How about a nice jolt to the system to kick off your Tuesday afternoon? The Milwaukee Admirals have signed former-captain and long time Admiral defenseman Scott Ford to a PTO contract. In addition, the team has released defenseman Ian White from his PTO contract.
Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:
Milwaukee, WI–The Milwaukee Admirals announced today that the team has signed defenseman Scott Ford to a Professional Try-Out Contract (PTO). Ford will meet the team in Oklahoma City and be available for tonight’s 7pm game against the Barons.
A veteran of 366 games with Milwaukee, Ford rejoins the team after playing this season with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL where he has a goal and four assists, 82 penalty minutes and a +14 rating in 40 games. The Stingrays are currently riding an amazing 19-game winning streak.
The Fort St. John, BC native has spent parts of the past six seasons with the Admirals, including two as team Captain, and has played the second most games since the Admirals joined the AHL, passed only recently be center Mark Van Guilder.
Overall with the Ads Ford has 14 goals and 29 assists for 23 points, a +41 rating and 563 penalty minutes–second most in team AHL history. Ford (+24 in 2011-12) and current Captain Joe Piskula (+20 in 2013-14) are the only defenseman since 2003-04 to finish the season +20 or better.In addition, the Admirals have released defenseman Ian White from his PTO.
Milwaukee continues a season long six-game roadtrip tonight when they face the Barons at 7pm in Oklahoma City. The Admirals finish the trip on Friday in Grand Rapids before returning home on Saturday night to host the Texas Stars at 7pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Sheriff was not only signed today but is in fact in Oklahoma City tonight and ready to roll. This move feels rather reminiscent of the 2012-13 season when Ford was a member of the Peoria Rivermen and was brought back to the Admirals to provide a leadership role to the group.
As for White, this news comes as a slight bit of surprise when you consider how well he has plugged into the Admirals defense. He produced 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) with a plus/minus rating of +4 and 13 penalty minutes in 34 games for the Admirals. Earlier this season White had played for the Providence Bruins on a PTO contract where he tallied 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 8 games. I imagine the move comes as a swap of veteran defenseman for veteran defenseman that has the additional trust of the coaching staff and a solid chunk of the locker room the instant he joins the team.
Happy about the return of Scott Ford to the Milwaukee Admirals? Are you disappointed to see Ian White released? What will Ford provide that White couldn’t?
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I didn’t see the release of Ian White coming… wonder why he was released? They stuck with him the whole season…. kind of weird to release him now?
I can’t help but think that this just might be the Admirals giving Ford one last go around with the team before he retires. I am reminded how bad Ford looked in the playoffs last year. There are 14 regular season games left in the Admirals schedule. I don’t think the timing on this is a coincidence. Ford has been having a decent year in the ECHL, but not so good that you would think he would be coming back for any other reason than to give the leadership we all know he can.
Just a symantical aside, the Stingrays website is calling this move a loan. Is it a loan, a PTO, or both? I do not have a 100% grasp on all the movement terminology.
I am very happy Ford is joining the admirals again. And people don’t write him off so fast. He’s got a lot of play left in him. And lets face it, the way we are playing he can only be an asset. But should have gotten rid of diaby instead of White. Diaby has done b
nothing and still very awkward on the ice, talk about slow
This is a bit of desperate solution for a team in desperate need of one. The Admirals are very young sputtering team right now (unfortunately so is Nashville) in need some of direction and guidance, and Scott Ford should help provide it. My guess is this idea/possibility has been sitting on the backburner all season, but I won’t know until I ask.
We can all argue until we are blue in the face whether it was worth holding onto a roster spot for Ford or not before the season, but his play with the South Carolina Stingrays has been simply inspired. He’s a +14 defenseman, with 82 PIMs for in the ECHL, and has helped the team to a 19-game winning streak, a remarkable feat in the NHL, AHL or ECHL, no matter how you slice it.
This (edited) comment on MilwaukeeAdmirals.com says it all about how Ford has been performing this season:
Hockeyfan Joe Stingraysville Mayor:
“Take care of him (Milwaukee). We love him here in South Carolina. He’s a big part of our ECHL 19 Game Winning Streak. We made history on Saturday by winning our 18 Game in Row.”
Ford may provide exactly what Milwaukee needs as far as leadership to get this ships’ rudder pointed in the right direction. It is certainly worth the gamble.
I’m sorry to hear that Ian White’s time with Milwaukee is done. Probably more a product of current team needs and future plans more than anything. I, for one, thank him for a solid 42-game stretch with the team.
Hopefully his return isn’t to late and can really light a fire under this team! #PassTheMagic of south Carolina onto this group and get the ship turned around! Welcome back Sheriff!!