#SalisburySchool

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CANTLON: CHESHIRE'S ROBERT "BERT" MALLOY CONTINUES TO SHINE IN AUSTRALIA

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Cheshire's Robert "Bert" Malloy continues to shine in the Australia Ice Hockey League (AIHL). An American/Australian dual citizen, Malloy played in his tenth in the Land Down Under. It was also his last for the Newcastle Northstars, in their short-season league this past summer, where they finished one win short, losing in the Goodall Cup championship game to the top-ranked CBR (Canberra) Brave 3-2. "(It was a) tough way to end the season. Not the fairytale ending we were looking for. It was also my last game playing for Newcastle. "The Central Coast Rhinos (2005-2008) are coming back into the league as an expansion team, and the rink is five minutes away from where my family lives. It's a new chapter and an opportunity to build something brand new. "(It was a) tough decision to make, but traveling an hour each way with kids at home versus playing at a rink underneath my local grocery store five minutes away makes more sense," Malloy stated via e-mail. He's still looking to represent Australia's national team, known as "The Mighty Roo," in the spring. "My goal is to earn a spot on the national team roster for another year. Our world's are in Madrid in April." Austalia will play in Group A, Division II in April from the 17th through the 23rd, 2023, against Croatia, the nation of Georgia, Iceland, Israel, and the host country of Spain. Malloy went on to say, "There's also a Trans-Tasman Cup (tournament) in Melbourne where we have a three-game series with the NZ (New Zealand) (national) team in November (for Southern Hemisphere bragging rights)." Malloy had 33 points in 19 regular season games, good for third best on Newcastle. Former Salisbury School player Francis Drolet was their top scorer. Drolet is heading to HC Varese (Italy-IHL Division-2) in the fall. The pandemic took its toll on Australian hockey and society just as it did on the rest of the planet. "COVID took a significant impact on hockey down here. The league had significant momentum and growth; now, it's an opportunity to reboot. There are two expansion teams joining next year (Central Coast and Brisbane), with Adelaide and Perth rejoining, making it an even stronger ten-team national league. I think they are always considering expansion with New Zealand. "It comes down to flight availabilities in and out of NZ because most guys have work commitments on Friday and Mondays," Malloy, a one-time member of the Hartford Junior Wolf Pack, said. Over the last two years, he and his young family also had to contend with major forest fires and flooding in New South Wales. Lastly, Newcastle's long-time coach earlier this century, Don Champagne, 71, passed away. Champagne helped direct Newcastle to four AIHL tiles. NEWCASTLE NORTHSTARS HOME Read the full article

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5/16/18 Boys Varsity Baseball vs. Salisbury School. - - (Link in bio) - - #pomfret #baseball #yabo #prepschool #playball #sportsphotography #salisburyschool #aidenbourkephotography (at Pomfret School)

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CANTLON: CONNECTICUT'S ROB MALLOY UPDATE

BY: Gerry Cantlon: Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Cheshire native and dual Australian citizen Rob "Bert" Malloy had a glorious run in the short-season Australia Ice Hockey League (AIHL).  It was his tenth in "The Land Down Under," and he finished just one win short, losing the Goodall Cup championship game to the top-ranked CBR (Canberra) Brave, 3-2. It was also his final game in a Newcastle Northstars sweater. “(It was a) tough way to end the season; not the fairytale ending we were looking for. It was also my last game playing for Newcastle. "The Central Coast Rhinos (2005-2008) are coming back into the league as an expansion team, and the rink is five minutes away from where my family lives. It’s a new chapter and an opportunity to build something brand new. "(It was a) tough decision to make, but traveling an hour each way with kids at home versus playing at a rink underneath my local grocery store five minutes away makes more sense.” Malloy stated via e-mail. Bread, milk, and hockey can be a very good combo. In the spring, he looks to still represent the Mighty Roo (Australia’s national team name). “My goal is to earn a spot on the national team roster for another year. Our world's (Group A Division II) is in Madrid (next year) in April (17-23, against Croatia, the nation of Georgia, Iceland, Israel, and hometown host country Spain.) "There's a trans-Tasman cup in Melbourne where we have a three-game series with the NZ (New Zealand) (National) team in November (for the Southern Hemisphere bragging rights),” Malloy said. He had 33 points (third best) in 19 regular season games. Former Salisbury School player Francis Drolet was their top scorer. Drolet is heading to HC Varese (Italy-IHL Division-2) in the fall. The pandemic took its toll on Australian hockey and society just as it did worldwide. “COVID made a significant impact on hockey down here. The league had significant momentum and growth (when it hit), and now it’s an opportunity to reboot. "There are two expansion teams joining next year (Central Coast and Brisbane) with Adelaide and Perth rejoining, making it an even stronger 10-team national league. "I think they are always considering expansion with New Zealand. "It comes down to flight availabilities in and out of NZ because most guys have work commitments on Friday and Mondays,” Malloy said, who was once a member of the Hartford Junior Wolf Pack. He and his young family also contended with major forest fires and flooding in New South Wales in the last two years. In other notes: Adam Samuelsson, the youngest child of ex-Hartford Whaler great and New York Rangers plus Hartford Wolf Pack assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson returns to North America and the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) from Mariestad BoIS (Sweden Division 3 HockeyEttan) next year. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: UCONN 2021-22 SEASON PREVIEW

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings STORRS, CT - As if on cue, the first-morning dew on campus heralded a new hockey season for the UCONN Huskies and their head coach, Mike Cavanaugh. “I’m excited to be with the team and to make a deep push in Hockey East and maybe the NCAA tournament (both at the Boston Garden this year). We’ll have our fifth practice today, and I hope we’ll have 16 before next weekend’s first game with Sacred Heart (University) at the XL Center.” SHU is the Division I level team UCONN has had trouble with and has not beaten them at the D1 strata. “Not only have our freshmen, but none of our sophomores have played there, so we want to get them acclimated to the building,” remarked Cavanaugh. LAST YEAR The team, which posted a 10-11 record last year and lost to Providence College in the playoffs’ opening round, hasn’t advanced in Hockey East post-season action. They have a slew of grad transfers, and it’s different but not unique to future opponents. “It was like they were recruiting us in (goalie) Darion Hanson (Union College), Kevin O’Neil (Yale), and (Jarrod) Gourley (Arizona State). They didn’t play last year. They spoke to us, and I have spoken to their coaches, who would love to have had them back for a fifth year, and they spoke highly of them. “Boston University, our second opponent, has seven (transfers). We just have three, and they have been committed to us for a long time. They give us a different perspective and are a great for me and a great resource for our players,” remarked Cavanaugh. IN NET In net, Hanson will share duties with Logan Terness, who’s a highly touted freshman from Trail (BCHL). They will also have one goalie coming off labrum (hip) surgery, Matt Pasquale. They will also have one having it, Ryan Keane (Coppell, Texas), who both had zero time behind the off to the NHL, Tomáš Vomáčka, who played every second last year. “It’s wide open; not a lot of them played last year. Darion has the most experience of the three goalies, so I expect he’ll get the most work early, but we have five or six practices to go before that decision is made.” Upfront, the Huskies have a solid returning cast led by last year’s Hockey East top scorer, senior Jonny Evans. They’ll also have senior Carter Turnbill, and after not being offered a contract, 6’6 center from the Czech Republic, Jachym Kondelik (Nashville). FIRSTOV Vladislav Firstov (Minnesota) is giving Cavanaugh a rare luxury they haven’t had. "This is the best depth we’ve had since I’ve been here. We really don’t have a fourth line. I can spread Jonny on one line, Vladdy Firstov on another, Carter Turnbull on one, Jachym (Kondelik) on another. This could be the strength of our team this year.” On defense, Yan Kuznetsov and Tomas Vomáčka went pro, Kuznetsov, though, was a surprise. “Tomas, a goalie, they offered him a contract, and they give out only five or six goalies. One, you gotta take it, and it shows they think he can play. So, you have to take the contract. Yan, by the same token, was a surprise. It wouldn’t have hurt him to come back,” remarked his now-former head coach. SOPHMORES His younger sophomore class with Hudson Schandor, Artem Schlaine, Cassidy Bowes, and Nick Capone (East Haven/Salisbury School) (Tampa Bay 6th round #157) got to know Hockey East last year, introduced themselves, and got quality minutes. He has high hopes for Capone. “He is really a good player. He can do a lot of things (well) that can translate to getting to the next level. I want him to be more of a factor night in and night out. I want him to play a power forward game like Tom Wilson without the suspensions, antics, and penalties. I want him averaging three or four shots a game, and he’s capable of that, and can bring that intimidation factor to the game too.” On the backline, Jake Flynn and Carter Berger, are a pair that have made early good impressions. CAPTAIN KINAL On his team’s new captain, Roman Kinal, Cavanaugh was philosophical. “He’s on a trajectory like (former defenseman) Wyatt Newpower was (now with Cleveland-AHL). He struggled on-and-off the ice in the classroom the first year and struggled with his play and injuries in his second year.” His freshmen class is a more traditional mix in net with a high-end goalie prospect in Terness, who’s in the mold like Adam Huska and Tomas Vomacka, who both came before him. There’s also a late defenseman to commit, Aidan Metcalfe, and in-state kid Jake Veilleux (South Windsor/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep), another BCHL grad from the Victoria Grizzlies, and Sasha Telguine. “Aidan was a surprise. He is a big kid, strong, skates well; Veilleux can play forward or defense. He’s pretty versatile, and Sasha has a lot of skill. We’re not going to have to rely on them because we’re a veteran team. Injuries in a season will happen, so it’s good to have some players to slide into those positions, on a veteran-laden team.” POSTSEASON HOPES The change in the post-season conference playoff system to the one-and-done structure from the three-game series that Cavanaugh has advocated for over the past several years. “I think you’ll see more conferences going toward it. It mirrors our national tournament. Shooting for Boston is a team goal.” The new captain Kinal replaces Adm Karascik (Ridgefield/Avon Old Farms) will play a post-grad year at ND. “The (Boston) Garden has been talking about all (offseason and all year) Hockey East is there, the Finals (Frozen Four) are there. We’ve been talking about it all year to get to the Garden; that’s our goal. That’s our long-term goal. We also, of course, have individual goals. That starts with winning October 2nd against Sacred Heart and goes from there.” DRAFT PICKS That some of his players and just five nationally (three in the first six picks) with more incoming players selected surprised Cavanaugh. “When you’re drafted, that means the work has just begun. When you’re drafted, you sign a million-dollar deal; you’re taking home $400,000 after taxes, escrow, and paying your agent, and we’re bringing in business people to educate the kids about the business inside and outside of hockey. It’s sticker-shock when you go to places like Seattle and California,” said Cavanaugh. The brand new yet unnamed rink is taking shape. “It’s great,” said Cavanaugh. The new (UCONN) rink will be the second smallest rink in the conference to Matthews Arena (home to Northeastern built over 100 years ago and occupied in 1910.) We’re already getting benefits on the recruiting trail with inquiries from kids we wouldn’t have heard from before, say, three or four years ago. It’s exciting; once a week at the top of the hill, I can look in, and you can see the foundation of the building now.” CAPTAIN PUMPED His captain is equally enthused. “I pass it every day going to class. It’s awesome. You definitely see progress being made. Every year they would talk about. Now you see the stones being set in place. Now you see the work being done. It’s pretty cool were excited for sure,” said Kinal. The season looks to be a bright one for UCONN. COLLEGE NEWS Heading pro is Wisconsin-River Falls (WIAC) player from Division III in Christian Hausinger, with Wichita (ECHL) as the seventh D3 player. The Division-1 breakdown is: Hockey East 29, Big 10 has 23, NCHC 17, AHA 11, ECACHL with eight, CCHA, formerly the WCHA with four, and independent Arizona State with two. Division-I pro signees are 94, underclassmen who have left school early 36, and ALL college players signed from Division I and III in North America are now up to 132. Grad school transfers are at 51, and school transfers are 81 for 132 players who switched schools. In addition, 36 Division I and III have headed to Europe, including the latest Jaako Heikkinen (Denver University). Three went to Canadian college and university, and one went to Canadian major junior. COACHES A whole slew of volunteer coaches and assistant coaches were named. Jordy Murray at ND, Jack Riley heads to Division III independent Albertus Magnus College (New Haven), Ryan Zapolski, former Team USA goalie in the 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea Games at Mercyhurst (AHA). Peter Ward is the new is senior advisor for coaches at MSU with Dylan Strom, the Spartans volunteer, Matthew Vanden Berg at Maine (HE). Minnesota State in the new CCHA and Colgate ECACHL are the preseason favorites to win their conferences. The brand new Ed Robson Arena at Colorado College ribbon is cutting is coming up shortly. UCONN HOCKEY HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HAT TRICKS AND THE NAHL ENTRY DRAFT

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The NAHL conducted its entry draft consisting of 498 slots last Wednesday. It's the last junior selections made before the big NHL Entry Draft at the end of the week. Since entering the league, the Danbury Hat Tricks started their second draft by selecting David Chen (Salisbury School) in the first round (12th overall). He is a Yale University (ECACHL) commit for 2022-23. In the second round (56th overall), they selected Logan Heroux from the Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC). For the third round (59th overall), the Hat Tricks selected Lucas DiChiara (Fairfield), who played for Fox Motor Sports U-18 (T1EHL). With the first pick of the fourth round (88th overall), the selection was from El Paso as they took Karter McNorland of the South Shore (MA) Kings (USPHL-Premier). He is a University of Vermont (HE) commit for 2022-23 MIDDLE ROUNDS In the fourth round (99th overall), the Hat Tricks drafted California native Marko Giorof from the Anaheim Jr. Ducks U-18 (T1EHL). The Hat Tricks did not have a fifth-round pick, so in the sixth round (157th overall), they elected Seth Rakosky from the Colorado Rampage U-16 (T1EHL). The Hat Tricks chose Trey Hirschfield from the team's NA3HL team with their final pick. The pick was in the seventh round (186th round). The other Connecticut selections: In the third round (82nd overall), Philip Quetell (CT Jr. Rangers - NCDC) was taken by the El Paso Rhinos. His older brother Andrew will be a senior with Army (AHA) this year. With the 145th overall selection, the last of the fifth-round, David Grosek (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) was taken by the Aberdeen (SD) Wings. In the seventh round (179th overall), Cole Paredes (Norwalk) of the Berkshire School, who also played for the Gunnery School (now known as the Gunn School in Washington, CT), was taken by the Corpus Christi (TX) IceRays. Also, in the seventh round (182nd overall), Spencer Bellina (CT Jr. Rangers - NCDC) was selected by the Maine Nordiques on a pick obtained from the Chippewa (WI) Steel. Yet another Connecticut kid was selected in the seventh round (197th overall) Patrick (P.J.) Neal (Greenwich/Avon Old Farms) was taken by the Wichita Falls (TX) Warriors. He played for them last year and with the Mid-Fairfield Rangers U-18 team. Lastly, in the seventh round (200th overall), Bauer Swift (West Hartford/Choate Rosemary Hall-Wallingford), who skated for the Mid-Fairfield Rangers U-18 last season, was taken by the Lone Star (TX) Brahmas. LATER ROUNDS In the ninth round (236th overall), Hayden Riva (Lakeville) of the Berkshire School, but who played for the Valley Jr. Warriors (EHL) last season, was taken by the Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues. With the 202nd overall pick and from the tenth round, Connor Brazil (Avon Old Farms), a Las Vegas, NV native, was selected by the Amarillo (TX) Wranglers. When the eleventh round and the 296th overall pick came up, it was Jake Bongo (Ridgefield) who heard his name called by the NJ Rockets (NCDC) and the Mid-Fairfield Rangers U-18 team by the Springfield (Ill),) Jr. Blues. He is slated to play for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) this year and is a Sacred Heart University (AHA) commit for 2022-23. Also in the eleventh round (318th overall) was Robert Barrasso (CT Jr. Rangers - NCDC), who was taken by the Johnstown (PA) Tomahawks. The last CT selection came in the twelfth round (325th overall) as Jason Siedem (Avon Old Farms) was selected by the Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues. He will skate for the Verno Vipers (BCHL) in 2021-22. ACHA MOVES Kolby Donavan of the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL) heads to Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) in the ACHA Division-2. Nic Hemming of the CT Chiefs (EHL), who also skated with Vermont (EHL) and Pueblo (USPHL-Premier) last year, will skate for the University of Central Oklahoma (ACHA Division-1) in the fall. DANBURY HAT TRICKS HOME Read the full article

[aidenbourkephotography-blog]

5/16/18 Boys Varsity Baseball vs. Salisbury School. - - (Link in bio) - - #pomfret #baseball #yabo #prepschool #playball #sportsphotography #salisburyschool #cardigan #aidenbourkephotography (at Pomfret School)

[aidenbourkephotography-blog]

5/16/18 Boys Varsity Baseball vs. Salisbury School. - - (Link in bio) - - #pomfret #baseball #yabo #prepschool #playball #sportsphotography #salisburyschool #aidenbourkephotography (at Pomfret School)

[aidenbourkephotography-blog]

5/16/18 Boys Varsity Baseball vs. Salisbury School. - - (Link in bio) - - #pomfret #baseball #yabo #prepschool #playball #sportsphotography #salisburyschool #aidenbourkephotography (at Pomfret School)