A total of 14 past and present Soo Greyhound players along with Sault Ste Marie natives Jarrett Burton and Nicholas Porco are currently included on American Hockey League Opening Night rosters for the 2020-21 season.
Much like the OHL’s 2019-20 season, the AHL’s campaign was halted prematurely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020, wrapping up without a Calder Cup champion being recognized. The league’s 85th season gets underway today, with re-aligned divisions and a few less clubs as the reigning first place Milwaukee Admirals opted out of the campaign along with the 2019 Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers and the Springfield Thunderbirds. Additionally, the San Antonio Rampage franchise has re-located to Henderson, Nevada, where they’ll play as the Henderson Silver Knights, top affiliate of the nearby Vegas Golden Knights.
Puck drop in the AHL’s Canadian Division that includes the Belleville Senators, Toronto Marlies, Manitoba Moose, Laval Rocket and Stockton Heat (playing out of Calgary), will take place on a date still to be determined.
The Ontario Reign, top affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, currently leads the AHL with 10 OHL graduates on its roster followed by the Binghamton Devils (NJ), Syracuse Crunch (TB/FLA) and Texas Stars (DAL) with nine apiece.
The London Knights lead OHL clubs with 15 past and present players on the list followed by the Saginaw Spirit and Soo Greyhounds with 14 and the Kitchener Rangers, Ottawa 67’s and Owen Sound Attack with 11.
With the OHL’s 2020-21 regular season currently delayed, a total of 29 players born in 2001 or younger are included on AHL Opening Night rosters.
Belleville Senators [Ottawa]
Jack Kopacka
Binghamton Devils [New Jersey]
Colton White
Hartford Wolf Pack [NY Rangers]
Tim Gettinger
Iowa Wild [Minnesota]
Ryan O’Rourke, Jarrett Burton (Blind River Beavers)
Laval Rocket [Montreal]
Jacob LeGuerrier *, Hayden Verbeek
Ontario Reign [Los Angeles]
Matthew Villalta
Providence Bruins [Boston]
Zach Senyshyn (Soo Greyhounds)
Syracuse Crunch [Tampa Bay/Florida]
Tyler Johnson, Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh
Texas Stars [Dallas]
Nicholas Porco (Barrie Colts)*^
Toronto Marlies [Toronto] (TBD)
Tucson Roadrunners [Arizona]
Michael Bunting, Blake Speers
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins [Pittsburgh]
Jordan Nolan (Soo Greyhounds)
* – competed in OHL during 2019-20 season
^ – 2001-born or younger
