Coyotes Sign Pete Vandermeer to AHL Contract

[VodkaFish]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that left wing Pete Vandermeer has signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

Vandermeer, 31, ranks 5th all-time in the American Hockey League in penalty minutes (PIM) with 2164. The Red Deer, Alberta native has led his team in penalty minutes in seven of his 11 professional seasons.

Vandermeer has recorded 51-61-112 in 473 career AHL games with seven teams. The 6-foot, 209-pound forward registered 2-5-7 and 129 PIM in 26 games with Hershey last season. He led the AHL with 398 PIM while with Philadelphia in 2003-04. Vandermeer posted 19-18-37 and 240 PIM in 62 games with Providence in 2000-01 for his best offensive season in the AHL.

Vandermeer has also collected 43-49-92 and 897 PIM in 128 career games in the ECHL with three clubs.

Vandermeer is the oldest of six hockey playing brothers. His brother Jim Vandermeer is a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks.

[Isles4life]

It would be nice to see him somehow get an emergency call-up this year.

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

It would be nice to see him somehow get an emergency call-up this year.

Same here, if Gratton ever gets hurt I hope this guy can be called up. 19 goals one year? impressed.

[jkidd]

With how ****ty the Yotes look this year, Pete might get a shot at the show. I wouldnt put this out of the picture one bit, as the Yotes will need to attract fans somehow, and having Josh Gratton, Daniel Carcillo and Pete Vandermeer in the lineup is a damn good way to get my ass to a hockey game.

[blackngold]

doesnt an AHL contract mean the player cannot be called up?
correct me if im wrong

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by blackngold

doesnt an AHL contract mean the player cannot be called up?
correct me if im wrong

I think you're right, but on occasion in injury emergency situations teams will sign players on their AHL roster to a 2-way deal that lets them get called up.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

I think you're right, but on occasion in injury emergency situations teams will sign players on their AHL roster to a 2-way deal that lets them get called up.

gotcha

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by jkidd

With how ****ty the Yotes look this year, Pete might get a shot at the show. I wouldnt put this out of the picture one bit, as the Yotes will need to attract fans somehow, and having Josh Gratton, Daniel Carcillo and Pete Vandermeer in the lineup is a damn good way to get my ass to a hockey game.

Josh Gratton, Daniel Carcillo and Nick Boynton get me to hockey games but adding Pete Vandermeer would make me a season ticket holder!

[Sandmachine]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

It would be nice to see him somehow get an emergency call-up this year.

I think I'd expect a Koci-esque debut.

[T-Wild76]

Has Pete ever fought Jim before?

[Podollan]

San Antonio really needs him, if I am right they have no one else to help Vandy so he will be busy.
He won't see NHL playing time, Gratton,Carcillo and Boynton are enough.
This mean Cormier will prolly play ECHL at first.

[cottonzway]

I'm shocked to see Pete is only 31. He has been around for years.

[Snipes19]

Awesome move by the 'Yotes.

I still see him playing in the AHL the whole season, but that's fine with me, because at least he will still be SOMEWHERE in their organization. Whenever a tough guy gets signed, I'm always happy, no matter what league he will be playing in - because a tough guy in the minors is better than nothing. Vandermeer is a great and exciting fighter. He's on the smaller side at 6'0'' 215 (much like Jim), but he's a true heavyweight, as his fight card shows that. He's spent some games here and there in the NHL and ECHL, but he's mainly been an AHL player his whole life, so I would be fine with him staying there. He's familiar with the league and with the fighters, so hopefully that will keep him active, because he won't have to adjust to a new surrounding. He sure will make the Rampage a lot tougher. Good news to start off my day....

Oh yeah, and to answer another poster's question - I don't believe he's ever fought Jim, but that sure would be a great fight.... they are both known to be involved in some of the most exciting bouts!

[HordiBrusk29]

Nice. I was hoping they'd sign somebody with Flinn gone. Phoenix has had a pretty weak AHL affiliate (toughness and skill wise) for the past couple of seasons. So I wasn't totally confident they would bring in another guy.

[jarrelle10]

I rank Pete as one of the Top 5 fighters in the AHL. He is like a Dennis Bonvie. He has been doing it for a long time, fights anyone, not the biggest, and very seldom loses. I think Pete has what it takes to play in the NHL. Skill wise, he skates as good as any other tough guy in the NHL and look at some of the points he has put up in the past, when given a chance to play. The reason I believe he is not up there, is because of some of his on ice tactics. I would love to see Pete get a chance. Talking with his brother last summer, Pete was lead to believe he was going to be the number 1 guy for the Caps last season and then a couple of days after signing him, they signed Donald Brashier.