FROM Ryan Johnson’s tryout agreement deal with the Rockford Ice Hogs to Ryan Parent’s recall to Vancouver from the Manitoba Moose, the week that was in the American Hockey League had a strong dose of Northwestern Ontario flavour to it.
A veteran of 667 NHL games the 34-year old Johnson will look to work his way back to the show after inking a professional tryout agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks primary affiliate late this past week.
He last played in the AHL 11 years ago when he suited up for the then New Haven Beast. His overall numbers in the league were impressive enough registering 136 points in 180 games, including 45 goals.
Rockford played against Oklahoma City on Saturday, but Johnson did not dress in that contest.
He could make his Rockford debut Wednesday as the Ice Dogs take on the Chicago Wolves.
As for Parent the defenceman and Sioux Lookout product hopes his stay back in the NHL will be a longer one. He was held pointless in four earlier games with the Canucks this season.
During his stint in the AHL with Manitoba the former first round draft choice had one assist in seven games in a Moose uniform.
Other local products currently in the AHL are Thunder Bay natives Carter Hutton, Robert Bortuzzo, Trevor Kell, Taylor Chorney and Chris Porter, who recently returned from a stint with the St. Louis Blues.
Hutton is coming off a 6-3 victory for the Worcester Sharks over Kell’s Albany Devils Saturday.
One city product let go by his AHL club was Zach Harnden who released by the Manchester Monarchs on Dec. 8. The forward had a goal and was plus-two in six games.
WCHA NOD: When your team scores seven goals and you have a hand in on all of them that will usually get you some recognition.
That’s exactly what Haley Irwin received from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as junior forward at the University of Minnesota Duluth, scooped up WCHA offensive player of the week laurels for the period ending Dec. 5.
Irwin registered her seven points on three goals and four assists in games vs. St. Cloud State.
She continues to lead all WCHA women’s players in offensive production and sits second overall in points per game average in the NCAA just behind fellow Canadian Olympian Meghan Agosta.
SATURDAY STARS: NCAA game action Saturday saw a number of area athletes produce for their respective collegiate teams.
Thunder Bay’s Luke Cain tallied twice to help lead his Union College Dutchmen to a 6-2 victory over Army.
Meanwhile in NCHA play Kenora’s Colton Kennedy notched his first collegiate goal helping Wisconsin-Superior defeat rival St. Scholastica 7-3.
Lakehead product Drew Strandberg picked up the victory between the pipes to win his fifth game of the season for the Yellowjackets.
Tyler Miller of Fort Frances had one of the St. Scholastica markers.
Also scoring Saturday was Thunder Bay’s Andrew Krelove as the Bowling Green defenceman tallied in a 4-2 setback to Ohio State.