Recently this year there have been three Sockeye alumni players who signed with an NHL team, and one other player that has been drafted by an NHL team. We are very happy to hear the recent players are fulfilling their dreams, and carrying on with a well prepared career in hockey. We wish them the best of luck, and hope to hear about and see them on t.v!
SIGNED NHL PLAYERS
Raymond Sawada - Dallas Stars
Karl Alzner- Washington Capitals
Jason Garrison- Florida Panthers
DRAFTED NHL PLAYERS
Kenndal Mcardle- Florida Panthers
RAYMOND SAWADA ON NHL.COM
Ray Sawada -- Dallas' second second-round pick (No. 52) in the 2004 draft impressed the Stars when he joined the team after completing four years at Cornell. The 6-2, 215-pound right wing brings lots of energy, plays a physical brand of hockey, can finish his checks and showed some scoring touch.
Sawada had 10 goals and 36 points for Cornell as a senior and finished his collegiate career with 31 goals and 76 points in 137 games. He also had two goals and nine points in 10 games with Iowa.
"Ray showed a lot in Iowa after he finished at Cornell," White said. "His game is very simple, and that fits the pro game well. He and James (Neal) are the most likely to make the team this year.
"He was given every opportunity, and he earned every opportunity. He plays hard, he plays honest, he's up and down the wing. He's not going to dangle anybody to score goals. He's tenacious on the forecheck, and I think defenders will remember him when they get hit by him on the forecheck.
"He just let it go and took full advantage. We put him with some talented players in Iowa, and he was able to do some things -- go to the net."
