What's In A Name? Plenty If You're Mat(t) Robinson (Plus, Minor League Notes)

Matt Robinson and Mat Robinson are no longer in Alaska, but they continue to be mistaken for each other -- to clarify, Matt is the former Alaska Aces left winger and Mat is the former UAA Seawolves defenseman and captain.

We relay the info because the Star-Gazette of Elmira. N.Y. mixed them up. The paper reported the Binghamton Senators -- Man, I bet I've mis-typed "Binghampton" too many times to count -- assigned Mat Robinson to the ECHL Elmira Jackals. Only problem, the paper later assigned him Matt Robinson's statistics from last season with the ECHL Johnstown Chiefs.

Now, Matt did play for Johnstown, though his season ended early with a major knee injury. He's back with the Chiefs this season, as is former Aces winger/defenseman Erik Felde of Anchorage. Mat, following his senior season last spring, did play briefly in the ECHL, but for Las Vegas.

In any event, the Jackals also received former Aces goaltender Chris "Suitcase'' Holt from Binghamton, putting our man in the transactions list for roughly the 4,312th time in his young career.

In other minor-league news, the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League re-signed former UAA winger Chris Tarkir, who is of course not to be confused with South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Zach Tarkir, his twin. Chris Tarkir last season earned 21-9--31 totals in 62 games with Wichita, though he did rack a -31 rating that tied for second-worst in the CHL (Thank you, Rocky Mountain Rage right wing John Snowden, a -34).

Oh, and the ECHL Stockton Thunder have received former UAF forward Kelly Czuy from AHL Springfield. Springfield has three former Aces wingers on the roster -- Chris Minard, Charles Linglet and Ryan MacMurchy.