CANTLON’S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF-SEASON VOLUME 14 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The dog days of summer are here. Hockey reporters across the globe are taking their vacations before the start of training camps in September. However, because MOST reporters are off enjoying some time off, does not mean that there isn’t any hockey news. There’s plenty.

PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT

As expected, now former Wolf Pack forward, Adam Tambellini, signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Ottawa Senators. Cantlon’s Corner reported late in the season that there was strong interest from the team in Tambellini by the Canadian capital’s city.

Tambellini’s deal will pay him $650K in the NHL and $85K for his play in the AHL, which is where he’s likely to start the season, in Belleville. In his three full seasons, he collected 46 goals and 99 points in 211 games. Tambellini was never once was recalled by the New York Rangers. Tambellini was drafted in the third round by the Rangers in the 2013 draft. Last year, he had a career-high of 16 goals and 32 points in 69 games.

Ex-QU Bobcat Bo Pieper signs with Reading Royals (ECHL) this year.

Ex-CT Whale, Mike Pelech, goes from the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) to the Rangers former Double AA affiliate, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

Former Wolf Pack, Caleb Herbert, who had an eight-game recall from Greenville to Hartford last year, and a longer recall with the San Jose Barracudas (AHL), and a one-game stint with the Utica Comets signs with Utah (ECHL).

Jesse Schwartz is the last graduating UConn Husky from their first Hockey East roster last spring to sign a pro contract. He inks a deal with the Rangers new Double AA farm team, the Maine Mariners (ECHL). Joining him, in a trio of announced signings, are fellow Hockey East player, Garrett Cecere (Northeastern), and the son of the former New Haven Nighthawk/Senators, Brad Jones, who’s in his second pro season, Mitch Jones. His younger brother, Max Jones, is an Anaheim Ducks draftee who will be in San Diego this season.

Brady Shaw, the son of ex-Whaler, Brad Shaw, signs with the Orlando (ECHL) after being with Colorado (ECHL) last year.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Olivier Labelle, goes from GHC Bordeaux (France-FREL) to Indy (ECHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, Josh Winquist, goes from Orlando (ECHL) to Colorado (AHL).

Logan O’Connor, the son of former Utica Devil, Myles O’Connor, exits the University of Denver (NCHC) a year early to sign with the Colorado Avalanche’s new AHL franchise.

Joe Sullivan, of St. Lawrence (ECACHL), signs with the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) while Brady Norrish of R.I.T. (AHA) signs with Idaho (ECHL). That makes 222 total collegiate players to sign pro deals since school has ended.

One time Trinity College assistant, Paul Kirtland, leaves Dubuque (USHL) to be the new assistant coach for the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHC) this fall.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Bracken Kearns, last years’ winner of the AHL’s Fred T. Hunt Award while with Binghamton, has moved to Europe. Kearns signed with EHC Linz (Austria-AEHL).

Rod Pelley, a longtime Albany Devils captain, who had his highest single-season goal output (13) courtesy of playing against the Wolf Pack, leaves Stockton for SonderyskE (Denmark-DHL). The gritty centerman leaves after 556 AHL and 256 NHL games.

After just one full season, Jordan Boucher leaves Laval for Orebro HK (Sweden-SHL).

62 AHL players from 24 teams have signed to play in Europe since the 2017-18 season ended.

Former Wolf Pack captain, and ex-Sound Tiger, Aaron Johnson, goes from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) to Sheffield (England-EIHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, James Wright, who split last year with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan-HK) and HC Vladivostok (Russia-KHL), heads for Linkopings HC (Sweden-SHL) next season.

Nick Malik, the youngest son of former Whalers, Rangers, and Beast of New Haven defenseman, Marek Malik, will get to play for his father’s team.

The younger Malik, 16, played split-time with HC Vitkovice U-18 and U-20 teams last year. He was signed by HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL) for the 2018-19 season and then loaned to HC Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2) where his father has been the assistant coach the last four years.

His older brother, Zach Malik, came to North America last year. He played with Sudbury (OHL) 38-0-12-12.

Peter Quenneville, the ex-Quinnipiac Bobcat, after playing in three countries last season signed with Sparta Sorpsborg (Norway-NEL). The three teams Quenneville played for included HC Dynamo (Czech Republic-CEL), then moving to SaiPa (Finland-FEL) before landing with the Aalborg Pirates (Denmark-DHL) who captured the Danish title.

XL CENTER UPDATE

The process of evaluating the bid by Oak Street Realty LLC of Chicago has begun.

The CRDA and its Venue committee have begun a Q & A on their bid submission.

“We have started a dialogue with (Oak Street Realty). A series of initial questions have been communicated with them, and by no means has the bid been accepted in the formal sense. We have a process that is underway, so we can make a determination on this bid and we’re very early in that process,” said Venue Committee member Kim Hart. “I don’t expect we will have an answer till sometime in the fall, we don’t have a firm time deadline.”

CRDA Executive Director, Mike Freimuth, has been an “umpire” about this process that was initiated a year ahead of time.

“We’re still working through all of this. It’s going to take time,” Freimuth said while keeping the cards close to the vest.

It’s probable that sometime shortly after the election, decisions, including several critical ones, will be made.

WHALER WEEKEND WITH THE YARDS GOATS

The Second Annual Hartford Whalers celebration with the Double AA Eastern League baseball, Hartford Yards Goats (Colorado Rockies), took place on Saturday, July 28^th as the Yards Goats entertained the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) at Dunkin Donuts Park.

The festivities started with a luncheon at the Yard Goats upper deck club area. There were meals served, mingling with the players, they took batting practice, ran the bases and other special events. Also included was a limited edition poster.

New players who attended included New England Whaler great, Andre Lacroix who played in all seven years of the WHA, David A. Jensen, Don Nachbaur – who’s now an assistant coach with the LA Kings and played with the New Haven Nighthawks, as well as rough and tumble, Jeff Brubaker. Also attending for the first time was the colorful Paul Lawless who played with the Whalers and another CT team the New Haven Senators. Rick Ley also attended for the first time. Ley played with the New England and Hartford Whalers. He was also the head coach of the NHL Whalers from 1989-1991 and spent one year as an assistant in 1981-82, which was his first year after retiring. He played all seven seasons of the WHA’s New England Whalers history.

Also in attendance was the NHL radio voice of the Whalers, Chuck Kaiton. He returned after officially being dropped as the Carolina Hurricanes radio play-by-play voice last week. Kaiton spent the last 39-years covering the Whalers and Hurricanes. In addition, several off-ice personnel, including Equipment Manager and Trainer, Skip Cunningham, and Bob Gorman respectively, were on hand making the trip from North Carolina.

A very special guest was Paul D’Amato, who is best known as Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken, from the all-time classic hockey movie, “Slapshot.” Whaler fan favorite Tony Harrington sang the National Anthem. Lastly, Wayne “Scoop” Knight who was the Whaler, and Wolf Pack Director of the ice crew for 35 years, and who has the nickname, “Doctor Ice” was there to enjoy the festivities.

The returning players from last year’s event included Bill Bennett, Bob Crawford, Brian Propp, Dave and Wayne Babych, as well as a big favorite, Ed “Boxcar” Hospodar, who shot his ceremonial first pitch with a hockey stick and started his pro career as a New Haven Nighthawk.

Jordy Douglas, Mark Janssens, Marty Howe, Norm Barnes, Scott “Chief” Daniels, and Yvon Corriveau, who are all still living in the area made it as well.

Several who wanted to come, such as Paul Fenton, who recently took the job as the new GM of the Minnesota Wild, and his new assistant coach Dean Evason, another former Whaler were both unable to attend.

Joel Quenneville, Kevin Dineen, and Ulf Samuelsson, who are all behind the bench in Chicago were also unable to attend. This past weekend was also the Blackhawks convention in Chicago. All expressed hope to be there next summer. Dineen and Samuelsson’s number 11 and 5 respectively hang in rafters of the XL Center.

There was an autograph session for the fans prior to the game.