BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – It seems that all the news going on in the world has some connection to the coronavirus pandemic. Hockey is no different. Much is going in the industry starting with signings in Hartford for the Wolf Pack.
WOLF PACK SIGNINGS
The New York Rangers announced the signing of two key defenseman Vincent LoVerde and Mason Geersten to one year AHL contracts for the 2020-21 season. They were two of the best signings, along with Phil Di Guiseppe, that helped the Wolf Pack’s strong play over the first four months of the season.
LoVerde, a nine-year pro, tallied four goals and 17 assists (21 points) in 62 games with the Wolf Pack in the COVID-19 shortened season. He held the team’s best plus/minus rating at plus-17.
LoVerde has been indispensable to head coach, Kris Knoblauch, and associate coach, Gord Murphy, who, at one point, had played him with every defenseman during the season demonstrating the team’s high degree of confidence in him. LoVerde spent more than two months playing on his off left side along with Darren Raddysh as the team’s number one shutdown unit.
A two-time Calder Cup champion (2015, 2018), LoVerde was aiming for a third with the Wolf Pack when the season was suspended. LoVerde has skated in 494 regular-season games in the AHL with Hartford, Toronto, Ontario, and Manchester, registering 49 goals and 124 assists (152 points).
In 78 Calder Cup playoff games, he has three goals and 20 assists (23 points) and a plus-31 rating.
Geertsen, 25, has notched eight assists in 60 games with Hartford this season, as well as a team-high 109 penalty minutes, handling the fighting when need be, and quite effectively at that. He was also a solid body-checker delivering numerous thundering hard hits throughout the season.
Before the trade of Joey Keane to the Charlotte Checkers, the two were a solid pair helping the Wolf Pack surge to the top of the Atlantic Division, a position they held for the better part of two months before they hit a rough patch before the schedule suspension falling to fourth place.
Geersten was originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft and has skated in 277 AHL games in a career with Hartford, Colorado, San Antonio, and Lake Erie (nee Cleveland), totaling six goals and 39 assists (45 points) amassing 476 PIMs.
PLAYER MOVEMENT
Billy Sweezey of Yale University (ECACHL) signs a one-year AHL deal with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Ex Pack, Julius Bergman, leaves Frolunda HC (Sweden-SHL) and signs a deal with the Lahti Pelicans (Finland-FEL).
The Providence Bruins’ Peter Cehlarik is, according to Swedish press reports, looking at several teams for next season.
Former Wolf Pack, Ryan Hollweg, whose career ended with a knee injury in the Czech Republic two years ago, is now living in the greater Vancouver area. Hollywood, as he was known in his playing days, completed his second season as an Assistant Coach with a bantam level team, the Vancouver NW Hawks (BCMMHL).
The WHL Bantam Draft took place on Wednesday. One name of interest was Talon Brigley, who was taken in the second round (24th overall) by his hometown Red Deer Rebels. Brigley is the son of ex-Sound Tiger, Travis Brigley.
Max Namestnikov, 16, youngest son of ex-Wolf pack Evgeni “John” Namestnikov, was drafted third overall in the recent OHL Priority Draft. He is forgoing his Michigan State commit in 2022-23 and has signed with the Sarnia Sting to start playing in the fall.
Jakob Karpa, the son of ex-Wolf Pack, and Sound Tiger, David Karpa will play for the Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) next season. His twin brother, Zakary, just finished a season with the US National Development Team-USNDTP (USHL) and the US National U-18 Team and will be with the Princeton Tigers (ECACHL) in the fall.
UCONN head coach, Mike Cavanaugh, confirmed the transfer of forward Jordan Timmons who heads to Robert Morris University (AHA) “Jordan wanted a bigger role on the team that with our returning numbers (of players) was likely not possible. He will be closer to home and we wish him all the best.” Cavanaugh also stated the Huskies would not be getting any transfers or graduate transfers this year.
College hockey signings and transfers continue.
Haralds Egle leaves Clarkson University (ECACHL) and signs with Manitoba.
A.J. Villella leaves Northeastern and heads down I-90 to Bentley University (AHA). The leading scorer at Alaska Fairbanks (WCHA), Steve Jandric, transfers to the University of Denver (NCHC). Joining him via transfer to the Pioneers is defenseman Bo Hanson, from St. Lawrence (ECACHL).
Departing Denver is forward, Tyler Ward, who heads East to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (HE). The leading scorer with the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (WCHA), Josh Latta, heads to UMASS-Lowell (HE).
According to the Lowell Sun’s Barry Scanlon three more River Hawks are leaving the program.
Cale List and Derek Osik have told head coach, Norm Bazin, of their intentions. A senior graduate with one year of eligibility left, Chris Schutz, is heading to Europe. A fourth player, who never played and went back to Muskegon (USHL) last fall, Eric Green is also heading to a new destination.
Signing in Europe is Greg Harney (East Haven) after four years at Framingham State (MASCAC). He signs with HC Valenciennes (France FFFG Division-2). Dave Richer from SUNY-Oswego (SUNYAC) signs with HC Chambery (France FFFG Division-2).
Sioux City Stampede goalie Jaxson Stauber, the son of ex-Wolf Pack and New Haven Nighthawk goalie, Robb Stauber, was named to the USHL 2nd All-Star team. Last year with the champions Stampede, he won the Clark Cup MVP.
He played one game with the University of Minnesota-Mankato (NCHC) and returned to South Dakota where he announced a commit to Providence College Friars (HE) for this coming fall.
HOCKEY NEWS
Good story on ex-Wolf Pack captain and Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Greg Moore, on his season of hockey as head coach of the Toronto Marlies. Read it HERE
In college hockey, the University of Illinois was all set to likely announce they were going Division I in hockey next month where they would be entering the Big 10 conference. They had all their ducks in a row and were ready to move forward after a year delay when COVID-19 hit.
The WCHA was also expected to announce their future plans for their conference as seven schools are leaving next spring to form a brand new CCHA conference for the 2021-22 season. All that is on hold until the restrictions are lifted and the economic landscape going forward can be assessed.
Big college coaching opening at Dartmouth (ECACHL).
After 23 years as head coach, and another five at the start of his career as an assistant coach for nine years in between as Brown’s head coach, Bob Gaudet, announced he is stepping down effective June 30th. Gaudet also played for the Big Green in the late 1970s and helped lead them to back to back Frozen Four appearances in Detroit and Providence in 1979 and 1980. In 23 years he compiled 331 wins in 725 games for the Big Green. He became just the second coach in the ECAC conference to coach over a 1,000 games with the same school and just the seventh to do so nationally. In 2005-06, he was named ECAC Coach of the Year, but his only Ivy League title was with Brown and his only two NCAA tournament teams were in 1993 and 1995, also with Brown. He became the Dartmouth’s all-time winningest coach on November 30, 2018, with his 309th the win surpassing Eddie Jeremiah. He played one year of professional hockey with the Ft. Wayne Komets in the old IHL in 32 games he had a 4.94 GAA.
A national search committee has commenced a search for his successor.
Very good story on the work of former pro hockey heavyweight and loose cannon, Enrico Ciccone, who is now an MP in the city of Montreal and the Marquette riding and his work during the COVID-19 crisis, literally on the front lines. Read it HERE.
