CANTLON’S CORNER: Wolf Pack Training Camp In Full Swing
BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – While it felt like mid-July In Hartford, inside the XL Center it was cold and hockey was on tap.
It was “Day Two” of the Hartford Wolf Pack’s 21st training camp, this season under the direction of its new head coach, Keith McCambridge.
“I’m not far removed from being a head coach with Manitoba (two years ago). Last season, I got a chance to step back and got to see the systems that are trending in the National Hockey League and it’s the same watching AHL games as well.”
Clearly, he has a new design and setup and is dealing with a thoroughly overhauled roster from last year’s AHL worst team.
“I can see the prospects what their strength and deficiencies are. I can’t replace Kenny (Gernander) and I have been fortunate enough to coach some really good prospects to help the Winnipeg Jets and I’m just focused on developing young prospects (for the Rangers).”
One player looking to impress McCambridge and the Rangers’ brass has some Hartford hockey DNA in his blood.
Henrik Samuelsson is the second son of Ulf Samuelsson, a former Whaler great, an ex-Ranger, and was an assistant coach for the Wolf Pack and Avon Old Farms.
“We (he and his agent) had been looking at four or five options, but the Rangers organization were willing to invite me and I’m very thankful for the chance.”
Samuelsson is looking to turn heads with the Rangers after signing an off-season deal with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL). Last season Samuelsson played with the Tucson Roadrunners and the Bakersfield Condors. Hockey didn’t have the same allure when he came of juniors with the Edmonton Ice (WHL) fresh off a Memorial Cup title.
“I had my fair share of injuries and it’s been a tough couple of years,” Samuelsson said. “Over the summer, I got my head together and in order to get it right and get a shot like this. I am here to be the player I think I can be.” said the 23-year-old who had just two goals and an assist in 25 games between Tucson and Bakersfield.
The 23-year-old had just two goals and an assist in 25 games between Tucson and Bakersfield.
Samuelsson truly had some serious soul searching to do.
“The last couple of years I fell away from the game a bit. I got the passion back and that is a huge part of my game, to play with fire out there and I’m so glad to have it back. I look forward to getting back on the ice. I took some time away from everything and I started really missing it and it really sparked me a bit. I’ve been working out full force since then,” Two years ago, Samuelsson skated as a Pack opponent with Springfield at the XL with his brother, Philip.
Samuelsson grew up at the XL Center. He played floor hockey in the hallways with his brothers, sister, and friends. He got plenty of ice time after practices. His father’s status in Hartford with his number 5 swaying in the rafters, was not lost on him.
His father’s status in Hartford with his number 5 swaying in the rafters, was not lost on him.
“My brothers and sister and I were always into doing something here. I really liked this area and have some very fond memories of being here and always had a blast around this rink. Seeing that (the retired number) is very cool. I remember that night (when the banner was raised) distinctly. It was a great moment for the whole family.”
The Samuelsson children are all in the Eastern time zone this season. His parents are in the central time zone with the Chicago Blackhawks. The elder Samuelsson is an assistant coach there and was reunited with two ex-Whalers teammates, and friends, Joel Quenneville and Kevin Dineen.
Brother Philip is with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). His sister, Victoria, skates with Penn State (Big 10-W). His younger brother, Adam, is with the US National Development Team (USHL) in Plymouth, MI. Certainly, it helps to keep the cell phone bill down.
One of the few familiar faces returning to Hartford is center-man, Adam Tambellini (68-13-22-35). He enters his third and final year of his entry-level deal and had a long offseason to prepare.
“You can see in practices and meetings there’s a different vibe here and we have a lot of competition,” Tambellini said.
He clearly worked on his strength and conditioning in Vancouver this summer.
“I have to play a stronger game overall and be able to make a greater contribution offensively. Over the summer, I worked for a 70-games-plus season and put some weight on. I dialed in on my training and nutrition. I trained a little differently mixing slower movements and quicker pace aspects and I think it’s gonna pay off.”
Cole Schneider, the former UCONN product signed a free agent deal in the summer. He’s ready to play a big role for the Wolf Pack after a strong season in Rochester with the Americans (71-24-39-63) last year.
“When I came here with other teams (Binghamton and Rochester), I caught up with some of my buddies from school and that’s was always nice, to see people. We looked at four or five teams, but this is the best fit for me.”
Schneider was a right-handed shot on the left wing last season, but nothing is set in stone for this season. But Schneider would still enjoy playing in that spot.
“I really do like that spot and I played with some good players. We have top-end players here and hope I get a chance to play with them. That can open up my numbers.”
NOTES:
The scrimmages were manned by two AHL linesman in fraternal twins, Kevin and Nick Briganti. They will work with referee Terry Koharski on Thursday’s exhibition game against Bridgeport at noon.
Samuelsson is not the only ex-Whaler son in the house. Carter Sandlak is the son of Jim Sandlak.
On Thursday, the Sound Tigers lineup will feature ex-Pack captain, Ryan Bourque. He’s there on a training camp tryout deal after being a team captain a mere two seasons ago. Frankie DiChara (Yale) will be there and former team captain Ben Holmstrom and Connor Jones (Quinnipiac University).
Training camp movement and cuts continue throughout hockey. The Pittsburgh Penguins, the defending Stanley Cup champions, sent their AHL affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton from ex-Pack Chris Summers and former CT Whale Christian Thomas. Former Wolf Pack Shawn O’Donnell is still there as well.
Jamie Sifers (Milford/Fairfield Prep/Taft Prep) was sent to Utica.
Tim Erixon was cut by the New Jersey Devils and will look for an AHL deal or might return to Jokerit Helsinki (Finland-KHL) who own his rights.
Goalie Steve Michalek (Glastonbury/Loomis Chaffe) was sent to Iowa by Minnesota. The same for Sam Anas (Quinnipiac University).
Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) sent to Providence.
Another former Pack captain, Matt Bodie, was sent to Syracuse (AHL).
The Clifton brothers, from Quinnipiac University (ECACHL), Connor was sent to Providence and Tim to the San Jose Barracuda.
Alex Lyon (Yale University) was dispatched to Lehigh Valley (AHL) and Patrick Spano another ex-Bulldog goalie is in Laval camp.
Ex-Pack Justin Vaive is in Milwaukee Admirals camp.
Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep), Josh Wesley (son of ex-Whaler Glen) and Philip Samuelsson (Ulf’s eldest) were all assigned to Charlotte.
The Colorado Avalanche sent Jake Lechyshyn, the son of former Whaler, Curtis Lechyshyn, to play for ex-Pack coach John Paddock with the Regina Pats (WHL).
Jeff Tambellini, who played for the Sound Tigers and is Adam’s older brother, has retired. Jeff is now an undergraduate assistant coach with the University Michigan Wolverines (Big 10) while completing his degree. He’ll become a full-time assistant as per NCAA regulations. Their father, Steve, is a former NHL player with the Islanders and executive with Edmonton.
Ryan Verbeek, nephew of former Whaler and Ranger, Pat Verbeek, will play Canadian college hockey in the Maritimes region with Dalhousie University (AUAA).
Ex-Sound Tiger, Rob Hisey, will play Canadian senior hockey with the Stoney Creek (Ontario) Generals (ACH).
Ex-Pack players are doing very well in the KHL early in their season.
Nicklas Jensen leads Jokerit Helsinki in scoring (10-6-4-10) and Matt Gilroy (10-2-7-9) is tops in KHL defenseman in scoring.
Nigel Dawes, Barys Astana (Kazakhstan), is second in league scoring (13-14-4-18).
The Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star’s goalie, Magnus Hellberg, is third in KHL goaltending with 14 games played. Hellberg has a 7-4-0 record and .933 save percentage and 2.04 GAA. Former CT Whale, Wojtech Wolski, leads the team in scoring (10-2-8-10) and fellow CT Whale teammate, Andreas Thuresson, made the team.
Finally, in net for the KHL’s best team, SKA St. Petersburg, is undefeated and untied at 15-0-0. Rangers’ draft pick, Igor Shestyorkin, is 8-0-2 and a 1.34 GAA and his battery mate is former Sound Tiger Mikko Koskinen with a 1.48 GAA and record of 5-0-1.
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