FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet 

By Bruce Berlet

CROMWELL, CT. – As Jeremy Williams lay motionless on the XL Center ice for what seemed an eternity Wednesday night, the Connecticut Whale’s All-Star right wing had flashbacks to 11 years ago and a car accident in his tiny hometown of Glenavon, Saskatchewan.

In that mishap, Williams broke the C6 vertebrae in his neck, which was severely jarred when he was hit in the head from behind by the shoulder of Springfield Falcons’ wing Kyle Neuber as he tried to escape an entanglement with Steven Goertzen while in a vulnerable position in the corner.

While no one on the Whale accused Neuber of a dirty hit with 5:02 left in the first period of the Whale’s dramatic 3-2 victory, it took about 10 minutes before Williams could be taken off on a stretcher and whisked directly to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford after being examined by trainer Damien Hess and team doctor Brett Wesserhauf, an orthopedic surgeon. Though Williams tried to joke with several concerned teammates, including longtime friend and late-game hero John Mitchell, he realized it was no laughing matter, even after X-rays and a cat scan provided positive results.

“With the history of my head, I don’t mess around with something like that,” Williams said while sitting on a training table Thursday morning, his head supported against a wall in the Champions Skating Center training room. “When I got hit, it just didn’t feel right in my neck, so I kind of waited and evaluated how I felt. My spine was sore – there was something in my neck that just didn’t feel right – and I had a headache.

“For me, it’s scary when I can feel something in my neck. I didn’t want to move, so I just waited for Damien. I said I wanted to get up, but he said he was getting the stretcher out. I said, ‘Why can’t I skate off not moving my neck?’ Guys thought that was funny, but I guess when you’re nervous about something you take your mind off it by making light of it. My first thought wasn’t that my neck was broken, but I knew something was wrong and didn’t want to do further damage. Damien checked it out as a precaution as to where the pain was. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Williams said the incident happened so quickly that he really didn’t how what happened, but he immediately knew something was wrong. But the Whale’s leader in goals (25) and points (44) also tried to prevent himself from getting too uptight.

“When I got to the hospital, I said, ‘I can probably get back for the third (period), so get me out of here,’ ” Williams said with a laugh.

But the Whale, desperately for a win to end a two-game losing streak and try to secure a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, could have used Williams, especially after Michael Del Zotto, the team’s most offensive defenseman, had his right index finger injured when hit by a Falcons shot at 4:42 of the second period. Del Zotto, a member of the NHL all-rookie team last season starting a third assignment to the Whale from the New York Rangers, visited a hand specialist Thursday afternoon and learned he will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured finger.

“I feel all right, my neck is a little stiff, but it’s a day-to-day thing as to when I can return (to play),” Williams said. “It’s more how I feel and if I’m comfortable skating. Obviously if I can skate Friday, I’ll skate then. If I can skate Saturday, I’ll skate Saturday. But I wasn’t going to skate (Thursday). I figured I’d take one day to just rest it and evaluate it.”

Del Zotto won’t have such a luxury after being sent to the Whale to try to revive his game.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the game,” Del Zotto said. “Injuries are going to happen.”

While Del Zotto is out and Williams is questionable for a rematch with the Falcons on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, the Whale got some good news when the Rangers reassigned center Kris Newbury after it was determined wing Ruslan Fedotenko could return from a shoulder injury to play Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild. Newbury has one assist in 11 games during four stints with the Rangers, but he’s the Whale’s second-leading scorer with nine goals and a team-high 33 assists in 51 games.

But coach Ken Gernander was still looking for a possible replacement for right wing Alexandre Imbeault, who was released from his professional tryout contract and returned to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades after being scoreless in four games with the Whale. Defenseman Lee Baldwin could replace Del Zotto or be a spare forward, but if Williams can’t play, the Whale will need reinforcements because centers Todd White and Ryan Garlock, wings Chris McKelvie and former Falcon Chad Kolarik and defensemen Tomas Kundratek and Jyri Niemi, who also has played at wing, are all likely to continue to be sidelined with a variety of ailments.

Fortunately for the Whale, Mitchell arrived just in time to fill a large void at center with Newbury in New York, White and Garlock injured and Tim Kennedy traded to the Florida Panthers. Mitchell, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Tuesday trade deadline for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 NHL draft, scored the winner with 7.7 seconds left in his Whale debut, pouncing on defenseman Pavel Valentenko’s clear-in pass that hit a stanchion and bounced crazily into the slot. It came 34 seconds after rookie Tomas Kubalik had tied it with his 20^th goal on a deflection during a 6-on-4 power play.

Mitchell arrived in Hartford two weeks after ending a 61/2-week absence because of a knee injury sustained Jan. 2. Despite having only the morning skate Wednesday with his new team, Mitchell was inserted on the No. 1 line between Williams and Evgeny Grachev.

“Williams was one of the first people I called after the trade,” said Mitchell, who had requested a deal because of diminished ice time with the Toronto Marlies. “It was funny because I had spoken to Willie earlier in the week, and he had said, ‘We don’t have a lot of forwards here.’ I thought that was kind of funny that he mentioned that and that I had gotten traded here.”

Defensive defenseman Stu Bickel, acquired from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks/Syracuse Crunch for defenseman Nigel Williams on Nov. 23, had the secondary assist on Mitchell’s winner after scoring his first goal of the season in his 36^th game with the Whale to ignite a three-goal third period that wiped out a 1-0 deficit. It’s was Bickel’s first two-point and plus-3 game in the AHL.

The third-period comeback was capped when Mitchell took advantage of the fortuitous bounce to score his second AHL goal of the season, enabling the Whale (29-24-2-6) to break a fourth-place tie with the Falcons (30-28-1-3) and vault past the idle Worcester Sharks (27-22-3-8) in the battle for the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Dov Grumet-Morris (19 saves), who signed an AHL contract Wednesday afternoon, made several key stops in what he called “a bit more frenetic” third period in which the Whale had nearly twice as many shots as in the first 40 minutes (15 to 8).

“Dov really battled, made a couple of saves that were game-savers and deserved the win,” Gernander said of the game’s No. 2 star behind Mitchell. “The two points is pretty satisfying considering we had so many new bodies and some guys coming in at the last minute who didn’t even have a practice with us, just a pregame skate. Maybe it took them a little bit to jell, and I think if you watched Mitchell, I thought he got better and better as the game when on, so that’s encouraging.

“We’re just trying to give guys a framework and allow them to play to the best of their abilities. That’s the best way to go, and then if you see little adjustments or need to tweak things as you go along, you kind of address it on a situational basis. It was a big game and pretty big points, so we’re pretty pleased with that right now, but we have to go back to work and prepare for a big weekend Saturday and Sunday.”

Gernander was happy to be back to work after missing his first two games in four seasons as head coach because of clots in his legs and lungs.

“I’m fine, getting better all the time,” Gernander said. “It’s going to be a process from here on out, but I’m back healthy and glad to be joining the team.”

The Whale likely will need more different contributions Saturday night at the MassMutual Center, where the Falcons are 15-14-1-1 but have won five of their last six starts. The Falcons are certain to be smarting from a third consecutive loss to the Whale in such a disheartening fashion.

“This was a frustrating loss,” former Wolf Pack captain Greg Moore, who made his Falcons debut after the Philadelphia Flyers/Adirondack Phantoms traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, told Fran Sypek of the Springfield Union-News.

“We were getting ready for overtime and at least one point, and to come out with nothing is tough,” Falcons first-year coach Rob Riley said. “You get a big power-play goal to tie the game and then the puck bounces off the stanchion and ends up in the net. We’ll just have to put this behind us and move on.”

After the rematch, the Whale travel to Worcester on Sunday for a 3 p.m. game against the Sharks, who snapped a three-game winless skid with a 5-2 victory over the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs on Sunday before losing 6-2 to the Portland Pirates on Tuesday night. The Whale is 3-1-0-1 against the Sharks and has a victory and a shootout loss in their first two visits to the DCU Center.

The Sharks, who start a four-game homestand against Manchester on Friday night, are led by All-Star right wing Jonathan Cheechoo (18 goals, 29 assists), a 56-goal scorer for the San Jose Sharks in the 2005-06 season. Other leading scorers are center Michael Swift (17, 16), left wing T.J. “Whale Killer” Trevelyan (14, 18), defenseman Sean Sullivan (12, 17), right wing Dan DaSilva (12, 17) and center Andrew Desjardins (11, 16). No. 1 goalie Alex Stalock (19-17-4, 2.63 goals-against average, .907 save percentage, no shutouts) has been lost for the season with nerve damage in his lacerated left leg that required surgery, but Daren Machesney (1-2-1, 3.06, .889, one shutout) and Tyson Sexsmith (1-1-1, 3.25, .910) have held their own.

The Whale completes a brutal stretch of 10 road games in 12 starts Tuesday night when they visit the league-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (44-16-0-0), who have won two in a row and eight of 10 and allowed a league-low 138 goals. The Whale then play 10 of their final 16 regular-season games at the XL Center, starting March 11 against the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears, who also have won two in a row and trail the Penguins by eight points with the AHL’s second-best record (38-19-1-3).

FORMER WOLF PACK PLAYERS MAKE THEIR MARK

Former Wolf Pack and Rangers wing Nigel Dawes of the Hamilton Bulldogs continued his remarkable offensive tear Wednesday night, registering a hat trick before a game against the Milwaukee Admirals was 22 minutes old and then assisting on the overtime winner by Alex Henry in a 5-4 victory. Dawes, acquired by the Montreal Canadiens from the Atlanta Thrashers last week, has six goals, including one winner, and one assist in only four games since joining the Bulldogs. … Former Wolf Pack wing Hugh Jessiman, the Rangers’ first-round pick (12^th overall) in 2003, finally became the 30^th and final member of his draft class to play in the NHL on Saturday. Some would say the 6-foot-6 Darien native actually didn’t finally make it to the Big Show until Tuesday, when he treated the Carolina Hurricane’s Troy Bodie like a ragdoll during a “fight” in the Panthers’ 2-1 loss. … Peoria Rivermen right wing Graham Mink has been chosen the winner of the reGen Muscle Recovery Beverage/AHL Performance of the Month award for February. Mink missed four games early in the month because of injury but recovered to record his second career four-goal game on Feb. 21 against Rockford, tying a franchise record in a 6-4 victory. Mink leads the Rivermen in goals (18) and is second in assists (39) in 54 games. A two-time Calder Cup champion with Hershey, Mink has 221 goals and 219 assists in 622 game in a 10-year AHL career. … The AHL’s Clear Day deadline, when all 30 teams must submit their 22-man lists, is Monday at 3 p.m. Only those players listed on a Clear Day roster are eligible to play in the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs unless emergency conditions arise as a result of recall, injury or suspension. Teams also can add signed junior players or players on amateur tryout contracts, but only after their respective junior or college seasons are complete.

JERSEY AUCTION TO BENEFIT MARCH OF DIMES

March 12 could be a hat trick of pleasure and benefit for Whale fans.

They not only can watch their favorites hopefully win just their second XL Center game since Feb. 4 in a key Atlantic Division game against Worcester, but they also can win players’ jerseys and help a great cause at the same time.

During the game, fans can bid on jerseys on display throughout the evening. Winners will be announced at the end of the game and invited on the ice to receive their jersey, meet the players and have photos taken. Proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes, which works to help develop stronger, healthier babies. The auction has raised nearly $20,000 in the first two years.

“The annual jersey auction has been a great event for our March of Dimes family and the hockey community,” said Deb Poudrier, executive director of the March of Dimes Greater Hartford Division. “The Whale organization has been an incredible supporter of the March of Dimes, not only with the jersey auction but as a March for Babies sponsor and team as well. They truly are a great community partner.”

The March of Dimes is the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Visit www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org for the latest resources and information.

HOCKEY MINISTRIES NIGHT AT WHALE GAME

Hockey Ministries International Northeast is sponsoring 2011 Faith & Family Night at the Whale’s game against the Charlotte Checkers on March 25. Upper bowl seats are $10, and Scarlet Fade will perform a postgame concert. Group tickets should be ordered by Monday.

To order tickets, contact AHL Chapel Coordinator Rick Mitera at 860-817-6440 or rmitera@hockeyministries.org. When someone buys a ticket through Hockey Ministries, they receive a $2 coupon for parking. For more information on Hockey Ministries, visit www.hockeyministriesnortheast.org.

WHALE TO HONOR HOWE FAMILY ON MARCH 26

The Whale will host “Howe Family Night” at the XL Center on March 26 against the Sound Tigers. The No. 9 of “Mr. Hockey,” one of seven numbers in the XL Center rafters, will be lowered and then raised and re-retired as he and his sons, Mark and Marty, whom he played with for seven seasons in Houston and Hartford, look on. The matriarch of the family, Colleen Howe, who died in 2009, will be honored.

“That old (jersey) is a little worn,” Baldwin Jr. said. “I think we’ll have a big crowd. I’m not a morbid person at all. I love Ronnie Francis (the only Hall of Famer to play mostly with the Whalers), but Gordie is the one who put the team on the map. He needs to have the respect of the people coming out to see him, and it’ll be a great opportunity for it.”

Howe’s No. 9 is in the rafters with the Whalers’ No. 2 (Rick Ley), 5 (Ulf Samuelsson), 10 (Ron Francis), 11 (Dineen) and 19 (John McKenzie). Gernander’s No. 12 is the only number to be retired in the 14-year history of the AHL team.

The Howes played together for the first time with the Houston Aeros in 1973 before coming to Hartford and signing with the World Hockey Association’s New England Whalers in 1977. Howe ended his legendary 32-year career in the Whalers’ first NHL season (1979-80), when he had 15 goals and 26 assists and was named a NHL All-Star for the 23^rd time while helping the Whalers make the playoffs at 52 years old.

Fans who did not attend the Whale’s game against Providence at Rentschler Field in East Hartford because of the weather can redeem their tickets for one to “Howe Family Night” or another game of their choice. If fans want to redeem a ticket, they should contact Baldwin at hlb@whalerssports.com.