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Ethen Frank Named To AHL All-Rookie Team

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The American Hockey League (AHL) announced on Wednesday that Bears forward and Capitals prospect Ethen Frank has been named to the AHL’s All Rookie team. Frank is just the fifth Bear all-time to earn this distinction.

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Hershey, PA – April 12, 2023) –The American Hockey League has announced the 2022-23 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by coaches, players, and media in each of the league’s 32 member cities. Selected was Hershey forward Ethen Frank, making him just the fifth Bear all-time to earn this distinction.

Frank, 25, is tied for first among AHL rookies with 27 goals, and has posted 46 points this season in 56 games for Hershey, ranking fifth among first-year AHL players. He ranks first on Hershey in goals, power-play goals (9), and shots (180). Frank’s 27 goals this season are the most by a Bears rookie since Craig Fisher scored a rookie franchise-record 43 goals in the 1990-91 season.

The native of Papillion, Nebraska earned AHL Rookie of the Month for January after recording 13 points (7g, 6a) in 10 games for Hershey. He was selected to participate in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic in Laval in February, and at the AHL All-Star Skills Competition, he won the CCM Fastest Skater event, completing his lap in 12.915 seconds, becoming the first player to break the 13-second barrier in event history. At the AHL All-Star Challenge, he scored a goal for the Atlantic Division, helping the club to the championship game of the 3-on-3 tournament. 

Frank, who was originally inked by the Bears to an AHL contract out of Western Michigan University, signed a one-year, two-way contract with Washington Capitals on Mar. 2 that is set to begin in the 2023-24 season. 

Frank is just the second forward in franchise history to earn AHL All-Rookie honors, joining Connor McMichael (2020-21). Defensemen Mike Gaul (1997-98), Mike Green (2005-06), and John Carlson (2009-10) were Hershey’s other representatives on the AHL’s All-Rookie Team, which started in 1996-97.

The complete 2022-23 AHL All-Rookie is as follows: 

Goaltender ― Brandon Bussi, Providence Bruins (31 GP, 21-5-4, 2.38 GAA, .925 SV%, 1 SO)
Defenseman ― Ryker Evans, Coachella Valley Firebirds (68 GP, 6-38-44, +21, 18 PPA)
Defenseman ― Jeremie Poirier, Calgary Wranglers (66 GP, 9-32-41, +6, 3 PPG)
Forward ― Ethen Frank, Hershey Bears (56 GP, 27-19-46, +12, 9 PPG, 4 GWG)
Forward ― Tye Kartye, Coachella Valley Firebirds (69 GP, 27-28-55, +17, 5 PPG, 2 SHG, 7 GWG)
Forward ― Georgii Merkulov, Providence Bruins (64 GP, 23-30-53, +3, 11 PPG, 5 GWG)

Each player will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2022-23 AHL All-Rookie Team.


FRANK’LY SPEAKING

The Capitals announced on March 2 that they had signed Frank to a one-year, two-way deal ($775,000/$205,000) for the 2023-24 season. Frank is currently on an AHL deal (no NHL call-ups) with Hershey, and was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Frank was another high-quality college free-agent signing by Capitals’ Director of Player Recruitment, Danny Brooks, who has also successfully recruited and signed undrafted college free-agents Joe Snively, Bobby Nardella and Clay Stevenson, just to name a few.

[Related:Rookie Ethen Frank Leading The Way In Hershey]

Frank, as a college free-agent, signed with the Bears in April of 2022, and has been by far the most impressive young forward so far this season in Hershey.

Frank was selected to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game, which took in Laval, Quebec. “It means a lot. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, so it’s nice to get a little recognition,” Frank told Bears Radio.

As part of the All-Star Game festivities, Frank participated in the fastest skater competition. He not only won with a time of 12.915 seconds, he set a new All-Star Game record.

Frank was interviewed after winning the competition. He was asked what’s the secret to winning the event?

”Skate fast. Really, I don’t know. It’s something we do everyday, all day, after practice and it’s just kind of a normal habit at this point. Gettin’ faster is still one of my goals. Still working on things trying to get things exactly right, and make it as efficient as possible.”

Frank has been thriving on a line with veterans Mike Sgarbossa and fellow All-Star Mike Vecchione. Frank said he’s been a “sponge” around the vets, gleaning all he can on how to play the professional game.

“I think kinda the standard we set for ourselves every game that we step on the ice. We know we are depended on to create offense and be strong, defensively,” Frank told Bears Radio earlier this week. “I think we keep ourselves accountable, and hold up to that standard when we come back from a bad shift. We’re kinda letting each other know that that’s not good enough and we need to be better, and fix it the next shift.”

By Jon Sorensen

RELATED READING
Washington Capitals Prospect Report: February, 2023 – Alexander Suzdalev, Ethen Frank And Gabriel Carlsson Continue To Impress
Rookie Ethen Frank Wins Fastest Skater At AHL All-Star Skills Competition, Sets New League Record
Ethen Frank Scores Twice, Atlantic Division Falls To Pacific Division In 2023 AHL All-Star Challenge Final
Report: Capitals “Expected” To Sign Ethen Frank To NHL Deal
Rookie Ethen Frank Leading The Way In Hershey





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