The AHL Calder Cup playoffs drop this week, so let's get to it and identify the Alaska connections -- close to a dozen -- with any eye on the prize.
Hershey Bears -- Goaltender Pheonix Copley of North Pole, who has shined as a rookie -- 17-4-3, 2.17, .925, three shutouts, in the regular season.
Worcester Sharks -- Former Alaska Aces winger Evan Trupp of Anchorage, who bagged 16-24--40 totals and a +6 rating in 72 games. Trupp tied for second on his club in goals, was second in points and tied for the team lead in shots on goal with 172.
Hartford Wolf Pack -- Former NHL and Aces winger Joey Crabb of Anchorage checked in with 12-16--28 totals and a +9 rating in 66 games.
Syracuse Crunch -- Former UAF center Cody Kunyk is his rookie season earned 10-16--26 totals and a -13 rating in 69 games. Also, former Aces winger Eric Neilson had an assist and a -6 in 20 games.
Chicago Wolves -- Former UAF defenseman Colton Parayko, who signed with NHL St. Louis and turned pro after his junior season, delivered 4-3--7 totals and a +4 rating in 17 games. Former Aces winger Jacob Doty, a call-up late in the season, went 2-4--6 and +7 in 14 games. Winger Cody Beach, assigned to the Aces late in their season, went 2-7--9 and -4 in 41 games, with 210 penalty minutes, which ranked seventh on the circuit. Former Aces defenseman David Shields was 0-6--6 and -5 in 42 games. And former Aces center Zach Pochiro, who early in the season was assigned back to WHL Prince George (he went 19-23--42 and even in 41 games), was assigned by St. Louis to Chicago.
Oklahoma City Barons -- Former Aces goaltender Laurent Brossoit (who subsequently played most of his first season with ECHL Bakersfield), carried a heavy workload, going 25-22-4, 2.56, .918, with four shutouts.