RANGERS AND WHALERSSPORTS NEWS 

The New York Rangers have signed AHL veteran Jeremy Williams. The 26-year old is likely headed to Hartford to add some depth and to some degree some veteran presence for a team that is likely to be extremely young this upcoming season. Williams has some familiarity with Kris Newbury as they were both on the Grand Rapids but he provides some insurance in case of injury at the NHL level having seen 31 games of action with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with right wing Jeremy Williams.

Williams, 26, skated in 77 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, registering 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points, along with 55 penalty minutes.  He established AHL career-highs in games played, goals, points and shots (210).  Williams ranked eighth in the AHL in goals, and tied for fourth in the league with 14 power play goals.  He also led the Griffins in goals, points, power play goals and shots, and tied for the team lead in assists.  Williams recorded 14 multi-point performances, including his second career AHL hat trick on April 10 at Chicago.  He posted a career-high, seven-game point streak from December 9 vs. San Antonio to December 19 at Texas, registering nine points (five goals and four assists) over the span.  Williams finished the season riding a three-game goal streak (six goals), including back-to-back multi-goal games on April 10 at Chicago (three goals) and April 11 at Milwaukee (two goals).  He notched his 100th AHL goal on December 9 vs. San Antonio, registered his 200th AHL point with an assist on December 15 at Peoria, and recorded his 100th AHL assist on December 26 vs. Chicago.  Williams also skated in his 300th career AHL game on February 13 at Houston.

In 2008-09, Williams split the season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies (AHL).  He registered five goals and two assists for seven points in 11 NHL games with the Maple Leafs.  Williams tallied his first NHL multi-point effort with one goal and one assist in his season debut on December 8 vs. the NY Islanders.  He recorded five goals in his first six games with the Maple Leafs following his recall on December 8, including a goal in each of his first three games.  With the Marlies, Williams ranked second on the team with 27 goals and fourth with 40 points in 46 AHL games that season.  He also led the team and ranked fourth in the AHL with a career-high 19 power play goals.

The 6-0, 195-pounder has skated in 325 career AHL games over six seasons with the St. John’s Maple Leafs/Toronto Marlies and Grand Rapids Griffins, registering 122 goals and 121 assists for 243 points, along with 248 penalty minutes.  In addition, Williams has recorded nine goals and two assists for 11 points in 31 career NHL contests with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  He notched a goal on his first shot on goal in his NHL debut on April 18, 2006 vs. Pittsburgh.

The Regina, Saskatchewan native was originally selected as Toronto’s seventh round draft choice, 220th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

In Whalers Sports news, and you all know we’re excited to see this group succeed in their efforts to rebuild Hartford hockey, have an announcement. 

Whalers Sports and Entertainment Founder Howard Baldwin announced today that former Whaler Bob Crawford has been named hockey operations consultant for Whalers Hockey Fest.  Crawford will oversee the scheduling of all amateur events and manage the day-to-day on-ice operations of the 10-day outdoor hockey event to be held February 11-20 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. 

Crawford has already landed a number of commitments from area high schools, junior teams, prep schools and youth hockey groups who contacted him when the Whalers Hockey Fest was announced last month.

“Bob was one of the first people I reached out to when we developed the Whalers Hockey Fest event, said Baldwin  “His experience as both a Whalers player and as the owner of three successful skating rinks makes him perfect for the job.” 

Baldwin added: “In addition to Bob’s experience, the contacts and the relationships he’s developed in his various duties with USA Hockey have been an immeasurable help to us already.”

According to Crawford:  “Mr. Baldwin is one of the most creative and innovative executives in professional sports.   When I played for him in Hartford (1983-1986), Howard and Emile Francis emphasized to all of us how important it was to be involved in the Hartford community.

“Mr. Baldwin’s commitment to Hartford hockey is even stronger today as we prepare for the Whalers Hockey Fest.  With his leadership and the support of the Hartford community, this could be one of the greatest hockey events in Connecticut history and I am enthused to be part of it.”

Crawford’s 10-year professional career saw him play for the NHL’s New York Rangers, St Louis Blues and the Hartford Whalers. His playing career saw many highlights among them was his 36 goal season with Hartford in 1984 and his trip the 1986 Stanley Cup semi-finals as a member of the New York Rangers.

Crawford’s coaching career has seen him win multiple championships and has seen him transform the Connecticut Junior Clippers/Wolfpack into one of the top programs in the nation with over 150 of his players graduating to NCAA Division I and III college hockey. The teams have had two national tournament showings and in 2000 the Clippers finished 3rd and won the USA National Championship and the following 2001 season. Winner of the AJHL Coach of the year award in 2004, Bob was selected as a coach for the USA Hockey Select 18 National team that won bronze in Canada in 2006.

Professionally, Crawford is now working in his 15th year as owner/operator of the multi-rink/fitness facility “Champions Skating Center”, “Bolton Ice Palace”, and the International Skating Center of Simsbury CT.  He is on the board of directors for USA Hockey and was named a New England director for his second three-year term in 2009.  He also serves on USA Hockey’s International Council.

Assisting Crawford with Whalers Hockey Fest is many of his current Champions staff, most notably Dave Roberts, the co-owner and GM of  The International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.

Roberts has over 20 years of coaching experience including all levels from youth to college.  Roberts was the head coach at Loomis Chaffee, which played in one of the top prep-school leagues, The Founders League. 

Before Loomis, Roberts coached with the CT Lazers Junior and Youth hockey teams and as well was the former co-founder and president.  He also coached at the college level as an Assistant at Wesleyan University and Head Coach at CCSU.

More information can be found at www.WhalersSports.com.