CANTLON: HOCKEY OFF-SEASON NEWS & NOTES VOLUME 21 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – With the first round of the NHL playoffs on the verge of completion, there is news from all over the globe with the sport still making news.

AHL ALL-STAR GAME

The AHL has moved the All-Star Classic out of 2021 and ahead to 2022. They kept the game in Laval at the Place Bell just outside of Montreal.

“The All-Star Classic is a signature event of the American Hockey League, and although the decision to postpone it was difficult, it was unfortunately unavoidable given the exceptional circumstances we are currently going through. However, the organization is very excited to know that this is only a postponement and that Laval will still welcome the best players in the AHL during the 2021-22 season. “Place Bell remains the perfect place to host an event of this magnitude. We are very grateful to our fans for their loyalty during this difficult time. We also want to thank the American Hockey League for their trust throughout this process,” said Groupe CH Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, France-Margaret Bélanger.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be able to hold our All-Star Classic festivities in 2021, we look forward to continuing the work that is already underway with the Rocket organization and are excited to have the city of Laval and Place Bell host the AHL’s annual showcase event in 2022,” said American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson in a joint public statement.

OTHER MOVES

The ECHL announced they will start their season on December 4th with a complete 72-game schedule.

The OHL made an announcement that December 1st will be their start date and that they will play a slightly reduced schedule from 68 games down to 64.

They will work with the Canadian government regarding the cross-border issue with their US-based teams in the Saginaw (MI) Spirit, Flint (MI) Firebirds, and the Erie (PA) Otters since presently the border remains closed.

The WHL responded to the current world situation by delaying the start for its opening date from October 2nd to December 4th. They have three teams based in the US. The Portland (OR) Winterhawks, who presently have serious civil unrest issues in the city, and the Winterhawks are currently in bankruptcy with a sale to be announced any day now. The other teams are the Spokane (WA) Chiefs and the Everett (WA) Silvertips.

The QMJHL has no US-based franchises, but an inter-border issue between Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes remains.

The Charlottetown Patriot-Guardian newspaper says the QMJHL made a formal proposal on a Return-To-Play plan to the provincial governments of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island). The schedule would be reduced from 68 to 60 games, and would include making three new divisions that will be based on geography to reduce travel, overnight hotel stays, and would scale back training camps basically in half from 60 to 34 players.

The league still has August 26th set as an opening date for camp.

The new divisions would be an Atlantic, which would include Acadie-Bathurst, Cape Breton, Halifax, Moncton, and Saint John. Four-of-the-five cities have had old AHL franchises.

The second group includes Blaineville-Boisbrand, Drummondville, Gatineau, Rouyn-Noranda, Sherbrooke, and Val-d’Or with the third division consisting of Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi, Quebec City. Rimouski, Shawinigan, and Victoriaville.

The league has an ambitious starting date of October 1, which will more than likely be changed.

In the KHL, Alexei Morozov, the league’s President, announced its season will begin on time on September 2nd, but that all teams in the league will start their respective seasons in Russia in an attempt to mitigate cross-border issues during the pandemic.

The five teams are Jokerit Helsinki (Finland), Dynamo Riga (Latvia), Dynamo Minsk (Belarus), Barys-nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) and the Kunlun Red Star (China).

The Beijing-based team that just signed ex-Hartford Wolf Pack forward, Danny Kristo, will play in the former KHL city of Mytischi which is roughly 15 miles Northeast of Moscow along the Yauza River near the Yaroslavl rail-line and is easily accessible.

A three-nation, six-team Baltic Cup tournament has been organized and might be an early blueprint for a new local regional league separate from the KHL.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia will send two teams each for the round-robin tournament to be played just before Christmas time.

Darius Kasparaitis, the former New York Ranger, and Wolf Pack d-man will be the General Manager of one of the teams from his native Lithuania. Former Ranger, Sandis Ozolins, currently a KHL assistant coach with Torpedo Novgorod, will manage one from Estonia while former Flyer and NHL’er Ukrainian, Dainius Zubrus, is slated to be involved as well.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Player movement is starting for the AHL and especially at with college athletes demonstrating just how different the roster landscape will be for 2020-21.

AHL free-agent signee, Jarrett Burton, leaves the Rochester Americans for a new contract with the Iowa Wild.

According to Rhode Island-based, minor pro and college hockey reporter, Mark Divver, Derek Sheppard is leaving the Charlotte Checkers and moving north to join the Providence Bruins.

The Rangers 2018 fourth-round draft pick, Nico Gross, much like Nils Lundkvist, won’t be in Hartford for the 2020-21 season, Instead, the 20-year-old defenseman will be skating with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA). He played for the Oshawa Generals (OHL) last year.

Zach Malik, the oldest son of former Hartford Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven, defenseman, Marek Malik, will join his father with HC Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2) for the 2020-21 season leaving the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). The elder Malik is still the team’s assistant coach while his younger brother, Nick Malik, has not made a commitment yet as to whether he will return to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL).

Goalie Mark Sinclair transfers from the University Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (WCHA) to the Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA).

Former UCONN Husky, Karl El-Mir, signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) while his former UCONN teammate, Derek Pratt, re-signs with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) for next season. Another former Husky, Ben Freeman, (Falmouth, ME) signed his first professional deal with the Maine Mariners (ECHL) the Double AA affiliate of the Rangers and Wolf Pack. Brant Harris, another former Husky, leaves Mora IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and heads to HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia-SLEL).

Ex-Wolf Pack, Shawn St. Amant, leaves the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL) and signs with Gyergyoi HK (Romania-ERLH), which plays in a 10 team league based in Romania and Hungary.

Andrew Gaus, (Taft Prep/Yale University) leaves Colorado College (NCHC) after his grad transfer year and signs with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).

Henry Bowlby becomes the third Harvard University player and fifth in the ECACHL to leave school early and goes on to sign an ELC deal with the Florida Panthers (NHL) and their yet-to-be-announced new AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Colin O’ Neill, UMASS-Lowell (HE), signs with Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) as does defenseman, Clark Kuster, of St. Cloud St. Huskies (NCHC).

Brendan Van Riemsdyk, the younger brother of James (Philadelphia) and Trevor (Carolina) has finished his career with the Northeastern Huskies (HE) and signs with Reading Royals (ECHL) making 30 Hockey East players that have signed pro deals. The other conference breakdown see NCHC with 25, the Big 10 has 20, the WCHA is at 18, the ECACHL has 18, and the AHA sees 14 signings. Division-I independent, Arizona State, has three.

Now 126 players have signed pro deals in North America. A total of 227 have now signed North American and European pro deals.

Two transfers to report, one in Division-III which saw Matthias Gervais (Canterbury School-New Milford) go from the University of New England (CCC) to Elmira College (UCHC) and the other sees Christian Hayes leave Division-I, Holy Cross (AHA), for Trinity College (NESCAC) of Hartford.

That makes 27 school transfers this off-season.

Karlis Cukste, an unsigned fifth-round San Jose Sharks draft pick from the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) has signed a try-out deal at home with Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL).

Kaspar Kotkansalo departs a year early from Boston University (HE) to sign with Assat Pori (Finland-FEL).

Adam Winborg of the University of Michigan (Big 10) heads to AIK (Sweden-SHL) on a loan.

Jordan Fogarty departs the Princeton University Tigers (ECACHL) and signs with Virserums SGF (Sweden Division-3).

Spencer Fox from Wesleyan University (NESCAC) (Middletown) signs with IFK Falkoping (Sweden Division-3).

Latvian Filip Buncis had signed an AHL two-way with Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AHL)-Wheeling (ECHL), but because of the pandemic will play at home for Zemgale (Latvia-LHL).

Patrick Demel of AIC (AHA) becomes the fifth member of last year’s team to graduate. He is currently on a try-out deal with HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic-CEL).

Brent Raedeke, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk, Mark Raedeke, leaves Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) for the Iserlohn Rooster next year, not the Cologne Sharks as previously reported.

The AHL also continues to see players leave or elect not come and will play at home.

The Wolf Pack’s Yegor Rykov is loaned to CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL) likely ending the Rykov experiment. After supplanting former Wolf Pack, Sean Day, his star was bright. He played in 27 games but soon fell into disfavor with management, and by the end of the season, he was a passenger being scratched for nine of the Wolf Pack’s last ten games including the last game in March against the Providence Bruins where the team instead played rookie Zach Giutarri in his first pro game. Rykov’s KHL rights were traded from SKA St. Petersburg to CSKA Moscow last week paving the way for the deal.

Rodrigo Abols, who played last season for the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) was loaned by the team’s parent, the Florida Panthers, to Orebro HK (Sweden-SHL) for the 2020-21 season.

Otto Leskinen, of the Laval Rocket (AHL), was loaned by the Montreal Canadiens to KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL).

The Utica Comets (AHL) lost Carter Camper, who signs with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL).

Marko Dano of the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) is a free agent. He has expressed a desire to start the year with HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL).

The Bakersfield Condors’ Kirill Maximov was loaned by the Edmonton Oilers to CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL).

Michael Spacek, of the Manitoba Moose (AHL), was loaned by the Winnipeg Jets to Tappara (Finland-FEL) while teammate, Andrei Chibisov, was loaned to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia-KHL). teammate, Leon Gawanke, is staying home and was loaned from the Manitoba Moose to Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL) who’s Sports Manger is ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Stephane J.G. Richer.

The Ontario Reign’s (AHL) Tobias Bjornfot was loaned to Djurgardens IF (Sweden-SHL). Martin Frk also with Ontario and the Los Angeles Kings, is looking at possibly heading to HC Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic-CEL).

Moritz Seider of the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) was loaned to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL), while his teammate, Filip Zadina, saw his loan deal with HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL) be officially announced.

Tim Berni, who was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets was loaned out to the ZSC Zurich Lions (Switzerland-LNA) for the season.

The Hershey Bears (AHL) have lost Alexei Protas who was loaned by the Washington Capitals to Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL).

Dominik Masin, now formerly of the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) was announced to have signed a deal with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL) located closer to China than Russia.

Carter Camper (Utica) deal with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) was announced.

Linus Sandin, the older brother to Toronto Marlies/Maple Leafs prospect, Rasmus Sandin, and who was under contract by the Philadelphia Flyers will remain in Sweden with HV 71 under a loan.

61 AHL players have signed or were loaned to Europe from last year. 23 of 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player to Europe.

Ex-Pack, Kodie Curren, who signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Anaheim Ducks in June. is now apparently in talks with his old team, Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL), for him to start his season in Europe. Anaheim also loans goalie, Lukas Dostal, for another year to Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL). He would have been in San Diego with the Gulls. Ilves Tampere also adds Artuu Ruotsalainen on loan from the Buffalo Sabres.

Mathias Bromé, who was under contract by the Detroit Red Wings, leaves Mora lK to play for Orebro HK in another loan situation. Since the 2020-21 NHL/AHL season and training camps are not going to start before December 4th, it’s possible the AHL season in San Diego will likely be a truncated one getting him ready with game time in Sweden is on the table.

All of these loans and movement agreements are likely short-term, three-month contracts.

Mike Murtaugh of the Gunnery School (Washington, CT), has committed to UCONN (HE) for 2023-24. The private prep school has formally changed its name to the Gunn School.

Shaun McEwen of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team makes a commitment to UMASS-Amherst (HE) for 2023-24. McEwen was drafted by Tri-City (USHL) and in Canadian major junior by Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) this season.

Kyle Tomaso of Pomfret School (CTPREP) commits to the Division-III Trinity College Bantams (Hartford) (NESCAC). Ned Blanchard (West Hartford ) graduates Westminster Prep of Simsbury and commits to Trinity as well.

Nick Wallace makes a commit to the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) for the 2022-23 season. He skated for Bergen Catholic (NJPUB) and a few games with Tri-City (USHL) last year. He was a 2019 draft choice of Tri-City and by the Owen Sound Attack (OHL).

Samuel Timonen (Avon Old Farms), who played for the Stamford-based, CT Jr. Rangers (NCDC) last season, heads home to play for IPK (Finland Division-1). He is the son of former Flyer and Nashville Predator, Kimmo Timonen, who played over 1,100 games in his NHL career.

Malik Alishlalov (Westminster Prep), a UCONN (HE) commit for 2021-22, leaves the Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL) and returns to Russia for his last season of junior hockey with Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (Russia-MHL).

British born goalie Ben Churchfield departs after his junior year from Division III University of New England (CCC) and signs with the Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL) making 52 Division-I and III college players to sign contracts in Europe.

GOOD NEWS FOR GOOD PEOPLE

One-time Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach, and former New Haven Nighthawks and Yale University player, Dave Baseggio, has been named as the first Director of Pro Scouting for the newest NHL expansion team, the Seattle Kraken by GM and former Whaler great, Ron Francis.

Baseggio played for the Nighthawks (1991-92), who, at the time, were one of the last two independent teams in AHL history. The Worcester Ice Cats were the other. He played for half of a season after a trade from Rochester. It was the last-named Nighthawks team in the Elm City. He played at Yale (1985-1989) and was the captain his senior year.

Baseggio has always maintained a sunny optimism despite some serious impediments he has endured over his career.

He inherited a very poor Sound Tigers roster (2005-2006) in his only season as head coach after spending four years as an assistant coach. He lost out on an opportunity to coach his alma mater, despite the late Tim Taylor’s preference that he would be named his successor. Despite taking his team to the playoffs his contract was not renewed in Bridgeport after that season.

Baseggio went off to the Peoria Rivermen (2006-2008), who had migrated to the AHL, but, much to his surprise, he was relieved of his duties after just two years.

He then applied for the head coaching job in Chicago (AHL) with the Wolves, but the St. Louis Blues held him to the last year of his deal, closing that door, so he returned to Connecticut.

He kept busy in Connecticut working with every major college it seemed. Yale, Quinnipiac, and Sacred Heart as well as getting to every Bridgeport and Hartford game he could before hooking up with Anaheim.

Baseggio spent 12 years in total with the Ducks, seven as a pro scout, and three as their Director of Scouting. He worked his way up to Assistant GM in Anaheim for three years and went through a very laborious sale of the family’s Connecticut coastline home. He moved to California before being pushed aside with the arrival of former Vancouver GM, Dave Nonis. Now he gets the dream of coaches and scouting people to start with a fresh clean slate with a brand new team.

He will be operating out of Connecticut.

“I’m very honored to have been chosen and I am looking forward to the exciting challenge of building the Kraken team from the ground up with our talented and diverse team in hockey operations.”

Baseggio brings some New Haven hockey DNA to his scouting department with the addition of Lorne Henning, who did work in Montreal last year as a scout. Henning played four games for the very first New Haven Nighthawks team in 1972-73.

William White, the son of former New Haven Senators defenseman, Scott White (their team MVP), and who is currently the GM of the Texas Stars and Assistant GM in Dallas. The younger White played Division-III college hockey in New London at Connecticut College (NESCAC).

The Seattle Kraken also added an Ontario scout in former New Haven Nighthawk, John Goodwin.

Francis also added his long-time teammate, friend, and former Whalers great, Ulf Samuelsson.

Samuelsson also played for the Rangers, was an assistant coach there as well as with the Wolf Pack and Avon Old Farms.

STILL PLAYING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Former Rangers and Wolf Pack left-winger, Jan Hlaváč 43, is still actively playing, leaving HC Vrachlabi (Czech Republic Division-3) and heading to BK Nova Paka also in Division 3.

Hlavac’s older brother, Petr Hlaváč, will be the team’s head coach and Sports Manager this season. It’s Petr’s sixth season as a coach. The team plays in the 24 team league as part of the North Division.