More Useless Information!

I am currently sitting here watching my Calgary Flames play the Philadelphia Flyers on the tube and I see former Notre Dame Hounds goaltender Curtis McElhinney dressed as the backup goaltender for the Flames. It got me thinking - what other former SJHLers are currently on NHL rosters so I did a bit of research and here is the list I compiled (by the way if you know of any I have missed let me know in the comments section.

Anaheim Ducks - Chris Kunitz (Melville Millionaires)
Calgary Flames - Curtis McElhinney (Notre Dame Hounds)
Carolina Hurricanes - Rod Brind' Amour (Notre Dame Hounds)
Columbus Blue Jackets - Derek Dorsett (Kindersley Klippers) - please note that Dorsett is on injured reserve and in all likelihood will be sent to minors when he recovers. He played as a 16 year old rookie in the SJHL before going on to the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers.
Colorado Avalanche - Brett Clark (Melville Millionaires)
Detroit Red Wings - Chris Chelios (Moose Jaw Canucks - I bet only the old timers remember that)
New Jersey Devils - Sheldon Brookbank (Humboldt Broncos)
New York Islanders - Ruslan Fedotenko (Melfort Mustangs)
Tampa Bay Lightning - Brad Richards (Notre Dame Hounds)
Vancouver Canucks - Willie Mitchell (Melfort Mustangs)

- Although not long in length, there are some pretty impressive names on that list.

Former SJHLers playing in the American Hockey League (AHL):
Albany - Wade Brookbank (Melville)
Binghamton - Geoff Waugh (Kindersley)
Chicago - Kevin Doell (Melfort)
Grand Rapids - Mark Hartigan (Weyburn)
Hershey - Andrew Gordon (Notre Dame), Andrew Joudrey (Notre Dame), Sasha Pokuluk (Notre Dame)
Houston - Nolan Schaefer (Nipawin)
Manchester - Ted Purcell (Notre Dame), Drew Bagnall (Battlefords)
Manitoba - Greg Classen (Nipawin), Shaun Heshka (Melville)
Peoria - Hans Benson (Nipawin)
Philadelphia - Scott Munroe (Notre Dame)
Rockford - Jordan Hendry (Battlefords), Prestin Ryan (Estevan)
San Antonio - Alex Leavitt (Notre Dame)
Syracuse - Jon Mirasty (Kindersley)
Wilkes-Barre - Aaron Boogaard (Melville)

In future articles and as other minor pro leagues get their season going, I will give you further updates on other former Red Wings and SJHLers.

- Brad M.