Kyle Bruce and Brad Wingfield are posting solid numbers so far this season with their respective U.S. pro teams.
Garden Bay native Bruce is playing with the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), while Wingfield, a Gibsons native, is playing for the Danbury Thrashers of the United Hockey League (UHL).
Bruce was assigned to the Inferno by their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, on Oct. 4. So far Bruce has four points in six games with Columbia who sit fourth in the East Division in the American Conference of the ECHL. The Inferno is only one point behind first place Charlotte in the division.
Bruce said he's happy with how he has played so far and is slowly beginning to adjust to playing in the U.S.
"I know the coach in Victoria, but I felt if I wanted to play in the East Coast Hockey League, I wanted to play with a team in the U.S.," Bruce said. "This gives me a chance to see more of North America and the world, which I really wanted to do. The team has been great and all the guys are a great group to play with and hang out with. So far, I'm having an excellent year."
Bruce said he was pleased with how the training camp went with the Moose and he's hoping to get called up later this season.
"I spent a week in Manitoba and I heard good things from the coaches," Bruce said. "With the NHL lockout, there are not a lot of extra roster spots in the AHL because guys that should be playing in the NHL are down on the farm. Playing in Columbia gives me a chance to get some more ice time and improve my skills. I've been playing lots and producing for the Inferno, which is great. They want me to crash and bang and be physical, but they also want me to produce offensively. I've been getting some power play time and it's given me a chance to put some points on the board. I'm happy about that."
The ECHL began in 1988 with five teams in three states. This season, the ECHL has 31 teams in 17 states playing a record 1,116 games, making it the largest league in professional hockey. This season, nine new teams have joined the league, including six from the former West Coast Hockey League.
Wingfield has established himself early on as one of the true heavyweights of the UHL.
"Winger," as his teammates have dubbed him, has dropped the gloves numerous times this season and currently leads the league with 107 penalty minutes. But he's also contributing offensively to the Danbury attack with two goals and four points in nine games. Danbury sits with a record of 5-4 and is tied for first with Elmira in the Eastern Division.
The gritty winger returns to the UHL after spending the 2003/04 season with Corpus Christi of the CHL, where he amassed 357 penalty minutes while scoring 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 54 games.
Wingfield is entering his ninth professional season and Danbury is with his second stop in the UHL, having played previously for Elmira during the 2001/02 and 2002/03 seasons.
Entering its 14th season, the UHL has attracted more than 16 million fans over the course of the past 13 seasons.
The 2004/05 season welcomes 14 member clubs in seven states, including the expansion Thrashers (Connecticut), Motor City Mechanics (Michigan) and Kansas City Outlaws (Missouri). Each team will host an all-time league-high 40-home games and play a total of 80 games during the regular season. The league is divided into three divisions, Western, Central and Eastern, with the top two teams in each division (based on points) qualifying for playoffs. The two teams with the next highest point total will clinch the remaining two playoff berths.
