Fuel roster starts with energy, character

When Scott Hillman became the Indy Fuel's head coach, he said he wanted a hard-working team that would be fun to watch.

So far, the five players signed to the team seem to fill exactly what he's looking for.

The Fuel have five players signed as part of a roster that will eventually number at least 20 by the start of camp in October (with 6-8 of those being from the Chicago Blackhawks' roster), and there's no secret they're following that personality.

Fuel to play two preseason games in Alaska

The Indy Fuel will play two preseason games in Alaska against the defending ECHL Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces.

The games will be played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Oct. 7-8 -- a two-game tuneup for the Fuel's Oct. 17 season opener against the Fort Wayne Komets.

This will mark the only meeting between the teams this year. The Fuel and Aces are not scheduled to play during the regular season, although they could meet in the Western Conference Final during the playoffs. The Aces won their third Kelly Cup title since 2006 last spring, beating the Cincinnati Cyclones -- whom they faced in the preseason doubleheader in Anchorage last year.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to take on the Aces in the preseason,” Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a team release. “It will be a great test to play the defending champions and the trip will provide our team a good chance to bond before the season gets underway.”

Fuel release
Aces release

The Blackhawks' system, an update

The Chicago Blackhawks are set at the NHL level -- as of now, 23 players are on NHL contracts, the max. They'll have to make a couple of moves, as they're currently a couple million dollars over the NHL's hard salary cap, but it's worth taking another look at what's in the Blackhawks' system signed for this year.

The Blackhawks currently have 46 players signed for next season -- 23 on NHL contracts, 23 currently "non-roster players" or on minor-league deals (the maximum number allowed under contract to an NHL team is 50, but most teams start the season a few players under that amount to be able to sign players who age out of junior/graduate from college/college free agents at the end of the season). The Indy Fuel can expect to get about 6-to-8 players out of that group of 23. The CapGeek depth chart.

Take note, this is fluid. Trades often involve prospects going both directions, and the Blackhawks will likely sign players who have aged out of junior or college hockey at the end of the season, some of which we'll be likely to see in Indy.

Several of these players will be headed to the Blackhawks prospect camp this week. This post is focusing on the signed players. A post next week will update the unsigned prospects in the system whose rights the Blackhawks control -- the players still in junior, college or European hockey.

Midweek link roundup

A lot has happened in hockey the last few days. A ton of links below the jump:

Defenseman Anders Franzon joins Fuel

Anders Franzon (Photo provided by Indy Fuel)

The Indy Fuel continued to add to their roster Thursday, announcing the signing of defenseman Anders Franzon.

Franzon is the fifth player, and the first defenseman signed by the Fuel. He is a big puck-moving defenseman who stands 6-3 and a shade under 200 pounds. He played his rookie season for Fuel coach Scott Hillman last year, with 10 goals and 21 assists in 66 games for the CHL's Missouri Mavericks. He was the team's second-highest scoring defenseman.

"Andres is a steady defenseman that has a great ability to move the puck," Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a release on Thursday. "He's coming off a strong rookie season, and given his steady, reliable play, we believe he has a bright future in professional hockey."

Franzon is a 25-year-old right-shot blueliner who hails from Plattsburgh, New York. 

Franzon also played four years collegiately at Vermont -- where he was a teammate of the Fuel's first signing, Pete Massar. He had four goals and 20 assists in 124 games and played a top-four defense role for the Catamounts. He was also a member of the Hockey East All-Academic team as a senior in 2013.

He's the third player who played for Coach Hillman with the Missouri Mavericks, joining Massar and center Kenton Miller.

"It was a great experience playing for Coach Hillman last season," Franzon said. "He's a determined, passionate coach that puts everything on the line to win every night."

Fuel release
Franzon's HockeyDB page
Franzon's University of Vermont profile
A "Getting to Know You" from the Lee's Summit Tribune

Commentary: Blackhawks' move stresses developmental system

The Chicago Blackhawks handed out a lot of money Wednesday afternoon -- $168 million, to be exact. That's just $7 million less than the United Center cost to build in 1994.

What it means is the two franchise's centerpieces -- Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- will be wearing Blackhawk sweaters through 2023. The two signed eight-year, $84 million extensions. Those will carry a $10.5 million annual cap hit -- an increase of $4.2 million each from the pair's current contracts.

Link roundup: Jim Waite back with Hawks & more

A few links from around the hockey world of interest to local hockey fans:

• Recently posted by WIBC: an interview with Fuel head coach Scott Hillman done by Ray Steele.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have a familiar face coming in as their goaltending coach -- Jim Waite, who played goal for the IHL Ice throughout the 1990s. 
• Former Indiana Ice assistant coach Adam Krug has been named the head coach at Adrian College, his alma mater. Adrian plays in the NCAA's Div. III. Krug had previously been slated to be an assistant coach for the Green Bay Gamblers. 
• Adam's younger brother, former Ice defenseman Torey Krug, talked about Independence Day with BostonBruins.com last week. 
• A few Independence Day links: THN says the best American team might be one that surprises you and lists the top 10 moments in American hockey history (#1 is an obvious one, and there's a glaring omission that's as big as a Squaw Valley).
• Thoughts & prayers go out to the Ottawa Senators and GM Bryan Murray in his battle with cancer. 
• The Detroit Red Wings featured former Ice coach and current Grand Rapids Griffins coach Jeff Blashill speaking to the team's prospects at development camp. Blashill won the Clark Cup with the Ice in 2009 and the AHL's Calder Cup in Grand Rapids in 2013. 

Independence Day links: Rockford, Regier & more

Happy Independence Day!

A few links for you, with the Indy Fuel, legendary former Checker Darcy Regier landing in the Coyotes' front office, and some development camp news.

• Former Checker Darcy Regier was hired as the assistant GM of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Regier, who played five seasons for the Checkers and was their coach for much of the year in 1984-85, had previously spent 17 years as the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres. He replaces another person with strong Indianapolis ties - Brad Treliving, who had played for the IHL Ice and was later commissioner of the CHL when the Ice played in that league. Treliving is now the Calgary Flames' GM. The Arizona Republic has more.
• The Rockford IceHogs -- the Indy Fuel's AHL affiliate -- have signed a pair of players to AHL contracts in 29-year-old defenseman Zach Miskovic and 25-year-old forward Ryan Schnell. Both bring a measure of size and toughness to Rockford. And, as always, keep an eye on the IceHogs roster, as the Fuel anticipate 6-8 players being sent to Indy from the NHL & AHL affiliates in Chicago and Rockford.
• IceHogs coach Mark Bernard discussed the organization's affiliation with the Fuel at a recent availability. "It's going to give us the ability to send a few more players down there if we want them to develop and work on certain things. I think they're going to be a fantastic organization in the ECHL. They've got a great coach in Scott Hillman, and we're excited to be partnered with them." Click below the jump to watch.

Fuel updates: Mascots, ticket plans, staff

A few updates from the Indy Fuel as they prepare for their first season.

• The Fuel have introduced a half-season ticket that includes 18 of the 36 home games, including opening night Oct. 17 against Fort Wayne. Click here for info. Season tickets are now on sale. According to the team website, 9-game ticket plans will go on sale Aug. 1, and single-game tickets will go on sale Sept. 1.
• The Fuel have introduced a dragon mascot, but are asking for your help. In July, anyone over age 13 can help name the dragon by going to the team's Facebook page, or via Twitter by tweeting @IndyFuel and using the #IndyFuelMascot hashtag, or via email at mascot@indyfuelhockey.com. Also, those under age 18 can enter a coloring contest to color the Fuel mascot! Click to download the coloring page. For more, including rules, terms and conditions, click here. 
• The Fuel have recently announced several game-night staff additions, including photographers John & Kelly Wikman, off-ice officials supervisor Dennis Weber, and the announcing team of Andrew Smith (public address) and Scott Alan (emcee).

More NHL Draft: Blackhawks picks

As the ECHL affiliates of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Indy Fuel will be receiving players from the Hawks' system as they sign pro deals. So, it's worth taking a peek at who the Blackhawks added this year. Of the nine picks, the top 5 come from U.S.-based junior teams, two are from Europe and two from the Canadian Junior A ranks. All but the two Europeans are committed to U.S. colleges.

A peek at Chicago's draft haul. These are longer-term prospects, as Major Junior players cannot play professionally until they turn 20 or until they sign and their junior seasons end. Players who go to college will have the NHL team hold their rights until 30 days after they leave school.

ESPN.com has a good look at the Blackhawks' draft haul, and the fact that they drafted so many college players allows them a long-term development timeline. Also, a look at the picks from Blackhawks.com.

Pre-draft link roundup

On NHL Draft eve, a few links to peruse while going through your favorite mock draft:

• On Monday, former Indianapolis Ice goaltender Dominik Hasek became the 17th person with Indianapolis hockey ties to be chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame. THN's Matt Larkin makes the case for the Dominator to be considered the greatest goalie ever. That was a title many once bestowed to another HOFer to matriculate in Indianapolis -- Terry Sawchuk.
• This week, former Indiana Ice defenseman (and Fort Wayne native) Blake Siebenaler was profiled in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Siebenaler is one of several Ice players who are considered NHL Draft prospects. Also getting some ink this week in larger draft stories: 2012-13 Ice D Rinat Valiev & 2013-14 player Mitch Slattery, who was an affiliate list member who played one game for the Ice this past season. Ryan Mantha and Josh Jacobs are also projected to be picked in the draft. The first round is Friday night, with rounds 2-7 on Saturday. 
• We look forward to the draft, but it's also a time to look back. With the Indy Fuel being affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks, members of past draft classes could be in Indianapolis this fall. ESPN.com looks back at the 2010 class (which includes a familiar face in Nick Mattson -- whose development the Blackhawks seem to be happy with. Mattson will play at North Dakota this year), as well as the 2011, 2012 and 2013 classes. 
• On the fun side, the Indy Fuel have unveiled the team mascot, a dragon. They're now seeking fan input on a name. 
• ECHL affiliation news: the South Carolina Stingrays announced an affiliation with the NHL's Washington Capitals. South Carolina had previously been affiliated with the Boston Bruins. Washington moved its affiliation from Reading, which aligned with the previously-unaffiliated Philadelphia Flyers. This currently leaves Boston as one of five teams without an ECHL affiliation (the others: Colorado, New Jersey, San Jose, Ottawa). Currently, two of the ECHL's 21 teams are listed as independent, although Fort Wayne is reportedly open to seeking affiliation (the other team is Colorado). There are six ECHL teams that each have two NHL affiliates. Current ECHL-NHL affiliations.
• More NHL news: the Pittsburgh Penguins have found a coach from the Western Hockey League: Mike Johnston of the Portland Winterhawks.
• Don't forget to check our posts from earlier in the week: an interview with the Fuel's first player, Pete Massar, the Fuel's second signing - Rhett Bly, the ECHL's new division alignment and rules changes, and former Ice player Torey Krug being named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team.

Fuel sign rookie Rhett Bly

The ECHL's Indy Fuel signed the team's second player over the weekend, adding rookie forward Rhett Bly from Merrimack College.

Indy Fuel forward Rhett Bly (Merrimack College)

Known as a strong skater, Bly played four years for the Warriors. In 143 career college games, he had 16 goals and 27 assists. He ranks among Merrimack's career games played leaders. His best year was a five-goal, 16-point season over 38 games as a junior. This season, he had a goal and two assists against NCAA qualifier Vermont, and also led the Warriors in +/- with a plus-3 rating.

He was named Merrimack's "Unsung Hero" for the last two years, going to the player who "exemplifies perseverance, enthusiasm, dedication and hard work throughout the season." He was also Merrimack's Strength and Conditioning Award winner.

"Rhett is a talented scorer and a relentless competitor," Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a team release. "You can't keep him off the ice."

Bly is a 24-year-old forward who majored in business at the Massachusetts-based school. He came to Merrimack after playing three years of Junior A hockey in Canada. He was a point-a-game player, with 74 goals and 108 assists in 164 games. He had back-to-back 70-point seasons from 2008-10. He is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan. He joins fellow Hockey East alum Pete Massar, who played at the University of Vermont, as the Fuel's first two players. 

Indy Fuel release
Bly's Merrimack bio
Bly's career stats (from HockeyDB)

Meet the Fuel's first player, Pete Massar

Last week, the Indy Fuel announced Pete Massar as the ECHL team's first player.

Pete Massar (Photo: Ed Wolfstein)

The 5-9, 180-pound rookie from the University of Vermont is looking forward to his first full professional season, and being the first player on the Indy team.

"It comes with a lot of responsibility," Massar said Monday afternoon about being the team's first signing. "I'm going to have to put a lot of work in and make sure they made the right decision bringing me in. I'm pretty excited."

Massar comes to the Fuel from the University of Vermont, where he played the last two years of his four-year collegiate career. This past season, he scored six goals -- ranking fifth on the Catamounts -- and had nine points.

Although he describes himself as a skill player, Massar played this past season on Vermont's checking line. He also played on the power play and penalty kill for his home-state university -- a team he grew up watching when Tim Thomas and Martin St. Louis were wearing green and gold.

Friday link roundup

A few items of interest to local hockey fans have popped up in the last couple of days, so time for another link roundup.

• ICYMI, a couple of posts from yesterday: 
• The ECHL Indy Fuel have signed their first player, Pete Massar.
• Our post on Jeff Brown & several Ice personnel on the move. Lots of links from Ottawa on Brown heading to coach the OHL's Ottawa 67s. Associate coach Adam Krug is headed to a similar position with the Green Bay Gamblers. Defenseman Chris Martenet is also headed to the OHL's London Knights.
• The NHL Draft is a week away. Three players with Indiana Ice ties were rated in the top 100 by THN's Ryan Kennedy. Josh Jacobs is rated 43rd, 2012-13 Ice player Blake Siebenaler is rated 74th and defenseman Ryan Mantha was rated 85th. The Hockey Writers' Shawn Reznik has Jacobs rated 32nd in his top 60. Several other current and former USHL players are also on the list. THW's profile on Jacobs is here.
• The United States of Hockey's Chris Peters has an interesting blog post on USA Hockey participation around the nation. Indiana's 5,922 players ranks 21st in the nation, but the growth (2.1%) is higher than the national average.
• Indiana Ice 2008-09 Clark Cup champion-turned-Boston Bruin Torey Krug has a new website. Check it out at ToreyKrug.com.
• A few NHL items with potential local interest: 
• It's been known for some time that the Washington Capitals will host the 2015 Winter Classic. We now know their opponent - the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks will be playing in their second Winter Classic -- they hosted the second one at Wrigley Field -- and third outdoor game. The Hawks also hosted Pittsburgh in a Stadium Series game last season at Soldier Field.
• Boston Bruins assistant Geoff Ward is taking a head coaching job in Germany, leaving a vacancy on Claude Julien's bench. One candidate widely mentioned to be moving up? Former IHL Ice player and head coach Bruce Cassidy, who is the head coach of the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence. Cassidy also has NHL head coaching experience with the Washington Capitals.
• The Carolina Hurricanes hired Bill Peters as their head coach on Thursday. Peters had previously coached in the Blackhawks' organization in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs.
• The 2014-15 NHL schedule will be announced Sunday. 

• The Pan Am Pavilion, where the Indiana Ice played a significant number of home games the last two seasons (as well as a handful of games in previous seasons) is officially closed. The site is slated for redevelopment into a two-tower hotel. Here was their Facebook post on the closing: "This is how it ends. The funeral dirge for Pan Am pavilion, a building that has seen 30 years of hockey figure skating and even curling pass through its doors and onto the ice of two rinks. The altogether unimpressive brick and mortar clothing metal girders has undoubtedly held the echoes of many of you for the last time. From the echo of private conversation to the constant hum of the compressors the building will sit silent because of all the life taken from it. All that life belonging to you our customers, from the die hard, week in and out attendees to those who visited once in a great while you will all be missed. Because in the end Pan Am the building was just that; a building. It was the great people whom passed through those doors that gave it life. It’s from the bottom of our hearts and with the most sincere offering we the staff say thank you. Thank you for bearing through it all with us, and most importantly thank you for helping us chase a dream and afford the blessing of working in a field where our hearts passion was the main focus of our livelihood."

Fuel sign first player: Pete Massar

The Indy Fuel have signed their first player, rookie forward Pete Massar from the University of Vermont.

Pete Massar (Univ. of Vermont)

He played four years of college hockey, two at Clarkson and two at Vermont. In 70 collegiate games, he had nine goals and eight assists, including six goals and three assists in 31 games as a fifth-year senior this past year.

He made his professional debut last spring for Fuel coach Scott Hillman's Missouri Mavericks in the CHL, playing the team's final two playoff games. He made an immediate impact, scoring two goals in his first game.

"He traveled three time zones after being notified at 1 a.m. that we needed him that very same day," Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a release. "He arrived just a few hours before the game and scored two goals in a heartbreaking 4-3 double OT game. Despite having played just two games he has shown that he is ready to be an impact player in professional hockey.”

A native of Vermont, Massar is a right shot forward who stands 5-9, 180. Prior to his college career, he had 54 points in 36 games in the Tier III Eastern Junior Hockey League in 2008-09.

He was considered a strong forechecker who was a key part of Vermont's checking line a year ago. He played on the power play and penalty kill for the Catamounts.

Indy Fuel release
Burlington Free Press article on Massar
University of Vermont bio
Pete's HockeyDB profile

Hockey links: Cups running over

Even though it's the offseason, a pretty decent link roundup today.
Updated with a couple of new links Wednesday evening.

• The ECHL offseason began Monday, and teams have begun the process of re-signing their players. Orlando has inked five -- including two new players. Fort Wayne discusses its offseason plans. A look at the teams' end-of-season rosters is here. There are two big dates to look for -- one was Monday, the other is June 30. After that date, all players not signed or extended qualifying offers by their ECHL teams are free agents.
• The ECHL league meetings are this weekend in Las Vegas. The major item on the agenda is the league alignment and playoff structure now that the Eastern Conference has 14 teams and the Western Conference has seven. Some rules changes could also be proposed/enacted, especially with the NHL making some minor tweaks to the game, especially with regards to faceoff procedure. The ECHL and NHL rulebooks are very similar, with the most notable difference being the ECHL has a five-round shootout as opposed to the NHL's three rounds.
• In other ECHL news, the Nashville Predators re-upped their affiliation with Cincinnati. The Predators and Florida Panthers shared an affiliation with the Eastern Conference Champion Cyclones this year. 
• The AHL's Texas Stars (Dallas affiliate) won the Calder Cup on Tuesday with their third straight overtime victory. Patrick Nemeth was the series hero with the OT winner in Game 5 to clinch the best-of-7 4-1. Nine Stars were ECHL alumni.
• Speaking of championships, Adam Gretz has done an interesting breakdown of recent Stanley Cup champions and the qualities they share. Most important? Possess the puck.
• Led by coach Darryl Sutter, the Kings won their second Stanley Cup in three years last Friday. The "dynasty" word is being thrown around a lot? ESPN's Pierre LeBrun asks if they're a dynasty in the making. Yahoo's Harrison Mooney says no, they're not a dynasty. 
• Looking ahead to next weekend's NHL Draft, the Blackhawks look at their 27th pick. In addition, five former Indiana Ice players -- Josh Jacobs, Ryan Mantha, Blake Siebenaler, Rinat Valiev and Mitch Slattery -- are draft prospects and could hear their name called next weekend. 
• Speaking of the Blackhawks, TSN takes a look at their off-season gameplan & roster. 
• Former Indianapolis player news: ex-Checker Bruce Affleck has a new job in the St. Louis Blues' front office. The Hrkac Circus is going to the USHL - former IHL Ice scorer Tony Hrkac is a Madison Capitols assistant coach. THN has a nice piece on Blake Geoffrion, whose brother Sebastien played for the 2009 Clark Cup champion Ice. 
• And a fun one to cap things off: THN's Rory Boylen takes a look at 9 of his favorite "obscure" players. Two are former IHL Ice players -- Chris Terreri and Sergei Krivokrasov. 

Roundup: KIngs, Aces & the draft

Today's link roundup has items on former Ice coach Darryl Sutter a win away from another Stanley Cup, a peek at the NHL Entry Draft, the Alaska Aces winning the Kelly Cup, a peek at the ECHL offseason and Ice player movement updates. All below the jump.

Hockey links & potpourri June 6

Below the jump in today's link roundup, read about Jeff Blashill's contract extension, another new ECHL coach -- this time in Evansville (creating a vacancy in Elmira), the Reading Royals' new affiliation, an update on the Kelly Cup Final, and a really incredible story about Indiana native Doc Emrick that you won't want to miss.

Next step for Fuel: Filling up the roster

With the opener four months away, a lot is beginning to happen with the ECHL's newest franchise, the Indy Fuel.

The team has secured an NHL affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks (and a corresponding AHL affiliation with the Rockford IceHogs). On May 27, Scott Hillman was named the team's first coach (read our interview with him here). And Wednesday, the ECHL announced the 2014-15 schedule, and so the Fuel know where they're going for 72 regular-season games spanning the Oct. 17 opener against Fort Wayne and the April 11 finale in Reading.

What's next? The Fuel will soon begin filling out the roster.

Fuel to open schedule with home-and-home against old rival

The Indy Fuel and Fort Wayne Komets haven't yet played a game against each other, but their rivalry is already pretty strong.

It's a rivalry goes back to the days when the IHL's Indianapolis Ice and Fort Wayne Komets did battle, often a dozen times a year. And while the rivalry has been on hiatus for 15 years -- the last time Fort Wayne and Indianapolis hockey teams met on the ice, it was an exhibition game in 1999 -- it still fuels passions on both sides.

So, fittingly, as the Indy Fuel begin their inaugural ECHL campaign this fall, it will happen with the Fort Wayne Komets as the visitors.

Fort Wayne will visit the State Fairgrounds Coliseum on Oct. 17 for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop, beginning a new era in Hoosier hockey, both for the Indy Fuel and the newly-renovated Coliseum, which will be unveiled after a two-year remodeling project that transformed the Coliseum into a spectacular, modern arena. The next night, the Fuel will head up I-69 to help the Komets usher in their season. There's no better way to usher in a new era.