AMERKS SIGN HOWDESHELL, HOLMSTROM TO PROFESSIONAL TRYOUTS
Feb 8, 2022Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has signed forwards Keeghan Howdeshell and Ben Holmstrom to a Professional Tryout (PTO).
Howdeshell, 23, comes to Rochester after starting the 2021-22 season with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 35 games with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). The 6-foot-2, 209-pound forward is currently tied for fifth amongst all Walleye in assists and eighth on the team in in points.
As a rookie in 2019-20, Howdeshell led all Rapid City Rush (ECHL) first-year players with a career-high 24 assists while his 13 goals and 37 points both ranked third in 47 contests. Additionally, the forward made his AHL debut on Jan. 18, 2020 with the Tucson Roadrunners before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 86 career ECHL games between the Walleye, Rush, and Jacksonville Icemen, Howdeshell has tallied 59 points (21+38) while just taking 10 penalty minutes.
Prior turning pro, Howdeshell completed a four-year stint in the USHL alternating between the U.S. National U-17 and U-18 teams before joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks for the 2016-17 season. He also spent two seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds whom he led to an appearance in the 2018 OHL Final before finishing ninth in the league the following season with a career-best 46 goals.
Holmstrom, 34, joins the Amerks after starting the 2021-22 season with five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 38 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). The 6-foot-1, 202-pound forward currently leads all Stingrays in assists and is fourth on the team in shots (91).
Last season, Holmstrom totaled 19 points (6+13) in 23 games with Lillehammer (Norway), where he finished third on the team in assists and fifth on the team in scoring.
In 586 career games at the American Hockey League level with Bridgeport, Charlotte and Adirondack, Holmstrom has tallied 211 points (79+132) and was a seven-time team captain over the course of 10 seasons. He’s also appeared in seven NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Prior turning pro, the Colorado Springs, Colorado native completed a four-year collegiate career at UMass-Lowell (H-East), registering 84 points (26+58) over 144 games for the River Hawks from 2006-10. He served as team captain in his final three seasons and was named Hockey East’s Best Defensive Forward as a senior in 2009-10.