Kyle Hope Signs With Springfield Falcons
It might not have been the professional contract Kyle Hope had been hoping for, but Kyle Hope can now rest assured that he is a professional hockey player. With his AHL signing the NHL may be just a step away for the undrafted prospect who spent five seasons in the OHL.
Kyle Hope signed his first professional contract with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. The Falcons are the Blue Jackets top affiliate club and as a result, Hope will suit up for the Jackets at their prospect tournament before the season begins. The signing sets Hope up well for some NHL attention early on.
Hope spent five seasons in the OHL split between the Oshawa Generals and the Owen Sound Attack and reached the OHL playoffs 4 times. Last season with the Attack he recorded 48 points in 54 games marking his best OHL season by far.
Perhaps the 21 year-old Hope is a late bloomer, finding his stride after his draft class. If he can prove that last season was not a fluke in the AHL with the Falcons, he’ll probably get a solid look from the NHL going forward.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for myself to attend the Traverse City Rookie tournament in September with the Blue Jackets and then at the Springfield Falcons camp” ~Kyle Hope
He played two games on a tryout basis with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL at the end of last season, once the Attack season ended, where he failed to register a point.
He’s not known for his goal scoring abilities, rather known for his toughness on the ice and how difficult he makes life for opponents. He dropped the mitts for 5 fights last season in the OHL and weighs in at 6 foot 1, 171 pounds. If he can add a little muscle and keep grinding, NHL teams are always looking for character guys who can fight and score goals.