AHL Report Headlines: Sunday August 27, 2017
	On this day in hockey history… 1962 — Hockey Hall of Fame forward Adam Oates is born in Weston, Ontario.  After attending RPI, winning the 1985 NCAA championship, and setting school records for assists (60) and points (91) in his junior season, Oates went on to put up monster stats with the Red Wings, Blues, and the Bruins. 1966 – Toe Blake and Elmer Lach, part of the Canadiens “Punch Line” are inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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by Joseph Whalen, Staff Writer, AHL Report

► CWHL 2017 Draft Class

• One hundred and thirteen players representing nine countries were selected in the 2017 CWHL Draft and will join the Boston Blades, Calgary Inferno, Kunlun Red Star, Markham Thunder, Les Canadiennes de Montreal, Toronto Furies, and Vanke Rays for the 2017-18 season. Held at the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Doc Seaman Centre in Toronto, the newest draft class represents 65 different USports and NCAA programs and features players from around the world, including Canada, USA, China, New Zealand and Turkey, among others. Forward Courtney Turner (Union College; Milton, MA) was selected first overall by the Boston Blades. Forward Kristyn Capizzano (Oakville, Ont.; Boston College) went second overall to the Toronto Furies, followed by defenceman Nicole Kosta (Quinnipiac University; Mississauga, Ont.) to the Markham Thunder, forward Mélodie Daoust (McGill University; Valleyfield, Qué.) to Les Canadiennes, and defenceman Taryn Baumgardt (Quinnipiac University; Innisfail, Alta.) to the Calgary Inferno.

Can't beat the feeling of being number ☝🏼 #CWHLDraft #WeAreTheGame pic.twitter.com/nZf5zt1gvg

— CWHL (@TheCWHL) August 21, 2017

► Reign to play Eisbären Berlin in exhibition

• The Ontario Reign announced that the team will face off against Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in an exhibition on February 13. The two AEG Sports franchises will meet in the International Frozen Friendly at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.  “This is indeed a historical event that we are very proud to help host,” said Los Angeles Kings president Luc Robitaille. “It will be a great experience for our fans here in Southern California to be a part of something so unique. We look forward to welcoming the players and staff of our Berlin club here to Southern California while presenting a quality, competitive game for everyone involved.” The contest marks the first exhibition between an AHL club and a European team since the Toronto Marlies hosted Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League in 2014.

► Remembering Dave Creighton (1930-2017)

• Dave Creighton played 21 professional season between 1948 and 1969, becoming one of only four players in hockey history to skate in at least 600 games in both the AHL and NHL.  He is tied for 24th all-time in the AHL in scoring with 692 points after playing for the Hershey Bears, Rochester Americans, Buffalo Bisons, Baltimore Clippers, and Providence Reds.  Creighton played in the NHL for the Bruins, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, and Rangers.  He was 87 years old when he passed away.

We remember Dave Creighton, the 1967-68 AHL MVP who passed away Friday at the age of 87.

Details: https://t.co/ruMco9a0pd pic.twitter.com/UFrF4j1Tbl

— AHL (@TheAHL) August 22, 2017

► Who’s behind the bench?

• The New York Islanders announced that Chris Terreri had been named the team’s goaltending development coach and goalie coach for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Terreri will work with goaltenders throughout the Islanders organization, including those playing with the club’s minor league affiliates and amateur prospects. He’ll also serve the team in a scouting capacity.

► It’s signing season

• Teams continued to make additions as August heads into its final week and training camps loom in the near future.

August 21

• The San Antonio Rampage announced that goaltender Sam Brittain and defenseman Josh Atkinson had been signed to AHL contracts. Brittain, 25, made 10 AHL appearances with Springfield last season, posting a record of 4-5-0 with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Atkinson, 24, collected 10 goals and 40 assists in 66 games with Atlanta (ECHL) last season, ranking fourth in the league among rookie defensemen in scoring. He also made his AHL debut, appearing in two games with the Chicago Wolves.

August 23

• The Hershey Bears announced the signing of defenseman Tommy Hughes to a one-year American Hockey League contract. Hughes, 25, spent the last four seasons with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, recording five goals and 25 assists for 30 points in 226 regular-season games.

August 24

• The Grand Rapids Griffins re-signed right wing Colin Campbell to a two-year contract. Campbell, 26, established career highs in both points (20) and assists (11) while skating in 57 games with the Griffins in 2016-17. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound winger added four assists and 15 penalty minutes in 17 postseason games, helping Grand Rapids win the Calder Cup.
• The San Diego Gulls signed defenseman Brian Cooper to a one-year contract for the 2017-18 AHL season. Cooper, 23, spent his rookie pro season with San Diego in 2016-17, collecting four goals and six assists for 10 points along with a plus-5 rating in 37 games. He also appeared in all 10 of the Gulls’ Calder Cup Playoff contests, recording two assists.

August 25

• University of Maine standout, Blaine Byron signed a one-year contract with Springfield, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. A sixth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2013, Byron played four seasons at Maine scoring 46 goals, 108 points in 145 games and became an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 16 when the Penguins’ rights to him expired.

Thunderbirds announce the signing of F from U. of Maine, @blainebyron.

Story >> https://t.co/3tFKe6AIG8 pic.twitter.com/rhTmM4Xg4l

— Springfield T-Birds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) August 25, 2017