BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – Hockey is winding down its various level championship series at all levels and the news just keeps flowing.
CALDER CUP FINALS
Both finalists competing for the Calder Cup Championship’s teams, start with the letter C. It’s no great surprise to see the regular season champs, the Charlotte Checkers, in the final dance, but the Rocky Thompson-led, Chicago Wolves, were a surprise despite their very strong AHL record over the years and now as the top farm team of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The two teams kicked off the Calder Cup final in Charlotte on Saturday night with the Wolves taking Game One in overtime, 4-3. Stefan Matteau, the son of former New York Ranger, Stephane Matteau, scored the game-winner from the lower left wing circle to finish off the Wolves three-goal come back.
Matteau was in Wolf Pack training camp three years ago.
Game two went to the residents of the Bojangles Coliseum, as the Checkers evened the series with a 5-3. Game three will be played Wednesday night at Allstate Arena starting at 8 pm.
All seven games can be on the NHL Networks.
Charlotte features a pair of ex-Pack’s from different era’s in defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti, and goalie Dustin Tokarski.
The Chicago Wolves have two players with Connecticut connection. On defense, there’s an ex-Sound Tiger, in Griffin Reinhart, and Jake Leschyshyn, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Curtis Leschyshyn.
ECHL KELLY CUP FINALS
Toledo got back into the series winning Game 5 at home 3-2 on Saturday night with ex-Yale Bulldog Ryan Obuchowski scoring one of the goals. Game six and maybe a seven are back in St. John’s with Newfoundland up three games to two.
Newfoundland Growlers features former Quinnipiac University Bobcat goalie in Michael Garteig.
Toledo has a pair of ex-Pack defenseman in Matt Register in and Brendan Kotyk
A hilarious side story to the Kelly Cup final straight out of the movie Slapshot.
Turns out the Colorado Eagles, who won the last two Kelly Cup titles before their league upgraded this season, as the new top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. Turns out they were required to return the trophy back to ECHL by December and failed to do so. It forced the league to go out and get a whole new trophy!
The championship trophy’s namesake, Pat Kelly, 85, gave an interview to a Toledo radio station regarding the Eagles conduct. The Eagles were notorious for skating past the league’s salary cap but were never fined, to the best of our knowledge, the stories regarding the team have been numerous.
Read HERE for a good laugh.
The Nashville Predators announced they have signed a new ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, who switch from the Carolina Hurricanes, who owned the team and building is Estero, FL since its inception. Florida’s new AHL affiliate is the Milwaukee Admirals.
MEMORIAL CUP
Rouyn Noranda Huskies pulled another come-from-behind win to capture the 101st Memorial Cup in Halifax. They knocked off the host Mooseheads 4-2. It was the second time in two weeks as Halifax ice skated around with a championship trophy.
Rouyn Noranda head coach, Mario Pouliot, snagged a second Memorial Cup in a row last season with another small market team, Acadie Bathurst.
Down 2-0 the Huskies made it 2-2 as Felix Bibeau (sixth goal) and tourney MVP Joel Teasdale scored to even things at two.
Then Peter Abbandonnato scored the game-winner in third before an empty netter clinched the championship.
The 2020 Memorial Cup is in Kelowna, BC.
Felix Bibeau is expected to be traded from the Huskies to the Quebec Remparts to play as an over-ager for the 2019-20 Remparts shortly. He is, however, still draft eligible-age for the upcoming NHL Draft in Vancouver in the next three weeks.
SEATTLE MULLING AHL OPTIONS
The yet unnamed 32nd NHL franchise with Dave Tippett in charge has been considering its farm team options and its curveball according to the Seattle Times there are looking at Palm Springs, California or the present ECHL market, Boise, Idaho Steelheads.
When Palm Springs was first leaked it seemed preposterous there is no arena but is geographically close to San Diego and Ontario with zero minor pro hockey history. It does have a 5,185 seat baseball stadium that was called originally called Angels Stadium that hosted a Western Baseball League team (Palm Springs Suns) for two years (1995-1996). Now it’s known as Palm Springs Stadium and is presently home to the Palm Springs Collegiate (Baseball) League.
Needless to say, one of the richest towns in the US, but can the AHL have a Palm Springs in the same league as Utica or Binghamton !?
Boise has had a very strong hockey history over 22 years (six in the defunct WCHL) and 16 in the ECHL) and have made the playoffs every single season of their existence. Two Kelly Cup titles and just one under .500 season and the WCHL three under .500 seasons their first three years and no Taylor Cup titles.
Another positive element is the Boise airport has direct flights to many of the Western and Midwestern AHL markets that makes it highly attractive. Read about it HERE!
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Stay connected with ours socials