Spencer Abbott has paid his dues in the American Hockey League, having played 217 AHL games since leaving the University of Maine in 2012.
The former Black Bears star also has played 42 games in Sweden in the Swedish Hockey League.
Now, the native of Hamilton, Ontario, is back on a National Hockey League roster.
The 28-year-old Abbott, who has had a solid season for the Rockford IceHogs, was recalled this week by the Chicago Blackhawks, according to a report from CSN Chicago.
Abbott spent the 2015-16 campaign with the SHL’s Frolunda Hockey Club, and was signed by the Blackhawks at the start of this season.
In 30 games in Rockford, Abbott registered eight goals and 13 assists.
Should Abbott suit up in Chicago’s game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, it will mark only his second NHL game. The first came in 2013 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Abbott was originally drafted by Toronto.
In 217 AHL games, Abbott has accumulated 57 goals and 112 assists.
Abbott had an outstanding four-year career at UMaine, and he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior, when he registered 62 points (21 & 41) in leading the Black Bears to the Hockey East championship game and the program’s most recent NCAA tournament appearance.
Abbott also was chosen as the Hockey East Player of the Year as a senior.
He finished his college career with 146 points (54 & 92).
Abbott joins former Black Bear goaltender Scott Darling with the Blackhawks.
