BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The holiday season is upon us, and for the Hartford Wolf Pack the extra day off after Christmas is traditionally saved for a game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. This season, it’s been moved until Friday.
It’s given everybody a chance to take advantage of the extra time to step away from hockey.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch said it will allow him to do something he hasn’t been able to do so thus far this season – attend one of his son’s pee wee travel hockey games.
“Most of his games are on the weekend and I’m a bit occupied on the weekends,” Knoblauch said with a chuckle. “I’ve made all of his practices, so he has a game on Sunday – bright and early, and I have to drive an hour. My wife let me know where. It’s going to be fun and I’m really looking forward to be able to do it.”
For Danny O’Regan he’ll have just a short ride to make to get up to Boston.
“I’m leaving after the game and will get there in about two hours, so I’ll get right into it.”
Also heading to Beantown is Phil Di Giuseppe where the Montreal native was set to enjoy the holidays with his girlfriend. “She’s from the Boston area, so gotta keep her happy.”
Those plans changed though when he was recalled by the New York Rangers after their 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He’ll play against the Philadelphia Flyers Monday night.
Making their way to Minnesota will be Vinni Lettieri (Excelsior) and Steven Fogarty (Edina).
Rookie Patrick Newell, a Los Angeles, California-native, opted for New York City where he’ll visit with family and friends.
“I thought about California. If I had another day because of the travel I would have gone. I thought about Minnesota too. All those guys go back, and since I went to St. Cloud State, I got friends there too, but decided to stay a little closer. The AHL is better than the NHL. Lindy (Ryan Lindgren) texted me that he has to leave on the 23rd and be back for practice on the 26th at 10 AM. That’s not much time.”
With his extra day, Matt Beleskey is doing something he hasn’t done since his early days. He’ll go home to Barrie, Ontario.
“It’s first time since my first year of pro that I’m going. My wife and daughter are already there, so we’re all ready to go Sunday.”
NOTES:
Ex-CT Whale, Logan Pyett, departs Frederikshavn IK (Denmark-DHL) for SC Csikszereda (Romania-EBEL). Pyett has been referenced lately sadly since Flyers player Oskar Lindblom, who was recently diagnosed with a sarcoma cancer, the same Pyett had four years ago.
Pyett has successfully beaten it. The cancer was discovered when he was in Flyers training camp. He was scheduled to play for Lehigh Valley.
Another AHL player leaving mid-season for Europe is Hunter Shinkaruk. He leaves Charlotte and heads to Beijing and Kunlun (China-KHL).
Ex-Pack, Ville Meskanen, scored in his first game with Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL) and was a minus-3.
