#BinghamtonSenators

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WOLF PACK MAKE POTULNY TEAM'S EIGHTH HEAD COACH

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has named Grant Potulny Head Coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Potulny is the eighth head coach in Wolf Pack history. Potulny, 44, has spent the last seven seasons as the Head Coach of Northern Michigan University. During that time, he guided the Wildcats to a record of 128-113-17 over the course of 258 games. The Wildcats won 20 games in back-to-back seasons, posting a record of 20-16-1 during the 2021-22 campaign and a record of 21-17-0 during the 2022-23 season. The Wildcats concluded the 2022-23 season by advancing to the CCHA Finals for the second time in three seasons. Before joining the Wildcats, Potulny spent eight seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota. During his time with the Golden Gophers, Potulny helped the club capture six regular-season conference titles and qualify for the NCAA Tournament on five occasions. Internationally, Potulny was an Assistant Coach for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Team USA won the event in both 2013 and 2017. Before joining the coaching ranks, the native of Grand Forks, ND, enjoyed a six-year playing career in the AHL. He appeared in 297 games, scoring 145 points (73 g, 72 a) with the Binghamton Senators, Hershey Bears, Springfield Falcons, San Antonio Rampage, and Norfolk Admirals. Potulny was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fifth round, 157th overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Before turning pro, Potulny played four seasons with the Golden Gophers, scoring 116 points (68 g, 48 a). In 2002, Potulny was named the NCAA Tournament’s MVP, leading the Golden Gophers to an NCAA National Championship. The Golden Gophers repeated as National Champions in 2003, with Potulny earning MVP honors in the WCHA Tournament. The Wolf Pack will open the home portion of their 2024-25 schedule on Friday, October 18th, at the XL Center! Full-season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, and flex plans for the 2024-25 season are on sale now! Visit  hartfordwolfpack.com or call 860-722-9425 for more details! About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK SEASON PREVIEW 2022-23

HARTFORD WOLF PACK SEASON PREVIEW 2022-23 By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Hartford Wolf Pack training camp is completed. The pre-season games are over, and the NHL waiver wire moves have all been made. Now, the real fun begins as the 26th edition of the Hartford Wolf Pack begins as they embark on a season-opening road trip to the Queen City and have a two-game set to commence the unified 72-game AHL regular season with the Charlotte Checkers to erase the sting of last year’s  8-20-2 ending. “I always have preferred starting on the road and not at home. There's so much pressure and excitement when you play at home. It adds that pressure on you. It’s better to go on the road and be together, traveling and doing some (early) team building," Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said as he was preparing to leave for Charlotte. The team received its last forward from New York, Julien Gauthier, late Monday. He started his career in Charlotte when they were the AHL home for the Carolina Hurricanes. He had his best season with 27 goals in 75 games in their Calder Cup championship season in 2018-19. He was a former 1st-round pick (19th overall) in 2016. He played 184 games with the Checkers and has 96 NHL games to his credit. His tenure is likely to be short as he will be looking for a fresh opportunity elsewhere. “The Rangers shopped him around a few weeks ago, and now he’s gone through waivers. (He’s) got to have a good start to get interest,” said a knowledgeable hockey source. Gauthier reported and will sport the #77 on his jersey. That bumped Alex Whelan (Quinnipiac University) off the roster and down to the team's ECHL affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen. “He’s a heckva hockey player, he was so dominant when he played in Charlotte at the beginning of his career and he brings physicality and goal scoring to our team. Nothing is ever long term in the American (Hockey) League. He’s with us now and were gonna help him out as much as possible and get the best we can while he is here and he is committed to playing hard for the Wolf Pack as much as possible to get back to the NHL, “ remarked Knoblauch. Head coach Kris Knoblauch enters the fourth season with no post-season action and the team's eighth consecutive season after Hartford making it their first 14 straight years. The team thoroughly purged its lineup with a whole new cast of characters. The emphasis is on character players and bridging the rock cliff divide last year in scoring between the top six and bottom six of their lineup. “Having good veterans to help you win hockey games and help out our younger players improve is always important. It’s early in the year, but I’ve been impressed with the leadership of the new parts we brought in. Turner (Elson) and (Andy) Zelinski have done very well for us and have been great additions, and we'll find out more this weekend, but they have helped our leadership tremendously,” said Knoblauch. Making sure players get the playing time they need was a major consideration in keeping those in Hartford and dispatching others to Jacksonville. “We want players to be playing, not sitting around here," Knoblauch said emphatically. One top-end prospect he wanted here last year and will be here after a pandemic season introduction two years ago is Will Cullye. He played center then, though now he is ticketed for the left wing at the start of the season. “He’ll move up and down our lineup. For now he’s playing the left side with Jonny Brodzinski. He's already on the second unit powerplay and will get some experience penalty killing, and we'll hope he grows. He had a good camp in New York. We're just hoping he’ll develop into even a better hockey player here," Knoblauch said. Last year's Hobey Baker winner, Bobby Trivigno, had a very strong training camp on both sides of the puck. Along with Cullye, he leads a rookie group including draftees Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL) and Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL). "He’s gonna play more games for one thing. He’ll learn the type of hockey he’ll need to play. He’s a very good hockey player, who had very good collegiate career. Now he has to transfer that to the pro level. There has so much potential here. He will likely be key contributor for us.” Another who will be looked at to take a big step forward will be second-year pro, Lauri Pajuniemi. He was not happy at the end of last season. He performed well in camp and in both pre-season games and is expected to be a catalyst on the second power play unit playing on his off-wing. “He’ll have to do a lot of work to be recalled. He can shoot, but we’ll be using him with Jonny Brodzinski and Julien Gauthier on the powerplay. Shooting is a big part of his game and he has a hard shot and being around the net will allow him to score more goals. For his game to get better he has less room and less time you can’t hold onto the puck too long and we have identified that in his game.” He has been working on a line with Elson and Fritz, but that is not cemented in stone. They have looked good in practice, scored some goals, and have shown some good chemistry." A pair of Swedes will dot the lineup at center. They are draftees Karl Henriksson and free agent signee, Gustav Rydahl. “They’re two different types of players in their development stage. Rydahl has played pro for quite some time now. I think to make the jump, they (the Rangers) hope he can continue to get better and learn the North American game better in Hartford. The organization was happy with his play at camp, though he’s not quite ready yet, or they couldn't find a spot for him at this point. Karl is real prospect with lots of upside potential, and where he’s gonna fit in our lineup.” Patrick Khordorenko is back playing on the last year of his Entry Level Contract as is the resigned Austin Rueschhoff. “Patrick played very well and was probably our best forward the last six weeks of the season. He’s a depth player at center for us right now. Austin has the size and everybody is looking for a player with the size who can score. When he plays his best, he’s playing physical. He went on a tear in January where he had six goals in five games. He can certainly deliver and has the potential to breakout.” Captain Jonny Brodzinki and now veteran forward Tim Gettinger will lead the 25 members of the Wolf Pack. Paired together on the #1-line last year, they will be split up on the first two lines to start the season. Tanner Fritz will be called upon to play his usual swing role at forward. “Jonny was so good for us and then he went up to New York. Tim was injured for us in the second half. When he played, he was spot on. I have no worries in play from either player.” The defense will have a whole new set of players with off-season signings in Andy Welinski from the (AHL) Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames) and Ty Emberson of the (AHL) Tucson Roadrunners (Phoenix Coyotes). Returning are Matt Robertson and Zach Giuttari (Loomis Chafee), Hunter Skinner, and late-season addition Brandon Scanlin as the only holdovers from last season. The defense has always been seen as an organizational surplus, and the team will carry eight d-men to start the regular season. “We have a lot of returning players coming back entering their second season. You’re anticipating and always think they’re ready to take that next step up; that’s not always the case; some do, and some don’t, but I think these guys are ready to do that. We have a lot more experience on defense than at forward, and they have to learn to play together and be themselves. Tim Theocharidis, who almost played his way on the lineup like Mason Geersten did two years ago, was sent to Jacksonville. However, the former ASU product was on an ECHL contract, not an AHL deal. In net, Louie Domingue, who buried them last year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is guarding their cage now. Knoblauch is enthusiastic about starting with him and hopefully will have a better relationship with him than he had with the talented but mercurial Keith Kinkaid and the ineffectual Tyler Wall, who are both now in Providence and South Carolina (ECHL), respectively. “Very sociable guy, and everybody likes to be around. He has spent time on the ice with (other) goalies helping them out with certain things. Our starter on opening night is still to be diagnosed. Dylan Garand, the young prodigy out of Kamloops (WHL) who was signed mid-season last year to his ELC deal, will be a work in progress for the undersized but proficient goalie at the bottom end of the height scale wanted in pro hockey. “I just spoke to him, and he says 'I’m the same height as Igor Shesterkin.' So, if Igor can pull of his play (Vezina winner) never underestimate an undersized goalie,” remarked Knoblauch. Swedish player Olof Lindbom, the third goalie, will start the season with the Pack. Depending on playing time, he could be sent back to Sweden or to an unaffiliated ECHL team, or a loan deal worked. “He is gonna stay here in North America in Jacksonville or Hartford; that is still to be determined. He is technically sound and a very strong goalie. It’s very different in North America there is more traffic in front and a lot more small details to work on. We think very highly of him.” NOTES: Defenseman Ben Harpur, 27, is the latest to join the Wolf Pack as a late addition after splitting the 2021-22 season between the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals. With the Predators, Harpur appeared in 19 games and registered an assist. While with the Admirals, Harpur skated in six games and recorded five penalty minutes. He has played in 176 career AHL games, scoring 56 points (7 goals, 49 assists) with the Admirals, Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, and Binghamton Senators. Harpur also served as an Alternate Captain for the Binghamton Senators during the 2017-18 season. Harpur was selected in the fourth round (108th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Harpur has appeared in 156 career NHL games with the Senators and Predators, where he registered 15 points (1 goal and 14 assists). He scored his first and only NHL goal on December 1st, 2018, against the San Jose Sharks. Vitali Kravtsov sustained an upper-body injury in the Rangers opening night 3-1-win Tuesday over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was out of the lineup in the 7-3 win over the Minnesota Wild and will not affect the Pack line-up. Talyn Boyko, the 18-year-old goalie, after being released from his ATO in Hartford and being reassigned to Jacksonville before heading back to Kelowna (WHL) as per the NHL-CHL agreement, signed his three-year ELC deal with the Rangers for $850K-NHL/$77,750K-AHL. Ranger newcomer draftee, Ryder Korczak, saw his older brother Kaedan get assigned to the Henderson Silver Knights by Vegas along with Peter DiLiberatore (Quinnipiac University-ECACHL). The Wolf Pack will have a new skills development coach. Colin Downey replaces  Casey Torres, who was replaced by Jamie Tardif as the assistant coach this year. Torres departure was handled very quietly and efficiently.  It's not clear if it was mutual, his or the Pack's choice. Downey played collegiately at D3 Bowdoin College (NESCAC) in Maine and then professionally in Europe for eight years in France with Tours, HC Cholet, HC Mulhouse, Mont Blanc, and HC Courbevoie between France Division 2 and the French Elite League in the Magnus league. Ex-Pack Pierre-Cédric Labrie gets a contract upgrade from a two-year AHL deal from Syracuse to a one-year, two-way deal with Tampa Bay at $770,800K-NHL/$100,000K-AHL. He was put on waivers to return to Syracuse with a few more dollars in his bank account. Syracuse announced they and the Lightning have extended their affiliation agreement another five years to 2026-27. Rangers draftee Bryce McConnell-Barker was named captain of his OHL team, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Brennan Othmann is named winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the best rookie in the Rangers' camp and was reassigned to Flint (OHL) last week. Bridgeport Islanders made their last cuts sending to the Worcester Railers (ECHL) Ken Appleby, Trevor Cosgrove, Blade Jenkins, Connor McCarthy, Reece Newkirk, and Henrik Tikkanen. Former goalie C.J. Motte is sent from the Iowa Wild camp as the last cut to the Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL) camp. Richard Pánik heads off to Lausanne HC (Switzerland-LNA) on a loan basis. Matthias Samuelsson (no relation to Ulf) is the son of former New Haven Nighthawk Kjell. He signs a one-year ELC contract extension with Buffalo. Adam Samuelsson, the youngest son of Ulf. He leaves Idaho (ECHL) camp just before it starts. No new destination was announced. Goalie Jon Gillies (Salisbury School) was sent to Tucson (AHL). Last year he played with four teams, two AHL, and two NHL. Ethan Cardwell, the nephew of ex-New Haven Knight Matt, is sent back to Barrie Colts (OHL) from the San Jose Barracuda camp. Last season's Pack player, Zach Berzolla, was one of the last cuts in Rochester. He was assigned to Cincinnati (ECHL). Undrafted Tye McSorley, the nephew of former Nighthawk Chris and Springfield coach and ex-Ranger his other uncle Marty, is with Greenville (ECHL) camp. Chris’s son, Aidan, is playing pro hockey in Switzerland with HC Pegassona-Ceregio (Switzerland Division-1). Father Chris is looking for work as he was just fired as the head coach of HC Lugano. Ex-Pack Lewis-Zerter Gossage (Kent School) is heading from Maine (ECHL) back over to Germany to Eisbären Berlin (Germany-DEL) and has been loaned out Lausitzer Füchse (Germany DEL-2). Our NHL source out West reports things in the Western Conference of the AHL are looking good. “San Jose has got a great new place and Coachella Valley seems on target and having the good weather allows you to hit construction timelines. It’s looking good out there (West).” When discussing the NHL's new setup in the ASU arena in Phoenix, the source said, “It's beautiful and brand new however it’s still a college rink, but I’ll try to avoid it if I can.” HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK INK DEFENSEMAN BEN HARPUR TO PTO

HARTFORD WOLF PACK INK DEFENSEMAN BEN HARPUR TO PTO By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager and New York Rangers Assistant General Manager Ryan Martin announced that the club had signed defenseman Ben Harpur to a professional tryout (PTO). In addition, the club has released defenseman Tim Theocharidis from his Training Camp tryout. Harpur, 27, joins the Wolf Pack after splitting the 2021-22 season between the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals. With the Predators, Harpur appeared in 19 games and registered an assist. While with the Admirals, Harpur skated in six games and recorded five penalty minutes. The native of Hamilton, Ontario, has dressed in 176 career AHL games, scoring 56 points (7 g, 49 a) with the Admirals, Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, and Binghamton Senators. Harpur also served as an Alternate Captain for the Binghamton Senators during the 2017-18 season. Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round, 108th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Harpur has appeared in 156 career NHL games with the Senators and Predators, scoring 15 points (1 g, 14 a). He scored his first NHL goal on December 1st, 2018, against the San Jose Sharks. The Wolf Pack open the 2022-23 season tomorrow night when they visit the Charlotte Checkers at 7:00 p.m. The club hosts its home opener on Saturday, October 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town. To run with the Pack during the 2022-23 season, visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets for information on ticket packages and to purchase single-game tickets. About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health, public safety, and more. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: OFF-SEASON HOCKEY VOLUME 11

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The 2021-2022 hockey season is inching closer with each passing moment, and more and more activity is happening as teams look to complete their rosters. The AHL released the playoff format for this coming season, and 23 of the 31 teams will make the chase for the Calder Cup. Making the playoffs until recently was the benefit to a team's and a player's hard work. Now, it's being handed out to just about everyone. Also, the three-game playoff series makes its return allowing for more playoff revenue by trying to attract the marginal hockey fan but at the same time further dilutes the AHL product and makes the regular season meaningless. Read more about it HERE. RANGERS AND WOLF PACK NEWS The Hartford Wolf Pack search for a new assistant coach to replace Gord Murphy, elevated to the New York Rangers staff as an assistant to new coach Gerard Gallant last month, has been sourced and selected. However, an announcement should be coming shortly, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. He declined to name the chosen candidate. Meanwhile, up in the Big Apple, the Rangers announced the hiring of John Lilly as the new Director of Amateur Scouting and Player Development. Lilley went to Boston University for a season-and-a-half in the early 1990s. He played in the NHL and spent the last 14 years in the same role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Lilley, a Massachusetts native, played on the 1994 US Olympic Team with current Rangers President/GM and Wolf Pack GM, Chris Drury’s older brother, ex-Hartford Whaler, Ted Drury. How this hire affects Jed Ortmeyer and Tanner Glass remains to be seen in the new organizational scheme. Forwards Tim Gettinger, Ty Ronning, and goaltender Adam Huska all received new contracts. The trio each get one-year, two-way deals. Huska will make $750K in the NHL and $80K for his season in the AHL. Gettinger and Ronning will earn the same $750K as Huska in the NHL but will get $75K in the AHL. Ex-Wolf Pack Sean Day re-signs with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a one-year, two-way deal at $750K for playing in the NHL and $100K to play in the AHL. The Rangers' new Double AA affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), lost their head coach, Jason Christie. He is no on the Buffalo Sabres' coaching staff as an Assistant Coach. Christie is the only coach in the team's franchise history and is the all-time winningest coach in ECHL history. Jacksonville team president, former CT Whale front office executive Bob Ohrablo, said a search for a new bench boss has begun. According to various reports, a new coach should be announced in about three weeks. MOVEMENT Six more AHL’ers are packing for Europe with their training camps starting in the next two weeks. Ben Street leaves the Binghamton Senators and signs with EHC Munich (Germany-DEL). Adam Mascherin departs the Texas Stars for Skellefteå AIK (Sweden-SHL). Theodor Lennestrom no longer flies with the Bakersfield Condors. He will join the Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). Skyler McKenzie of the Manitoba Moose signs with Västerviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Nathanael Halbert who played two games for the Laval Rocket goes to the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL) and Keegan Kanzig, who played eight games for the San Diego Gulls, heads to EC Salzburg (Austria-IceHL). That makes 63 total players heading overseas. Six are off to Austria, while eleven go to Germany, which is second to Russia at 17, and nine go to Sweden. Former QU Bobcat Chase Priskie signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Florida Panthers. He'll earn $750K in the NHL and$70K for play in the AHL. Greg Printz (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) signs the same deal with San Diego, and ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Mason Jobst, signs an AHL deal with the Rochester Americans. KOWALSKY JOINS BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS The New York Islanders have named Rick Kowalsky the new assistant coach for the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders and their tenured head coach, ex-Wolf Pack, Brent Thompson (Milford). Kowalsky had been with the New Jersey Devils coaching staff the past three seasons, following eight years as head coach of the Devils’ AHL affiliates in Albany and Binghamton. He guided the AHL Devils to three Calder Cup Playoff appearances in 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2015-16, Kowalsky earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach. He replaces the assistant coach of the last ten years, Eric Boguniecki (West Haven/Gunnery Prep-Westminster Prep). Boguniecki played for Bridgeport. Matt Carkner was the assistant for five years. Kowalsky served four seasons as Head Coach of New Jersey’s ECHL affiliate, the Trenton Devils and Trenton Titans.  He received the 2009 John Brophy Award as the league's top coach. The Simcoe, ON native, was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in January 2017. The Bridgeport Islanders signed their first minor league free agent. He is the sharp-shooting, swift-skating Chris Terry, who comes back from Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). He has 552 career AHL points under his belt and led the AHL in scoring with 71 points in 2017-18 in Laval’s first season at Place Bell. In addition, the Islanders re-signed five other players from last year’s squad. They include; Jeff Kubiak, Erik Brown, Felix Bibeau, Cole Coskey, and Kyle MacLean. DINEEN IN THE NEWS Former Whalers great Kevin Dineen was named the new head coach for the Utica Comets, now the New Jersey Devils affiliate. Dinneen’s contract wasn’t renewed by the Anaheim Ducks in San Diego, coaching the Gulls.  The irony is that Utica is now the new ECHL affiliate of the Adirondack Thunder. Dineen played for the Binghamton Whalers for half a season. The Dineen family has been a part of Glens Falls AHL hockey and upstate New York hockey history. As a head coach, Bill Dineen, Kevin's father, won two Calder Cups in seven years with the Adirondack Red Wings, the second coming over the New Haven Nighthawks. He was the last WHA New England Whalers head coach and a scout for two years for the NHL Whalers. Gord Dineen, Kevin's brother, coached in Rochester and was a volunteer assistant at D3 Hobart College last year. A pair of ex-Nighthawks, Peter and Shawn Dineen, played in Adirondack, and Kevin's brother Jerry was the Rangers video coach for 17 years. He was let go this summer. In his playing days, he played at SUNY-Plattsburgh, a Division III school. MORE MOVEMENT Larry Pleau, the New England Whalers (WHA) great and a one-time Hartford Whalers head coach, was also a Rangers assistant GM/Director of Player Personnel in the mid-1990s and a senior advisor to the St. Louis Blues for the last 23 years, becomes a 76-year-old “free agent” and takes a job as the new senior advisor for the Arizona Coyotes. Former Rangers head coach and New Haven Nighthawks assistant coach John Tortorella signs to be a part of ESPN's new NHL coverage team as an in-studio analyst. Ex-Wolf Pack captain/Sound Tiger Greg Moore, the current head coach with the Toronto Marlies, has added a new assistant coach, in former head coach from the Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL), John Snowden. This leaves Newfoundland-native and current resident, former New Haven Nighthawk, and Rangers assistant coach Darryl Williams, the team's assistant coach, as the only staff member left. The new AHL coaching parade sees long-time AHL assistant for eight teams, Scott Allen, named the Hershey Bears' new head coach. The Iowa Wild names Nate Dicasmirro and Nolan Yonkman as the team’s new assistant coaches. Andy Chiodo was hired as the goalie coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. AND THE CHANGES KEEP POURING IN Former Ranger Rick St. Croix, the father of two ex-Wolf Pack in Chris and Michael St. Croix, retired from the Manitoba Moose. The Moose is also in the news for hiring recently retired goalie Drew MacIntyre as the new goaltending coach and scout. He finished his career last season, winning the Japanese Hockey title with the Oji Eagles. Ex-Pack and Ranger Gordie Dwyer was hired as the new head coach of the Saint John Seadogs (QMJHL). Ex-Wolf Pack Dave MacIsaac comes back to Danbury for the third time. He was named the new head coach of Danbury Hat Tricks (FPHL). He played for the infamous UHL Trashers from 2004-2006 and was head coach of the Danbury Mad Hatters (EPHL) in 2008-09. He has coached in Louisiana (ECHL), Björninn in Iceland for two years, and was the GM of St. Jerome (LNAH). His assistant coach Adam Blanchette (Berlin/CT Clippers-MetJHL/Danbury Titans-FPHL), was hired last week. Hamden’s Mike Lee (Gunnery/Sacred Heart University) re-signs with the Indy Fuel (ECHL). Former UCONN captain Miles Gendron signs a one-year AHL two-way deal (AHL-ECHL) with the Colorado Eagles-AHL/Utah Grizzlies-ECHL for the 21-22 season. Ex-CT Whale Mike Pelech, who split last season between the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and Indy (ECHL), signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) for the 2021-22 season. Ex-Sound Tiger Justin Taylor returns to the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) after playing last season for the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL). Nick Hutchison (Avon Old Farms) goes from Indy (ECHL) to Adirondack (ECHL). AND THE SIGNING JUST KEEP COMING Greg Harney (East Haven/ND-WH) signs with Port Huron (MI) Prowlers (FPHL) after playing for four years at Framingham State (MASCAC). Ex-Pack Eric Selleck will play Canadian senior hockey for Gananoque Islanders (EOSHL) Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League. Ex-Sound Tiger David Quenneville leaves the Rapid City Rush (ECHL) for IK Oskarshmamn (Sweden-AHL). Former Whaler/Ranger Dave Barr leaves the Canada U-18 hockey program and becomes the head coach with the Vienna Capitals (Austria-IceHL). Brandon Whistle, the nephew of former Nighthawk Rob Whistle, returns to play after a year off with the Leeds Knights (England-NIHL), whose Head Coach/GM is his father, David. Brother Jackson is playing for Belfast (Northern Ireland-EIHL) this season. UCONN hockey released their full 2021-22 schedule. The first two games will be at home at the XL Center on October 2nd against Sacred Heart University (AHA), a non-conference matchup. The school's first Hockey East contest is October 8th against Boston University. Read more HERE. Jason Fortier, a long-time Junior-A coach who was head coach/GM of the Odessa (TX) Jackalopes (NAHL) last year, was named the new assistant coach with the University Maine Black Bears (HE), replacing ex-Sound Tiger Ben Guité. Guité was named the new head coach of the ECHL Maine Mariners as Riley Armstrong is heading to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to be an assistant coach. Guide’s, father Pierre, played in all seven years of the WHA. Ex-Wolf Pack Daniel Paille was upgraded from a volunteer assistant coach to a full-time assistant coach with Canisius College Golden Griffins (AHA). MORE SIGNINGS? J.D. Greenway completed his four years at Maine after transferring from Wisconsin. He signs with the Providence Bruins.  After four years at Denver University (NCHC), Jack Doremus signs with the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL), and Quin Foreman Dartmouth College (ECACHL) signs with Indy (ECHL). These signings make 26 players from Hockey East schools who signed a pro deal and 16 from the NCHC. The breakdown for the other conferences is; Big 10 has 21, AHA and ECACHL seven each, WCHA (CCHA) four, and Division I Independent Arizona State two. Ludwig Stenlund of Niagara University (AHA) heads home to play for HC Vita Hasten (Sweden-Allenesque). Ashton Stockier from Mercyhurst University (AHA) and Division III Adrian College's (NCHA) Mike Finger are both going to HCB Ticino (Switzerland-LNB). Now 82 college players have signed in North America, 33 in Europe. 118 total college players from Division I and Division III are signed to pro deals in Europe and North America. 34 underclassmen have left school early. TRANSFERS 10 more college transfers for a hectic college hockey off-season. Grant Hebert transfers from the Robert Morris University (AHA) program canceled to the University of Maine (HE). Minnesota-Mankato (CCHA) gets David Silye from Clarkson University (ECACHL) and Josh Groll from Michigan (Big 10). Tyler Ghirardosi of Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) heads to Worcester and Holy Cross (AHA). Then after his freshmen year at Bentley University (AHA), Christian Felton heads up I-90 to Merrimack College (HE). Canisius College (AHA) gets Jake Witkowski from Boston University (HE) and Randy Hernández from Robert Morris University (AHA). Miami (OH) (NCHC) gets Thomas Daskas from the Air Force Academy (AHA) and Michael Regush of Cornell University (ECACHL). Garrett Clegg goes from Robert Morris heads to D3 SUNY-Oswego (SUNYAC). 76 players have transferred this off-season. There are also 51 grad transfers for an amazing 127 players moving this collegiate off-season. RICHTERS MAKING MOVES William “Beanie” Richter, the youngest son of former Ranger goalie great Mike Richter of Greenwich, has committed to New Haven's Yale University (ECACHL) for 2023-24. The 16-year-old is currently enrolled in Brunswick School in Greenwich. Last year, Richter played just one game with the Penticton Vees (BCHL). He was also a 2020 QMJHL US Draftee by the Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) Eagles. Richter's oldest son, Tom (Greenwich/Brunswick School), also a forward, played at Penticton (BCHL) last year and will be a freshman at Union College (ECACHL) in the fall. Goalie Edvard Nordlund of the Danbury Jr Hat Tricks (NAHL) commits to UMASS-Lowell (HE). Ryan Colwell (Taft School) from the Connecticut Jr. Rangers (NCDC) commits to Albertus Magnus College (NCAA Division III Independent). Sam Mitchell (New Fairfield) commits to Western New England University (CCC) in the fall. Michael McCosh, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Senator Shawn McCosh, finishes juniors with the New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL) and commits to D3 Buffalo State (SUNYAC). COACHING MOVES The 2022 US WJC coaching staff named head coach Nate Leaman (Providence College-HE) returns for another shot at gold. Joining him are ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger Ted Donato (Harvard University-ECACHL) and Kris Mayotte (Michigan-Big 10). And add traditional rival of Michigan, Steve Miller of Ohio St. (Big 10). In addition, Theresa Feaster (Providence College-HE) returns as their video coach. The 45-player roster at the Canada Junior Development camp held at the Seven Chiefs Sports Complex in Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary features several Rangers prospects, starting with goalie Dylan Garand of the Kamloops Blazers (WHL), who's coming into his final junior year. Last year, he played two games in Hartford and the recently drafted Brennan Othmann from the Flint Firebirds (OHL). Other notables include Cole Sillinger, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), who played in Sioux City Stampede (USHL) last year and is the son of former Sound Tiger Mike Sillinger. Ridley Greig, the son of former Whaler Mark Greig, invited but not attending this camp, is giant forward 6’6 Jack Finley Spokane Chiefs (WHL) who played in Syracuse for ten games last year and is the son ex-Wolf Pack, Jeff Finley. EVEN MORE The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL), which are members of the Junior-A Canadian Junior Hockey League, announced its schedule for the 2021-22 season that will feature all 12 teams NOJHL playing a 56-game schedule and the MHL playing a 52-game schedule. Fellow junior A league member, the Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA du Quebec (QJAAAHL), which canceled its entire 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 pandemic, announced its 2021-22 season would feature 12 teams in three four-team division set-ups will play a 48-game regular season schedule. The Chambly Forts team is the only team in the league to drop out. Only nine of the NOJHL's 12 teams participated in the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season. The schedule dates remain tentative pending approval from the Canadian government and health officials because of the coronavirus. Hartford Wolf Pack HOME Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS ADD EXPERIENCE IN GARRETT THOMPSON

BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, led by head coach Andrew Lord, added significant veteran experience in the form of signing 6-foot-3, 205-pound winger Garrett Thompson to a Standard Player Contract for the 2020–21 season. Thompson, 30, has experience in nearly 400 games at the professional level. Thompson has spent the last two seasons overseas and won a championship in the process. He scored 9 points in 19 playoff games with Frisk Asker in Norway to capture the Norwegian championship. Last season he played for HKM Zvolen in Slovakia's top hockey league. "I've heard that Greenville is an unreal city. I talked to people I know around the league that has been through there, and based on that, I made the decision to stay in the United States this year," Thompson said. "I had a lot of interest in Greenville knowing that Andrew Lord was going to be the head coach, and Todd Mackin and Spire came on board. That is a lot of drive for those that want to win and have a winning culture. Ideally, that's what it came down to." Thompson put in the work in the ECHL and the AHL out of Ferris State University. He played for the Binghamton Senators after signing an entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators organization after the conclusion of his collegiate career, followed by the Fort Wayne Komets, San Antonio Rampage, and Iowa Wild over the course of playing in North America starting in the spring of 2014. Read the full article

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CHAIMOVICH: AHL ANNOUNCES NEW INDUCTEES INTO AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE HALL OF FAME

Click here for complete release including inductee statistics (PDF) BY: Jason Chaimovich, AHL SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced the four people selected for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as the Class of 2019. Honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the 14th group of enshrinees are John Anderson, Don Cherry, Murray Eaves, and Brad Smyth. “For more than 80 years, the American Hockey League has been built upon a foundation of excellence,” said David Andrews, AHL President, and Chief Executive Officer. “The AHL Board of Governors is proud to unanimously endorse the Selection Committee’s recommendation for the induction of these four individuals into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as the Class of 2019.” The Class of 2019 will be honored as part of the festivities at the 2019 Lexus AHL All-Star Classic presented by MGM Springfield, hosted by the Springfield Thunderbirds. The American Hockey League Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for January 28, 2019. Formed in 2006 to recognize, honor and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League, the AHL Hall of Fame is housed online at ahlhalloffame.com and is accessible to fans worldwide with the click of a mouse as part of the AHL Internet Network. In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters, and staff of all 31 National Hockey League teams. More than 87 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers. In 2017-18, over 6 million fans attended AHL regular-season and playoff games across North America for the 17th year in a row. CLASS OF 2019: JOHN ANDERSON John Anderson spent most of his 17-year playing career in the National Hockey League, but he made his mark coaching with the Chicago Wolves. A Toronto native, Anderson was drafted by his hometown Maple Leafs in the first round in 1977 and went on to skate in more than 800 games in the NHL with Toronto, Quebec, and Hartford. As his playing days wound down, Anderson made a brief debut appearance in the AHL with the Binghamton Whalers in 1989-90 before spending a memorable 1991-92 campaign as a player/assistant coach in New Haven. With the Nighthawks that year, Anderson scored 41 goals and collected 54 assists, finishing with 95 points and a plus-42 rating in just 68 games. He was voted a First Team AHL All-Star at left wing, the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the league’s most valuable player, and the recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey. Anderson joined the coaching ranks full-time in 1995 and was hired by the Chicago Wolves in 1997. He led the Wolves to two Turner Cup championships before the franchise joined the American Hockey League, and won a third championship in the Wolves’ inaugural AHL season by becoming the first – and still only – team to win five playoff series en route to the Calder Cup. Anderson and the Wolves returned to the Finals in 2005 and followed a 111-point regular season by winning the franchise’s second Calder Cup and fourth league title in 2008. Following stints as head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers and assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes, Anderson came back to the Wolves in 2013 and spent three more seasons in Chicago, capturing another division crown in 2013-14. He returned to the NHL in 2016 and served for two seasons as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild. Anderson ranks fifth in league history with 424 victories and seventh with 788 games over 10 seasons as a head coach in the AHL. He won three division titles and had seven 40-win seasons and four 100-point campaigns, and was behind the bench for two AHL All-Star Classics as well. CLASS OF 2019: DON CHERRY One of the most recognizable personalities in all of Canada, Don Cherry was a standout defenseman and award-winning coach in the American Hockey League before he ever sat behind the Coach’s Corner desk. Cherry’s prolific career as a defenseman included 767 games in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, the Springfield Indians, and the Rochester Americans, collecting 259 points and racking up more than 1,000 penalty minutes. The Kingston, Ontario, native signed his first professional contract with the Bears in 1954 and played 63 games as a rookie – plus one playoff contest with the Boston Bruins, in what would be the only NHL appearance of his career. Cherry joined owner Eddie Shore’s Springfield club in 1957 and helped the Indians reach their first Calder Cup Finals in 1958, and then secure their first championship in 1960. Cherry brought his rock-’em, sock-’em style of play to Rochester in 1963 and the Amerks were soon the class of the league, reaching four consecutive Calder Cup Finals and winning championships in 1965, 1966 and 1968. He settled in western New York after retiring in 1969, and after two years away from hockey, he rejoined the Amerks as a player-coach in January of 1972. Rochester finished strong in 1972, qualified for the playoffs in 1973 and then posted the best record in the league in 1974, earning Cherry the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s coach of the year. Cherry went on to coach the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies in the National Hockey League, and since 1980 has been an iconic commentator on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. CLASS OF 2019: MURRAY EAVES Forward Murray Eaves was one the American Hockey League’s premier scorers during a career that spanned 15 professional seasons. Selected by Winnipeg in the 1980 NHL Draft after a record-setting season at the University of Michigan, Eaves made his debut in the AHL with the Sherbrooke Jets in 1982 and was a shining star despite playing on consecutive last-place teams. Eaves collected 174 points in 118 contests over his first two AHL seasons, including a 115-point campaign and First Team AHL All-Star honors in 1983-84. Fortunes turned in 1984-85 when the Montreal Canadiens joined the Jets to form a dual affiliation in Sherbrooke. Eaves notched 68 points in 47 regular-season games and added 18 points in the playoffs as Sherbrooke captured the 1985 Calder Cup championship. Following a 73-point campaign in 1985-86, Eaves was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers and spent a season in Nova Scotia before signing with Detroit. Eaves would continue to be a dominant offensive force with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings, leading them in scoring in each of his three seasons with the team. In 1988-89, Eaves finished second in the entire AHL with 118 points to earn a Second Team AHL All-Star nod and then tacked on 13 goals and 25 points in the playoffs as Adirondack captured the Calder Cup. One of only two players in league history to record at least 115 points in a season twice, Eaves finished his AHL career with eight 20-goal seasons, three 40-goal campaigns and 680 points in 536 contests, making him the AHL’s all-time leader in points per game (1.27) among players with at least 400 games played. He was also a two-time winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey (1989, 1990). CLASS OF 2019: BRAD SMYTH Brad Smyth was one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in American Hockey League history, showing an incredible knack for finding the net during an era when goaltenders were becoming more dominant. "Shooter" began his pro career in the Florida Panthers organization and made his AHL debut in a three-game stint with the Springfield Falcons in January of 1995. He joined the Carolina Monarchs for his first full AHL campaign in 1995-96 and scored twice on opening night, the beginning of a historic season that saw Smyth put up 68 goals in 68 games for the Monarchs. He added 58 assists for 126 points to run away with the AHL scoring title and earn league MVP honors. After getting a taste of the National Hockey League in Florida and Los Angeles, Smyth was acquired by the New York Rangers in 1997 and helped the Hartford Wolf Pack reach the conference finals, notching 62 points in 57 regular-season games and a team-high 12 goals in the playoffs. Smyth split the following season between the Rangers and Nashville Predators organizations, then helped Hartford to a Calder Cup championship in 2000, leading the Wolf Pack with 39 goals in the regular season and 13 more in the playoffs. In 2000-01, Smyth scored 50 again, reaching the milestone on the final weekend of the season and earning a First Team AHL All-Star nod – an honor he would receive again the following year. Smyth was reunited with head coach John Paddock with the Binghamton Senators in 2002 and helped the first-year club reach the conference finals. He spent the 2004-05 season with the Manchester Monarchs and returned for a third stint in Hartford in 2006, completing his final AHL season with 34 goals and 86 points for his fifth career top-10 finish in the scoring race. Ranking 12th in league history with 326 career goals, Smyth registered 667 points in 610 regular-season games over his AHL career. He is one of six AHL players ever to hit the 50-goal mark twice and one of seven players ever to lead the league in goals on two separate occasions and is also ranked sixth all-time with 46 career postseason goals. Read the full article