5 OHL Alumni Playing For AHL's Portland Pirates

The Portland Pirates are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. This past season, 2009-10, five Ontario Hockey League alumni played for the Pirates. Despite finishing fifth in the American Hockey League during the regular season, Portland was swept in the first round of the AHL playoffs by Manchester.

Mike Weber was picked in the second round by the Sabres in 2006 draft. He has played a total of 23 games with the NHL club since entering the world of professional hockey in 2007. However, Mike played the complete 2009-10 season with the Pirates. Mike played four seasons in the OHL from 2003-04 to 2006-07. His first three seasons were played with the Windsor Spitfires while his fourth and final season was split, 30 games apiece, between the Spitfires and the Barrie Colts.

Cody McCormick played four seasons in the OHL with the Belleville Bulls from 1999-00 to 2002-03. Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, Cody played in 190 games with the NHL club before putting a full season in with Portland this year.

Jeff Cowan played three seasons in the OHL from 1993-94 to 1995-96. His first two seasons were spent with the Guelph Storm and his final season was in Barrie with the Colts. Jeff has played over 400 NHL games with the Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. This is Jeff's first season with the Pirates.

Mark Mancari played four seasons in the OHL, all with the Ottawa 67's, from 2001-02 to 2004-05. Drafted by the Sabres in the seventh round of the 2004 draft, Mark has played just 16 games with Buffalo over five seasons, spending the rest of his time in the AHL. Mancari has put up solid offensive numbers with the Rochester Americans and the Pirates since beginning in the AHL and it will only be a matter of time before he finds a spot in the NHL.

Drew Schiestel played four seasons in the OHL, all with the IceDogs (2 in Mississauga and 2 in Niagara) from 2005-06 to 2008-09. A second round pick of the Sabres in 2007, he played his first season of pro hockey this year entirely with the Pirates.

Tom is the author of http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com (OHL Alumni Central).