If Tanner Fritz gets into the lineup with the New York Islanders on Tuesday when they host the Boston Bruins he will become the third Grande Prairie Storm player to suit up in a regular season National Hockey League game.
The Islanders, on Monday, recalled forward Fritz from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.
Fritz, 26, has 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 29 games during his third season in the American Hockey League. Fritz, who was born in Fort St. John, but played minor hockey and with the Grande Peace Athletic Club in Grande Prairie, leads the Sound Tigers in both points and assists and ranks fourth in the league in both categories. This marks the first NHL call-up of Fritz's career.
He played with the Junior A Storm from 2007 to 2011 and was the AJHL Most Valuable Player in 2010-11.
Grant Stevenson, who played 47 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2005-06, was the first former Storm player to appear in an NHL regular season game. He played one season with the Storm – 2000-2001.
Carter Rowney, who toiled with the Storm from 2005-2009 and won the AJHL Playoff MVP Award in 2009, has been a regular in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for the past year and won a Stanley Cup with the team last spring.
The Islanders signed Fritz to a two-way (NHL/AHL) deal on April 8, 2016. Last season, Fritz scored 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 63 games and has collected 89 points (31 goals, 58 assists) in 111 career games.
Prior to turning pro, Fritz played four seasons at Ohio State University (Big Ten), captaining the team during his senior season. Fritz scored 110 points (36 goals, 74 assists) in 142 collegiate games. Fritz won back-to-back Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards in 2014 and 2015 while playing for the Buckeyes.
The Islanders have loaned Anthony Beauvillier and returned Steve Bernier to the Sound Tigers.