#DaleWeise

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: CT HOCKEY 2021 OFFSEASON VOL 1

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -The offseason has begun for the Hartford Wolf Pack and the rest of the AHL, except for the Pacific division, which has a playoff. Teams are very busy planning and signing players and coaches for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

PLAYER AND COACHING MOVEMENT

All of the AHL teams not in the Pacific Division have begun to send players to their respective ECHL teams for some post-season experience. The Toronto Marlies sent four players, Bobby McMann, Jeremy McKenna, Noel Hoefenmayer, and Gordie Green, to the Wichita Thunder. The Colorado Eagles sent Sasha Matala to the Utah Grizzlies. The Ontario Reign sent Nick Boka to the Ft. Wayne Komets while Josh Ingham and Jack Sadek packed their bags for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Doyle Somerby of the Tucson Roadrunners heads to the South Carolina Stingrays. The Manitoba Moose sent Peter Kreiger to the Indy Fuel, while the Rochester Americans sent Brendan Warren to the Jacksonville Icemen. Nelson Nogier, Cole Kehler, and C.J. Suess were sent to the Tulsa Oilers.

MORE MOVES

Henderson heading to the Pacific Division after eliminating  San Jose on the strength of a two-goal and three-point effort from ex-Pack Danny O’ Regan has sent three players to the Vegas taxi squad in Dylan Sikura and Cody Glass. Henderson will play with the Bakersfield Condors for the Pacific Division post-season title and the John Chick Trophy. The Condors eliminated the San Diego Gulls in OT Monday. Brad Malone, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Greg Malone, and the cousin of ex-Pack, Ryan Malone, scored the game-winner. The first AHL player to Europe, David Kase of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, signs with HC Sparta Prague (Czech Republic-CEL). A former Quinnipiac Bobcat, Karlis Cukste, who played with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) and the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) this past year, heads home to Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL). According to the Swedish hockey website, SportsExpressen.se, ex-Pack Dale Weise has signed a deal to be announced shortly with IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Ex-Pack/New York Ranger, Tim Erixon, goes from Växjö HC to  Timrå IK (Sweden-SHL) for next season. Ryan McKiernan (Brunswick School), fresh off winning the  German DEL championship, leaves Eisbaren Berlin to Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL).

COLLEGE NEWS

Former UCONN Husky, Ruslan Iskhakov, moved from TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL). Also, in UCONN news, the University announced a new five-year extension for its head coach Mike Cavanaugh and had the groundbreaking for the new 2,600 seats $70 million arena-ready between September 2022-January 2023. The Maine Black Bears selected Ben Barr, the assistant coach from the national champion, UMASS-Amherst, to replace the late Dennis “Red” Gendron over the ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger (now Islanders) and Maine associate coach for the last six years, Ben Guite. Replacing Barr at UMASS-Amherst is Penn State's assistant coach for the last 10 years, Matt Lindsay. Previously, he was an assistant at Princeton and was a volunteer assistant at Colorado College. He started at Division-III at Hobart College (SUNYAC) and Utica College. Lake Superior St. (NCHC) Damon Whitten’s contract was extended six years. Former Sound Tiger, Peter Mannino, gives up his head coaching job with the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) and signs on as an assistant coach with Colorado College (NCHC).

MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Jamie Arniel, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk player and Rangers Assistant Coach,  Scott Arniel, leaves EC Bad Nauheim (Germany-DEL-2) and heads to HC Bratislava (Slovakia-IceHL). A trio of ex-Sound Tigers finds themselves on the move. Joey Martin departs Stavanger (Norway-NEL) and will skate next season for EC Graz (Austria-IceHL). Matt Mangene leaves ESV Villacher SV (Austria-iceHL) for EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL). The new head coach there is a former Rangers draft pick, Mike Stewart. Sebastian Collberg exits Löwen Frankfurt (Germany-DEL-2) and returns home to BIK Karlskoga (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Former Wolf Pack and Ranger Steven Kampfer heads from the Boston Bruins to AK Bars Kazan (Russia-KHL). Former QU Bobcat goalie Michael Garteig leaves ERC Ingolstadt (Germany-DEL) and returns to HIFK Helsinki (Finland-FEL). Ex-Wolf Pack, Ville Meskanen, departs Illves Tampere (Finland-FEL) to go to KooKoo (Finland-FEL) next season. Ex-Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger Chris Bourque signs with ERC Ingolstadt (Germany-DEL) for next season, leaving EHC Munich.

ALL KINDS OF NEWS

Nick Dineen (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep), who played with the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL), commits to Stevenson University (UCHC) for next fall. In the fall, the return of the CCHA conference names its regular season and playoff trophy names they will be handing out to the winners in the spring. The playoff title will honor the late CCHA great coach of Michigan State, Ron Mason, with the Mason Cup. The regular season title winner will be awarded the McNaughton Cup. USA Hockey let several coaches go, including Kenny Rausch (Danbury/Immaculate High), the Director of USA Youth Hockey.

TRANSFERS

Goaltender Evan Fear departs Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) and transfers to Northeastern (HE), making 57 school transfers this collegiate off-season and 47 grad transfers. Tobias Fladeby finishes at AIC (AHA) and signs with Tingryds AIF (Sweden-Allsvenskan), making 80 college players sign pro deals in North America and Europe. Emil Öhrvall departs Sacred Heart University (AHA) for BIK Karlskoga (Sweden-Allsvenskan). The Pioneers were his third school in three separate conferences in his collegiate career. Nick Rheaume, the son of ex-Pack/Ranger, Pascal Rhéaume, has committed to UMASS-Lowell (HE) for 2022-23. Rhéaume played with the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) this year. His cousin is Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) transfer goalie Dylan St. Cyr, the son of former New Haven Senators player Gerry. St. Cyr.

COMMITS

Two CT Division-III commits as William Pond (Wilton/CT Roughriders-EHL) heads to Western New England College (CCC). Ponds' Roughrider teammate Connor Sullivan (Brunswick School/CT Jr. Rangers - NCDC) heads to Lake Forest College (NCHA). Joining him at Lake Forest is Mattias Derraugh (Danbury-NAHL), who committed to the Illinois-based school.

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The IIHF World Championships are underway in Latvia. There are many familiar names dotting the roster landscape. In Group A, the 3-0 Slovakian team has current Wolf Pack goalie Adam Huska and ex-Pack/Ranger Marek Hrivik. Huska has yet to play, and Hrivik has four points in three games. Slovakia engineered an early upset beating Russia 3-1 on Monday. Denmark has ex-Pack Niklas Jensen, who scored a hat trick in their first game and had a goal and two assists against Great Britain in a 3-2 overtime win Tuesday. Sweden had ex-Pack/Ranger player Oscar Lindberg and ex-Wolf Pack Carl Klingberg. The Czech Republic has ex-Pack and current Rangers defenseman Libor Hajek. They also have Adam, and David Musil, the nephews of former Whalers and Rangers player Bobby Holik. Ex-Pack and current Ranger Filip Chytil and former Beast of New Haven Jaroslav Spacek are the assistant coaches, plus former UCONN Husky recruit Matej Blumel. Belarus has an ex-Sound Tiger, Shane Prince, who has citizenship. Switzerland has a pair of ex-Wolf Pack players in Andres Ambuhl and Raphael Diaz; Great Britain has goalie Jackson Whistle, nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk, Rob Whistle, plus Ben Lake (Sacred Heart University-AHA).

MORE IIHF

In Group B, the US squad features Ryan Donato, the son of ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger, Ted Donato. They also have a  current Ranger, Kevin Rooney, and the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk, Steve Rooney. Current Ranger, Zac Jones and Tage Thompson (Milford/UCONN), a son of the current Bridgeport Islanders head coach, Brent Thompson. The head coach is former Sound Tigers bench boss Jack Capuano. The team General Manager is current Rangers President/GM, Hartford GM Chris Drury (Trumbull/Fairfield Prep). Canada has shockingly lost its first three games to Latvia, Germany, and the US. Canada has a current Wolf Pack, Braden Schneider, and former Sacred Heart University (AHA)/Sound Tiger product Justin Danforth. Germany has Tom Kuhnhackl of Bridgeport, and Italy has former Ranger Peter Andersson as one of the assistant coaches, and he is the father of ex-Pack, Calle Andersson. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[littlemisscady]

if you could create a holiday what would you celebrate and what would you call it?

Budweiser Day/Daleweiser Day. In celebration of the best brew in the world, plus the best nascar driver there ever was. What does it consist of? Drinking a daleweiser, asking your friends if they want a daleweiser and your friends responding with “Dale yeah brother!”

[pksubbanego]

LOL!

2 goals for Weise and Parenteau each. Meanwhile, BriÈre and Diaz are still trying to work the elevator to their press box.

— PK Subban's Ego (@PKSubban_Ego) November 16, 2014

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CANTLON'S CORNER: VINNI LETTIERI PLAYS BIG PIECE OF WOLF PACK PLAYOFF RUN

Vinni Lettieri BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - Prior to his departure for the AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, California Vinni Lettieri was in a good spot as the final 22 games of the regular season. The last stretch commences in a home and home divisional pair of games with Springfield starting Friday at 7:15 pm at the XL Center. Lettieri returns along with teammate Joey Keane and head coach Kris Knoblauch as part of Atlantic Division winners of the 2020 AHL All-Star Classics. Lettieri popped in two goals the first came on a breakaway 2:13 into the first period for the Atlantic Division squad. The second was vintage Vinni off wing slapshot on a cross-ice feed from Providence’s Jack Studnicka 26 seconds into the action against the North Division. Then Joey Keane scored the next goal a little over two minutes later en route to a 5-2 win. He would also add an assist on the night. Now that all festivities are over Lettieri gets back to the task at hand. Practice is the key to his growth and progress. A few weeks ago in Cromwell, he and Keane spent a half hour or so taking extra shots and in one sequence hit the post three times in a row and he tossed his stick up in the air in baton tossing fashion. “That was one day because it's every day. To get better you have to do it every day. Joey and I do it a half-hour or so and it's important because it helps me to know where I am now and where I wanna go, work every day. It's always good to work with someone on those one-timers and Joey has been really good at it. Our powerplay has to improve, so we put in the extra time.” He has admitted his season was a slower start than he would have liked, but on and off-ice work has helped his game improve. “I have watched videos that have given me of Artemi Panarin (Rangers), ex-CT Whale Jonathan Marchessault (Las Vegas) and David Pasternak, (Boston the NHL’s leading goals scorer). It's learning how to hold onto the puck to make a better shot just not shooting randomly. So it's just one thing that changes everything it’s a combination of things. It's not a pattern that I see its learning each game is different. Using the coaches and all the other resources plus my teammates have helped make me a better all-around player,” remarked Lettieri. Panarin, the Rangers leading scorer and who has a high-end skill set is not a bad guy to pattern some of your game after. “Watching how he holds the puck in preparing for a shot is something, it's one of the little things of the game you learn. Pasternak’s shoots so well from any area he’s at its amazing. Marchessault, he seems to be everywhere and he is really dynamic and has great acceleration,” said Lettieri showing his keen scouting skills. Over the roller coaster past few weeks haven’t left Lettieri having seen the valley of the last two seasons. “For the better part of the year we have played the same way and stuck to our game plan and it’s a long season nothing is perfect. Yes, we could have played better in some ways, but overall I like this group and think more often than not will come out on top,” As they prepare for a weekend with Springfield a year ago same building he was adamant about making the playoffs three days the captain was traded and the team never recovered. This is obviously a very different group. “We certainly want it, but that is always important that we have to focus and continue to grow and get better and those things will take care of themselves.” AHL NEWS -Two pieces of new AHL arena news coming out of the AHL All-Star Classic. The San Jose City Council Tuesday night approved the expansion of the Solar4 American Ice Center that will become the new home of the AHL San Jose Barracuda. The arena located in central San Jose 3.6 miles about from the SAP Center aka Shark Tank where the Sharks and their AHL affiliate have shared the building for the past five years since the creation of the AHL Pacific Division. The upgrade slated to start this April that will see the complex go from four to six sheets of ice including a 4,200 seat competition arena that is to be completed by April 2022. The arena sits on a 21.2-acre site that also includes Excite Ballpark, home to the high, Class A eight-team California League San Jose Giants. The building has been the only secondary off-site training facility for the Sharks and Barracuda. The facility is also home to the collegiate varsity club hockey squad, the San Jose State Spartans (ACHA Division-2) and local high school hockey. This new facility combined with the AHL coming 32nd team, the expansion Palm Springs, CA team the affiliate for the expansion NHL Seattle team further solidifies the western growth of hockey both NHL, AHL and soon collegiately. -The West will also be solidified by the announcement from outgoing AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews that the Vegas Golden Knights are actively seeking to buy a current AHL team and move them to the Las Vegas area. The arena would be in nearby Paradise called, the Orleans Arena that was home to the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers from 2003-20014. The building is 7,773 seats- a perfect AHL size building but would have to undergo a serious overhaul of its operating systems to be ready by the fall of 2020. Now, which team would they purchase? The most likely candidate could be Rockford whose arrangement with the Chicago Black Hawks ends after this season. In that scenario, the Golden Knights would purchase Rockford and then move the team to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have the Chicago Wolves as their farm team would vacate that arrangement. That could allow the Black Hawks to skate into an arrangement as the Wolves' new parent team. The Wolves are one of the few independently owned teams left in the league in which 19 of the 32 teams are NHL O & O (owned and operated) and is one of the best attended and promoted teams in the league. When Wolves were firstborn in the old IHL under its present owner Don Levin the two were arch enemies. 20 plus years have passed. Rocky Wirtz, not his father Bill is running the team I can see a marriage being formed with the Black Hawks. There are some other possibilities, but Andrews's comments at the State of the AHL press conference made it clear it was more of a matter of when--not if--the AHL would be in the Las Vegas area. “I think that at some point there will be an (AHL) team in Vegas, or (the Golden Knights) will own a team, but would have to happen pretty soon.”  Andrews remarked who is as cautious as NHL President Gary Bettman is regarding announcements or speculations about team transfers, relocations or disbanding. NOTES: -Wolf Pack GM and Trumbull native, Chris Drury added another piece to his executive resume as he was named to the GM post of Team USA that will play in early May at the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. -Now that the NHL and AHL All-Star breaks have concluded temporary roster moves for that time period have ended and movement has begun once again. Goalie Adam Huska who went 1-1 with a 1.53 GAA win and Lewis Zerter-Gossage who scored his first ECHL in his two games were returned from Portland officially Monday. Maine’s goalie Francois Brassard in a paper transaction was released from his PTO with the Wolf Pack. Conversely, officially recalled on Wednesday by the Rangers was goalie Igor Shesterkin, but I don’t think this is the last time we will see him. If Alexander Georgiev is not traded by the NHL Trade deadline (February 24th) he would likely be returned by then. The Rangers could keep him in New York till their officially eliminated from playoff contention presently the Rangers are in the seventh spot for the wild card 10 points back. Expect Shesterkin to be here when the Wolf Pack start the Calder Cup playoffs and with Igor, the Wolf Pack’s chances for a long run are significantly improved. -Other notables from the AHL All-Star Classic were two former Quinnipiac Bobcats Sam Anas (Iowa) with two goals and Brogan Rafferty (Utica) with a goal and an assist. Ex-Pack and Sound Tiger Matt Ford (Grand Rapids) scored twice. -Lias Andersson’s suspension was officially lifted and was formally reassigned to HV 71 (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the season. -Ex-Wolf Pack Dale Weise was recalled back to Montreal from Laval, Jarred Tinordi son ex-New Haven Nighthawk Mark Tinordi was recalled by Nashville from Milwaukee, Jansen Harkins, son of former Whaler Todd Harkins was recalled to Winnipeg from Manitoba and Max Jones, son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Senators Brad Jones goes from San Diego to Anaheim. -Goalie Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep) was assigned to Atlanta (ECHL) by Charlotte. -Former UCONN Husky, Karl El-Mir was sent from Indy (ECHL) as the future consideration of a trade made last week with Greenville (ECHL). -Ex-Sound Tiger John Persson signs a deal with Brynas IF (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the season and for 2020-21 leaving SaiPa (Finland-FEL) who were having a poor season. -Ex-Sound Tiger assistant coach Matt Bertani is an assistant coach with Team South Korea at the IIHF U-20 Division II Group B tournament being held in Gangnueng South Korea till February 3rd. -We'll be seeing a goalie named Stauber a few times over the next few years. Jaxon Stauber, son of the former Wolf Pack and Nighthawk netminder, Robb Stauber has made a commitment to Providence College (HE) next year 2020-21. The 6’3 undrafted netminder played one game with Minnesota- State Mankato Mavericks (WCHA) before suddenly returning to Sioux Falls (USHL) for this season who are the defending USHL Clark Cup champions, where he was the playoff MVP last season. Father Robb just completed his AHL honorary captain duties at the AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, California at the Toyota Center, Sunday and Monday. -Easton Armstrong, son ex-Pack great Derek Armstrong played his first two WHL with Regina picking up a one shot on goal. Read the full article

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CANTLON: PACK HIT THE ROAD FOR THREE-IN-THREE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack have passed the halfway mark on the 2019-20 season and they do so sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a 19-8-2-5 (45 points) record. It's hard to imagine that back in September anyone would have picked this group to be heading into the second half of the season in first place in the Atlantic Division and among the best teams in the AHL. One of the factors for the Pack resurgence and current position in the race to the Calder Cup is their persistence and growth as a team-unit. It cannot be overlooked. “The biggest thing is, we have won so many one-goal games and a big factor is a mature team wins a majority of those games. We have handled leads well late (in games) and have had very strong third periods." Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said. The Pack are unbeaten with the lead after two periods with a 15-0-1-2 record. Hartford has also scored their share of miraculous goals late in games and did that twice to send it to overtime. "The other big reason (for the turnaround) is our goaltending of Igor (Shesterkin) and Adam (Huska). They have made stop-after-stop and our defense has done such a good job with blocks like we did Tuesday (a 3-2 win over Bridgeport). Right now we're a little fortunate,” Knoblauch stated. Knoblauch is enthusiastic about his team, but does not want to be over-confident. Because the Pack are in first place, Knoblauch was honored by being named one of the AHL All-Star game's coaches. The game will be played at the end of January in Ontario, CA. Before that though, the Wolf Pack have a lot of work to do starting Friday when they head to Providence to take on the Bruins. The game will be their seventh of the season, and they won’t see the Baby Bruins, who they've been trading first place with back-and-forth for the past month, until March 1st. Shesterkin will start Friday night, making it his first three-consecutive-game-starts for the Wolf Pack as he transitions and adjusts to North American rinks. “We're going to enjoy Igor for as long as we have him, because he will be in the NHL at some point. Providence is a very good team, well-coached and they have very good structure. Our records are similar, but Shesterkin has been the difference in several games.  We also have capitalized in key situations against them, and that has been the difference.” After the trip to the Dunkin Donuts Arena in Providence, the Wolf Pack travel to Utica to play the red-hot Comets who are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10. The Comets are in second place in AHL North Division percentage points behind the Rochester Americans. Each team has 44 points. Next Wednesday, the Wolf Pack complete this road game grouping with a drive down to Hershey to face the Bears before they return home on January 10th against the Charlotte Checkers where they will seek to improve on their home record of 14-1-0-2. NOTES: Knoblauch would neither confirm nor deny that defenseman Libor Hajak would be making a rehabilitation assignment in Hartford. The Rangers are on a four-game Canadian road trip. “We haven’t received any notifications or instructions at this point," is all the head coach would say on the subject. So far, Hajak has missed 13 games with a right knee injury he suffered on December 5th after playing the first 27 games. When Hajak does eventually come to Hartford on his rehab assignment, as is being highly speculated among beat writers in New York, somebody will either sit in Hartford or a player will head to New York. The Rangers have dropped three games, including last night’s 4-3 loss to Calgary to ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger goalie Cam Talbot. The team completes the Canadian trip in Vancouver on Saturday night. The Rangers did make two transactions from the Wolf Pack. They recalled center, Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery Prep) from their ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. In return, after two games, forward, Dillan Fox, was released from his PTO deal and returned to the Mariners. Forward, Patrick Newell, will return to the lineup after a three-game absence the result of an upper-body injury he suffered against Providence. Wolf Pack’s leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, (11 goals and 24 points in 34 games) and defensemen Joey Keane, and Yegor Rykov, spent nearly a half-hour post-practice working on their shooting techniques. Lettieri has one point, an assist, in his last five games. Former Qunnipiac Bobcat, Brogan Rafferty, was named CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month with three goals and 16 points in 13 games. Rafferty signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Canucks after his junior season. He's third in assists with 25 and leads all defensemen in scoring with 30 points in 34 games, He's also sporting a healthy plus-17 so far. Forward Kieffer Bellows of Bridgeport was named the AHL Forward of the Month with 10 goals in 11 games. Bridgeport sent defenseman, Mike Cormell, and right-wing, Ben Thomson, who's coming off an injury suffered early in the season, to the Worcester Railers (ECHL). Providence got defenseman Jeremy Lauzon back from his recall to the Boston Bruins. Mason Marchment, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Bryan Marchment, was recalled from the Toronto Marlies by the Maple Leafs. Ex-Sound Tiger, Aaron Ness, was returned to the Tucson Roadrunners by the Arizona Coyotes. Goalie, Parker Milner, (Avon Old Farms) was sent to the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) by Hershey. Dalton Smith, the nephew of former Whaler, Keith Primeau, was released by Rochester. Ex-Wolf Pack/Ranger, Dale Weise, was recalled from the Laval Rocket by the Montreal Canadiens and got into a first period scrap against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Patrick Maroon. Rangers President, and one-time New Haven Nighthawk, John Davidson, was selected to enter the Alberta Sports Hall-of-Fame along with six other inductees. The ceremony will be held on July 19th in Canmore, Alberta. The only other CT connection is former Whaler and Ranger, Mike Rogers, who was inducted last year. The WJC semifinals are set, and the US will not be in it. Finland upset the US 1-0 despite a strong game from goalie Spencer Knight (Darien/Avon Old Farms) who made 26 saves. The Canadians took care of business on the Slovaks winning 6-1. Sweden's team saw Rangers prospect, Nils Lundkvist, get an assist and have the second best ice time of 19:30. He shutout and knocked out the host Czech Republic, 5-0 and then Russia upended Switzerland 3-1. The Russians play Sweden in the first semi-final at 3:00 PM local time. The Finns play the Canadians in the other semifinal on Saturday. Finland is coached by ex-Ranger and New Haven Nighthawk, Raimo Helminen, who was in a record-setting six Olympics. He led Finland to a silver as a player in the 1984 WJC, and was the tournament's top scorer. He could gain gold by the end of the weekend. Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE ROAD

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The first two recalls heading to the NHL from the Hartford Wolf Pack this season, saw the team's leading scorer, Filip Chytil, and first pair defenseman, Ryan Lindgren, head to New York to join the Rangers. In his first game back with the Blueshirts, Chytil tallied the game inning goal and had three shots on net in the Rangers 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and then picked up the opening goal in his next game against the Nashville Predators in a 2-1 win, When he left the Pack, Chytil led the team with nine points in nine games and was a plus-9 and consistently the guy with the puck, and not chasing it too much. Lindgren was in the lineup too. He played 15:04 minutes against the Lightning and picked up an assist, had two shots on goal, and one hit. That same night, Marc Staal, was a healthy scratch for the first time in his 13-year-old NHL career. In Hartford, Lindgren was a plus-7, good for second best on the team. _____________________ Ex-Pack and Ranger, Dale Weise, is now a veteran of hockey. The now, 30-year-old, started out his career in Hartford nine years ago. Time sure flies! “I can’t believe its been nine years. I really enjoyed starting things out here, and I have had a great run in the NHL,” Weise said while in Hartford last week. Weise is doing PK duty for the Laval Rocket in his second tour of the Le Belle province, the first was in the big city of Montreal at the Bell Centre, which was his boyhood dream come true. Now in the last year of his the NHL deal he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, Weise acknowledged that his NHL days are dwindling. Now a father of four, he isn’t done playing hockey. He had a goal and two assists against Toronto on Saturday and still wasn’t one of the three stars. “I won’t lie, I’m not crazy about riding the buses again. Physically, I’m in better shape than when I was with the Wolf Pack, but mentally, the daily grind is really tough.” Could Europe be a possibility? “Switzerland or Russia are some good places and offer a lot, but we'll see how things go. I got twins now, six months, plus a six, and four year old (two boys and two girls), so I have a lot more to consider than when I was 23.” Open, honest and still true to himself, Weise has always found a way in the game of hockey. No doubt, the last chapters will be just as fun. Seattle is coming and it's possible that Weise could be headed to the Pacific Northwest. _________________________ The Place Bell in Laval is a must for a hockey To-Do List. It’s a great place to watch hockey. It's similar to Manchester, NH that was home to the AHL/ECHL Monarchs. SNHU Arena has a large one bowl arena concept with fine sight-lines with lively crowds, a very good game presentation. It can be chilly and ear plugs would be a plus as the goal horn is exceptionally loud. __________________________ Wrapping up the Vitali Kravtsov Affair, he played his first game at Trakor Chelyabinsk and went scoreless. With five games played, and played is a subjective term, Kravtsov showed none of the skills or the form he displayed in last years WJC tournament that led to him becoming the seventh overall selection. Kravtsov was benched in his first game which is exceptionally rare. The move, however, was not completely unexpected. Pack Head Coach, Kris Knoblauch, said discussions have been ongoing for a period of time. “We weren’t totally surprised. He didn’t just walk in and say, 'I’m leaving.' This has been discussed with Vitali’s agent and the Rangers for a while now. He practiced with us (last) Tuesday, and Wednesday, we were informed he was exercising his contract clause. Then we recalled Ty Ronning (from Maine).” Kravtsov is just 19-years-of-age and will need some maturing. He'll be 20 on December 23rd, missing the WJC tournament cutoff date by eight days. However, the sulking will need to go. Chytil could have come to Hartford whining about being sent to the AHL after having spent last season in the NHL, but he didn’t. He came, worked and played hard, and is now back in the NHL. “I just want to play hockey,” he said last week after a game. “I don’t care where. This is what I do.” At 25, fellow countrymen, Igor Shesterkin, complete with all the KHL accolades, still has came to Hartford to hone his craft and get adjusted to North American hockey. In the very near future, he too will be seen in the bright lights of MSG. He too came to Hartford with an outstanding attitude. There is likely a lot to more to this story given that Kravtsov took the first chance he could to exercise his escape clause. He was taking up space, so Knoblauch and his coaching staff under the Rangers guidance even shifted lines around in Hartford in an attempt to jump start his moribund, even, at times, non-existent play. This is all part of the new paradigm in pro hockey. It's now an even younger league, with higher expectations as the salary cap guides everything and each team looks to exploit loopholes in the CBA, which expires at the end of the 2022 season before a new one will be crafted. It is hoped that Kravtsov will develop the maturity that both Chytil and Shesterkin have demonstrated in their time in Hartford ____________________________ The Ryan Gropp saga is resolved for now with the Rangers management winning out. Gropp, who initially refused to report to the Maine Mariners, has reported to Portland this weekend where he went scoreless in one game. It's still highly possible that he will be moved in a minor league swap or as a part of some larger Rangers deal. In turn, Hartford recalled Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery Prep) from Maine where he had six points in five games in the first three weeks of the ECHL season. _____________________________ Ex-Pack, Ilkka Heikkinen, who played with TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) last year, has signed with his first Finnish team, Lukko Rauma, for the rest of the season. 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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CANTLON'S CORNER: GORD MURPHY IS HERE IN HARTFORD

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - As the Hartford Wolf Pack gets set for their first three-games-in-three-days this weekend with the Laval Rocket coming to Hartford on Friday night at the XL Center. Then the Pack plays a home-and-home with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday and then on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm at the Webster Bank Arena. Pack Associate Head Coach, Gord Murphy’s hiring in the off-season, where he was accompanying his last year's fellow Philadelphia Flyers assistant, Kris Knoblauch, who were both relieved at the end of last season, coming to the AHL was a new interesting option. “I really like it so far. When I was researching the position, I talked to a number of former and current AHL coachers, and the one thing they all said was, 'You will like the time you have to really teach and develop.' In the NHL you don’t have all the time to practice. In fact, you're manufacturing time to talk to a player about certain things. "I really appreciate the time so far where a player can learn, process, and prepare for a game at the American (Hockey) League level,” Murphy, who spent 17 years as an assistant coach after retiring from playing, said. Murphy recognizes there's a learning curve. “I know this isn’t going to happen overnight. It takes time to set up and implement procedures and the structure the organization is looking for. We're all new (the coaching staff) and many new players with a lot of skills with leadership and veterans added to the mix.” One of the big mantras is defense-first. “I don’t care what level of hockey you're at, you have defense first, and that’s just not your defensemen. The goal is to keep the puck out of the net. That gives you a chance to win the game. If you don’t have the defense, it's not a recipe for success.” The team saw its shootout loss last Sunday against Rochester in which the Americans scored late to force overtime, and then the team defensive core held against the Springfield Thunderbirds in a 1-0 shutout win. The six-on-five is a part of a defensive strategy that all teams work at as the season starts to progress especially with the Wolf Pack heading into its first heavy dose of games with six games over the next eleven days. “It’s a learning experience. It’s an area we haven’t really touched on yet, only briefly. We obviously have had talks now about what our setups should be. We have been practicing this, and like everything else, it takes time.” The changes in defensive combinations last weekend is all part of the plan to build a stronger team defensively. “Changes are inevitable in this game, especially on defense. There will be injuries and call ups at some point, so it's better we learn, so we'll know how the players work together, finding the strengths and weaknesses will make the team and the player better.” The sport that he mastered playing in 735 NHL games has changed, especially from his early days with the Hershey Bears back in 1987-88. “There weren’t the skills coaches, the nutrition aspect, or the systems that we have today. Back then, we were taught certain positioning, but we were left on our own to use our skills all that we had. The dynamics now is the players are simply so much faster than in our day. We might have had three or four really top skaters, today is like closer to 15. The skill sets are far different today in what goes into making a 'player.'” Among Murphy's teammates were ex-Hartford Whalers, Kevin Maxwell, Don Nachbaur, Ray Allison, Kevin McCarthy, Nick Kypreos, and John Stevens. He also played with ex-New Haven Nighthawks, Brian Dobbin, and Mark Lofthouse, and former Wolf Pack assistant coach, JJ Daigneault. Teaching the new generation trust is an important component. “I’m trying to help them, and I can relate my experiences. The kids can Google about my past and that’s what is the past. Now I can share my knowledge. The kids have been very receptive and have worked very hard, but at the end of the day I have to earn their trust and respect.” For Murphy, the relationship with his troops now is akin to a parent-child relationship, in some ways. “Its like when they’re riding a bike learning that they’ll fall and skin their knee, but you get right back at it. We're helping to shape them, not only as players but as young men. Many are out on their own for the first time and learning to make good decisions on-and-off ice is a part of the equation of their professional growth and development.” Murphy’s experience is hopefully going to produce up top in New York for the Rangers and hopefully for Hartford when next April rolls around. NOTES: The Rangers recalled Ty Ronning to Hartford from the team's ECHL affiliates, the Maine Mariners. Ronning had five points in four games. Laval will be without Michael McCarron who is serving the second of his two-game suspension for a major interference penalty in Providence. He missed Wednesday’s game in Belleville. Not only are the Lindgren brothers, Ryan (Hartford) and Charles (Laval), playing against each other tonight, but two former members of the St. Cloud Huskies (NCHC) who were college teammates will be facing each other, in Patrick Newell (Hartford) and Ryan Poehling (Laval). In addition, ex-Pack/CT Whale, Dale Weise, makes his first appearance back in Hartford since 2010-11. Bridgeport has recalled highly-regarded Czech-born netminder, Jakub Sharek from the Worcester Railers. Sharek posted a 1.42 GAA in two games. The team reassigned another European goalie they like in Swedish Linus Soderstrom to Worcester. Riley Stillman, the grandson of ex-Nighthawks and Springfield Indians player, Bud Stefanski, was recalled from Springfield by Florida. Ex-Pack, Daniel Walcott, is assigned to Syracuse by Tampa Bay. Mitch Eliot, the son of former Nighthawk, Daren Eliot, is reassigned from Utica to Kalamazoo (ECHL). Ex-Pack, and Sound Tiger, Jack Combs signs a deal with Wichita (ECHL). Ex-Pack, and Ranger, Connor Brickley, signed a deal today with EC Salzburg (Austria-EBEL) for the rest of the season. He will report to the Red Bulls next week. Brickley played 13 games in Hartford last year after being acquired. Josh Primeau, the nephew of ex-Whaler, Keith Primeau, signs with HC Sierre (Switzerland-LNB) his eighth Swiss team in his career, all spent in Switzerland. Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: PACK REFLECT ON BAD LOSS 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - It was a very silent Hartford Wolf Pack practice at Champions Skating Center on Wednesday. Fresh off a disheartening 4-1 loss to the Hershey Bears, who scored all four of their goals in the last seven minutes of the game, the New York Rangers' AHL affiliates did their drills and skating, but the usual chatter was missing. “We liked our first 53 minutes held them, to 21 shots to 11 shots against those back to back penalties, one of which they scored on. We had some missed D zone coverage, then a blocked shot, bounces up in front of the net and then a turnover by our goalie and an empty net goal, it‘s over. That’s not the recipe for closing out games especially a team like Hershey that’s won now how many games in a row? (Nine and 17-1-0-1 in their last 19),” Wolf Pack head coach, Keith McCambridge, said. The mental part of the game is still is not up to par in critical situations. “Your up 1-0, have control and taking penalties. You get away killing one, but then you come right back with another it's just not about managing the puck it's managing the game,” remarked McCambridge through a hoarse voice. When your goalie commits a turnover that led directly to the third Hershey goal as Brendan Halverson’s pass up the middle was intercepted by the last guy you wanted to have it, the Bears leading scorer Riley Barber who put in his second of the game and 26th of the season. “There’s a fine line in how he plays the puck. He had several nice plays on the penalty kill. He took control sent it all the way down (the ice). .There is that fine line when you play it too much,” said McCambridge of Halverson who will start tonight in Springfield. The team offense has been done by a small cache of players led by Vinni Lettieri, on a six-game point streak, Steven Fogarty 12 points in his last seven games and Ryan Gropp who has five points in seven games. “Vinni’s been dangerous all year here. That line has been very productive for us, very strong in the offensive zone, but their defensive zone coverage has been as equally strong between the three of them they will generate offense. By far our most dangerous offensive line,” remarked McCambridge. Conversely, the secondary scoring has been a trickle as of late. “It’s the secondary scoring that we need and it drops off from that line. You hope during the season when these players are having dry spells will pick it up. Lately, we have had players who hit some real dry spells been a while since they had points or goals. It was nice to see Fontaine last night score a goal, gain some traction, but I do like how hard we're working, but we have been missing some players (to injuries, trades). We have points in the last six games then last night we let one slip away from us with Hershey, where we should have had them in seven.” With 18 games remaining there is simply no margin for error and likely no margin left. “It's very disappointing because we have played well of late,“ Assistant captain Steven Fogarty said while wearing one of the team hoodies. “We got points and to play so well for most of the game and collapse…in a matter of two shifts… it's tough. It’s unacceptable, it's why we are, where we're at (in the standings). We're running out of time here.” The team also had another day of changes as the newly minted assistant captain, Ryan Lindgren, was in a left boot cast after taking a shot off his foot. He is likely out for this weekend’s games against Springfield and Wilkes Barre/Scranton breaking up their top defensive duo of Lindgren and John Gilmour. The Rangers also recalled rookie rearguard, Libor Hajak, Wednesday morning. With Lindgren out, the fans will likely see former QU Bobcat, Zach Tolkinen, back in the lineup taking his place. The Rangers did what was expected as they reassigned goalie Dustin Tokarski, too, of all places, Charlotte the top team in the Atlantic Division. With that, the AHL ending the veteran goalie experiment that didn’t produce the results the Rangers/Wolf Pack had hoped for this season (more info below). The most frustrating thing about last night’s loss, is it stalled momentum that the Wolf Pack have been building. Recently, they have been in this position clawing from the bottom trying to make the playoffs. Why this has become a yearly routine occurrence with a mostly new team? “We’ve been asking that question for three years. There obviously is a mental aspect to it. You're going to get scored on, but you can’t cheat when you get scored on. Obviously, It's going to be March tomorrow and we haven’t learned that yet. We're still in the hunt, but it's a desperate time. There are only so games left.” Will the clock strike midnight on their season this weekend? The Wolf Pack fate is in their skates and sticks. NOTES: On the injury front, Lindgren is listed as day-to-day pending a medical evaluation. After he got some x-rays done, Rob’Gara (lower-body) skated in a red non-contact jersey. He's week-to-week. Ville Meskanen (upper body) was skating in a red non-contact jersey. He's day-to-day while Chris Bigras was with cast and crutches and is listed week-to-week. So far the Hartford Wolf Pack have remained mostly intact from Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline Day with some minor deals, but might be different after Monday’s AHL Trade Deadline. Tokarski's reassignment/trade comes as no surprise, but to be sent to Charlotte, the top team in the AHL and, of course, the Atlantic Division, was quite shocking. Tokarski’s last Wolf Pack game was a porous effort against Bridgeport February 17th in a 5-4 OT loss to the Sound Tigers. He played in 21 games, just one more than his other veteran battery mate, Marek Mazanec, who was shipped off to Vancouver two weeks ago. Tokarski’s record was 10-6-2 with a 3.01 GAA and a .901 save percentage and one shutout. He, like Mazanec, was inconsistent. While he did have a 9-1-1 stretch, that was the extent of his best playing period. He was pulled three times this season, twice in his ten playing days. One NHL scout described Tokarski as, “either really good or really (crappy). There is no in between.” In return, the Wolf Pack will receive Hartford-born, Josh Wesley, and will add another defenseman who has shuttled most of his pro career in the Carolina organization between Charlotte and Florida (ECHL). Wesley is the son of former Whaler, Glen Wesley (1994-1997), who played ten years in Carolina with the exception of seven games with Toronto when he was a deadline trade in 2003. Currently, he is the defensive skills development coach for St. Louis after spending ten years in the same position in the same capacity with Carolina. A few former players have been moved to new addresses. Ex-CT Whale, Michael Del Zotto, lands on his third team this year. He leaves the Anaheim Ducks to head to the St. Louis Blues. Then ex-Pack forward Oscar Lindberg was involved in the Ryan Stone deal and heads to the Canadian capital city to play for the Senators from Las Vegas. Jonathan Dalen, son of former New Haven Nighthawk and Ranger, Ulf Dahlen goes from Vancouver to San Jose. Ex-Pack Brian Gibbons (Salisbury Prep) is moved from Anaheim to Ottawa for Patrick Sieloff. In non-trade news, recently ex-Pack goalie, Marek Mazanec, was assigned to Utica by Vancouver. Ex-Wolf Pack, Dale Weise, has been recalled from Laval by Montreal. Weise had two goals in three games with the Rocket. Ex-Sound Tiger defenseman Matt Donovan was recalled by Nashville from Milwaukee. Rangers announced Monday that they have signed two of their potential Group 6 free agents centers, Boo Nieves and Steven Fogarty, to one-year contracts. Nieves' deal was for one-year. It's a one-way NHL deal paying $700K. Fogarty’s deal was a one-year two-way deal paying $700K in the NHL and $150K at the AHL. Fogarty celebrated with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over the Providence Bruins on Sunday. Two of the goals were shorthanded. That gives Hartford three in a two-game span and Fogarty was involved in all of them. It was the first Wolf Pack hat trick in a little over two years. The last came from Adam Tambellini against Springfield on February 10, 2017, at the Mass Mutual Center. It's also just the fifth Wolf Pack hat trick in the last seven years. “I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. This is my first. I was going to be a free agent,“ Fogarty remarked. “It's obvious. It's exciting. When I got the call and the process started. They called a few weeks ago and things just progressed pretty nicely.” Did you want to test free agency? “To be honest, I was not sure how that process works out. I think I have a good year personally, made strides in my game and my goal is to get to the NHL. I really do like this organization who drafted me. I like coaches and the staff, so my heart has always been here,” said the Edina, MN native born in Chambersburg, PA. The Wolf Pack are still in the playoff hunt with a very steep hill to get there. They are nine points behind Providence and saw some personnel shift in the Atlantic Division. Springfield got Jean-Sebastien Dea, a frequent Pack killer, from the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins and right-handed defenseman Chris Wideman heading to PA. Charlotte, already an exceptionally strong offensive team, added Tomas Jurco from Springfield. They are an early Calder Cup Final favorite. Matt Finn, just released by the Wolf Pack and sent back to Florida (ECHL), has signed another PTO with Ontario (AHL) and Alex Krushelnyski is traded from Lehigh Valley to Binghamton for his second AHL tour in southwestern New York state. He started the season with Reading (ECHL). Philippe Hudon, a Hudson, Quebec native who played three years at Choate Prep of Wallingford, then three years of Canadian major junior with the Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) and then five years of Canadian college hockey at Concordia University (OUAA) in Montreal signed an ECHL tryout deal with the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Nick Dilsi, a former Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, goes from IFK Stromsund (Sweden Division-2) to HC Tabor (Czech Republic-Division-2). William Rinaldi (Kent Prep) is playing with Wellington (OJHL) commits to R.I.T. (AHA) for next year. The first of the European and Asian hockey titles have been decided. The Scottish National title was won by the Murrayfield Racers, the Italian title was won by SV Ritten/Renon their fourth straight title and fifth in six years. Then in India, the Indo-Tibet Border Police team won their third straight title over the Ladakh Scouts 6-5. The Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia begins on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with seven teams competing. The countries involved are defending champion and host Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, Oman Philippines, and Singapore. In the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Times reports a deal has been struck to open the first ice rink converting an old building owned by the Institute of Technology in Dundalk. The city is located along the eastern coast near the Irish Sea just south of the Northern Ireland border. The rink would be the first and is expected to open in September. In Northern Ireland, they have the only rink, the SSE Arena that is run by AEG and houses the Belfast Giants (EIHL) and has hosted the Friendship Four college tournament the past five years. Read about it HERE. Read the full article

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CANTLON: DISMANTLING THE WOLF PACK

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Any thought of the Hartford Wolf Pack making the post-season were slim at best, but another Monday off day trade pretty much seals the team’s fate. The New York Rangers have tossed in the towel on their AHL affiliate's season and have begun the dismantling the 2018-19 edition of the team. In the space of a month, the Rangers have traded their team captain, Cole Schneider, the fourth consecutive season where the team captain was dealt, their first off-season signing from last summer, goalie Marek Mazanec, and now the team's leading scorer, Peter Holland. Holland, 28 was a former #1 overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks. He was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks for a 22-year-old defenseman, and former first-round selection, Darren Raddysh, who was playing with the Rockford Ice Hogs. Holland was assigned to Rockford with a ledger that has 20 goals and 49 points on it, tops on the Wolf Pack and ninth in AHL scoring race. Holland was one of the three assistant captains on the team. The other assistant captains are Steven Fogarty and Matt Beleskey - who's filling for the injured Rob O’Gara. The new assistant structure is still being formulated. “We have a couple scenarios we have looked at, but no final decision has been made,” remarked head coach McCambridge. The second year bench boss kept his remarks to the point in losing his leading scorer. “Peter did a lot of good things for this organization its an opportunity for both players we get a young defenseman on the back end and that’s a part of pro sports and part of the game of hockey,” replied a measured Keith McCambridge. Did you get a heads up that this deal was a possibility ? “As a head coach in this league you always know around this time of year, the trade deadline time this is a possibility of some type of movement,” said McCambridge being very precise in his answers when asked twice about the trade. In Holland’s first game with Rockford he posted two primary assists in a 3-2 OT come from behind win in Grand Rapids sporting jersey number 13. For the the Pack’s Matt Beleskey, now the most senior forward of experience on the team he has been through the revolving door of hockey was sanguine regarding the upheaval of the past month. “You see what the big club what direction there going in. It’s tough, but as a team you have to look at yourself and were not winning and when things aren’t going well there gonna be changes. Its really tough to lose Pete, he has been a good player and leader for us. I know he wasn’t asking to go anywhere it’s kinda surprising, but it’s a part of the business. We all know things happen at this time of year (trade deadline) it usually does and I don’t think its over.”” For Beleskey, he loses just not only a teammate, a fellow veteran to guide in the sheperding process with the younger players which Holland embraced, he loses his linemate. Holland along with the presently injured Ville Meskanen formed one of the few consistent solid lines the Pack have had all season. Helping young players absorb this lesson is not by him alone,but he clearly a few extra bricks are tossed on his shoulder. “Its kinda done by committee,but you have to point out if you have a losing record changes are going to happen. You certaintly don’t want to get use to this (losing) you want a team to stick together and be able to go places in April and may that’s a lesson. I kinda try to preach when things are going well, these kinda changes don’t happen.” Beleskey skated with Lias Andersson and Bobby Butler the last two days and that changed Thursday afternoon. Lias Andersson, who has just one goal and six points in 16 game since the Rangers reassigned him after four points in 21 games in New York was recalled as the Rangers because they will sit either one or both, Steven Hayes and ex-CT Whale Mats Zuccarello who are expected to be traded by Monday by the Rangers. “Look we have what maybe 30% of the team we started the year with. I think one or two defenseman right now from the start, so that’s tough to get into a groove, but our job is not to make the lineup, its to play. That’s all you can really do,”. The Holland trade was the 22nd AHL level trade made prior to Monday’s NHL trade deadline by the parent clubs since mid-December. These moves are primarily cap space moves for this season and in some cases for next season, a year before the expected lockout/work stoppage coming at the NHL level. Holland scored his 20th goal Sunday afternoon in a wild 5-4 OT loss to Wilkes Barre allowing the Wolf Pack to have had at least one 20 goals scorer in each of their 22 seasons. Holland is a UFA after this season which his salary was a one way NHL deal at $700K. The player he was traded for is right handed defenseman Darren Raddysh who had a strong junior career with Erie (OHL) with 65 assists 81 points plus 22 points in 22 OHL playoff games and eight points in five Memorial Cup games in his last season. Raddysh was a free agent undrafted signee to an ELC deal by the Black Hawks which he has one more year left at $70K-AHL/$755K-NHL.Raddysh has played 120 AHL games with Rockford with 13 goals and 48 points for the 6’0 200lb. rearguard. His brother Taylor plays for Syracuse (AHL). McCambridge got his first look at him at Wednesday’s practice. “He was poised with the puck, moved it well, I liked how his shot came off his stick, a good first practice and impression,” said McCambridge. Having a righthanded defenseman is like a lefthanded pitcher in baseball everybody wants a couple of them. “There are year when you might six righthanded shots as I have seen a lot of different mixes in the past. Right now, you want the best available defenseman to work on the back end.” The Wolf Pack have a truly very important three in three this weekend they must be all regulation wins no overtimes or shootouts if they can keep the very slim post season hopes alive. Friday season long nemesis Springfield is in town and Saturday starts a home and home with the team holding fourth place in the Atlantic division the Providence Bruins. “We felt we have had some good efforts like against Toronto, we split two games in Lehigh Valley never an easy easy building to play in this league. Then  again Bridgeport we had a chance there against a team who added two good piece on a conditioning loan (Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey both recalled on Monday). We like the traction we have had, we just haven’t gotten the results.” For John Gilmour he realizes this a critical weekend. “We have had a do or die mentality lately, we just haven’t gotten the W’s we wanted. We have a little over 20 games left we can’t afford to drop any and were playing every game like it’s a playoff game. We have to have a lot of desperation to our games if we want to make the playoffs which is our goal.” The Wolf Pack are down three games to none can they reverse the trend ? NOTES: -Beleskey with one more year left at $1.9 million of an originally deal signed with Boston in 2015 who carries only an $800K cap hit for New York remains the optimist and realist, “Your always trying to figure what’s gonna happen, but I‘ve learned in this business you never know what’s  gonna happen.” -The Pack injury front there is some encouraging news Ville Meskanen (lower body) practiced in his a red no contact jersey could see a game as could Ty Ronning (lower body) and Brandon Crawley (upper body) practiced could see some time this weekend. Defenseman Rob O’ Gara (lower body) still remains a week or so away from playing. -The Wolf Pack continued to add more player insurance ahead of the trade deadline with foward Zach Lynch from Wheeling (ECHL). The three year ECHL vet has 15 goals and 37 assists for 52 points in 53 games with Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). He has 145 career ECHL games with Wheeling and Manchester and 36 career AHL games with Utica, Springfield and Portland when they were in the AHL as the Pirates. -The Washington Capitals picked up ex-CT Whale Carl Hagelin from Los Angeles for a 3rd round pick in 2019 and a conditional sixth round pick in 2020 late Thursday. "We are pleased to welcome Carl to our organization," said Caps senior VP and GM former New Haven Nighthawk Brian MacLellan. "We felt this trade enables us to add depth up front and provides us with a veteran player with a tremendous amount of speed to help us on the penalty kill." -Ryan Donato, son of ex-Pack and Sound Tiger Ted Donato was traded by Boston to Minnesota for Charlie Coyle, a younger cousin to former New Haven Nighthawk, Bobby “The Cat” Sheehan. -Ex-Pack Desmond Bergin signed a PTO deal with Binghamton he was playing with Adirondack (ECHL). -Former UCONN Husky Derek Pratt having been scratched both games that he was eligible for was released on Tuesday from his PTO deal and reassigned to Maine (ECHL). This was similar to Matt Petgrave two weeks ago who was scratched for three games he was eligible for and returned to Brampton (ECHL). -Goalie Chris Nell, still Rangers property was reassigned early in the year to Greenville (ECHL) their old ECHL affiliate from Maine was curiously reassigned to Hartford Wednesday. Like Halverson is in the last year of his contract. -Justin Salvaggio who played four games last year for the Wolf Pack was reassigned from Maine (ECHL) to Wichita (ECHL). -Looking ahead four Wolf Pack players will be UFA (unrestricted free agents) Group 6 category at the end of the year. Group 6 is defined as a player with three years pro experience who has not played 80 NHL games by their 25th birthday making them unrestricted. Steven Fogarty and Rob O’ Gara each have just 11 games, John Gilmour is at 28 and Boo Nieves who is in New York, if he plays all of the remaining 24 Rangers games will qualify by just two games. Dustin Tokarski and Connor Brickley on recall are straight UFA’s. -After three games and no points ex-Pack Dale Weise was assigned to Laval by Montreal. -Micheal Haley, the ex-Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger was claimed off waiver by his former NHL team the San Jose Sharks from the Florida Panthers. -Former New Haven Senators head coach Don MacAdam brought in as an interim coach on December 18th was let go after exactly two months later from SC Csikszereda (Romania-EBEL) that plays in the Austrian Elite League. -Late breaking news is the New York islanders have named Oak View Group (OVG) to be the new management company of the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. This is significant in two ways. One, OVG that is the group beginning the renovation project on the Seattle KeyArena that will house the NHL’s 32nd yet unnamed franchise. The other significance is OVG is in partnering with MSG run by Jim Dolan who is the primary financial backer in OVG on renovation in Seattle and have a piece of the pie with the Islander new building to be built in Belmont Park slated to begin at last report next month. Webster Bank Arena’s original 20 year lease negotiated by the late Roy Boe expires in two seasons and the building at 20 years of age will need state funding to begin replacing and repairing its operating mechanical systems. Matthew Herpich, was named the new GM of the Webster Bank Arena, a 12 year veteran of arena management . He has run arena’s in Chicago, Portland,ME, Cleveland State University and in Aiken, SC. Michael Picker, the current President and GM, a long time Islanders executive will remain as President of the Sound Tigers. The deal will be effective February 28th. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: February 4-10, 2019

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT - The Wolf Pack (19-23-3-2, 43 pts., .457) returned from the AHL All-Star break with a 5-2 loss at Springfield on Friday night.  Hartford came back from a 2-0 first-period deficit to tie that game at two, on goals by John Gilmour and Connor Brickley, but the Thunderbirds went on to tally the final three of the contest.  Then, on Saturday night at the XL Center vs. North Division-leading Rochester, the Wolf Pack got a late third-period goal from Ville Meskanen to avoid a shutout, but that was the only one of 35 Hartford tries to elude Americans goaltender Jonas Johansson in a 4-1 Rochester victory. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: The Wolf Pack have a busy week on tap, with four games in six days, starting Tuesday night at home vs. Bridgeport.  That game faces off at 7:00 PM, and then the Wolf Pack get their first look at the Syracuse Crunch Friday night at the XL Center, in a 7:15 game.  After that, Hartford makes its first trip of the year to Allentown, PA for a pair of battles against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  The Wolf Pack and Phantoms tangle Saturday night at 7:05 and Sunday afternoon at 3:05. Tuesday, February 5 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at the XL Center, 7:00 PM This is Bridgeport’s last trip of the season to the XL Center and the second-to-last of ten meetings between the AHL’s Connecticut rivals.  The Wolf Pack are 4-3-1-0 thus far on the year against the Sound Tigers, 2-1-1-0 at home. The Sound Tigers come into this week winners of two of their last three games, but since January 2, when they were 21-9-4-1, they have won only four of 13 contests (4-8-0-1).  Bridgeport still sits second in the Atlantic Division at 25-17-4-2 for 56 points, 12 points behind Charlotte and one point up on Providence. Former Wolf Pack forward Chris Bourque (10-24-34 in 46 GP) has put up 3-4-7 in the last four games, to take over the Sound Tiger team points lead. At this and every Wolf Pack home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club, presented by Minuteman Press.  Enjoy $2 beers and $5 appetizers from 5:00 PM until puck drop. Tickets for this and all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.  Friday, February 8 vs. the Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM This being a Friday-night Wolf Pack home game, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. This is Pride and Diversity Night at the XL Center.  Join the Wolf Pack as they team up with the “You Can Play Project” to promote equality and diversity in the community. The Crunch are the highest-scoring team in the AHL, averaging 3.81 goals-per-game, and come into the week on a six-game winning streak.  At 27-13-2-1 for 57 points, Syracuse is three points behind first-place Rochester in the North Division. Syracuse scoring leader Carter Verhaeghe (22-32-54 in 43 GP) has the second-most points in the AHL and is tied for fourth in the league in goals, and Cory Conacher (15-30-45 in 39 GP) is tied for fourth among AHL skaters in points and assists. This is the first time the Wolf Pack and Crunch have seen each other this season, the opener of a two-game season series.  The two clubs split a pair of meetings last year, with Syracuse winning 3-2 in their only XL Center visit January 6. At this and every Wolf Pack home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club, presented by Minuteman Press.  Enjoy $2 beers and $5 appetizers from 5:15 PM until puck drop. Tickets for this and all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.  Saturday, February 9 at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at the PPL Center, 7:05 PM This is the Wolf Pack’s first visit of the season to Allentown, after having won two of their three home games vs. the Phantoms.  Hartford swept three meetings between the two teams at the PPL Center last year, all by one-goal margins, including an overtime win and a shootout win. Lehigh Valley (25-17-3-2, 55 pts.) is currently tied with Providence for the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, one point behind Bridgeport and three points ahead of Springfield. Former Wolf Pack forward Dale Weise, who played 194 games in a Wolf Pack/CT Whale uniform from 2008-09 through 2010-11, had a goal and an assist for the Phantoms in a 7-5 home win over Bridgeport Friday night, his first AHL game since the 2011 playoffs with the Whale. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.  Sunday, February 10 at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at the PPL Center, 3:05 PM The Wolf Pack come into the week 7-14-1-2 on the road, and the Phantoms are 13-9-0-1 at home. In 12 all-time games at the PPL Center, the Wolf Pack are 10-2-0-0. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.  Recent Transactions: Dustin Tokarski – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers January 28. Zach Tolkinen – signed by the Wolf Pack to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement January 31 Pack Tracks: Join the Wolf Pack for its first Craft Beer Night Friday, February 22, when the Springfield Thunderbirds visit the XL Center for a 7:15 PM start.  Enjoy 90 minutes of tastings from Back East, Connecticut Valley, and Hanging Hills brewing companies for only $50.  That cost includes a game ticket.  For more information, click here. Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  After this Friday, the Wolf Pack’s next Friday home date is February 22, when they host the Springfield Thunderbirds in a 7:15 PM game. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and two hot dogs, all for just $40.  The next Family Value Pack game is Wednesday, February 13, when the Toronto Marlies come to town for a 7:00 PM game. Every Wolf Pack Wednesday home game is a “Winning Wednesday”.  If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday Wolf Pack home game (some restrictions apply).  The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home game is February 13, a 7:00 PM contest vs. the Toronto Marlies. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 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 (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info. TRACK THE PACK ON-LINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article

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CANTLON: WOLF PACK MAJOR THREE-IN-THREE DIVISION WEEKEND

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The wound needs time to heal. The loss of captain Cole Schneider via trade on Monday had far more impact than the trade last year of Joe Whitney. The loss was palpable. “The first practice (Tuesday) was tough. It was like losing a family member as Cole was a big part of our family,” said Pack head coach Keith McCambridge, who wore the C the last three years with the defunct Alaska Aces (ECHL). “Your leaders wear letters for a reason. Whenever you take those pieces out of your dressing room those are big shoes to fill. We're gonna have to fill that void in leadership. The person who wears the 'C' has a strong voice in the room. We do lose the many things Cole brought to the table, but we get a player back with significant AHL experience." Before the question was finished, McCambridge laid out the leadership equation for the remainder of the regular season. “We're going with three A’s. Peter Holland will have an A on his jersey (Friday) night. When you set and design your team, you have a captain, but we're now past the halfway part of the season. We have the structure in place. It really is a credit to them that we have had such a solid leadership corp this season. It’s like an eight-cylinder engine. You lose a spark plug and trying to fill it in. Time will tell how this new leadership structure will work. Cole was a hard working individual who poured his heart and soul into this. The tough business side of things is never easy.” Whether it works or not is anyone's guess, but one thing for sure is that telling the players on a way to move forward is not an easy task. “I told them he was a part of our family starting from September and you hope till early June (Calder Cup Final time) you're together as a family. I really like this group. They get along well together, and a piece of our family was taken away. I always speak from the heart to the team,” McCambridge said. McCambridge was channeling his captain’s player role, not so much being their head coach “I liked Cole a lot. He was a good man. I like what he represented. Now, we have to pick up the slack in a leadership void and what he brought (to the team) on the ice as well.” Holland has eight years of pro experience and this never gets easy. "We're bummed out for sure. That is the tough part of the business, and we signed up for it, and we all know the possibilities," Holland said. "Our lives can be tossed into a blender and get traded away.” Holland has felt the sting of trades as well. “It’s a big hole in the locker room for sure.“ The loss of Schneider is genuinely being felt throughout the locker room. “He’ll be hard to replace and missed. He was a vocal leader and he held guys accountable in a good way, guys respected him. It’s gonna hurt in the mentoring role we have had with the younger guys, this is a big lesson to learn. Certainly, his offense will be missed, so, it means we all have to step in in our own way to fill that void. It does suck that’s for sure.” Holland was one of the first to learn Schneider had been dealt. “I got a text from him saying that he had been traded and I really thought he was joking because there was inkling this was coming. I tried to Facetime with him and got no response for awhile he was talking with family and friends and it started to dawn on me this might be more real than I thought. We live in the same building and it’s a short elevator ride down…it was kinda crazy. He was very surprised by it.”. When Holland was traded from Anaheim to Toronto he was in a different place than he is now. “First time I got traded I was 20-21 years old. A young guy, a single guy and I thought it was a big deal, it wasn’t. You pack up one place and away you go. It gets a lot harder as you get older, It gets to be a bigger deal. You have live-in girlfriends, pets and in some cases kids or kids in school. The amount of (anxiety) increases tremendously, and it’s a huge change in your life when you're traded in the next 12 hours you're gone! You need friends and family to pick up the piece when you have to leave, it’s a big scramble.” He saw the same thing while in the NHL. “I was with the Leafs when Dion Phaneuf got traded. Even if you know it might be coming, it’s still a shock to the system. One day there's a nameplate on the locker, and the next day it's empty. Teams are like family. It's tough.” Now, sporting the "A" stitched to his jersey, a few more bricks are riding on his shoulders. “We have a good leadership group. It's an opportunity for everybody to take on new roles within the team. It adds a little more pressure to do some of the things Cole did here.” For Connor Brickley, he was on the other side of the trade. His adventure was equally wild. He arrived in Hartford at midnight and had his first practice Thursday. “I had woken up from my pre-game nap. We're in Winnipeg to play the Manitoba Moose. I was waking up around 4 pm (Central time) my phone was going off with text messages from friends and (management). I don’t have a Canadian phone plan, so it wasn’t dialing out. So, I had to borrow my roommate's (Jared Tinordi) phone to make a few calls and found out I wouldn’t be playing that night." Brickley was tempered in responding to how much he knew. “There had been rumblings, but I really didn’t expect anything. It's always nice to get a new opportunity and it's nice to be wanted. It’s a fresh start for me and gives me a chance to show the Rangers what I can put on display.” Brickley is familiar with the XL Center having played for the Portland Pirates for two years. Brickley is playing for a contract since his current one-year deal expires in June. “Fans will see a fast, hard-working forward who can play physical and get the puck to the net and get some gritty goals," Brickley said. "I’m really looking forward to it.” The deal caught people by surprise, but those on the inside, this was in the works in two stages, one in November, and the other over the past two weeks. A knowledgeable source filled Cantlon’s Corner in on the details. “Nashville actually was offered Schneider back in November, but they declined. The Rangers really had zeroed in on Brickley in the last month, and over the last two weeks things got serious and the deal was made.” McCambridge was able to say out loud, in a dark-humored way, what everybody is thinking. “Players are smart. They know what's going on around them. When you have that many people (captains) traded in a row it does become the proverbial “kiss of death." Sadly, the captaincy in Hartford once so revered has become just that. BIG WEEKEND No way to underestimate how important this three-in-three is. It cannot be overstated. The Wolf Pack are above the .500 mark at 18-17-2-2 (40 points) and sit in seventh place in the Atlantic Division. They are four points behind the Springfield Thunderbirds, and three points behind the current eighth place, Toronto Marlies. They want to keep in the hunt for the final playoff spot. On this weekend they'll have three solid chances to make a dent in that pursuit as they host Lehigh Valley Friday, Springfield Saturday and Monday afternoon in Providence. Holland is keenly aware of the importance the second half of this season and its overall importance to the younger players developmentally. “I can speak from experience. When I was with the Toronto Marlies in my third year as a pro, we had a phenomenal run. We lost in Game 7 to Texas, who went on to win (the Calder Cup) against Keith (McCambridge's) team when he was in St. John’s. It's so much fun playing hockey at that time of year. You work all year to get there, and if you don’t make the playoffs, you don’t know what you're missing. For guys who have been there, you gotta sell the guys who maybe had some experience in junior and college, its different at this (AHL) level.” We know all three teams this weekend very well. They all bring very strong offensive teams and we're gonna have to beat teams that are ahead of us (to make the playoffs). We have to focus on what we need to do, playing good sound team defense is key.” These are huge divisional games for us and at this point, there is just a half season left. We need the points.” McCambridge is keenly aware of the standings and the big push is now on. “You have a lot of teams jockeying for that position in our division. There is an opening there and everybody has their eyes on it. We were happy we beat Springfield. We lost the two games with Providence, so we didn’t do ourselves any favors. We have to be consistently gathering points at this stage of the season. Lehigh Valley is a really good team, offensively-minded, and we had a very good game against them last time. They remember it. They're a transition and fast team and all the more reason we have to have a strong start.” The Pack lost Ryan Lindgren to recall to the Rangers, and the Wolf Pack will have just six defensemen with Sean Day, who will be in the line-up, but the recall for Lindgren (now wearing jersey 55) brought a smile to McCambridge’s face amid dealing with the fall out of the Schneider trade. “I’m happy for him. You're happy when they get that call and for myself, it's nice to watch him play his first NHL game, and as many times you make those calls, when guys get the opportunity to achieve their lifetime goal to play in the NHL, those calls never get old.” NOTES: UPDATE: Sunday’s game with Providence has been postponed to MLK Jr. Day Monday at 3:05 pm at the Dunkin’ Arena in Providence.*** Brickley will wear the number 23 for the Wolf Pack. Schneider wore 25 in his first game with the Admirals. He had three shots on goal and no points in Winnipeg. Lehigh Valley reassigned goalie Brandon Komm, who played his first AHL game last time the Phantoms were in town. He goes to Reading (ECHL) and Anthony Stolarz was sent down for a conditioning stint by the Flyers. He will likely start in net against the Pack. Dustin Tokarski gets the call for the Wolf Pack. Another day, another AHL-style trade as Lehigh Valley will receive Justin Bailey from Rochester, a big forward who heads to upstate New York, Tyler Leier. Since Christmas nine AHL level trades have been made and were now just five weeks out from the NHL Trading deadline. Usually, these trades occur just before or after the deadline. This is an inordinate amount and shows how much cap tweaking is going on in preparation for a potential work stoppage in 2020-21. Steven Fogarty (concussion) is listed as day-to-day. McCambridge is hoping he gets clearance and can get in one game this weekend. Shawn O’Donnell (upper body) is doubtful for the weekend, but he is hoping he might be ready by mid-week (against Springfield) next week. Terrance Wallin is back from Maine was signed to a PTO deal. “He’s been a very reliable player for us, important centerman for us and has stepped into several roles for us and he will be in the lineup this weekend.” Springfield lost JT Brown to recall by Florida. The Sound Tigers reassigned former Yale Bulldog Ryan Hitchcock to Worcester (ECHL), and goalie, Alex Nedejlkovic, was recalled by Carolina from Charlotte. A lineup addition possibility for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms could have been ex-Wolf Pack/CT Whale Dale Weise, who cleared NHL waivers on Wednesday, and is now eligible to be reassigned to the Phantoms. As of Noon, Friday Weise has yet to be assigned by Philadelphia who scratched him from the Boston game Wednesday night. He was on waivers at the start of the season and not claimed. Weise’s now 30 years old. His only AHL duty was in Hartford in 2011. He played 194 games with 57 goals and 111 points and since then he has played 481 NHL games with Vancouver, Montreal, Chicago and Philadelphia. The always verbose Winnipegger has one more year left of a four-year $9.4 million dollar deal he signed with departed Flyers GM Ron Hextall at a $2.5 million cap hit next year. Ex-CT Whale and friend of Weise’s, defenseman, Michael Del Zotto was traded by Vancouver to Anaheim Max Jones, the son of ex-Nighthawk Brad Jones, was recalled from San Diego by Anaheim. Ex-Pack Ryan Graves was returned to Colorado (AHL) by the Avalanche and ex-Pack Caleb Herbert departed the Colorado Eagles to Utah (ECHL). Ex-QU Bobcat Jordan Samuels-Thomas (South Windsor) who had been playing with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia-EBEL) signs a PTO deal with Hershey. Former Sound Tiger Nino Niederreiter has changed NHL addresses going from Minnesota to Carolina. Goalie Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep) was reassigned to Reading (ECHL) by Charlotte. Ex-CT Whale defenseman and all around good guy Pavel Valentenko was traded from Uzhny- Ural Orsk (Russia-VHL) to Yugra-Khanty (Russia-VHL), Lukas Znosko (Stamford) was let go by Zaglebie Sosnowice (Poland-PZIHL). Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: NHL RETURN IMMINENT AND OTHER HOCKEY NEWS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - For the first time since March, professional hockey is so close to being played for fans that you can almost reach out and touch it. With that start rapidly approaching, there's plenty of news escalating as well, starting in Seattle with a much-anticipated announcement. The Seattle NHL team finally has chosen a name. General Manager, Ron Francis, the former Hartford Whalers great, announced that the team will be, the Seattle Kraken, at a press conference on Thursday. The name, "Kraken," is based on the fictitious sea monster from Scandinavian folklore. The team colors for their home and away jerseys will be a shade of light blue and black as shown above. The Kraken represents, “the fiercest beast in the world,” and “instills one message in all opponents - abandon all hope.” The primary S-shaped logo was chosen to honor the Seattle Metropolitans, who were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup and are an “eternal part” of the city’s history. The logo features a single tentacle wrapped through the “S.” It will symbolize “the deep, dark waters of Puget Sound,” while at the same time recognizing The Giant Pacific Octopus, the largest in the world, which lives in the region’s waters. Seattle’s secondary logo is an anchor that's shaped at the top like the city’s iconic Space Needle. The club also provided a sneak peek (see it HERE) of its home jersey (above). Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: PACK LEAVE LAVAL SHORT A SECOND POINT AFTER SHOOTOUT LOSS

Laval Rocket 2, Hartford Wolf Pack 1 (SO) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Laval, Quebec, November 1, 2019 – Adam Huska made 27 saves, and Joey Keane scored his fifth goal of the season, for the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday night at Place Bell, but the Laval Rocket prevailed in a shootout, 2-1. That gave the Rocket a sweep of a pair of games between the two teams in Laval, as the home side had defeated the Wolf Pack 4-1 at Place Bell on Wednesday night.  The Wolf Pack, however, gained at least a standings point for the tenth time in 11 games on the season (8-1-0-2). Antoine Waked scored the Laval goal, and Alex Belzile had the only goal of the shootout.  Cayden Primeau made 27 saves for the Rocket and went 3-for-3 in the shootout. “I think Huska gave us every opportunity to win this game,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said.  “In the second period, we gave up way too many scoring chances, and he was really good.  In the third period, I thought our team responded very nicely.  There was a lot of adversity, a lot of things to fight through, playing in front of their fans, who are very boisterous.  The Rocket are a good hockey team, and they didn’t get rattled.  They played strong, and I thought we should have had a better fate.” The Rocket controlled much of the early action in the first period and broke through to open the scoring at the 12:27 mark.  The Wolf Pack got a bad bounce on the play, as a clearing attempt by Vincent LoVerde hit one of the stanchions holding up the glass and deflected back deep in the zone.  Matthew Peca picked up the puck and passed it into the goalmouth, and Antoine Waked knocked it underneath Huska. Waked was playing his first AHL game of the season, up from Adirondack of the ECHL. The Wolf Pack were outshot 14-7 in the second period but would get the only goal of the frame 49 seconds in.  Mason Geertsen passed from the left point across to Keane on the right point, and his wrist shot found its way past Primeau.  That increased Keane’s team-leading goal total to five on the year. That would be it for the scoring, although the Wolf Pack had an apparent goal in the third period by Geertsen disallowed after it was ruled that he interfered with Primeau. The Rocket had a power play late in regulation after Nick Ebert was called for tripping at 16:49, and the Wolf Pack were up a man for 1:52 of overtime, as a result of a tripping call against Dale Weise with 7.8 seconds left in regulation.  Neither power play could convert, though. Belzile’s goal, on a backhand shot, on the Rocket’s second shootout attempt would prove decisive, as Primeau stopped Vinni Lettieri, Patrick Newell, and Danny O’Regan. The Wolf Pack finish a stretch of four straight road games Saturday night, traveling to Belleville, Ontario to take on the Senators.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and all of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming is available at ahllive.com. The Wolf Pack’s next home game is next Friday, November 8, when they host the Hershey Bears at the XL Center.  Faceoff is 7:15, and 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 1 at Laval Rocket 2 (SO) Friday, November 1, 2019 - Place Bell Hartford 0 1 0 0 - 1 Laval     1 0 0 0 - 2 1st Period-1, Laval, Waked 1 (Peca), 12:27. Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (roughing), 14:27; Keane Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:17; Belzile Lav (unsportsmanlike conduct, cross-checking), 17:17. 2nd Period-2, Hartford, Keane 5 (Geertsen, Nieves), 0:49. Penalties-Evans Lav (holding), 9:47; Fontaine Hfd (hooking), 12:17; served by Cox Lav (bench minor - delay of game (faceoff violation)), 14:28; Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 17:34; Waked Lav (fighting), 17:34; Belzile Lav (roughing), 19:07; O'Regan Hfd (double minor - high-sticking), 19:52; Vejdemo Lav (roughing), 19:52. 3rd Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Ebert Hfd (tripping), 1:56; Belzile Lav (interference), 7:44; Ebert Hfd (tripping), 16:49; Weise Lav (tripping), 19:52. OT Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-No Penalties Shootout - Hartford 0 (Lettieri NG, Newell NG, O'Regan NG), Laval 1 (Hudon NG, Belzile G). Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-7-8-4-0-28. Laval 8-14-6-0-1-29. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 6; Laval 0 / 5. Goalies-Hartford, Huska 3-0-2 (28 shots-27 saves). Laval, Primeau 4-2-0 (28 shots-27 saves). A-4,650 Referees-Conor O'Donnell (41), Carter Sandlak (6). Linesmen-Nicolas Boivin (16), Benoit Martineau (87). Read the full article