#AlberniValleyBulldogs

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CANTLON: HOCKEY NEWS AND NOTES VOLUME 4 PART 2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings   HARTFORD, CT - The news from the AHL, amid a global pandemic, is stunned sadness on this Easter weekend. Early Saturday morning came the grim, devastating news that 25-year-old, Colby Cave, a forward for the Bakersfield Condors, passed away in Sunnyside Hospital in Toronto. He died as a result of complications from a brain bleed due to a colloid cyst (tumor). The developed tumor put pressure on his brain and requiring it to be removed surgically on Tuesday. After being admitted on Monday to a hospital in Barrie, Ontario, following his being found unresponsive in bed that morning, he was taken by airlift to Toronto. The family released a statement, first announcing the terrible news. Cave was five years into his pro career. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins by the Edmonton Oilers on January 15 of last year. In his all too brief life, Cave was diligent and a hard-worker. He made it to the NHL despite not being drafted, making his NHL debut with Boston on December 21, 2017, against the Winnipeg Jets. He played 44 games this year in Bakersfield with 11 goals and 12 assists and in 11 games with Edmonton, where he posted one goal with four penalty minutes. A majority of his AHL career came in Providence. In 239 games with the P-Bruins tallied 43 goals and 72 assists for 115 points and was a solid performer against the Wolf Pack. He had a standout junior career in the WHL for five seasons, all with the Swift Current Broncos in 285 games, where he garnered 95 goals and 202 points. He was voted team MVP and was a team captain. He would play just 34 NHL games with two goals and four assists. AHL President/CEO Dave Andrews released a statement following the shocking announcement. “Colby Cave was beloved as a teammate and friend, as a husband and son. The entire American Hockey League extends our deepest condolences to Colby's wife, Emily, and his entire family, as well as to those whose lives he touched in the Oilers and Bruins organizations and throughout hockey.”  Likewise, Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, similarly released a warm, heartfelt letter of condolences. “The National Hockey League family mourns the heartbreaking passing of Colby Cave, whose life and hockey career, though too short, were inspiringly emblematic of the best of our game. Undrafted but undaunted, Colby was relentless in the pursuit of his hockey dream with both the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins organizations. An earnest and hardworking player, he was admired by his teammates and coaches. More important, he was a warm and generous person who was well-liked by all those fortunate enough to know him. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Emily, their families and Colby’s countless friends throughout the hockey world.” AHL SEASON The season is still in suspension mode, but news from the Quebec Provincial government, where they banned all outdoor public events, including sporting events, concerts, and festivals, and all large public gatherings until August 31, made it pretty clear that the cancelation of the regular and post-season for the NHL and AHL would be announced likely around May 1.   HOCKEY TRANSACTIONS Former Sacred Heart University Pioneer (AHA), Connor Doherty, of the Worcester Railers HC won the ECHL Community Services Award. The Worcester head coach is former Wolf Pack assistant coach, David Cunniff, the son of late New England and Hartford Whaler player and coach, John Cunniff. The ECHL also announced their All-Star teams. One of the two First-team defensemen is Logan Roe (Kent Prep) of the Florida Everblades. He was a high school teammate of Boo Nieves and finished the year with Manitoba. On the second team, now an ECHL vet, and ex-Sound Tiger goalie, Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms). There is some hockey business going-on. The first junior draft, held last Saturday - the OHL Priority Draft - and there were a few unusual names that selected. In the first round, the third overall pick was Max Namestnikov, the youngest son of former Wolf Pack, Evgeni "John" Namestnikov, by the Sarnia Sting. He played last year for the Detroit Honeybaked U-15 team, and he is a commit to Michigan State (Big 10) in 2023-24. David Goyette of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team went in the first round 11th overall to the Sudbury Wolves. Connor Toms, son of former Wolf Pack Jeff Toms was a 3rd pick and 44th overall, but he didn't have to go far, Toms was selected by his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He played last year for Sault Ste. Marie Bantam AAA (NOBHL) for his father, who was the team's head coach. Two spots later. Landon Sim, son of ex-Sound Tiger Jon, was selected from Weeks (NSMMHL) by the London Knights. Vinny Borgesi, from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep U-15, was taken by Guelph in the 9th round 170th overall. He recently made a commitment to Northeastern (HE) for 2023-23 and has signed a USHL tender contract with Tri-City for the fall start of the season. Andrew DellaDonna from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 went in the 10th round 186th overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs. He is an Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10) commit for 2022-23. The announcement of the WHL All-Star teams was released. The Eastern conference goalie was Prince Albert Raiders goalie Max Paddock, the nephew of former Wolf Pack coach, John Paddock. Ironically, the elder Paddock, the VP /Director of Hockey Ops with the Regina Pats, traded his nephew back on January 7 to the Raiders. In one of the defensive spots is a New York Rangers draft pick, and a possible member of the Wolf Pack 2020-21 roster, Matt Robertson of the Edmonton Oil Kings. The second-round pick from last summer in 60 games had 13 goals, 34 assists, and 47 points. His WHL career totals al with Edmonton is 186 games 27 goals, 78 assists for 105 points for 6'4 205 lb. Rearguard. Upfront Mark Kastelic, son of former Whaler Ed Kastelic had a strong final junior year in 68 games had a team-high 38 goals and 68 points and was a plus 30 for the Calgary Hitmen. The Ottawa Senators draft pick career numbers were 321 major junior games with 126 goals, 109 assists and 235 points signed a three-year two-way entry-level deal with the Senators on Thursday.   AHL EURO SIGNINGS Three AHL players are going to Europe so far as the AHL season, which is still in suspended status, but just one player has confirmed their pending departure. Nikolai Golobdin has said he is leaving Utica for CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL). In contrast, Charles Hudon in Laval, rumored to be talking to several teams in Switzerland's top league, the NLA, and Cory Conacher, the ex-Sound Tiger, is being paired with HC Lausanne of the NLA. HOBEY BAKER AWARD Mike Perunovich of the University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (NCHC) was named the 2020 Hobey Baker Award winner becoming the sixth person from the school to capture the coveted top individual award in college hockey. The junior defenseman from Hibbing, MN beat out North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi and Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman for the award in a weirdly timed late-night announced on ESPN. "I'm extremely honored and humbled," Perunovich said in a public statement. "Five other Bulldogs have won this prestigious award, so it is just a privilege to join them." The other five were Tom Kurvers (1984), Bill Watson (1985), Chris Marinucci (1994), ex-Sound Tiger Junior Lessard (2004), and Jack Connolly (2012) as Bulldogs' Hobey Baker winners. Perunovich was second in the nation with 34 assists and had six goals in 34 games, becoming the first defenseman to lead the NCAA in scoring. Perunovich, a second-round draft choice in 2018, signed an NHL entry-level deal last month with the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. The award was an anti-climatic event. In it would have been awarded at the NCAA Frozen Four slated to be in Detroit this weekend, where Perunovich and his Bulldogs teammates hoped to play for a three-peat national title. The undrafted Kawaguchi had 15 goals and 30 assists in 33 games. He's returning to North Dakota  (NCHC) for his senior season. Swayman was 18-11-5 with a 2.07 goals-against average, and .939 save percentage for the University Maine Black Bears (HE), and he, like Perunovich, signed an NHL entry-level deal last month his with the Boston Bruins. The award, named in honor of Baker, the former Princeton hockey and football star, was World War I fighter pilot. He was killed in a plane crash in France after scheduled to return home. COLLEGE PRO SIGNINGS The UCONN Huskies Wyatt Newpower who had a strong senior season making the Hockey East Second Team All-Star with 25 points and was a plus 23 signed a one-year AHL deal with the Cleveland Monsters top farm team for the Columbus Blue Jackets. -Cam Crotty departs BU and signs with Arizona (NHL). -Goalie Tom Aubrun (Chamonix, France) from Norwich University (VT) Division II/III Player of the year signs a two year, two way deal with AHL Rockford Ice Hogs. -A few more European collegian signings Jesper Mattila graduates Boston College (HE) and joins teammate and fellow Finnish countrymen Aapeli Rasanen, who leaves school a year early, to sign separate deals with KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL). Jake Grade of Division III St. Anselm (NE-10), making it five collegians to sign in Europe inking a deal with HC Cholet (France Division-2). That makes 74 Division I players have signed prop contracts, and 84 college players in total have signed AHL and ECHL deals. The breakdown by conference Hockey East-18, Big 10-17, NCHC-14, WCHA-11, ECACHL-8, AHA-6, and NCAA Independent Division HAS just one. From Division II/III-10 and signing in Europe five. -Eight more grad school transfers happened this past week; three were goalies. First, Robbie Beydoun departs Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) for the University Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10). The other is Anton Martinson travels 3,000 miles from the University Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks (WCHA) to Providence College Friars (HE) and Henry Johnson heads from Bemidji St (WCHA) to Mercyhurst (AHA). The forwards were Jared Cockrell heads from Colgate (ECACHL), Seamus Donohue Michigan Tech (WCHA) heads to St. Cloud St. (WCHA), Carson Gicewicz goes from St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) to UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE). The latest two are Jordan Timmons of the UCONN Huskies (HE) and Charlie Combs of Bemidji State (WCHA) heads to Michigan State (Big 10). He is the younger brother by nine years of former Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger, Jack Combs. Grad transfers are permitted if a student/player either completes his undergraduate degree in under four years after being redshirted due to injury. In either case, one year of NCAA eligibility remains, and a student/player can transfer without the usual one year wait required when a student/player transfers among schools during a regular four-year undergraduate schedule. There is just one regular transfer so far as Jack Olmstead leaves  Michigan (Big 10) to Miami (OH) (NCHC) and can skate for them in 2021-22 after sitting out a year. There are presently ten grad school transfers. NHL DRAFT The final NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) draft list is out, and some exciting names are on the list. At number four is defenseman Jake Sanderson, eldest son of former Whaler Geoff Sanderson. He played for the USA U-18 Team and the US National Development Team (USHL) this year and is a North Dakota (NCHC) commit for 2021-22. He is a dual citizen, so he is eligible for either the US and Canada WJC Team. Ridley Greig, son of ex-Whaler Mark, is the14th ranked player who played this season with Brandon (WHL). Defenseman Jack Finley, son of ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger Jeff Finley, currently the Director of Scouting for Winnipeg. The younger Finley skated for Spokane (WHL) was marked at the 38th spot. In the 70th spot is Ethan Cardwell form the Barrie Colts (OHL) nephew former New Haven Knight, Matt Cardwell. Senna Peters from the Selects Academy U-16 program played this year with Halifax (QMJHL) posting 33 points in 57 games, and a minus 43 is slotted 101st. -Ryan McGuire (New Canaan), son of the NHL announcer on NBCSN and former Hartford Whalers coach Pierre McGuire, is listed as the 105th best prospect in the CSB final rankings The younger McGuire is a Colgate University Red Raiders (ECACHL) commit for 2021-22. He's going to play for the Penticton Panthers (BCHL) next season. He played the last two years for Belmont Hill (MAPREP). McGuire was select him last year in the 12th round 216th overall by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL). Previously, he went in the 8th round 115th overall by the USHL Madison Capitols, and he did get in four games last season with the Capitols with no points after his prep school season ended, He attended Blaineville training camp last fall; however, he didn't play in any games to preserve his college eligibility. -Sophomore UCONN defenseman Jacob Flynn is 122nd. Incoming UCONN freshmen Nick Capone (East Haven/Salisbury Prep) played with Tri-City Storm (USHL) this season is 126th. Paul Dore, son of current Ranger scout Daniel Dore, a former NHL'er is slotted at 182nd. He played at Kimball Union Academy (NYPREP) and is scheduled to perform with Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) in the fall and has no current college commit. The last one on the list is Zakary Karpa, son of ex-Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger, David Karpa. The younger Karpa plays for USA National U-18 Team, and USNDTP (USHL) finished at 194th in the rankings. He is a Princeton Tigers (ECACHL) commit in the fall. Among 31 top-rated North American goalies in the 10th spot in Czech Republic native Nick Malik, the youngest son of ex-Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven defenseman Marek Malik, who played half the season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). Before heading to Canada, he played for his father at Fydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2), where he is the assistant coach, then HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Elite League-CEL) and the Czech Republic WJC Team. Then among the European goaltenders, there is Oliver Tarnstrom, son of ex-Sound Tiger, Dick Tarnstrom. He played mostly for the AIK program in Sweden playing with their Super Elite, J-18, and Allsvenskan teams. He played internationally for the Swedish U-18 team. In total, Central Scouting has 217 North American players rated, 31 goalies plus 50 European players, and 10 Euro goalies. The Central Scouting Senior Director is former Beast of New Haven GM, David Gregory. This summer's NHL Draft event scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal sadly, has been canceled and will be held remotely at place and date to be determined. HOCKEY SIGNINGS After playing with Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL), Ryan Doolin (Westminster Prep), heads to Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHA) in the fall. UCONN landed two commits from the CT prep school ranks both forwards. Gavin Puskar, from the Hotchkiss Bearcats (Lakeville, CT), who had 18 goals and 36 points in 26 games, will be at Storrs for the upcoming season. Hotchkiss lost in the opening round of the NEPSAC Open division playoffs 7-2 to eventual champion, Salisbury Prep. Mark D' Agostino (North Branford) from the Gunnery Highlanders (Washington, CT) posting 23 goals and 55 points in 35 games for NEPSAC Small Division champion, a 5-3 win over Pomfret. D' Agostino will be on campus for the 2021-22 season but will spend next season with the Langley Rivermen (BCHL). -One other prep school NCAA commit for 2021-22 is Kennedy O' Connor (Springfield, MA) of Loomis Chaffe school (Windsor, CT) will play 2020-21 for the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) before heading to the Mullins Center to skate for the UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE) in 2021-22. He was drafted last year by both the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) and Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL). -Former Sound Tiger Rob Collins is the head coach of Canadian Jr. B Elmira Sugar Kings (GOJHL). -Remember Rangers one time goaltender of the future Dan Blackburn who played four games for the Wolf Pack in his brief pro career that was cut short by injury is a scout for the London Nationals (GOJHL). -Some moves in Europe Brent Raedeke, nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Mark, goes from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) to Cologne (Germany-DEL) for 2020-21. -By the end of the month, most likely former Wolf Pack Oscar Lindberg will sign a one-year extension deal with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA), according to a Swiss hockey website. Read the full article