#FrenchEliteLeague

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK SEASON PREVIEW 2022-23

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

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NEW YORK RANGERS AND HARTFORD WOLF PACK MAKE FINAL ROSTER CUTS

NEW YORK RANGERS AND HARTFORD WOLF PACK MAKE FINAL ROSTER CUTS By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -  The New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack made their final roster moves Sunday. The Rangers assigned right-winger Julien Gauthier from New York to Hartford after clearing waivers as their 16th forward. Defenseman Jarred Tinordi, also put on waivers, had a different outcome. The Chicago Blackhawks claimed Tinordi. If reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs, he must pass through waivers again. The move now allows the Wolf Pack to negotiate with defenseman Tim Theocharidis, the only player on the roster on a Professional Try-Out. It also allows the Pack and Rangers to make one player move each, as cap and player options are very tight. The Rangers released defenseman Matt Bartowski as there would have been a veteran issue. Hartford sent their off-season free-agent signings, Zach Jordan, Ryan Lohin, Luke Martin, and goalie Parker Gahagen, off to their ECHL affiliates, the Jacksonville Icemen. Junior signee Louka Henault, a second-year pro and last year's walk-on Cristiano DiGiacinto, also was dispatched to Jacksonville. Pack captain Jonny Brodzinski's younger brother, Easton Brodzinski, is also packing his bags for Florida. Goalie Talyn Boyko gets a Florida vacation before returning to Kelowna (WHL) after his release from his ATO. The Wolf Pack released their training camp PTOs Brendan Harris, former UCONN player Joe Masonius, Jake Ryczek, and Sam Sternschein. Colin Downey will be the new skills development coach as he replaces Casey Torres, who Jamie Tardif replaced as the assistant coach this year. Torres' departure was handled very quietly and efficiently. How it came about is a mystery. Downey played collegiately at D3 Bowdoin College in Maine and professionally for eight years in Europe in France with Tours, HC Cholet, HC Mulhouse, Mont Blanc, and HC Courbevoie between France Division 2 and the French Elite League in the Magnus league. NOTES: Ex-Pack Pierre-Cédric Labrie gets a contract upgrade from a two-year AHL deal from the Syracuse Crunch to a one-year, two-way deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning at $770,800K (NHL)/$100K (AHL) whom they needed late last year. Jansen Harkins, the son ex-Hartford Whaler, Todd Harkins, walks across the hallway to the Manitoba Moose. Ridley Greig, the son ex-Whaler Mark Greig, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, was assigned to the Belleville Senators. John Hayden (Yale) is cut by the Seattle Krakken and is heading to Coachella Valley (Palm Springs). Goalie Tomáš Vomáčka, the former UCONN star, is assigned to the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL). A former Hockey East opponent and ex-Pack goalie Tyler Wall is heading to the Reading Royals (ECHL). Alexandre Fortin, the nephew of former Whaler Jean-Sébastien Giguère, goes from the Hershey Bears to the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). Former Bridgeport Sound Tiger Victor Bartley departs Kunlun (China-KHL) for the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL), and Jarrod Gourley, a former UCONN Husky, is sent to the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL). Rangers draftee Bryce McConnell-Barker was named the captain of his OHL team, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Brennan Othmann has been named the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award winner as the Rangers camp's best rookie. He was reassigned to Flint (OHL) last week. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON - VOLUME 5

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - There is so much activity going on in Rangers-World that Blueshirts fans have plenty to be excited about. DAVIDSON RETURNS One of the many issues John Davidson (JD) will find on his new big desk as President of the New York Rangers will be what to do with the Hartford Wolf Pack, starting with who their coaches will be. The Rangers relieved Keith McCambridge as Head Coach the day after the regular season ended. They also handed Assistant Coach, Joe Mormina, his release as well. One of the questions that JD will need to answer will be if they continue to give the head coach just one assistant or if they return to the more standard two assistants format. And secondly, do they look from within the organization or go with a hybrid of someone from within and two from outside the organization? JD will also have look at the player personnel side at the upcoming combine in the next weeks and the NHL Draft in Vancouver to restock Hartford with better prospects going forward as part of the Ranger rebuild. The Rangers currently have 19 defensemen in the system. They will need a more manageable number to not only ensure enough depth but also not so many that the prospects don't have enough ice time to develop. Will Kevin Shattenkirk be traded, bought out or buried in Hartford? Where do Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajak fit on the depth chart which presently has four guys making $4 million plus a year, and Shattenkirk is one of them. The talent evaluation process which has suffered greatly these past five years has to be upgraded on both the pro and amateur sides. The glaring lack of depth up top and in Hartford saw both ends have to stretch themselves and the Maine Mariners, the team's ECHL affiliates yielded only a couple of players who were AHL level players. The Pack needs to get a better set of veterans and then they need to be supported, so they can push the company vision forward, This will help lead the current batch of youngsters, as well as the new draftee crop coming by the end of June when they assemble at Rangers Prospect Camp that will be held at Chelsea Piers in Stamford after the draft. Do they have a Captain or not? The organization has traded the last four captains, leaving them to opt for just having three alternates, or do they seek to sign someone to fill in on that role? Better forwards are needed who aren't afraid of getting in front of the net. Life MUST be made harder on opposing goalies if this the Pack are to return to a high level of competitiveness. STANLEY CUP FINAL The Bruins and St. Louis Blue s finals have plenty of connection to Connecticut. The Bruins have former QU Bobcat Connor Clifton, Jake DeBrusk, the son of ex-Pack and Ranger, Louie DeBrusk, and Noel Acciari from Kent School. Two more players are on the Black Ace squad, Paul Carey (Salisbury Prep) and an ex-Ranger plus ex-Pack, d-man, Steven Kampfer. The Blues have ex-Pack and Ranger in Michael Del Zotto and Alex Pietrangelo is the nephew of former Whaler, Frank Pietrangelo. AHL CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS As expected, the Charlotte Checkers and Toronto Marlies have had a very good series. The Marlies evened the series at two in Game 4 as William Carcone factored in all four goals with a hat trick with the third one being the game in overtime. Then on Friday, ex-Pack goalie Dustin Tokarski turned in a strong performance stopping 40 of 41 shots in a 4-1 win at the Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, to get the Checkers to a three to two advantage in the series heading back home to the Bojangles Arena in Charlotte. Tokarski is now undefeated 10-0 with Charlotte since he was loaned by the Wolf Pack back on February 28 and unbeaten (3-0) in the postseason and this was his first start in the series. Tokarski career AHL playoff numbers are 18-7 with a 1.76 GAA, with a .935 save percentage in 25 games and a Calder Cup title with Hamilton and Norfolk. The San Diego Gulls with 12,147 fans on hand at the Pechanga Arena the best crowd so far this playoffs including NBA Hall of Famer San Diego native, Bill Walton dropping the ceremonial first puck. Unfortunately, they went home unhappy as the Chicago Wolves' Daniel Carr, the regular season Les Cunningham MVP trophy winner, scoring the game-winner in double overtime at 6:01 his fourth goal of the postseason. Carr did it again early in the third period scoring 1:27 after San Diego had tied the game at two and it broke the Gulls and the Wolves skated away from the high flying Gulls. Tomas Hyka and Tye McGinn each had a goal and assists plus Zack Whitecloud had two helpers for Chicago. Goalie Max Lagace had some superb defense in front of him for 19 saves and chipped in a goal ! Lagace became the first goalie in AHL history to be credited with or to score a goal in the playoffs. He was the last Wolves player to touch the puck as the Gulls Isac Ludestrom’s pass sailed into an empty net on a delayed penalty. Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell gave San Diego the lead early scoring in the first five minutes of the game and Trevor Murphy had two assists. The first game of the Calder Cup Finals is Saturday night. ECHL KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS In their first year at the Double AA level, the Newfound Growlers have made it to the finals to play the Toledo Walleye. The best of seven series started Saturday in St. John’s at the Mile One Centre with a 4-3 OT win on home ice. The series is a 2-3-2 playing format. Newfoundland features former Quinnipiac University Bobcat goalie in Michael Garteig in 18 playoff games is 13-4-1 and a 2.07 GAA. He stopped 30 shots in Game 1 and saw his shutout string end at 123:28. Toledo has a pair of ex-Pack defenseman in Matt Register in 18 games has four goals and 123 points and Brendan Kotyk in 18 games has one goal and four points third PM total at 32. In addition, Toledo has former Yale Bulldog Ryan Obuchowski who also played all 18 games with a goal and assist. MEMORIAL CUP The championship game on Sunday at 7 pm on the NHL Network will be a replay of the QMJHL President Cup final as the host Halifax Mooseheads take on the red hot Rouyn Noranda Huskies. The Huskies won the QMJHL in Halifax two weeks ago. The Huskies knocked off the Mooseheads Wednesday in dramatic fashion with two late third period tallies, but Mooseheads already had a bye to the final. Then on Friday, the Huskies with again two third period goals sent the OHL Champs Guelph Storm home with a 6-4 win as Felix Bibeau goal and assist paced the balanced Rouyn Noranda offensive attack. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Finland needed just one goal to knock off Russia in the semifinals 1-0 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Russia with ex-Pack Artem Anisimov advanced by knocking off the US 4-3 in the quarterfinals. In the other semifinal between the Czech Republic and Canada came out on top decisively 5-1 over the Czech Republic with Mark Stone scoring again and Pierre Luc Dubois son of former Nighthawk Eric was set up by ex-CT Whale Jonathan Marchessault. The Czechs had current Ranger and ex-Pack Filip Chytil, ex-Pack Petr Zamorsky and David Musil, nephew of former Rangers and Whaler Robert (Bobby) Holik. The Championship Final will be played Sunday on the NHL Network at 2pm. Next year’s World Championship in 2020 will be played in Switzerland in Lausanne and Zurich. The following sites have been announced for the next three tournaments; 2021 Riga, Latvia and Minsk, Belarus, 2022 Helsinki and Tampere, Finland before moving on to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2023. PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT The Rangers snagged the third Russian they coveted to come over the first was 2018 first round pick Vitali Kravtsov and goalie Igor Shesterkin. The prize they landed left-handed, 6’3, 225-pounder, Yegor Rykov, from HK Sochi (Russia-KHL). Rykov who averaged nearly 20 minutes of time last year and was signed to a two-year two-way ELC deal worth ($925K-NHL/$70K-AHL). He played four years in the KHL in 157 games five goals and 33 points with a plus-19 rating and won a Gargarin Cup with SKA St, Petersburg along with Shesterkin in 2016-17.  He played for the Russian WJC team in 2017 was first among defenseman in assists and second in total points only Thomas Chabot (Ottawa) had more. He was drafted by the Devils in the fifth round (132nd overall) in 2016 Rykov was a first round pick (tenth overall) in the 2014 KHL Draft. The Rangers acquired him from the Devils along with a second-round pick in last year’s draft in the Michal Grabner deal. AHL players moving on to Europe now has seen at least one player from half the league’s team depart next season overseas. The latest to change his address to overseas is Peter Holland, the ex-Pack, who was traded to Rockford, signs with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia-KHL). Then Jacob Forsbacka-Karlsson of the Providence Bruins heads back home to Vaxjo (Sweden-SHL). Jake Chelios, the son of former NHL’er, Chris Chelios, leaves Grand Rapids and heads to Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL). Kevin Ekman-Larsson, the younger brother of the Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson, returns home as well. He leaves Tucson for BIK Karlsroga (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and Max Kammerer leaves Hershey for Dusseldorfer EG (Germany-DEL). Providence goalie, Dan Vladar, of Providence had signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl but saw his rights traded to HK Sochi last week. The second Sound Tigers Euro signing in a week also heads to Switzerland as defenseman Yannick Rathgeb, a Swiss native, signs with EHC Biel-Bienne (Switzerland-LNA). That makes for 23 AHL’ers to sign for Europe thus far. Ex-Pack Philip McRae heads from ERC Schwenniger (Germany-DEL) to Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic-CEL). Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, C.J. Stretch, leaves Orli Znojmo for the Vienna Capitals (Austria-EBEL) Evan Richardson, a former UCONN Husky, leaves Manchester (England-EIHL) for HC Briancon (France-FREL) and former Ranger, Craig MacTavish, is the latest to depart from Edmonton. He was the Vice-President of Hockley Operations for the last four years but has now signed to be the head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia-KHL). Colin Sullivan, who played his high school hockey at Fairfield Prep (CTPUB) and Avon Old Farms (CTPREP), re-signs with HC Chamonix of the Magnus French Elite League team for another season. Andrew Miller, a former Yale Bulldog, departs HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland-LNA) for Kunlun (China-KHL) where one of his new teammates will be an ex-Sound Tiger, and the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Dean DeFazio. He is left winger Brandon DeFazio who is coming from Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL). Ex-Pack Maxim Kondratiev re-signs with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL). Former Sound Tiger Jake Newton will make a Scandinavian switch leaving JYP Javalyska (Finland-FEL) for the recently promoted IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-SHL). The list of NCAA college players who head to Europe is growing. Alex Riche of Princeton (ECACHL) signs with Kunlun (China-KHL) while Ludvig Hoff of North Dakota (NCHC) forgoes his senior season and signs with Stavanger (Norway-NEL). The French Division-3 team Meudon in the FFFG league snared five Division III players. Of those five, three come from SUNY-Geneseo (SUNYAC). They are Anthony Marra, Arthur Gordon, and Devin McDonald. Then from SUNY-Plattsburgh, which is in the same conference, goes Antoine Fournier-Gosselin and lastly from King’s College (UCHC) Nicolas Palumbo. Tommy Besinger, of Endicott College (UCHC), played a few games with Evansville (SPHL) at the end of the season. He signs with HC Mulhouse (France-FREL) for next season. John Curran of Niagara University (AHA) signs with Coventry (England-EIHL). J.M. Piotrowski, who missed all of last season at Yale University (ECACHL), gets his degree and signs with the Melbourne Ice (Australia-AIHL). There are now 213 college players that have signed North American European deals for next season. Cooper Moore (Cos Cob/Brunswick School) who's more than likely to be an NHL Draftee next month in Vancouver, heads to the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) next year before going to the University of North Dakota (NCHC) in 2020-21.     Read the full article