Earlier today, the American Hockey League announced a major award winner from the 2022-23 season, naming Tye Kartye of the Coachella Valley Firebirds as the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award winner, which goes to the league’s most outstanding rookie each season. Kartye is under contract with the Seattle Kraken of the NHL, signing towards the end of last season after a three-year stint for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.
As an undrafted free agent after the 2022 season in the OHL, Kartye may have had an extra chip on his shoulder when he joined the Firebirds this year. Scoring over a point-per-game basis in his last season for the Greyhounds, Kartye followed that up with a 28-goal and 29-assist performance over 72 games this year.
For the most part, over the last quarter century, only a handful of the Dudley Garrett Memorial Award winners have become household names in the NHL. Players such as Daniel Briere, Matt Murray, and Mikko Rantanen have all taken home the award within the last 25 years, and have gone on to be notable names for Stanley Cup contenders. Still only 21 years old, Kartye still has plenty of time to grow his game and make the jump to the NHL.
Other snapshots:
- According to a press release from the Vancouver Canucks, General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that Assistant Coach Jason King will not return to the Canucks for the 2023-24 season. King was originally drafted by the Canucks in the seventh round of the 2001 NHL Draft. Playing in 59 games (55 of which for Vancouver) split between the Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks throughout his career, King scored 11 goals and 12 assists. King has been behind the bench for the Canucks since the 2020-21 season and spent the five years prior working in the same capacity for Vancouver’s AHL affiliate.
- Outside of the NHL, Hailey Salvian of The Athletic reports that Kacey Bellamy has signed a 1-year, $122K contract to play for the Connecticut Whale next season. In her last taste of professional play back in the 2016-17 season, Bellamy played for the Boston Pride, Bellamy scored nine points in 17 games. Unfortunately for Bellamy and the Pride that season, they would lose 3-2 in the Isobel Cup Championship against the Buffalo Beauts.