American Hockey League « Frozen Royalty

LA Kings Prospects Mullen and Teubert Assigned to Ontario Reign

March 17, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings defenseman prospect Colten Teubert helped Canada win the Silver Medal in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships in January 2010.
Photo: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, NH AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — On March 16, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate) assigned defenseman Patrick Mullen to the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ and Monarchs’ ECHL affiliate. The Kings also assigned defenseman Colten Teubert to the Reign on March 17.

Mullen, 23, has played in 36 games with the Monarchs this season, scoring three goals and adding five assists for eight points with fourteen penalty minutes.

The 6-0, 181-pound native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania scored four goals and added 21 assists for 25 points with 39 penalty minutes in 38 games for the Denver University Pioneers last season.

In four seasons with the Pioneers, the 5-11, 185-pound native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania scored twenty goals and contributed 61 assists for 81 points with 148 penalty minutes in 152 games, splitting time between forward and defenseman.

During the 2004-05 season, Mullen also skated with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League, scoring fourteen goals with 23 assists for 37 points and earned a +11 plus/minus rating. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, Colten Teubert, ECHL, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Ontario Reign, Patrick Mullen, Regina Pats, Western Hockey League, WHL. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Return Jonathan Bernier To Manchester Monarchs

March 14, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LOS ANGELES — During their game against the Nashville Predators at Staples Center on March 14, the Los Angeles Kings assigned goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, hockey, Jonathan Bernier, Jonathan Quick, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL. 1 Comment »

Jonathan Bernier Shows Skill, New Attitude In Brief Stint With LA Kings

March 13, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings goaltender
prospect Jonathan Bernier.
Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

EL SEGUNDO, CA — For much of the 2008-09 season, Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Jonathan Bernier was not a happy camper.

First, he was upset that he was unable to crack the Kings lineup out of training camp, even though an injury contributed greatly to that.

Not long after that, when goaltender Jonathan Quick was called up from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, Bernier pouted.

“When we called up Quick, [Bernier] did not work hard in practice,” Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi said in an earlier interview. “He thought this was going to be an easy ride to the NHL.”

“[Bernier has] always been one of the top goaltenders in Canada his whole life,” Lombardi added. “It’s all been fairly easy because he’s so talented and he thought he would go right to the Kings. When it didn’t happen, he didn’t want to work hard. One of the biggest complaints we had was, ‘you’re not coming up here until you learn to work hard in practice.’ He didn’t do it. When we called up Quick, he kind of went the other way on us. We actually called up [former Kings goalie prospect] Danny Taylor. We played him in Manchester.” Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, Dallas Stars, Dean Lombardi, Erik Ersberg, hockey, Jonathan Bernier, Jonathan Quick, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Ron Hextall, Terry Murray. 7 Comments »

Frozen Royalty Audio: Jonathan Quick Ready To Go; Justin Williams Feeling Good

March 13, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (left) being congratulated by teammate Anze Kopitar after a 6-0 shutout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 8, 2010 at Staples Center.
Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings were back at it on Saturday afternoon, skating in a full practice after returning home from a two-game road trip in which they earned three out of a possible four points.

Frozen Royalty was there to talk to Justin Williams about his first game back after recovering from a broken right leg, to new father Jonathan Quick about his rather eventful last couple of days, to Fredrik Modin about how he has fit so well with the Kings, and to Jonathan Bernier, who came up in a hurry to fill in for Quick and put in a very strong effort at Dallas on March 12. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, Fredrik Modin, hockey, Jonathan Bernier, Jonathan Quick, Justin Williams, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Terry Murray. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Recall Jonathan Bernier; Justin Williams Expected To Return To Lineup At Dallas

March 11, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

Jonathan Bernier Courtesy Los Angeles Kings/NHL

Jonathan Bernier
Photo courtesy Los Angeles Kings/NHL

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On March 11, the Los Angeles Kings recalled goaltender Jonathan Bernier from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions. They also announced that right wing Justin Williams is expected to return to the lineup on March 12 at Dallas.

Bernier, 21, was recalled after goaltender Jonathan Quick returned to the Los Angeles area for the impending birth of his first child.

Bernier is lighting up the AHL this season with a 26-18-5 record, a 2.08 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and eight shutouts.

The 5-11 184-pound native of Laval, Quebec is fifth in the AHL in wins, first in shutouts and he is second in minutes played (2,941). He was also the starting goalie for Team Canada at the 2010 AHL All-Star game. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, hockey, Jonathan Bernier, Justin Williams, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL. 1 Comment »

Los Angeles Kings Bring In Rental Help For Playoff Push

March 4, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

UPDATED March 8, 2010 with details on the conditional draft pick in the trade for Fredrik Modin.

The LA Kings acquired forward Jeff Halpern in
a trade deadline deal on March 3, 2010.
Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings capped what was, perhaps, the most uneventful National Hockey League trade deadline days in recent years by acquiring veteran forwards Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin.

Halpern, 33, was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Teddy Purcell and a third round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (originally Florida’s selection, acquired by the Kings in a draft-day trade on June 27, 2009, in exchange for the 107th and 138th overall picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft).

Halpern has scored nine goals and has added eight assists for seventeen points with 27 penalty minutes in 55 games this season. The 5-11, 190-pound center has played in 704 NHL games with the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars and the Lightning, scoring 131 goals with 183 assists for 314 points and 542 penalty minutes. Read the rest of this entry »

Butch Goring Was The LA Kings’ First Star, Fan Favorite

February 24, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

Butch Goring
Photo: LA Kings

LOS ANGELES — Long before Anze Kopitar’s skates hit the ice at Staples Center, years before superstar Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne lit up opponents on the ice at the Forum in Inglewood, California, and even before superstar and should-be Hall Of Fame goaltender Rogie Vachon often won games single-handedly at the Forum, center Robert Thomas “Butch” Goring thrilled fans with his speed, scoring ability and hard work for eleven seasons after being selected by the Kings in the fifth round (51st overall) of the 1969 National Hockey League Amateur Draft.

In the 1969-70 season, his first with the Kings, Goring scored thirteen goals and added 23 assists for 36 points in 59 games. But he wound up splitting time between the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, the Springfield Kings of the American Hockey League and the big club the following season, playing in just nineteen games at the NHL level.

It was not until the 1971-72 season that Kings fans became enamored with the speed and scoring ability of the St. Boniface, Manitoba native, but Goring quickly became the Kings’ first star and fan favorite. Read the rest of this entry »

LA Kings Recall Forwards Richard Clune, Marc-Andre Cliche

February 24, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On February 24, the Los Angeles Kings recalled forwards Richard Clune and Marc-Andre Cliche from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, Marc-Andre Cliche, National Hockey League, NHL, Richard Clune. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Send Richard Clune Back to Manchester

February 16, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On February 16, the Los Angeles Kings assigned winger Richard Clune to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, ECHL, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Ontario Reign, Richard Clune. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Assign Left Wing Scott Parse To Manchester Monarchs

February 12, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings winger Scott Parse (left) chases down a
loose puck against the St. Louis Blues on
December 5, 2009 at Staples Center.
Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On February 12, the Los Angeles Kings assigned left wing Scott Parse to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Scott Parse. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Lose Brandon Segal; Richard Clune Gets The Call From Manchester Via Ontario

February 11, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On February 11, the Los Angeles Kings recalled forward Richard Clune from the Ontario Reign of the ECHL after they lost right wing Brandon Segal when he was claimed off of waivers by the Dallas Stars. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, Brandson Segal, Dallas Stars, ECHL, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL, Ontario Reign, Richard Clune. 1 Comment »

Has Dean Lombardi Solved The LA Kings’ Goaltending Woes?

February 4, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — With the exception of should-be-a-Hall-of-Famer Rogie Vachon, Mario Lessard and Felix Potvin (for about one season), “goaltending” and “Los Angeles Kings” should not be used in the same sentence unless the idea is to cause uncontrollable laughter or crushing despair, depending on who you might be talking to.

But all indications are that the old joke that has been Los Angeles Kings’ goaltending is about to be put to rest, perhaps for the long-term.

Although it is way too early in his career to compare him to Vachon, Jonathan Quick could be the solid, number one goaltender the Kings have lacked for what seems like an eternity. Read the rest of this entry »

Dean Lombardi: Can Purcell Build Confidence, Add Grit?

January 28, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

LA Kings winger Teddy Purcell (left) needs to display this kind of grit more often and on a consistent basis if he expects to find his game again.
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — On June 27, 2009, during the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, then-Los Angeles Kings center prospect Brian Boyle was traded to the New York Rangers for a third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Much was expected of Boyle, a 6-7, 248-pound center with a scoring touch who was selected by the Kings in the first round (26th overall) in 2003 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, former Kings General Manager Dave Taylor said that he would be a project, but in Boyle’s four years at Boston College, he excelled.

Even at the American Hockey League level, Boyle was a solid contributor offensively for the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, even though the Kings tried to convert him to a defenseman, an experiment that failed miserably.

But even with his great physical gifts, especially for a player with his size and strength, Boyle has still been unable to figure out, even with the Rangers, that he has to use his those gifts in order to succeed in the NHL, something the Kings tried to get him to learn.

Although Boyle showed flashes of the grit he will need to succeed at the NHL level, most of the time, he failed to win the physical battles along the boards and in the corners, or worse, was a spectator, just a few feet away. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, American Hockey League, Brian Boyle, Dean Lombardi, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, NHL, Teddy Purcell. 8 Comments »

LA Kings Recall Alec Martinez, Place Davis Drewiske On Injured Reserve

January 11, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

Davis Drewiske
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On January 10, the Los Angeles Kings recalled defenseman Alec Martinez from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate, and they have placed defenseman Davis Drewiske on the injured reserve list, retroactive to January 5.

Martinez, 22, has played in three games with the Kings this season, his first in the National Hockey League. The 6-1, 208-pound native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, has also played in nineteen games with the Monarchs this season, scoring three goals and adding five assists for eight points with six penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Kings. Tags: AHL, Alec Martinez, American Hockey League, Davis Drewiske, hockey, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, National Hockey League, NHL. Leave a Comment »

LA Kings Recall Alec Martinez, Place Randy Jones On Injured Reserve

January 6, 2010 — Gann Matsuda

Alec Martinez (right) challenges Colorado Avalanche
center Paul Stastny during a pre-season game on September 23, 2009 in Denver.
Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On January 6, the Los Angeles Kings recalled defenseman Alec Martinez from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, their primary minor league affiliate, and they placed defenseman Randy Jones on the injured reserve list, retroactive to December 16.

Martinez, 22, has played in two games with the Kings this season, his first in the National Hockey League. The 6-1, 208-pound native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, has also played in 19 games with the Monarchs this season, scoring three goals and adding five assists for eight points with six penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating. Read the rest of this entry »