Jets end affiliation with ECHL's Colorado Eagles

Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-The Winnipeg Jets have ended their affiliation with the ECHL's Colorado Eagles.

The two clubs have had an association since the Jets relocated from Atlanta in 2012.

"We would like to thank both the Winnipeg Jets and the St. John's Ice Caps for their efforts and assistance during the last two years," Eagles President and General Manager, Chris Stewart said via media release.

Arron Asham finding a way to contribute

Arron Asham is on his 6th Eastern Conference team 

 Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-Arron Asham is arguably the NHL Eastern Conference's most sought after player. Consider this, he's playing on his 6th Eastern Conference team in an NHL career that has seen him assume many roles. "I've basically been playing against those five teams my whole career," said Asham.

Every coach he's had has praised his work ethic and gritty play, the exact ingredient that winning hockey teams must have.

Yellow Horn makes jump to AHL

Colton Yellow Horn seems to find a way onto the scoresheet in whatever league he plays in

'The Brocket Rocket' has 10 points in 11 AHL games this season

Photo by Fred Kfoury/ICON SPORTS

Manchester, NH (NHN)-Colton Yellow Horn is producing points in the American Hockey League.

Yellow Horn, 25, is a scorer and has produced 10 points in 11 AHL games with the Monarchs after being recalled from the ECHL's Ontario Reign last month.

Cheechoo signs with AHL's OKC Barons

Cheechoo signs AHL deal

Oklahoma City, OK (NHN)-Jonathan Cheechoo has signed a pro contract with the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons.

Cheechoo, 32, played last season under contract to the St. Louis Blues for their AHL affiliate in Peoria.

He's being looked to provide some offense to a club that lost their top scorers Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Magnus Paajarvi and Justin Schultz to the Edmonton Oilers once the lockout was over.

Pierro-Zabotel takes over ECHL scoring lead

Gwinnett Gladiators forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel leads the ECHL in scoring 

Photo by Steve Hampton/HH Multimedia

Gwinett, FL (NHN)-Casey Pierro-Zabotel has taken over the ECHL scoring lead from Colton Yellow Horn.

Zabotel, from B.C.'s Bonaparte First Nation has made a name for himself in the ECHL after bouncing around his first few seasons of pro hockey.

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pierro-Zabtoel never really found a home with them and ended up signing as a free agent with the Gladiators.

He leads the ECHL in scoring with 64 points.

Colton Yellow Horn, from Brocket, Alberta, sits in fourth place in scoring with 58 points including 36 goals. 

Hainsey nominated for Bill Masterson Award

Hainsey nominated for Bill Masterson Award

Photo by Ryan Jeanes 

Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-Ron Hainsey has been nominiated as the Winnipeg Jets candidate for the Bill Masterson Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership, perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.

Hainsey was one of the lead players during the NHL lockout and was close to NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr.

It was a long exhaustive process and he earned himself a reputation for being hard nosed and not necessarily appreciated by the owners, as one NHL negotiator put it, "Over the line sometimes."

But he doesn't put much stock in what other people say about him.

One thing is clear, he has concentrated on playing hockey this season, spending only 10 minutes in the penalty box so far this season.

But the difference that he made for the game was clearly one that will be felt for seasons to come, spending the better part of an off season on the negotiating team for the NHLPA, a time that didn't really endear him to NHL owners-but he did it anyway.

Hainsey says the role he played was a business matter and not a personal one.

"If we did take things personally it would be very difficult to be effective."

The award will be handed out in June at the NHL's awards ceremony.

Verreault-Paul lands in ECHL

Francis Verreault-Paul

Greenville, SC (NHN)-The top university player in CIS hockey for the past three years has signed a deal with the Greenville Road Warriors in the ECHL.

Francis Verreault-Paul finished last season with the AHL's Hershey Bears before being released last spring and has a goal and four assists in five games so far this season.

Eric Roy has a future in the game

Eric Roy is a potential first round NHL draft pick for 2013

Photo by Ryan Jeanes 

 Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-Eric Roy is making a name for himself in the Western Hockey League. The 17 year-old defenceman is in his second season with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Roy, a Cree Metis from Beauval, Saskatchewan was the first from his community to play in the WHL or 'dub' as the players like to call it.

And while that feels pretty good, being the first to play in the NHL would be better.

The fly in the ointment is that Roy will have to wait another year before that door can open for him.

He just turned 17 and isn't draft eligible until 2013.

Michael Ferland gets another chance at a Memorial Cup

Michael Ferland will get another crack at a Memorial Cup

Photo by Steve Hiscock

Shot appears courtesy of Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club

Michael Ferland will play in Calgary Flames organization next season

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (NHN)-In an effort to bolster their lineup heading into the Memorial Cup, the Saskatoon Blades acquired 20 year-old winger Michael Ferland from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a 2013 first round pick in the bantam draft.

Blades GM admitted the Blades paid a hefty price to acquire Ferland but said he added toughness and the ability to score to his lineup.

Ferland fired 47 goals last season and started this year with the AHL's Abbotsford Heat but was challenged cracking the lineup on a nightly basis due to the NHL lockout. He was eventually sent to the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies before requesting a return to the WHL.

He already has Memorial Cup experience, having played in the finals against the Windsor Spitfires in the 2010 event when the Wheat Kings hosted the tournament.

CIS University Cup opens today

Eskasoni First Nation's Chad Denny will be looking to win a National Championship this weekend

Photo by Brian Smith

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (NHN)-The top six university hockey teams in Canada open up the University Cup today in Saskatoon.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears, U of S Huskies, UNB Varsity Reds, Les Patriotes, St. Mary's University Huskies and Waterloo Warriors will all be looking to be crowned national champions.

This will be the U of S Huskies and UNB Varsity Reds second straight appearance in the nationals.