#AlbanyRiverRats

[mitchbeck]

KEELEY: BEN GUITE NAMED MARINERS HEAD COACH

Guite takes over for Riley Armstrong, Terrence Wallin becomes assistant BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – August 3, 2021 – The Maine Mariners are proud to announce former University of Maine National Champion Ben Guite as the second head coach in team history. Guite takes over for Riley Armstrong, who accepted a position as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Additionally, Terrence Wallin has been named the new assistant coach of the Mariners. “We are thrilled to bring on Ben as the second head coach in Mariners history,” said Danny Briere, Mariners President, and Governor. “He has a wealth of experience in professional hockey from his playing career, and an established connection with the state of Maine as both a player and a coach. His ability to recruit talent will translate well to the ECHL and we look forward to Ben helping us continue to build on the winning culture we’ve established here.” Guite, 43, was a part of the University of Maine men’s hockey coaching staff from 2013-2021, originally as an assistant. For the past four seasons, he served as associate head coach. Following the tragic death of Black Bears Head Coach Red Gendron in April, Guite was named interim head coach. The Mariners will be his first professional coaching opportunity and his first as a head coach. “It’s a huge honor to be able to be a head coach in the ECHL,” said Guite. “I am very thankful for Danny showing the confidence in selecting me as head coach and to Riley for making the transition seamless with the players and helping in securing the best possible team for our fans for the upcoming season.” REACTION “It’s a new and exciting challenge, being a head coach in one of the top developmental leagues in the world,” added Guite. “This is a great opportunity to work hand in hand with the Bruins and their prospects. I am really looking forward to working with and help move our players up while providing our fans championship-caliber hockey.” A former center, Guite also played for UMaine from 1996-2000, winning the National Championship with the Black Bears in 1999. The following season, he was named assistant captain and led the team with 22 goals. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1997, Guite went on to enjoy a 13-year professional career. He made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins during the 2005-06 season, and also played for the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators. In total, he appeared in 174 career NHL games, scoring 19 goals, 26 assists, and registering 97 penalty minutes. Guite also brings familiarity with the Mariners' new AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. He played two full seasons with the P-Bruins from 2004-2006, helping them on a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2005. Other AHL organizations Guite played for include the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Albany River Rats, Milwaukee Admirals, Springfield Falcons, and Worcester Sharks. He has just under 600 career AHL games under his belt. Guite’s first year as a pro was spent in the ECHL, with the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks in 2000-01. BACKGROUND Guite is a native of LaSalle, Quebec. He and his wife, Kristen – Portland native, have two sons: Patrick and Maxime. The first addition to Guite’s staff will be Terrence Wallin, who retires after a five-year professional playing career, the last two serving as an alternate captain of the Mariners. Wallin was the team’s co-leader in goals in 2019-20, scoring 23, a career-high. Late in the offseason of 2018, the Mariners acquired Wallin from the Adirondack Thunder in exchange for defenseman Matias Cleland. It was the first trade in Mariners franchise history. The move brought Wallin closer to family. Although he’s a native of Yardley, PA, Wallin has Maine roots in Kennebunk. In two seasons, he accumulated 73 points, including 34 goals – ranking him 2nd in both categories on the franchise career leaderboards. He also holds the top franchise career marks in shots on goal (302) and game-winning goals. (9) “Getting this job means a ton to me,” said Wallin. “I have loved this game my whole life and given everything to it, so being rewarded with this opportunity is huge. This will be a great experience working under two great hockey minds like Danny and Ben. It will be a welcomed adjustment from playing because in the long run, coaching is something that I am very passionate about.” Although he’ll be making his coaching debut this season, the 29-year-old Wallin has plenty of experience teaching the game. He founded “Evolution Hockey” in 2019, teaching skill development to players of all ages through his Maine-based hockey camps. Wallin has expanded his program into a Gorham-based youth hockey travel program, the Maine Evolution. Wallin replaces Anthony Bohn on the coaching staff, who departed the Mariners after the 2019-20 season, and is now the head coach of the El Paso Rhinos of the North American Hockey League. “Although he’s decided to retire from playing, we’re glad Terrence is staying in the Mariners family,” said Briere. “After seeing his leadership as our alternate captain the past two seasons, we know he will make a seamless transition into coaching. What he’s done with his youth hockey program in just a few years is remarkable and he will help us bridge the gap with the arrival of a new head coach.” The Mariners are now proud affiliates of the Boston Bruins and begin their 2021-22 season, presented by Hannaford To Go on October 22nd, with the home opener against the Worcester Railers, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings. The full schedule can be found here. Full season, half season, 12-game mini plans, and 10-ticket flex plans, as well as group tickets are available now. Single game tickets will go on sale September 29th. More information on current ticketing options is available by calling 833-GO-MAINE, emailing mariners-sales@comcastspectacor.com, or by visiting MarinersOfMaine.com. Photos of Ben Guite credit to University of Maine Athletics MAINE MARINERS HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON'S CORNER: PACK PREPARE FOR ANOTHER PAIR OF GAMES

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Another pair of weekend home games await the Hartford Wolf Pack. One is a divisional opponent who has owned them the past three years, the Springfield Thunderbirds. The others are non-divisional opponents who they've struggled with, the Rochester Americans, who they will play on Sunday afternoon. For Pack Head Coach, Kris Knoblauch, he's worried more about where his club is at this point in terms of their development than his opponent to some degree to this point in the season. While he was happy last weekend, he wasn’t satisfied with their team game last week. “You like the four points, but we easily could have lost both those games. The Charlotte game we left too many open areas, too many great chances and thankfully Shesty (goalie Igor Shestyorkin) played so well. We have a long way to go. Right now, I’m focused on our team and getting guys into our systems. We're adjusting to our team at this point and working on our identity.” The addition of Nick Ebert, who came to Hartford in the Vladimir Namestnikov deal, was a surprise in that the New York Rangers added yet another defenseman to an already deep organizational chart. Ebert has had only moderate success as a pro and spent some time in Europe. He a known quantity to Knoblauch. “We have tough decisions to make, and we liked how our defense played for the most part over the weekend. We're always looking to improve our team. He brings experience, is a good skater, moves the puck well and has a good shot. I’ll be honest, I’m surprised he hasn’t scored as much at the American (Hockey) League level. I coached against him in juniors. He was a very strong offensive player. It seems last year he has gotten his offensive game back,” said Knoblauch. Ebert played with Orebro HK (Sweden-SHL). His addition to the roster forced the team to move Brandon Crawley to their ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. “We want Brandon to get playing time, and right now we are filled up on defense, and he’ll be a part of our recalls.” Knoblauch is getting an early tutorial on fluidity of AHL rosters. “I’m really learning it now about how much things can change. We want to win every night, but we are a development league. You have to learn to balance those things appropriately.” Ebert wasn’t the only new defenseman that Knoblauch had out on the ice. Yegor Rykov (pronounced Ree-kov) has been sent down and skated for the first time on Thursday since suffering an ankle injury in the Traverse City tournament. He isn’t likely to see game action for likely two more weeks, which will likely necessitate another reassignment to Maine. “He has started first with drills. He's getting back on the ice, and today was his first full (team) practice. It’s gonna be a few more weeks before he is game ready. I saw him in Traverse City (before the injury), and we were very pleased with what we saw. Now it's about getting that timing back.” The lineup will likely see a new, familiar face in Ryan Gropp. He was scratched last weekend and Knoblauch is eager to have him in the lineup. “We really liked him in the pre-season. He showed a very good shot and I really want to get him in the mix. I haven’t worked out my (lineup) details yet, but we'll be seeing him.” Vitali Kravtsov will be in the lineup, and the coach thinks the student understands things better. ‘We showed him some video. He’s aware he didn’t play well. We had a very hard team practice Tuesday and he was very competitive." Saturday’s game is a part of hockey doubleheader with UCONN and RPI starting at 3:30 pm and a 7:30 pm faceoff time with the Springfield Thunderbirds. NOTES: The Thunderbirds will be minus forward Paul Thompson, who was handed a two-game suspension for a blindside hit on Bridgeport’s Thomas Hickey last Friday in the regular-season opener. Sunday’s opponent, the Rochester Americans, will have a very familiar face in their lineup. Tage Thompson (Orange/UCONN), who scored two goals last weekend including an OT game-winner. Ex-Pack, Matt Register, starts the season with the Iowa Wild. The ECHL season starts this weekend with some players of note with ties to Connecticut. Adirondack: Eamon MacAdam (BST), Charles Curti (Yale), Craig Martin (QU) and Hayden Verbeek (the nephew of ex-Hartford Whaler, Pat Verbeek) Allen: Shawn O’Donnell, and Justin Salvaggio (HWP), Brampton: Miles Gendron (UCONN), Cincinnati: Justin Vaive (HWP/BST), Ft. Wayne: Shawn St. Amant (HWP), Florida: Logan Roe (Kent Prep), Greenville: Chris Nell (HWP), and Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep), plus Mike Pelech (HWP), Indy: Alex Krushelnyski (HWP), Charles Williams (HWP), and Karl El-Mir (UCONN), Kansas City: Derek Pratt (UCONN), Idaho: Spencer Naas (UCONN), and Kyle Schempp (BST). Jacksonville: Mitch Jones (the son of ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Brad Jones), and John Albert (HWP). Kalamazoo: Mitch Eliot (the son of Nighthawk, Daren Eliot), Norfolk: Brandon Halverson (HWP), Ben and Josh Holmstrom (BST), Orlando: Jake Marchment (the son of Whaler, Bryan Marchment), Rapid City: Chris Izmirlian (Yale), Reading: Frankie DiChara (Yale), David Drake (UCONN), Matt Gaudreau (BST), and Trevor Yates (the son of ex-Whaler, Ross Yates). South Carolina: Dan DeSalvo (HWP), Tommy Hughes (HWP), Parker Milner (BST/Avon Old Farms), Scott Davidson (QU), Toledo: Ryan Verbeek (the nephew of ex-Whaler, Pat Verbeek), Brendan Kotyk (HWP), T.J. Hensick (HWP), and Josh Winquist (BST), Tulsa: Josh Wesley (HWP), and Mike McKee (Kent Prep), Utah: Cole Cassels (the son of ex-Whaler, Andrew Cassels), Wichita: Jason Sims (UCONN, and the son of former Whaler/Nighthawk, Al Sims), Worcester: Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford/QU), Connor Doherty (SHU), Nic Pierog (Canterbury Prep), and Henrik Samuelsson (the son of ex-Whaler, Ulf Samuelsson). Former Wolf Pack, Dean Melanson, was the last cut by the Reading Royals. Ex-Pack, Adam Tambellini, was the last cut from the Bakersfield Condors training camp signs with MODO (Sweden-SHL) for the season. He is the second Tambellini to play there. Ex-Sound Tiger, his brother Jeff, played there and is presently a head coach/GM of the Junior A Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL). Landon Ferraro, the son of former Whaler, Ray Ferraro, who was with Iowa last year signs with Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL). The two are the 71st and 72nd AHL’ers from last season to sign in Europe. Brandon Whistle, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk, Rob Whistle, goes from Sheffield (England-EIHL) and signs with Telford (England-NIHL). Mark Arcobello (Milford/Fairfield Prep/Salisbury Prep/Yale University) is playing with SC Bern (SwItzerland-LNA) with 10 points in 10 games. He signs a deal to play for HC Lugano (Switzerland-LNA) next season 2020-21. Philippe Hudon (Choate Prep) goes from Allen (ECHL) to Norfolk (ECHL). Congrats to former New Haven Nighthawks player and head coach, Robbie Ftorek, who was among the four new inductees to the AHL Hall of Fame on Thursday. Joining him are Darren Haydar, Denis Hamel, and Fred Thurler. The ceremony will take place in Ontario, CA site of the AHL All Star Classic the first to be held at a Pacific Division city. Ftorek ended his NHL career with the Rangers. He started out as a child prodigy in the Bobby Orr era at Needham High (MA). Played two years for the Red Wings affiliate Tidewater Wings before he left for the WHA and the Phoenix Roadrunners and Cincinnati Stingers (one of the best logos ever). He was the first and only American captain in the history of the Quebec Nordiques WHA or NHL. Ftorek played with New Haven accumulating 16 points in 17 games in New Haven in 1984-85. His last active game as a player was in New Haven the following season. Ftorek, who was a Guilford resident when he was in New Haven and was the head coach there for two-and-a-half seasons before getting the call to Los Angeles, but stayed there just a year-and-a-half. He had other AHL coaching stints in Halifax with the Citadels and the Utica Devils before he had a strong three-year stint with the highly successful Albany River Rats, before having a four-year coaching tenure in New Jersey. Ftorek returned to his roots spending two years with the Boston Bruins before heading back for a second stint in Albany where he had another strong three year period of winning and development. Ftorek also went the junior route spending six years as the head coach with the Erie (Otters (OHL) before a year as an assistant with Abbotsford. He concluded his coaching career with Norfolk (ECHL). UCONN hockey has its first two home games this weekend Friday night at 7 pm against the Army Black Knights (AHA). Saturday, in another non-conference matchup, with the RPI Engineers (ECACHL) at 3:30 pm. The school’s 2000 MAAC championship team will be honored throughout the day. The championship trophy will be on display on the concourse The Huskies earned a 3-3 tie with Sacred Heart University in their opener in Bridgeport, last week who they have yet to beat since going Division I. The Huskies Jachym Kondelik scored. Fellow Nashville Predator draftee, Tomas Vomacka, was sensational in net making 45 saves despite the hat trick by the Pioneers, Matt Tugnutt, icing his game-tying goal with three seconds left in regulation forcing overtime. Earlier in the week, SNY announced the time and dates for the first-ever Connecticut Ice Festival tournament in Bridgeport at the Webster Bank Arena in late January. The Huskies will kick-off the collegiate tournament against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats at 4 pm on Saturday, January 25th followed by Sacred Heart University playing the Yale University Bulldogs. All four games including the consolation and championship final will air live in the SNY. Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: THOMPSON'S FOUR GOALS HELP T-BIRDS CRUISE PAST WOLF PACK, 7-4

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Paul Thompson’s four goals helped to propel the Springfield Thunderbirds to a 7-4 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center before 1,876 fans Wednesday night. The two teams combined for 74 shots on goal for the game and as the Wolf Pack lost their third in a row and got into their third run and gun hockey game in three weeks second with Springfield in the last two weeks. “Third period with 12 minutes left in the game, 4-4 game against a divisional opponent here, those are games you’ve got to find a way to make sure that you’re taking care of pucks and finding ways to score goals.�� said head coach Keith McCambridge. Springfield (20-19-6-4) for 50 points hopped into third place and the Wolf Pack remain in 8th place slip under .500 at (19-20-2-2). ”This a game we had to win. It’s a team we're chasing in the standings. We’ve got to make a decision here as a group at this point of the year or it's going to be another disappointing year,” remarked a tight-lipped, clearly upset, Steven Fogarty one of the three assistant captains. The Pack out of a possible eight points in this current stretch managed just two-not enough in a playoff push with 33 games to go. There are only 10 points separating second place Bridgeport and last place Hartford in the Atlantic Division, but it seems like Mt. Everest at this point. In the third period, the Wolf Pack had a critical early five on three power play for a 1:09 span and couldn’t connect on either penalty. The Thunderbirds scored the all-important fifth goal Thompson on the second flip pass against the same player (Ryan Lindgren) by Harry Zolniercyzk (one goal and two assists) that went over his head and landed on Thompson’s stick went in on a breakaway and went upstairs on Alex Georgiev. Springfield then got a five on three shortly thereafter and didn’t miss their chance. Thompson at the left side of the net took Zolniercyzk cross-ice pass from the right wing circle for his 21st of the season at 10:17. The Wolf Pack Lias Ande5rsson who had a team-high seven shots missed a breakaway that could have shut the gap, but he wasn’t alone in missing on quality chances. Thompson off a defensive zone faceoff win launched a 180-foot shot that went into the net for his fourth tally and 22nd goal of the season at 18:33 to seal the Thunderbirds victory. In the second period, both teams very arm weary from the first-period frenzy had just seven shots in the first half of the period. Then the second half finally connected on the net, but the Wolf Pack were the only team to score in the period. The Wolf Pack scored late on the powerplay as Peter Holland took Vinni Lettieri’s pass along the left wing boards and sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Steven Fogarty standing at the right side of the net and he made a perfect tip-in for his ninth of the season at 18:33 to even the score at four and hopefully give the Pack the momentum swing going into the third. “Credit Peter he told me when we out there to get there (at the net) he made a good play with the puck all I had to do was put my stick out,” Both goalies were superb last Saturday hung out to dry in the first period had a chance to make some key saves with a semblance of defense being played. Among Alex Georgiev’s better saves was on the Thunderbirds Jonathan Ang with 3:20 left in the period and he kept Matt Marcinew, Harry Zolniercyzk, Riley Stillman and Bobby Farnham at bay and the red light off. At the other end, Chris Driedger turned away Rob O’ Gara twice. The first period it was the shootout at the XL Corral featured seven goals and 32 shots between the two teams and barely enough time to breathe. The Wolf Pack and the Thunderbirds combined had four goals in the first seven minutes. The Thunderbirds struck first at the 50-second mark as Anthony Greco wide open easily deposited the rebound of a Juho Lammikko shot that came via a turnover by the Wolf Pack’s Chris Bigras from the right wing corner. Hartford’s quick response team went into action and scored 52 seconds later. This time Sean Day at the right circle spotted his new defense partner Rob O’ Gara coming in off the left point and all the rangy defenseman had to do was redirect the puck in the open side for his third goal of the year and first since December 1st against Charlotte. The Pack took the lead at 2-1 at 5:16. Ryan Gropp with a solid chip in along the wall behind the Springfield net and Steven Fogarty got to the puck first and gorgeous blind backhanded pass to Lias Andersson in front and he was stopped on his first shot, but got the rebound and chopped in his ninth goal of the season. “I knew he was there I just didn’t know how open he was and it was a good goal for us,” said Fogarty. Right back came the Thunderbirds as Ludwig Bystrom at the left point let a wrist shot go and veteran Thompson, an offseason free-agent signing was 10 feet out with an inside position on Pack defenseman redirected his 19th past Alex Georgiev with no chance on that play at 6:21. The Thunderbirds would take a 3-2 lead on a set play as Dryden Hunt’s center ice flip pass-the hockey ally-oop, went up in the air over Ryan Lindgren and Harry Zolniercyzk was right there to sweep in off the right and slip his ninth of the season on a breakaway behind Georgiev at 13:52. “I’d have to look at it again on the replay whether he might have been offside. The Wolf Pack didn’t wilt as John Gilmour took Shawn St. Amant’s pass zoomed in off the right wing and with a rolling puck slipped his 13th goal short-side over the outstretched goal of Thunderbirds Chris Driedger a 16:22. Gilmour has 13 points over a span of 13 games. The Thunderbirds 48 seconds later on the powerplay scored again to take the lead back at 4-3 and Tomas Jurco scored his third goal in three games since being reassigned by Florida at the side of the net on a short feed from Anthony Greco on the right wing. “We weren’t good enough tonight. Turnovers, this team is too good to take shifts off on. A good team like you can’t give those type of chances. It’s unfair to him (Georgiev) when he comes here and we play like that. He has given us a chance every night. He shouldn’t hang his head, it's on the players to play better in front of him,” remarked Fogarty. SCRATCHES: Shawn O'Donnell (upper body) Brandon Crawley (healthy) Bobby Butler (healthy) Dawson Leedahlt (healthy) LINES: Holland-Beleskey-Meskanen Nieves-Lettieri-Brickley Fogarty-Gropp-Andersson Fontaine-Gettinger-St. Amant Gilmour-Lindgren Bigras-Hajak Day-O’Gara NOTES: Thompson was one goal short of the record for most goals scored against the Wolf Pack when Brendan Morrison then with Albany River Rats scored five in the last game of the regular season of the Wolf Pack’s first season in 1997-98. The Thunderbirds Driedger’s shutout on Saturday was the 100th against the Wolf Pack in their 22-year history. The Rangers off for 10 days for the NHL All-Star break made a paper transaction flip-flopping Dustin Tokarski and Marek Mazanec on recall. Maz was the backup for Georgiev. The Pack defense is tied for fourth-most goals against in the AHL with 148. The Thunderbirds like the Wolf Pack got players back from the parent Florida Panthers for the NHL All-Star break in defenseman’s Josh Brown and Ian McCoshen plus Pack killer, forward Jace Hawryluk. The Wolf Pack, of course, got back defenseman Ryan Lindgren and center Boo Nieves. The team released from PTO deals and returned to Maine (ECHL) center Terrence Wallin and defenseman Zach Tolkinen, a former QU Bobcat. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford) another former QU Bobcat and Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack were recalled by Hershey after one game where he was a minus three at South Carolina (ECHL). Another ex-Bobcat Alex Barron leaves EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2) and signs with HK Propad (Slovakia-SLEL) the rest of the season. In an AHL game, Sunday former Wolf Pack captain Cole Schneider paced a 4-0 shutout by Milwaukee In Chicago against the Wolves. Schneider earned the second star with two primary assists on their opening goal, but, Nicolas Baptiste with a nice short backhand pass off a rebound to an open Baptiste who put it in an open net. He then made a perfect diagonal pass from the left wing side to Anthony Richard coming in as the trailer on the right wing scored from 30 feet out on their second goal. The Admirals third goal was scored by ex-Wolf defenseman Pack Vince Pedrie on a slapshot from the left point for his first goal of the year. The Admirals Mathieu Olivier, son of ex-New Haven Knights defenseman Simon Olivier scored the last goal an empty netter and had a solid toe-to-toe no buckets battle, the best one thus far this season with Alex Gallant of Chicago, younger brother of ex-Sound Tiger and current Cleveland Monsters winger Brett Gallant. The Bruins Paul Carey (Salisbury Prep) who notched his second hat trick of his career against the Wolf Pack to help the Providence Bruins pull away from the Wolf Pack 5-2 on Monday in a previously unscheduled MLK Holiday matinee in Providence. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday but was moved to Sunday because of Sunday’s ice/snow storm. Carey had a four-goal effort when he was with Hershey and was robbed of a 5th goal near the end of the game when two fights broke out and the refs never noticed his wraparound tally! Brian Flynn (Pomfret Prep) leaves San Antonio and signs with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA) for the rest of the season. Earlier this afternoon in a first at the XL Center ACHA (American College Hockey Association) Division-2 club hockey meeting between the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (New Britain) and the Westfield State Owls (MA) with the Blue Devils pulling away in the third period for a 4-1 victory. Read the full article