Catching up with NMU alumni in pro hockey

Two Northern Michigan hockey seniors have joined professional teams in the past week.

Forward Dominik Shine of Pinckney, Mich., signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Then forward Shane Sooth of Canyon Country, Calif., joined the Quad City Mallards, the ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.

They join more than 30 former NMU Wildcats who have earned paychecks playing hockey during the 2016-17 season.

The most notable development among Wildcat alumni in pro hockey was Jared Coreau’s NHL debut with the Red Wings. The goalie from Perth, Ontario, who played at NMU from 2010 to 2013, appeared in 14 games for Detroit, posting a record of 5-4-3. He recorded a goals-against average of 3.46 and a save percentage of .887.

In 22 games with Grand Rapids, before and after his NHL call-up, Coreau is 13-7-2 with a 2.31 GAA and a .921 SVP.

 

Retirements

Two former Wildcats with NHL experience wrapped up lengthy pro careers in the past year.

Mike Santorelli (NMU, 2004-07) retired because of injury in October, six games into a two-year contract with Geneve-Servette of the top Swiss league. A center, Santorelli had a goal and three assists in those six games.

Santorelli’s NHL career covered 410 games with six teams and scoring totals of 64-74-138 and 78 PIM. His most recent season in the league was 2015-16, when he posted 9-9-18 totals in 70 appearances with Anaheim.

Nathan Oystrick (2002-06) is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL. He retired after the 2015-16 season, when he served as a player-coach with Elmira of the ECHL. Oystrick, a defenseman, played in 65 NHL games with Atlanta, Anaheim, and St. Louis, recording a scoring line of 5-10-15 and 61 PIM.

Here’s a roundup of former Wildcats in pro hockey, with season stats updated through March 17:

 

AHL

Justin Florek (2008-12), F from Marquette, Milwaukee Admirals, 62 games, 9-17-26, 10 PIM, +3. He played in four games for the Boston Bruins during the 2013-14 season.

Mark Olver (2007-10), C, has played for two AHL teams this year: Tucson Roadrunners, 41 games, 6-11-17, 29 PIM, +/-0; Bakersfield Condors, 4 games, 0-3-3, +5. Olver has appeared in 74 career games with the Colorado Avalanche (10-12-22), most recently in 2013.

 

AHL/ECHL

Jake Baker (2011-15), D, has played for three teams in 2016-17: Quad City Mallards (ECHL), 3 games, 0-0-0, -5; Manitoba Moose (AHL), 12 games, 0-1-1, 28 PIM, +5; Florida Everblades (ECHL), 14 games, 1-1-2, 10 PIM, -1.

Greger Hanson (2017-11), F, has played for four teams in two leagues this year: AHL (San Diego Gulls, Chicago Wolves, Binghamton Senators), 10 games, 1-2-3, 11 PIM; Allen Americans (ECHL), 51 games, 33-38-71, 26 PIM, +18.

Darren Nowick (2012-16), F, has been on two rosters in his first full professional season: Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), three games, 1-0-1, 2 PIM, -1; Missouri Mavericks (ECHL), 57 games, 21-24-45, 26 PIM, -8.

 

ECHL

Andrew Cherniwchan (2008-12), F, South Carolina Stingrays, 25 games, 7-9-16, 34 PIM, +4.

Wade Epp (2010-14), D, South Carolina Stingrays, 55 games, 1-8-9, 81 PIM, -5.

Kyle Follmer (2009-13), D, has played for two ECHL teams: Quad City Mallards, one game, 0-0-0, 2 PIM, -2; Fort Wayne Komets, 35 games, 4-7-11, 27 PIM, +15.

Erik Higby (2010-14), F, Utah Grizzlies, 39 games, 13-7-20, 28 PIM, -7.

Brian Nugent (2009-13), LW, Idaho Steelheads, 25 games, 9-3-12, 34 PIM, +4.

Reed Seckel (2010-15), F, has appeared with two ECHL teams: Missouri Mavericks, 39 games, 6-9-15, 58 PIM, -9; Elmira Jackals, one game, 0-0-0, 4 PIM, -1.

Ryan Trenz (2012-16), D, Alaska Aces, 58 games, 4-13-17, 57 PIM, -2.

 

ECHL/SPHL

Joseph Manno (2014-15), F, has suited up with three teams in two leagues: Fayetteville FireAntz (SPHL), five games, 1-3-4, 2 PIM, -2; Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL), 22 games, 9-12-21, 15 PIM, -3; Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL), 2 games, 0-1-1, 2 PIM, +1.

John Siemer (2013-16), LW, three ECHL teams, 10 games, 0-1-1; Macon Mayhem (SPHL), 37 games, 14-22-36, 36 PIM, +16.

 

SPHL

Michael Doan (2012-15), G, has played for two SPHL teams: Knoxville Ice Bears, four games, 3-1-0 record, 2.77 GAA, .929 SVP; Evansville Thunderbolts, 16 games, 2-10-2 record, 4.37 GAA, .868 SVP.

Robert Lindores (2012-14), RW, Mississippi RiverKings, 48 games, 8-12-20, 21 PIM, -4.

 

FHL

Luke Eibler (2013-15), D, Saint Clair Shores Fighting Saints, 2 games, 0-0-0.

Jacques Lamoureux (2006-07), F, Port Huron Prowlers, 22 games, 10-9-19, 31 PIM, -3.

 

Europe

Erik Gustafsson (2007-10), D, Omsk Avangard of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (widely regarded as the second-best league in the world), 61 games, 3-21-24, 22 PIM, +9. Gustafsson has appeared in 100 NHL games (8-18-26, 18 PIM), most recently with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014.

Tuomas Tarkki (2001-05), G, Mlada Boleslav BK of the Czech Extraliga, four games, 1-3-0 record, 5.66 GAA, .811 SVP. Last year, Tarkki was 12-14-8 (2.24 GAA, .906 SVP) with JyP HT Jyvaskyla of the top Finnish league.

Darin Olver (2003-07), LW, is in his sixth year with the Berlin Polar Bears of Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany’s top-tier league. This season’s numbers: 40 games, 13-18-31, 18 PIM, +11.

Andrew Sarauer (2004-08), LW, is in his fourth season with Szekeshfehervar Alba Volan HC of the top Austrian league. In 43 games this year: 13-20-33, 36 PIM, +-0.

Matt Siddall (2004-08), RW, has played with two teams this season in the Austrian League: Dornbirn EC, 30 games, 7-9-16, 27 PIM, -7; Graz EC, four games, 2-1-3, 4 PIM, +1.

Stephan Vigier (2010-14), C, is in his first year with Lillehammer in GET-ligaen, Norway’s top league. In 52 games, he leads the team in points (20-31-51).

Jamie Milam (2002-06), D, second season with Nitra MHC of the Slovak League, 63 games, 11-27-38, 40 PIM, +10.

Brian Stewart (2006-10), G, third year with the Coventry Blaze of the British Elite Ice Hockey League, 48 games, 19-25-4 record, 3.46 GAA, .898 SVP.

Geoff Waugh (2002-06), D, Nottingham Panthers of the British Elite Ice Hockey League, 25 games, 3-2-5, 12 PIM, +-0.

Mathias Dahlstrom (2013-16), G, Sodertalje SK of Sweden’s second-tier league, nine games, 0-8-0 record, 3.78 GAA, .825 SVP.

Tyler Gron (2008-12), C, Heilbronn Falcons of Germany’s second division, 42 games, 19-23-42, 65 PIM, -7.

Am I missing anyone? Write to 906sportspage@gmail.com.