November 19, 2009
Former Lincoln Stars forward Danny Irmen made his NHL debut on November 18th when he took the ice for the Minnesota Wild. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn, Minnesota Wild)
Danny Irmen made his NHL debut on Wednesday, November 18th when he took the ice for the Minnesota Wild playing 5:28 and recording one hit in the 3-2 loss vs. the Phoenix Coyotes. Irmen played two seasons for the Lincoln Stars (2001-03) recording 108 points (38g, 70a) over 106 regular season games. The winger was selected to play in the USHL All-Star Game during the 2002-03 season and was named to the All-USHL Second Team that year.
Following his second USHL season, Irmen was selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. After three seasons at the University of Minnesota, he began his professional career with the Houston Aeros, the Wild's American Hockey League affiliate. Over the past three seasons in Houston, Irmen has been coached by Kevin Constantine who spent two seasons as a coach in the USHL (1985-86 and 1987-88)
On November 16th, former Green Bay Gamblers Victor Oreskovich scored his first NHL goal. Despite playing a season low 4:32 minutes, he netted the game-tying goal in the third period for the Florida Panthers during their 4-3 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He made his NHL debut with the Panthers on October 31st in a game vs. the St. Louis Blues.
Oreskovich spent the 2003-04 in Green Bay collecting 37 points (11g, 26a) in 58 games played. Following that campaign, he was chosen by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round (55th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The forward went on to play parts of two seasons at the University of Notre Dame. He has been away from hockey the past two seasons, but made a successful comeback at the start of this season with the Rochester Americans of the AHL before earning a call-up to the Florida Panthers.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 31st season of elite junior hockey in 2009-10. With over 160 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
