The AHL and ECHL recently announced their All-Rookie Teams, and both teams were highlighted by prospects who will be making their way up the ladder towards the NHL in the very near future.

 

AHL All-Rookie Team

Forward: Patrick O’Sullivan (Houston Aeros)

Forward: Martin St. Pierre (Norfolk Admirals)

Forward: Ryan Shannon (Portland Pirates)

Defense: Daniel Girardi (Hartford Wolf Pack)

Defense: Mike Green (Hershey Bears)

Goaltender: Jimmy Howard (Grand Rapids Griffins)

 

Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year: Patrick O’Sullivan

 

Patrick O’Sullivan, Houston

6’0, 180 (21)

Draft: Minnesota 2003, #56 (2nd round)

Contract: Minnesota Wild (NHL)

 

Left wing Patrick O’Sullivan was an offensive dynamo in his first season with the Houston Aeros, and was a slam-dunk choice for the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award, awarded annually to the top AHL rookie. O’Sullivan was the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month for both January and February. Finishing fourth in the AHL scoring race with 93 points, this former second-round selection in 2003 scored the most goals in a season by any AHL rookie dating back to 1991. O’Sullivan tallied seven game-winning goals to go along with 16 power-play markers. He was named to the PlanetUSA squad in the 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic.

 

 

Martin St. Pierre, Norfolk

5’9, 180 (22)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

 

Martin St. Pierre split the 2004-05 season between Greenville (ECHL) and Edmonton (AHL), and was expected to be a solid contributor with the Norfolk Admirals this season. However, his stellar play early in the season earned him a call-up to the Chicago Blackhawks, which provided him with a new contract. St. Pierre is the 270th former ECHL player to play in the NHL. St. Pierre played in the 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic.

 

 

Ryan Shannon, Portland

5’9, 178 (23)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Anaheim Mighty Ducks (NHL)

 

Ryan Shannon, a former Boston College product, performed extremely well in his first full pro season (he appeared in four games at the tail end of last season with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks). Shannon was the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month in October, and had three multiple-game point scoring streaks, culminating in a 10-game streak (Feb. 17-Mar. 10). Shannon, who was an AHL All-Star, finished second in the rookie scoring race with 86 points, and second in the AHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-30. He was voted the Portland Pirates MVP this season.

 

 

Daniel Girardi, Hartford

6’1, 205 (21)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Hartford Wolf Pack

 

Defenseman Daniel Girardi began the season with the Charlotte Checkers (ECHL) where he had five points in seven games. Subsequently, he was called up to Hartford and has been a pleasant surprise on the blue line for this playoff-bound squad. Girardi has prior playoff experience, having helped the London Knights capture the Memorial Cup in 2005. He finished the season with eight goals and 31 assists.

 

 

Mike Green, Hershey

6’1, 198 (20)

Draft: Washington 2004, #29 (1st round)

Contract: Washington Capitals (NHL)

 

One of Washington’s first-round picks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Mike Green has seen quite a bit of time in the NHL, having played 22 games over the course of the season. Green made his NHL debut on opening night. The 20-year-old has shown quite a bit of offensive flair this season, and has been getting a lot of playing time in all situations in Hershey. Green was named the CCM Vector AHL Player of the Week yesterday for contributing six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in a pair of Hershey victories this past weekend.

 

 

Jimmy Howard, Grand Rapids

6’1, 215 (22)

Draft: Detroit 2003, #64 (2nd round)

Contract: Detroit Red Wings (NHL)

 

This former University of Maine standout has spent most of his first professional season with Grand Rapids, but did see a little bit of action with the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard had a stretch where he won 12 straight games between Feb. 25 and Mar 31. He finished the season with an incredible record of 27-6-2 in just 38 games. Howard recorded two shutouts this season.

 

 

 

 

ECHL All-Rookie Team

Forward: Sean Collins (Wheeling Nailers)

Forward: Alex Leavitt (Alaska Aces)

Forward: Daniel Sisca (Florida Everblades)

Defense: T.J. Kemp (Reading Royals)

Defense: Jon Awe (Gwinnett Gladiators)

Goaltender: Andy Franck (Wheeling Nailers)

 

CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: Alex Leavitt

 

Sean Collins, Wheeling

5’9, 170 (23)

Draft: Colorado 2002, #282 (9th round)

Contract: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

 

Sean Collins holds a distinction that separates him from the rest of the All-Rookie Team as he was voted the 2006 Rbk Hockey All-Star Idol at this year’s All-Star proceedings. Alas, being named an idol doesn’t translate into winning any hardware as he finished second in the voting for the Rookie of the Year award. Collins ranked among the Wheeling Nailers team leaders in numerous categories, including assists, points, and power-play points. The 23-year-old played eight games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season as well.

 

 

Alex Leavitt, Alaska

5’10, 175 (22)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Alaska Aces

 

Alaska Aces center Alex Leavitt was simply sensational in his first pro season as he led the ECHL with 91 points, making him only the third rookie in league history to accomplish that feat, and the first since the 1989-90 season. In addition to making the All-Rookie Team and winning the Rookie of the Year award, Leavitt was also named to the All-ECHL First Team. Leavitt was a member of the National Conference in the ECHL All-Star Game. Leavitt spent the past two seasons in the WHL, splitting time between the Swift Current Broncos and the Everett Silvertips. Prior to that, the Edmonton native spent two years at the University of Wisconsin.

 

 

Daniel Sisca, Florida

5’9, 160 (22)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL)

 

Daniel Sisca, another center on the ECHL All-Rookie Team, took a somewhat circuitous route to the start of his professional career, as he spent the 2004-05 season playing for Varese in Italy. An American Conference All-Star, Sisca was second in the rookie scoring race with 79 points and was a force on the specialty units, scoring three short-handed goals and accumulating 31 power-play points. He was the Florida Everblades leader in points, assists, and plus/minus this season.

 

 

T.J. Kemp, Reading

5’11, 197 (24)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Reading Royals

 

The play of defenseman T.J. Kemp has definitely caught the eye of AHL scouts, as he has had stints with four different teams this season (Bridgeport, Iowa, Milwaukee, and Peoria). Kemp has three game-winning goals to his credit this season, and ranked tied for sixth among league defense leaders in goals (13) and tied for ninth in points (40).

 

 

Jon Awe, Gwinnett

6’4, 220 (25)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Gwinnett Gladiators

 

Gwinnett Gladiators defenseman Jon Awe is the eldest of the All-Rookie Team at the age of 25. He spent four years at Northeastern University. Awe saw quite a bit of action in the AHL this season, having played 17 games for the Portland Pirates where he registered an assist and eight penalty minutes, and one for the Providence Bruins. Awe was fourth among league defensemen in goals with 14.

 

 

Andy Franck, Wheeling

6’1, 183 (24)

Draft: Undrafted

Contract: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

 

Andy Franck also generated a lot of attention in the league voting for Rookie of the Year as he had phenomenal numbers this season. His 33 wins were third-best in the circuit, and he also had five shutouts to go along with a 2.28 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. Franck’s stellar play helped push the Nailers to a second place finish in the Northern Division.