With the first round of the OHL Playoffs complete, several players have been called up or have signed tryouts with professional AHL & ECHL teams.
Eight teams have been eliminated from the OHL Playoff picture, which has freed up some players to join professional teams for short stints until the end of the season. Several players from these teams are set to make their professional debuts within the next couple of days.
Nick Lardis (BFD) & Paul Ludwinski (KGN) Join Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks draft picks Nick Lardis and Paul Ludwinski have both been recalled to join the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Blackhawks.
Lardis and the Brantford Bulldogs were knocked out of the playoffs by the Ottawa 67's, but Lardis had a fantastic season. He was injured for a fair amount of time, but his numbers would be atop the league's top scorers if he was healthy for a full 68 games. His shot and goal scoring ability is off the charts, as he often finds ways to capitalize from odd angles.
Paul Ludwinski captained the Kingston Frontenacs this season, who are still a very young team. The Frontenacs were eliminated by the North Bay Battalion in the first round of the playoffs.
Both players will be getting their first taste of professional hockey in Rockford.
Roman Schmidt (KGN) Joins Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
Defenceman Roman Schmidt will return to professional hockey after finishing his major junior career with Kingston. He began the season with Syracuse, before getting sent back to the OHL to join Kitchener. Kitchener traded him to Kingston in December, and he has been the cornerstone of Kingston's blue line ever since.
He seemed to grow a lot in his time as a Frontenac, most notably in his production numbers.
Ethan Burroughs Signs with Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL)
Overage Owen Sound Attack forward Ethan Burroughs has signed with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL. Iowa is the ECHL affiliate of the Iowa Wild and Minnesota Wild. Burroughs had a successful overage season with the Attack, putting up 76 points in 68 games.