#AdamCracknell

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Man I love this image. One of my favorites from this season! - - - - #dallas #stars #dallasstars #dallasstarshockey #sportsphotographer #nhl #hockey #tylerseguin #seguin #cracknell #adamcracknell #hattie #hattrick

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CANTLON: (2/19) BRUINS PUSH PAST PACK 3-1

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Joonas Koppannen and Edwards Tralmaks had three points to pace the Providence Bruins to a 3-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night. Providence won on Friday night, tossing a 5-0 shutout at home against the Hershey Bears, and now have two wins in a row and won five of their last ten. With a whole week of rest, the Wolf Pack rust showed as passes weren't crisp, and scoring chances went unfinished. They had no shots for the first half of the second period. Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblach was non-committal on his lineup for Sunday. The team struggled offensively. "Sometimes we made that extra pass. We have to be creative and we don't want to take away from that. In games like this when chances are hard to come by. The best way is to simplify our game, get pucks on the net, and our game will take care of the rest and those little things will help open things up more," Matt Lorito spoke following his fourth game as a member of the Wolf Pack. CRUCIAL SECOND PERIOD The second period was crucial. Just seconds after Johnny Brodzinski missed the net with a solid backhander; the Bruins found the back of the net. "We started to build things after we got that goal. We had a lot of zone time, then we made mistakes in the second and third. We had that penalty in the third period that led up to their goal, but there were a lot of mistakes that contributed to our play that led up to that goal," Knoblauch said. Tralmaks, a Latvian native, got the power-play started on the right-wing. He hit Samuel Asselin with a cross-ice feed. Asselin entered the Pack zone on the left-wing side and sent a smooth cross-ice pass to Koppanen. From the top of the right-wing circle, at 16:36, Koppanen blasted a one-timer past Pack netminder Keith Kincaid for his seventh of the season and second of the game. WOLF PACK GOAL Lorito tallied the Wolf Pack's lone goal from Ty Ronning at 10:16 of the second period. It was Lorito's first as a member of the Wolf Pack and his first AHL goal in two years. When he played in Bridgeport, Tanner Fritz, a former teammate, got in the zone along the right-wing boards. He fought off Cam Hughes and former Wolf Pack training camp invitee Blake Hillman, who is on a PTO deal. The puck squirted back behind the net to Ronning. The 5'9 winger backhanded the puck in front to Lorito, who wasted little time taking the shot. The Wolf Pack (23-14-4-2) remains in second place with a .605 winning percentage with the loss. The win puts the Bruins (21-13-3-3-5) closer behind the Pack in third place with a .600 winning percentage. LINES Gettinger-Brodzinski-Greco Ronning-Fritz-Lorito Richards-Khordorenko-Ruesschoff Whalen-O'Leary-DiGiacinto. Tinordi-Lundkvist Giuttari-Robertson Reunanen-Bitetto Kinkaid Huska SCRATCHES Pajuniemi Taylor Skinner Wall Luchuk NOTES Ex-Pack Nik Latta is the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Dave Latta. He leaves his team, the EV Weiden (Germany Division-3), coached by his father Ken and where his brother Louis also plays. He was loaned to EV Ravensburg (Germany DEL-2) for the rest of the season. Frédéric Létourneau (Hotchkiss School) departs the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) to trade the Idaho Steelheads. His father,  Daniel Létourneau, is a former Division-II player from the late 1970s and early 1980s with the University of New Haven Chargers. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK BACK AT PRACTICE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack start the second half of their season at their secondary training facility, Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT, over the next two days as they prepare for Friday's game with the Springfield Thunderbirds. The taxi squads have been a significant roster disruption for the last two months, but they appear to be gone now. Only one present roster issue remains up in the air. Jarred Tinordi was reassigned by the New York Rangers, as is Zac Jones. They are still with the Pack, who have nine defensemen. As expected, Zach Berzolla was shipped back to the Jacksonville Icemen, the Wolf Pack, and Rangers' ECHL affiliate to get ice time. With the NHL trade deadline approaching next month, it is likely that if the organization makes trades, they will deal from their logjam presently on the backline. The Pack host Springfield and Rochester and Friday and Saturday as they return to action with a full roster of players. NOTES The Bridgeport Islanders saw Austin Czarnik get picked up on waivers by the Seattle Kracken. Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger captain Ben Holmstrom will be with the Rochester Americans on Saturday after signing a PTO yesterday from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). Former Wolf Pack Nikalas Jensen was part of Danish hockey history as they won their first Olympic game in 75 years. Denmark won 2-1 over the Czech Republic. Across the way was ex-Pack Tomas Kundratek. He hit the crossbar in the waning seconds for the Czechs as they sought to tie the game. After just one game with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), former QU goalie Keith Petruzzelli was sent back to Newfoundland (St. John's) Growlers (ECHL). Former Wolf Pack Shawn St. Amant plays under his full name Shawn Ouellette St. Amant with the Trois-Rivieres Lions (ECHL). It's common among French players to include either your middle name or your mother's maiden name. Team USA defeated China 8-0 as Sean Farrell had a hat trick and five points in their opening game of the Olympics. A former Yale Bulldog is a brand new father, Brian O'Neill (Jokerit Helsinki Finland-KHL), the only US player with Olympic experience, scored a power play goal. FAMILIAR NAMES A plethora of familiar names on both lineups. Ex-Sound Tiger named an alternate captain, Aaron Ness, now with the Providence Bruins. He was paired with ex-Pack Steven Kampfer who plays with AK Bars Kazan (Russia-KHL) in the opening lineup. He had a gorgeous primary assist on Farrell's second goal. Former Yale Bulldog Ken Agostino (Torpedo Novgorod Russia-KHL) was among the forwards selected by former Rangers coach David Quinn. China had goalie ex-Sound Tiger Jeremy Smith (Kunlun China-KHL) starting in net. The game's first penalty was the one-time Ranger draftee who was traded, Ethan Werek (Kunlun China-KHL). The Chinese assistant coach is former Ranger Alexei Kovalev. Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell (Bakersfield-AHL) and ex-Sound Tiger David Desharnais (HC Fribourg-Gotteron Switzerland-LNA) assisted on Canada's third goal in their opening 5-1 win over Germany. Ex-Pack Adam Tambellini (Rogle BK Sweden-SHL) had the primary assist on their last goal. Ex-Sound Tiger for Germany Tom Kuhnhackl (Skelleftea AIK Sweden-SHL) was held scoreless. Slovakia lost 6-2 to Finland as ex-Pack Marek Hrivik and ex-Springfield Falcons Tomas Jurco, Marko Dano, and ex-Springfield Thunderfield Martin Mancini were held pointless. Another ax-QU goalie Andrew Shortridge is recalled by the Stockton Heat from the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL). Ivan Nikolishin, the son of the former Hartford Whaler Andrei Nikolishin, heads to his third team and league as he's loaned from Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL) to Ilves Tampere (Finland-FHL). HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: MID-WEEK NEWS AND NOTES

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Olympics are into the medal round, and several former Hartford Wolf Pack players and those connected to Connecticut are doing well representing their homelands. Men's Team Canada knocked off the Chinese team on Tuesday, 7-2. Ex-Pack Adam Tambellini garnered five points with two goals, one coming on a penalty shot, with the other three being assists. Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell has one helper in four games. John Gilmour, who's on the taxi squad and has yet to play for the Canadians, has watched his team advance to the quarterfinals against Sweden. Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger David Desharnais has an assist in four games. Josh Ho-Sang has three assists in four games. Jack McBain, the son of former New Haven Senator Andrew McBain, registered a goal and an assist against China. MORE OLYMPIC NEWS The 7-2 loss eliminated China. Ex-Pack Ryan Sproul had two assists and goalie Jeremy Smith played in every game, going 0-3 and a 5.63 GAA. To make matters worse, he suffered a knee injury and was taken out of the game against Canada. Aforementioned, Sweden features ex-Pack netminder Magnus Hellberg. He has a 2.46 GAA in two games, while fellow ex-Pack, Carl Klingberg, has three points in three games. Ex-New York Ranger and Wolf Pack forward Marek Hrivik, playing for Slovakia, has a goal and two assists in the Olympics. The Slovaks face the American team on Wednesday at 11:10 PM EST. While playing in the Olympics, Hrivik had his KHL deal with Torpedo Novgorod (Russia) terminated by mutual consent. Instead, he signed a contract with his old Swedish team, Leksands IF (SHL), for the rest of the year. Ex-Springfield Falcon Tomas Jurco has one assist in three games for the Slovaks. Another former Falcon, Marko Dano, is pointless in three games. In four games, Marton Marincin, formerly of the Springfield Thunderbirds, has one goal. EX-PACK CAPTAIN KAMPFER Ex-Pack and Ranger Steven Kampfer, who is playing for ex-New York Rangers' head coach, David Quinn, behind the US bench, has three points in three games. Greenwich's Strauss Mann, like Kampfer, is a fellow Michigan alum. He has played very well. In his only game so far in the Olympic games, he is showing to the world why he is atop the Swedish league. Two former Yale Bulldogs, Brian O'Neill, and Kenny Agostino, have had a solid tourney. O'Neill has three points in three games, and Agostino had the game-winning goal against Canada. It's his only point in three games. Ex-Sound Tiger Aaron Ness has an assist in three games. Jake Sanderson, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Geoff Sanderson, has been limited to playing in only one game due to injury but has put one assist to his credit. Switzerland reached the quarterfinals by beating hockey powerhouse the Czech Republic, 4-2. Ex-Pack Raphael Diaz had a goal and an assist and, one he'd like to forget, in his own net. Andres Ambühl Andres Ambühl, 38, is playing in his fifth Olympics and has scored a goal. He is the second oldest player to score. Borje Salming, 40, a tremendous Swedish defenseman who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, had potted four goals for Sweden in 1992. Ambuhl is the oldest player to record his first goal. "Today, we played really tight defensively. Everybody came back. We blocked shots. We boxed them out. We won puck battles. Genoni had a hell of a game. He always stopped the first shot, and we cleared the rebounds. I think it was a good, strong effort from the whole team," Diaz told IIHF.com. Ambühl acknowledged his accomplishment. "It's nice to score my first goal at Olympics, but it was great especially for the team," he said to IIHF.com in a post-game interview. "We somehow didn't manage to bury the pucks before and today they bounced our way. Nobody was happy with the preliminary round so we wanted to show that we can play hockey and win too. We wanted to show this reaction. Now we have to continue like that without getting over excited." MORE RESULTS Switzerland faces off with Finland. Latvia was eliminated by upstart Cinderella Denmark 3-2. One Latvian defenseman is former Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) blueliner Karlis Cukste. His KHL deal with his hometown team, Dynamo Riga, dissolved by mutual consent. He signed an agreement with Lahti Pelicans (Finland-FEL) and will report there shortly. Goalie Kristers Gudlevsk, the ex-Sound Tiger, didn't play a game for Latvia. Germany was eliminated by the Slovaks 4-0. Tom Kühnhack had just one goal in the tourney against the US, while former Springfield Falcon Matthia Plachta had one assist in four games. Denmark has ex-Pack Niklas Jensen. He has an assist in four games, while ex-Sound Tiger Frans Nielsen has three assists in three games. He's playing for the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee), where ex-Pack Artem Anisimov has yet to play. ARIZONA The long-running saga in the desert is reaching the end of the story. A plan has been approved locally to have the sad-sack oft-troubled Arizona Coyotes play at the new on-campus venue at Arizona State for three years with an option for a fourth year. They're trying to wind through a skeptical local political windmill and get a third arena built in Tempe. A long-time trusted source was quite pointed on the subject. "The optics look just awful. A team like Seattle, who just spent a billion dollars renovating their arena and $650 million to get into the NHL, who are doing well, have to be looking on in horror. How can a league let a team play in a sub-standard AHL building, though it will be brand new at, say the 5,000 they are saying, let alone NHL level facility which it clearly will not be, for multiple years and not get priority dates (ASU will) and only game revenue (no building or naming rights)? "Simply put Gary Bettman does not want to ever lose a market like Arizona. I'm shocked there is not more of an uproar so far over this. This obviously has to affect the HRR (Hockey-Related-Revenue) between the players and the owners as agreed to in the CBA." There will be cries to move the team from many former and new cities looking to join the NHL. RELOCATION SITES? In Quebec City, there is a hockey palace already built waiting for an occupant. The Videotron Centre was built five years ago to NHL specs to replace the old Colisée de Québec (later known as Colisée de Pepsi at the end of its heyday). In Houston, the fifth-largest television market, there is also a ready-made already built arena. For Hartford, nothing has been done to the XL Center (nee Hartford Civic Center) in 25 years except for cosmetics to the concourse, a couple of Zambonis, and a new floor, ice, and chiller system. This same source opined about the speculation surrounding any possible moves from Arizona. "You can write this in stone and send it up the hill with Moses. There will NEVER be another NHL team in Quebec City again because of the currency problem, the ongoing language issue (in the province), and the Montreal Canadiens veto power over it. However, they want to extend their brand. They have an AHL team in Laval and an ECHL team in Trois-Rivieres 40 minutes away, halfway to Quebec City. "Hartford? Ha! They can't even get a new building in the twenty-plus years for an AHL team. "Houston will remain in reserve for a new team and say an $800 million dollar payday. Look there have been two expansions and they're still on the outside." HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: CT HOCKEY OFF-SEASON VOLUME 3

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The NHL Draft is set for July 23-24, with the Buffalo Sabres holding the first overall pick. The expansion Seattle Kraken, with their General Manager being the former Hartford Whaler great, Ron Francis, picking from the number two spot in Wednesday’s NHL Lottery drawing. The New York Rangers, who had the first overall pick last season, will select 15th this year. The Rangers inked the highly-touted and regarded defenseman Nils Lundkvist to a standard NHL three-year entry-level deal of $925K-NHL/$70K-AHL. Lundqvist played last year with Lulea HF (Sweden-SHL) and played in 52 games registering 14 goals and 18 assists (32 points) won the Borje Salming award as the league’s best defenseman. He will get a very long look by the Blueshirts in training camp for a top-six position. Should he be ready for that, he will play in Hartford with the Wolf Pack.

HARTFORD SCHEDULING

The Wolf Pack secured five home dates for the 2021-22 season. They will start on Friday, October 15th, and end on April 24, 2022, the latest the AHL regular season has ever ended. The team announced on Twitter other dates, Friday, December 17th, Saturday, January 29th, Saturday, February 12th, Saturday, February 19th, and Saturday, March 29th. Other dates, starting times, and opponents will be announced in July when the league releases the 2021-22 schedule. As reported by Cantlon's Corner, a unified 72 game schedule has been agreed to but will start with the 2022-23 season when the league's 32nd team, Palm Springs, debuts. The yet-to-be-named team has trademarked six names: Firebirds, Dragons, Sun, Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons. This season's Atlantic Division will comprise Hartford, the recently renamed Bridgeport Islanders, the Charlotte Checkers, and the Providence Bruins. They'll play a 72 game schedule.

76 GAMERS

The remainder of the division will play a 76 game schedule. Those teams are the Hershey Bears, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Seventy-six games will be played by the Chicago Wolves, Cleveland Monsters, Grand Rapids Griffins, Milwaukee Admirals, Rochester Americans, and the Syracuse Crunch. The other teams playing 72 games will be the Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket, Manitoba Moose, Rockford, Texas, Toronto, and the new Utica Comets affiliated with New Jersey. The teams playing 68 games in 2021-22 all in the Pacific Division are Abbotsford (no name yet) returning to the AHL as the Vancouver Canucks affiliate, Bakersfield, Colorado, Henderson, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton, Tucson. The Wolf Pack has hired two new front office people out of nearby Springfield College, the new marketing Manager is Emily Vance, and the new Ticket Manager is Brendan Halloran.

USHL DRAFT

Phase I of the Draft is ten rounds of “Futures” age players only, U-17 players for next year’s season (2005 birth year players only for the 2021 Draft). Phase II of the Draft is open to players of all ages eligible to play junior hockey and are not currently protected by another USHL team. Teams will fill their roster to a total of 45 players on this date; this includes players that were previously on a team’s Affiliate List. The total number of players that a team will draft will vary depending on the number of Affiliate players a team may have. All veteran roster players from the 2020-21 season are automatically protected by their current team, separate from 45 players. This year it was 21 rounds. The following are the CT connected draftees;

PHASE 1

Lucas St. Louis (Riverside/Brunswick School) went in the second round (20th overall) by the Dubuque (IA) Fighting Saints. He is the youngest son of former Ranger and NHL Hall-of-Famer, Marty St. Louis. Ben Poitras (Salisbury School) went in the ninth round (121st overall) by the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms. Brendan Giles (Ridgefield/ Mid-Fairfield U-16) went in the ninth round (134th overall) to the Madison (WI) Capitols.

PHASE II

Liam Lesakowski (Salisbury School) went in the fourth round (60th overall) Cedar Rapids (IA) Roughriders, Dean Bauchiero (Southington/Salisbury School), who also played at Cheshire High two years ago, was taken by the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers. He is a Brown University (ECACHL) commit for 2022-23. He was taken 23rd by the Wichita Falls (TX) Warriors in Wednesday’s NAHL Supplemental Draft. Goalie Gibson Homer was the first selection of the sixth round (77th overall), and he is the son of former New Haven Knights Kenzie Homer. He was taken by the Chicago Steel and is a commit to Miami (OH) for 2022-23. Homer was taken first in the seventh round (93rd overall) was another goalie with Connecticut lineage on Sutter Muzzatti, the son of ex-Whaler and Wolf Pack, and current Carolina Hurricanes goalie coach Jason Muzzatti. He is an RPI (ECACHL) commit for 2022-23 and played this year for the Austin (MN) Bruins (NAHL). He went in the eighth round (113th overall). Brendan Holahan (New Canaan/Brunswick School) and selected by the Des Moines (IA) Buccaneers. Staying in the eighth round, five picks later, goalie Austin McNicholas (Salisbury School) was taken by the Green Bay (WI) Gamblers.

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In the ninth round (131st overall), forward Chase Dafoe, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk and NHL’er Byron Dafoe, was taken by the Omaha (NE) Lancers and skated last year for Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL). In the 11th round (195th overall), the oft-drafted Jason Marsella (Stamford) was taken by the Chicago Steel for the second year in a row. Marsella is a Yale University (ECACHL) commit scheduled for this fall that could be pushed back a year. He was drafted by Kansas City Scouts (NAHL) (formerly Topeka Scarecrows) last year and by the QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads in 2018. He was the first overall selection by the expansion El Paso (TX) Rhinos in Wednesday’s NAHL Supplemental Draft. Ryan Sanborn (Brookfield/Mid-Fairfield U-15) was taken in the sixteenth round (225th overall) by the Youngstown Phantoms. Then in the sixteenth round (232nd overall), Gabe Dombrowski Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) was taken by Dubuque (IA) Fighting Saints. In the 18th round, 263rd Chase Ramsay (Avon Old Farms/Mid-Fairfield U-18) was selected by Des Moines.

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In the NAHL Supplemental Draft, he was selected 50th by Wichita Falls (TX) Warriors. The 18th round (264th overall) saw Mikael Petersen (Stamford/CT Jr. Rangers-NCDC) selected by the Muskegon (MI) Lumberjacks. When the 21st round (314th overall) came around, Joe Connor (Avon Old Farms) was taken by Muskegon. One of the last three players in the entire draft was Luke Drury (Brunswick School-CTPREP), taken in the 22nd round (323rd overall) by Des Moines. He is the son of current Rangers President/GM, Hartford GM, Chris Drury (Trumbull/Fairfield Prep). Other selections in the NAHL Supplemental Draft include two picks by the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks 12th overall Roberts Anderson from HS Riga (Latvia-LHL) and 53rd Fredrik Schlyter from Sollentuna HC (Sweden HockeyEttan Division-1) and AIK J-20 (Sweden J-20 League). Going 62nd was John “J.P.” Turner from Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) by the New Jersey Titans. The 77th pick by the Corpus Christi (TX) IceRays, who return to play, took Springfield, MA native Kennedy O’Connor from Loomis Chaffe School (Windsor), who played last year for Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). He was drafted by two other NAHL teams, the Minnesota Magicians (Richfield, MN), in 2020, now coached by ex-Wolf Pack/Ranger, Stu Bickel, and in 2019 by the Shreveport (LA) Mudbugs. He is committed to national champion UMASS-Amherst (HE) for the fall.

NAHL

The NAHL Draft will be held the week before the NHL Draft, on July 14th. The WHL announced their draft order, which won‘t be held until December 9th, with their US player draft coming the next day. The OHL Priority Draft will be held on June 4th with rounds 1-thru-3. On Saturday, June 5 will see rounds 4-thru-15. The QMJHL has set June 25-26, with its US player selections on the 27th. The Q did release their final Central Scouting List, and a few CT players made a list and are eligible to be drafted. Charles Andriole-(Branford/Loomis Chaffe School) Ryan Bradley-Darien John Burdett-(Greenwich/Brunswick School) Nick Capasso-(Northford/Avon Old Farms) Ben Carfora-(West Haven/ND-WH) Tanner Duncan-Ridgefield Sloan Farmer-(Greenwich/Brunswick School) Brandon Giles-(Ridgefield/Mid-Fairfield U-16) Kurt Gurkan-Darien Brendan Hill-Woodstock Academy (CT) Nicholas LeClaire-Colchester Noah Melanson-(West Simsbury/Danbury-NAHL) Patrick (P.J.) Neal-(Fairfield/Avon Old Farms) Ronan O’ Donnell-Fairfield Alex Pelletier-Manchester William Richards-(Stamford/Deerfield Academy) Ryan Sanborn-(Brookfield/Mid-Fairfield U-16) Hunter Spiess-(Old Greenwich/Brunswick School/Mid-Fairfield U-15) Lucas St. Louis-(Riverside/Brunswick School) Wesley Zolin-Greenwich

PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT

The Vegas Golden Knights have evened their series with Colorado in the Stanley Cup playoffs because of some important CT connections. In-Game 4, former CT Whale Jonathan-Audy Marchessault recorded his first playoff hat trick in a 5-1 win. The game's first goal was scored was tallied by Max Pacioretty (New Canaan/Taft Prep). In-game 3, they scored two goals 45 seconds apart late in the game, first by Marchessault and the game-winner by Pacioretty. The winner will likely face the Montreal Canadiens up amazingly 3-0 on the Winnipeg Jets. The best in-season hire was former Whaler Marc Bergevin, the Canadiens GM making his Western pro scout his goalie coach in former teammate Sean Burke who has revitalized goalie Carey Price.

PACK RELATED

Expected incoming Wolf Pack defenseman Braden Schneider, who played the first two games with the Wolf Pack and went back to the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), was named to the East Division All-Star team. He is now eligible to be in the mix for the WHL Defenseman of the Year Award. Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell, a UFA this year, has signed a one-year AHL deal with the Bakersfield Condors for the 2021-22 season. His deal last year was to be $350K-AHL. Former UCONN Husky captain of two years ago, Wyatt Newpower, signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings ($800K-NHL/$70K-AHL). The AHL’s 32nd team is underway. After a tumultuous two years, Palm Springs broke ground on their $250 million nearly 10,000 seat Coachella Valley Arena scheduled to open in October 2022. The team will likely now start to be a part of the AHL league affairs, beginning with the BOG and then assembling a staff. Then get sponsorships and starting a season-ticket drive to coincide with an unveiling of the team’s name and colors for the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken. Read a superb piece from the Palm Springs Desert Sun about all that has transpired to bring the arena and team to life.

BRIDGEPORT

Bridgeport sent goalie C.J. Motte back to the Allen Americans (ECHL) to get some playoff time in. Joining him from the Iowa Wild is Tyler Sheehy. Ken Agostino (Yale University) leaves the Toronto Marlies and signs with Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). Ex-Sound Tiger and QU Bobcat, Travis St. Denis, leaves Binghamton (AHL) for EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL). Now 15 AHL players have signed for Europe for next season. Ex-Pack, Vinny Saponari, gets an upgrade going from EC Kassel (Germany DEL-2) to Augsburger (Germany-DEL). Now former Wolf Pack defenseman Yegor Rykov, as expected, will stay in Russia. He departs CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL) to Severstal Cherepovets for next season. Another ex-Pack defenseman, Julius Bergman, leaves Lahti (Finland-FEL) and returns home to IF Bjorkloven (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Former UCONN Husky, Max Kalter, retires after playing with HC Cergy-Pontoise (France-FREL) for the last two years.

MORE MOVES

In the college ranks, two more grad transfers.  Cory Thomas Vermont (HE) heads to Canisius College (AHA), and Christopher Berger graduates from Brown University (ECACHL) and heads to the Michigan State Spartans (Big 10), making 49 college grad transfers this offseason. Nick Gravina, Castleton College (NEHC), signs with HC Reims (France FFHG Division-2) for the fall. He is the 12th college player to sign overseas, and 89 college players total Division-I and Division-III have signed North American and European deals for next season. Forward Sasha Teleguine of the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) has committed to UCONN (HE) for 2022-23.

IIHF CHAMPIONSHIP

In the IIHF World Championship, Canada captured gold with a 3-2 overtime win over Finland. It was their third title in five years, but easily the most improbable. They lost their first three games and scored just two goals. They then lost a fourth in overtime but won seven of their last eight games to become the first team to win gold with four losses. The US captured the bronze medal with a 6-1 over Germany. Tage Thompson (Milford/UCONN) had three assists aiding Connor Garland, who had a goal and two assists. Ryan Donato, the son of former Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger, Ted Donato, had a goal and an assist.

DRURY

Jack Drury, the son of former Whaler Ted Drury and the nephew of current Hartford GM, the Rangers President/GM, Chirs Drury, the Team USA GM, scored a nifty backhander in a three-goal second period for the US. Drury was originally a Carolina Hurricanes draft choice. He was low-balled by the team when he left Harvard and went to Sweden. His Växjö Lakers HC team won the LeMat trophy as champions. He could become a free agent, so don’t be surprised his uncle offers him a deal or makes a deal a la Adam Fox when he was a Carolina prospect. Fox played with Drury at Harvard. Brady Shaw, the son of former Whaler, Brad Shaw, departs Esbjerg (Denmark-DHL) and signs with Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL). Logan Roe (Kent School), a Florida native, who played for the Florida Everblades (ECHL) signs with Västerås IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Derek Army (Hotchkiss Prep) was upgraded from interim to the new head coach for the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). Ex-Pack Matt Register (Allen-ECHL) was named to the ECHL Second team All-Star team.

NEWS APLENTY

Former Wolf Pack Jeff Toms' son, Connor, signed his junior tender contract with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) and joining him is another offspring of Wolf Pack, Tyler Savard, the son of Marc Savard. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: BRUINS BEAT PACK 6-3 WIN DIVISION TITLE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings MARLBOROUGH, MA - Providence scored six goals over the second half of the hockey game and defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-3, and captured their second consecutive Atlantic Division title Thursday afternoon The Wolf Pack closed out the abbreviated AHL 24 game regular season with a record of 16-9-1-0 for 29 points, and Providence concluded the year with a 15-6-2-2 record for 34 points. Just before the game the Wolf Pack lost two-thirds of their top line in Justin Richards and Tim Gettinger and top forward Jonny Brodzinski because of injuries and suspensions. So, head coach Kris Knoblauch had to creates several new line combinations for their all-important regular season finale. The Wolf had built a 2-0 lead nearly halfway through the second period before the Bruins rallied on Hartford. The Wolf Pack in the first period as defenseman Zach Giuttari took a pass from Anthony Greco launched a shot at the net that was blocked in front. Still, the puck went right to Patrick Khordorenko, who whistled a hard wrist shot from 30 feet out that sailed over Bruin’s goalie Dan Vladar blocker pad and into the back of the net at 13:49 for his fourth goal of the season. The Wolf Pack had solid chances in the first period Mason Geersten early in the period and Ty Ronning had three quality chances early, a powerplay bid midway through the period and late in the period that Dan Vladar denied each one. Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery prep) is playing just his fifth game of the year, and first, since his birthday was denied with 2:55 left in the first. Adam Huska did his best in stopping all shots he faced, including Robert Lantosi twice, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jack Studnicka. In the second period, the Pack went up 2-0 as captain Vincent LoVerde too raced in from the right point, took Patrick Khordorenko’s backhand pass off Paul Thompson’s rebound, and caught Loverde perfectly in stride as he fired his first of the season into the net at 6:17 The Bruins rallied as first Pavel Shen at the right point sent a tape-to-tape pass to Ian MacKinnon, the Bruins heavyweight who zipped a hard wrister short side past Adam Huska at 12:36 for his first goal of the year. Providence struck 60 seconds later and tied the game at two. The Pack’s Zach Giuttari wraparound clearing attempt on the right-wing boards went past Auston Rueschhoff, and rookie Edwards Tralmaks stopped it at the left point sent a low, accurate shot toward the net Huska made the save. The puck was at Huska’s feet, and the Bruins Oscar Steen had inside position on and jammed home his s goal of the season. The momentum had shifted like the wind of a Texas-sized thunderstorm. The wind carried Providence the rest of the game. The Wolf Pack had a chance to take the lead late and deflate the Bruns balloon, but Ty Ronning hit the post with 2:44 to go on the right-wing from 10 feet out, falling backward. A goal there might have made a difference. The ensuing play back up ice the Bruins scored the dagger shorthanded goal. Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) made perfect outlet to Samuel Asselin who dished a pass to Jack Studnicka who then maneuvered through center ice entered the Wolf Pack zone. Then fed Vaakanainen the puck and he fired a low wrister stick side past Huska at 18:02 for his first of the year and a 3-2 Bruins lead they never lost. In the third period, the Bruins scored three more and pulled away from the Wolf Pack. James Sanchez made an early clear of a puck in the blue paint area, but persistent Providence Edwards Tralmarks worked the puck off the apron of the back of the net to keep the play alive. The Bruins expanded the lead to a two-goal margin just 2:03 into the period as Tralmarks put a solid shot on net Huska made the first save Oskar Steen skating by tap the loose puck underneath Huska for his fifth goal at 2:03. Then Curtis Hall Yale Bulldog was the recipient of a pass by Pavel Shen, who had stripped the puck from rookie Will Cullye and Hall used Patrick Sieloff as screen and fired his first pro goal by Huska at 9:47 for a 5-2 lead and the Wolf Pack could start warming up the bus. Then Samuel Asselin completed the second half of the game Bruins power surge smacking in a rebound of a Jack Studnicka shot in front and for his eighth goal at 14:38. The Wolf Pack last goal of the season came off the stick of Quinnipiac grad Alex Whalen with his second of the season shorthanded at 18:48 as Paul Thompson forced a turnover and Whalen had an empty net to shoot at as Vladar was stuck behind his net. NOTES: --Due to injuries suffered last night in the Rangers brawl filled loss to Washington and the Rangers playing in Boston tonight 40 minutes from Marlborough Tim Gettinger, Justin Richards and Jonny Brodzinski were recalled by the Rangers. Sadly, no Wolf Pack player day/night doubleheader. -Tyce Thompson (Milford/Salisbury School), after a two-point game against Wilkes Barre/Scranton, is recalled by New Jersey. LINES: Newell-Sanchez-Ronning Thompson-Khordorenko-Greco Rueschhoff-O’Leary-Geersten Dmowski-Whalen-Cullye Raddysh-Taylor LoVerde-Skinner Giutarri-Sieloff Huska Wall THREE STARS Jack Studnicka Providence Dan Vladar Providence Samuel Asselin Providence HONORABLE MENTIONS Patrick Khordorenko Hartford Pavel Shen Providence Urho Vaakanainen Providence SCRATCHES: Francois Brassard was the lone scratch for the game Gabriel Fontaine (upper-body injury season-over) NOTES: -The Wolf Pack scoring race the recalled Morgan Barron, who scored his first NHL goal last night against Washington, finishes top with 21 points as the 8th best in AHL rookie scoring, tops among rookies in powerplay goals with six, which is second-most in the AHL, where he is tied with multiple players. Tim Gettinger with 19 (9-10) and Ty Ronning with 10 goals and 18 points in 18 games were the Wolf Pack’s top three scorers. Tarmo Reunanen also on recall finished with 17 points currently sixth among AHL rearguards and was just outside the Top 20 field among overall rookie scorers. Goalie Adam Huska dropped out of the top 10 goalies list, He played 13 games with 734:38 in net with a record of 9-4-0-1 a 2.70 GAA and a .890 save percentage. Ex-Pack in the Top 10 of AHL scoring Danny O’ Rega is sixth and has 30 points in 33 games leading the expansion Henderson Silver Knights in scoring, Adam Cracknell of Bakersfield is in a five-way tie at 29 points. Trevor Zegras (Avon Old Farms) is 7th with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists and is on recall to Anaheim. Former Ranger Cody MacLeod of the Iowa Wild leads the AHL with 91 PM in 28 games and is currently serving a two-game suspension. Ex-Pack Vinni Lettieri of the San Diego Gulls second in game-winning goals in the AHL with five. Lias Andersson of the Ontario Reign is tops with three shorthanded goals. NOTES: -As expected, the AHL Board of Governors (BOG) in a conference Zoom call approved Vancouver’s relocation of its AHL team to Abbotsford, BC starting in the fall, and New Jersey relocates Binghamton to Utica and will play as the Utica Comets in October at the Adirondack Bank Center not as the Devils as expected. Utica announced a new 10-year agreement with New Jersey and planned to open their season on October 17th, marking the 34-year anniversary of the first time AHL hockey was played in Utica. According to Abby News, the Vancouver Canucks have entered into an agreement in principle on a five-year agreement to run the Abbotsford Centre. They will be paid a $750K-C to run the building, with the city be responsible for capital maintenance and repair costs. The first AHL Abbotsford team, the Heat affiliated with Calgary, had a supply fee deal and, after five years, was paid by the city $5.5. million to exit the deal halfway through. Expect Binghamton to play in either the ECHL, FPHL or go dormant in the fall. -The league did not deal with the potential of the name and logo change in Bridgeport to become the Bridgeport Islanders. They may drop the Sound Tigers name and logo as their original 20-year lease and marketing setup expires; that was done by the late owner Roy Boe. Boe purchased the dormant Beast of New Haven franchise 30 days after it was mothballed, paying the Carolina Hurricanes the 2 million dollar franchise fee they required. He also signed a 20- year 20 million dollar lease in which he reneged on. Then was forced to turn the franchise over to the late Islanders owner Charles Wang instead of the non-compliance with non-payment of his required affiliation fee and numerous commercial debts with local vendors and sponsors plus employees that had accumulated in the first three years of ownership. The franchise values are now between $10-$12 million dollars. No news on a new lease arrangement at the Webster Bank Arena now run by OVG, but the team will likely stay there and a new deal will more than likely be announced sometime later this summer. -UCONN men's hockey head coach Mike Cavanaugh announced the team captains for the 2021-22 season. Seniors Carter Turnbull (Nanaimo, British Columbia) and Jachym Kondelik (Budejovice, Czech Republic) have been elected the team's captains for the upcoming season. At the same time, classmates Marc Gatcomb (Woburn, Mass.) and junior Roman Kinal (Waterford, Mich.) will be alternate captains. “I am so honored to have been chosen as Captain this year by my teammates. I believe this is the best group of talented guys we have had yet, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead this team to a championship this year,” said Turnbull in a press release. This will be the second consecutive season the Turnbull will wear a letter on his jersey for the Huskies.  The senior served as an alternate captain in 2020-21.  Turnbull played in all 23 games last season and was second on the team with nine goals.  He finished the season with 13 points (9g/4a) and generated a team-best 95 shots.  During his three seasons in Storrs, he appeared in 86 games with 23 goals and 21 assists on the ledger. Jachym Kondelik expressed his gratitude for the announcement. “I think being named a captain is a huge responsibility and an honor, especially because it is something that is being chosen by my teammates and coaches.  I think we have a great group and that everyone on this team will be a leader in certain ways.” Kondelik, the big 6-5 forward, is UConn’s top-returning career scoring leader, having piled up 71 points in 91 career games as a Husky.  He has scored 16 career goals with 55 assists and is a +7 over his three seasons.  This past year Kondelik was second on the team in scoring with 22 points coming on four goals and a team-best 18 assists in 23 games, and after the season, he was named to a Hockey East Third Team All-Star. Marc Gatcomb, a versatile big forward, will be a big part of the leadership quartet for a full college hockey season next season. “I am honored my coaches and teammates have given me the opportunity to represent the University of Connecticut at this high standard. I’m grateful to be alongside three great leaders and excited to get things started this fall.” Gatcomb, like Turnbull, took the ice for all 23 games this past season, finishing the year fifth on the team in scoring with 12 points, posting six goals and six assists.  Over his three seasons, Gatcomb has played 88 games and has 25 points on 14 goals and 11 assists. Roman Kinal, who has battled through injuries twice in his collegiate career at UCONN, seems a perfect fit to have a letter on the left side of his jersey. “It’s a huge honor to be chosen as one of the captains by the coaching staff and my teammates. With a team full of leaders, we have something extremely special here at UConn. I’m looking forward to getting back on campus to compete for a national championship.” After being forced to miss all of the 2019-20 season due to an injury, Kinal made his return to the Huskies defensive unit this year and finished with six points (1g/5a) in 16 games and was a +6 for the season.  His lone goal on the season provided the game-winner in a 2-1 win on the road at New Hampshire.  He has played in 50 games in two seasons with 13 career points (2g/11a) and 49 blocked shots. -In other state college hockey news, long-time Quinnipiac assistant coach for the last 13 years Bill Riga was named the new head coach of the Holy Cross Crusaders (AHA). Former head coach David Berard stepped down in April and was named the associate athletic director for men’s and women’s hockey at Providence College (HE) on Monday. Berard, a Rhode Island native, is a PC alum academically and athletically was a UCONN assistant in 2012-13 during their AHA years under the late. A year before, Mike Cavanaugh was hired. Berard’s son Brett plays at Providence College and is a NY Rangers draft pick. His other son Brady plays for the US National U-17 Team is a PC commit for 2022-23. -Quinnipiac will play host to a long-time national collegiate powerhouse, North Dakota, on October 22-23 at the People United Center. -Junior goalie Strauss Mann (Greenwich/Brunswick School) is forgoing his last year at Michigan (Big 10) and going pro to a yet unnamed team. That makes 69 players from Division I to sign North American pro deals and a total of 74 players Division I and III to sign. -Scott Morrow (Darien) de-commits from North Dakota (NCHC) and graduates from the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP) and will be at the newly crowned national champions UMASS-Amherst (HE) in the fall. The right-handed shot is expecting to go in the first two rounds of this summer’s NHL Draft. -Three more college transfers, two school transfers in Griffin Loughran from Northern Michigan (WCHA) to Michigan St. (Big 10) and Trevor Zins from St. Cloud St. (NCHC) to the brand-new Division I program, St. Thomas (MN) University (CCHA). Then a grad transfer Sam Sternschein heads from Penn State (Big 10) to Boston College (HE).  He is the fourth grad transfer for the Eagles. That makes 56 school transfers and 45 grad transfers. -Bad news for the University Alabama-Huntsville, who fought off program elimination last year with the help of its most famous graduate, ex-Pack/CT Whale, goalie Cam Talbot had their conference application to the new CCHA conference turned down. So, now they are waiting to hear about their AHA conference application. In the meantime, the program is shutting down till they find out their conference status. -Ex-Pack Marek Mazanec makes it official and switches Czech Republic teams leaving HK Hradec Kralove heads to HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL). -Former Sound Tiger David Ullstrom, who played for three Swiss League teams this year, EHC Biel/Bienne (NLA), HC La-Chaux-de-Fonds (LNB), and HC Davos (LNA), is close to returning to his native Sweden and signing with HV71 (Sweden-SHL). -Another ex-Sound Tiger Jamie Fraser was talked out of retirement and signed another one-year deal with ESV Villacher SV (Austria-IceHL) and will again be the team captain. -Ex-Sound Tiger Olivier Labelle switches teams in France from GHC Bordeaux in the French Elite Magnus League to HC Mulhouse next season. -Ben Smith, (Avon/Westminster Prep) is going from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) to EHC Munich (Germany-DEL) next season. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: THE POST FREE AGENT FRENZY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - If Steve Miller wanted to rewrite his masterpiece, "Take the Money and Run" and put a Hartford Wolf Pack spin on it, it might sound something like this. "This a story about Bigras and Gilly, two young hockey players with plenty of skill to show, here’s what they did when they decided to cut loose - Go on take the money and run!" AHL CONTRACTS ON THE RISE Take the Money and Run also defined how the last few days of NHL/AHL moving day or free agents. Jaws were sure to drop upon review of some of the salaries AHL players were handed out this week. It left everyone in the know, in some cases, more than just a little bit astonished. Cantlon's Corner has been reporting on the AHL since the late 1980s. At that time, the average salary was approximately on average, around $40K. A scant few top echelon players made $50K. Since that time, the 100-plus time percent increase is mind-numbing and must leave former AHL vets, shaking their collective heads. In 2019, in professional hockey, everything is about the cap. As of Wednesday, of the 124 total contracts offered, the teams collectively have spent over $707M. Stunning… poverty is certainly not a word one would hear among those in hockey circles. All salary numbers come from capfriendly.com A longtime hockey insider who requested anonymity put it in stark terms. What has driven this hockey salary "arms race?" ”The salary cap is precious gold. Teams protect that at all costs. The one-way money; that’s a real number and affects the cap either negatively or positively. Two-way contracts, which most AHL contracts, are, you see that while the increases are real, it really doesn’t affect the cap because the AAV is based on the overall one-way contract and that’s what matters.” Some players don’t need to head to Europe if they are raking in these type of salaries. Several teams have more lateral ability than others and some current and ex-Wolfpack players are benefiting greatly. Greg McKegg, who split last season between Charlotte and Carolina, inked a one-year, one-way deal for $750K  with the Rangers. That money counts on the cap. It's also a nice hefty increase from his AHL gig last season that paid $70K. Danny O’Regan, Jeff LoVerde, Harry Zolniercycyzk, and Thomas McCollum, are all new Pack signees. Their salaries have yet to be posted. Philadelphia helped out Lehigh Valley with ex-Pack, Chris Bigras, who signed for a $250K-AHL & $700k-NHL deal up from his $70K AHL contract last year. Andy Andreoff from Syracuse got himself a $750K one-way up from his previous $680K deal. Nate Prosser, from Iowa, earned a slight increase at $421.5K-AHL/$700K-NHL for two years up from his $400K/$700K contract. Rochester will get John Gilmour if he doesn’t make the Sabres roster and it will cost them $700K. Arizona helps out Tucson with two players returning from Europe. Andy Miele from Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL) gets a two-year deal paying $275K in the AHL and $725K in the NHL. Beau Bennett from Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL) nails down a $200K-AHL and $725K-NHL pact while Aaron Ness, the ex-Sound Tiger, gets a two-year deal at $300K-AHL & $725K-NHL. In Binghamton (New Jersey), Dakota Mermis goes from $100K in Tucson to $200. A few took a pay cut. Ben Street was making $750K in San Diego and slips to $425K while Matt Tennyson from Rochester goes from $659K to $350K. Neither is expected to start clipping coupons. Charlotte (Carolina) sign enigmatic ex-Pack, Brian Gibbons (Salisbury Prep), for $100K-AHL and $725K-NHL after playing for a $1million last year between Anaheim/Ottawa. The Colorado Eagles (Avalanche) handed ex-CT Whale, Jayson Megna, a $350K-AHL and $700K-NHL one-year deal. Dan Renouf, from Charlotte, gets a two-year deal paying $275K in the first year and $350K for the AHL in his second year. He'll earn at the NHL level, $700K for two years. T.J. Tynan gets one-year deal paying him $425K in the AHL and $700K in the NHL. Chicago (Las Vegas) was among the busiest teams. Pat Brown from the Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers goes from $100K to $450K in his first year and $700K in his second year. Tyrell Goulbourne, after a nine-goal campaign with Lehigh Valley, goes from $70K to $225K-AHL/$700K-NHL in the first year and $700K second. Jaycob Megna (Jayson’s brother) goes from $260K in San Diego to $400K with the Wolves. Montreal beefed up Laval with Riley Barber ($300K-AHL.$700K-NHL) and Phil Varone ($450K-AHL/$700K-NHL) from Hershey and Lehigh Valley respectively. San Diego, via Anaheim, signs AHL Butterfield trophy winner, Andrew Poturlarksi, from Charlotte to a $350K-AHL/$750-NHL on a one-year deal. In Springfield, Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) goes from $300K to $325K. Ethan Prow from Wilkes Barre/Scranton is joining him and going from $90K to $700K per for the next two years. Kevin Roy, after just 14 games last year with Anaheim and San Diego, gets a $300K-AHL/$850K-NHL seal for one year. Tampa Bay aids Syracuse with two new goalies veteran Scott Wedgewood and Spencer Martin at $750K one-way each. Ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, migrates to the Syracuse Crunch from the Toronto Marlies where he'll make $700K on a one-way, one-year up from his $650K last season. Danick Martel, despite an injury-shortened season (15 games) is rewarded with a $700K one-way deal after a $65K-AHL deal last year. Daniel Walcott, the ex-Pack, who, after just five games because of shoulder surgery, is given a one-year $125K deal for the AHL and a $700K NHL contract. Stockton gets Bryon Froese next season for $450K-AHL/$700K-NHL after splitting last season with Laval and Lehigh Valley. The Texas Stars got help from parent Dallas when they signed Tanner Kero from Utica. He gets two years at $300K in the AHL in the first year and $350K in the second with $700K & $775K respectively in the NHL. That's for two years and both are “down” from his one-way $800K deal last year. Utica (Vancouver) inked Justin Bailey to a $700K one way for two years. PLAYER AND COACHING MOVEMENT Last season’s Wolf Pack captain Cole Schneider re-signs with Nashville and will play for Milwaukee. No contracts details have been released yet. Six more AHL’ers head overseas for next year with two of them heading to Kunlun (China-KHL). Tyler Wong, from the Chicago Wolves, and ex-Pack, Adam Cracknell, who split last season between San Diego and Toronto. Also heading East is Adam Helewka of Milwaukee/Tucson who signs with Barys Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan Russia-KHL) and the latest Trevor Cheek of the Tucson Roadrunners goes to Esbjerg (Denmark-DHL). Mark McNeil goes from Providence to EHC Linz (Austria-EBEL) and Zack Mitchell leaves the Ontario Reign for Neftekhimik (Russia-KHL). In Mitchell’s case, you think his agent explained to him he was leaving a sunny, warm LA suburb to go to Siberia? Now 52 AHL’ers have signed for Europe next season. Ex-Pack, and one funny guy, Francois Bouchard, makes it back home after playing with Dundee (Scotland-EIHL) to play for St. Jerome (LNAH) next season. Ex-Pack, Tomas Kundratek, leaves HC Davos (Switzerland-LNA) and heads home to HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL). Brett Magnus of Sacred Heart University (AHA), signs overseas with HUS Hokii (Netherlands BEL-NED HL). That makes 44 collegians to sign for Europe and 221 overall college players signed pro deals. Read the full article

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CANTLON: NHL/AHL FREE AGENCY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The roster wheels were churning on Monday. It was going so quickly that not a single hamster or a gerbil on a Habitrail wheel would have kept pace. The New York Rangers led the parade of signings by inking the most sought after free agent, Artemi Panarin, away from the Columbus Blue Jackets to a seven-year contract that will pay the Russian winger $11.642 million per year. Earlier, the Blueshirts sent winger Jimmy Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 third round draft pick. The Rangers also began their rebuild of the Hartford Wolf Pack by signing two players, center Greg McKegg and forward Danny O'Regan. McKegg, 27, split his season between the AHL Champion Charlotte Checkers and skated in 41 NHL games with the parent, Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19. While with the big club, McKegg registered six goals and five assists for 11 points, along with eight penalty minutes. McKegg is a solid two-way player who's particularly strong in taking draws. He has 146 faceoff wins in 286 (51%) taken this past season. He also helped Carolina advance to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he recorded two goals in 14 playoff games. McKegg recorded his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal/point, which also was the game-winning goal, in Game 4 of the Second Round against the New York Islanders on May 3rd; the goal helped the Hurricanes complete a sweep of the Islanders and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. While skating in 31 games in Charlotte in the 2018-19 season, the 6-0, 194-pounder registered six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 18 penalty minutes. McKegg tallied at least one point in 17 of his 31 AHL games with the Checkers during the past season, and he recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 16 games with Charlotte prior to being recalled by the Hurricanes on Jan. 4, 2019. McKegg has skated in 132 career NHL games over parts of six seasons (2013-14 – 2018-19) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and in Carolina, where he's amassed 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. During McKegg’s four-season career (2008-2012) in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he served as the Erie Otters’ captain for parts of two seasons, played in the OHL All-Star Game during the 2009-10 season, and helped the London Knights win the OHL Championship in 2011-12. McKegg was originally selected by Toronto in the third round, (62nd overall), in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. McKegg’s great uncle is “Leapin” Lou Fontinato, who played parts of seven seasons with the Rangers (1954-1961) in 398 games he had 22 goals and 79 points and 939 PIM. He played his last two years of his 535 game NHL career in Montreal as he had 104 total career points and 1,274 PIM. Led the NHL with an unheard of then 202 PIM in 1955-56 again in 1957-58  for the Rangers and his first year in Montreal 1961-62. O’Regan like Rangers Head Coach David Quinn and Hartford GM and Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury, are all products of the BU Terriers. In 70 games with the AHL Rochester Americans, O’Regan, 25, this past season, registered 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points, along with a plus-four rating and 42 penalty minutes. O’Regan helped the Americans advance to the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, and he skated in three playoff games. The 5-10, 180-pounder right winger has 182 career AHL games over three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Barracuda and the Americans. He's logged 56 goals and 90 assists for 146 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 68 penalty minutes. O’Regan received the Red Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, as he led all AHL rookies with 58 points (23 goals and 35 assists) in 63 games with San Jose. O’Regan was also named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and played in the AHL All-Star Game in 2016-17. In addition, O’Regan has helped his team advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his three seasons in the AHL; he has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff games. O’Regan has also skated in 25 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres, registering one goal and four assists for five points, along with two penalty minutes. Prior to beginning his professional career, O’Regan played four seasons at Boston University (2012-16), registering 66 goals and 88 assists for 154 points, along with a plus-28 rating in 154 games. O’Regan was named to the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team and the Hockey East First All-Star Team as a senior in 2015-16, as he led Boston University in goals (17), assists (27), and points (44) during the season. He also was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2014-15, as he helped Boston University win the Hockey East Regular Season Championship and Hockey East Championship and advance to the National Championship Game. O’Regan established collegiate career-highs in goals (23), assists (27), points (50), and plus/minus rating (plus-40) in 2014-15. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2012-13, as he became the first freshman to lead Boston University in points since ex-Ranger Tony Amonte in 1989-90. O’Regan is tied for 15th on Boston University’s all-time points list. O’Regan was born in Germany while his father, former NHL player Tom O’Regan, was playing professionally. O’Regan has represented the United States in several international tournaments including winning a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship while playing alongside current Rangers Brady Skjei, and Jacob Trouba. O’Regan also played alongside Skjei, and Trouba, with the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2011-12 season. In addition, O’Regan, and Skjei were teammates with the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. O’Regan was originally selected by San Jose in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers then continued their revamp of the Wolf Pack to make it a more competitive team that can win games, as well as create an environment for young players to grow and build some organizational depth by announcing the signing of three players who all have won titles, been team-leaders. They will join McKegg and O'Regan to combat the laissez-faire hockey that has plagued the Pack the past five years. Defenseman Vincent LoVerde, a veteran of eight pro seasons, has spent the last two years with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In 68 games with the Marlies in 2018-19, the right-handed shooting LoVerde scored three goals and added eight assists for 11 points, while serving 33 minutes in penalties.  In 13 playoff games with Toronto, LoVerde had six assists. In 2017-18, LoVerde helped the Marlies to a Calder Cup, the second of his career. LoVerde, a 30-year-old native of Chicago, captained the LA Kings’ AHL affiliate’s for the previous three seasons, two with the Ontario Reign and one with the Manchester Monarchs.  In 2014-15 with Manchester, LoVerde won his first Calder Cup title, in the Monarchs’ last season in the AHL. In 432 career AHL games with the Marlies, Reign, and Monarchs, LoVerde has totaled 45 goals and 107 assists for 152 points and has registered 316 penalty minutes.  He played collegiately with Miami (OH) University when they were in the CCHA conference. Thomas McCollum, a 29-year-old netminder, just completed his tenth season of pro hockey, playing 34 games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. The 6-3, 215-pounder went 12-10-10, with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .899% save percentage and had two shutouts.  McCollum was a first-round draft choice (30th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. McCollum has seen action in 315 total AHL games with the Admirals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Charlotte Checkers, and Stockton Heat.  His career AHL stats are 147-117-23, with a 2.72 GAA, a .907% save percentage and 11 shutouts.  McCollum won a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13. Prior to turning pro, McCollum played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, with the Guelph Storm and Brampton Battalion. Harry Zolnierczyk enters his ninth pro campaign. He played last season up I-91 with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds as they tortured the Wolf Pack. The 5-11, 186-pound Toronto native had a pro-career-high 51 points, including a team-leading 36 assists (15-36-51), along with 38 penalty minutes, in 72 games. The former Brown University (ECACH;) product has skated in 84 career NHL games, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Nashville Predators, totaling seven goals and six assists for 13 points, plus 93 penalty minutes.  Zolniercyczk has always been a fleet skater and has an agitating side as well has played in 426 career AHL contests with the Thunderbirds, Adirondack Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, San Diego Gulls, and Milwaukee Admirals, the 31-year-old Zolnierczyk has amassed 106 goals and 137 assists for 243 points, along with 446 PIM. Zolnierczyk was originally signed as a free agent by the Flyers March 8, 2011. There were several signees with Wolf Pack and Connecticut connections. Former Connecticut Whale and Ranger, Mats Zuccarello. He left the Dallas Stars to lay roots in Minnesota with the Wild where he signed a five-year/$30 million deal with former New Haven Nighthawk, now Wild GM, Paul Fenton. Bolton, CT native Ron Hainsey signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators for $3.5 million. Former Kent Prep player, Noel Acciari, leaves the Boston Bruins and signs with the Florida Panthers earning a nice pay increase from $750K a year to $1.6M per year for four years totaling $5 million. Ex-Pack/Whale goalie, Cam Talbot, heads back out West and signs with the Calgary Flames for $2.75M on a one year deal. Former Yale Bulldog, Ken Agostino, departs the Devils and the swamps of New Jersey for the Maple Leafs on a two-year deal for a very cap friendly, $700K per year. Now ex-Pack, John Gilmour, as expected, left the Connecticut capital and choose to sign with the Buffalo Sabres who were among 13 suitors for the offensive-minded defenseman. He signs a one-year, one-way NHL deal at $700K. Former assistant captain Rob O’Gara, the other Wolf Pack Group 6 free agent remains unsigned at this writing. Gilmour’s now former teammate, Chris Bigras, landed a similarly sweet deal signing a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He will play with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a two-year, one-way deal paying him $700K per year. Another ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning / Syracuse Crunch earning the same $700K for one year. Ex-Sound Tiger, Aaron Ness, scored the same $700K deal with the Arizona Coyotes / Tucson Roadrunners for two years. Connor Clifton, the former Quinnipiac University Bobcat, signed a three-year extension at a million per year with Boston. He has one year left at $725K. Other players who have been made UFA’s and could be signed over the next few days include: Anaheim: Ex-Pack, Adam Cracknell Columbus: former Sound Tiger, J.F. Berube, signed with Philadelphia. Detroit: Wade Megan (Salisbury Prep) Edmonton: Ex-Pack, Al Montoya Minnesota: Landon Ferraro, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Ray Nashville: Ex-Pack, Cole Schneider Ottawa: Ex-Pack players Oscar Lindberg, Brian Gibbons, and Adam Tambellini Pittsburgh: Ex-Pack, Chris Summers Tampa Bay: Ex-Pack’s Dan Girardi, and Marek Mazanec Toronto: Ex-Sound Tiger, Steve Olesky. Washington: Ex-Pack, Jayson Megna, and goalie, Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms). The Calder Cup champion Checkers watched as two more players depart. Pat Brown went to the Las Vegas Golden Knights / Chicago Wolves (AHL)  on a $700K - NHL / $450K - AHL next year. His contract pays him $700K on a one-way in the second year. Andrew Poturlarski departs for California signing with the Anaheim Ducks / San Diego Gulls. Riley Barber of the Hershey Bears signs with Montreal/Laval for $700K-NHL/$400K-AHL. Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) leaves Cleveland and signs a one year $700K deal with the Florida Panthers / Springfield Thunderbirds. Daniel Carr, the AHL's regular season MVP, leaves Chicago (AHL) and signs with the Nashville Predators / Milwaukee Admirals for $700K. Tomas Jurco rescued from Springfield by Charlotte, signs with the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year, one-way $750K contract. Former Whaler, John Stevens Sr., signs as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. Nick Lukko (Salisbury Prep), the son of NHL power executive, Peter Lukko (Florida) has retired to become the assistant coach with Reading (ECHL) next year as he was their captain last season. In a very lesser note, the Wolf Pack’s secondary affiliate, the Maine Mariners, tendered qualifying offers to five players including two ex-Pack’s in Greg Chase, the nephew of former Whaler, Kelly  Chase, and Alex Kile. (NOTE: Some parts of a Hartford Wolf Pack press release were used in the formation of this story) Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON - VOLUME 5

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - There is so much activity going on in Rangers-World that Blueshirts fans have plenty to be excited about. DAVIDSON RETURNS One of the many issues John Davidson (JD) will find on his new big desk as President of the New York Rangers will be what to do with the Hartford Wolf Pack, starting with who their coaches will be. The Rangers relieved Keith McCambridge as Head Coach the day after the regular season ended. They also handed Assistant Coach, Joe Mormina, his release as well. One of the questions that JD will need to answer will be if they continue to give the head coach just one assistant or if they return to the more standard two assistants format. And secondly, do they look from within the organization or go with a hybrid of someone from within and two from outside the organization? JD will also have look at the player personnel side at the upcoming combine in the next weeks and the NHL Draft in Vancouver to restock Hartford with better prospects going forward as part of the Ranger rebuild. The Rangers currently have 19 defensemen in the system. They will need a more manageable number to not only ensure enough depth but also not so many that the prospects don't have enough ice time to develop. Will Kevin Shattenkirk be traded, bought out or buried in Hartford? Where do Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajak fit on the depth chart which presently has four guys making $4 million plus a year, and Shattenkirk is one of them. The talent evaluation process which has suffered greatly these past five years has to be upgraded on both the pro and amateur sides. The glaring lack of depth up top and in Hartford saw both ends have to stretch themselves and the Maine Mariners, the team's ECHL affiliates yielded only a couple of players who were AHL level players. The Pack needs to get a better set of veterans and then they need to be supported, so they can push the company vision forward, This will help lead the current batch of youngsters, as well as the new draftee crop coming by the end of June when they assemble at Rangers Prospect Camp that will be held at Chelsea Piers in Stamford after the draft. Do they have a Captain or not? The organization has traded the last four captains, leaving them to opt for just having three alternates, or do they seek to sign someone to fill in on that role? Better forwards are needed who aren't afraid of getting in front of the net. Life MUST be made harder on opposing goalies if this the Pack are to return to a high level of competitiveness. STANLEY CUP FINAL The Bruins and St. Louis Blue s finals have plenty of connection to Connecticut. The Bruins have former QU Bobcat Connor Clifton, Jake DeBrusk, the son of ex-Pack and Ranger, Louie DeBrusk, and Noel Acciari from Kent School. Two more players are on the Black Ace squad, Paul Carey (Salisbury Prep) and an ex-Ranger plus ex-Pack, d-man, Steven Kampfer. The Blues have ex-Pack and Ranger in Michael Del Zotto and Alex Pietrangelo is the nephew of former Whaler, Frank Pietrangelo. AHL CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS As expected, the Charlotte Checkers and Toronto Marlies have had a very good series. The Marlies evened the series at two in Game 4 as William Carcone factored in all four goals with a hat trick with the third one being the game in overtime. Then on Friday, ex-Pack goalie Dustin Tokarski turned in a strong performance stopping 40 of 41 shots in a 4-1 win at the Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, to get the Checkers to a three to two advantage in the series heading back home to the Bojangles Arena in Charlotte. Tokarski is now undefeated 10-0 with Charlotte since he was loaned by the Wolf Pack back on February 28 and unbeaten (3-0) in the postseason and this was his first start in the series. Tokarski career AHL playoff numbers are 18-7 with a 1.76 GAA, with a .935 save percentage in 25 games and a Calder Cup title with Hamilton and Norfolk. The San Diego Gulls with 12,147 fans on hand at the Pechanga Arena the best crowd so far this playoffs including NBA Hall of Famer San Diego native, Bill Walton dropping the ceremonial first puck. Unfortunately, they went home unhappy as the Chicago Wolves' Daniel Carr, the regular season Les Cunningham MVP trophy winner, scoring the game-winner in double overtime at 6:01 his fourth goal of the postseason. Carr did it again early in the third period scoring 1:27 after San Diego had tied the game at two and it broke the Gulls and the Wolves skated away from the high flying Gulls. Tomas Hyka and Tye McGinn each had a goal and assists plus Zack Whitecloud had two helpers for Chicago. Goalie Max Lagace had some superb defense in front of him for 19 saves and chipped in a goal ! Lagace became the first goalie in AHL history to be credited with or to score a goal in the playoffs. He was the last Wolves player to touch the puck as the Gulls Isac Ludestrom’s pass sailed into an empty net on a delayed penalty. Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell gave San Diego the lead early scoring in the first five minutes of the game and Trevor Murphy had two assists. The first game of the Calder Cup Finals is Saturday night. ECHL KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS In their first year at the Double AA level, the Newfound Growlers have made it to the finals to play the Toledo Walleye. The best of seven series started Saturday in St. John’s at the Mile One Centre with a 4-3 OT win on home ice. The series is a 2-3-2 playing format. Newfoundland features former Quinnipiac University Bobcat goalie in Michael Garteig in 18 playoff games is 13-4-1 and a 2.07 GAA. He stopped 30 shots in Game 1 and saw his shutout string end at 123:28. Toledo has a pair of ex-Pack defenseman in Matt Register in 18 games has four goals and 123 points and Brendan Kotyk in 18 games has one goal and four points third PM total at 32. In addition, Toledo has former Yale Bulldog Ryan Obuchowski who also played all 18 games with a goal and assist. MEMORIAL CUP The championship game on Sunday at 7 pm on the NHL Network will be a replay of the QMJHL President Cup final as the host Halifax Mooseheads take on the red hot Rouyn Noranda Huskies. The Huskies won the QMJHL in Halifax two weeks ago. The Huskies knocked off the Mooseheads Wednesday in dramatic fashion with two late third period tallies, but Mooseheads already had a bye to the final. Then on Friday, the Huskies with again two third period goals sent the OHL Champs Guelph Storm home with a 6-4 win as Felix Bibeau goal and assist paced the balanced Rouyn Noranda offensive attack. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Finland needed just one goal to knock off Russia in the semifinals 1-0 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Russia with ex-Pack Artem Anisimov advanced by knocking off the US 4-3 in the quarterfinals. In the other semifinal between the Czech Republic and Canada came out on top decisively 5-1 over the Czech Republic with Mark Stone scoring again and Pierre Luc Dubois son of former Nighthawk Eric was set up by ex-CT Whale Jonathan Marchessault. The Czechs had current Ranger and ex-Pack Filip Chytil, ex-Pack Petr Zamorsky and David Musil, nephew of former Rangers and Whaler Robert (Bobby) Holik. The Championship Final will be played Sunday on the NHL Network at 2pm. Next year’s World Championship in 2020 will be played in Switzerland in Lausanne and Zurich. The following sites have been announced for the next three tournaments; 2021 Riga, Latvia and Minsk, Belarus, 2022 Helsinki and Tampere, Finland before moving on to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2023. PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT The Rangers snagged the third Russian they coveted to come over the first was 2018 first round pick Vitali Kravtsov and goalie Igor Shesterkin. The prize they landed left-handed, 6’3, 225-pounder, Yegor Rykov, from HK Sochi (Russia-KHL). Rykov who averaged nearly 20 minutes of time last year and was signed to a two-year two-way ELC deal worth ($925K-NHL/$70K-AHL). He played four years in the KHL in 157 games five goals and 33 points with a plus-19 rating and won a Gargarin Cup with SKA St, Petersburg along with Shesterkin in 2016-17.  He played for the Russian WJC team in 2017 was first among defenseman in assists and second in total points only Thomas Chabot (Ottawa) had more. He was drafted by the Devils in the fifth round (132nd overall) in 2016 Rykov was a first round pick (tenth overall) in the 2014 KHL Draft. The Rangers acquired him from the Devils along with a second-round pick in last year’s draft in the Michal Grabner deal. AHL players moving on to Europe now has seen at least one player from half the league’s team depart next season overseas. The latest to change his address to overseas is Peter Holland, the ex-Pack, who was traded to Rockford, signs with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia-KHL). Then Jacob Forsbacka-Karlsson of the Providence Bruins heads back home to Vaxjo (Sweden-SHL). Jake Chelios, the son of former NHL’er, Chris Chelios, leaves Grand Rapids and heads to Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL). Kevin Ekman-Larsson, the younger brother of the Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson, returns home as well. He leaves Tucson for BIK Karlsroga (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and Max Kammerer leaves Hershey for Dusseldorfer EG (Germany-DEL). Providence goalie, Dan Vladar, of Providence had signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl but saw his rights traded to HK Sochi last week. The second Sound Tigers Euro signing in a week also heads to Switzerland as defenseman Yannick Rathgeb, a Swiss native, signs with EHC Biel-Bienne (Switzerland-LNA). That makes for 23 AHL’ers to sign for Europe thus far. Ex-Pack Philip McRae heads from ERC Schwenniger (Germany-DEL) to Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic-CEL). Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, C.J. Stretch, leaves Orli Znojmo for the Vienna Capitals (Austria-EBEL) Evan Richardson, a former UCONN Husky, leaves Manchester (England-EIHL) for HC Briancon (France-FREL) and former Ranger, Craig MacTavish, is the latest to depart from Edmonton. He was the Vice-President of Hockley Operations for the last four years but has now signed to be the head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia-KHL). Colin Sullivan, who played his high school hockey at Fairfield Prep (CTPUB) and Avon Old Farms (CTPREP), re-signs with HC Chamonix of the Magnus French Elite League team for another season. Andrew Miller, a former Yale Bulldog, departs HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland-LNA) for Kunlun (China-KHL) where one of his new teammates will be an ex-Sound Tiger, and the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Dean DeFazio. He is left winger Brandon DeFazio who is coming from Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL). Ex-Pack Maxim Kondratiev re-signs with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL). Former Sound Tiger Jake Newton will make a Scandinavian switch leaving JYP Javalyska (Finland-FEL) for the recently promoted IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-SHL). The list of NCAA college players who head to Europe is growing. Alex Riche of Princeton (ECACHL) signs with Kunlun (China-KHL) while Ludvig Hoff of North Dakota (NCHC) forgoes his senior season and signs with Stavanger (Norway-NEL). The French Division-3 team Meudon in the FFFG league snared five Division III players. Of those five, three come from SUNY-Geneseo (SUNYAC). They are Anthony Marra, Arthur Gordon, and Devin McDonald. Then from SUNY-Plattsburgh, which is in the same conference, goes Antoine Fournier-Gosselin and lastly from King’s College (UCHC) Nicolas Palumbo. Tommy Besinger, of Endicott College (UCHC), played a few games with Evansville (SPHL) at the end of the season. He signs with HC Mulhouse (France-FREL) for next season. John Curran of Niagara University (AHA) signs with Coventry (England-EIHL). J.M. Piotrowski, who missed all of last season at Yale University (ECACHL), gets his degree and signs with the Melbourne Ice (Australia-AIHL). There are now 213 college players that have signed North American European deals for next season. Cooper Moore (Cos Cob/Brunswick School) who's more than likely to be an NHL Draftee next month in Vancouver, heads to the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) next year before going to the University of North Dakota (NCHC) in 2020-21.     Read the full article

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CANTLON: CT HOCKEY OFF SEASON VOLUME 2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With the completion of the 2020-21 AHL season,  it's time for hockey teams to begin the process of summer reflection, accounting, and planning for the future at all levels of the sport. The accounting ledger will be plenty red across the board from the NHL to Junior A hockey. How each organization and league will adjust to the post-pandemic world, one thing is for certain; it will contain more reduced staffing organization-wide. At the junior level, the Everett Silvertips' (WHL) Garry Davidson was relieved of his GM position strictly for financial concerns and not from any hockey issues. In addition, the Robert Morris University Colonials (AHA) canceled its men’s and women’s programs last week unexpectedly.

AHL GETTING YOUNGER

The AHL will become even younger than it ever has and likely will have a more homogenized schedule, a goal since the Pacific Division was born. The likely scenario is a regular season in the 70-72 range. Also, the number of independently-owned AHL teams will continue to shrink with the sale of the Rockford Ice Hogs to the Chicago Blackhawks just before the end of the regular season.

SPORTS GAMBLING IN CONNECTICUT

In Hartford, the hope for the recently signed sports gambling law by Governor Ned Lamont is that it is a savior of the XL Center preserving AHL and college hockey in Hart City, but the devil is the details of the law. What percentage of the new sports gambling entity, which will be run by the Indian casinos, sub-contracted to the CT Lottery division, and licensed to 15 individual contractors, will be responsible for the 64 million dollar installment? A quarter, half, or all of it? The new sports betting entity will have five entities to deal with the State of Connecticut. the Indian casino’s, Connecticut Lottery, the independent licensee’s, and Spectra/Northland, who have operational responsibility at the XL Center plus the CRDA, which oversees the building owned the city of Hartford. What are the chances of conflicts with that many chefs in the kitchen?

BONDING

This comes despite the bonding of $64 million, $10 million more than was asked for, passed by the General Assembly just a week before the shutdown caused by the pandemic. The Governor controls the Bond Commission, and he has been clearly reluctant to grant it, not putting it on the bond agenda since January. Moreover, there is no real sign that he will do so before the General Assembly session ends in June. The reasons seem obvious. The long-term state borrowing is running against the Governor’s “debt diet” and the significant legislative opposition, despite its passage to keep pouring money into the XL Center. Despite all the hurdles over the last eight years and the interminable negotiations with Northland Corporation regarding the title to the atrium at the XL Center, they still hold and acquire the Trumbull block for three years resolution in sight.

FREIMUTH

Could the proposed sports betting setup at the XL Center be a part of the recent discussions with Northland to resolve their impasse? Maybe. CRDA Executive Director Mike Freimuth stated two weeks ago, the effort to get the XL Center re-boot across the finish line was ongoing, but time was working against them. “This all is critical to the future of the XL. Right now, there is a lot of re-write going on in the legislature, but we're nearing the end of the session. I’m confident something will get done, what that will be; I really don’t have an answer right now. We’re monitoring things right now, so much of it is out of our control." When asked if any deal has to be approved by the casinos and the General Assembly and then signed by the Governor, Freimuth replied, "I’ve said it before, the longer this goes on, the harder the stresses will be on the overall systems of the building as time goes by.” It's doubtful, however, that sports betting will be the Hail Mary that will finally get the more than obviously needed re-boot of the XL done.

HOCKEY DRAFT

This summer, hockey will be an adventure post-COVID. The NHL Entry Draft will see the selection process be much more complicated with truncated seasons or no seasons altogether, so players' rankings are essentially a major crapshoot this year. Of the 228 North American skaters listed and ranked, just four come from the US college ranks, and they primarily played conference-only regular season schedules. Among the first six players, three are from Michigan, and one from the Vermont Catamounts (HE). The Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) released their last list before the July 23-24 event, which will be held remotely via video-conferencing, and a month later than usual.

CONNECTICUT NAMES

A few Connecticut names are among the list of eligible skaters and goalies. Cole Sillinger, the son of ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Mike Sillinger, is in the CSB tenth spot. He played this year for Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) and was slated to play for the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) this year, but dual citizenship allowed him to play US junior hockey. Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich (Newtown), who played for the Chicago Steel (USHL), is slotted by CSB at #26. He is a University Michigan Wolverines (Big 10) commit for the fall. Chase Stillman, the grandson of former Hew Haven Nighthawk, Bud Stefanski, is ranked 35th by CSB. He was to skate for the Sudbury Wolves (OHL), but their season was canceled. So instead, he skated for Esbjerg (Denmark-DHL) and Esbjerg-2 (Denmark second division) on loan this season. He also skated for Canada at the World Under-18 tourney in Plymouth, Michigan. Darien defenseman Scott Morrow, who played for the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP), one of the top prep programs in the nation, de-committed from North Dakota (NCHC) and instead will be attending UMASS-Amherst (HE), the defending national champions, in the fall. He is ranked 39th on the CSB list.

MORE NAMES

Matt Fusco, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Mark Fusco, finished up at Dexter School (MAPREP) and joined his brother John in the fall at Harvard University (ECACHL). His entire family, including uncles and cousins, are Harvard alumni. He is ranked 97th on the CSB list. Shane LaChance. The son of Bristol-raised former NHL’er, Scott LaChance, and his uncle ex-Sound Tiger/Danbury Trasher Bob LaChance, played for the Boston Junior Bruins (NCDC) and is ranked 110th by CSB. His grandfather is former BU coach Jack Parker. Ryan St. Louis (Riverside/Brunswick School), the eldest son of NHL Hall-of-Famer and former New York Ranger, Marty St. Louis, is heading to Northeastern (HE) in the fall. He was ranked 125th by CSB. He played for the USNDTP (USHL) team and the U-18 team this year. Matt McGroarty, (Westport/Brunswick School) and a Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) commit in the fall is ranked 205th.

GOALIES

Just 32 North American goalies are listed. One of them is incoming UCONN (HE) Husky freshmen Logan Terness from the Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL). His CSB ranking is 13th. Among the 150 skaters internationally includes Simon Robertsson, the son of former Hartford Wolf Pack, Bert Robertsson. He skated for the recent Swedish World U-18 team. During the season, he split time playing for Skelleftea AIK (J-20/SHL) and is ranked 11th by CSB. Oliver Kapanen is the nephew of former Whaler, Sami Kapanen. He ranked 22nd by CSB and skated for KalPa Kuopio (Finland U-20) and joKP (Finland- Mestis Division-2). He also played for the Finnish U-18 team in the recent tournament. David Spacek, the son of former Beast of New Haven player Jaroslav Spacek, is ranked 75th by CSB and played for the HC Plzen (Czech Republic U-20).

INTERNATIONAL

In international goalies, there are just 13 players ranked. Nick Malik, the son of former Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven defenseman, Marek Malik, is in the tenth spot by CSB. He was slated to return to play with the Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) Greyhounds this season. Instead, he skated for the team his father is an assistant coach for, HC Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2) and the Czech Republic WJC team. He has signed a provisional contract with KooKoo (Finland-FEL) for the upcoming season.

AHL PACIFIC DIVISION

The championship series went to a third and decisive game. A late third-period wrister by the Bakersfield Condors' Tyler Benson went through to the short-side on Henderson goalie Logan Thompson ended it. The win allowed the Condors to knock off the Henderson Silver Knights at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas 3-2 before a crowd of 7,420 fans. The Condors won the John Chick trophy as the Pacific Division winner and concluding the truncated 2020-21 AHL season. Bakersfield featured Luke Esposito (Greenwich/Brunswick School), the nephew of former Rangers and NHL great Mark Messier. It also featured former Yale defenseman Phil Kemp, who scored in Game 3, and ex-Wolf Pack, Adam Cracknell. Henderson's roster included ex-Wolf Pack Danny O’Regan and Jake Leschshyn, the son of former Hartford Whaler Curtis Leschyshyn.

AHL ATLANTIC DIVISION ALL-STARS

Morgan Barron and Tarmo Reunanen were named to the Atlantic Division All-Star squad. The pair were among the most consistent performers in the shortened season, and both earned some NHL time at the end of the season. Barron was among the top rookie scorers, and Reunanen top rookie defenseman in scoring.

2020-21 AHL Atlantic Division All-Stars

G - Jeremy Swayman, Providence Bruins (8-1-0, 1.89 GAA, .933 save %, 1 SO) D - Samuel Bolduc, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (24gp, 6+8=14pts., +5, 1 PPG) D - Tarmo Reunanen, Hartford Wolf Pack (21gp, 4+13=17pts., 2 PPG) F - Morgan Barron, Hartford Wolf Pack (21gp, 10+11=21pts., +8, 6 PPG) F - Cameron Hughes, Providence Bruins (25gp, 5+16=21pts., 1 PPG, 1 SHG) F - Jakub Lauko, Providence Bruins (23gp, 5+14=19pts., +11, 2 PPG)

PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT

Scott Pooley leaves the Toronto Marlies and signs with Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL). His father, Paul, and his twin brother Perry played for five years in minor pro hockey between Sherbrooke (AHL) and Ft. Wayne (IHL). Former Wolf Pack, Hubert Labrie, leaves Belleville (AHL) and signs with Iserlohn (Germany-DEL). His last AHL goal was scored in Hartford three years ago. He is the 14th player to sign for Europe, with 10 of the league's 31 teams have seen a player leave. Ex-CT Whale, Casey Wellman, departs Kunlun (China-KHL) for Kärpät Oulu (Finland-FEL). Another CT Whale, Blake Parlett, departs Tappara (Finland-FEL) to Nuremberg (Germany-DEL). Former Wolf Pack and Ranger Dale Weise signs a one-year contract with IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-Allsvenskan). It was officially announced Monday by the team. Former Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger, Chris Langkow, signs with  Fehérvár (White Castle) AV19 (Hungary-IceHL). -Former Sound Tiger Mark Louis, after a year with HK Dukla Michalovice (Slovakia-SLEL), returns to play with the Cardiff Devils (Wales-EIHL), who resume playing in the fall. According to Swedish hockey media, Ex-Wolf Pack Carl Klingberg is close to signing a deal with Örebro HK (Sweden-SHL) departing EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA). The contract being offered is said to be 300K Swedish Kroner, a month or over a six-month regular season period that’s 1.8M Swedish Kroner, which is about $215K in US currency for the season.

URQUHART RETURNS TO HIS ALMA MATER

Ex-Pack defenseman, David Urquhart, leaves the San Diego Gulls after three seasons and returns to Montreal to become the head coach of his alma mater, the McGill University Redbirds (OUAA). He is ninth in all-time for a defenseman in points in school history. He's tied with former NHL head coach Mike Babcock. Drayson Pears of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) signs with HC Cholet (France FFHG Division-2), making 74 collegians signed in Europe and 87 total collegians to sign pro deals in North America and Europe. Goalie Dixon Grimes, the son of former New Haven Senators center Jake Grimes, signs his junior contract with the Guelph Storm (OHL), who drafted him two years ago. He played with the Listowel Cyclones (GOJHL). The ECHL Coralville, Iowa expansion team, affiliated with the Minnesota & Iowa Wild, announced its nickname as the Heartlanders. The Trois-Rivieres team is likely waiting for the end of the Canadiens playoff run before making the announcement. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: PACK PACK FOR CHARLOTTE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack head back to the proverbial lion’s den when they the streaking and offensively-talented Charlotte Checkers for two games on Thursday (12/13) and Saturday (12/15). In their last meeting, Friday night in Hartford, the Checkers sliced and diced their way to a 7-4 victory at the XL Center. Head Coach Keith McCambridge and his assistant, Joe Mormina, spent their practice day working on breakouts and offensive zone entries, issues they have had against both Charlotte on Friday and then again against the Hershey Bears on Saturday. McCambridge doesn’t view the losses as a "two steps back," or a perfect game and certainly not disasters either. “We know we're facing a very good team. Clearly, we want those parts of our game to be sharper and you see teams come through the American Hockey League who play very well. In both games, there were some good blocks of time in which we controlled the play and we want to accomplish the things we want to. We don’t think we took steps backward. We need to improve in some areas," He said. "The season gives you ups and down and we want to see things level off. We’ve had some personnel changes, and that’s the AHL. We have to make adjustments. We're playing in, I think, one of the best divisions in the AHL with Charlotte, Wilkes Bare is always good, Lehigh Valley, Bridgeport, Springfield, and Providence.” The first line of the Checkers consists of the CCM/AHL Player-Of-The-Week in Martin Necas, as well as Nicolas Roy, and Janne Kuokkanen. It's certainly a top-flight trio. “They're all the same size, about 6’1 or 6’2. All good size guys and all have great speed. So, it's just not one player on a line, it's all three. It makes it tough for anybody in playing them,” McCambridge stated. After knocking off Hartford, Charlotte did the very same thing the next night in Springfield against the Thunderbirds. They were down two goals, scored two in the last minute of regulation, and then won in overtime. There are 20 players at different levels and classifications on the depth chart as part of the strata in the AHL. Vinni Lettieri, in his second professional season, has eight points in seven games with the Pack but sports a minus-5. He's a player that has to play, not just on offense and defense, but play different styles of hockey as well. “For Vinni and his game, it's two different styles as he has plays in two different leagues. When he is here, he's an offensive threat and can score goals and has done that, and during a lot of transactions when a player goes to the NHL, he drops to another (skill) level. For Vinni, it’s a matter of maintaining his good work habits, finishing checks, staying on top of pucks, that helps him keep those habits in place and those are going to help him have more opportunity the next time he goes to New York,” McCambridge observed. The splitting up of a player's game from circumstances like Letteri's requires a very delicate balance that has to be managed. “No question, it can be a tricky thing to manage and shift gears on, but a lot of players have to reinvent themselves. Players have to take that opportunity to play in the best league in the world and a lot of players are eager to do so. Vinni has been open about handling that. He has an excellent work ethic and that’s a good place to start." On defense, there's Libor Hajak. In 26 matches, he's a minus-1 and his game is rounding out. The coaches have worked on adding physical play to complement his already strong offensive instincts and very solid skating skills. “His overall game is improving. He is closing (gaps) much better. His strength (in one-on-one battles) and is such a good skater, he has always handled the puck well and we're very pleased with his direction.” said McCambridge." While Hajak is not as physically big, but he's starting to look like a young Tomas Kloucek, the one-time Wolf Pack rearguard who's now retired. Peter Holland’s play includes a team-high 17 assists and six goals (23 pts) and his work with the younger players has pleased McCambridge. “He’s been very good for us a highly-skilled player. He has a very high hockey IQ.  He has the experience and leadership that our young players can lean on. Peter’s work ethic has allowed his game to really blossom here, and he has been providing scoring for us, so I give him high marks.” Clearly, it looks like Alexander Georgiev will play at least one, if not both games, in Charlotte leaving Marek Mazanec, who hasn’t played since November 18th, in a backup role. “We're aware Maz hasn’t played in a while. We're going to be talking to Chris Drury (the Wolf Pack GM) about what they want to do with Georgy” The Pack will fly to snow-covered North Carolina Wednesday because the roads in the area are super-treacherous given they do not have the snow-clearing equipment and supplies so abundant in the Northeast. PACK MOVEMENT The revolving door that has become the entrance/exit to the Wolf Pack locker room continues to turn. Coming back from New York is Cole Schneider. He was recalled but scratched for both games of the Rangers' Florida trip. Also returning is Steven Fogarty who played in ten games and had no points. In the Rangers game in Tampa Bay on Monday night, he had 9:23 of ice time. The Rangers have five of their next six games at home. The Pack schedule is the opposite with five of their next six on the road. Heading back to the ECHL Maine Mariners are Terrance Wallin, and Alex Kile, who scored his first AHL goal in his second game Saturday in Hershey. After being drilled in the head by the Bears' Beck Malenstyn, who received a match penalty for it, Ryan Lindgren didn’t skate yesterday and was in a non-contact jersey for Tuesday's practice. Lindgren will be evaluated to see if he can play this weekend in Charlotte, though it's not looking likely, but, he will be on the trip. Malenstyn was hit with a two-game suspension by the AHL. Credit teammate and defense partner John Gilmour in coming to his defense in his first AHL scrap. Despite Kevin Shattenkirk’s shoulder injury last night, the Rangers still have one extra defenseman in Brendan Smith. It's unlikely a recall from the Wolf Pack d-corps is coming. PLAYER MOVEMENT Ex-Pack goalie, Chad Johnson, was claimed off waiverd by the Anaheim Ducks from the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are having plenty of problems both on-and-off the ice. Former CT Whale, Logan Pyett, has moved from Hershey to KooKoo (Finland-FEL) for the rest of the year. Another Hershey Bear has exited in Sergei Shumastov who signed with Springfield. Ex-Pack, Adam Cracknell, is on the move again. He was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Anaheim Ducks for ex-Sound Tiger, Steve Olesky. Cracknell leaves the AHL Toronto Marlies for the San Diego Gulls undoubtedly a huge weather upgrade Charlotte recalled goalie Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep) from Reading (ECHL), The Marlies also added former QU Bobcat goalie, Michael Garteig, from their ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland (St. John’s) Growlers. There are rumblings that Providence Bruins' Slovakian-rookie, Martin Bakos, might be heading to Europe particularly to Mora IK of the Swedish Hockey League according to; hockeypuls.se Former Yale defenseman, Adam Larkin, goes from Reading (ECHL) to Greenville (ECHL). Former Wolf Pack, Kodie Curran, has signed a one-year extension with Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL). The Sound Tigers lost RW Josh Ho-Sang to recall by the Islanders but received back goalie Christopher Gibson. Ex-Pack, Miika Wiikman, has left Coventry (England-EIHL) for HC Anglet (France-FREL) Ex-Pack defenseman, Julien Brouillette is playing for the new LNAH team in St. Jerome, Quebec. The team was moved from Berlin, NH because after ten home games, the attendance was dreadful. This is the first year in the Quebec-based league. The team’s assistant GM is ex-Pack, Dave MacIsaac. There is no information if he migrated with the team. Prior to the LNAH, the team played for two years in the Federal Hockey League (FHL). At the IIHF U-20 Challenge Cup in Asia, host Malaysia won for a second year in a row downing Krygystan 4-2 in the final. At the IIHF U-20 Division-1 tourney in Fussen, Germany with five countries participating, the tournament has begun. Two sons of former AHL’ers, Kristaps Skrastins and Renars Cipruss, are playing for Latvia. The countries in the tourney are; Belarus, France, Austria, Norway, Latvia, and host Germany. The World Junior A (WJAC) tournament has begun in Bonnyville, Alberta with just five teams. They are the US, Canada (has two entries with an East and West squad), the Czechs and the Russians. The Czechs have current UConn goalie, Tomas Vomacka, and a future Husky for next fall in Matej Blumel, who's from Waterloo (USHL) as well as Zach Malik, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Ranger and Beast of New Haven d-man, Marek Malik. The Canada West squad also features another future Husky in Carter Berger from Victoria (BCHL). The team assistant coach is ex-Pack, David Wilkie, the current head coach for the University Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC). At the upcoming WJC tourney in Vancouver and Victoria, the Swiss will have Ranger draftee Nico Gross, who plays with Oshawa (OHL). Russia has Vitali Kravtsov, the Rangers first round pick from last summer. The Czech team is loaded. They have current Ranger, and ex-Pack, Filip Chytil, as well as this week’s AHL Player of Week, Charlotte’s Martin Necas and last year's number three overall pick, Filip Zadina from Grand Rapids. Finland has UMASS-Amherst goalie Filip Lindberg on the roster. Lindberg is unbeaten thus far for the Minutemen, the current #2 team in the nation. The US squad has Darien native, and former Avon Old Farms star goalie, Spencer Knight, who's a sure bet to be a first-round NHL Draftee.  Another goalie, Cayden Primeau from Northeastern (HE), is the son of ex-Whaler, Keith Primeau. Two Ranger defenseman draft picks from last summer, Joey Keane and K’Andre Miller, as well as two Yale rearguards, in Greenwich’s Phil Kemp and Jack St, Ivany are on the roster. Another defenseman, Mattias Samuelsson, is from Western Michigan (NCHC), and the son of former Nighthawks and current Flyers development coach Kjell Samuelsson. Up front is Jack Drury of Harvard (ECACHL). He is the son of Ted Drury, an ex-Whaler and is the nephew of Trumbull's Chris Drury, the Wolf Pack GM. If Drury makes the team, it would make the Drury’s part of an elite group of US hockey families that have had two or three players on a US World Juniors team. The top of the exclusive list is the Tkachuk’s, who have had five starting with father Keith, then his sons Matt (Calgary) and Brady (Ottawa) and their cousin Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College) and Jimmy Hayes (Wilkes Barre/Scranton-AHL). Some of the other brother and family combinations include; the Broten brothers, Neal and Aaron plus a nephew Shane Gersich, one-time Ranger draft picks and ex-Pack’s, twin brothers Peter and Chris Ferraro, and the Eaves brothers, Patrick and Ben Eaves, who are the sons of former NHL’ers father Mike, and uncle Murray. This year, the Hughes brothers will be added to the list. Jack is the likely #1 overall pick in the 2019 Entry draft this summer. Quinn (Michigan-Big 10/Vancouver) and Mike Anderson return to the team with his brother Joey (Binghamton/New Jersey), who was the captain last year. Two other sons of NHL players are among the invitees. One-time Avon Old-Farms is Winged Beaver, Tyler Madden, who father John is now the head coach in Cleveland and Josh Norris, whose father, Dwayne, scored the WJC winner for Canada in 1990. The 2021-22 venue was announced as Red Deer and Edmonton with next year in the Czech Republic in Ostrava and Trinec, Sweden announced their team and it includes Rangers draft pick, Nils Lundkvist. Blake Richardson, the son of ex-Danbury Trasher, Bruce Richardson, is now playing for Andre-Laurendeau (QCHL). On April 23-24 an international hockey game dubbed “The Last Game” will take place at the North Pole to bring attention to climate change. Some very big names are slated to be involved including Jari Kurri (Finland), Slava Fetisov (Russia) and Mike Richter (USA). The game participants will also include people from science and other disciplines to be involved. Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF-SEASON VOLUME 12

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings.net HARTFORD, CT - Professional teams at all levels, all-around hockey had best hope they run short of pens, because this was a week that saw a great deal of movement. It starts in Hartford where the Wolf Pack had another busy week. WOLF PACK The Wolf Pack will have Boo Nieves back at center this coming season. Nieves accepted the qualifying offer he received form the New York Rangers that has him on a one-year, two-way deal paying him $700K at the NHL and $70K while playing in the AHL. His contract is the same one Steven Fogarty accepted from the organization two weeks ago. Nieves signing leaves just three Restricted Free Agents (RFA) from last year’s team who remain unsigned. Chris Bigras, who was acquired from San Antonio for Ryan Graves and who played well in the 18 games he played in Hartford, is the first of the three who are unsigned. The second is centerman, Peter Holland, who was acquired from Laval for Adam Cracknell. Holland was solid in keeping the Wolf Pack afloat at the mid-season for 16 games. He was recalled by the Rangers and never came back. Montreal signed Holland for $700K on a one-way deal for this upcoming season. The last player was a trade deadline pickup, Matt Beleskey. He didn't produce much in his 14 games, but he still has three years left on the deal he signed with Boston at $1.9 million per year. He's listed on the Rangers' roster and could be a buyout candidate. The Rangers currently have 51 organizational contracts, which is one above the 50 number permitted under the CBA. They are a shade under $23 million beneath the salary cap according to capfriendly.com. The Wolf Pack's current roster has 23 players and the Rangers have 24 with some arbitration hearings and RFA deadlines still to occur. It's inevitable that The Rangers are clearly going to be shifting players in one manner or another. The cap number that's been established for 2018-19 is $79.5 million with the 5% escalator that the NHLPA likely to exercise as they've done every year under the present agreement. The Pack made a small signing in Connor Lacouvee. It should make training camp for the Wolf Pack, which should be the most competitive in recent memory, especially among the goaltenders. Brandon Halverson, who's entering the final season under his entry level deal, and Chris Nell, in the second last year of his contract after playing with three teams last year including Hartford, Adirondack, and Kansas City in the ECHL, will compete with Marek Mazanec for the number two goalie slot behind the presumptive number one, Alexander Georgiev, assuming he isn't the number two in New York behind Henrik Lundqvist. Coming off a strong senior season with the University of Minnesota-Mankato, Lacouvee was signed to an ECHL deal with the Rangers new Double AA affiliate, the Maine Mariners. Lacouvee went 23-6-1 posting a 1.80 GAA and a .914% save percentage. LaCouvee transferred out of Boston University where he played under new Ranger head coach David Quinn. The Mavericks were eliminated in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament by the eventual national champion, University Minnesota-Duluth. PLAYERS & COACHING MOVEMENT On Saturday, The Rangers announced the signing of former Yale Bulldog defenseman, Rob O'Gara who accepted his qualifying offer of a one-year, two-way deal paying $874,105K in the NHL and $70K for his play in the AHL. O'Gara was obtained from Boston for defenseman Nick Holden at the trade deadline. RW Kevin Morris, the son of former Nighthawk, Mark Morris, has gone from the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) to the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL) for next season. The AHL first released the home openers of all 31 teams. The Wolf Pack play host to the Providence Bruins on October 5th at 7 pm. On Wednesday, the AHL released the entire AHL team-by-team schedule for the 2018-19 season. The Pack's second home game is Sunday October 7th at 3 pm against the Laval Rocket. The top minor league affiliate of the Rangers have just five home games in the first seven weeks of the season. They will have two road trips of four and five games during that time span. Read the story HERE. The Sound Tigers signed 10 players for the upcoming season including the Bourque brothers, Ryan and Chris. Chris, 33, signed a one-year deal while Ryan signed an extension. This will be the third team where the pair will play for professionally, the first time was in Hartford, then Hershey and now BrIdgeport. Tigers team captain, Ben Holmstrom, his brother Josh, and Connor Jones have also signed extensions. Jones, of course, along with his twin brother Kellen, are the grandsons of former New Haven Blades player Terry Jones and both attended Quinnipiac University (ECACHL). Kellen is heading overseas to play next year for Vastervik IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) after playing in Worcester (ECHL) last season. Goalie Jeremy Smith signed a one-year free agent deal with the Sound Tigers after playing last year in Charlotte and Jeff Kubiak, Matt Gaudreau (Johnny Gaudreau’s younger brother), Mike Cornell and Tyler Mueller. Ex-Pack, Ryan Haggerty, (Stamford/Trinity Catholic) re-signs with Wilkes Barre/Scranton. Former Yale goalie, Alex Lyon, signed a two-year extension with Philadelphia. His first season is $750K for the NHL and $250K for the AHL. His second year is a $750K one-way deal. Lyon’s former college teammate with the Bulldogs, Adam Larkin, has signed with Reading (ECHL) for the upcoming season. Ex-Pack, Michael Joly, signed a one-year AHL deal with the AHL newest team, the Colorado Eagles. Last season, his second as a pro, Joly helped lead the Eagles to their second consecutive ECHL Kelly Cup title leading the league in the regular season with 41 goals in 52 games for 67 points. Joly was named playoff MVP with his 29 points in 24 post-season games. He played 19 games with three goals and seven points while on recall with San Antonio. Joly will have a brand new bench boss in one-time Sound Tiger head coach Greg Cronin. He was named as the Eagles first AHL head coach. Cronin was the second head coach in Bridgeport history. He was there for two years (2003-2005). Cronin was in his second tour as an assistant with the Islanders and has coached for over 30 years. He was an assistant coach at Colorado College for three years in the early 1990’s. Cronin’s assistants will be the Eagles ECHL head coach Aaron Schneekloth and former Wolf Pack, Ryan Tobler. His post game rants were usually amusing, very colorful and often unprintable. Tucson inks the Klima twins, Kelly and Kevin from Chicoutimi (QMJHL), They are the sons of former NHL’er, Petr Klima. The Roadrunners also signed one-time Ranger draft pick, and an ex-Sound Tiger, Daniel Maggio, who signed a one-year AHL contract. Maggio spent most of last year with Ft. Wayne (ECHL) and a 13-game recall time with Tucson. Ex-Sound Tiger, Harry Zolnierczyk, signs with Springfield, his seventh AHL team. Adam Erne (North Branford) inks a one-year, one-way ($800K) deal with Tampa Bay. The Lightning also added Iowa head coach Derek Lalonde as a new assistant coach. Ex-CT Whale, Christian Thomas, departs from Wilkes Barre/Scranton and heads to Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL). Former Wolf Pack captain, and Sound Tiger player, Joe Whitney, and who's about to become a father for a second time, has signed a Euro deal with HC Linkopings (Sweden-SHL). Also joining him on the AHL-To-Euro list is Patrick Wiercioch of the Utica Comets who hooks up with Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL). Ex-Sound Tiger, Darren Nowick, who split last season with Stockton and Kansas City (ECHL), signs with Vasterik IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Dustin Gazley departs Hershey for EC Salzburg (Austria-AEHL). That makes 48 players plus a coach who have signed to go overseas. 23 teams have lost at least one player. Greg Rallo, after 615 AHL games and over 700 pro-and-minor pro games, retires from Texas to become an assistant coach with Milwaukee. He replaces former New Haven Nighthawk, Stan Drulia, who was made a Pro Scout by Nashville after eight years as an assistant coach. Former Beast of New Haven and NHL enforcer, Peter Worrell, was signed as an assistant coach with the Fayetteville Marksmen (SPHL). Worrell’s coaching career began after his 2010 retirement. He was the head coach at the collegiate club hockey level with the Florida Atlantic University Owls (ACHA Division-3) and North Broward County Prep School over the last seven years. The Owls made it to the regional finals this year before losing 2-1 to the University of Central Florida Knights in double overtime. Ex-Pack, Pascal Rheaume, was named head coach for the Val D’Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and his assistant coach is ex-Sound Tiger super pest, Pascal Morency. Ex-Pack, Brodie Dupont, signs with Dornbirner EC (Austria-AEHL). Ex-CT Whale, Andreas Thuresson, has signed with HV-71 (Sweden-SHL) after splitting last year with Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL) and SC Langnau Tigers (Switzerland-LNA) in the second half. Ex-Pack, Layne Ulmer, re-signs with defending EIHL champion Cardiff Devils (Wales-EIHL). Ex-Pack, Jordan Owens, goes from the Fischtown Penguins (Germany-DEL-2) to Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL). Alex Barron, the former QU Bobcat, moves from Coventry (England-EIHL) to EHC Freiburg (Germany-DEL-2). Mark Naclerio (Milford/Avon Old Farms) goes from Reading (ECHL)/EHC Linz (Austria-AEHL) to Asiago AS (Italy-AlpsHL). One time Wolf Pack, Brandon Alderson, goes from Heilbronner (Germany DEL-2) to Villacher SV (Austria-AEHL) Cederic Lacroix from University of Maine (HE) signs with Wheeling (ECHL). That makes 161 Division I players to sign a North American pro deal and 213 total college players to sign North American or European deals. A third US collegian transfers to Canadian college hockey. Freshmen Owen Stout of RPI (ECACHL) goes to Queens University (OUAA). After all the tragedy, the Humboldt Broncos are putting back together a hockey team. The team has named a new head coach and GM in former AHL’er, Nathan Oystrick. A Saskatchewan native, Oystrick retired two years ago was an assistant with Atlanta (ECHL) for one-year and was the head coach at Colorado Academy High School last year. The Broncos assistant coach, Chris Beaudry, who didn’t ride on the team bus that day, not surprisingly has taken another assistant coaching job with the Melville Millionaires (SJHL). The team is interviewing presently for his replacement. In conjunction with the North Peace Navigators of the Junior B level NWJHL (North West Junior Hockey League), located in Peace River, AB, the Broncos late coach Darcy Haugan, a native started out as a coach, they will host the first games the Broncos play this season, a two-game exhibition on September 1st and 2nd against the Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL) and Grand Prairie Storm (AJHL). The team’s regular season and home opener will be against the Nipawin Hawks, the team there were going to play that fateful day in game 5 of their SJHL playoff series. The game is on September 12 will be carried live on the NHL Network at 9:00pm EST via TSN of Canada and CTV Saskatchewan. XL CENTER UPDATE The RFP process is now closed and just one bidder submitted a bid to buy the XL Center. That organization is the Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC of Chicago. Clearly, the CRDA had hoped for a few more bids to sift through over the summer, but given the buildings dire financial picture and the complicated ownership arrangement that may lie ahead IF an agreement in principal is reached. Whatever occurs this will be a very complicated negotiation if one is ever started. The Chairman of Northland Corporation the enigmatic Larry Gottesdiener who owns the much needed and debated XL Center Atrium gave a lengthy and broad ranging interview with the Hartford Business Journal. Clearly, he is staking a out a position that he is going to hold out on the XL Center atrium in the hope they he will be able to obtain the building if it were closed. By being a title holder of the portion of the property could buy it conceivably for what Oak Street said it would pay for the building $50 million and then rebuild the whole Trumbull Block as it is known. When Northland Corporation teamed up with AEG to run the XL Center that is what one AEG official said then was the primary long term objective of Northland. Read the complete story HERE. Read the full article

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Adam Cracknell - - - - #dallas #dallasstars #dallasstarshockey #nhl #hockey #adamcracknell