CANTLON’S CORNER: HOCKEY NEWS AND NOTES OFF SEASON VOLUME 20 (PART TWO) 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The NHL “playoffs” are officially underway and the news is coming fast and furious.

The AHL has set a date for their return to play.

On Thursday, the league’s “Return to Play Committee” announced when the start of the 2020-21 season would begin.

“At the recommendation of the AHL’s Return to Play” task force, the Board of Governors has approved moving the anticipated start of the 2020-21 regular season to (Friday) December 4, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. The AHL will continue to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities,” newly-minted, AHL CEO and President, Scott Howson, stated in a league press release.

Whether that is the start of play or more likely the start of training camp, is still undecided. It will help the team’s depleted sales staff, when they are eventually re-hired, to be able to generate sales with a date for prospective sponsors and season ticket holders.

“We just wanted a target date and this gives us some clarity. It will still come down to the Governor’s office, in the end, I think by September we’ll hopefully, have a clearer direction,” said the lone Wolf Pack current office employee, Erik Hansen, who’s the VP of Business Operations.

It looks more like an aspirational date since there remain so many unknowns and variables involved.

Six of the eight teams (all the California teams and Tucson, Arizona) in the Pacific Division couldn’t open except for Henderson (NV) Silver Knights and the Colorado Eagles. Canada is still off-limits so no Laval, Toronto, or Belleville.

With the regular season-ending the second week of April, that yields a possibility of a 50-game schedule if there’s a sprinkling in of some mid-week games and a few three-in-three weekends should the season start on December 4th. The 50-game season would allow the league to get the league back on their regular “time” schedule for the following season.

“We have no idea what their assumptions are, or what type of governance will be in place by then in Connecticut,” CRDA Executive Director, Michael W. Freimuth, stated via text.

“It could be some form of Phase 3 or 4 and, of course, (dealing with) other states They have a lot of work ahead of them and it won’t be all in their control. I see that date more as a goal/objective than a fait-accompli, much to understand and determine yet. I would like the virus to end August 1st like everybody else.” Freimuth has been in contact with MSG on the AHL decision making process.

So much yet to be determined. For example, will there be fans? Will there be no fans? A Hartford bubble? The plans for the XL Center? How fans would enter the building? What plans are there for Public food services? How about restroom arrangements? Those and so many other questions need to be answered before Sonar will get to skate out with a Wolf Pack flag at center ice to start the next Wolf Pack home game.

HOCKEY EAST

There will be college hockey at the XL Center. All that remains to be settled, is when?

On Wednesday, the conference announced there will be 2020-21 season.

“The Hockey East Association announced today its intent to play the 2020-21 college hockey season while prioritizing competition between league members and the completion of a regular-season schedule. Details regarding the new schedules, including a new start date and specifics of regular-season competition, will be released at a later date,” the Hockey East stated in a press release.

This involves a league that’s in the New England region allowing for a variety of scheduling options. The conference has four teams in the metro Boston area and six in total in Massachusetts. Plus there’s one school each in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont in the 11-team conference.

“Hockey East’s geography allows the league to conduct conference competition, including the men’s and women’s championships while mitigating non-essential travel and allowing maximum flexibility to adjust its schedule based on ever-changing developments and best medical practices surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Specifically, the league plans to construct multiple balanced schedule models for both the men’s and women’s leagues for the 2020-21 season. These models will include added safety measures and allow for maximum scheduling flexibility,” said UCONN hockey SID Bill Peterson via text.

He further stated UCONN is keeping all options on the table.

“Everything is a work in progress with the league will be working with the schools to come up with multiple schedule models each will have their own start date. Nothing has been decided yet.”

Head Coach Mike Cavanaugh commented, “We fully support Hockey East and will work with them on creating the best-possible schedule while continuing to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes and members of our hockey community.”

The newly revived CCHA conference announced it’s admitting an eighth member for the 2021-22 season when they bring on-board Division III’s, the University of St. Thomas, “The Tommies of St. Paul, Minnesota” from the MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). St. Thomas has been a charter member since 1920 and they have won over 1,100 games and made the national finals twice.

The University of Vermont Catamounts (HE) fill out their coaching staff.

They have retained assistant coach Jeff Hill and added former Boston Bruin defenseman, Mark Stuart, who also played for Atlanta and Winnipeg as well. He played 673 NHL games and joins as a volunteer assistant coach in an effort to start his coaching career.

Mike Babcock, the long-time NHL coach with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs, who had known Vermont head coach, Jay Woodcroft, when he was a video coach for the Red Wings team, was named a volunteer advisor to the program.

Veteran AHL’er, Derek Whitmore, was named an Assistant Coach with Mercyhurst College (Erie, PA) (AHA) for next season.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

The Wolf Pack will be gaining a very important addition to their lineup for 2020-21.

Morgan Barron, a junior centerman at Cornell, turned pro when the New York Rangers has signed a three-year standard ELC deal ($925K-NHL/$70K-AHL).

The 2017 sixth-round pick was a Rangers target to turn pro for nearly two years, but Barron rebuffed, but with the pandemic changing the hockey landscape, he decided to go pro.

The dynamics changed with the likelihood that the ECACHL will have either, no hockey or a very reduced schedule not begin until at least the New Year. The on-campus situation has changed week-to-week and the team is expected to report around mid-August.

Barron has both size and smarts at the center position, something the Rangers have had difficulty developing and building in-house.

The fact that center Boo Nieves didn’t go to the Rangers training camp doesn’t bode well for him after having his season cut short by migraines when he was playing his best hockey.

The Rangers center position will be solidified by gaining Barron. It’s an important move.

As reported by Cantlon’s Corner last week, Jack Drury, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Ted Drury (414 NHL games) and the nephew of current Hartford GM, and Rangers Assistant GM, Chris Drury (892 NHL games), has left Harvard early, signing a one year deal with the Vaxjo Lakers (Sweden-SHL). He will wear number 13.

Drury was a Carolina Hurricanes, 2018 second-round draft pick (42nd overall). The Hurricanes will be formally relocating their farm team from the Charlotte (NC) Checkers to the Chicago Wolves, Drury’s hometown.

Carolina has loaned forward, Jonas Sellgren, to Frolunda HC (Sweden-SHL). Ryan Stanton of Ontario signs with EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL) so now 49 AHL’ers sign in Europe and 23 of 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player to Europe.

Heading to the Great Wall of China is ex-Wolf Pack, Danny Kristo, who leaves SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (Switzerland-LNA) for the Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL).

Former CT Whale, defenseman, Blake Parlatt, leaves EHC Munich (Germany-DEL) for Tappara (Finland-FEL).

Ex-Sound Tiger, Josh Winquist, goes from Toledo (ECHL) And heads to HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL).

Kellen Jones, a former QU Bobcat, and the grandson of former New Haven Blades, Terry Jones signs next year with Vasterviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) leaving the Switzerland LNB team HC Thurgau.

David Overbeek (Wilton/Canterbury School-New Milford) heads to Ridley College (St. Catharines, ON) (CISAA/MPHL) in the fall.

Tyler Busch, last year’s captain from D1 Independent, the Arizona State Sun Devils, signs with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL).

Jan Stefka leaves after his sophomore season at AIC (AHA) and returns home and will play with HC Prerov (Czech Republic Division-2).

Liam Blackburn of the University Hampshire Wildcats (HE) signs ERSC Amberg (Germany Division-4).

Lucas Lunch of Robert Morris University (AHA) signs with Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).

Twins brothers, Sean and Steven Leonard, both graduated from Division III’s UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs (MASCAC) and sign with the Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL).

That makes 210 total Division I players to sign pro deals in North America and Europe Division I and III with 121 from Division I have signed in North America only.

Its 18 players from Division I have signed in Europe and a total of 43 Division I and III players have signed in Europe.

Division III has 52 players sign North American pro deals,

By conference that makes Hockey East-27, NCHC with 23, Big 10 has 20, WCHA-18, ECACHL-17, AHA-14, and NCAA Division I independent Arizona State with three. 32 underclassmen have signed pro deals.

Stefka is the fourth member of AIC to sign in Europe.

There was one transfer as goalie Garrett Metcalf an Anaheim draft pick leaves Mercyhurst University (AHA) for the brand new independent program the Long Island University Sharks for his last year of eligibility.

Its Metcalf’s third school in his collegiate career starting out with UMASS-Lowell (HE).

Mick Messner leaves the University of Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10), and transfers to the Merrimack College Warriors (HE) and can play in 2021-22 making 25 players that transferred and there’ve been to date 18 grad transfers.

Two Brunswick School (Greenwich) players) make their college commitments.

Adnan Cerbone (Stamford) heads to the University of Michigan Wolverines (Big 10) in 2022-23 and Connor Welsh (Greenwich) will become one of the Boston College Eagles (HE) in 2022-23.

Expect the pair to be off to either the USHL or BCHL the next two seasons to develop further. Cerbone was drafted by the USHL Chicago Steel and Welsh by the USHL Sioux City Musketeers. Each player also has been drafted by a Canadian major junior team this year as well.

Cerbone by the QMJHL Rouyn Noranda Huskies and Welsh by the QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles.

Christian Coffey, the youngest son of ex-Whaler and NHL Hall-of-Famer, Paul Coffey, is now skating with Upper Canada College (CISAA/MPHL).

Lake Forest College’s (CISAA/MPHL) head coach is former New Haven Senator, Darrin Madeley, and his assistant coach is his son Tyler.

Brandon Whistle, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawks’ Rob Whistle re-signs with the Telford Tigers (England-NIHL).

Former Wolf Pack/CT Whale, Brodie Dupont, signs another one year deal with the Herning Blue Fox (Denmark-DHL).

ARENA NEWS

Even in this crazy time frame, small arenas have as many challenges as much as the big ones.

The Wolf Pack’s secondary training facility, the Cromwell-based, Champions Skating Center, suffered a tough blow late last week.

A major pump malfunction has closed the rink until further notice.

Apparently, the cooling rod in the filler barrel, which works in conjunction with the brine pump that puts refrigerant into the ice mixture went kaput. This is a serious matter for the two rinks, one of which is Olympic-sized. This critical infrastructure piece will likely cost more than $100,000 just to acquire the parts and then there is the labor charge to install them. The rink could be out of service from three to as many as six weeks.

A Pennsylvania-based company with offices in Connecticut that services the building was in on Friday to do a full assessment.

“We’ve been here 24-25 years (22 years) something is bound-to-break, but if there is a time for it to go, this is the best time for it to happen. It’s not fun, but we’ll work around it,” said its long-time building General Manager, Bob Crawford, of the rink and two other facilities, in Simsbury (International Skating Center) and Bolton (Ice Palace).

The Cromwell building was built in 1990 and was then known as “The Tri-Town Sports Complex” and was purchased in June 1997 and changed its name.

Crawford played professionally for the NHL’s Hartford Whalers and the AHL’s New Haven Nighthawks.