In their first year as a New York Rangers affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen had their best season ever in franchise history last season. Last year also happened to be Head Coach Nick Luukko’s first season leading the team. Under Luukko’s tutelage, the team won a record 40 games and won their first-ever play-off series. I had a chance to sit down with the Icemen Head Coach on The Broadway Hat Podcast, to talk about last year’s success and which prospects to look for this year on his team.
Jacksonville is off to another strong start this year and find themselves right in the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference. The team has already seen a few players get called up to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Cristiano DiGiacinto, Ryan Lohin, Alex Whelan, and Zach Jordan have already earned call-ups this season. Here are a few guys to watch out for this season down in Jacksonville:
Olof Lindbom
The Rangers 2018 2nd round pick is part of the goalie rotation for the Icemen. This is Lindbom’s first season playing in North America, after playing his entire professional career so far in Sweden, his home country. Lindbom who was drafted 39th overall was the first goalie selected during his draft year. Coach Luukko talked about the process of adjusting to the North American game and compared him to another Swedish goaltender he coached in the Flyers organization, Felix Sandström, who took a few seasons to develop but is now in the NHL backing up Carter Hart.
Hunter Skinner
The Rangers 2019 4th-round pick was sent down to Jacksonville to work on his defensive play. The defenseman has a monster shot from the point, but the Rangers would like to see further development in the defensive zone. There might not be anyone more suited to help him than Luukko. During his playing career, he was regarded as one of the best two-way defensemen in the ECHL. In just 11 games in Jacksonville Skinner already has 7 points so look for him to back up with Hartford soon.
Luke Martin
Luke Martin gives the Icemen a 2-0 Icemen Lead! #LitesOut pic.twitter.com/B7FykbOmTT
— Jacksonville Icemen (@JaxIcemen) December 8, 2022
The former 2017 2nd-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes has been outstanding so far this season. Martin signed an AHL contract with the Rangers this past offseason after a season in the Colorado Avalanche organization last year. Martin was a participant at the Rangers rookie camp this past September and was invited to training camp with the Rangers. His 17 points are tied for 5th amongst ECHL defensemen. He is also tied for the lead league in power-play goals scored (4) among d-men as well. If Martin continues to put up these numbers, he could see a call up to Hartford soon.
Victor Hadfield/Ben Hawerchuk
Those are two names more hockey fans will recognize. Victor shares his grandfather’s name, Vic Hadfield, a New York Rangers legend. Pretty cool to see a Hadfield back in the Rangers organization. The younger Hatfield unlike his grandfather is a defenseman. So far this season he has 5 points from the blue line. Ben is the son of NHL legend and Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk. Just like his dad, Ben has a nose for the back of the net. Ben’s 18 goals last season were tied for the second most on the team. Victor and Ben were also OHL teammates, playing for Ben’s Dad Dale with the Barrie Colts.
Be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on the New York Rangers and USA Hockey: @KHallNY. You can also listen to my NY Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify for Rangers news and interviews with past and current players.
