#ColeCassels

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CANTLON: WOLF PACK UPEND UTICA, 3-1

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - In what could have been a preview of a possible playoff game, the Hartford Wolf Pack continued their home ice winning ways beating the Utica Comets 3-1 in a spirited, well-played contest between two of this season's most-improved AHL teams. “Both games this weekend were like playoff games. Last night in Providence, a big divisional game, usually there can be a let down the next game. There wasn’t tonight," said Pack head coach, Kris Knoblauch. "The first period tonight was probably our best period of the year and our goaltender (Adam Huska) played so well when they had a big push in the second period.” The Wolf Pack record improves to 21-8-2-5 (49 points). They move four points ahead of the second place, Hershey Bears, who were 2-1 winners over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Wolf Pack will visit Hershey on Wednesday. “Both teams played well. We both wanted the points and we got it,” Huska, who picked up his sixth win of the season, said. The third period, like the two that proceeded it, was a back-and-forth affair as each team sought an important goal. For Hartford, they were looking to add some cushion, while for the Comets, the goal was to tie the game. The Pack used a five-minute major power play to their advantage and got their cushion goal. However, a four-on-four situation developed during the major and the Wolf Pack used the open space to their advantage as well. A great passing sequence began with Darren Raddysh making a superb outlet pass to Matt Beleskey. The former Boston Bruin then put a perfect tape-to-tape pass to Phil Di Giuseppe who split then Utica defense like the Red Sea and deposited his 11th of the season into the net at 11:25. “I was actually yelling at Raddzy to pass it to me,” Di Giuseppe said. He was ribbing his teammates with mock surprise about his “poor” passing skills. “It was a pretty bad pass to Beleskey, who luckily got a bouncer from the whole length of the ice.” As he continued to laugh with Raddysh nattily-attired in a fisherman’s knit cap and bow-tie waiting for him to finish in the locker room. The whole advantage came out of a wild sequence of events. The shift before, behind the play, Di Giuseppe made an outlet pass. After releasing the puck, Di Giuseppe got steamrolled by the Comets' Vincent Arseneau and then left in a heap at the Pack blue line on the right wing. Pack defenseman Mason Geersten was in the neighborhood and wasted little time in challenging him. The two had a spirited bout that Geersten got the better of. In the meantime, while the action went on behind him, Danny O’Regan still sought out the cushion goal and was initially stopped by a sensational Michael DiPietro (37 saves) at 9:21. The play is emblematic of how this group of players have become a team. “We really understand each other on-and-off the ice. We all know our jobs on the team, and it's always fun in the locker room,” remarked Huska. The Comets tested the Wolf Pack in the second period. “We were flying in the first, and they woke up in the second and they started pushing us, but our defense played well,” said Huska (26 saves). Huska had little work in the first period but got plenty after as the Comets flew all around him. They out-shot the Pack 16-14. Huska stopped 15 of Utica’s attempts. Wacey Hamilton, Reid Boucher and Dylan Bljus were all denied by Huska on excellent opportunities. “They were pushing from the side and coming right to the front of the net. My defense helped out on the rebounds, It's all a goalie can ask for,” said Huska. The Wolf Pack had their chances to get the third goal. Geersten left point drive was stopped, Tim Gettinger at 8:30 was open, but the full effect of his chance was stopped because of slash called on Guillaume Brisebois. Nick Jones and Patrick Newell were stopped on a two-on-one. and Vinni Lettieri and defenseman, Nick Ebert, had solid chances. DiPietro kept them out of the net for Utica. The Comets finally were able to get one past Huska. It came off a rebound from a hard shot by Kole Lind. Huska stopped a shot with his right arm, but it came right back to the wrong guy, Boucher, who quickly put it past the Pack netminder at 16:04. It was his 21st goal to narrow the Wolf Pack lead to 2-1. The Wolf Pack grabbed the first lead on a seemingly simple play. Boo Nieves won the initial offensive zone draw and the Wolf Pack maintained possession of the biscuit. Raddysh came up the left-wing boards and sent a short pass to Nieves who curled to the top of the left wing face-off circle. He saw two Wolf Pack players converging in the slot and launched a shot toward the net. “Those were two solid plays on that goal. Boo made a real nice move, and Vinni, great skill to finish on that play,” said Knoblauch Lettieri made a mid-chest (legal) re-direct with his stick that DiPietro had zero chance on at 4:08. For Lettieri, it was his 13th goal of the season and second in two games. The Wolf Pack would extend their lead to 2-0. O’Regan was behind the net and found Vincent LoVerde coming off the left point into the face-off circle. The right-handed shooter wired a perfect wrist shot to the short-side high over DiPietro’s right shoulder at 7:41. Two small plays made this goal happen. First Raddysh, who was at the right point, kept the puck in. He fed Di Giuseppe who perfectly reversed along the right wing boards. He went around the back the net and up the left wing boards and gave it O’Regan. “I was just able to squeeze some space and get it to Danny and he made the pass and Vinny made a great shot there and this is something we could build on in the game,” remarked Di Giuseppe. LINES: Nieves - Gettinger - Lettieri O’Regan - Kravtsov - Di Giuseppe Jones - Beleskey - Gropp Zerter-Gossage - Newell - McBride Raddysh - LoVerde Keane - Geersten Rykov - Ebert SCRATCHES: Ryan Dmowski (Healthy) Jeff Taylor (Healthy) Lias Andersson (Suspension) Gabriel Fontaine (Season-ending shoulder surgery) NOTES: The three A’s were worn by LoVerde, Nieves and Beleskey. Lettieri registered his first goal in six games against Providence the night before. His last one came on December 17th in Charlotte against the Checkers. It was his first multi-point effort in eleven games and ironically that was against Providence on December 8th. Two AHL All-Star selections will come from Hartford. Rookie Joey Keane made the the starting lineup. Goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is playing in his first year as a goalie in North America, is also heading to the All Star Game Classic in Ontario, CA at the end of the month. Shesterkin joins Wolf Pack history as the third first-year goalie to earn the honor. The others were Kazakhstan native, Vitali Yeremeyev, in 2000-01 in his one only year in Hartford. He is now a goalie coach with Dynamo Moscow (Russia - KHL). The other is Robb Stauber, who in 1997-98, the Pack’s first season, who was recently selected to be an Honorary Captain at the All-Star Classic in Ontario, CA. The two parent clubs met late last night as Vancouver beat the Rangers 2-1 scoring a goal in the first minute of the game and the last minute of the game. The Rangers finished 1-3 on their Canadian road trip. Steven Fogarty’s ice time during his four games in New York have been 3:25 in Toronto, 8:46 in Edmonton, 5:40 in Calgary, and 3:16 in Vancouver. He has just one shot on goal and one hit in those four games. Boucher saw his league best 16-game point scoring streak end last night at home in a 3-2 loss to Springfield. Boucher is now tied for the AHL scoring lead with Drake Batherson of Belleville, each has 41 points. Boucher’s 21 goals are second. Gerald Mayhew of Iowa has 23. The WJC medal games tomorrow are a Scandinavian final battle for Bronze between Sweden and Finland. Then another chapter in the Gold medal game between Canada and Russia. Former Utica Comet, Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels, was released by Belleville earlier in the week signs an AHL deal with Wilkes Barre/Scranton for the rest of the year. WOLF PACK FAN JERSEY OF THE NIGHT: A #39 Dan Cloutier and a real blast from the past. #34 Mike Martin, who played just the first year of the Wolf Pack. A #44, Whalers Dave Babych jersey and two QMJHL jerseys. #8 Samuel Thibault of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who's now with Norfolk (ECHL) and the very classy unique red and gold of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan jersey. #55 of Guillaume Brisebois who plays for Utica. A third jersey of the Maine Mariners, the Wolf Pack Double AA affiliate, a gorgeous powder blue Maine Blueberries #27 of captain Zach Tolkinen, the ex-QU Bobcat who played nine games in Hartford last year. Read the full article

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The holidazzzze and all the trimmings are treating me oh-so-kind. Wishing ery’bawdy the very same as I’m feelin the LoVe! I had a sweet somebody awful near and dear that clearly knows me & my latest sonic fantasies!! BiG thanks to @colecassell & @basseverynight for the inspiration!! Music & MaGic? To be continued… 🦄🎶🎻🖤🤤
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CANTLON: WOLF PACK RETURN HOME

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Their Hartford Wolf Pack's recent four-game road trip didn’t yield the desired points result, but regardless, there was still progress made on the young season as the team sits atop the entire AHL, two feats the team has not accomplished in over six years. A three-in-three this weekend begins with two home games starting Friday night at 7:15 pm with the Hershey Bears, who last season, owned the Wolf Pack Pack as they won five-of-their-six games and taking all three in Hartford. As part of a hockey doubleheader Saturday night, one of last weekend’s opponents, the Belleville Senators, take the ice at 7:30 pm following a UConn hockey game. On Sunday afternoon, the team gets on the team hits the bus to travel to Providence for their first meeting with the Bruins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at 3:00 pm. “We got only two out of a possible six points, which isn’t good. We lost two in the shootout and didn’t score in either of the shootouts. The positive was that we did score late to force overtime and we have several of these (games) where we haven’t given up. We have persevered and shown desperation. We just need to play an entire game like that,” remarked head coach, Kris Knoblauch. While the shootout is a gimmicky way to decide a hockey game, it does factor in a team earning points and the Pack have had an early season struggle with it. The Wolf Pack worked on it at the end of Wednesday's practice. “Usually you have three or four guys in this. We have one player, we think has a really good move, but let's face it, the advantage is to the goalies. They know what to expect and right now the coaching staff is looking to see who is comfortable, and today we practiced it and think we have a better understanding,” commented Knoblauch. Pack captain, Steven Fogarty, has seen the low times in Hartford. He takes a philosophical approach to the early season success and the lessons that still need to be learned. “This a very good league, and your not going to win every game, but we have had a pretty good run here. Its great to see how we battled back to force overtime. Those were two good teams (Laval and Belleville) and we picked up two points. This weekend's its three different teams and the opportunity is there.” Goalie Igor Shesterkin is off to a great start. One reason is that he is just as competitive in practice as he is in a game as he just gave up a single tally while his counterpart, Adam Huska, registered just two. As a player, it has to be tough to practice something you're struggling with when you are going up against two players who are playing as well as Shesterkin and Huska are. “He (Igor) give us a lot of confidence back there in net, as does Adam, who has played well. Igor’s numbers speak for themselves. When you're playing against some of the best, you hope you learn a few things that will make it easier against the other (goalies) when you get the chance,” Fogarty said with a laugh. The Wolf Pack power play is clearly in a funk. They have registered just 4 tallies in 50 chances and sit at the bottom of the AHL at a hideous 8.0%. “Two things come to mind regarding our power play, our entries and our passing. Those two areas have failed us. We're not getting into the zone cleanly, or often enough. In the offense zone, you just to have to make simple passes and you want to move fast. To move fast you have to pass the puck. "When you have both of those going, you're gonna be in position to take some good shots. The first two steps, we haven’t gotten a passing grade yet,” Knoblauch, who has been known as having strong power play credentials, stated. One player on top of his game with his shot is Vinni Lettieri. Despite leading the team with 10 points in 12 games, he's off to a slow start. His usual lights-out positioning, and powerful shot on the power play has not been in evidence. He's registered three goals total and just a 9.1% shooting percentage. “When you’re a goalscorer like him, you want him to take shots, but not low percentage shots that can lead to puck turnovers. You have possession and you take a shot that is not likely to go in you're then expending energy going back down to defend or retrieve the puck back. "Against Belleville, he had six shots, five, which were outstanding (chances), one hit the goalie in the shoulder, and another chance just went over the crossbar. That Vinni that I saw shooting in Belleville is the Vinni that I want.” Knoblauch has no complaints about his goaltending tandem, nor should he. What’s not broken doesn't need fixing. Shesterkin will start Friday with Huska in the net on Saturday night. NOTES: The Pack’s first injury belongs goes to veteran Matt Beleskey (upper body) who will be out for the weekend. His injury led to the recall of Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery Prep) from the team's ECHL affiliates, the Maine Mariners, where he had five points in six games. The Pack PK is doing very well. They are ranked sixth best in the league at 88.6%. The Hershey lineup is complete with Joe Snively (Yale University), who has been overhauled from last season. The back-end of a home-and-home between UConn and Boston College will be at 3:30 pm on Saturday with the possibility of seeing Darien CT-native, Darien-native, Spencer Knight (Avon Old Farms), As a former NHL first-round draft pick for the Florida Panthers when the Eagles takes on the Huskies. UConn is in of the year. Belleville got ex-BC Eagle Colin White from Ottawa yesterday while Cole Cassels, son of the ex-Whaler Andrew Cassels,  He had a goal and an assist against Hartford last week. Another Ex-BC Eagle, and the youngest son of Hartford Whalers' great Ulf Samuelsson, Adam Samuelsson, has signed with a Canadian major junior team, the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). They drafted him in 2016 in the fifth round (95th overall) in the OHL Priority Draft. He was playing with USHL Sioux City Musketeers after leaving BC last year. He can no longer play US collegiate hockey. Former Wolf Pack, Dylan McIlrath, was recalled from Grand Rapids by the Detroit Red Wings and played against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. The Blueshirts took the game 5-1. Riley Stillman, the grandson of ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Bud Stefanski, was returned to the Springfield  Thunderbirds by the Florida Panthers. Ex-CT Whale, Jayson Megna, was sent down to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) from the parent Colorado Avalanche. Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Justin Taylor, heads up from Kalamazoo (ECHL) to the Utica Comets. Ex-Yale Bulldog, Ryan Hitchcock, who played 52 games with Worcester (ECHL) and 36 AHL games with Bridgeport, has announced his retirement from pro hockey according to CT Post’s Mike Fornabaio. Another ex-Yale Bulldog, Ted Hart, is loaned from Peoria (SPHL) to Maine (ECHL). Ex-Pack, Josh Wesley, was reassigned to Tulsa (ECHL) from San Antonio. Ex-Danbury Trashers Drew Omicioli (Loomis Chaffe Prep) is the new junior head coach for the South Shore Kings (USPHL). Tyler Boucher, the son of former NHL goalie, Brian Boucher, and a former Avon Old Farms Winged Beaver, is now playing for the US National Development Team-USNDTP (USHL) and the US National U-17 Team. Boucher has committed to Boston University (HE) for 2021-22. Read the full article

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CANTLON: PACK LOSE IN A SHOOTOUT TO LAVAL

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings LAVAL, QUEBEC - After a truly hard fought 65 minutes of Sunday afternoon hockey, the Hartford Wolf Pack saw Alex Belizle scoring the lone goal in the shootout to give the Laval Rocket a 2-1 win. Belizle used a delayed toe drag and then flipped a backhander past Wolf Pack netminder, Adam Huska. Ice bags would be necessary for both teams in this highly physical contest that took nearly three hours to play. The third period saw the two teams push hard to score the second goal. The Wolf Pack thought they had a game winning goal when defenseman, Mason Geersten, was in front of the net only to have his first shot stopped by Cayden Primeau. On his second chance, Geersten was knocked into Primeau by Laval’s Antoine Waked with 8:16 left. The red light was on and the Wolf Pack were celebrating, but a little prematurely as the referees and lineman consulted and waved off the goal for a crease violation. They looked at the video board showing a replay and denied Geersten the game winner and what would have been a, "Gordie Howe Hat Trick." Wolf Pack head coach, Kris Knoblauch, raced down the bench screaming at the officials Connor O’Donnell, and Carter Sandlak. He was very unhappy with their decision when asked about it in the post game. “’We thought we had scored the go-ahead goal. The arena puts the replay on the screen (video board), which they are not allowed to do (when its under review). The referees are looking at that replay, so they changed their minds. "I’m very frustrated. We worked so hard, and played so hard, to have it taken away like that,” Knoblauch said while doing his best to contain himself. When asked if a notice would be sent by the team to the league, Knoblauch replied, “The league has already commented on it, that it was the wrong play (call) very simply, they (the officials) messed up." Geersten had a jagged Zorro-like cut on his nose and was a bear on his skates as he made his presence felt all night. He was stoic about the events as he headed for post game medical treatment. “They're a quick, fast team out there. It was a pretty physical, chippy game. I really thought I had it there,” He said. The defensive duo of Geersten and Joey Keane were excellent from the start of the game and on both ends of the ice. “They were both so good out there all night. Defensively, being physical, and offensively they were solid. Geersten obviously has the reputation of being a physical defenseman. (Joey) Keane doesn’t get enough recognition for his play as a physical defenseman. He’s always giving his body laying it down out there and finishing his checks. Those two were just outstanding.” After a long stretch with the Wolf Pack tightening the defensive screws, Huska came up with a ten-bell-ringer save on Jake Evans. Huska was ready as Evans was in the right wing circle and dove forward and getting a piece of the shot with just 1:12 remaining in regulation. “I was just lucky there. I threw myself out there,” Huska said with a Cheshire cat smile. It was a skill move by the humble rookie goalie to make that stop. At the start of the second period, the Pack continued their late first period progress and tied the game just 49 seconds into the second frame. Keane was at the right point and took his defensive partner's pass and just sent it on net where it eluded Primeau, who was screened by Matt Beleskey. For Keane, it was his team leading fifth of the season. “It was a good, low shot on net, and it was made possible by the screen of Beleskey taking away Primeau’s eyes. He doesn’t get the assist, but that play made it possible,” Knoblauch said of the veteran winger. Huska was named the game’s Third Star and was able to repel several of Laval's wide open chances. Matt Peca, the one time Quinnipiac University product, is off to a slow start. He's a minus-six through five games. He had a solid goal scoring opportunity at 8:18 off a breakaway chance that Huska denied Then he made another gorgeous pad save on Ryan Poehling’s wide open chance. With 3:01 remaining, Huska stopped Michael McCarron twice, the second time coming with a screen from ex-Pack, Dale Weise. Vejdemos' backhanded attempt was denied by Huska's left pad and then he was denied again a shot from the left wing side. “In the second period, we gave up way too many quality chances. Adam was just sensational. We’ve had a lot success so far this season because of our goaltending,” commented Knoblauch. The game was physical and a chippy contest from the outset. There was plenty of hitting with skirmishes breaking out several times in the second period as both teams had played three times in the last eight days with animosity getting well-established. Geersten was in the middle of it. After hitting Laval’s Jake Evans with a clean hard hit, in the left wing corner, he turned and dropped his gloves knowing somebody was coming. Anthony Waked was outmatched against the much bigger player. On the next shift, Vinni Lettieri and Weise jostled each other and near the end of the period Danny O’Regan was hit with a double minor for high sticking. Vejdemos tried to wrestle him to the ice with 7.5 seconds left in the period. The Rocket started their game picking up were they left off in the last one with a 7-2 shot advantage over the first half of the opening period. Huska was in top form, especially on Victor Olofsson’s open blade redirect that looked like it had the top shelf. Huska made a strong lateral save using his right shoulder to make the stop. Alex Belizle followed with a quality opportunity from 20-feet-out several seconds later. “I felt pretty good today. It was the best I felt so far in the AHL. I saw him coming backdoor and I knew he was gonna pass it to him. I just waited for him to make that pass,” Huska said ever so nonchalantly of the superb play. The Rocket's next shift and next shop came with the shot hitting the back of the net. Former Quinnipiac University product, Matt Peca, came down the left wing and got a gift as Vincent LoVerde’s clearing attempt hit the metal stanchion and the puck came right to him. From 15-feet out he made the pass to Antoine Waked who found the puck through a maze of players, and then registered his first goal at 12:28. Waked was just recalled from Adirondack (ECHL) and earned a half bear hug from head coach ex-Pack, Joel Bouchard. At that point, the Pack needed a quick pick-me-up and Mason Geersten tried his best to please his teammates. First, he challenged Michael McCarron in front of the Pack bench and he wouldn’t go. He got him with a high-stick earlier and was cut that neither official called. Then his next shifty he lined up Waked for a good clean hard hit at center ice that was amazingly called a roughing penalty. The Pack killed off the chance and then got a surprising late power play chance as Laval got their man-advantage. It looked like Keane and Belizle had dropped the mitts after a collision near the Pack blue line, but the linesman stepped in but gave Belizle got the extra two for a crosscheck. That woke up the Pack offense. They went on to launch six shots on net before finally forcing Primeau, the son the ex-Whaler Keith to have to work. Phil DiGuiseppe fired two and Matt Beleskey had one. The two teams don’t meet again till Valentine’s Day. Pretty safe bet that they will not be exchanging candy or flowers. PACK LINES: Nieves-Beleskey-Di Giuseppe Gettinger-Lettieri-Fogarty O’Regan-Fontaine-Newell Jones-Meskanen-Zerter-Gossage LoVerde-Raddysh Taylor-Ebert Geersten-Keane SCRATCHES: Sean Day Ty Ronning NOTES: The Wolf Pack power outage on the power play continues as the team went 0-for-6 with their success rate dropping to an abysmal 8.8%. When asked if Geersten had had any "Gordie Howe Hat Tricks" in his career, he responded with a laugh saying, “Had a few in juniors none yet in the pro’s. Thought I had one tonight.” One of the first "Gordie Howe Hat Tricks" in Wolf Pack history came from big Steve McIntyre in Hershey circa 2004-05. Weise was in the opening lineup with McCarron and Charles Hudon. Igor Shesterkin continues to produce strong numbers in the AHL on par with what he did in the KHL. He was rewarded with being named, "The CCM/AHL Goaltender for the Month of October." In six games, Shesterkin has a 5-1-0 record, with the AHL's fifth best GAA of 1.49. He's surrendered just nine goals. The three he allowed on Wednesday were the most in any of his six games. He also sports a .942 save percentage, good for the AHL's sixth best. The Russian rookie is not classified as such because of his time in the KHL. He has the AHL's sixth highest minutes played at 363:19 behind only Cal Petersen (Ontario), Garrett Sparks (Toronto), Ville Husso (San Antonio), Casey DeSmith (Wilkes Barre/Scranton) and Chris Dreidger (Springfield). Shesterkin will start Saturday night in Belleville. Ex-Pack, Josh Wesley, was recalled from Tulsa (ECHL) from San Antonio. Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels, was loaned from Utah (ECHL) to Belleville, where the Wolf Pack play tomorrow night at the CAA Arena. After five games, ex-Pack, Shawn O’Donnell, has three points. He has left Allen (ECHL). The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their roster shuffle to remain cap compliant and it affects their AHL farm team, the Toronto Dreidger. Nic Petan was reassigned this morning after playing just four games with the Leafs. He had two goals and an assist against Belleville in a 7-4 win where he played on a line with former Yale Bulldog, Kenny Agostino. The team also traded former Canadiens farmhand, Ryan Johnston, to the San Diego Gulls. He was with Montreal for two years. Johnston was in Sweden last year with Mora IK, but the Leafs signed him to a one year AHL-deal in July. He has yet to play this year. Johnston played ten games with no points over two seasons with Montreal and played on the last two of the Canadiens' farm teams in St. John’s. The Flyers sent down Big Samuel Morin, and recalled three players from Lehigh Valley in German Rubtsov, Carsen Twarynski, and Philippe Myers. Tanner Jago was recalled by Texas from Idaho (ECHL). After just nine games, ex-Sound Tiger, Mike Sislo, had three assists with EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL). He has requested that his contract be dissolved and he announced his retirement because of a back injury. He played 483 games in the AHL, mostly with Albany, but he has also spent time with San Antonio, Toronto, Tucson, and Bridgeport. Future Wolf Pack center, Karl Henriksson, a second round pick (59th overall) last summer by Vancouver was elevated from Frolunda HC J-20 (Super Elite) to Sodertalje SK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Henriksson is off to a strong start. In 17 games, he has 18 assists and 23 points for Frolunda and is now playing in the second highest league in Sweden as an 18 year old. He had a very strong camp in Traverse City opening the eyes of many. More than likely, Henriksson will be on the Swedish WJC team in December when the annual Christmas time hockey tourney hits the Czech Republic in Ostrava, and Trinec. While currently unsigned don’t be surprised next spring when his Swedish season is done, he will be pulling a Wolf Pack sweater over his head. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: SENATORS OVERCOME WOLF PACK IN SHOOTOUT

Belleville Senators 5, Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (SO) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Belleville, Ontario, November 2, 2019 – The Hartford Wolf Pack finished a three-game Canadian road trip with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Belleville Senators Saturday night at CAA Arena. The Wolf Pack finished the trip 0-1-0-2, but gained at least a standings point Saturday for the 11th time in 12 games on the season (8-1-0-3). Joey Keane’s team-leading sixth goal of the season tied the game for the Wolf Pack with 54.5 seconds left in regulation time and goaltender Igor Shesterkin on the bench for an extra attacker. Nick Ebert and Steven Fogarty had a goal and an assist each for Hartford, and Patrick Newell scored his first pro goal.  Jordan Szwarz had a goal and an assist for Belleville, and scored the only goal of the shootout, and Cole Cassels added a goal and an assist. “That was big, at the end, to score that goal, something we definitely need, a key goal,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said.  “Hopefully that goal can give us some confidence moving forward.” The Wolf Pack jumped ahead twice in the first period, but the Senators replied both times. Fogarty opened the scoring 2:28 into the game, going to the front of the net and deflecting a pass from the right-wing boards by Ebert past Belleville goaltender Filip Gustavsson (33 saves). Michael Carcone tied the game at one exactly eight minutes later, at 10:28.  After Shesterkin (32 saves) made a sharp stop on one Senator chance, Carcone was able to poke the rebound inside the goalpost to Shesterkin’s left. Ebert, a former Senator, got the lead right back for the Wolf Pack at 12:10, just 1:43 after Carcone’s goal.  Ville Meskanen worked the puck to Ebert high in the slot, and he snapped a shot past Gustavsson on the glove side. The Senators equalized again, though, with 1:08 remining in the frame.  Szwarz rushed up the left side, battling Darren Raddysh to get to the middle.  Shesterkin stopped Szwarz’s close-in shot, but Jonathan Davidsson, trailing the play, jumped on the rebound and banged it in. Belleville then took its first lead of the game at 5:45 of the second period, on a shorthanded goal by Szwarz.  He poked the puck away from Keane in center ice and then fended Keane off as Szwarz bore towards the Wolf Pack net, ultimately flicking a shot just inside the post on Shesterkin’s glove side. Then it was the Wolf Pack’s turn to come back, and they leveled the score at three at 8:41, just three seconds after an interference minor to Jack Daugherty expired.  Newell finished the play, dunking in a Phil DiGiuseppe pass from the left side of the goal mouth. The Senators went ahead again at 6:59 of the third on a goal by Cassels, who was playing his first AHL game of the season after joining Belleville from Utah of the ECHL.  An Ebert pass attempt from below his own goal line got through DiGiuseppe, and Cassels found the loose puck and wired it past Shesterkin from the slot. The Wolf Pack’s comeback hopes took a hit when Boo Nieves was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking with only 2:08 left in the third, but during that power play, Belleville’s Drake Batherson was called for high-sticking at 18:35.  That made it a 4-on-4, and the Wolf Pack pulled Shesterkin for a 5-on-4 skater advantage. After the Wolf Pack won an offensive-zone draw, Fogarty sent the puck cross-ice to Vinni Lettieri at the right-wing faceoff dot, and he dropped it back to Keane high in the slot.  He sent a long shot that was deflected in front of the goal and eluded Gustavsson for the tie. “That’s absolutely a talent, getting shots on net, not getting blocked,” Knoblauch said of the rookie defenseman Keane’s early goal-scoring success.  “He’s found ways, and you could say, yeah, there’s some luck, but there’s a lot of skill to that too.” Belleville had a power play in overtime, on the carry-over time of Nieves’ penalty from the third, and then the Wolf Pack got a man advantage when Alex Formenton was called for tripping with two minutes left, but neither man-advantage unit could click. Szwarz scored on Belleville’s first shootout attempt, and that stood up as the difference.  Shesterkin stopped the next two Senator shooters, Josh Norris and Batherson, but Fogarty, Lettieri, and Meskanen, were all denied by Gustavsson. The Wolf Pack are back on home ice at the XL Center for their next action, this Friday, November 8, a 7:15 PM game vs. the Hershey Bears.  Once again this season, all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. Tickets for  all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 4 at Belleville Senators 5 (SO) Saturday, November 2, 2019 - CAA Arena Hartford  2 1 1 0 - 4 Belleville  2 1 1 0 - 5 1st Period-1, Hartford, Fogarty 2 (Ebert, Taylor), 2:28. 2, Belleville, Carcone 3 (Cassels, Labrie), 10:28. 3, Hartford, Ebert 2 (Meskanen, Zerter-Gossage), 12:10. 4, Belleville, Davidsson 1 (Szwarz, Dougherty), 18:52. Penalties-Labrie Bel (slashing), 13:07; Di Giuseppe Hfd (hooking), 15:03. 2nd Period-5, Belleville, Szwarz 2   5:45 (SH). 6, Hartford, Newell 1 (Di Giuseppe, Jones), 8:41. Penalties-Formenton Bel (hooking), 5:06; Dougherty Bel (interference), 6:38; Taylor Hfd (tripping), 17:00. 3rd Period-7, Belleville, Cassels 1 (Sturtz, Dougherty), 6:59. 8, Hartford, Keane 6 (Lettieri, Fogarty), 19:06. Penalties-Di Giuseppe Hfd (high-sticking), 1:52; Dougherty Bel (interference), 14:48; Nieves Hfd (double minor - high-sticking), 17:52; Batherson Bel (high-sticking), 18:35. OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Formenton Bel (high-sticking), 3:00. Shootout - Hartford 0 (Fogarty NG, Lettieri NG, Meskanen NG), Belleville 1 (Szwarz G, Norris NG, Batherson NG). Shots on Goal-Hartford 10-11-13-3-0-37. Belleville 13-10-11-2-1-37. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 5; Belleville 0 / 5. Goalies-Hartford, Shesterkin 5-1-1 (36 shots-32 saves). Belleville, Gustavsson 3-1-0 (37 shots-33 saves). A-3,313 Referees-Jim Curtin (90), Corey Syvret (42). Linesmen-Kevin Hastings (61), Nathan Longpre (49). Read the full article

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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

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CANTLON: (FRI) KNOBLAUCH READY FOR FIRST TEST

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - All the preparations have been completed and the 23rd Hartford Wolf Pack season is ready to go against a revamped, but defending AHL Calder Cup champs Charlotte Checkers. “Everybody is eager to play that first game. There is so much that is done in getting ready the planning, the practices, The players with conditioning, drills, pre-season games and its all about the playing the games and now we get a chance to play,” Kris Knoblauch, the Wolf Pack's new head coach said on the eve of the weekend of the team's first two games. The team identity comes with Knoblauch's past coaching assignments albeit in major junior. “We're not gonna be a team that just sits back. We're going to be on the attack. Possess the puck as much as possible and make solid percentage plays with the puck. Goals are scored on quick transitions in either the offensive zone on turnovers because of forechecking, or good passing starting in the defensive zone. You can stickhandle and skate with the puck, but there are other avenues to move the puck, be patient with the puck. We have the skills, just don’t force plays which can lead to turnovers,” said Knoblauch whose drills on Friday focused on that movement of the puck to be able to win one on one battles. The Wolf Pack will have a plethora of forwards to start the 2019-20 season with an increased level offensive power not seen here five years whereas they had about line and a half last season they have three solid scoring lines. Divvying up ice time is one of the toughest tasks he has had to do in preparation. “Everything is different when you're starting with a new organization. I have been used to in the past you have two or three top players, that’s it. They're the best and then there is a drop off from there. That isn’t the case for us to start the year. We have a guy like Steven Fogarty who was doing 20-plus minutes last year. Now we have Boo (Nieves), Vinni (Lettieri), Filip (Chytil) and Vitali (Kravtsov) who could easily pull down 20 minutes, but we only play a 60-minute game! It’s going to be a big adjustment for everybody, to do it’s one of the biggest things you have to do to prepare right now,” remarked Knoblauch. Special teams Knoblauch has an array of choices as he does on the PK as well. “We have almost 10 penalty killers within the lineup when you usually might have four and the powerplay you usually two units, we could make four out of the skill level we have. It’s a nice problem to have.” One of the many bright new faces is goalie Igor Shesterkin who comes in with a very extensive resume and experience for a rookie and will get the nod in net for the much-heralded Russian rookie. “He very poised in net, very quick and he does have more experience than the average rookie. He has a very high compete level.” The number two guy, Adam Huska (UCONN), has clearly made his presence felt between the 4x6 net space. “Adam, right from Traverse City, really got the organization’s attention and right through Rangers camp and our camp here. He’s been solid with play and made everybody notice him. He is a big, athletic goalie who works very hard, but different than Igor and he will be somebody to watch.” Goalie Tom McCollum and AHL vet was sent to Maine simply to receive playing time and that is critical in the operational machinery of goaltending this season. “In the summer we weren’t really sure how our goaltending as going to look. It important to have goaltending depth as in any position, but injuries and call-ups are just a phone call away, whether it’s the Rangers or here in Hartford. We didn’t want to callup somebody wee guessing on, we wanted a picture of that guy and it's him right now.” Playing in front of him will be defense with the mixture of young players and veterans led by second-year pro, Ryan Lindgren, who got the A we thought he might get and then a revived Brandon Crawley, newcomer Joey Keane “Ryan certainly had a very strong camp and we have a really strong group of veterans and younger players I think the right mixture with Jeff and Mason." It’s time lace them up, put the tape on the sticks, put the straps on tight and give rise to the new team slogan “The Wolf Pack, A New Tradition” for opening night. NOTES: With Boo Nieves clearing waivers, the Wolf Pack sent Lewis Zerter-Gossgae (Kent Prep) to Maine. Much like Ryan Dmowski, and Tom McCollum, they deserve to be in Hartford, but contracts and numbers are not in their favor at this time. Defenseman Sean Day is 100% medically cleared from his offseason hip surgery and will be in the lineup tonight. Because of the roster size, two forwards and two defensemen will be sitting. “It’s one of the hardest things to do is to tell someone today they won’t play because everyone has played well in camp (because of numbers) not poor play or practice, which would be easier. That’s not a fun part of the job,” said Knoblauch. Former Wolf Pack, Adam Tambellini, was the last cut from Stockton and is now an unrestricted free agent. Ex-Pack goalie, Brandon Halverson, signs with Norfolk (ECHL). Chris Nell signs an ECHL deal with Greenville. Forward John Albert was among the last cuts with Manitoba and signs with the Jacksonville Icemen. Cole Cassels, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Andrew  Cassels, signs with the Utah Grizzlies. New York Rangers Director of Player Development, Jed Ortmeyer, participated in practice. Any chance of a PTO deal? “If I lose 20 pounds, Dru (GM Chris Drury) and I, we're gonna talk.” quipped Ortmeyer. Nice team bonding by the end of practice after Chytil scored a goal, all the players for his combo came over patting him on the head and then Nieves came over to bump them on the “excessive celebration,” Huska came over and Chytil backed up and playfully challenged him as he dangled his gloves, in the motion to drop the mitts. Ohhh, if both of the Czech and Slovak natives actually started chucking them. Nothing will ever match Dale Purinton's destruction of former minor league heavyweight Marty Melnychuk one camp and or the slugfest with Martin Grenier that led then Hartford GM Don Maloney at the time to scream at them to stop. Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK 2019-20 ROSTER IS SET

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Hartford Wolf Pack fans have a reason for optimism as the start of the 2019-20 season approaches on Saturday against a very revamped defending Calder Cup champion, the Charlotte Checkers. The game will also be the home-opener at the XL Center and the puck drop is set for 7 pm. The New York Rangers made their final roster cuts on Monday. The Wolf Pack, at least on paper, will be a contender early in the season.  The Pack will look this solid for the first time since 2014-15 when they won the Eastern Division regular title and would go on to the conference finals before being eliminated by the eventual Calder Cup champion, the Manchester Monarchs. Returning after two years in the NHL is Filip Chytil, the young talented 20-year-old Czech who needs more playing time than he would be getting in the Big Apple. Here, he will be getting boatloads of it. Vinni Lettieri, one of the few offensive bright lights last season, joins him. Making the journey with them from NYC is the Rangers highly-touted Russian rookie, Vitali Kravtsov, who was the seventh overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft. Kravtsov brings size, serious speed, and a powerful shot that will bring fans out of their seats. However, like any 18-year-old, he needs time to develop and mature. The same applies to most young players, namely those not named Auston Matthews or Patrick Laine. Conceivably Chytil, Kravtsov, and Lettieri could be one of the first two lines on a team that has been offensively challenged the past several seasons. Another talented player who will be returning to Hartford is Steven Fogarty. He begins his fourth season with the Wolf Pack. Then, in the offseason, the Rangers brass added AHL veteran Phil DiGuiseppe, and returnees Tim Gettinger (second year), Gabriel Fontaine (third year), and veteran Danny O’Regan, who had a strong preseason game at Trinity College. A second-year pro, Ville Meskanen, will be back as well as a trio of rookies, including the very impressive well-rounded center, Nick Jones, and Patrick Newell, and Lewis Zerter-Gossage. Center Boo Nieves was returned by New York as well. He cleared waivers and will be also be garnering serious ice time. In fact, it's also the first time in years that the Wolf Pack has had a spate of natural centers and won’t need to carve one out of a winger. All the elements are there for this Wolf Pack team to be a genuine offensive threat, at least early in this season. The backline also has some very important pieces the Rangers sent to Hartford. Ryan Lindgren, who had an outstanding camp, but was sent down based not on performance, but rather player and contract numbers. An "A" could possibly be getting stitched on his jersey. Brandon Crawley, with a fresh lease on playing, as well as, AHL veteran free-agent offseason signing, Jeff LoVerde, rookie Joey Keane, Darren Raddysh, and Jeff Taylor help make this a diverse group. The last piece of the defensive puzzle is Mason Geertsen who checks in at 6”4, 220 lbs. He was playing with the Colorado Eagles last season and came to a training camp without a contract and earned one. Geersten's stellar play includes excellent puck management skills, and the ability to use his size effectively with timely, well-placed hits, and when the bell rang got into a few scraps. Geertsen is the first player since Shawn O’Donnell, who was a walk-on from Canadian college hockey ranks in 2013-14, to earn an AHL-deal based on camp performance for the Wolf Pack. Goaltending which will be a highly competitive position with the experienced Russian rookie netminder from SKA St. Petersburg (Russia-KHL), Igor Shesterkin, who has finally arrived in North America after posting some eye-popping KHL numbers. Hockey is played differently in the KHL and on a bigger surface. The question is, however, how long he'll be in the Connecticut capitol and that will depend on his adaption and adjustment to North America rinks and style of the play. That stay could be for a short period and will be determined by his play. His contract, which has a clause that could be activated, allows him to return to Russia. But, not since Mackenzie Skapski, has the team had such a top goalie prospect in Hartford. Of course, that Skapski experiment fizzled out disastrously. The number two goalie is a very familiar face in these parts. Former UConn Husky, Adam Huska (Hoo-ska), who had himself a very productive training camp in both New York and Hartford. Huska was a seventh-round draft pick and has helped make the Rangers have options in net for organizational depth. A player nobody expected but has been sent to Maine along with seven others, is Tom McCollum. The off-season AHL free-agent signee performed quite well in net here and now, like fellow Maine Mariner, Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery Prep) doesn’t deserve to be there, but roster space and contracts are factors in where a player winds up. Besides Saturday’s opener, The Wolf Pack has a Sunday afternoon date with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a part of seven of their first ten games will be at the XL Center. NOTES: The other players heading to Portland, Maine were forwards Ty Ronning, Jake Elmer, Dawson Leedahl, Greg Chase, Shawn McBride, and a defenseman, former QU Bobcat, Zach Tolkinen. Connor Brickley, who came camp on a try-out basis and goalie Francois Brassard were released and that makes them free agents who will likely be heading to a yet determined ECHL camp. Lots of transactions yesterday with players being moved. Ex-CT Whale, Jayson Megna, was the last cut in Colorado. He heads to the Colorado Eagles. Ex-Pack players, Dylan McIlrath and Matt Puempel were assigned to Grand Rapids, Kenny Agostino (Yale University) heads to the Toronto Marlies. Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels, was released by Belleville. Tage Thompson (Orange/UConn), the son of Sound Tiger head coach and ex-Wolf Pack, Brent Thompson, was sent to Rochester. Chase Priskie (Quinnipiac University) went to Charlotte while Chad Krys (Ridgefield) is off to Rockford and Logan Brown, the son ex-Whaler, Jeff Brown, packs for Belleville. Lane Valimont (Avon Old Farms) heads to Wheeling (ECHL) camp after completing his collegiate career with Marian University (NCHA). Canon Pieper (Quinnipiac University) and Craig Puffer (New Canaan) are both in camp with Tulsa (ECHL). Kristoff Kontos, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk and Ranger, Chris Kontos, is in camp with Wichita (ECHL). Ex-CT Whale Logan Pyett signs with Frederikshavn IK (Demark-DHL). Read the full article

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CANTLON: PENS WIN IN OT OVER PACK

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Adam Johnson’s penalty shot goal at 1:47 of overtime allowed the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to pull out a 4-3 win before a season-best XL Center crowd of 7,438. The situation presented itself when the Wolf Pack’s Nick Ebert fell down near the left-wing boards at the blue line and the Penguins Adam Johnson picked up the loose puck and was off to the races. Vinni Lettieri makes a valiant effort to get back as he shot but clearly interfered with Johnson who was awarded the rarest play of all--an overtime penalty shot. Johnson went in on Adam Huska decided to go with a forehand to backhand move and slipped his ninth of the season past him at 1:47. “Something about this building we’ve been playing pretty good in it. Adam hasn’t had a lot of luck in shootouts, so it was nice to see him get that. His speed is dynamic and when you get a break like that you got to make the most of it and he did,” said Wilkes Barre head coach Mike Vellucci. The Pack’s bench boss Kris Knoblauch couldn’t dispute the call. “A penalty shot was the right call. It was a tough way to end a game.” The penalty shot was the 43rd against Hartford, but the first one in overtime in 23 years. The Wolf Pack had a great chance to start the third period on the powerplay and only managed two shots. The powerplay was 0-4 and the opportunity was there just let them slip through. “When you need that powerplay goal it just disappoints you when you don’t score, but we did bounce back and we fought back,” said Knoblauch. The Wolf Pack had the chance and it was the Penguin who got the goal. After the penalty expired Cole Cassels started a rush up ice fed Adam Johnson as they crossed into Wolf Pack territory and he, in turn, slipped a short pass over to Kevin Roy, who in one motion ripped his 11th goal far side on Huska at 3:31 that allowed Wilkes Barre/Scranton to slip ahead 3-2. Cassels picked up his second point to make the play happen has been gaining more ice time with the Penguins and making it count. “He’s a good kid and a good player,” remarked Vellucci “The last few years they didn’t let him be an offensive guy. He really is a 200-foot game guy and he has really good hands as you saw on the first goal and getting that play started you see, he’s a smart player as well The Wolf Pack fought through the defensive maze of Wilkes Barre to tie the game at three overcoming their third deficit of the night and breathed life into the possible late-game theatrics trying to win the game. Steve Fogarty getting the puck up to Nick Ebert who spotted an open Vitali Kravtsov surging to the middle threaded the pass between two players to send the Russian in on a breakaway, Kravtsov put on the afterburner saw ex-Pack goalie Dustin Tokarski feet were locked up and zipped his fifth goal of the season five-hole to tie the gamer at three at 10:39. The Wolf Pack had two solid chances late, no better one with 1:32 left with Vinni Lettieri in close wide open, but  Tokarski made the save. “We did a lot of good things tonight. We were just fighting it too much at times,” remarked a clearly frustrated Lettieri knowing he had a golden opportunity. The Pack’s Patrick Newell had a grade-A chance searching out and forcing a turnover and then taking the puck turning and firing through a screen, that Tokarski blocked blindly with his blocker with 4:20 left that fell at his feet, but the Pack couldn’t get at the loose puck. The first three to five minutes of the second period was wild and wooly. The Wolf Pack tied at 45 seconds as Vinni Lettieri curling off left-wing half wall got the play started sending a diagonal cross-ice pass to Vincent LoVerde who then took his pass finding an open Danny O’ Regan at the left side of the Penguins net O’ Regan partially fanned on the shot, but the net was wide open for the puck to slide over the goal line before Tokarksi could dive over and pull it back for his 11th of the season. The Penguins answered back as the defense combo last week that got the better of the Wolf Pack did so again. Pierre Olivier-Joseph zipped it over to Jon Lizotte who put a perfect low shot that rookie Ryan Scarfo, playing just his fourth game on recall from Wheeling (ECHL) perfectly redirected past Adam Huska at 2:16. The Wolf Pack on the penalty kill tried to stay back as Danny O ‘Regan burst down the right-wing with a semi-breakaway. He cut across the net caught a hook/slash from Derek Warsofsky lost control of the puck and Tim Gettinger was there took a shot and the goal horn was inadvertently sounded and immediately waved off, but the Wolf Pack got a powerplay out of it, but the Wolf Pack couldn’t connect. The Penguins scored first as John Nyberg from left point let a good low slapper go and Cole Cassels who lost a goal here last time got credit for this one again on a deflection in front for his seventh of the season at 11:16. It was ironic that the son of former Whaler Andrew  Cassels would score the first goal on Hartford Heritage Hockey Night. The Wolf Pack tied it two-on-one of the stranger goals of the season. The Penguins Olivier-Joseph was forced into coughing up the puck with checking along the right-wing boards. Vitali Kravtsov got the loose puck on the right-wing sent a pass to Darren Raddysh, drifting to the left side who let a rocket go that missed the net, but went right to Lettieri. From behind the goal line, he put the puck back toward the net and it went off Tokarski’s left leg and into the net for his team-best 23rd goal with 37.3 seconds left. That gave the Wolf Pack the momentum back before the period ended. “Anything can happen around the net, You’re always taught you just have to shoot when the goalie isn’t expecting it,” commented Lettieri scoring just his second goal in the last seven games. The Wolf Pack in the first period had four shots in the first five minutes and then just four in the final 15 of action as the two teams had a very close-to-the-vest period. The Wolf Pack best chances came from Ty Ronning and Brandon Crawley had two shots on net. The Penguins countered in their five other shots with Riley Barber just acquired from Laval with a right drive stop by Huska and late Sam Miletic had strong bids turned aside. NOTES: “Obviously, we wanted to win, but we just have to leave it behind us and get ready for tomorrow,” said Lettieri. The next home is next Sunday, March 1st at 3 PM against Providence. The penalty shot was Huska’s third he has faced and the third he was scored upon. In fact, the last five penalty shots by opponents have all been successful. The other goalies have to faced three include Jeff Malcolm, Steve Valiquette, Johan Holmquist, and Brandon Halverson had four. The most, Chad Johnson had six tossed his way in his Wolf Pack career. LINES: Fogarty-Kravtsov-Beleskey Jones-Newell-Gettinger O’Regan-Lettieri-Gropp McBride-Dmowski-Ronning Hajek-Raddysh Ebert-Geersten Crawley-LoVerde SCRATCHES: Boo Nieves - Upper body injury - Out indefinitely (He skated in practice the last few days for the first time in more than a week) Yegor Rykov - Healthy (Sixth time in the last eight games) Jake Elmer - Healthy Gabriel Fontaine - Shoulder Surgery - Season-ending NOTES: The ceremonial puck drop was two ex-Pack players, Stefan Cherneski and a big surprise, John Tripp. Wolf Pack Fan Jersey of the game. #25 Jake Taylor (Head coach Lakeville, MN HS), #44 Ryan Hollweg (retired), a pair of #7’s Drew Bannister (head coach in San Antonio) and a retired Lee Sorochan. #9 Nigel “Burger King “ Dawes (Avtomobilst Yaketerinburg Russia-KHL), #30 Ryan Haggerty (Springfield), #29 Ryan Cuthbert, who played just 25 games, #19 Benoit Dusablon (retired) whose linemate was John Tripp. UCONN Huskies on the strength of Sasha Payusov’s hat trick routed Boston University 6-1 in Boston Saturday night. The Huskies now are in fourth place in Hockey East one point behind third-place Maine who involved with scoreless overtime duel with Maine. UCONN closes out the regular season next weekend with a home and home with UMASS-Amherst. Fans are encouraged to wear white shirts next Friday is senior night in the regular season home finale. Ex-Pack Dan DeSalvo signed a PTO deal with the Chicago Wolves. Ex-Sound Tiger goalie Kevin Poulin signed a PTO deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: (SAT) PACK LOSE IN OT IN PENGUIN-LAND

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 (OT) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, February 22, 2020 – Adam Johnson scored on a penalty shot at 1:47 of overtime Saturday night, to give the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 4-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack battled back from 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 deficits in the game, but Johnson cashed in for the first overtime penalty shot goal ever scored against the Wolf Pack after he was spilled by Vinni Lettieri on a breakaway.  Johnson faked Wolf Pack goaltender Adam Huska (16 saves), before slipping a shot through his legs. “A penalty shot was the right call there,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said.  “It was a tough way to end the game.” “We did a lot of good things tonight,” added Lettieri.  “we were just fighting it too much at times.” Though both teams traded rush chances for the first 10 minutes, the Penguins got on the board 11:16 into the first period, when Cole Cassels deflected a point shot from John Nyberg past Huska for his 14th goal of the season. Kevin Roy also assisted on the goal. Just 45 seconds into the second period, Danny O’Regan tied the game, scoring his 11th of the season. Vincent LoVerde and Lettieri assisted on the tally. The tie would not last, however. Ryan Scarfo scored his first goal of the season just 1:36 later, at 2:21, to give Wilkes-Barre Scranton the lead again. Jon Lizzote and Pierre-Olivier Joseph had the assists. Just when it seemed like Hartford would end the period behind, Lettieri scored from behind the net off of Dustin Tokarski’s (25 Saves) leg with just 37.3 seconds left. “Anything can happen around the net,” said Lettieri of his 23rd goal of the year. “You’re always taught you just have to shoot when the goalie isn’t expecting it.”  Darren Raddysh and Vitali Kravtsov assisted on the goal. The Penguins once again took the lead 3:21 into the third, when Roy scored his 11th goal of the year. Johnson and Cassels assisted on the goal. With 9:21 left, Vitali Kravtsov scored his fifth goal of the year on a breakaway. Nick Ebert and Steven Fogarty had the assists. “It was a back and forth game,” Lettieri said. “We had some good times, were on our heels at times. We played well defensively, we just need to get more time on offense. “Obviously we wanted to win, but we just have to leave it behind us and get ready for tomorrow.” The Wolf Pack finishes a three-game weekend with a visit to Bridgeport Sunday afternoon to take on the Sound Tigers.  Faceoff is 3:00, and all of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The next Wolf Pack home game is Sunday, March 1, a 3:00 game vs. the Providence Bruins.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 (OT) at Hartford Wolf Pack 3 Saturday, February 22, 2020 - XL Center Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 1 1 1 - 4 Hartford Wolf Pack       0 2 1 0 - 3 1st Period-1, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Cassels 7 (Nyberg, Roy), 11:16. Penalties-Newell Hfd (tripping), 18:04. 2nd Period-2, Hartford, O'Regan 11 (LoVerde, Lettieri), 0:45. 3, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Scarfo 1 (Lizotte, Joseph), 2:21. 4, Hartford, Lettieri 23 (Raddysh, Kravtsov), 19:22. Penalties-Jones Hfd (high-sticking), 2:32; Warsofsky Wbs (hooking), 3:27; Devane Wbs (slashing), 7:15; Devane Wbs (tripping), 9:34; Crawley Hfd (holding), 16:17; Czuczman Wbs (holding the stick), 19:57. 3rd Period-5, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Roy 11 (Johnson, Cassels), 3:21. 6, Hartford, Kravtsov 5 (Ebert, Fogarty), 10:39. Penalties-Johnson Wbs (tripping), 6:47; Barber Wbs (delay of game), 15:35. OT Period-7, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Johnson 9   1:47 (PS). Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6-6-5-3-20. Hartford 8-9-10-1-28. Power Play Opportunities-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 / 3; Hartford 0 / 6. Goalies-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Tokarski 7-3-2 (28 shots-25 saves). Hartford, Huska 10-7-6 (20 shots-16 saves). A-7,438 Referees-Michael Sheehan (74), Rob Hennessey (87). Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Glen Cooke (6). Read the full article

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CANTLON: PENGUINS PUSH PAST PACK

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored two goals and goalie Casey DeSmith made 25 saves to lead the visiting Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1, for just their second home loss of the season on Wednesday night at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack pressed to knot the score in the third period, but DeSmith stopped all six shots he saw in the second half of the period and allowed no second or third chances on those shots. “There were not many scoring chances either way. We have to work harder to generate our opportunities. I thought we turned the puck over (too much) in the first three-and-a-half minutes, and Wilkes-Barre did a good job denying the blue line. We were trying to make a play when it wasn’t there,” remarked Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. On the flip side, the Wolf Pack defense held the Penguins to just 16 shots, the second-lowest number of attempts since they held Hershey to 15 on January 8th at the Giant Center. “I thought we defended really well,” said Knoblauch. He paused and said, "It’s the fewest scoring chances we have given up all year. I thought defensively we were pretty good.” The best offensive chance the Wolf Pack had was at 3:05. The Pack had Nick Jones and Tim Gettinger lead a shorthanded, two-on-one, but they couldn’t connect. Jones opted to pass instead of shooting. Pack leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, had several bids for goals including one at 7:05. The Pack had another shorthanded two-on-one with Shawn McBride and Steven Fogarty but they missed connecting as well. Pack defenseman Joey Keane had a good rush with 5:04 left, but again it just one lone shot. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tried to seal the game with an empty-net tally, but Darren Raddysh made an excellent effort diving forward with 56.5 seconds left with a successful one-hand swipe at the puck and knocked it away before he crashed into the net. Lettieri had two chances in the last 15 seconds to tie it. The first was a slapper from the top of the left-wing faceoff circle. DeSmith made a right pad save on it and then on a very late six-on-four power play with 2.5 seconds left Danny O’ Regan won the draw, getting the puck right back to Lettieri. His shot was kicked away by DeSmith ending any chance of a miracle ending for the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack record drops to 27-13-5-5 (64 points). They were unable to pick up any ground on the idle Hershey Bears, who remain in second place in the Atlantic division three points behind. Wilkes Barre/Scranton improves to 25-18-3-5 (58 points). They are now tied with the Providence Bruins for fourth place in the Atlantic. The Pack home record now stands at 20-2-0-2. This was the first home loss since November 20th against the Syracuse Crunch, when a 3-1 loss ended a twelve-game home winning streak. The Wolf Pack didn’t let the Penguins hold the lead for very long, scoring 2:08 into the second period, taking advantage of the situation through solid work in the Penguins zone. The whole sequence began with a faceoff win by Shawn McBride. The win allowed the Pack to keep the puck in the zone. A Penguin sought to exit their own end of the ice, but McBride's backhanded swipe on the loose puck put the puck back toward the net. Penguins defenseman Niclas Almari couldn’t control the biscuit and Vincent LoVerde was there to take it and get off a shot on DeSmith, who made a butterfly save. However, the rebound of LoVerde's shot went right to Ryan Dmowski who was deep in the right-wing corner, and along the goal line. He deposited his third of the season from the sharpest of angles to even the score at one. It wasn’t what Dmowski was trying to do. “To be honest, I was just throwing it at the net. The goalie was in mid-slide and was going backward. I saw on the replay, it was definitely one of the weirdest goals I’ve ever scored. I was lucky. I was just in the right spot for the rebound.“ Of late, it's seemed like the Pack's fourth line for Knoblauch has been his top unit. “I think our fourth line has been maybe our best line the last three games. They’ve been very consistent. They work hard every shift. It’s tough to play against a line that’s got three guys playing with that intensity. There helping this team a lot,” remarked Knoblauch. The Penguins picked up a late goal off the stick of Olivier-Joseph at the left point after he received a pass from Jon Lizotte via some fine board-work on the right-wing and got it to him. Lizotte kept the pass along the ice and got it over to Olivier-Joseph, who, from 55 feet, nailed it with a double screen in front provided by Brandon Hawkins and Cole Cassels. It left Adam Huska unable to see the shot at all 14:51. It looked like Cassels tipped it, but the goal at the end of the game was still credited to Joseph. Knoblauch said it was clearly tipped. It was a fairly pedestrian first period. There was very little action until the end of the period when the Penguins took their 1-0 lead. Myles Powell sent a point-to-point pass to Olivier-Joseph and the big rookie was left with an open lane off the left point. He drilled a shot that was blocked by Lettieri. He retrieved the puck and sent a 40-footer that went off the tip of Huska’s glove and into the net with 1.5 seconds left in the period. It was his second goal of the year with his first coming in Texas a little over two months ago. NOTES: The crowd of 1,537 was the sixth the worst in team history. LINES: Fogarty-Kravtsov-Gettinger O’Regan-Newell-Beleskey Jones-Gropp-Lettieri McBride-Dmowski-Ronning Hajek-Raddysh Keane-Geersten Crawley-LoVerde SCRATCHES: Nick Ebert - lower body injury, still day-to-day. He'll likely play this weekend. Boo Nieves - upper body injury, out indefinitely. He skated in practice yesterday for the first time in more than a week. Yegor Rykov -  healthy scratch for the third time in the last four games. Jake Elmer - healthy scratch who was just recalled from Maine. Gabriel Fontaine - shoulder surgery, season-ending Knoblauch gave a good review of Brandon Crawley’s first AHL game of the season. "For a defenseman coming in and playing for the first time (Vincent LoVerde) he played really well. Not flashy, just getting here (from Maine) he did all the small things well.” Olivier-Joseph was a former first-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes (23rd overall) in 2017. He was acquired last summer in the Alex Galcheynuk for Phil Kessel deal. Galcheynuk was traded to Minnesota on Monday. Joseph’s brother Mathieu plays for Tampa Bay. The Penguins lineup featured ex-Pack goalie Dustin Tokarski (as backup goalie) and Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels. He just signed a PTO just after the New Year and has nine points in 16 games. The parent Vancouver Canucks have loaned Utica veteran goalie, Richard Bachman, to IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the year. Ex-CT Whale, Casey Wellman’s planned transfer to SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA) from SC Rapperswil-Jona was nullified as he didn’t pass the team's physical. No details were disclosed. Read the full article