BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The New York Rangers announced the signing of free agent junior forward, Jake Elmer. He will be the first new addition for the 2019-20 edition of the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Elmer signed a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) paying $925K at the NHL level and $70K for his play in the AHL.
Elmer, a right-wing, is 20-years-old and plays with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL). A native of Calgary, Elmer is in his third complete major junior year. He also played two years of Junior A hockey with the Grand Praire Storm (AJHL). The team begins the last weekend of it’s 72-game regular season. In the 66 games he has played in, he has 38 goals, 40 assists (78 points) and sports a plus-24.
Elmer enters the weekend on a 16-game consecutive point scoring streak. He’s tied for the top spot in the WHL in shorthanded goals with six. He sits 15th in the list of the Top 20 in scoring.
Elmer has played in just 16 playoff games, all last season with Lethbridge. They expect to open the first round of the Central Division playoffs next weekend. The Hurricanes are trying to catch the Calgary Hitmen with both of their games on the road against Red Deer and Medicine Hat.
The team trails the Hitmen by two points with 86. Their record stands at of 38-16-5-5.
Elmer also played with two other teams in his WHL career. He skated with the Regina Pats and the Kootenay Ice who will be relocating to Winnipeg after their season ends.
The US college signings barrage continues. Two more Hockey East signings as another UCONN senior, Max Kalter signs with Kansas City (ECHL) while Craig Puffer of New Canaan goes from Vermont to Indy (ECHL) on ATO deals.
Two more players from Canisius College (AHA), Cameron Heath goes to South Carolina (ECHL) and Alex Jaekle to Norfolk (ECHL). Mercyhurst saw Taylor Best head to Jacksonville (ECHL).
The Big 10 saw Seamus Malone go from Wisconsin to Manitoba (AHL) and Brennan Sanford from Michigan St. to Kalamazoo (ECHL).
Texas signs goalie Byron Spriggs from the University of Manitoba Bisons (CWUAA).
Albertus Magnus College got twins, Mckenzie and Carson Welke from Camrose (AJHL) to commit to the Falcons for their maiden season in the NESCAC conference coming in the fall.
Goalie Yehonatan Reisinger returns to Israel from the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack (USPHL Premier) to play for the Holon Ninjas in the Israeli Hockey League (IHL),
Monday, March 25th at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, the first Connecticut Cup will be competed for. The four Connecticut Division 1 schools that are involved are UCONN (HE), Yale (ECACHL), Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) and Sacred Heart University (AHA).
The tourney will be an attempt to emulate the great Boston institution known as the Beanpot Championship. That tourney is played between Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Harvard.
