Ford started his amateur career playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in the 2003–04 season. In 60 games, Ford posted an impressive 37 goals and 68 points to lead the Stampede and was consequently drafted in the eighth round, 256th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Ford then opted to continue his amateur career by enrolling to play collegiate hockey with the University of Wisconsin of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association the following season. Used as a role player within the Badgers, Ford never totaled more than 13 points in each of his four seasons, but helped Wisconsin win the National Championship as a sophomore in 2006.
Professional
Upon completion of his college career, and unsigned from the Blackhawks, Ford made his professional debut in the 2008–09 season with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. He was signed to a professional try-out with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on November 6, 2008, before he was returned to the Checkers on December 8, 2008. Ford was selected to the American Conference team for the ECHL's All-Star game and following a three-goal, four point performance was named the All-Stars MVP on January 21.[1] Enduring a second stint with the Wolf Pack in late January he compiled a combined 25 games, scoring one goal and two assists. On March 11, immediately after his second spell with Hartford was ended, Ford was signed to a P.T.O contract with fellow AHL team, the Lake Erie Monsters, going scoreless in five games. Ford returned to the Checkers to complete his season with 38 points in 28 regular season games and 5 points in 6 games during the playoffs.[2]
In the 2009–10 season, Ford re-signed with the Charlotte Checkers, but played only 3 games before he was loaned back to Lake Erie on October 30, 2009. Remaining with the Monsters for the duration of the season, Ford posted 13 goals and 27 points in 45 games while also leading with a team-high Plus/Minus of +14.[3]
Re-signed by Lake Erie prior to the 2010–11 campaign, he was invited on a try-out to participate in the Monsters NHL affiliate, the Colorado Avalanche, training camp on September 15, 2010 before returning to Cleveland to begin the season.[4]
On July 1, 2011, Ford was signed to his first NHL contract, agreeing to a two-way one-year deal with the Washington Capitals. Assigned to the Capitals affiliate, the Hershey Bears, Ford scored 28 points in 39 games before he was traded by the Capitals to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Kevin Marshall on February 2, 2012.[5]
Ford was re-signed to a one-year extension with the Flyers on April 4, 2012. Assigned directly to affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, in the following 2012–13 season, he suffered from injury and a lack of production to post only 4 goals in 35 games with the Phantoms. On March 12, 2013, Ford was traded by the Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations. He remained in the AHL to be immediately assigned to affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.[6]
Released as a free agent by the Blue Jackets, Ford remained in the AHL signing a one-year contract with the Oklahoma City Barons on July 13, 2013.[7] On July 2, 2015, Ford followed the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliation, in signing a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors for the 2015–16 season.[8] Ford led the Condors with 27 goals and 51 points in 64 games.
After three seasons within the Oilers AHL affiliates, Ford left as a free agent to add a veteran presence on a two-year AHL deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins, an affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings on July 12, 2016.[9] During the 2017–18 season, Ford served as captain for the Griffins, where he recorded 22 goals and 16 assists in 72 games, ranking fourth on the team in goals and sixth in points. On June 26, 2018, the Grand Rapids Griffins signed Ford to a two-year contract extension.[10]
On November 5, 2021, Ford officially announced his retirement after a twelve-year professional career having playing in 716 regular season AHL games.[11]
Brian R. Willsie is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. Willsie was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the 6th round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and played almost 400 games in the National Hockey League with the Avalanche, Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings. Willsie currently works in a player development role within the Avalanche organization.
Jason Bacashihua is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who last played for Manchester Storm in the UK Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He has played in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, various teams in the AHL and ECHL, HC 05 Banská Bystrica of the Slovak Extraliga, and High1 in Asia League Ice Hockey.
Patrick Rissmiller is an American former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and the Florida Panthers. He joined the Anaheim Ducks as a scout for the 2022-23 season after seven years as a development coach for the New Jersey Devils.
Thomas Brett Skinner is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current head coach of the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He previously spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
Matthew P. Hussey is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He later played professional ice hockey in Europe in Finland, Germany, Slovakia and France.
Timothy James Hensick is an American former professional ice hockey center. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues. Hensick was drafted by the Avalanche, 88th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Kris Newbury is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Gananoque Islanders in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League
Joel Rechlicz is an American former professional ice hockey player. Rechlicz is well known for playing the enforcer role. By signing a three-year entry level contract with the New York Islanders in May 2008, Rechlicz became the first player from the relaunched International Hockey League, formerly known as the United Hockey League, to play a game in the National Hockey League. He played for the National Hockey League's New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals.
Matthew James Hendricks is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild. He was drafted 131st overall by the Predators in 2000, though he didn't play for the organization until signing as a free agent for the 2013–14 season.
Agron Aaron Palushaj is an American professional ice hockey right winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. Palushaj has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.
Jared Bednar is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously coached the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, leading them to a Calder Cup championship in 2015–16. He also led the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL to a Kelly Cup championship in the 2008–09 season. Bednar won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, becoming the first coach to win the current ECHL, AHL, and NHL trophies.
Joël Chouinard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Calvin Pickard is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Julien Brouillette is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.
Benjamin Street is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). An undrafted player, Street played five seasons of college hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers before turning professional in 2010. He joined the Calgary Flames organization in 2012 before signing with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014. He has also played with the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils.
Kent Patterson is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Lake Erie Monsters.
Ryan Stanton is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with Kölner Haie in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Bradley Malone is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played with the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he was drafted, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Mikael Tam is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently a free agent.
Mitchell Heard is a Canadian professional ice hockey center who is currently playing under contract with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. Heard was drafted 41st overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
