Just days after signing with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Missouri Mavericks (September 24th 2015) former Vernon Vipers forwards-twins Connor and Kellen Jones have landed a try out with the American Hockey League (AHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers (September 30th 2015).
For the first time in their hockey career Connor & Kellen Jones will be playing on different teams. Connor would make the Sound Tigers roster-sign with the team and is still currently playing in the AHL. Connor is pointless in eight games this season with the Sound Tigers. No official press release by either team, but Connor Jones is listed on the Sound Tigers roster, while Kellen Jones is listed on the Mavericks roster.
Kellen would be released from the Sound Tigers Training Camp and sent back down to the ECHL Missouri Mavericks. In 7 games this season with the Mavericks Kellen has (2-goals-4-assists-6-points).
The Jones twins played their first pro-season last year with two different teams in two different leagues. The Connor & Kellen started last season with the American Hockey League (AHL) Oklahoma City Barons also spent time with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Bakersfield Condors. In 41 games last season with the Barons Connor collected (4-goals-6-assists-10-points) and in 27 games with the Condors picked up (10-goals-16-assists-26-points). In 48 games with the Barons Kellen collected (5-goals-9-assists-14-points) and in 27 games with the Condors recorded (7-goals-18-assists-25-points). After four years at Quinnipiac University, the Jones Twins signed their first pro contract with the Barons on April 3rd 2014. The Barons assigned Connor & Kellen to Bakersfield after Training camp last year before the pair went back and fourth between the ECHL & AHL. Connor & Kellen both played four years in Vernon (2006-2010).
Connor played In 163 regular season games with the Vipers collecting (80-goals-118-assists-198-points) Connor also is the Vipers all-time franchise points leader (regular season & playoffs) with 228 & all-time franchise goals leader (regular season & playoffs) with 95.
Kellen played in 154 regular season games with the Vipers collecting (39-goals-134-assists-173-points). Kellen is also the all-time franchise assists leader (regular season & playoffs) with 150. Kellen was drafted in Round 7 of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft #202 overall by the Edmonton Oilers.
Connor Jones Player Profile:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38011
Kellen Jones Player Profile:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38013
This was in the Connecticut Post Newspaper:
Quinnipiac’s Jones brothers aim to earn spots with Sound Tigers
By Michael Fornabaio Published
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
BRIDGEPORT — You play hockey with anybody for 20 years, Kellen Jones said, and you're going to have some chemistry.
When it's your twin brother, sure, it's all the more special.
"It's a lot of fun," Connor Jones said after Wednesday's practice at Bridgeport Sound Tigers training camp. "People ask a lot if we could split up. I think we would, but we have a great time out there together."
And coming into their second professional camp? "It's someone you know," Kellen Jones said. "That in itself is lucky."
The former Quinnipiac standouts, 25, are in camp with the Sound Tigers on tryouts in their second professional season. They have contracts with Bridgeport's ECHL affiliate in Independence, Mo., the Missouri Mavericks.
They could get a chance at least to make an impression in Bridgeport when the Sound Tigers face the Hartford Wolf Pack in an exhibition game Thursday night at the Wonderland of Ice.
"The Jones brothers, to me, they've been great for us," Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said. "They've opened a lot of eyes. They both bring a great element of work ethic and energy. You can see the skill."
College hockey fans around here are familiar.
The Jones boys helped the Bobcats reach the 2013 national final and the NCAA East Regional, which was in Bridgeport, the next year.
"It was unbelievable, a great four years," Connor Jones said. "I couldn't say enough about the organization, Rand (Pecknold, head coach, and assistants) Bill Riga, Reid Cashman. ... All three do a lot of extra work with the organization. I couldn't say enough about the school, the teachers."
They have been linemates just about everywhere, with Connor at center and Kellen on the wing. Kellen was an Edmonton Oilers draft pick; they signed AHL contracts together with Oklahoma City for last season, joining the Barons at the end of the 2013-14 season for a brief amateur tryout.
"It was a change from playing college hockey," Kellen Jones said. "It took a bit to get used to it."
They split last season between Oklahoma City and the Oilers' ECHL affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. (The AHL franchise moved to Bakersfield for this season.) They both played 27 ECHL games, both scoring about a point a game. Connor played 41 AHL games; Kellen, 49. They earned 10 and 15 points, respectively.
"It's different," Connor Jones said. "You're facing NHL-caliber players. You do it in college, too, but now they're 25, 30 years old."
Their second go-round brought them to Connecticut, and they've shown their stuff on a line in practice the past three days on a line with Tyler Barnes, another second-year pro out of college.
"Can it translate to a game? That's what we're looking for," Thompson said.
The first of Bridgeport's two exhibition games — the teams meet again Sunday afternoon in Cromwell — will feature tryouts, rookies and AHL-contract players, Thompson said, a chance for them to showcase what they can bring to the team.
There aren't a lot of spots open as it stands, but there are a few decisions to be made, both up front and on defense, and an AHL roster can change in a heartbeat.
"I'll be happy when I get a uniform on," Connor Jones said, "wherever that may be."
No comments:
Post a Comment