#BinghamtonRangers

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MARCHESSAULT WINS STANLEY CUP AND CONN SMYTHE

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - When he was a member of the Connecticut Whale, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault was a diamond in the rough. Marchessault was playing for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL, learning his craft under the recently-retired Memorial Cup-winning head coach, Patrick Roy, over a dozen years ago. The New York Rangers signed Marchessault as an undrafted free agent in 2010 along with his junior teammate and fellow Connecticut Whale alumni, the just-retired Kelsey Tessier. Another of Marchessault's junior and CT Whale teammates was retired forward Ryan Bourque. Marchessault finished second in scoring on the initial CT Whale squad with 24 goals and 64 points. The Rangers thought he was going to be strictly an AHL player. They got that wrong. The Columbus Blue Jackets took a chance on Marchessault the following season and sent him to the AHL Springfield Falcons. Machessault's anger and frustration were apparent when he explained why he signed and agreed to go to Springfield in a Howlings interview. "It's total BS. I'm second in scoring on the team (Kris Newbury was first) and the Rangers didn't offer me any NHL money in a new contract. I had signed for just a year. They just offered another AHL deal. Total BS. I will get to the NHL and win the Stanley Cup. Signing with Columbus may be my fastest route," Marchessault scornfully declared then. Marchessault is the first undrafted player (signed with the WHA Indianapolis Racers with a personal services contract, or he would have been a Montreal Canadiens draft pick) since Wayne Gretzky in 1988 to win a Conn Smythe Trophy. He scored ten goals that either gave Vegas the lead (six times) or tied the game (four times) during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is just one of three players in the last 35 years to score a goal in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. The Rangers weren't the only team to misjudge Marchessault's talent. After one year with Columbus/Springfield and not getting an opportunity, he then signed the following year with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Marchessault got in his initial NHL playing time with 47 games over two years but spent most of his three years with the organization in Syracuse. "Marchie's" journey then crossed the Sunshine State when he signed with the Florida Panthers. He received his first solid NHL playing time a had a 30-goal campaign six years ago. When the Vegas Golden Knights came into the NHL as a franchise, Marchessault was left exposed by the Panthers and was taken by Vegas in the expansion draft. The Panthers' decision to leave Marchessault exposed amazingly came about because the franchise decided to protect two other players, both no longer in the organization, Alex Petrovic (Dallas) and Mark Pysyk (Buffalo), who was coming off his worst defensive year at minus-21. Marchessault never wavered or accepted no for an answer - ever. Marchessault was on a two-year deal with the Panthers at a cap-friendly $750K. The following year, he signed a five-year extension for $30 million that expires next year. It also included a modified no-trade clause. He then becomes a UFA. Since he arrived in the Nevada desert, the 32-year-old has not been a minus player since, as one of the original six Golden Knights, who all started the Cup-clinching game. Naturally, who scored Vegas's first goal of the series…Marchessault. The Connecticut connections in Vegas are numerous. Their backup goalie, Jonathan Quick (Hamden/AOF), Chandler Stephenson, is the nephew of Bob Stephenson, a former Hartford Whaler. Ex-Ranger Brett Howden played for three years in New York. A trio of ex-Whalers, assistant coach John Stevens Sr., goalie coach Sean Burke who did a superb job with Conn Smythe consideration former Springfield Falcon, Aidin Hill, whose first pro game was against the Wolf Pack, and Murray Craven, is a Senior VP of Operations. Vegas' Team President is former New Haven Nighthawk and Ranger George McPhee. Scouts include ex-Whaler Jim McKenzie (Pro Scout), Connor Jones (Amateur Scout) is a former Quinnipiac University/Bridgeport Sound Tigers/and the grandson of former New Haven Blade Terry Jones) standout and ex-Whaler, Alex Godynyuk (European scout). Florida had ex-Yale Bulldog goalie Alex Lyon, ex-Pack/Ranger Marc Staal, former Sound Tiger Carter Verhaeghe, former Whaler coach, head coach Paul Maurice, and ex-Pack Sylvain Lefebvre as the Panthers assistant coach. Pro Scouts Sean Backman (Cos Cob/Yale Univ./Sound Tigers/AOF) and P.J. Fenton (son of Nighthawk/Whaler Paul Fenton) Two special advisors to the team GM, former Nighthawks coach Rick Dudley and former New Haven Nighthawks and Whalers player PJ's father, the aforementioned Paul Fenton. Marchessault now has a Stanley Cup ring and was voted as the Conn Smythe Trophy with the Golden Knights with the second most points of 25, just one behind Jack Eichel. Quebec City got its Stanley Cup from the Cap-Rouge native, a suburb of the city and hopes Marchessault remembers his declaration and parades the Cup it in front of the iconic Frontenac Hotel along the Quebec City elevated promenade, aside from the St. Lawrence River. He now joins the pantheon of great Quebec French-Canadian high scoring forwards the game has had from Guy Lafleur, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, Marc Tardif, Andre "The Magician" Lacroix (ex-Whaler), Marcel Dionne, and Real "Buddy" Cloutier. Not taking no for an answer paid off handsomely for Marchessault. NAHL DRAFT The NAHL-North American Hockey League held the last junior draft mid-week, two weeks before the NHL Draft in Nashville at the end of the month. Taken from Connecticut first, the draft pick El Paso initial was James Mallozzi (New Canaan), selected from Westchester U-16 (T1EHL) in the second round (38th overall) by the Danbury Hat Tricks. Danbury's first round (26th overall) was Ethan Farrow, then Jack Wuertz in the second round (36th overall). Tamás Tóth, from the CT Jr. Rangers (NCDC), who played for the Hungary WJC Division Group 1A team, was taken by the Maryland Black Bears. Matt Alberti, from Salisbury School, was selected in the third round (71st overall) by Janesville (WI) Jets, and Evan West was taken by the Chippewa (WI) Steel, third round (84th overall), a former Danbury Jr. Hat Trick. In the fourth round (123rd overall), Danbury took Marius Angelin from Potomac (USPHL Premier), coached by ex-Pack Josh Gratton. The pick belonged to the Amarillo (TX) Wranglers. Then Roman Winnicki was taken in the fifth round (172nd overall) as the Hat Tricks took him from their NA3HL team and was originally an El Paso draft choice. Jakub Krizan, from Czechia of the Selects Academy at SKP (South Kent Prep), went in the fifth round, 150th overall, and Jack Keane, in the sixth round, 164th overall, was taken by Danbury. Then the Maine Nordiques took Lucas DiChiara of Fairfield in the sixth round (172nd overall). The pick originally belonged to the Johnstown (PA) Jets. Then in the sixth round (190th overall), Geno Carcone was taken by Danbury from Des Moines (USHL). The pick was from the Lone Star (TX) Brahmas. Then seventh round (196th overall), Jacob Ingstrup was selected by Minot (ND) and the Kent School Lions. Then Danbury took Matt DellaRusso (Darien) from the St. George's School (RIPREP). In the ninth round (281st overall), the Minnesota Wilderness took Jack Roberts from the Kent School. The final selection in the 10th round (313th overall) was Michael Murtagh, formerly of The Frederick Gunn School (Washington, CT), playing for the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL). NOTES: The Rangers hired their new bench boss, who played 12 games in 1988-89 for the Blueshirts in his playing days and two seasons for the Binghamton Rangers, who were relocated to Hart City in 1997. He has now coached six Metropolitan Division teams; NY Islanders, Hurricanes, Washington, Hurricanes, and Flyers. The Rangers announced assistant coach and former Wolf Pack assistant Gord Murphy had been dismissed, and Kris Knoblauch would be back in Hart City. Former Sound Tiger Matt Donovan returns to the AHL from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) and signs with the Chicago Wolves. Lochlan Tetarenko, the son of Beast of New Haven defenseman Joe Tetarenko, signs with Saskatoon (WHL), who drafted him last year from Okotoks (AEHL). The Bridgeport Islanders' defenseman Connor McCarthy, signs with HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). He split the season between Bridgeport and Worcester (ECHL). Ex-Whaler Mark Hunter of London Knights (OHL) won GM of the year, and Bridgeport Islanders Matt Maggio won the OHL Red Tilson regular season MVP award. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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Jim Hiller autographed Binghamton Rangers hockey card #jimhiller #autographed #binghamtonrangers #hockeycard #signedcard #dagr010 #dagr1010 #yeg #yegsale #youtubedavidgrass #forsale (at DAGR Sportscards and Collectibles)

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK LOSE SEASON FINALE TO SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings SPRINGFIELD, MA - Joel Hofer's 35-save effort at the MassMutual Center led the Springfield Thunderbirds to a 1-0 shutout win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, ending the team's eight-game winning streak. The shutout was the fourth in 12 games for the T-Birds against the Pack this season. The loss by the Wolf Pack locks them into fifth place in the Atlantic Division and guarantees the Wolf Pack will play on the road. Who they will play is still to be determined. If Springfield loses their final game against the Providence Bruins at Amica Pavilion on Sunday, the Pack will play the T-Birds in the Best-of-Three series. The Charlotte Checkers' 5-4 overtime win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and a Springfield win could make for a more difficult first-round opponent for Hartford. Should the Pack face the Checkers, Charlotte would host Hartford for all three games because of the travel issues at the Bojangles Coliseum. Hofer has been kryptonite for the Wolf Pack. As a result, the Jonny Brodzinski-less Wolf Pack saw their ability to score goals and generate offense take a serious hit, but undoubtedly not due to a lack of effort. THIRD PERIOD The Wolf Pack threw eleven shots at Hofer in the third period but were held off the scoreboard. At 2:14, Bobby Trivigno took a Springfield turnover and tried to jam it past Hofer, but he covered the short side post. A little over a minute later, Will Bitten had a net-front chance that Dylan Garand gobbled up. Then at 4:56, Matt Peca, the QU grad, was stopped, followed by a solid net front play that led to Edström's bid for his second goal in as many games at 6:39 was rejected. Peca had a golden chance at 9:45 with a rebound of a Steve Santini shot that came right to his stick, but he hit the net with the left side wide-open. Thirty seconds later, Tanner Fritz was stopped by a Hofer glove save. Seconds later, Lauri Pajuniemi saw Hofer make a blocker save. Then Hugh McGing tried to get Springfield a two-goal cushion from the slot, but Garand turned that aside. At 18:07, Wyatt Kalynuk's left point drive was repelled by Hofer, with Anton Blidh battling Tyler Tucker on his doorstep. Cullye, then Carpenter had a backhander on the left-wing side hit the side of the net. Drew Callin in the defensive zone clipped Tim Gettinger up high, but no call was made. Tucker intercepted a Carpenter feed before Hofer made a blocker save to deny Zac Jones as the Pack went with the extra attacker. SECOND PERIOD The second period was a playoff-like defensive struggle. The first shot for the Pack came at 3:15 as Pajuniemi got in position for a shot with Fritz coming down the left wing. However, he was stopped by Hofer with Blidh in front battling with ex-Pack Hunter Skinner. The team's defense limited Springfield to one shot by Matt Highmore. At 15:16, Adam Clendening fired a shot from the right point with Trivigno in front, battling the much bigger Tucker. Brandon Scanlin made an excellent recovery to avoid a Greg Printz breakaway. Then Mathias Laferriere made one of the few second-period Thunderbird shots at 18:05. Springfield's best opportunity showed up on the state sheet as Highmore was right in front and chipped the puck that went over Garand and hit the crossbar. Garland kept it out as he was able to sweep it away. FIRST PERIOD The first period was an intense skating affair, with each goalie making crucial saves, but Springfield came away with the only goal. What has become a rarity in the last month, Adam Gaudette turned a Fritz neutral zone turnover into a breakaway on the left wing. He took a pass from Scott Perunovich and went forehand-to-backhand on Garand before depositing his 27th goal of the season at 17:29. As he's done all season, the Winnipeg-born Hofer frustrated the Wolf Pack. Pajuniemi had solid scoring chances in the first. There was a one-timer at 7:01, Will Cullye at 7:55, and Pajuniemi again at 8:30 on a one-timer on the left wing. At 9:18, Clendening had a chance off a nice behind-the-back pass from Lockwood. Elson missed an open net, and Hofer's right pad stopped Trivigno at the back door. Dyland Garand had a solid period stopping Bitten and McGing in the first three minutes. LINES: Cullye-Carpenter-Elson Henriksson-Lockwood- Trivigno Fritz-Pajuniemi- Adam Sýkora Gettinger- Adam Edström-Blidh Jones-Emberson Hillman-Scanlin Clendening-Kalynuk Garand Boyko #40 SCRATCHES: Matt Rempe (healthy) Louie Roehl #4 (healthy) Brett Berard #27 (healthy) Bryce McConnell-Barker #8 (healthy) Easton Brodzinski #23 (healthy) Matt Lohin #18 (healthy) Matt Robertson (upper body, out for the first round of the playoffs) Patrick Khordorenko (season-ending shoulder surgery). C.J. Smith (hip area surgery done for the season) NOTES Despite being recalled on paper, Ryan Lohin never showed up in Hartford. Instead, he opted to go home. Years of injuries and being on recall earlier, where it netter him two games, might indicate that Lohin is considering hanging them up. Lohin not being in Hartford is what necessitated Jonny Brodzinski's brother Easton being recalled from Jacksonville yesterday. The Checkers had a three-goal third period and an OT winner by ex-Pack Anthony Bitetto to finish their season. The brand-new Calgary Wranglers clinched the AHL overall title with 104 points. In addition, 51 wins make them the first team since the 1992-'93 Binghamton Rangers to have a 50-plus win season. The defending Calder Cup champs, soon to be the independent Chicago Wolves, won 4-1. They had a four-goal first period against the Grand Rapids Griffins and were aided by a goal and assist by ex-Pack Malte Stromwall. The only Griffins goal was by ex-Pack Danny O'Regan. SOMMER CALLS IT A CAREER San Diego's head coach Roy Sommer, the all-time winningest coach in AHL history, announced his retirement before the Gulls at the last game of the season. One of his best traits, Sommer was one of the first true born and bred California players in the mid-1970s,  a generation before it was regular to see California on a player's address. Sommer started his hockey journey in the late 1970s (1978-79) as a member of the Pacific Hockey League (PHL) Spokane (WA) Flyers, playing against the legendary Bill "Goldie" Goldthorpe. At next year's AHL All-Star game at the Tech CU Center in San Jose, he should be inducted into the  AHL Hall of Fame for the Oakland, CA native. He teamed up with ex-Ranger-New England/Hartford Whaler Nick Fotiu as a coaching tandem with the Kentucky Thoroughbreds. NIGEL DAWES RETIRES The King is dead - metaphorically speaking. Ex-Pack Nigel Dawes, 38, has ended his playing career in Germany. 'The King' reference refers to a caustic and off-handed remark about his appearance as a guest on Wolf Pack radio broadcast years ago. He remarked in New York, you get a watch for being a guest, but in Hartford, you get Burger King coupons. He spent most of his career with Kazakhstan in the KHL, even in several international tournaments like the World Championships and Olympics representing them. With the outbreak of the water in Ukraine, he played the last two years in the German DEL with Adler Mannheim. Out with old Pack, in with new Pack. With Dawes retiring, reports in Germany state after a year off of not playing, John Gilmour may be close to signing with Adler for next season. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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RANGERS NAME QUINN-TESSINTIAL COACH

DAVID QUINN NAMED RANGERS HEAD COACH BY: The New York Rangers NEW YORK, May 23, 2018 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has named David Quinn the team’s new Head Coach. “I am very pleased to welcome David Quinn to the New York Rangers," said James Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Madison Square Garden Company. “David brings a diverse and successful coaching resume that includes extensive work in developing young talent. I am confident he is an excellent fit for our team, and know he will work tirelessly with Glen, Jeff and our entire organization to execute our plan to build the next Rangers Stanley Cup contending team.” “We are excited to announce that David will become the next Head Coach of the New York Rangers,” Gorton said. “In a coaching career that has spanned over two decades at the collegiate, pro, and international level, David has helped his teams achieve success while simultaneously teaching the game and helping his players develop on and off the ice. He is the ideal choice to bring our loyal and passionate fans the winning hockey they deserve.” Quinn, 51, becomes the Rangers 35th Head Coach in franchise history. He joins the Rangers after serving as Head Coach at Boston University for the previous five seasons (2013-14 – 2017-18). During this time, Quinn led the Terriers to a 105-68-21 record. Under Quinn’s guidance, Boston University captured two Hockey East Tournament Championships (2014-15 and 2017-18), two Hockey East Regular Season Championships (2014-15 and 2016-17), and The Beanpot in 2014-15, while also making four consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances (2014-15 – 2017-18). He was named both Hockey East Coach of the Year and New England Coach of the Year during the 2014-15 season, when he oversaw the biggest turnaround in school history by guiding Boston University to a 28-8-5 record, an 18-win improvement over the previous season. In addition, Quinn was the runner-up for the Spencer Penrose Award in 2014-15, which is given annually to the top Division 1 Men’s Hockey Coach in the country. During Boston University’s four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under Quinn, the school advanced to the NCAA Championship Game in 2014-15 and the Regional Final in both 2016-17 and 2017-18. The Cranston, Rhode Island native oversaw the development of several of the NHL’s top draft picks during his tenure as Boston University’s Head Coach. Over the last three NHL Entry Drafts (2015 – 2017), three players who had already played at least one season under Quinn at Boston University were selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft (forward Jack Eichel – second overall in 2015; defenseman Charlie McAvoy – 14th overall in 2016; goaltender Jake Oettinger – 26th overall in 2017), while forward Brady Tkachuk is ranked second among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In addition, either McAvoy and/or Matt Grzelcyk was named a First Team All-American in three consecutive seasons (2014-15 – 2016-17), while Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in collegiate hockey in 2014-15. Quinn also coached current Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller for one season in 2016-17, who is one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. In addition to his head coaching experience at Boston University, Quinn has been a member of several coaching staffs at the professional and collegiate level. Quinn previously served one season as an Assistant Coach in the NHL as a member of the Colorado Avalanche’s coaching staff (2012-13). Quinn served as Head Coach for three seasons with Colorado’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, from 2009-10 – 2011-12 before becoming an Assistant Coach with the Avalanche. He began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with Northeastern University for two seasons (1994-95 and 1995-96). Quinn also worked as an Assistant Coach at the collegiate level with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (1996-97 – 2001-02) and as an Associate Head Coach with Boston University (2004-05 – 2008-09). In his final year at Boston University, he helped the school win the National Championship. He was responsible for working with the team’s defensemen and in 2008-09, he helped develop a defense corps that included current Ranger Kevin Shattenkirk, as well as former Ranger and the winner of the 2008-09 Hobey Baker Award, Matt Gilroy. Internationally, Quinn has coached some of the United States’ top players in several tournaments, as well as helped develop players through the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He was named the USA Hockey Development Coach of the Year in 2002-03, when he served as Head Coach of the United States’ Under-17 Team in the USNTDP. He began his international coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team at the IIHF World Championship, and he helped the team earn a silver medal in two consecutive years (1999 and 2000). He has also served as an Assistant Coach with Team USA at the IIHF World U18 Championship (2003), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2005), and the IIHF World Championship (2007, 2012, and 2016), and as a member of the coaching staff at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, he coached current Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei. In addition, on April 20, 2018, Quinn was named Head Coach for the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Quinn played collegiate hockey at Boston University for four seasons (1984-85 – 1987-88). He was selected by the Minnesota North Stars in the first round, 13th overall, of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, and won a bronze medal while representing the United States at the 1986 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, the defenseman was a member of the Rangers organization for part of one season, skating in 19 regular season games and two playoff games with the Binghamton Rangers of the AHL in 1991-92. Read the full article