From the Booth: The Monsters are back!

From the Booth: Tony Brown Talks New Additions

Sep 17, 2020

Hello again Monsters fans, we’re back! The Dallas Stars await an opponent in the Stanley Cup Finals - while that matchup looms, I thought I’d take a closer look at Cleveland’s four new AHL signees for the 2020-21 season.

 

 

Wyatt Newpower, D

6’3”, 194 lbs., Shoots Right

Hugo, MN

2019-20 Team: UConn (NCAA, Hockey East)

Signed AHL SPC with Cleveland 4/6/20

 

A proven leader on the blue line, 6’3” right-shooting defenseman Wyatt Newpower, 22, wore the captain’s “C” during his senior seasons at both the University of Connecticut (2019-20) and White Bear Lake High School in his native Minnesota (2015-16). Last season, Newpower set or matched single-season collegiate career highs in appearances (34), goals (3), assists (19), points (22) and plus/minus rating (+23).

 

 

Adam Helewka, F

6’2”, 194 lbs., Shoots Left

Burnaby, BC

Drafted: San Jose Sharks, 2015 (4th Round, 106th Overall)

2019-20 Teams: Linköping HC (SHL), Barys Nur-Sultan (KHL)

Signed AHL SPC with Cleveland 4/24/20

 

The most experienced of the Monsters’ incoming AHL signees, Helewka, 25, has 189 career AHL appearances under his belt spanning parts of four seasons from 2016-19 with the San Jose Barracuda, Tucson Roadrunners and Milwaukee Admirals. Helewka’s most productive AHL season came in 2018-19 prior to his signing abroad last year, when the former San Jose Sharks draft choice set or tied single-season AHL career highs in appearances (65), goals (21), assists (29) and points (50) while splitting the campaign between Tucson and Milwaukee.

 

 

Matthew Struthers, F

6’2”, 209 lbs., Shoots Left

London, ON

2019-20 Teams: North Bay Battalion (OHL), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Signed AHL SPC with Cleveland 5/4/20

 

Despite posting 22-37-59 with 45 penalty minutes in 62 OHL appearances for the North Bay Battalion and Owen Sound Attack last season, Struthers’ resume is full of professional experience. The London, ON native posted 1-0-1 with a -3 rating in five AHL appearances for the Laval Rocket during the 2018-19 campaign. Struthers, 20, is the youngest of the Monsters’ incoming AHL signees thus far.

 

 

Zach Jordan, F

6’3”, 216 lbs., Shoots Right

Collinsville, IL

2019-20 Team: Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA, NCHC)

Signed AHL SPC with Cleveland 9/4/20

 

 

Collinsville, IL native Zach Jordan posted 12-4-16 with 31 penalty minutes and a -1 rating while wearing the assistant captain’s “A” during his senior season at Nebraska-Omaha last year. Following a three-season USHL career with the Omaha Lancers and Des Moines Buccaneers from 2014-16, Jordan, 23, set single-season collegiate career highs in goals (16) and points (28) during the 2017-18 season and appearances (36) and assists (17) during the 2018-19 season at Nebraska-Omaha.

 

Remember, tweet any questions you may have – hockey-related or otherwise – using the #MonstersMailbag hashtag to get a prompt reply next week!

 

Until next time, enjoy the upcoming Stanley Cup Final and please continue to stay safe and healthy!

 

TB

 

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