Meet the 2014-2015 Portland Pirates

Meet the 2014-2015 Portland Pirates

No. 2 – Dylan Reese
Pos. D | Shoots: R
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 201lbs
DOB: Aug 29, 1984
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Last Team: Khabarovsk Amur (KHL)
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Reese is entering his seventh season as a professional after having played four seasons at Harvard. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has 21 goals, 100 assists for 121 points in 326 AHL games with Hartford, San Antonio, Syracuse, Bridgeport and Wilkes-Barre. He’s appeared in 77 NHL games with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s a top four defenseman who is going to play against other team’s top pairings, and he’ll be a conduit between the coaches and players.”

No. 3 – Jordon Southorn
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 199lbs
DOB: May 15, 1990
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Southorn scored his first AHL points with the Pirates last season, recording a pair of assists against the St. John’s IceCaps on 3/14/14. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, but never signed and turned pro with the Trenton Devils of the ECHL. He’s played 205 ECHL games, scoring 100 points (32G, 68A) with Trenton, Wheeling, Elmira and Fort Wayne. He made his AHL debut with the Providence Bruins in 2011 and is one of 47 players to have played for both the PBruins and Pirates franchises. He also played three games in Dundee, Scotland.

Coaches’ Comment: “He’s a puck-moving power play guy that has good size and can skate. It’s gonna be up to him to find a way into the lineup and find a way to stay in the lineup when he has an opportunity.”

No. 4 – Andrew Campbell
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-4 Wt. 206lbs
DOB: Feb 4, 1988
Hometown: Caledonia, ON
Last Team: Manchester Monarchs
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Campbell is joining the Pirates after having played his entire pro career in the Los Angeles Kings organization. Campbell, a 2008 third-round draft pick of the Kings, is the all-time leader for games played in a Monarchs jersey with 414 AHL games. He made his NHL debut last season with the Kings and is one of four former captains to play for the Pirates this season.

Coaches’ Comments: “Leadership. He will be a top player for us. He’s a great defender and see a lot of minutes.”

No. 9 – Tobias Rieder
Pos. RW | Shoots: L
Ht. 5’11 Wt. 190lbs
DOB: Jan 10, 1993
Hometown: Landshut, Germany
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Trade with Edmonton for Kale Kessy on 3/29/13

Bio: Rieder is entering his second season in the AHL after finishing his rookie season second on the team in goals (28) and third in points (48) in 64 games. As a member of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, Rieder set a career-high in goals (42) and assists (43) during the 2011-’12 season. He was an assistant captain of Germany’s U20 World Junior Championship team, scoring three goals in six games in 2013.

Coaches’ Comments: “Hopefully Tobi takes another step forward this season and is someone who (Arizona) considers playing in the NHL. He needs to continue to be hard on the puck and look at him to produce offensively for us and play in every situation. He’s a coaches’ player for sure.”

No. 10 – Jordan Szwarz
Pos. RW | Shoots: R
Ht. 5-11 Wt. 200lbs
DOB: May 14, 1991
Hometown: Burlington, ON
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2009 NHL Draft (4th Round)

Bio: Szwarz is in his fourth season as a member of the Pirates and looking to rebound from an up-and-down year. He was named the 17th captain in franchise history and made his NHL debut with the Coyotes, but injuries hampered his on-ice productivity as he finished with 14 points in 27 games with the Pirates. This season Szwarz will remain part of the Pirates’ leadership group as an assistant captain.

Coaches’ Comment: “He provides us with leadership. He’s hard on the puck, tenacious; he’s a great defensive player and great penalty killer. We’ve asked him this season to try and be the best penalty-killer in the league. He’s at a point now that when he goes up; he, hopefully, can find a way to stay.”

No. 14 – Dan O’Donoghue
Pos. C | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-4 Wt. 205lbs
DOB: Jan 28, 1991
Hometown: Port Jefferson, New York
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: O’Donoghue signed with the Coyotes as a free agent last season after completing his career at Mercyhurst University, becoming only the fifth player in school history to sign an NHL contract. He made his pro debut with the Pirates last season on Apr. 13, 2014 against the Norfolk Admirals. O’Donoghue was named the Atlantic Hockey Association Best Defensive Forward, AHA All-Conference 2nd team and finished tied for team lead in scoring in 2013-14.

Coaches’ Comment: “He’s a big player that is learning. We’re going to try and put him in a role where he uses his size and strength. He needs to understand the compete level that has to happen in order to stay in the lineup. He’s working hard, and we expect that development curve to be small.”

No. 15 – Matt Kassian
Pos. LW | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-4 Wt. 240lbs
DOB: Oct 28, 1986
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
How Acquired: 25-game professional tryout

Bio: Kassian is currently with the Pirates on a 25-game PTO after being invited to the Coyotes’ training camp. He played five years in the Minnesota Wild system with the Houston Aeros before being traded in 2013 to the Ottawa Senators for a 2014 sixth-round pick. In 48 games with the Senators, he scored two goals; one assist with 110 penalty minutes.

Coaches’ Comment: “He’s trying to earn an NHL contract. We know what his role is within the team, but he want to work with the rest of his game to make him better. Those types of players have to be able to play minutes and be effective on the forecheck. He’s very motivated right now because he wants to earn an NHL deal.”

No. 16 – Greg Carey
Pos. LW | Shoot: L
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 198lbs
DOB: Apr 5, 1990
Hometown: Hamilton, Ont
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Carey appeared in 13 games for the Pirates last season after signing an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. He played four years at St. Lawrence University and was the first junior in program history to be a Hobey Baker finalist in 2012-’13. Last season, he finished the season first in the nation in power-play points (31), second in assists (39) and third in total points (57). He was the Saints’ leading scorer each of his four seasons and was the ECAC scoring champion two times during his four-year career.

Coaches’ Comments: “A young player in the sense that he’s a first-year pro. He has great offensive instinct, but he has a lot of areas to work on in his game especially the 200-foot game and playing away from the puck.”

No. 17 – Jordan Martinook
Pos. C | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 203lbs
DOB: Jul 25, 1992
Hometown: Brandon, MB
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2012 NHL Draft (2nd Round)

Bio: Martinook is entering his third season with the Pirates after being drafted by the Coyotes in 2008. He made his debut with the Pirates in 2012-13, skating in 53 games, scoring nine goals, ten assists for 19 points. Last season, he improved on his point totals, recording 14 goals, 16 assists for 30 points in 67 games. Prior to the Pirates, Martinook played for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, scoring 51 goals, 41 assists for 92 points in 144 games.

Coaches’ Comments: “Marty looks as good as I’ve ever seen him. I’m really excited to him play. Marty has a lot of Szwarz in him. He’s a real good defender and way quicker this year. I see him being a top penalty killer and produce offense with how quick he is. He has an unbelievable shot. We want him to take a step up in the leadership this season and to find a way to get into the leadership group.”

No. 19 – Henrik Samuelsson
Pos. RW | Shoots: R
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 208lbs
DOB: Feb 7, 1994
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
How Acquired: 2012 NHL Draft (1st Round)

Bio: Samuelsson played the last three seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, and was one of the key members of the team’s Memorial Cup Championship in 2014. He scored five points (2g, 3a) in the Memorial Cup final against Guelph to ice the championship. He was also a member of the Oil Kings’ Ed Chynoweth Cup Championships as the top team in the WHL. In 162 games, he finished with 75 goals, 123 assists for 198 points. Prior to Edmonton, he played 15 games in the Swedish Hockey League with MODO.

Coaches’ Comments: “He has elite NHL ability. For him, it’s going to be about understanding the pro game and learning how to do things every day at the pro level. If he does that everyday, there is no doubt that he’ll get an opportunity at some point this season.”

No. 20 – Patrick McNeill
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 195lbs
DOB: Mar 17, 1987
Hometown: Strathroy, ON
Last Time: Springfield Falcons
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: McNeill played six seasons with the Hershey Bears and was a member of the Bears’ 2009-’10 Calder Cup Championship. Last season, he signed with the Springfield Falcons where he appeared in 63 games, scoring 11 goals, 26 assists for 37 points.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s one of this guys that we signed because we think they’re on the cusp of being able to play some NHL games. The players that we signed we wanted them to have that drive still to play in the NHL; it helps us with our younger players. He’s gonna help the power play, and he move the puck, but the defending side is where he’s going to have to continue to grow.”

No. 22 – Phil Lane
Pos. RW | Shoots: R
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 213lbs
DOB: May 29, 1992
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2010 NHL Draft (2nd Round)

Bio: Lane is looking to rebound from a difficult sophomore season last year. He only played 39 games due to injuries and finished with a paltry six points all season. In his rookie season with Portland, he appeared in 70 of 76 games, scoring 22 points with a plus-10 rating. Prior to Portland, he played three seasons with the Brampton Battalion of the OHL, scoring 50 goals, 57 assists in 171 games.

Coaches’ Comments: “I’m looking for a real big year from Phil. We think he can produce offense, we also think he can be one of the best-structured players in the league. He’s a smart player, a big, heavy player. We’re going to work with him on his skating and those first three steps. He’s a trustworthy guy and someone I trust whole-heartedly to kill penalties and get pucks out of the zone. We are going to get him to try and take another step offensively and put a few more pucks into the net. And, of course, we want him to stay healthy.”

No. 24 – Brendan Shinnimin
Pos. C | Shoots: L
Ht. 5-10 Wt. 184lbs
DOB: Jan 7, 1991
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Shinnimin appeared in 52 games with the Pirates last season, scoring 13 goals, 15 assists for 25 points. During his rookie season, he tallied 12 goals, 21 assists for 33 points in 74 games. Prior to signing with the Coyotes, he played for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL where he was named CHL Player of the Year award as well as winning the CHL Top Scorer Award for finishing the season with 134 points after leading the team in goals (58) and assists (76).

Coaches’ Comments: “We’re hoping that he has a breakout year. We’re going to put him in situations to succeed. He’s going to get opportunities that he might have gotten in the past, and we’re hoping that he’ll take that run with it. We’re moving him to the wing, and he’s going to play a top-6 role with the opportunity to play on the power play.”

No. 25 – Eric Selleck
Pos. LW | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 220lbs
DOB: Oct 20, 1987
Hometown: Spencerville, ON
Last Team: Chicago Wolves
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Selleck’s background originates from NCAA Division III where he played two years with the Oswego State Lakers. In his final season with the Lakers in 2010, he led the team in scoring and a 26-3-0 record, defeating Brunswick’s Bowdoin College, 9-2, to advance to the NCAA National Semifinals. The Lakers would lose to eventual champions St. Norbert College. Selleck has turned his collegiate experience into an AHL career, appearing in 258 games with Rochester, San Antonio and Chicago. He made his NHL debut in 2012-’13, recording two assists.

Coaches’ Comments: What we saw in the two preseason games is what I hope we get from him. He’s a good north/south player that protects the pucks very well, and we saw some offensive flair from him that we hope he can produce some offense.”

No. 26 – Darian Dziurzynski
Pos. LW | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-1 Wt. 203lbs
DOB: Mar 30, 1991
Hometown: Prince Albert, SK
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2011 NHL Draft (5th Round)

Bio: Dziurzynski is entering his third season with the Pirates. He’s appeared in 109 AHL games with the Pirates, scoring 11 goals, 14 assists for 25 points with 148 penalty minutes. Prior to the Pirates, he played for the Saskatoon Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, appearing in 304 games and recording 92 goals, 69 assists for 161 assists.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s a really good skater. He has some elements of his game that we’re working on him with. He’s another one of these second, third-year guys that we’re looking for a good year. We need those players to have big years to have success.”

No. 27 – Evan Oberg
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 190lbs
DOB: Feb 16, 1988
Hometown: Forestburg, AB
Last Team: Chicago Wolves
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Oberg joins the Pirates on an AHL contract after playing last season for the Chicago Wolves where he posted 25 points (6g, 19a) and plus-22 rating. He was a member of the 2012 Calder Cup Champion Norfolk Admirals. He registered a career-high 23 assists and 26 points during rookie year with Manitoba Moose following his signing with Vancouver as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Oberg played two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s a quiet leader that’s steady on the blueline and can put him in any situation. We thought he be a great guy for us to have to have a depth guy down here. He’s a guy that’s won championship and made the playoffs every year he’s played, and we want to build our team with guys like that.”

No. 28 – Justin Hache
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 204lbs
DOB: Jan 10, 1994
Hometown: Bathurst, New Brunswick
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2012 NHL Draft (7th Round)

Bio: Hache made his debut with the Pirates last season, playing six games, following the conclusion of his junior career with Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 222 QMJHL games with Cape Breton and Shawinigan, he scored 17 goals, 95 assists for 112 points. He was a member of the 2012 Memorial Cup Champions Shawinigan Cataractes.

Coaches’ Comments: “It will be a growing time for him. He’s going to have a lot of development to do and try to get him into situations to succeed. With the depth of our blueline, it should be a lot easy this season because we’re not going to throw him into the wolves. We’ll put him into situations that he’ll gain confidence every time he’s on the ice. He can move the puck. He is a good defender. He just needs to learn the detail of defending at this level.”

No. 29 – Mark Visentin
Pos. G | Catches: L
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 204lbs
DOB: Aug 7, 1992
Hometown: Waterdown, ON
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2010 NHL Draft (1st Round)

Bio: Visentin is looking to rebound from a poor season last year. He went 14-19-6 with a 3.25GAA and a .902 save percentage in 45 games. Visentin rookie season fared much better with the goals against under three and an above .500 record. He earned bronze with Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships.

Coaches’ Comments: “He needs to play better. He has to get the work done off the ice and find results, which is not necessarily winning. It results in the medical room, in the video room, in practice, its results during his workout and its results in games and giving us an opportunity to win games on a nightly basis.”

No. 32 – Tyler Gaudet
Pos. C | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 205lbs
DOB: Apr 4, 1993
Hometown: Hamilton, Ont
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Gaudet signed as an undrafted free agent last season and made his debut with the Pirates, playing two games. He is one of the five rookies on the roster, and like Samuelsson, he’s is going to be expected to play a larger role in the success of the franchise. In his final season with Sault Ste. Marie, he scored 26 goals, 35 assists for 61 points in 65 games with a plus-25 rating.

Coaches’ Comments: “Tyler is a player that will be thrown in the fire right away. He’s a young player, but we feel that he’s matured beyond his years. He and Samuelsson are sort of the same mold. He will get opportunities to play in big situations and get big minutes.”

No. 33 – Mark Louis
Pos. D | Shoots: R
Ht. 6-4 Wt. 229lbs
DOB: Apr 18, 1987
Hometown: Ponoka, AB
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Louis has moved back to his natural position of defense for this season after playing last year as a forward. In 56 games for the Pirates in 2013-’14, he finished with a goal and four assists. He is currently in the fourth season with the Pirates. Prior to playing in Portland, he played collegiate hockey in Canada for St. Francis Xavier.

Coaches’ Comments: “We moved him back to the point, and we liked what we’ve seen during the preseason. He’s found his identity, and we really needed a big guy back on defense that going to be able to punish guys and make them think twice about driving wide to the boards. We need to work him on puck decisions and getting confidence with the puck. He can skate with any defender out there.”

No. 36 – Brandon Gormley
Pos. D | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 196lbs
DOB: Feb 18, 1992
Hometown: Murray River, PEI
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2010 NHL Draft (1st Round)

Bio: Gormley appeared in 54 games last season for the Pirates, tallying seven goals and 29 assists. He made his NHL debut with the Coyotes last year, going scoreless. As a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes, he won the 2012 Memorial Cup, finishing the tournament with three goals, six assists for nine points.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s an elite player in the AHL. Ultimately, if the Coyotes are looking for a defenseman they will be looking at him, but he needs to be getting the job so that will be our focus with him to start the season.”

No. 37 – Louis Domingue
Pos. G | Catches: R
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 210lbs
DOB: Mar 6, 1992
Hometown: Mont St-Hilaire, PQ
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2010 NHL Draft (5th Round)

Bio: Domingue is coming into Portland off a very successful training camp with the Coyotes and looking to leave his mark on the Pirates this season. Domingue split time between the Pirates and their ECHL affiliate in Gwinnett (Ga.). He also had a subpar season last year and his looking for redemption.

Coaches’ Comments: “He had a really good camp, and I see him and Mike (McKenna) will get the bulk of the work early. It’s pretty much the same thing with Louis as with Visentin in that its results driven.”

No. 38 – Lucas Lessio
Pos. LW | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-1 Wt. 212
DOB: Jan 23, 1993
Hometown: Maple, ON
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2011 NHL Draft (2nd Round)

Bio: Lessio is entering his second full season of professional hockey. He made his debut for the Pirates at the start of the 2012-13 season, playing five games. He followed his efforts the next season with 54 points in 69 games, leading the team in goals (29) scored and finished second in team scoring.

Coaches’ Comments: “Lessio is very clear on the areas where he needs to be better. We know what he can do. We know he’s going to be able to create offense. He has to learn to play within his teammates and with the structure, defending the right away and doing those little things.”

No. 43 – James Melindy
Pos. D | Shoots: R
Ht. 6-3 Wt. 195lbs
DOB: Dec 11, 1993
Hometown: St. John’s, NL
Last Team: Portland Pirates
How Acquired: 2012 NHL Draft (3rd Round)

Bio: Melindy is looking to rebound from several injuries last season that limited his play to only 38 games. Melindy made his pro debut with the Pirates in 2013 following the completion of his junior season with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.

Coaches’ Comments: “This is really like his first season because of the all the injuries last year. He never was able to get on any sort of roll because he was always hurt so we’re hoping that we can get him going early. He plays a hard game, it’s a defending game, but we need to make simple plays and have good reads on the play.”

No. 49 – Alexandre Bolduc
Pos. C | Shoots: L
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 203lbs
DOB: Jun 26, 1985
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Last Team: Chicago Wolves
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: Bolduc is back for his second stint with the Pirates. He originally signed with the Coyotes in 2011 and played two seasons in Portland. He signed last year with the Chicago Wolves and had a drop off in production from his last season in Portland, recording 37 points in 59 games. Bolduc was named the 16th captain in franchise history in 2012 and has been named captain of the team in his return becoming the 18th captain in franchise history.

Coaches’ Comments: “He’s going to be the guy we lean on. He’ll play in all situations, and will be the guy who will help our younger players succeed. He’s still driven to play in the NHL, and so he’s got to get the job done to do that. We know when he played for us the last time that he can produce. We want the same thing, but we also want him to be a good 200-foot player.”

No. 56 – Mike McKenna
Pos. G | Catches: R
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 190lbs
DOB: Apr 11, 1983
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Last Team: Springfield Falcons
How Acquired: Free Agent

Bio: McKenna, like Bolduc, is back with the Pirates for a second stint. He last played for the Pirates in 2007-08 under the Anaheim Ducks affiliation and was five minutes away from leading the team to the Calder Cup Finals. McKenna has bounced around the AHL for the last several years, playing Norfolk, Binghamton, Albany, Lowell, Peoria and Springfield. Last season with the Falcons, he went 22-10-1 while recording a 2.54GAA and a .910 save percentage and three shutouts.

Coaches’ Comments: “We brought Mike for a reason, which is to help develop and bring along our young goalies. We still have three young goalies and its takes some time to develop them, and we want him here to help them out. He’s in the same situation as they are. Do the right things and play the right way and get results, and the hope is that it makes it really hard on our coaches to decide on who is going to play.”

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