Alumni Report: Where are they now?

The Odessa Jackalopes joined the North American Hockey League in 2011 after 14 seasons as a professional organization in both the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) and Central Hockey League (CHL).  Jacks alumni are spread throughout all levels of hockey including the AHL, NCAA, OHL, USHL, NAHL, and BCHL. Every month the Jacks will catch you up with those who once donned the iconic Jackalope’ on their chest.

NHL/AHL- Former Jackalope’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2011-12) appeared in 26 games with the Winnipeg Jets earlier this season going 13-11-3 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage before being reassigned to the Manitoba Moose (AHL, Jets). Since his return to the AHL in February, Hellebuyck has a record of 10-13-1 overall with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Hellebuyck has won four straight with the Moose including a 26 save, 2-1, victory at home against the Charlotte Checkers on Monday, March 28.

NCAA D1- Goaltender Tanner Creel (UCONN), forward Ian Mansfield (Army) and forward Tyler Poulsen (Alabama-Huntsville) were the only Jacks alumni to get significant playing time this season for their respective NCAA D1 programs. Creel went 1-2-2 in seven appearances (five starts) for the UCONN Huskies in his freshman year with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Creel’s final appearance of the season came in a loss on Feb 19 where he made 29 saves on 30 shots in relief appearance against Northeastern. Mansfield netted his only two goals of the year for the Black Knights on March 4 against American INT’L University in a 5-0 win. Poulson scored his third goal of the season for Alabama-Huntsville on January 30 in a 4-3 loss to Alaska-Anchorage.

NCAA DIII- 36 Jacks alumni competed at the NCAA D3 level this year.  Lawrence Cornellier, who played with Odessa in 84 games between 2011-2013, capped off his junior season at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens with an NCAA Div. III National title. Cornellier scored the Pointers fourth goal in their 5-1 championship game over St. Norbert and ended the season leading the team in goals with 23.

OHL

USHL- Kenny Hausinger has been one of the Des Moines Buccaneers most lethal contributors this season in his first and final USHL campaign. Hausinger, who made a commitment to Umass-Lowell (Atlantic Hockey, D1) in late February, is first on the Bucs the in points (45) and second in assists (20). Both Kenny and his brother Christian decommitted from Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey, D1) in late November. Christian is part of his third USHL club this year after being traded from the Muskegon Lumberjacks to the Bloomington Thunder. In 17 games with Bloomington, the defenseman has one assist. Oliver Celec, who suffered an early concussion and shoulder injury after being traded to Des Moines from Odessa for defenseman Ben DeMaio in December, has two goals and three assists in 17 games played. Celec scored both his goals in a 4-2 win against the Lincoln Stars on March 4. The Niagara commit (Atlantic, D1) has not appeared in a game for the Bucs since March 12.

NAHL- Former Jacks goaltender Gunner Rivers has won four straight games for the Minot Minotauros and eaned himself the second star of the week in the Central Division for the week of March 28. Rivers was traded before the deadline in exchange for goaltender Jon Flakne.

BCHL- The only former Jack' competing in the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League) currently is Cornell  (NCAA, D1) committed forward Corey Hoffman. Hoffman began the year with the Prince George Spruce Kings where he played 41 games and collected 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) before being traded to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Last year in Odessa, Hoffman appeared in 34 games for the Jacks, tallying 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists).