Penguins make first cuts to ECHL

Today’s cuts to the ECHL come courtesy of Jonathan Bombulie, beat writer for the Pens at the Citizen’s Voice:

Players packing up and heading for Wheeling are: Aaron Clarke, Andrew Lord, Rob Sirianni, Jeremy Scherlinck, Jonathan Ornelas, Matt Grennier, Doug Krantz, and Cliff Loya.  Shipping off to the Reading Royals will be Mike Salekin and Kevin Harvey, while Nino Musitelli and Nathan Schwartzbauer will be playing for the Dayton Bombers.  Finally, Brad Farynuk will head to the South Carolina Stingrays.

These moves leave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the following players:  Forwards Aaron Boogaard, Tim Wallace, Luca Caputi, Jean-Michel Daoust, Bryan Ewing, Tommy Goebel, Joey Haddad, Nick Johnson, Mark Letestu, Jordan Morrison, Mitch Woods, defensemen Ben Lovejoy, Reid Cashman, Jon D’Aversa, Elgin Reid, Brock Sheahan, and goaltenders Adam Berkhoel, David Brown, and Curtis Darling.

In addition to those players listed above, the following need to clear waivers by Monday at 12:01pm EST:  Forwards Ryan Stone, Chris Minard, Jonathan Filewich, Kris Beech, Dave Gove, Adam Henrich, Connor James, defensemen Joey Mormina, Danny Richmond, T.J. Kemp, and Deryk Engelland.

Mitch Woods making the most of his tryout

Mitch Woods last season with the Fort Wayne Komets

Mitch Woods, a 22 year old rookie out of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, has done everything to show he belongs at the AHL level.  He spent last season in Fort Wayne, Indiana with the IHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.  He put up 297 penalty minutes while contributing 36 points in 73 games.  The 5’10″ spitfire is now trying to make the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during this year’s training camp.

He has already fought former Penguins draftee Moises Gutierrez, who had a 6 inch height advantage, and beat him handily.  He also challenged Kaleb Betts and pounded him to the ice.  Woods has also contributed offensively, chipping in a few points during this weekends preseason games.  If he survives today’s cuts, he’ll be sure to continue his path this upcoming weekend against the Hershey Bears.  Stay tuned to the blog for any developing stories on the cuts made by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.