AHL: Henderson Silver Knight Sheldon Rempal Signs with KHL

Sheldon Rempal has signed with the HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL. The KHL is the Kontinental Hockey League. It comprises 23 member clubs based in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China. The HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa finished second in their division this season and fifth overall.

Rempal’s signing was a rumor that started in early April, as the NHL and AHL began escalating their chase for their leagues’ respected cups, the Stanley and Calder Cups. There was just chatter, and a few sites posted information that was not verified. I went on the hunt, and after almost a month of joining Russia’s version of Facebook to follow this potential signing, the official announcement was released today. 

Sheldon Rempal has dreamed of playing professional hockey since he was a little boy. One of the first teams on his way to an NHL career was with the Rangers U15 AA, in a league in Canada for minors (children). Sheldon would continue to play in the Canadian minor leagues until college, where he spent two seasons with Clarkson University and was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team, NCAA All-Tournament Team, and NCAA First All-Star Team. 

2018, that dream came true when Sheldon signed his first professional contract with the NHL. That year, he attended the LA Kings training camp, where they signed him and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. His AHL hockey career started, and he would play 59 games that season. During that time, Rempal made his NHL debut on October 18 in a 7–2 loss to the New York Islanders. He played 13:06 minutes of ice time in his debut. This would continue with getting called up seven times to play with the LA Kings during his time on the Ontario Reign. 

When his contract ended, he signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, played in three games, and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, where he played 25 games. Once his contract ended with the Hurricanes, Rempal signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Where once again, he was assigned to an AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, for 55 games, only playing one for the Vancouver Canucks. 

After his contract ended with the Canucks, Rempal signed a two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. In his first year, he played one game with the Golden Knights and spent the rest of the season with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, playing 70 games. In his second year this season, he played nine games with the Golden Knights and 63 with the Silver Knights. 

A few players have gone to the KHL and signed with an NHL team, saying the KHL made them better players. The most recognizable player this season to travel this path is NY Rangers‘ Artemi Panarin, having the best NHL season of his career. Other players who have played in the KHL are Alex Ovechkin with the Washington Capitals, Evgeni Malkin with the Pittsburg Penguins, Ilya Samsonov with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Sergei Bobrovsky with the Florida Panthers. Sheldon Rempal will definitely be a player to watch. He has eleven seasons of play in the North American leagues and, with his KHL experience, could have a long career in the NHL. 

Congratulations, Sheldon. Henderson is going to miss you.