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mitchbeck · 2 years

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CANTLON: FREE AGENT FRENZY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The free-agent frenzy has led to completing the 2022-23 Hartford Wolf Pack roster as the usual free agency carnival has come and gone. Incredibly, over 150 players changed addresses, and close to a billion dollars in compensation was doled out. Up in New York, the Rangers lost Andrew Copp, who returned home to Michigan to join the Detroit Red Wings. He will line his pockets with $5.65M per season. Kevin Rooney, the cousin of former New Haven Nighthawk Steve Rooney, headed West to Calgary to join the Flames and will receive $1.4M per season for the next four years. The Rangers paid dearly to upgrade Hartford. Zach Jordan, whose contract has not yet been posted, comes to Hartford via the Cleveland Monsters. Turner Elson from Grand Rapids (GM Ryan Martin's old stomping grounds) at $750K-NHL/$225K-AHL for two years, a 6'0 195 center. Ty Emberson comes from Tucson (contract yet posted), making it now 12 D going into training camp in the fall. Andy Welinski comes over from Stockton (Calgary) on a one-year $400K-AHL deal. The Rangers made their qualifying offers by Mondaefore the 5 pm deadline as per the CBA, and two were very curious. Defenseman Hájek, who played a grand total of 17 games in New York and five in Hartford on a conditioning stint, was amazingly signed for another year at a cap helpful $800K and shockingly big 6'7 forward Austin Rueschoff (contract not yet posted), who signed as a collegiate free agent two years ago from Western Michigan (NCHC) who spent all last year in Hartford. His season could be broken into three parts; a physical start, showed flashes of a hot stick in the middle of the season, and like the rest of his teammates, a disappearing act in the last third of the season as they had a meteoric meltdown of 8-20-2 and out of the AHL playoffs after being in first at the AHL All-Star break. Tim Gettinger was given an offer who played well in all situations in Hartford in four years and was among the taxi squad call-ups got a one-year extension at amazingly as the lanky 6'6 forward got a one-year deal not yet posted. Not to anyone's surprise, the following were not qualified, thus allowing them to go to free agency. They included goalie Keith Kinkaid, who signed in primary for $750K. He was a main culprit in the late-season collapse with many rough performances. Also departing is goalie, Adam Huska (UCONN-HE). In three years in Hartford performed well but was not consistent enough. Tyler Wall played just 15 games in his two years, despite gaudy Hockey East numbers at UMASS-Lowell where he broke long-standing freshman winning record and career wins, but he never replicated those efforts and never gained the trust of his head coach or fellow teammates. His season ended six weeks early with knee surgery from a freak pre-game injury he suffered in Jacksonville. As of now, Zac Jones and Matt Robertson will be on defense. Robertson is a year from his RFA status. On an AHL deal comes Zach Guittari (Loomis Chaffe). That's half the defense. Hunter Skinner, Brandon Scanlin, and Nils Lundkvist are scheduled to return and could be the other half. Up front, the ever polite, pleasant, and gregarious Ty Ronning never built off his surge in performances in 2020-21 or early last season and sputtered at the end. Reports are Ronning, who lives in Vancouver in the off-season, where his father Cliff played with the Canucks and may sign there and head to nearby Abbotsford. Nick Merkley and Maxim Letunov, acquired at the trade deadline, were not re-signed. Merkley was injured in the next to last game in Bridgeport. Letunov was not a match and may be headed back home to Russia to play in the KHL with Torpedo Novgorod, who has his KHL rights. Despite an 81-point year in juniors, Jake Elmer was buried in the ECHL and never got a call-up. Anthony Greco has already left for Sweden. Mike O'Leary, who had minimal offensive output and was a late-season scratch, is gone to Iowa (AHL). Tanner Fritz, Alex Whelan, and Cristiano Di Giacinto are defensemen who all signed AHL deals. Fritz will be in Hartford and could push the other two to Jacksonville because of the lack of lineup space. D-man Blake Hillman did well in Providence/ Toledo (ECHL) and was last year's training camp invitee is now under contract, Tim Theocaridis and goalie Parker Gahagan (Florida-ECHL/Milwaukee-AHL) have all been signed to AHL deals; four of the five will be in Hart City or likely the ECHL with the teams' affiliate there, the Jacksonville Icemen. Underperforming Justin Richards was given every chance to succeed on all four lines and special teams. However, he will find a new address, likely in the ECHL, after not being qualified. What the team does with the unhappy Lauri Pajuniemi, a year from his RFA, is yet to be determined. Will Jarred Tinordi return to reprise the mentor role or find a new address with his young family? Three part-time players are heading to separate teams in the Slovak Extra league. Abbott Girduckis (HC Presov), Liam Pecararo (HC Slovan Bratislava), and the second Hamden-born player in team history, Mike Lee (the Gunn School), as he heads to (HC Nove Zamsky). A fourth, James Sanchez, is available for other teams. Defenseman Jeff Taylor scratched more than he played in four years as an insurance policy, just 38 games in that time, signed with Adirondack (ECHL), and has new twins just born. Greg McKegg, who played one game in Hartford and 43 games and five points in New York, was cut loose and headed to Edmonton for a lucrative two-way deal of $750K-NHL/$350K-AHL. Billy Thompson, a one-game emergency from Adirondack, heads to play with defending champions Cardiff (Wales-EIHL) next year. Coming in from Europe draftees are; Karl Henriksson Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL), Adam Edström (Sweden-Rögle BK). Veteran Gustav Rydahl (Sweden-Farjestad BK) comes on a free agent $750K deal and goalie Olof Lindbom of Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Captain Jonny Brodzinski, with his youngest sibling, Easton, is on an AHL deal and scheduled to return. Then four junior-age players, Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL), and Roger Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), are coming to camp. Othmann has to spend a half-season in juniors after training camp with Flint (OHL) because of the CHL and NHL agreement that prohibits 19-year-olds from being in the AHL full-time unless a team's junior season has ended. He will be WJC eligible, which will be when he turns 20 NEXT January 5th. The last day of next year's WJC when it ends in Halifax and Moncton. Bobby Trivigino, signed at the end of the season from UMASS (HE), will be back. Patrick Khordorenko will be in the house in the last year of his deal. PLENTY OF MOVES The number of AHL'ers off to Europe is 42 as ex-Sound Tiger Josh Ho-Sang departs to Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia-KHL). Despite the Ukraine war, Russia amazingly leads the Euro race with ten signings. Sweden has nine, with Finland inking seven, Germany six and Austria four. NEWS AND NOTES The Wolf Pack 2022-23 schedule with three new opponents expected out in two weeks. The home opener is October 22nd. The Rangers lost Frank Vatrano to Anaheim. They got the backup goalie they sought in ex-Sound Tiger Jaroslav Halak from Vancouver at $1.5M. They also signed forward Vincent (Vinnie) Trochek from Carolina. To battle for the backup spot with a two-year contract, the Rangers signed Louis Domingue of Pittsburgh. He played with four teams last year (two NHL, two AHL). He hurt the Wolf Pack at the end of the year and nearly stole the Ranger series in an emergency relief situation in Pittsburgh. Instead, he got one-way money at $775K. Former CT Whale Cam Talbot was moved from Minnesota to Ottawa for goalie Filip Gustavsson. Ex-Pack Lias Andersson signs a one-year extension $750K deal with LA. Ex-Pack Malte Strömwall has decided to give North America another try and has signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina/Chicago (AHL) for $750K-NHL/$150K-AHL leaving Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL) Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University) leaves for Anaheim-NHL/San Diego-AHL for Seattle-NHL/ Coachella Valley-AHL at $750K/$250K. --Fellow former Bobcat Chase Priskie leaves Florida-NHL/Charlotte-AHL to Buffalo-NHL/Rochester-AHL on a one-year $800K deal. Goalie Alex Lyon (Yale) from the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves/ Carolina (NHL) leaves to head off to Florida-NHL/Charlotte-AHL for one year at $750K. Another ex-Pack goalie, Dustin Tokarski, goes from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for a $775K package. Ex-Pack defenseman Anthony Bitetto goes from San Jose to Florida on a one-year, one-way deal at $750K. Max Pacioretty (New Canaan/Taft) was traded from Vegas to Carolina. Calle Järnkrok, the cousin of former Nighthawk Mikael Lindholm, signs a four-year deal with Toronto for $2.1M leaving Calgary. Rangers signed Adam Sýkora, 17, their first pick in last week's draft to a standard three-year ELC deal at $925K-NHL/$80K-AHL and because of his age, he will more than likely be with Medicine Hat (WHL) next year. They took him first overall in the CHL Import draft two weeks ago. SOMMER IN CALI Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joël Bouchard and his staff were sacked in early May. Now San Diego has hired the AHL's winningest coach, 65-year-old Roy Sommer (808 wins), ending a 24-year relationship running San Jose's minor league teams to replace Bouchard after just one year. Sommer also had two years as an assistant in San Jose and half a season as an interim head coach. He started coaching in Cali with the Roller Hockey International San Jose Rhinos (formerly Connecticut (New Haven) Coasters). As a young man, he started his minor pro playing career in the old Pacific Hockey League (PHL) with the Spokane (WA) Flyers. Sommer's hockey coaching journey started in Richmond/Roanoke in the ECHL and has taken him to Cleveland, Worcester, Kentucky, and the Bay Area for the last eight years. Cody MacLeod retires from playing in Iowa to become a skills development coach for Minnesota. The brand-new Coachella Valley (CA) Firebirds (Seattle) signed their first two players, Samuel Bucek from MHC Nitra of the Slovak Extra League, who has been in Slovakia. About six years ago, Bucek had three junior years with the Chicago Steel (USHL) twice and the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL). Then to take care of the heavy lifting, they inked the capable Ian MacKinnon, who had 145 PM between Providence and Maine (ECHL) and Jacksonville (ECHL) last year, totaling 31 games and remembered for his battles with ex-Pack Mason Geersten two years ago. The team hired the first female assistant coach at the pro level, with Jessica Campbell going to the Firebirds. They got from Detroit ex-Pack goalie Magnus Hellberg ticketed initially for Grand Rapids now has been re-routed to the California desert, Jon Gillies (Salisbury Prep) goes from New Jersey to Arizona. After six years in Cleveland, Justin Scott signs with the Colorado Eagles. Andrew Sorenson of Rockford has the interim tag as head coach at Rockford taken off. Daniel Brickley, the cousin of ex-Pack Connor Brickley, after splitting the year between Chicago (AHL)/Norfolk (ECHL), signs with Västerviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). -Nick Sczerbinski, a QU grad, was named as associate commissioner of the ECACHL after six years in Hamden as the associate athletic director for athletic communications since 2018. The Bobcats had another reason to celebrate as Boston hired Danielle Marmer (2017) to work in Player Development and as a Scouting assistant and became the first female bench hire in team history. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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viralflyingentertainment · 4 years

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danray130 · 6 years

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Greco Gives Panthers Depth

Greco Gives Panthers Depth #NHL #FloridaPanthers #AnthonyGreco #Hockey #Florida #Panthers

Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com

The Florida Panthers Added former Ohio State Buckeye standout Anthony Greco, and Renaud Lavoie reports that Greco will receive a two-way deal worth the league minimum of $650K for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.

This is Greco’s second season in the AHL (Springfield Thunderbirds) and he is one of their more reliable scoring threats coming from the wings of the…

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#Anthony Greco #Florida Panthers #Hockey #NHL

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOL 9

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers have just four picks in this year's NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers’ highest pick this year is in the second round at No. 63 and is the only pick the Rangers have through the first three rounds. The draft was held in Montreal following a two-year absence because of the pandemic. The Rangers also have a fourth-round pick (#111), which was initially a Winnipeg Jets’ pick but made its way to New York via the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Brett Howden trade. The Rangers also have pick No. 159 in the fifth round and lastly at number 191 in the sixth round. The Rangers lost their 2022 first-round pick due to the conditions of the trade for Andrew Copp, whom President/GM Chris Drury acquired from the Jets at this year’s trade deadline in exchange for three draft picks and prospect Morgan Barron. The three draft picks were two conditional second-rounders and a 2023 fifth-round selection. The 2022 second-round pick the Rangers sent to Winnipeg became a first-round (number 30) since they reached the conference final, and Copp played in at least half of their playoff games. SECOND PICK For the other conditional second-round pick, the Jets had the option of taking the Blues’ original 2022 pick or the Rangers' in 2023. Instead, Winnipeg decided on this year’s second-rounder (number 55), which the Rangers acquired from St. Louis as part of the Pavel Buchnevich trade that also brought in the recently re-signed Sammy Blais. The Rangers' first selection in the second round (59th overall) was Adam Sykora, no relation to former NHL’er Petr. The young Slovak center showed a lot of little things in all departments, and the Rangers hope he grows into his body. Last week he was the first overall selection by the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) in the CHL Import Draft. The second pick in the third round (97th overall) of the draft, the Rangers selected LW Byrce McConnell-Barker. He's a solid 6’1 and 195-pounds with Sault Ste Marie (OHL) and had 23 goals in 68 games in the first season. FOURTH ROUND In the fourth round (111th overall), a center Noah Laba from Lincoln (USHL), a Colgate (ECACHL) commit next year, had 15 goals, 24 assists, and 39 points in 50 games. In the fifth round (159th overall), the Rangers selected a defenseman, Victor Mancini. He didn’t take the usual route. He's 6’3, 215-pounds, and was at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC). Laba played junior in Sweden for Frolunda HC and was named the team captain in his last season. His father, Bob, was all over the hockey map here and in Europe, from Michigan Tech as a head coach for four years as an assistant at Lake Superior State and Ferris State. He helped develop the fledgling hockey program nationally in South Africa. FIFTH ROUND In the fifth round (161st overall), they took Russian Maxim Barbashav, the younger brother of St. Louis Blue Ivan Barbashav from Moncton (QMJHL). At 6’1, 185-pounds, he has good size, and his first year's numbers include 15 goals and 42 points in 59 games. He was taken as the last pick of the round. The last Rangers pick has a familiar last name, defenseman Zakary Karpa. the son of former Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Ranger David Karpa from Harvard (ECACHL). Karpa was taken in the sixth round (191st overall). In 33 games in his freshmen year, he had six goals and 12 points. He has a twin brother Jakob. None of these picks will be in Hartford/New York for some time. GEORGIEV FINALLY DEPARTS After five seasons, the Rangers finally traded goalie Alexander Georgiev. The former Wolf Pack was sent to the Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche. Georgiev heads west for a third and fifth-draft pick and a third-round selection next year. The strategy increases their draft picks from four to six for Friday’s draft, rounds two through seven. The move came just hours before a CBA imposed the deadline of giving him a qualifying offer of $2.65M. He last played in Hartford for eleven games for the Pack in 2018-19. NHL DRAFT CONTINUED Nick Malik, the goalie son ex-Hartford Whaler, Ranger, Beast of New Haven, and Springfield Falcon, Marek Malik, was taken by Tampa Bay in the fifth round. David Spacek, the son of former Beast of New Haven's Jaroslav Spacek, was called by Minnesota in the fifth round. Landon Sim of London (OHL), the son ex-Sound Tiger Jon Sim, was taken in the sixth round. The youngest son of a former Whaler and the new scout with the Philadelphia Flyers, Sami Kapanen, Konsta Kapanen, was NOT selected. IN MEMORIAM Life intrudes at the worst times. On the eve of the draft, a sad development as former Whaler, a San Jose scout and skills development coach for their AHL team, Bryan Marchment, died suddenly in Montreal at the Sheraton Hotel next door to the Bell Centre at age 53. His son Mason is a member of the Florida Panthers. He also leaves behind his wife Kim, and daughter, Logan. Marchment played for nine NHL teams and was known as an abrasive player in his day, compiling over 2,307 PIM in 926 games and had a long-running feud with Mark Messier and Mike Gartner. QMJHL DRAFT The last of the amateur drafts took place on Monday and Tuesday before the NHL Draft by the QMJHL. The US portion of the league draft took place Tuesday after the main draft saw six members from Connecticut of the 36 players selected. The first one, taken second overall in the US portion, was Lucas St. Louis, the youngest son of current Montreal head coach, Hockey Hall of Famer, and former Ranger, Marty St. Louis. St. Louis, the youngest son of the former Ranger, is regarded as a very talented player from the Greenwich-based Brunswick School and was taken by the Victoriaville Tigres. The following selection was 13th in Stamford’s Matej Teply from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep by the Acadie-Bathhurst Titan. CT CHIEFS U15 STUD TAKEN Then 17th overall, from Westport, was the Charlottetown (PEI) Islanders took Aryx Siefker of the CT Chiefs U-15 squad (AYHL). He is a Winchendon Prep School (MAPREP) commit next year. Then the following three selections came back-to-back. Taken 22nd was Ryan Lucarelli, from the New Milford-basedthe Val D’Or Foreurs took Canterbury Prep Saints teams. Then Spencer Morrow (Darien), one of the four hockey-playing nephews and nieces of former Whaler and Springfield Indians player Scott Morrow, was selected by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Older brother Scott (a Carolina NHL draftee) is at UMASS, and younger sister Sydney is heading to Ohio State (Big 10) in the fall. The youngest Sophie keeps the family tradition alive by playing with the Shattuck’s St Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP). The last Connecticut player was Blake Burke of Trumbull, who went 24th to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. MORE DRAFT NEWS The first round of the general regional draft featuring selections from the Canadian territories of Quebec in the Canadian provinces that comprise the Maritimes of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland/Labrador area. Tomas Lavoie, a defenseman, was taken first overall by the Cape Breton (NS) Eagles. He is no relation to former New Haven Senator Domenic Lavoie. Four US players were selected in the first round. First went Bill Zannon, who was taken sixth by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from Northwood Prep (NYPREP). Owen Phillips was taken by his hometown Halifax Mooseheads from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U-15 (T1EHL) in Pennsylvania. Then Williams Shields of Nova Scotia was taken by Cape Breton at number 11, From upstate NY near Rochester, Bishop Kearney HS (NYPREP). Then the next pick from the Selects Academy program at RI’s Mt. Charles Academy program was Sacha Boisvert by Chicoutimi. The first of four taken from the team. In the later rounds Tyler Wood, a PEI native was drafted from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep in the sixth round and 96th overall by Rouyn-Noranda. WOLF PACK 2022-23 Twenty-six players are either under a contract to return on their current contracts for the 2022-23 edition of the Wolf Pack. Even though the team needs an overhaul, there are few roster spots. A particularly vexing issue that has plagued them the past few years is the surplus of defensemen. Zac Jones and Matt Robertson are back under the second year of their contracts for another year. Also, Zach Guittari (Loomis Chaffee) returns on a one-year AHL deal for the Rhode Island native. Another is Nils Lundkvist, who has two years to RFA status and had a less than stellar first year in NY and Hartford, both players are from Sweden. Others who played secondary roles are Brandon Scanlin, Zach Berzolla and Hunter Skinner. Louka Henault was added to the mix. The newcomer just signed from Windsor (OHL). They also just added last year’s training camp invitee among the last cuts Blake Hillman, who split last year with Toledo (ECHL) and s spell with Grand Rapids and most of the second half with Providence to an AHL contract. A question is Jarred Tinordi, a year away from UFA status will he be back reprising the mentor role after being traded at last season’s trade deadline? Up front will see the most significant number of new players. BRODZINSKI BROTHERS Captain Jonny Brodzinski is likely to start the year in Hart City as well as his younger sibling Easton on a new one-year AHL deal. Expected newcomers are Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL). From Europe draftee Karl Henrickson, free agent signees Gustav Rydahl (Farjestad BK) and Carl Berglund (who was given a training camp invite), all are from Sweden. Returning on one-year AHL deals are; Tanner Fritz, Alex Whelan and Cristiano Di Giacinto, the last two players were walk-on’s the last two seasons. Patrick Khordorenko comes back on the last year of his contract, and Bobby Trivigno from UMASS will have an entire season to marinate Add one more name to the list, Ryan Lohin, who split last year between Charlotte and Allen (ECHL). Gone is forward Anthony Greco, off to Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL, whoo was a Group 6 UFA. On the bubble as Group 6 (have reached age 25 and not playing enough NHL games under the CBA) is Kris Merkley and Maxim Letunov (UCONN-HE) both were acquired at the trade deadline. Likely neither will be back. RONNING Reports are that Ronning may sign with the hometown Canucks and be sent to Abbottsford (AHL) nearby. The other returning question marks are forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who has one year left before RFA status and had a rocky relationship with the team in the second half while being injury-riddled. Likely gone are underperforming Justin Richards, Mike O’Leary, and fill-in James Sanchez. Three players who had minor roles have gone to three different teams in Slovakia Abbott Girduckis (HC Presov), Liam Pecararo (HC Slovan Bratislava), and defenseman Hamden’s Mike Lee (HC Nove Zamsky). In goal, expect a whole new cast of characters. Already under contract on a three-year ELC coming in Dylan Garand (Kamloops-WHL) and Olof Lindbom (Kristianstads IK Sweden-Allsvenskan) and a new veteran goalie will more than likely be acquired to shepherd them the. through their pro baptism. Likely to be gone will be Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska (UCONN-HE), and Tyler Wall. LUKE MARTIN On Friday, defenseman Luke Martin was signed. He played a half-dozen games last year with Colorado (AHL) and most of the year with Utah (ECHL) and earned all ECHL Rookie team status. He has an interesting connection to current and past Wolf Pack and Rangers. He played under the stewardship of current Wolf Pack GM Ryan Martin at the US National Development program. Among his teammates then and is a new teammate are Patrick Khordorenko and current Rangers Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren were USNDTP teammates. He follows a long line of Michigan hockey players to suit up in Hartford from Chris Summers, Chris Brown, Steven Kampfer, Al Montoya and Director of Player Development, Jed Ortmeyer. His older brother Kenny is retired from hockey by nine years was a four-year player and senior captain at Yale. MORE CHANGES Coming in at goal under a three-year ELC deal is Dylan Grand (Kamloops (WHL) and Olof Lindbom, with a two-year ELC from Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Add to the training camp net menagerie now is Parker Gaghan who spent part of the year with Florida (ECHL) who went to the Kelly Cup final in a backup role and some time with Milwaukee. Then CT's own Charlie Leddy of Fairfield who spent one year at Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) from the US National Developmental Team (USHL) and played for the US WJC Team was taken by the Devils in the fourth round. He is BC (HE) bound in the fall. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOL 8

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Rangers are working hard developing their roster for the 2022-2023 season but joined other teams in congratulating the Colorado Avalanche for gaining the 2021-2022 Lord Stanley Cup. A few local notables got to grip the Cup. They include ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger Devon Toews, who played at Quinnipiac University. He becomes the first Bobcaever to hold hockey’s golden chalice. He is the third Sound Tiger after Eric Godard (2009 Pittsburgh), who was the first to do it. Carter Verhaeghe (2020 Tampa Bay)s, now with the Florida Panthers, was the second. Ken MacDermid, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Paul MacDermid, and Bowen Byram, the son of former Springfield Indin, Shawn Byram, also have their name on the Cup. Also as part of the winners is Colorado head coach Jared Bednar. He is a former Springfield Falcons coach. His assistant, Nolan Pratt, is an ex-Beast of New Haven, Hartford Whaler, and Springfield Falcon player and coach. AHL CALDER CUP For the third time in the Chicago Wolves' history, the team captured the AHL title and their fifth minor league title in 25 years (two IHL Turner Cups in 1998 & 2000). The team went 14-4 in the postseason to win the championship in five games over the Springfield Thunderbirds. The Wolves outscored the Thunderbirds 18-4 after losing game one as they plowed through with four straight wins in six days. The championship game was a 4-0 shutout and the first twin shutouts in the finals in 22 years. In the team's championship picture, the AHL suspended Ex-Yale Bulldog Alex Lyon for two games for a two-hand flipping-off of the Springfield crowd, who razzed him all game long. The 29-year-old goalie is a likely Euro candidate. But, should he be signed with another club next year at the beginning of next season, he'll sit out two games after making a Frankie Lessard impression with a two-finger salute done in a late-season game (April 15, 2007) in Portland, Maine, BEFORE the second period started in a scrap with another ex-Pack Trevor Gillies, with then captain Craig Weller at his side. Hartford head coach and GM, the retired Jim Schoenfeld, eventually broke up the battle by wading through a maze of players before a full-scale brawl erupted. MORE ON THE CALDER CUP With 15 goals and 29 points, Josh Leivo won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy playoff MVP with the third highest playoff point total in AHL history. Bill McDougall's unbeatable 52-point performance in 1993 with the Cape Breton Oilers will be forever #1, and Hubie McDonough’s 31 in 1989 with the New Haven Nighthawks, the record McDougall shattered. Jack Drury, son of ex-Hartford Whaler Ted Drury and the nephew of the Rangers President/GM Chris Drury, acquitted himself very well with a 24-point effort (nine goals) in 18 games. The third best on the Wolves team and in the league will get a long look at training camp. Ex-Pack Joey Keane had a good run and deserved a shot up top. Richard Pánik, the ex-Bridgeport Islander, acquired at the trade deadline, got his second Calder Cup (Norfolk 2012) and will likely get another North American offer next year. The Wolves became the third Carolina-affiliated team to capture a Calder Cup. They did it in Charlotte in 2019, as the Whalers affiliate in Springfield, and again in Springfield in 1991, so ironic they won it in Springfield at the Mass Mutual Center, then known as the Springfield Civic Center. This win marked the first Calder Cup awarded in three years because of the pandemic. Former Sacred Heart University player Ryan Warsofsky became the youngest coach to win a Calder Cup. He surpasses Peter Laviolette. It was his second Championship behind the bench. His first came as an assistant in Charlotte. A DEEP TEAM Two players acquired at the trade deadline are both ex-Pack players, Chris Bigras from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Wolf Pack’s Tarmo Reunanen (exchanged for UCONN alum Max Letunov). Unfortunately, he didn’t play one game in the postseason. Reunanen wasted little time after the season ended skedaddling back to Finland to play for Lukko Rauma next year. He played on the third defensive pair in Hartford. Now Bigras will likely be among the next batch to go to Europe. PLAYER MOVES Despite being Florida property, last season, Springfield’s captain, Simsbury resident Tommy Cross (Westminster Prep), was signed by St. Louis the day after the season ended. Despite being just 25 miles from Hartford has never been signed by the Wolf Pack or offered a contract. All his past and present teammates have raved about his leadership skills. He’s been out of the New England area just three times in his playing career as a youth with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL); in his first pro year, he played half a season with South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) and one season with the Cleveland Monsters (Columbus) as an AHL free agent. He has been a New England regional fixture playing at BC in college and Providence in his early AHL years. MEMORIAL CUP The Saint John (NB) Sea Dogs, the Memorial Cup host team, and a long shot at upending the Hamilton Bulldogs, did so in a 5-3 win. Future Bridgeport Islander William Dufour won the Memorial Cup Stafford Smythe MVP with a goal and an assist in the championship win. 39 days after firing head coach former Pack, Ranger, and Springfield Falcon Gordie Dwyer and his entire staff, including his assistant ex-New Haven Nighthawk Paul Boutilier, after a first-round QMJHL President Cup playoff first-round loss exit to Rimouski, they’re crowned champions. They won with an interim head coach in UNB’s Gardiner MacDougall. He had won the Canadian University championship a few months ago, and he acidly replied after the win, while being interviewed by TSN, "I’m glad I picked up the phone.” The Sea Dogs advanced with an improbable semifinal win against the QMJHL Shawinigan Cataractes. They built a first-period 3-0 lead. Dufour then showed why he was the QMJHL scoring champ firing off a natural hat trick and four total in the first ten minutes of the second period to secure a 5-3 come-from-behind win. Dufour already has signed his three-year entry-level contract (ELC) and will likely start next year in BridgeportHowever, heHe is still WJC eligible and was a finalist for the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award. Hamilton upended Shawinigan 4-3 in overtime in the semifinal’s victory. He snatched what seemed to be a narrow win by Shawinigan, who scored late before Jan Mysak (Montreal) ended their dreams. Saint John, the host city, was the home crowd favorite. They became the first QMJHL team since Saint John in 2011 to win the championship in thy last hockey game in North America this season. AND MORE Ex-UCONN defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (Calgary), who missed a wide-open net late in the second, a year removed from Storrs, and undrafted captain Vincent Sévigny, the son of ex-Pack Pierre Sévigny, played his very last junior game both got to hoist the Cup and he scored in the first two minutes of the game. At the QMJHL annual holiday mid-season trading deadline, Victoriaville acquired Sévigny. One other CT connection was winger Cameron MacDonald, a Nova Scotia native from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team, and one game with the CT Jr. Rangers (NCDC) scored in the contest. There were several finalists for Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Awards. Incoming Wolf Pack Dylan Garand (Kamloops-WHL) for Goalie of Year won the award. Coach of the Year honors went to former Springfield King Brian Kilrea Award, a legendary OHL coach, one of the finalists was former Ranger/Whaler James Patrick of the WHL Winnipeg Ice. CHL IMPORT DRAFT Before CHL Draft occurred before the NHL made their selections, only 27 players were chosen out of the 120 slots. One move made before the draft was the rights of Brad Lambert, nephew of former Nighthawks player and Sound Tiger head coach and now the Islanders head coach Lane Lambert was traded by the Saskatoon Blades, who took him in the 2020 Import DraftThen, they were traded to the Seattle (WA) Thunderbirds. He is eligible for next week’s 2022 NHL Draft and is likely to be taken in the top ten picks. Next year is his last junior-eligible season for the Finnish forward. His cousin Jimmy is signed to start next year in Bridgeport. PLAYER AND COACHING MOVEMENT The Florida Panthers signed former Whaler head coach Paul Maurice. The Pack’s Anthony Greco signed with Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL) for next year. Bridgeport Islander Aatu Räty finished the year in Park City with a solid eight-game audition (two regular season and six playoff games). This follows a stellar Finnish season between Kärpät Oulu and Jukerit. He is one of four Islander Finnish prospects invited to the Finnish camp to try to be on the WJC team for the redux event scheduled for August 9-20. The four include Räty, Eetu Liukas, Matias Rajaniemi and a long shot is Aleksei Malinen. The Rangers have forward Kalle Väisänen from TPS Turku. The US will open up against Germany on August 9th. Latvia was added to the tournament to replace a banned Russian team because of the invasion of Ukraine. All players eligible for WJC in December can play even if they have turned 21 in the eight months preceding the tournament. All games will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, and the WJC 2023 tourney will be played in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick, next year. All WJC Games will be on the NHL Network. MORE MOVES Ex-Pack Darren Raddysh signs a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning paying $750K-$775K-NHL/$250K-AHL. Current teammate and another ex-Pack, Sean Day, gets a one-year extension in Syracuse and a nice raise to a two-way deal for $750K-NHL/$200K-AHL. Mathieu Olivier, the son of former New Haven Knights Simon Olivier, was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fourth-round draft pick. Former Avon Old Farms Winged Beaver, Nick Hutchison, who wandered the hockey map last year with Adirondack (ECHL) and after a brief stay with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and half of a year with the Manitoba Moose and former UCONN Husky and fellow Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) himself, Jarrod Gourley both sign one-year AHL deals with Utica. Ex-Pack Patrick Newell departs Sterjen (Norway-NEL) for Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL) next season. Ex-Pack Shawn “Odie” O’Donnell heads from Dornbirner EC (Austria-IceHL) to EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2). Ex-Pack Danny Kristo heads from Västerviks IK (Sweden Allsvenskan to HK Dukla Michalovce (Slovakia-SLEL). He started last year at HC Kladno (Czech Republic-CEL) (Czechia), the Jaromir Jagr owned team he still plays for. Another ex-Pack, Simon Denis, comes back to North America from the Tokohu Free Blades (Japan-ALIH) and signs with Toledo (ECHL). EVEN MORE MOVES Patrick Harper (New Canaan/Avon Old Farms) heads from HPK Hameelina (Finland-FEL) to Mora IK (Sweden-SHL). He started last year in Milwaukee. Phillip Samuelsson, the eldest son of former Whaler/Ranger and assistant coach at Avon Old Farms and the Wolf Pack, leaves Oskarshamn IK (Sweden-SHL) and skates over to Fischtown (Germany-DEL). Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joe Whitney, who had the shortest reign as a Pack team captain (two days faster than Cole Schneider) for half a season, hangs them up after a four-year career in Europe with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany-DEL) after starting in Finland. Ex-Sound Tiger Matt Donovan leaves for Europe again after departing Milwaukee for Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) next year. Ex-Sound Tiger Josh Winquist, who split last year between Reading (ECHL) and Allen (ECHL), departs from the Allen (TX) Americans for HC Dukla Michalovce (Slovakia-SLEL). Reunanen joins 33 AHL’ers that have signed in Europe and the first American or AHL’er to sign in Russia defenseman Randy Murphy from Grand Rapids. STILL MORE D3 college commits Kevin MacKay from Aberdeen (NAHL) commits to Trinity College (NESCAC) of Hartford, and Bailey Irwin of Stouffville and Burlington (OJHL) heads to Albertus Magnus (NCAA I independent) in New Haven. One of the state's most prestigious public high school programs has a new coach. Hamden hired just their sixth bench boss in school history in just retired former West Haven special education school teacher Bill Reynolds. Reynolds, 70, is a former two-time champion at the school in his youth, and his brothers both played there. He coached at the Division II level at Cheshire and Guilford. He has ALWAYS wanted to coach Hamden and is fulfilling à lifelong goal and dream. He wanted the job when Bill Veneris got the job over thirty years ago. He replaces ex-Pack Todd Hall, who stepped down after twenty years back in April. A usually plumb job in high school circles both in Hamden and West Haven, but both schools are experiencing dwindling player numbers, and both could shockingly become co-op programs in a few years. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOL 7

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With approximately 17 of the 20 roster spots set, the Hartford Wolf Pack roster assembly for the 2022-23 season is close to completion. All that is left for management to do is tinkering on the edges with free agent signings and eventual trade acquisitions. The likelihood of trades by the New York Rangers between now and NHL Draft time could change the look of the Pack lineup. In goal, expect to see a whole new cast of characters. Dylan Garand and Olof Lindbom are signed and ready for training camp. Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska, and Tyler Wall are no longer with the organization. Kinkaid's age and falling from his playing perch is why he was let go. After six years in the building between his years with UCONN and the Wolf Pack, Huska is a gamer but never had an extended winning streak in either college or the pros. Wall was a premium college goalie, but after just 15 games here and nine in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen, he had never had the coaches' or the players' confidence. A late-season injury requiring season-ending knee surgery after suffering a freak pre-game injury in Jacksonville sealed his fate. FREE AGENTS Huska, Tim Gettinger, Anthony Greco, and Nick Merkley are Group 6 free agents, players who have not played enough games by age 25. Therefore, they are UFA (unrestricted free agents). The Rangers signed two of these players in the past, one retired, who never played again (Boo Nieves), and Steven Fogarty, who lasted for a year. Fogarty is now with the Providence Bruins. Joining Garand and Lindbom on the last year of their respective deals is Patrick Khordorenko, who was among the few players to flourish in the dreadful final third of the season. The team will have newcomers, including Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL) from Canadian juniors. From Europe, along with Lindbom is Gustave Rydahl, a free agent from Fajestad BK-(Sweden-SHL) and draftee Karl Henriksson (Frölunda HC). Bobby Trivino (UMASS-HE) starts a full season. On the backline, the Pack already has Zac Jones, Matt Robertson, and Zach Guittari under contract. MOVES UNDER QUESTION Ty Ronning, while affable, gregarious, and a standup voice for the organization who has done so at times under the worst circumstances, is a question mark to return. He's played well, in spurts, but like his other teammates sputtered at the end. The other question mark is forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who had a rocky relationship in the second half with the team and missed significant time because of injuries. The question with Pajuniemi is will he return from Finland? Will his North Atlantic neighbor from Sweden, Nils Lundkvist, who struggled in Hart City, be back in the organization? Lundkvist was frozen out in New York and discovered, as it relates to Top-Six forwards and Bottom-Four defenseman, that time is contractually blocked-in both cap space and ice time. Another question surrounds whether Jarred Tinordi, on defense with a burgeoning young family, will return to reprise the Anthony Bitetto mentor role. Bitetto did very well until he checked out and was eventually dealt out. AND YET MORE QUESTIONS Captain Jonny Brodzinski will likely be back in Hartford unless the Rangers offer him a bottom-six role in New York. Should he be in Hartford, he will get the bonus of playing with just signed younger brother next year. All of these are unknowns. Anthony Greco is gone and will likely take his speed to Europe. Matt Lorito, who struggled with high in the zone defensive zone turnovers, will likely return overseas. The underperforming Justin Richards and the inconsistent Austin Rueschoff will likely land elsewhere. Jeff Taylor, the designated scratch-ee, for the last four years, will likely head overseas. Jake Elmer will probably be in the ECHL. NAHL In the NAHL Robertson Cup Finals, the New Jersey (Middletown) Titans won the title with a 3-0 win over the Anchorage (AK) Wolverines. The Wolverines advanced, winning over the St. Cloud (MN) Norsemen coached by ex-Ranger Corey Millen, and the Titans advanced to the finals beating the New Mexico (Albuquerque) ice Wolves. NAHL DRAFT The league's annual draft saw a few Connecticut-related names selected. Richard (DJ.) Hart from Stamford, who played in the USHL Clark Cup Final with the Madison Capitols, is listed as an Ohio State (Big 10) commit next year. He was taken by the Janesville (PA) Jets in the first round (11th overall). He also had five games with NAHL's Odessa (TX) Jackalopes. Jakob Karpa, the youngest son of ex-Sound Tiger/Wolf Pack and Ranger David Karpa, was taken by in the third round (65th overall) by the Lone Star (Ft. Worth, TX) Brahamas. He played for the Wenatchee (WA) Wild (BCHL) last year. Riley Bassen, the son of former Springfield Indian/Whaler Bob Bassen, was taken by the Corpus Christi (TX) Ice Rays from the Dallas Jr, Stars U-16 Elite (T1EHL) team. Lone Star took Stamford's Jakub Teply in the fourth round (116th overall) from the South Shore (MA) Kings (NCDC). Wolcott's Oliver Flynn, a former Connecticut Chief (EHL), who played for the Loomis Chaffe Pelicans, and was with the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC), was taken in the fifth round (137th overall) by the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears. He is a UCONN (HE) commit next year. In 2019 the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) selected him, as did the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) three years ago. Connor Welsh of Greenwich, a BC (HE) commit for next year, went in the eighth round (219th overall). Welsh played for the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers. After that, he went to (USHL) the Maryland Black Bears. In the ninth round (250th overall), Jason Siedem, formerly of Avon Old Farms, who played last year for the Cowichan Valley (BC) Capitals (BCHL) and the Blackfalds (AB) Bulldogs (AJHL), was taken by the Minnesota Wilderness. Springfield (MO) Jr.Blues took him last year. The Danbury Hat Tricks had four selections on the day. They had the first overall pick and took Jacob Lavallée from Cote-de-Sud Everest (QJHL). He played two games for the Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and was a 2019 draft selection of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL). The team didn't select again until the fourth round (88th overall). They took Wyatt Stefan, the son of former NHL'er Patrik Stefan, who played last year for New Jersey Rockets and Ridge (NJ) HS from the Detroit Little Caesars program. In the fifth round (117th overall), they selected a Belarussian player, Denis Radchenko. He is from the Yunost Minsk junior team. The forward checks in at 6'5 and 200lbs. With their final selection in the sixth round (146th overall), they went in-house and selected Reece Tamburo from the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL). The team also announced the formal completion of the purchase of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights franchise that became the Hat Tricks. MORE PLAYER MOVEMENT Calle Själin, a 2017 fifth-round Rangers draft pick, has elected to sign with the Florida Panthers. He has played with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) and comes from a long line of Swedish league players. Currently, brother Pontus is playing Division 2. His father, Jörgen, played Divison-1. His uncle, Jens, played as high as Swedish junior. His grandfather, Kent, also played. Själin's Entry Level Contract (ELC) is for two years and pays $925K in the NHL and $80K in the AHL. As per the new CBA, he is the first hockey-playing member of the family to come to North America. Ex-Pack Patrick Newell departs Sterjen (Norway-NEL) for Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL) next season. Ex-Pack Shawn “Odie” O’Donnell heads from Dornbirner EC (Austria-IceHL) to EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2). Another ex-Pack, Simon Denis, comes back to North America from the Tokohu Free Blades (Japan-ALIH) and signs with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). Another ex-Pack, Sean Day, gets a one-year extension from the Syracuse Crunch, which includes a pay raise to a two-way $750K-NHL/$200K-AHL deal. Then ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joe Whitney, who had the shortest reign as a Pack team captain (two days faster than Cole Schneider) for half a season, hangs them up after a four-year career in Europe with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany-DEL). Ex-Sound Tiger Matt Donovan leaves for Europe again after departing the Milwaukee Admirals for Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) next year. Now 22 AHL players have signed overseas. MORE MOVES Former UCONN forward Kale Howarth signs a one-year AHL deal in Rockford. Greenwich's Luke Esposito, the nephew of Mark Messier, signs with the Bakersfield Condors. Former Ranger head coach and New Haven Nighthawk's assistant coach, John Tortorella, finds his way to the Philadelphia Flyers as their new head coach. Former New Haven Knights (UHL) player Alexsei Lazarenko was an assistant coach this year for Rilat Kharkiv (Ukraine-UHL). Due to the invasion by Russia, their season ended early and had no playoffs. GORDIE CLARK Rangers former Pro Scout Gordie Clark, 70, who worked for the Rangers for 19 years in several capacities in Player Development and Scouting and with the Sound Tigers as Director of Hockey Operations earlier this century and was with the Islanders for eight years, was let go by the Rangers. Gordie's son, Brendon Clark, was an American scout of college and junior hockey; after twelve years was terminated. The senior Clark had a very distinguished playing career in the 1970s, first with the UNH Wildcats (ECACHL), then the Rochester Americans, then with the Springfield Indians, and 21 games in the WHA with the Cincinnati Stingers and with the first edition of the Maine Mariners before finishing his playing career in Germany. His only NHL time was with the Boston Bruins for eight games, where he posted an assist. His brother, Gary Clark, played at UNH, mainly in the Canadian Maritimes senior league. No word on whether Gordie will continue with another organization or retire to his native Nova Scotia and if Brendon will catch on with another team. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF-SEASON 3

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack off-season is expected to be another roster transformation project that will make the 2022-23 edition of the New York Rangers AHL affiliate into a very different team. Six Wolf Pack players, Maxim Letunov, Kris Merkley, Anthony Greco, all forwards, and goaltenders Adam Húska, and Keith Kinkaid are all Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA). Three of those players, led by Húska, Letunov, and Merkley as per the CBA, are Group 6 free agents by way of not having played enough NHL games by age 25. Húska’s pending departure seems to be clear after Swedish goaltending prospect, Olof Lindbom, was signed to a two-year ELC deal for $925K-NHL/$70K-AHL. He played last year with Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) where he posted underwhelming numbers. In 27 games, Lindblom registered a 3.27 GAA an under .500 record at 10-15-0, and a .900 save percentage. HARTFORD WOLF PACK RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS Restricted Free Agents (RFA) have to be made legitimate offers. Those Wolf Pack players include Tim Gettinger, Ty Ronning, Vitali Kravtsov, Justin Richards, and Austin Rueschoff. Goaltender, Tyler Wall, is very likely to be allowed to leave as a free agent. As is Jake Elmer and still in junior with Seattle (WHL) still in the playoffs, Matt Rempe. In the NHL the Rangers have their own share of UFA’s. Greg McKegg, Kevin Rooney, Ryan Strome, Andrew Copp, Ryan Reaves, and trade deadline acquisitions who have played well, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. The Rangers also have Kaapo Kakko, Julien Gauthier, and Libor Hájek who played five games in Hartford on a conditioning stint, and enigmatic ex-Pack goaltender, Alexander Georgiev. Hartford GM Ryan Martin and Rangers GM/President Chris Drury are, no doubt, getting ready for an important entry draft and are also likely discussing what other moves the franchise could make including possible trade deals. COACHING, PLAYER MANAGEMENT MOVES Four ex-Springfield Falcons are playing in Dysin Mayo (Canada). Those players are Marek Langhamer (Czech Republic (Czechia), Matthias Plachta (Germany), and Denis Malgin (Switzerland (LNA). There will be no Russian squad to play after the IIHF took away the sites of Novosibirsk and Omsk for both this and the WJC tourney. New Canaan resident, Pierre McGuire, the former Hartford Whaler head coach plus long-time NBC and TSN hockey analyst, was relieved of his duties less than a year on the job in Ottawa as Senior VP of Player Development. The Bridgeport Islanders knocked off the Providence Bruins to advance against the Charlotte in the Atlantic Division semifinals before falling to the Checkers. Meanwhile, the Springfield Thunderbirds eliminated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the other Semi-final. Joe Snively, the former Yale Bulldog with the Hershey Bears was recalled by Washington, Then Mathieu Olivier, son of ex-Knights Simon is sent to Milwaukee by Nashville. The Jacksonville Icemen, the ECHL affiliate of both the Wolf Pack and the Rangers, advanced to the ECHL South Division Final to play in-state rival the Florida Everblades (Nashville) in the Kelly Cup playoffs. They were swept by the Everblades, who shut them out twice in the series. EX-UCONN GOALIE SENT TO FLORIDA Florida did receive former UCONN goalie Tomáš Vomáčka, after he was reassigned for the series by Nashville from Milwaukee (AHL), but didn’t play or dress. Connor Jones, a former Quinnipiac University (QU) Bobcat, and ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger announced his retirement from hockey while with Ft. Wayne (ECHL). Twin brother Kellen will continue to play on with the legendary Komets. Former QU Bobcat Latvian Kārlis Čukste leaven Pelicans Lahti (Finland) for HC Oceláři Třinec (Czech Republic (Czechia)-CEL) for next season. He played for Latvia in the Olympics and is slated to be on their World Championship team. David Musil exits HC Oceláři Třinec (Czech Republic (Czechia)-CEL) to HC Dynamo Pardubice. After three years as an assistant captain for Tölzer Löwen (Germany DEL-2), former Sound Tiger Tyler McNeeley signed with Rosenheim (Germany Division-3). CANADIAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER The Canadian World championship roster was released with a few familiar names on it. On defense will be ex-Pack and current New Jersey Devil, Ryan Graves. At forward, will be Cole Sillinger as will Pierre-Luc Dubois. Húska is suiting up for Slovakian Team and Hartford GM Ryan Martin will guide the US squad. There will be no Russian squad to play and the IIHF took away the sites of Novosibirsk and Omsk from them for this and the WJC tourney. Some familiar names are on other WC teams to play in Tampere and Helsinki, Finland. The US squad features ex-Pack, Vinni Lettieri, ex-Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows, and goalies Jon Gillies (Salisbury Prep) and Strauss Mann (Greenwich/Brunswick Prep/CT Jr. Rangers-USPHL ) who was signed this off-season by San Jose after playing this year in Sweden and represented the US in the Olympics. MORE NAMES INVOLVED WITH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The US team’s Equipment Manager is Hamden’s Chris Scoppetto (AHL Beast of New Haven) now with New Jersey. Italy's assistant coach is Larry Huras (Nighthawks). The Czech Republic (Czechia) team has ex-Pack Tomáš Kundrátek, Michael Spacek and ex-UCONN recruit, Matej Blümel. Latvia’s head coach is ex-New Haven Senator, Harijs Vitolins. Denmark has the soon-to-be-retiring ex-Sound Tiger, Franz Nielsen. Sweden, has ex-Pack goalie, Magnus Hellberg and forward Carl Klingberg. Germany, assistant coach is former Hartford Whaler, Tom Rowe. Switzerland has another ex-Pack who is nearing the end of his career, Andres Ambühl. MOVES APLENTY CONTINUE Lastly, Great Britain has goalie Jackson Whistle and Ben Lake, the former Pioneer from Sacred Heart University-AHA. UCONN recruit Brayden Smith has elected to go to the Penticton Knights (BCHL) next year to preserve his NCAA rights likely for two years. He was taken by the Vancouver Giants (WHL) under former Wolf Pack head coach and Giants associate coach, Keith McCambridge. They selected him in the 2020 bantam draft in the sixth round, 122nd overall. He was also drafted by the Weyburn (SK) Red Wings (SJHL) in 2020 in the third round 25th overall in their draft. If he plays one second of major junior pre-season, regular season, or post-season his NCAA eligibility is lost. That’s how the rules are now, but that could change in the future. Players eligible for the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on May 19th next week are 2007-born players who reside in; Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. The US States that are eligible are; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. OHL DRAFT In the OHL Priority Draft, Birk Cassels was taken from the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-15 AAA team (T1EHL) by the Ottawa 67’s at 290th overall in the 14th round. Cole Cassels played with nearby Cleveland and his nephews are ex-Pack Morgan Barron (Manitoba) and Justin (Laval). The prospects for the Q that can be drafted are currently playing in the territories served by the QMJHL: the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador, as well as the northeastern portion of the United States. The QMJHL Draft will take place a few days before the NHL Draft July 4-5 instead of June 17-18. Tyler Wood of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep is in the top-tier of the Q draft prospects general list, not just the US portion of the draft that will take place after the main draft. AHL’ERS HEADING TO EUROPE After eight years in North America, Sven Bärtschi, of the Henderson Silver Knights returns to his hometown and signs a three-year deal with SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA). He is the third player, thus far from the AHL to head to Europe. Krystof Hrabik heads from San Jose signs with HC Plzeň (Pilsner) (the Czech Republic-(Czechia)-CEL) and heading back to Russia is goalie Alexei Melnichuk, a Russian native and so far, only Russians will likely do so, heads from the San Jose Barracuda, who finished dead last in the AHL to HC Sochi (Russia-KHL). NCAA NEWS Two players are heading to nearby AIC (AHA) in Springfield, MA. Hunter McCurdy of the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) commits to the school for the fall. The 57th and 58th NCAA grad transfers are Brennan Boynton after playing just one game with NCAA semi-finalist at the Frozen Four Minnesota (Big 10) will skate for the Yellow Jackets next season. Ryan Sidorski goes from Union College (ECACHL) to North Dakota (NCHC). A seventh college player heads to Europe as Taylor Brierley goes from D-3 Wilkes University (UCHC) to HC Chambéry (France-Division-2). Then a 59th grad transfer of the college offseason Dylan St. Cyr heads to the Michigan St. Spartans (Big 10) heading back to his native Michigan to complete his collegiate career. He is from Northville, a Detroit suburb. St. Cyr did a regular transfer last year to QU from Notre Dame. He is the son of former New Haven Senator, Gerry St, Cyr. His mother is Manon Rheaume, the first female to play goal in an NHL game albeit exhibition who has a statue of herself in Quebec City on Jean Béliveau Way, near the Videotrom Centre home of the QMJHL Quebec Remparts. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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THOMAS: PACK vs. AMERICAS PREVIEW

BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack will finally conclude their seven-game road trip tonight when they visit the Rochester Americans for the second and final time at Blue Cross Arena. Tonight’s tilt ends a back-to-back set that opened with last night’s 4-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies. This is also Hartford’s final regular season game against North Division competition this season. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. Tale of The Tape This is the fourth and final meeting between the Wolf Pack and the Americans during the 2021-22 regular season. The Wolf Pack claimed their first victory in the last meeting on February 12th, taking a 2-1 overtime decision at the XL Center. Matthew Robertson scored the first goal of his professional career 36 seconds into the third period, but Nick Boka would force overtime with his first career AHL goal at 9:58. Jonny Brodzinski potted the winner at 3:12 of the extra frame, his 17th of the season. Rochester took the first two meetings, including a 5-2 decision in the Pack’s last trip to Blue Cross Arena on January 7th. Linus Weissbach’s sixth goal of the season at 16:55 of the first period proved to be the winner on that night. Hartford’s last victory in Rochester came on December 22nd, 2018, by 5-1. Wolf Pack Outlook The Wolf Pack saw their difficult stretch continue with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Marlies on Friday night. Anthony Greco scored Hartford’s lone goal, a powerplay tally, 2:47 into the second period. However, Nick Robertson’s shorthanded goal would stand as the winner 80 seconds into the second period. The Marlies scored two shorthanded goals in their win, the second time Hartford has surrendered two shorthanded markers in a single game this season. Greco leads the Pack in scoring with 57 points (20 g, 37 a). He also leads the team in goals with 20. Nick Merkley collected an assist on Greco’s goal last night. It was the 100th assist of his AHL career. Merkley is second on the club in scoring 44 points (15 g, 29 a). The Wolf Pack are currently 30-30-6-2, suitable for a .500 points percentage. Hartford is currently seventh in the Atlantic Division, however, and outside of a playoff spot. Americans Outlook The Americans suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Belleville Senators on home ice last night. Viktor Lodin opened the scoring with a penalty shot goal 2:43 into the game, while Egor Sokolov tacked on a powerplay goal in the third period to give the Senators a lead they would not lose. Brandon Biro countered with a powerplay goal of his own at 13:56 of the third period, but it was not enough on this night. JJ Peterka leads the Americans in scoring with 62 points (24 g, 28 a) on the campaign. Fellow rookie Jack Quinn is second on the club with 56 points (25 g, 31 a). The Americans are currently 34-27-6-2, suitable for a points percentage of .550. They are in sixth place in the North Division, however, and currently outside of a playoff spot. Game Information WATCH: AHLTV The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday, April 22nd, to kick off the final weekend of the regular season! Join us for Pride Night as the Charlotte Checkers come to town. Thanks to our friends at Nomads, we’ll also have $2 beers and $1 hot dogs! The 2021-22 regular season concludes at the XL Center on Sunday, April 24th! Join us for Fan Appreciation Day when the Pack host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available for both games next weekend at hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

#AnthonyGreco #BellevilleSenators #BlueCrossArena #CharlotteCheckers #HartfordWolfPack #JonnyBrodzinski #RochesterAmericans #TorontoMarlies #Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonPenguins #XLCenter

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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THOMAS: PACK AND BELLEVILLE LOCKUP IN CANADA

BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack open the final leg of their season-long seven-game road trip tonight as they visit the Belleville Senators for the second and last time this season at CAA Arena. The tilt opens a stretch of three games in four days for the Pack, all against North Division opponents. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Tale of The Tape: This is the fourth and final meeting during the 2021-22 regular season between the Wolf Pack and the Senators. The Senators skated to a 4-1 victory in the last meeting on April 1st at the XL Center. Maxim Letunov opened the scoring for Hartford just 23 seconds into the game, but Belleville would score the game’s final four goals. Jonathan Aspirot tied the contest 1-1 at the 12:34 mark of the first period on a delayed penalty, then Lassi Thomson rifled home the eventual winner at 14:55 on a five-on-three. Both Egor Sokolov and Logan Shaw tacked on powerplay goals as the Senators went three-for-five on the skater advantage. The Wolf Pack did take a 5-2 decision on March 19th in Belleville. Mike O’Leary broke a 2-2 tie 3:08 into the third period, while Patrick Khodorenko and Anthony Greco tacked on insurance markers in a three-goal third period. The Senators won the series opener on March 2nd in Hartford with a 3-2 overtime decision. Rourke Chartier scored twice, including the overtime winner, for the Senators. The visiting team is 3-0-0-0 in the season series. The Wolf Pack are 1-1-1-0 against the Senators in the season series. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack snapped a seven-game losing streak with a massive 4-3 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday afternoon at the Bojangles’ Coliseum. Zac Jones opened the scoring 1:45 into the game, but the Checkers would take a 2-1 lead on goals by Luke Henman and Zac Dalpe. Tanner Fritz tied the tilt at 18:46 of the first period before Greco made it 3-2 just 5:21 into the middle frame. Alexander True scored at 9:05 of the third to force overtime. In the extra frame, Letunov needed just 21 seconds to snap the streak. The win was also the first in franchise history for the Wolf Pack in Charlotte. The club was previously 0-15-1-0 in North Carolina. Greco leads the Pack in scoring with 56 points (19 g, 37 a) on the season. He collected his first four-point game (1 g, 3 a) as a member of the club in Sunday’s victory. Greco also leads the team in goals with 19. The Pack currently holds a record of 30-28-6-2, good for a .515 points percentage. That has Hartford in sixth place in the Atlantic Division, occupying the final playoff spot. Hartford’s magic number to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff berth is 10. Senators Outlook: On Monday night, the Senators suffered a 5-1 setback on home ice against the Laval Rocket. Cole Reinhardt opened the scoring 5:38 into the game to give the Sens a lead, but it was all Rocket after that. Danick Martel tied the game 1-1 just 3:05 into the second period, while Nicolas Mattinen scored his first AHL goal at 6:40 to break the tie. Martel would add a second goal, while Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Kevin Roy would light the lamp in the third period. The loss was Belleville’s second in a row. Jake Lucchini leads the Senators with 46 points (20 g, 26 a) on the season. His 20 goals are also atop the club, while Zach Senyshyn sits second with 19 goals. The Senators currently hold a record of 33-27-4-0, good for a .547 points percentage. That has them in sixth place in the North Division, just outside of a playoff spot. The Senators currently have a magic number of 17 to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff berth. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV The Wolf Pack’s seven-game road trip continues when they travel to Toronto to take on the Marlies on Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. The road trip concludes on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. when the Pack head to Rochester to take on the Americans. The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday, April 22nd, to kick off the final weekend of the regular season! Join us for Pride Night as the Charlotte Checkers come to town. Thanks to our friends at Nomads, we’ll also have $2 beers and $1 hot dogs! The 2021-22 regular season concludes at the XL Center on Sunday, April 24th! Join us for Fan Appreciation Day when the Pack host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available for both games next weekend at hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

#AHL #AnthonyGreco #BellevilleSenators #CalderCup #CharlotteCheckers #HartfordWolfPack #LavalRocket #Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonPenguins #XLCenter #ZacDalpe

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mitchbeck · 2 years

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CANTLON: (4/8) PACK LOSE AGAIN IN CHARLOTTE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CHARLOTTE, NC - The Hartford Wolf Pack's late-season swan dive continued in a 3-2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers despite a push in the game's last five minutes. The Pack has now lost seven straight and 13 of their previous 15 games. Their playoff hopes grow dimmer with each loss as time runs out on their season. The Pack (29-28-6-2) sit in sixth place, with a .508 winning percentage. They are now behind the fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the fifth-place Hershey Bears, each with a .530 winning percentage. Meanwhile, Charlotte becomes the first team in the Atlantic Division to punch their ticket to the Caldor Cup playoffs with the win. The Checkers (39-23-4-0) are in second place and just .02 points behind division-leading Springfield Thunderbirds. PACK DIDN'T QUIT The Pack showed life in a 1:13 span late in the third to make the score close, but the Checkers were in control for two-thirds of the game. The Wolf Pack scored off an offensive zone draw. Tim Gettinger won the puck back to Zach Giutarri. The right-handed shot and former Loomis Chaffe prep school player whistled his shot at the net. However, the puck missed the net and took a fortunate bounce off the backboard for the Pack to Nick Merkley, who was wide open on the left-wing side. Merkley deposited his 15th goal of the season into the net before goaltender Joey Daccord could get back to try and stop him at 15:56. Merkley was acquired from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline and has registered seven points in ten since coming to Hartford. Just 1:13 later, at 17:03, Pack leading scorer, Anthony Greco, found the back of the net on the Charlotte doorstep. Greco converted a rebound of a Zac Jones shot from the left side off a cross-ice diagonal pass from Nils Lundkvist. For Greco, it was his 16th goal and 52nd point. GAME WINNER GOAL The game-winning goal came at 1:52 of the third period. For the third straight game, the Pack surrendered a shorthanded goal. In this case, it came with six seconds remaining in a power play. Chase Priskie, the ex-Quinnipiac star, started the play with a pass to Alexander True, who did the rest. He evaded Greco's stick and scooted past Matt Robertson from the right-wing side before whistling his 16th goal of the season past Kinkaid. It gave the Checkers a commanding 3-0 lead and cemented their control of the game with their twelfth shorthanded goal. They are tied for second in the AHL with Lavalin power play goals. GOALIES SHINE Daccord, an ASU grad, executed a solid game plan. He was yielding single chances and then freezing the puck for faceoffs or making a kick save that moved the puck to the corners. In the second and third periods, Kinkaid did everything he could do to prevent Charlotte from scoring. Gustav Olsson reversed, then curled and dragged the puck to the center of the ice midway through the third and was denied. Then True and Luke Hernan, with 6:42 remaining in the third, and Cole Schwind were all stopped by the 6'5 goalie. Midway through the second period, Daccord stopped Nils Lundkvist on the power play without any second and third opportunities for rebounds. Then at 13:09, Daccord made a stop and put the puck out of the zone. Finally, at 1:38 of the third period, Daccord stopped Greco. Meanwhile, 200' away, Kinkaid stopped Zac Dalpe at 1:09 and then a two-on-one. TINORDI FIGHTS TO KEEP THE PACK IN IT Jarred Tinordi tried to spark the team with his second fight off the game with Serron Noel, but the short scuffle didn't light the flame of desperation in the Wolf Pack but left the team defensively shorthanded for the remainder of the game. Tinordi had his first bout after a clean but hard hit on Cody McCormick that left him dazed and bloodied after hitting the ice with a thud. Tinordi earned the instigator by referees Carter Sandlak (son ex-Hartford Whaler Jim Sandlak) and Justin Kea even though True dropped the mitts first. FIRST PERIOD In the first period, Charlotte grabbed a 2-0 lead. Cole Schwindt got his 19th at 9:47 off a rebound of a Serron Noel shot. They extended the Checkers' lead to 2-0 at 13:54 as Henman tallied his fifth goal of the season by converting the rebound of Logan Hutsko's shot. LINES Ronning-Trivigno-Letunov Lorito-Greco-Khordorenko Fritz-Gettinger-Merkley Whelan-Richards-DiGiacinto Tinordi-Scanlin Jones-Lundkvist Robertson-Guittari Kinkaid Huska SCRATCHES Pajuniemi Rueschoff Taylor Skinner Ethan Brodzinski NOTES Belleville had a flurry of transactions as Mark Kastelic is still on recall. Ottawa sent back Cole Reinhardt, then released Josh McKechney and Paul McAvoy, and both were assigned to Atlanta (ECHL). Former UCONN Husky goalie Darion Hanson is released by Lehigh Valley and sent to Reading (ECHL). The Wolf Pack's season-long nemesis saw the Flyers recall Hayden Hodgson again from Lehigh Valley. Former PC goalie Jaxson Stauber, son of ex-Wolf Pack and New Haven Nighthawk, Robb Stauber, is assigned to Rockford. Syracuse goalie Amir Miftakhov, despite winning over Hartford with nearly two months of inactivity due to injury, is assigned to Orlando (ECHL). Canon Pieper, a former QU Bobcats, signs with his fourth ECHL this season, Indy. He played previously with Orlando, Adirondack, and Iowa. Ex-Pack and Springfield Falcon, Luke Adam, and ex-Sound Tiger Nick Shilkey were let go by Iserlohn (Germany-DEL), and so was Paul Carey (Salisbury School) from Djurgårdens IF (Sweden-SHL)-no new address for any of the players yet. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

#AHL #AnthonyGreco #CharlotteCheckers #CodyMcCormick #ECHL #HartfordWolfPack #HersheyBears #LukeAdam #NewHavenNighthawk #NilsLundkvist #PaulCarey #RobbStauber #SanJoseSharks #SpringfieldThunderbird #SpringfieldThunderbirds #TimGettinger #UConn #Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonPenguins #ZacDalpe

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