CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Former Canisius hockey standout Ryan Schmelzer will represent the New Jersey Devils at the 2018 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge, the team announced on Monday.
Schmelzer is one of 26 players (3 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 15 forwards) on the Devils roster for the four-day event that will take place Sept. 7-10 at Harborcenter. The host Sabres, the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins will also take part in the annual round-robin challenge that features prospects from each team.
A native of Buffalo, Schmelzer signed a one-year contract with the Devils’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, in July after a stint with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder last spring that saw him tallying seven points in seven regular-season games before leading the team in scoring (9g, 8a) during the squad’s run to the eastern conference finals.
A two-time All-Atlantic Hockey Conference selection and the league’s Top Defensive Forward in 2016-17, Schmelzer appeared in 143 games during his four seasons with the Golden Griffins. He ended his career ranked among the top-10 players in the Division I era of the program in career goals (40/T-10th), assists (66/10th) and points (106/T-10th) all while amassing a plus/minus rating of +45. Schmelzer also concluded his on Main Street tied with former standout Cory Conacher for first place on the program’s career game-winning goals chart with 12.
Serving as team captain for the 2017-18 season, Schmelzer was an All-Atlantic Hockey Third Team selection after ending the season third on the team in scoring with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists). A Senior CLASS Award All-American First Team selection, Schmelzer ranked second on the squad in both plus/minus rating (+11) and game-winning goals (4) during the 2017-18 campaign.
Schmelzer is the second former Griffs player to take part in the Prospect Challenge. Former goaltender Keegan Asmundson participated in the 2015 edition of the event as a member of the Buffalo Sabres squad.
Tickets for the games are $10 and are available for purchase in person at the KeyBank Center Box Office, by phone at 1-888-223-6000 or by clicking here.
2018 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge Schedule:
Friday, Sept. 7
• Pittsburgh vs. Boston, 3:30 p.m.
• Buffalo vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8
• New Jersey vs. Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m.
• Buffalo vs. Boston, 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 10
• Boston vs. New Jersey, 9:30 a.m.
• Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m.
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