#JoeSnively

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK MAULED BY HERSHEY BEARS IN GAME TWO

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HERSHEY, PA - The Hartford Wolf Pack are on the brink of Calder Cup playoff elimination after a 4-2 loss to the Hershey Bears in Game 2 and now trail two games to none in the best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals. It will be a win-or-go-home situation for the Pack as the series shifts to the XL Center in Hartford for Game 3 on Wednesday at 7 PM. The Bears were dominant both physically and defensively all over the ice. Hershey's Mark Vecchione scored what would prove to be the game-winner at 8:48 of the second period when he got between three Wolf Pack defenders in the slot. Henrik Borgstrom was behind the Pack net and found him open. Unfortunately, the Wolf Pack's Libor Hájek had broken his stick, forcing him to drop it. Without it, he was unable to defend Borgstrom's pass. For Vecchione, it was his second goal of the playoffs, making the score 3-1. Ethen Frank got his second point of the playoffs with the secondary assist. The Bears would add insurance in the third period, tallying their fourth goal and restoring a two-goal margin that Hartford wouldn't overcome. Dylan Garand (26 saves) stopped Riley Sutter after a backhand feed from Mason Morelli. Still, the Pack could not clear the zone as defenseman Brandon Scanlin and forward Bobby Trivigno could not control the biscuit behind the net. An unfortunate bad bounce didn't help the Pack when the puck went off linesman Jud Ritter, further trapping the Wolf Pack. The puck found Aleiaksei Protoas on the right wing, who sent a cross-ice pass to Hendrix Lapierre, who snapped a shot to the short side off on one of many odd-man rushes against the Pack. The goal made it 4-1 and came at 13:14 of the third period. To their credit, the Pack kept pressing forward. At 15:09, Adam Clendening was at the right point after taking Wyatt Kalynuk's pass. Anton Blidh set a screen in front of goalie Hunter Shepard. Blidh times a jump perfectly as the puck sailed by Shepard to make it 4-2. But, unfortunately, that would be as close as the Wolf Pack would get. The goal was the first and only five-on-five series goal for the Wolf Pack. The Bears had the second period's only goal as they held the Wolf Pack to just five shots. FIRST PERIOD Just 11 seconds into the contest, Zac Jones lost his footing, and Beck Malenstyn took advantage, going wide. That forced Jones to slide to try and stop him. But, instead, Jones knocked the net off its magnetic pegs. At 1:52, Blidh put a shot over Shepherd's glove but went off the post. A defensive zone turnover, which would continue to plague the Pack all game long, led to three Bears quality chances. Two came from Joe Snively, who missed the net, and the third from Connor McMichaels, who initially got the puck on the Pack's doorstep but couldn't register the goal. The Pack was in the same situation as Game One, being dramatically outshot. They were down 6-1 in shots in the first six minutes. Hájek took a selfish and unnecessary penalty drilling Morelli into the side of the net from behind. It sent the Bears to the power play. Hershey capitalized on the Hájek penalty. Mason Morelli was wide open on the left-wing side. He shuffled a pass over to Brock Malenstyn, who snapped a shot upstairs and into the net at 3:12 to make it 1-0. The Wolf Packed used their first powerplay effectively as Ryan Carpenter outworked Gabriel Carlsson behind the net and found Will Cullye in front. He snapped it over Shepard's glove hand to even the game at one at 11:32. 1:12 after the Pack tied the score, they found themselves trailing again. At 12:44, Malenstyn broke into the zone on a two-on-one with Morelli. He was open and blasted it upstairs past Garand with Adam Clendening trailing on the play. Nearly 11 minutes in, the shot advantage favored the Bears 10-3. If the Pack are to survive and get back into this series, Head Coach Kris Knoblauch will have a lot of work to do to get their game back to where it was against Providence, or they could find themselves watching the remainder of the playoffs from the golf course. LINES: Brodzinski - Carpenter - Cullye Fritz - Pajuniemi - Blidh Leschyshyn - Gettinger - Lockwood Elson - Henriksson - Trivigno Jones - Emberson Hájek - Scanlin Kalynuk - Clendening Garand Domingue SCRATCHES: Blake Hillman (healthy) Talyn Boyko #40 Matt Rempe (healthy) Adam Edström  (healthy) Louie Roehl #4 (healthy) Brett Berard #27 (healthy) Matt Robertson (upper body, may return in the latter half of this round of the playoffs) Patrick Khordorenko (season-ending shoulder surgery) C.J. Smith (hip area surgery done for the season) NOTES: The Wolf Pack received good news yesterday. The AHL reduced Adam Clendening's suspension to the two games he's already sat out for his Game 3 hit on Fabian Lysell in the series against the Providence Bruins, making him available for Game 2. He was paired with Kalynuk. Blake Hillman was the odd man out. 18 AHL players have signed for Europe for next year. In Winnipeg in Game 1 of the WHL championship, the Winnipeg Ice Head Coach is former Hartford Whaler/New York Ranger James Patrick. After a nine-day layoff, the Ice defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2. Easton Armstrong, the son of Wolf Pack great Derek Armstrong, was held to no points and shots for the first two series games at the Life Canada Centre, home of the NHL Winnipeg Jets. Seattle won Game 2, 4-2, as Brad Lambert, nephew of former Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach and New Haven Nighthawks player, Lane Lambert, had two goals and was a plus-four. In the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs, the Pack's Double AA affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen, were down three games to one to South Division in-state rival, the Florida Everblades. The teams traveled to Florida for Game 5, and the Icemen won 6-3 to force a Game 6 on Monday. News on a trio of ex-Sound Tigers, Travis St. Denis (Quinnipiac University) switches teams in Germany going from EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL) and signs with ERC Ingolstadt for next year. Also, Jesse Graham changes teams in the Russian-based KHL from Barys Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) to HK Sochi (Russia). Johan Sundström, heads from Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL) to Sport Vassa (Finland-FEL). Ex-Pack and ex-Sound Tiger, Andrew Rower, leaves SC Rapperswill-Jona (Switzerland-LNA) and signs for next season with ERC Ingolstadt (Germany-DEL). The long-time head coach of Middlebury (VT) College (NESCAC), Neal Sinclair, abruptly resigned. The team has won five national Division III titles during his tenure. A search began immediately for his replacement. In yesterday's WHL Priority Draft, just one notable name was taken. Masen McCosh, of the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes U-14 (T1EHL) program, was selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the first round (14th overall) in the US portion of the draft. McCosh is the youngest son of one-time New Haven Nighthawk and New Haven Senator Shawn McCosh. His oldest son Michael is at Buffalo St. (SUNYAC), and the boy's uncle Shayne, played 18 games with the Springfield Falcons. The IIHF World Hockey Championship began on Friday in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HERSHEY BEARS COME FROM BEHIND IN GAME ONE OT WIN OVER HARTFORD WOLF PACK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HERSHEY, PA - The Hartford Wolf Pack built a 2-0 lead through two periods in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division best-of-five finals, but the Hershey Bears scored twice in the third period before Henrik Borgstrom scored at 4:41 of overtime to 3-2. The game-winner came on the third odd-man rush of overtime. Pack defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk collided with the linesman at center ice, creating a two-on-one that Dylan Garand stopped. Then there was a four-on-two after Joe Snively, a Yale alum, was stopped, with the upper part of the net staring at Garrett Pilon. On the final two-on-one came, Borgstrom scored to allow the Bears to come away with the win. GAME WINNER Pilon sent a stretch pass to Borgstrom, who came in with Snively. They attacked the Pack's number one defensive pair of Zac Jones - Ty Emberson, who had just come on the ice for their shift. Borgstrom didn’t play in the first Bears series against the Charlotte Checkers in the lineup because Mike Sgarbossa couldn’t go for Hershey. Rumors have Borgstrom heading back to Sweden next year, and he made the most of his time in this opportunity. Borgstrom went from the right wing to center and fired his shot past Garand. The goal sent the crowd of 7,274 into a frenzy. Game Two between the two teams is Saturday night at 7 PM in Hershey. Early in the third period, Hershey cut the Wolf Pack lead to one. Sam Anas was at the right point on their fourth power play of the contest. He shuffled the puck over to the left point. Logan Day one-timed a rising rocket of a shot going off the crossbar and into the net. It was his first goal as a Bear and his first goal of the season. It came at 2:52. It was former QU Bobcat Anas team-leading fifth assist and seventh point of the playoffs. PLAY INTENSIFIES After Tim Gettinger was stopped early on the Pack’s power play bid, Pilon crunched Lauri Pajuniemi as Gettinger made a drop pass that inadvertently left him vulnerable. Pilon nailed Will Lockwood, who took a retaliation penalty that led to the power play goal by Day. Lockwood would find his moment to return the hit later in the game when he drove Pilon into the curved portion of the glass on a clean, hard hit at 4:51, but the Bears had already done their damage. GAME TYING GOAL The Bears pressed the Pack and came up with a game-tying goal late in the third period. Day was at the right point, settled the puck down, and sent it over to Jake Massie. He waited for the screen to materialize in front of Garand. Just as he unleashed his shot, Connor McMichael was cruising in front of Garand and got a piece of it before Jones could get to him. Emberson was keeping an eye on Joe Snively. This happened before goaltender Hunter Shepard could even get to the bench for the extra attacker at 17:51. SECOND PERIOD Anton Blidh took a hard hit along the boards and skated back to the bench, bent over and in what appeared to be some manner of discomfort. Paramedics immediately came to the bench to deal with whatever was ailing Blidh. Referees and the coaches decided to send the teams to their respective locker rooms while a determination was made about Blidh's condition. The final 2:39 of the period would be played prior to the second period after a one-minute intermission and the switching of sides.  The actions of the paramedics in treating Blidh were considered "precautionary." Fortunately for Blidh and the Wolf Pack, he was able to return to play for the second period and played to the finish. The official word from the Wolf Pack was that Blidh developed an upper-body non-life-threatening injury. According to other non-team attendees at the site of the game, Blidh had the wind knocked out of him, The Wolf Pack scored early on their second power play of the game. Tanner Fritz, at the right point, fed it over to captain Jonny Brodzinski, who tallied with his first of the post-season. The whole play started after Shepard made the original stop, but in scrambling around the net, was unable to get into position before Brodzinski’s shot. The Wolf Pack had two power play goals in the six regular season games between the two rosters. They now had two in Game 1. It's the first meeting between the two teams since February. In the second period, the Wolf Pack got far more shots (16) and offensive riding time than they did in the first, when they only mustered three shots for the entire first twenty minutes. At 11:43, Garand made an impressive glove save, but the goal judge turned the red light on. The refs took the puck from Garand's glove and chatted among themselves, confirming there was no goal. The Pack's penalty killers were a perfect three for three in the first two periods. FIRST PERIOD In the first period, the Pack was under constant attack and pressure from the Bears, both with rubber being fired at Garand and physically. Still, despite that, they were able to leave the bench for intermission with the period's only goal. The Pack had to handle the first three shots and had a seemingly early PK they would have to kill after Snively lost an edge and ducked a Pajuniemi hit attempt.  At first, referees Beau Halkidis and Jack Young signaled a call. It was clear that Pajuniemi was hot, and he vehemently protested. The refs huddled mid-ice, and they decided that there was no penalty on the play, and the call was reversed. Good thing Pajuniemi was not ejected, as he would play the primary role in the Pack taking the 1-0 lead. Gettinger sent a pass up the left wing to Jones, who broke into the clear and fired a shot at Shepard. He gave up a rebound, and Pajuniemi was there to scoop it up and bury his fourth goal of the postseason. Garand was the difference for the Pack in the first period, as they were outshot 17-3. The Pack didn’t get their first shot till 4:05. LINES: Brodzinski-Carpenter-Cullye Fritz-Pajuniemi-Blidh Leschyshyn-Gettinger-Lockwood Elson-Henriksson-Trivigno Jones-Emberson Hillman-Scanlin Hájek-Kalynuk Garand Domingue SCRATCHES: Adam Clendening (suspended the first two games of the series) Talyn Boyko #40 Matt Rempe (healthy) Adam Edström  (healthy) Louie Roehl #4 (healthy) Brett Berard #27 (healthy) Matt Robertson (upper body, may return in the latter half of this  round of the playoffs) Patrick Khordorenko (season-ending shoulder surgery). C.J. Smith (hip area surgery done for the season) NOTES: The Wolf Pack have just one player with an overtime game-winner in their lineup. Ryan Carpenter, with the San Jose Barracuda. The last OT goal in franchise history was on May 13, 2015, by Chris Mueller in a shorthanded goal against Hershey. Hershey won four of the six meetings this year. The last contest was on February 11th, resulting in a 2-1 Hershey win as Shepard made 33 saves. In one of the worst-kept secrets, a week after his season ended ex-Pack Gustav Rydahl is heading back to Sweden and the SHL signing with Frölunda HC. Rydahl started the talks in Hartford but was loyal and finished out the year out West playing 12 games with the Eagles. Now 16 AHL players have signed for Europe for next year. He had a strong training camp, with many feeling he should have been in New York. He played effectively on a Wolf Pack team that struggled most of the year until recently. Being scratched twice in the last 10 days before his trade didn’t help. MORE NOTES: Ex-Pack in Winnipeg Neal Pionk, youngest brother Aaron commits to Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC) from Waterloo (USHL). News on a trio of ex-Sound Tigers, Travis St. Denis (Quinnipiac University) switches teams in Germany going from EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL) and signs with ERC Ingolstadt for next year. Jesse Graham changes teams in the Russian-based KHL from Barys Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) to HK Sochi (Russia). Johan Sundstrom heads from Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL) to Sport Vassa (Finland-FEL). Former Quinnipiac University goalie Dylan St. Cyr, post-graduation, played one game with Grand Rapids after his transfer year at Michigan St. (Big 10). He is heading to France to continue his career. St. Cyr will play for HC Anglet of the French Elite Magnus League. He has a brother Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen who is playing with the US National Development Team-NDTP (USHL).  His cousin Nick Rhéaume plays at UMASS-Lowell (HE). His uncle is ex-Pack and Ranger Pascal Rhéaume, who is an assistant coach with the Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL), the Canadiens Double AA team to Laval. COLLEGE A few college assistant coaching moves. In the process of a complete coaching change, Dana Borges leaves the Colgate Red Raiders (ECACHL) for the Arizona St. Sun Devils (NCAA Independent) leaves for the assistant coach/player development position. Tayler Nelson, UMass-Lowell Assistant Coach, is the new assistant with the brand new D1 program at  Augustana University (SD) Vikings (NCAA Independent). At Canisius College (AHA), he had four years there and two years at UMASS-Lowell (HE). American International College-AIC (Springfield, MA) has announced the promotion of assistant coach Matthew Woodard to the position of associate head coach. At one time, he was Yale's women’s hockey coach. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The IIHF World Hockey Championship begins on Friday. The Team USA captain is Nick Bonino (Unionville via Farmington/AOF), Jack McBain, son of ex-New Haven Senator Andrew, Springfield Thunderbird Scott Perunovich, and ex-Springfield Falcon, two-time AHL MVP former Springfield Falcon T.J. Tynan. The assistant coach is an ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Scott Gordon. He's from the Columbus Blue Jackets and will feature GM Chris Clark (South Windsor). Team Canada ex-Pack Sammy Blais and Springfield Thunderbirds Jake Neighbours and goalie Joel Hofer. The GM is ex-Springfield Falcon Shane Doan. Czechia (Czech Republic) has Ranger and ex-Pack, Filip Chytil and ex-Pack Tomas Kundratek. Denmark-Ex-Pack Nicklas Jensen Finland-Ranger Kappo Kakko and ex-Springfield Thunderbird Juho Lammikko Germany-Former P-Bruin Kai Wissman Latvia-Ex-Thunderbird Rodrigo (father, Artis, will be the assistant coach), Karlis Cuskte (Quinnipiac University-ECACHL), and ex-Sound Tiger Kristers Gudlevskis. The head coach will be ex-New Haven Senator Harijs Vitolins. Sweden-Ex-Pack Oscar Lindberg and son of Ranger/Whaler Mikael Nylander, his son Alexander. Former Springfield Falcon, Assistant GM Josef Boumedinne Slovakia-Ex-Sound Tiger Richard Pánik. Switzerland-Playing in his record-setting 13th World Hockey tourney is ex-Pack Andres Ambühl and ex-Sound Tiger Nino Neiderreiter. Sad news, former UMass-Lowell and Quinnipiac goaltender and 2005 Hockey East rookie of the year Peter Vetri passed away unexpectedly on May 4, 2023. Vetri was age 37. Vetri was awarded a full athletic scholarship to play hockey at UMass-Lowell (HE). He transferred to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) for his junior season in 2007-08 and played just nine games for the Bobcats. He left during his senior year to pursue professional hockey in the SPHL and ECHL. Vetri played for the SPHL’s Twin City Cyclones, ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, and one full season with the FPHL’s Danbury Whalers and a total of 41 games for them over four years. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF-SEASON 3

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack off-season is expected to be another roster transformation project that will make the 2022-23 edition of the New York Rangers AHL affiliate into a very different team. Six Wolf Pack players, Maxim Letunov, Kris Merkley, Anthony Greco, all forwards, and goaltenders Adam Húska, and Keith Kinkaid are all Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA). Three of those players, led by Húska, Letunov, and Merkley as per the CBA, are Group 6 free agents by way of not having played enough NHL games by age 25. Húska’s pending departure seems to be clear after Swedish goaltending prospect, Olof Lindbom, was signed to a two-year ELC deal for $925K-NHL/$70K-AHL. He played last year with Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) where he posted underwhelming numbers. In 27 games, Lindblom registered a 3.27 GAA an under .500 record at 10-15-0, and a .900 save percentage. HARTFORD WOLF PACK RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS Restricted Free Agents (RFA) have to be made legitimate offers. Those Wolf Pack players include Tim Gettinger, Ty Ronning, Vitali Kravtsov, Justin Richards, and Austin Rueschoff. Goaltender, Tyler Wall, is very likely to be allowed to leave as a free agent. As is Jake Elmer and still in junior with Seattle (WHL) still in the playoffs, Matt Rempe. In the NHL the Rangers have their own share of UFA’s. Greg McKegg, Kevin Rooney, Ryan Strome, Andrew Copp, Ryan Reaves, and trade deadline acquisitions who have played well, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. The Rangers also have Kaapo Kakko, Julien Gauthier, and Libor Hájek who played five games in Hartford on a conditioning stint, and enigmatic ex-Pack goaltender, Alexander Georgiev. Hartford GM Ryan Martin and Rangers GM/President Chris Drury are, no doubt, getting ready for an important entry draft and are also likely discussing what other moves the franchise could make including possible trade deals. COACHING, PLAYER MANAGEMENT MOVES Four ex-Springfield Falcons are playing in Dysin Mayo (Canada). Those players are Marek Langhamer (Czech Republic (Czechia), Matthias Plachta (Germany), and Denis Malgin (Switzerland (LNA). There will be no Russian squad to play after the IIHF took away the sites of Novosibirsk and Omsk for both this and the WJC tourney. New Canaan resident, Pierre McGuire, the former Hartford Whaler head coach plus long-time NBC and TSN hockey analyst, was relieved of his duties less than a year on the job in Ottawa as Senior VP of Player Development. The Bridgeport Islanders knocked off the Providence Bruins to advance against the Charlotte in the Atlantic Division semifinals before falling to the Checkers. Meanwhile, the Springfield Thunderbirds eliminated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the other Semi-final. Joe Snively, the former Yale Bulldog with the Hershey Bears was recalled by Washington, Then Mathieu Olivier, son of ex-Knights Simon is sent to Milwaukee by Nashville. The Jacksonville Icemen, the ECHL affiliate of both the Wolf Pack and the Rangers, advanced to the ECHL South Division Final to play in-state rival the Florida Everblades (Nashville) in the Kelly Cup playoffs. They were swept by the Everblades, who shut them out twice in the series. EX-UCONN GOALIE SENT TO FLORIDA Florida did receive former UCONN goalie Tomáš Vomáčka, after he was reassigned for the series by Nashville from Milwaukee (AHL), but didn’t play or dress. Connor Jones, a former Quinnipiac University (QU) Bobcat, and ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger announced his retirement from hockey while with Ft. Wayne (ECHL). Twin brother Kellen will continue to play on with the legendary Komets. Former QU Bobcat Latvian Kārlis Čukste leaven Pelicans Lahti (Finland) for HC Oceláři Třinec (Czech Republic (Czechia)-CEL) for next season. He played for Latvia in the Olympics and is slated to be on their World Championship team. David Musil exits HC Oceláři Třinec  (Czech Republic (Czechia)-CEL) to HC Dynamo Pardubice. After three years as an assistant captain for Tölzer Löwen (Germany DEL-2), former Sound Tiger Tyler McNeeley signed with Rosenheim (Germany Division-3). CANADIAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER The Canadian World championship roster was released with a few familiar names on it. On defense will be ex-Pack and current New Jersey Devil, Ryan Graves. At forward, will be Cole Sillinger as will Pierre-Luc Dubois. Húska is suiting up for Slovakian Team and Hartford GM Ryan Martin will guide the US squad. There will be no Russian squad to play and the IIHF took away the sites of Novosibirsk and Omsk from them for this and the WJC tourney. Some familiar names are on other WC teams to play in Tampere and Helsinki, Finland. The US squad features ex-Pack, Vinni Lettieri, ex-Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows, and goalies Jon Gillies (Salisbury Prep) and Strauss Mann (Greenwich/Brunswick Prep/CT Jr. Rangers-USPHL ) who was signed this off-season by San Jose after playing this year in Sweden and represented the US in the Olympics. MORE NAMES INVOLVED WITH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The US team’s Equipment Manager is Hamden’s Chris Scoppetto (AHL Beast of New Haven) now with New Jersey. Italy's assistant coach is Larry Huras (Nighthawks). The Czech Republic (Czechia) team has ex-Pack Tomáš Kundrátek, Michael Spacek and ex-UCONN recruit, Matej Blümel. Latvia’s head coach is ex-New Haven Senator, Harijs Vitolins. Denmark has the soon-to-be-retiring ex-Sound Tiger, Franz Nielsen. Sweden, has ex-Pack goalie, Magnus Hellberg and forward Carl Klingberg. Germany, assistant coach is former Hartford Whaler, Tom Rowe. Switzerland has another ex-Pack who is nearing the end of his career, Andres Ambühl. MOVES APLENTY CONTINUE Lastly, Great Britain has goalie Jackson Whistle and Ben Lake, the former Pioneer from Sacred Heart University-AHA. UCONN recruit Brayden Smith has elected to go to the Penticton Knights (BCHL) next year to preserve his NCAA rights likely for two years. He was taken by the Vancouver Giants (WHL) under former Wolf Pack head coach and Giants associate coach, Keith McCambridge. They selected him in the 2020 bantam draft in the sixth round, 122nd overall. He was also drafted by the Weyburn (SK) Red Wings (SJHL) in 2020 in the third round 25th overall in their draft. If he plays one second of major junior pre-season, regular season, or post-season his NCAA eligibility is lost. That’s how the rules are now, but that could change in the future. Players eligible for the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on May 19th next week are 2007-born players who reside in; Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. The US States that are eligible are; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. OHL DRAFT In the OHL Priority Draft, Birk Cassels was taken from the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-15 AAA team (T1EHL) by the Ottawa 67’s at 290th overall in the 14th round. Cole Cassels played with nearby Cleveland and his nephews are ex-Pack Morgan Barron (Manitoba) and Justin (Laval). The prospects for the Q that can be drafted are currently playing in the territories served by the QMJHL: the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador, as well as the northeastern portion of the United States. The QMJHL Draft will take place a few days before the NHL Draft July 4-5 instead of June 17-18. Tyler Wood of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep is in the top-tier of the Q draft prospects general list, not just the US portion of the draft that will take place after the main draft. AHL’ERS HEADING TO EUROPE After eight years in North America, Sven Bärtschi, of the Henderson Silver Knights returns to his hometown and signs a three-year deal with SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA). He is the third player, thus far from the AHL to head to Europe. Krystof Hrabik heads from San Jose signs with HC Plzeň (Pilsner) (the Czech Republic-(Czechia)-CEL) and heading back to Russia is goalie Alexei Melnichuk, a Russian native and so far, only Russians will likely do so, heads from the San Jose Barracuda, who finished dead last in the AHL to HC Sochi (Russia-KHL). NCAA NEWS Two players are heading to nearby AIC (AHA) in Springfield, MA. Hunter McCurdy of the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) commits to the school for the fall. The 57th and 58th NCAA grad transfers are Brennan Boynton after playing just one game with NCAA semi-finalist at the Frozen Four Minnesota (Big 10) will skate for the Yellow Jackets next season. Ryan Sidorski goes from Union College (ECACHL) to North Dakota (NCHC). A seventh college player heads to Europe as Taylor Brierley goes from D-3 Wilkes University (UCHC) to HC Chambéry (France-Division-2). Then a 59th grad transfer of the college offseason Dylan St. Cyr heads to the Michigan St. Spartans (Big 10) heading back to his native Michigan to complete his collegiate career. He is from Northville, a Detroit suburb. St. Cyr did a regular transfer last year to QU from Notre Dame. He is the son of former New Haven Senator, Gerry St, Cyr. His mother is Manon Rheaume, the first female to play goal in an NHL game albeit exhibition who has a statue of herself in Quebec City on Jean Béliveau Way, near the Videotrom Centre home of the QMJHL Quebec Remparts. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: BEARS MAKE PACK HIBERNATE IN OT

Hershey Bears 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 (OT) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Hershey, PA, December 1, 2019 – Steven Fogarty’s second goal of the game forced overtime with 2:03 left in the third period, but Brett Leason scored at 2:21 of OT to give the Hershey Bears a 4-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday at Giant Center. A pass from Christian Djoos sent Leason down the left side in the Wolf Pack zone, and Hartford goaltender Adam Huska (25 saves) stopped Leason’s initial shot.  Huska could not control the rebound, though, and Leason flicked it into the net on his forehand, for his third point of the contest. Fogarty’s team-leading seventh tally of the season earned the Wolf Pack a standings point for the 18th time in 22 games on the season (11-4-2-5).  With the teams skating 4-on-4, Vinni Lettieri backhanded the puck on goal from in the slot, and Hershey netminder Pheonix Copley (26 saves) made a stick stop.  Fogarty jumped on the rebound, however, and flipped the puck through Copley’s legs from the left side of the goal-mouth. Hershey opened the scoring at 8:11 of the first period, on a rebound goal by defenseman Christian Djoos.  Mike Sgarbossa passed the puck from the left-wing side to Joe Snively in the middle.  His shot was stopped by Huska, but the puck caromed back out into the slot, and Djoos fired it in. After a 40-minute delay for the cleanup of Hershey’s “Teddy Bear Toss”, Fogarty equalized for the Wolf Pack at 11:35, on Hartford’s first power play of the game.  With Kody Clark off for slashing, Fogarty took a drop pass from Joey Keane at his own blue line and clicked on a strong solo rush.  After slicing through the Bear defense, he finished with a low shot through the pads of Copley. The Wolf Pack power play cashed in for a second time in two chances 7:37 into the second period, giving Hartford its first lead of the game.  After Tyler Lewington was called for interference at 6:11, Nick Ebert played the puck from the left point across to Phil DiGiuseppe high in the right circle.  He dropped it off to Vincent LoVerde high in the slot, and his one-timer beat Copley to the stick side. Hershey’s Shane Gersich brought the Bears back into a tie at 15:16, with a shot from the bottom of the left circle.  Leason put the puck on net from the right boards, and Liam O’Brien jammed the rebound away from Huska, who could not scramble to his right quickly enough to stop Gersich’s bid. Hershey then jumped in front again at 5:08 of the third period, with Beck Malenstyn scoring in his first game back from a recall stint with the Washington Capitals.  A shot from the left point by Ed Wittchow hit traffic in front of the goal, and, after Leason poked it on the net from the right side, it went off of Huska’s stick to Malenstyn in the slot.  He banged the puck in from close range. The Wolf Pack finish a stretch of five straight road games this Friday night, December 6, traveling to Springfield for a 7:05 PM game vs. the Thunderbirds.  All of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com, and video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The next home game for the Wolf Pack is this Saturday, December 7, when the Binghamton Devils visit the XL Center for a 7:30 game.  That is “Star Wars Night”, as fans can rub shoulders with their favorite Star Wars characters, and win some awesome Star Wars prizes, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack 2020 calendar, presented by Hartford Distributors. 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 online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 3 at Hershey Bears 4 (OT) Sunday, December 1, 2019 - Giant Center Hartford 1 1 1 0 - 3 Hershey 1 1 1 1 - 4 1st Period-1, Hershey, Djoos 2 (Snively, Sgarbossa), 8:11. 2, Hartford, Fogarty 6 (Keane), 11:35 (PP). Penalties-Taylor Hfd (slashing), 1:36; Clark Her (slashing), 11:11; Raddysh Hfd (boarding), 12:44. 2nd Period-3, Hartford, LoVerde 3 (Di Giuseppe, Ebert), 7:37 (PP). 4, Hershey, Gersich 3 (O'Brien, Leason), 15:16. Penalties-Lewington Her (interference), 6:11; Alexeyev Her (high-sticking), 7:51; Andersson Hfd (roughing), 8:44; O'Brien Her (tripping), 11:36; Sgarbossa Her (roughing), 16:46. 3rd Period-5, Hershey, Malenstyn 4 (Leason, Wittchow), 5:08. 6, Hartford, Fogarty 7 (Lettieri, Raddysh), 17:57. Penalties-Jones Hfd (holding), 2:34; Wittchow Her (slashing), 5:15; O'Brien Her (cross-checking), 10:04; Moulson Her (slashing), 13:16; Andersson Hfd (tripping), 17:26; Sgarbossa Her (roughing), 17:33. OT Period-7, Hershey, Leason 1 (Djoos, Pinho), 2:21. Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Hartford 6-10-13-0-29. Hershey 12-10-11-4-37. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 2 / 9; Hershey 0 / 5. Goalies-Hartford, Huska 4-1-4 (37 shots-33 saves). Hershey, Copley 5-5-4 (29 shots-26 saves). A-10,014 Referees-Reid Anderson (49), Andrew Bruggeman (22). Linesmen-Bob Goodman (90), Bill Lyons (27). Read the full article

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CANTLON: COLLEGE HOCKEY SIGNINGS AS OF MARCH 20TH

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The first Yale University player to sign is the swift-skating Joe Snively. He signs with the Washington Capitals. He also signed an ATO deal to play with the Hershey Bears (AHL). The Bears play in Hartford on April 12, the Wolf Pack’s regular season home finale. Snively received a two-year, two-way deal paying $925K for play in the NHL and $70K in the AHL. He is an undrafted player, so according to the current CBA, he could be a Group 6 unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t play 80 NHL games by the time he turns 25. He was born on New Years Day in 1996 which helps him contract-wise. With the lockout/work stoppage season expected in two years, nobody knows what the new CBA will look like. The first player to sign from the 50th state this year is Nikolas Koberstein, who heads from Alaska-Fairbanks to Kansas City (ECHL).  Johnny Kovacevic departs Merrimack (HE) for the Winnipeg Jets and signs an ATO deal to play in Manitoba. Nick Boca left Michigan (Big 10) and signed with Iowa (AHL). Adam Dauda leaves Colgate (ECACHL) for Newfoundland (ECHL). Joining him in the trek to St. John’s is Josh Lammon from Mercyhurst (AHA). Ryan Walker of Union College (ECACHL) signs with Binghamton. Besides Hartford signing of Ryan Dmowski, UMASS-Lowell (HE) sees Nick Masters sign with the Maine Mariners, the Wolf Pack's ECHL affiliate. Johnny Coughlin of Holy Cross (AHA) also signs with Maine (ECHL). Matthew Whittaker heads from Mercyhurst (AHA) to Florida (ECHL). Drew Callin of Bentley University (AHA) has a short ride to Worcester (ECHL), and Felix Chamberlain of Canisius College (AHA) heads to Toledo (ECHL). Five players from the University of Maine Black Bears (HE) signed professional deals. Chase Pearson inks an ATO deal with Grand Rapids. Brady Keeper puts his name to contract with Florida and Sam Becker with Reading (ECHL). Rob Michel signs with Lehigh Valley and Brendan Robbins also will join Maine (ECHL). Matt Robson doesn’t have to go far after leaving the University of Minnesota (Big 10) and signs with the Minnesota Wild. Fellow Golden Gophers Tommy Novak heads to Milwaukee and Eric Schierhorn to Adirondack (ECHL). Troy Loggins of Northern Michigan (NCHC) heads to Grand Rapids while his teammate, Adam Rockwood, goes to Springfield (AHL). Jordan Uhelski of Miami (OH) and (NCHC) signs with Norfolk (ECHL) and teammate Grant Hutton signs an ATO deal with Bridgeport. Hayden Shaw of North Dakota (NCHC) heads to Jacksonville (ECHL). Ryan Galt of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) goes to Utah (ECHL) and Peter Tischke Wisconsin (Big 10) signs with Colorado (AHL). Dallas signed a slew of players including Joe Ceconnis (Michigan-Big 10), Rhett Gardner (North Dakota-NCHC), Josh Melnick, Miami (OH) (NCHC) and Diego Cuglietta (Lake Superior St.-NCHC). All were assigned to Texas (AHL) on ATO deals. Three players from the Division III ranks have signed contracts. Mitch Hall of Hamline University (MIAC) signs with Norfolk (ECHL). Tyler Andrews of St. Norbert (NCHA) inks with Atlanta (ECHL) and joining him there is Brady Fluerent from the University of New England (CCC). The total is now 65 Division I players who have signed pro deals and including eight Division III players and one player to Europe. It's a total of 74 players who have signed pro deals after their collegiate seasons have ended so far. The first coaching dismissal has occurred as the Miami (OH) RedHawks (NCHC) relieved head coach, Enrico Blasi. He leaves the RedHawks after 20 years at his alma mater. His career record was 398-311-76 and includes five CCHA conference titles, 10 NCAA tournaments, and one Frozen Four appearances. Since they went into a new conference and developed the NCHC six years ago, they have won just one conference title and not been making NCAA’s and that was cited as one of the reasons for his dismissal. The school said a national search for a new head coach will commence immediately. The UCONN Huskies got their first in-state recruit as a Hockey East program. Tabor Heaslip of Ft. Worth, TX, of Avon Old Farms, makes an oral commit, to the Huskies for 2020-21. He is part of an ever-large growing list of Texas-born and trained players playing at the junior and collegiate level in North America. Heaslip, also came through the Dallas Stars junior program. He had made the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) back in summer training camp but elected to return to to the Winged Beavers program. His twin sister Teagan also plays hockey in Texas. She is heading to Brown University (ECACHL-W) in two years. Heaslip’s teammate, John Turner of Avon Old Farms (CTPREP), makes a commit to the University of New Hampshire (HE) in 2021-22. Ex-Pack, Akim Aliu, has been loaned from Orlando (ECHL) to Tucson making it the 29th city of his junior and pro career. Ex-Sound Tiger, Dyson Steven Stevenson, is loaned to Utica by Wichita (ECHL). Read the full article

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CANTLON: HUSKA LEADS UCONN PAST YALE, 3-1

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings NEW HAVEN, CT - UConn goaltender Adam Huska’s spectacular 39 save performance helped the Huskies defeat Yale Univesity 3-1 at Ingalls Rink in New Haven in a New Year's Eve matinee. It's not understating it to say that Huska won the game for UCONN. Huska stopped the Yale offense in every way a goalie could make a save in helping the Huskies snap a seven-game losing streak. His performance matched his remarkable WJC performance for Slovakia two years ago against Canada at the Bell Centre in Montreal when he made 46 saves. His numbers do not put him at the top of the statistical Hockey East chart, but Huska is clearly one of the top goalies in the nation. Huska won his first game since November 2nd and was intent on ending 2018 on a winning note. “He was great. When you see this in hockey, the New York Rangers have a good record because they have a good goalie (Henrik Lundqvist) and it's no different when you have a Connor McDavid (of Edmonton). He’s a difference maker. The goalie is a part of the team. Adam was terrific, but it was a great team effort,” UCONN head coach, Mike Cavanaugh. UCONN’s record now stands at 6-11-1 overall and 2-9-1 in the HEA. It was the first win against Yale, (7-4-2 overall, and 6-2-1 in the ECAC) in 13 games spanning a 47 year period. It was UConn's first visit to Ingalls since 2011-12. “It’s great that Miles Gendron (the team captain) came up with a slogan for our team, “Be the First,” to be a UCONN team to accomplish a lot of first things... milestones. So, that’s another first for us. We just beat an established program that won national championships,” Cavanaugh said. The Bulldogs made every bid to tie the game and among the many highlight-reel saves Huska made was stopping Yale’s primary sniper, Joe Snively, on a breakaway with 3:25 remaining. “That Snively line might be the best line we'll see all year. Yale is an explosive team,” Cavanaugh said. Huska effectively came out to challenge shooters at the top of the crease. “I try to come out on top of the crease all the time because they are fast and really like to make some plays. I was patient waiting for him to make the move,” Huska said. Among his 30 saves he stopped Luke Stevens, the son of former NHL’er, Kevin Stevens, five times. he also denied Justin Pearson, and Kevin O’Neil, three times each, as well as, Dante Palecco’s high re-direct midway in the third. UCONN’s game-winning goal came from nitty, gritty work down low in the Yale end of the ice. Brian Freeman used all of his 6‘5 frame to wheel around in front of the Yale crease and despite a rolling puck still managed to control it and slipped a backhander around the outstretched right pad of Yale’s Sam Tucker at 9:52. “It was a real good cycle by Karl El-Mir. I was taking it to the net and some space opened up. I held on to it as long as I could. I was trying to shoot it earlier and was just able to gather the puck. It was rolling, but I was able to get it in,” Freeman said with a big smile. Freeman had just two goals in the first half of the season and had a wonderful self-deprecating sense of humor. “I had two. Nothing flashy, not a lot of clips to choose from.“ Finishing games was a first half area of concern which Freeman acknowledged they had to address. “We were in a lot of close games. If we really start to finish games off, I think we can get get a good streak going here and get some wins going forward.” UCONN broke a scoreless tie in one of their few solid offensive entrances as El-Mir sprung Sasha Payusov and the righthanded shooting sophomore slipped his team leading tenth goal through Tucker's five-hole at 7:17 of the second period. “It was a great goal. He beat him with a backhander as well. When Sasha plays on his inside edges he’s hard to handle. He skates well and has great stick skills and leaning into the kid to beat him, great play.” The whole ability to score all came about because of Huska’s sensational net play. Any and all superlative adjectives including spectacular, scintillating, sensational all apply. Just prior to the goal, Philip Nyberg, on his second defensive zone turnover, this one to the Bulldogs' Mitchell Smith, who went to the net on a quick forming two-on-one and Huska used all of his 6'4 frame and acrobatically stacked his pads and moved his right leg in the air and deflected the puck with his skate blade to deny the Yale winger. “It was a street hockey mentality to do whatever it takes,“ Huska said with a laugh. "He was coming hard. I just reacted.” Cavanaugh shook his head in wonderment of his own goalie. “That has to be a Sportscenter save (of the day). That was one of the best saves I’ve ever seen.” Incredibly, the save even eclipsed one he made on Northeastern’s Lincoln Griffin earlier in the season. Yale’s Ted Hart was stopped at 2:25 and then Dante Palecco was frustrated and banged their sticks on the ice after thinking they had a goal coming off their stick. After Payusov’s goal, Snively was open on the right-wing side and took a cross ice pass down to one knee. Huska calmly moved laterally across to smite yet another quality chance. Huska collected a few others earlier in the period that kept Yale off the scoring sheet. Yale finally found a way to beat Huska when Anthony Walsh let a blast go from 35 feet out, but the green light was on and the scoreboard read zero - Period over. The referees' video review revealed that the goal was scored with five-tenths of a second left in the period knotting the game at one. Each team showed rust after not playing for two weeks. Yale had the finer quality chances, but Huska started his tour-de-force and didn't allow many second chances and stymied the Bulldogs. NOTES: The Huskies head to Las Vegas this coming weekend to play at the T-Mobile Arena, the home of NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knights. They open against Western Michigan (NC), whose assistant coach is former Division II UCONN Husky, Hartford Whaler, and New Haven Nighthawk, Todd Krygier. The winner plays the either Air Force or St. Lawrence. The Huskies then start the Hockey East portion of the schedule in two weeks. 10 of their final 14 games at home. The Huskies John Wojciechowski made his UCONN debut playing left-wing on the fourth line. Yale has four CT prep school players on their roster, Andrew Gaus (Taft), Tucker (Choate/ Wilton), and Evan and Mitchel Smith (Salisbury Prep). Each school has players at the WJC tournament in Vancouver and Victoria, BC. The Bulldogs have two defensemen, Phil Kemp (Greenwich) and Jack St. Ivany. The Huskies have just one representing them there. Jachym Kondelik is with the Czech Republic squad. He “scored” the only goal against Russia in a well-played contest using his 6’6 frame screening a right point shot that went off his face and in for the lone Czech goal in a 2-1 loss. Kondelik was injured however against Canada in a 5-1 loss on hit to the head by Jared McIsaac at 8:08 of the third period. The hit sent his helmet flying. He was suspended for the last night of the preliminary round against Russia by the IIHF. Kondelik picked up an assist in 4-0 shutout of Denmark. College and junior hockey have their trade deadlines and movement periods respectively. Adam Samuelsson of Boston College (HE), the youngest of the Ulf Samuelsson clan, as reported a few weeks ago, was heading to juniors. He will play the rest of the year with the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers (USHL) allowing him to preserve his NCAA eligibility. In seven games with the Eagles, the 18-year-old was scoreless and had no penalties. The 6’6 240lb. rearguard’s Canadian major junior rights are held by the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). Joining him in Sioux City, from Hockey East and Beantown rival, Boston University, is Dominic Vidoli who was scoreless in six games with the Terriers. The last newcomer for Sioux City is Matt Steinburg, the son of former Nighthawk, Trevor Steinburg, currently in his 17th season as head coach at St. Mary’s University (AUAA) in Halifax. The younger Steinburg is a Colgate (ECACHL) commit. He will play for a short period in Sioux City. He's currently at St. Andrews College, a Canadian prep school in Aurora, Ontario. In six games he has two goals and eight points. The latest potential move is Shane Bowers of Boston University (HE). He is presently playing for Canada at the WJC and is a first-round pick of Colorado. He is rumored to be going to the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL). His QMJHL rights were just traded from the Saint John Sea Dogs to Drummondville where his advisor/agent, Andre Ruel, of the CAA Group is located. Ran into former Beast of New Haven and New Haven Knights (UHL) forward, Chad Cabana, who was in town to visit family and friends from Bonnyville, Alberta. He was with his wife and children for the holidays. Cabana's eldest son Caden is 16 years old and playing hockey in Alberta for the Lakeland Panthers (NAMHL) at the Double AA level. He has had a couple of games at the AAA level with the Lloydminster Bobcats (AMHL). His nephew Jeremy Germain, is the son of ex-Nighthawk/New Haven Knights (UHL), Eric Germain. He currently plays with Princeton (ECACHL). Read the full article