and Trenton, Zajac has appeared in only 21 games this season.

"He's been banged up for a good part of the year [with a lower body injury] and only now is he able to play in every game instead of getting a game off of a 3-in-3 and so on," said Trenton Titans beat man Mike Ashmore of the Trentonian.

When Zajac, 24, has managed to play, the results have been strong. In 15 games for Trenton, he scored six goals and picked up 10 assists. The forward has also collected a couple goals and a helper in six games for Albany to go along with a plus-2 rating.

"Pretty skilled guy," Ashmore said. "He probably doesn't belong in Trenton in the first place [and is] probably a solid middle six forward in the AHL right now."

Added Dougherty, "[Zajac] basically is caught in a numbers game, created somewhat by the NHL lockout and the extra players who were in the AHL."

Numbers games aside, Zajac needs to do one thing to stick in the AHL.

"Stay healthy. It isn't much more than that," said Ashmore. "The skill set is there, but once he's able to have a completely healthy season and kind of work his way through the glut of depth in Albany, he'll be fine."

Going further up the ladder, could Kelly join older brother Travis in a New Jersey uniform someday?

"I think he has a chance," Ashmore said. "He still needs a little time to develop at the pro level, but end of 2013-14/mid 2014-15 season, he'll hopefully be at that stage of his career where he could get an opportunity"

Dougherty has more of a wait and see approach.

"I don’t know that he has the skill set of Travis, and his size (5'11/175) is a bit of a detriment, as well," he said. "It’s really too early to make that judgment until he gets more of a chance to play in the AHL."

Opined Chere, "Kelly's future appears to be that of a role player who could be called up and sent back several times before a final decision is made. One thing about Lou Lamoriello's Devils: if a player does get a call-up and makes an impression, he'll be rewarded with a contract and stay in the NHL."

Zajac tallies first AHL goal, assist

by Ryan Fay

Former Dutchmen great Kelly Zajac was recalled by the Albany Devils (AHL) before their game on Sunday and he made a quick impact.

In a 5-4 loss to Bridgeport, Zajac scored his first career AHL goal on his only shot of the game. Later in the contest, he picked up his first assist at the AHL level.

Zajac (unionathletics.com)

Prior to joining Albany, Zajac played 11 games with the Trenton Titans (ECHL) and tallied eight points on four goals and four assists. He missed the first chunk of the season with a lower-body injury.

The forward previously played for Albany late last season following the completion of his college career. 

Zajac finished his Union career with 128 points, trailing only Adam Presizniuk (131) in the program's Division I era.

Former Union goaltender Keith Kinkaid also saw action in Albany's loss, saving 24 of 29 shots.

Game Time: Colgate Vs. Union-ECAC Semifinals

Our own Evan Slavit's view from the stands

Union
15 Matt Hatch - 19 Kelly Zajac (A) - 21 Wayne Simpson
9 Daniel Carr - 27 Jeremy Welsh (A) - 7 Josh Jooris
16 Kevin Sullivan - 12 Kyle Bodie - 17 Daniel Ciampini
23 Cole Ikkala - 18 Max Novak - 11 Sam Coatta

22 Mat Bodie - 28 Shawn Stuart
2 Nolan Julseth-White (C) - 3 Ryan Forgaard
14 Shayne Gostisbehere - 20 Greg Coburn

1 Troy Grosenick
30 Colin Stevens
31 Dillon Pieri
*Award winners demarcated by italics. 


Colgate


Lineups to come.


Game Notes, Etc. 

• Colgate Athletics has some interesting tidbits about today's game here.
• Ken Schott predicts the semifinals.
• Union is wearing their home whites for the first time since February 4th. It's been that long?
• Kyle Bodie was on the ECAC Hockey Weekly Radio Show.

Follow Along

Union Takes The Ice, via Ken Schott.

• Remember, you can watch the game online here for $10. 
• You can also listen to the game through the radio broadcast online here. 
• Eschew the computer and listen on real radio: 1160 WABY or 1240 WKVZ.
• Follow Ken Schott, Colgate Athletics, Union Athletics.
• Get your live stats here!
• There's a live blog going on over at USCHO.com, so check that out.