CANTLON’S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 14 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – With just about sixty days remaining until the start of the 2019-’20 professional hockey season gets underway, teams are beginning to ramp up their final roster decisions and making more signings.

PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT

The Hartford Wolf Pack have been busy. They announced the signing of a forward, Lewis Zerter-Gossage, to a one-year, AHL deal. Zerter-Gossage played four years at Harvard (ECACHL) playing in 128 games scoring 42 goals adding 43 helpers for 85 points.

He joined the Wolf Pack at the end of last season on an ATO deal. Zerter-Gossage played in five games in which he tallied two goals. He played his prep school hockey in Connecticut at Kent, which is also where Rangers head coach David Quinn played when he was a young man.

The Rangers made it official and brought out Kevin Shattenkirk (Greenwich/Brunswick Prep). The move gives the Rangers immediate cap relief for this year. It puts the Blueshirts under the $81.5M cap at $80.4M. The team’s two remaining UFA’s, Brendan Lemieux and Tony DeAngelo, are expected to play for their NHL qualifying offers for this coming season.

Coming from out of left-field, former New Haven Nighthawk, and Hartford Whaler, Paul Fenton, was relieved of his duties as the Minnesota Wild’s GM after just one season.

In a “Hide-and-seek” move to rid the team of the contract of ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger, Ryan Callahan, who you may remember retired last month as a result of a diagnosis of degenerative back disease, was “dealt” by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Ottawa Senators along with a fifth-round pick in the 2020 entry draft for goalie Mike Condon and a sixth-round 2020 draft pick. Sens had the cap space to spare while Tampa needed to create some. Totally legal within CBA rules.

Tampa Bay also signed ex-Sound Tiger, Stephen Gionta, as an amateur scout.

Ex-Pack, Vince Pedrie played very sparingly in Hartford last year and included an ECHL reassignment to the Maine Mariners before being released. He then signed with the Milwaukee Admirals where he played quality minutes into the Western Conference Final has signed with the Tucson Roadrunners on an AHL contract for next season.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Casey Bailey, returns from HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia–KHL) and signs a try-out deal with the Hershey Bears.

Wade Megan (South Kent Prep) who played with the Grand Rapids Griffins last season and had some recall time with the Detroit Red Wings, announced his retirement at age 29. He will concentrate on his hockey school in his native Canton, NY.

The Charlotte Checkers announced the hiring of Pat Dwyer as a new assistant for new head coach Ryan Warsofsky. On the same day of his hire, Dwyer announced his retirement as a player after spending last season with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland-EIHL).

The Texas Stars announced the retirement of Travis Morin, 35, and noted that his number 23 will be retired. It was also announced that he is being hired as a skills development coach.

Former New Haven Nighthawk, and Hartford Whalers draft pick, Jerome “Boom-Boom” Bechard, has been hired to be one of two associate coaches with the expansion Columbus (GA) Fire Dragons (FHL). He coached the SPHL Columbus Cottonmouth for seven years before the team folded after the 2016-17 season.

Matt Finn, who played four games in Hartford with the Wolf Pack, as well as with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and had two other AHL PTO signing stops in Ontario and Grand Rapids, signs in Europe with EHC Linz (Austria-EBEL). Finn played the majority of his season with the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Jamie Arniel, the nephew of former Nighthawk and Rangers assistant coach, Scott Arniel, split last season with Vienna (Austria-EBEL) and then Augsburger (Germany-DEL) has signed with HC Bolzano  (Italy-EBEL).

Another pair of Euro AHL signings.

Bobby Farnham of Springfield signs with Belfast (Northern Ireland-EIHL). Ryan Murphy, who played with two AHL teams (Binghamton, Iowa) and two NHL squads (New Jersey, Minnesota), signs with Neftekhimik (Russia-KHL) making 63 AHL’ers to sign overseas for the upcoming season. European camps start in the next week.

Ex-Pack, Brendan Kotyk, re-signs with Toledo (ECHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, Scott Burt, is named the new assistant coach with Boise (ECHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, and Rangers draft pick, Daniel Maggio, leaves Norfolk (ECHL) for Herning IK Blue Fox (Norway-NEL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, Alan Letang, the head coach for Owen Sound (OHL), has been added to the Canadian WJC Team as a scout.

Former Whaler, Jody Hull, signs a two-year extension as the head coach of the Niagara IceDogs (OHL). He hires a longtime AHL’er Mark Mancari, as a new assistant coach. Mancari played in Rochester, Portland, Chicago, and San Antonio. He concluded a four-year stint in the German DEL to end his playing career.

The Sudbury Wolves (OHL) have hired one-time Whalers scout, Tony MacDonald. He went to North Carolina and worked with the Hurricanes and retired there as the Director of Amateur Scouting after the draft in Vancouver. He was their top scout for the final three years in Hartford. He will be a Special Advisor in Sudbury.

The Wolves also hired a new assistant coach. He is long-time AHL enforcer, Zach Stortini, who retires from Charlotte to become the Wolves second assistant coach replacing former Nighthawk and Springfield Indian, Bud Stefanski.

Stefanski coached with his son-in-law, the team’s head coach, Corey Stillman, last year. He officially retires from coaching.

Stortini finished 16th on the all-time AHL PIM list with 1,825 in 603 AHL games. He tallied 109 points and played 257 NHL gamers with 41 points and 725 PIM. He is also the all-time PM leader in Sudbury history with 746 in 247 games. His total numbers, 1,109 games played, 124 goals scored, 270 total points, and 3,296 PIM.

A few more to add in college player signing categories.

Meirs Moore, from RPI (ECACHL), signs with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). His college teammate, Brady Wiffens, signs with the Reading Royals (ECACHL).  Spencer Trapp of Holy Cross (AHA), signs with South Carolina as well. Trapp’s older brother, Bear Trapp, played four years for Sacred Heart University.

Liam Morgan leaves two years early from Union College (ECACHL) and heads to Belfast (Northern Ireland-EIHL). Jack Jenkins of Notre Dame (Big 10), signs with the Indy Fuel (ECHL). Marly Quince of Clarkson University (ECACHL) heads to the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) while Brett Supinski of Union College (ECACHL) inks a deal with the Rangers’ secondary farm team, the Maine Mariners (ECHL). He did play two games in the spring with the Ontario Reign.

That makes for 188 Division I players to have signed North American pro deals

Cory Anderson of Division III’s Manhattanville College (UCHC) signs with Huntsville (SPHL) making 24 Division III players to have signed pro deals. 50 college players have signed in Europe and 254 overall between Division I and III have signed.

The first Canadian college transfer occurs as Andrew Dodson of the University Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA) will play for the University of Guelph Gryphons (OUAA). There was just one college transfer to the Canadian major junior ranks as Sam Comrie leaves Denver University (NCHC) for Kelowna (WHL).

Former Sacred Heart University assistant coach, Josh Beal, is hired as an assistant coach with Bentley University (AHA).

Ex-Pack, Layne Ulmer, 38, retires after four strong seasons at Cardiff (Wales-EIHL) that included several championships, He is retiring from hockey and moving back to Canada.

Ex-Pack, Juris Stals, re-signs with HK Kurpads (Latvia-LHL).

Ex-Pack, Richard Nejezchleb, goes from HC Nova Zamsky (Slovakia-SLEL) to HC Poruba (Czech Republic Division-2).

Goalie, Kohl Reddy, leaves Loomis Chaffe Prep (Windsor) for Kirkland Lake of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, (NOJHL) one of the ten Canadian Junior A leagues.

One of the all-time wildest players in AHL and minor pro history, Kevin “Killer” Kaminski, becomes the head coach of the La Ronge Wolves (SJHL).

UCONN ANNOUNCES REMAINDER OF 2019 CLASS

After reporting several of the incoming freshmen class for UCONN, the school announced the remainder of their incoming class. There is plenty of reason for optimism when the group hops over the boards on opening night October 5th in Bridgeport at the Webster Bank Arena against Sacred Heart University (AHA).

Jacob Flynn, Defenseman – Bridgewater, Mass./Thayer Academy (USHS-MA Prep)

The 5-foot-10 defenseman from Bridgewater, Mass., concluded his high school career in 2018-19 at Thayer Academy.  Flynn was Thayer’s top-defenseman this past season. He finished with a career-high seven goals and 23 points in 28 games as his team finished 13-10-4 in the ISL. In his senior season, Flynn earned ISL all-league honors.  During his junior season, he posted three goals and 12 assists in 30 games.  During his four years at Thayer, Flynn appeared in 119 career games with 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points. 

Ryan Keane, Goaltender – Lewisville, Texas/Jamestown Rebels (NAHL)

The 5-9 goaltender from Lewisville, Texas spent the past two seasons in the NAHL. Keane played in 36 games with the Jamestown Rebels. In 2018-19, he finished second in the league with a 1.81 Goals Against Average (GAA). He posted a 23-10-0 record and had three shutouts.  He finished the year with a .927 save percentage.  In 2017-18, Keane saw action in 33 games with the then Philadelphia Rebels and was 24-7-0 with a 1.90 GAA and a .924 save percentage. He earned the NAHL (East) Goaltender of the Year honors. Keane ranked second in the league in GAA and had three shutouts. He was named to the NAHL All-East Division team.

Prior to his two seasons in the NAHL, Keane played nine games with the Omaha Lancers (USHL). In 2016-17, the second Texas-born and bred Huskies goaltender, comes out of the Dallas Stars U-16/U-18 program. The other was Rob Nichols (Dallas) who played from 2013-2017. He will be the number two goalie behind returning sophomore, and Czech native, Tomas Vomacka.

Yan Kuznetsov, Defenseman – Murmansk, Russia/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

The 6-3 defenseman from Murmansk, Russia comes to Storrs after playing last season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede, the 2019 Clark Cup champions. He was the 157th overall pick in the 10th round of USHL Futures Draft in 2018.

Kuznetsov played in 34 games and had four assists. In international play, in November, he helped lead Team Russia to its fourth gold medal in the six-game showcase, World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick, Canada. In addition to earning a medal, he was named to the WHC All-Star team.  He also played for Russia’s U16 team in 2017-18 and has skated for CSKA Moscow U-16.18 squads as well.

No relation to the former pro player Sergei Kuznetsov.

Harrison Rees, Defenseman – Oakville, Ontario/North York Rangers (OJHL)

The 6-2 defenseman from Oakville, Ontario has played the last two seasons with North York of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).  In 2018-19, he helped lead the Rangers to the top of the OJHL South Division while putting up 44 points on six goals and 38 assists in 53 games.  In 16 playoff games this past season, Rees scored six goals with seven assists. At the end of the season, he was named to the 2018-19 OJHL All-Star second team. In 2017-18, Rees had a 14 points season in 50 games, scoring three goals with 11 assists.  He spent the 2016-17 season with The Hill Academy’s U16 Prep team, playing in 12 games.

In 2016, he was drafted in the 11th round, 221st overall pick of the OHL Priority Draft by the Erie Otters.

The foursome all join previously announced incoming players of, Carter Berger (North Vancouver, British Columbia), Matej Blümel (Tabor, Czech Republic), Vladislav Firstov (Yaroslavl, Russia) and Eric Linell (Great Neck, N.Y.). They round out this coming season’s eight-player freshmen class. This year’s class features three players taken in June’s NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, Firstov (Minnesota/2nd round/42nd overall), Blumel (Edmonton/4th round/100th overall) and Berger (Florida/4th round /106th overall).

(Portions of a UCONN press release were used in the formation of this piece)

WORLD JUNIOR SUPER SUMMER SHOWCASE

Now in its third year in Plymouth, MI, this a summer hockey appetizer preview of the World Junior Championship. This year it will be held in Ostrava, and Trinec, Czech Republic. The four countries that participate are the host US, Sweden, Canada, and Finland.

The US team features a few important names including the NY Rangers first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2018 in defenseman K’Andre Miller of the University of Wisconsin. It also includes a pair of former Avon Old Farms Players in Spencer Knight (Darien/Boston College), Trevor Zegras (Boston University), and Christian Krygier. Also on the list is the son of former Whaler, UCONN Husky, and Nighthawk, Matthias Samuelsson (Western Michigan) who is the son of ex-Nighthawk, Kjell Samuelsson. Lastly, there’s Shane Pinto (US Selects Academy at South Kent Prep).

Rangers draft pick, Zac Jones, (Tri-City USHL 2019, third round, 68th overall), a defenseman, and current Sound Tiger, Oliver Wahlstrom, and Jack Drury (Harvard), the son of former Whaler, Ted Drury who also is the nephew of Wolf Pack GM, Chris Drury from Trumbull.

On Friday, Miller had another solid offensive rush from the US goal-line but was denied as Rangers’ President John Davidson was in attendance. In the waning minutes of the first period, Cole Caufield, and Drury were each denied on Grade-A chances. Miller nailed Drury with a shot in front of the net, and he, of course, was back at in the second period.

The US battled back from a 4-1 deficit after giving up four goals of the seven scored in the second period. They got a late goal from Trevor Zegras with 1:31 left in regulation but fell one short in the 6-5 loss to Finland despite 51 shots on goal. Miller assisted on Zegras’ tally, and Drury added a power play goal from the right-wing circle set-up by Caulfield.

The US routed Sweden on Wednesday, 6-0. Knight recorded the shutout with 22 saves. His best work came in the first period stopping four point-blank shots including one on Ranger prospect, Karl Henriksson. His former Avon Old Farms teammate, Zegras, scored one of the six goals while Jones has another strong game with an assist and five shots on goal.

The US lost to Canada 4-1 in the opener with Caulfield scoring the only US goal.

Miller had two good strong plays, one on a coast-to-coast rush and a screen shot that Canadian netminder Olivier Rodrique snatched away from the top right corner spot he was shooting for.

Miller set up Drury for an in-front tip in play, but that was denied by Rodrigue as well.

The series concluded with the US winning over Canada on Saturday.

Of note on the other three teams are Jack McBain of Canada, the son of former New Haven Senator, Andrew McBain, and the goalie coach for Canada is all-time Wolf Pack great, Jason LaBarbera.

Sweden had three Ranger draft picks in defenseman Nils Lundkvist (2018 first-round, 24th overall), Karl Henriksson (2019 second-round, 58th overall) and goalie, Olof Lindbom (2018 second round, 39th overall).

While both are eligible to play in the WJC in December, both Jack Hughes (New Jersey), and Kaapo Kakko (Rangers) are expected to be in the NHL and were not invited to this tourney.