Bryan Moore has been the pride of local hockey in Charlotte for some time, and now he has taken the next step to obtaining his goal.
Moore became the first Charlotte native to sign a professional hockey contract when he inked a one-year AHL deal with the San Diego Gulls. The Gulls are the minor league affiliate for the Anaheim Ducks and will begin their first AHL season next year in the newly founded Pacific Division. The AHL schedule won't be released for a few more months, but with San Diego playing in the Western Conference, there is a strong chance that Moore could return to his hometown next season to face the Checkers.
A former Jr. Checker and Charlotte Checkers stick boy originally from Matthews, Moore spent two seasons in the USHL before being selected by the Sarnia Sting in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft. He played a season and a half with the struggling Sting and was then dealt to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he spent most of his time playing on a line alongside Carolina prospect Sergey Tolchinsky. Through his first two OHL seasons, Moore totaled 91 points (36g, 55a) in 122 games and earned himself a spot on the NHL Central Scouting list of top North American skaters heading into the 2014 NHL Draft.
Moore went undrafted, however, but attended both the Hurricanes's and the Rangers' development camp and represented the Rangers at the Traverse City prospect tournament before returning for one more year with the Greyhounds. He put up 50 points in 59 games in his final OHL season, enough to impress San Diego into signing him as an undrafted free agent. His AHL deal is the same type of contract that Chad LaRose was on last season, somewhat securing Moore's spot in the AHL next season, though he could spend time in the ECHL as well, should the team assign him.
