CANTLON: HOCKEY OFF-SEASON NEWS & NOTES – Vol. 22 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The NHL playoffs have completed their round-robin and play-in round and are now well into the “first round” of the playoffs. News is coming with increased speed and levels of import.

In Gatineau, Quebec, an interesting development that will have a major effect on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Olympiques team.

The governing agency assembled during the pandemic has announced that their home arena, the Robert Guertin Arena, will be maintained as an emergency COVID-19 shelter for another year which will keep the Olympiques out of the building.

Known by the French acronym CISSSO, the announcement by that authority came as a shock to the QMJHL team.

The authority has scheduled the vacating of the arena this week to accommodate the Olympiques pre-season preparations.

But in a terse release last Friday morning, the agency said the Guertin Arena was “essential to protect (vulnerable) populations … and to provide them with long-term stability,” in a story in the Ottawa Sun.

There are 14 other structures that were under consideration along with the arena to serve as an emergency shelter.

There are initial ongoing discussions between the city, the team and governing health agency seeking an amicable solution.

The city, which owns the arena, supported the decision and “will work with its partners to identify solutions for activities that have normally been held at the Robert-Guertin arena,” CISSSO said.

“We are more than surprised, stunned if you will,” Olympiques president Norman McMillan told the French-language Le Droit newspaper.  McMillan is a businessman who was a MNA (Member of the National Assembly) for the Papineau serving for 23 years,

The Olympiques will start pre-season preparations at Branchaud-Brière on August 30th the opening day of training camp.

However, Branchaud-Brière’s main rink has a seating capacity of only 1,200, so with COVID-19 compared with the Robert Guertin arena that has a 4,000-seat capacity, and that’s before taking the necessary social distancing measures.

On Friday, the QMJHL formally set October 1st as the start for their 2020-21 season which will consist of a 60 game season with three, six-team divisions.

The QMJHL has no US based franchises. The other two Canadian major junior leagues, the OHL and WHL, each have three US based franchises, while two minor pro leagues, the AHL and ECHL, have all set December 4th as a starting date.

The US and Canada mutually agreed on Friday to keep the US-Canada border closed until September 21st.

The situation is complicated by delays in the construction of a new multi-rink complex that is to be the new home of the Olympiques that was originally slated for a December 2020 completion.

The new, four-rink Centre Robert Guertin, on Boulevard de la Cité (City Boulevard), is set to replace the aging Guertin arena, which was built in 1952, but construction was halted in May when the developers, Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO), said the costs of the project had escalated they said because of a number of factors.

The project cost was originally set at $78.5 million (Canadian), but has now climbed to the neighborhood of $104 million (Canadian).

Now the complex will cost municipal taxpayers of the the city of Gatineau by contributing $36.5 million and the province of Quebec providing $26 million for a multi-level parking garage and improvements to nearby streets.

VMSO recently pledged the rink will be ready for the Olympiques in the fall of 2021 which will be across the Ottawa river about 15 minutes East of their present arena off Highway 50 and 45 minutes from the Ottawa Senators Canadian Tire arena in Kanata, Ontario via Highway 417.

The USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and the Class A Midwest League’s Cedar Rapids Kernels (baseball) buildings suffered significant damage in the mid-week Midwest windstorm classified as derecho.

The USHL has not announced a starting date for the season and the Class A team is likely on the chopping block as major league baseball is restructuring minor league baseball and the agreement between MLB and MiLB expires on October 1st, but many cities are already aware of their likely fate.

Affiliation and city switching and swapping is strongly possible at the Double AA and Triple AAA level that will survive the purge, so their farm teams will be like the AHL, closer to the home of their parent clubs.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

Former Pack, Tom McCollum was traded last season from Hartford to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for J.F. Berube. He has signed with HC Innsbruck (Austria-EBEL) for next season.

Matt Register, re-signs with the Iowa Wild.

Defenseman, Tommy Hughes, signs a deal with Brampton Beast (ECHL).

Richard Nejezchleb leaves HC Poruba (Czech Republic Division-2) for Krakow (Poland-PZIHL).

Several ex-Pack players have entered the coaching ranks or have taken new positions.

Ryan Hollweg is the new assistant coach for the Coquitlam Express (BCHL) after splitting last season with Vancouver (BCCML) and Simon Fraser University (CIHL) as an assistant.

Peter Skudra is the new Head Coach/GM for Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL).

Tim Kennedy, is the new Head Coach/GM for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL).

Mike Vernace is the new Head Coach for Richmond Hill (ETAHL).

Josh Gratton is the new Assistant Coach for the Collingwood Blues (OJHL).

Vince Pedrie is now the Head Coach for Team Illinois’ U-15 AAA team (HPHL).

Anders Eriksson is the new head coach for the varsity club program for the University of Miami Hurricanes (ACHA Division-3).

Shawn O’Donnell leaves EV Ravensburg (Germany-DEL-2) and signs with the Odense Bulldogs (Demark-DHL).

Evan Jasper (Sacred Heart University/Wolf Pack) leaves KRS-BGU (Russia-VHL) in Beijing and will play for HC Chamonix (France-FREL).

BRIDGEPORT  SOUND TIGERS

A pair of ex-Sound Tigers are on the move.

Kuris McLean heads from SC Csikszereda (Romania-ELHL) to Kiekko-Espoo (Finland Division-1) and Joel Broda leaves HC Innsbruck (Austria-EBEL) and signs EC Graz (Austria-EBEL).

Dustin Friesen, the former defenseman elects not to honor his new deal with Iserlohn (Germany-DEL) and decides to retire instead takes a job as a coach with a Saskatchewan hockey academy near his home in part because of COVID-19 pandemic considerations.

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Spencer Naas joins his old college teammate, Derek Pratt, by signing with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).

Marco Richter goes from Klagenfurter AC (Austria-EBEL/AlpsHL) to the EV Vienna Capitals (EBEL).

Russell Jordan (Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack) re-signs with the Birmingham Bulls (SPHL).

Charles Corcoran (New Canaan) goes from the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL) to Esbjerg Energy (Denmark-DHL).

After three teams last year, Greg Squires (Brunswick School) moves from HCB Tirino (Switzerland-LNB) and signs with the Magnus League HC Rouen Dragons (France-FREL) for this year. He also played for TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) and EC Graz (Austria-EBEL).

Ivan Nikolishin, the youngest son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrei Nikolishin, has signed a try-out deal with the KHL Kunlun Red Star who will play the 2020-21 season in the old KHL city of Mytischi near Moscow. He played for three teams in two leagues last year Severstal Cherepovets Russia (KHL) and two teams in the VHL Molot-Prikamie Perm and Neftyanik Almetyevsk. The Red Star head coach will be former Ranger, Alexei Kovalev.

Colby Wotton, the son of long-time Sound Tiger captain, and now retired, Mark Wotton, has signed with the Regina Pats (WHL) for this season. He played for Yellowhead Chiefs (MMHL) in Manitoba last season

AHL & PRO PLAYER MOVES

The Vegas Golden Knights are loaning goalie, Jiri Patera, who just completed his junior career with Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) to HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic-CEL) for next season.

The AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights signed their second player defenseman Ryan Murphy who played in Russia last season.

Several more players are in loan situations.

Robert Lantosi, who skated with the Providence Bruins last season, just signed a one-year, two-way ($750K-NHL/$70K-AHL) deal, has been loaned to HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL), Radim Zohorna of Pittsburgh returns to BK Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic-CEL) and Fredrik Handemark from San Jose will be with IF Malmo Redhawks (Sweden-SHL).

David Kase of Lehigh Valley is loaned by the Philadelphia Flyers to HC Karlove Vary (Czech Republic-CEL).

Lean Berman of the San Jose Barracuda is loaned to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL).

Martin Pospisil of the Stockton Heat is loaned to HC Kosice (Slovakia-SLEL).

Marian Studenic of the Binghamton Devils (AHL) is loaned out to HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia-SLEL).

Anaheim loaned another goalie overseas to the same team in Roman Durny.

Filip Kral, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect who just finished his junior career with Spokane (WHL) is being loaned out to HC Prevov (Czech Republic Division-2).

According to his agent, JC Lipon, of the Manitoba Moose, received an offer by an unspecified KHL team but has not signed a contract.

Winnipeg has sent Ville Heinola will stay with Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL) on loan making 67 now former AHL players to be signed or loaned to Europe for next season. 24 of the 31 AHL teams have seen at least one player head to Europe for next season.

COLLEGE NEWS

Plenty of movements in the college ranks.

Lance West, who held the interim head coach tag removed by the University of Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA). In building out his coaching staff, West went to his old haunts for his new assistant coach tapping Latvian-born, Karlis Zirnis, also a UAH alumni, was at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (WCHA) where he has employed as an assistant coach the past three seasons with the Nanooks.

First Harvard has lost a fifth forward early in Reilly Walsh, who leaves a year early and signs a standard three-year ELC deal with the New Jersey Devils. Walsh leaving college hockey for professional hockey makes it 34 underclassmen who have departed college hockey.

Shane Kuzmeski of Clarkson University (ECACHL) graduates and signs with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).

Kyle Marino, of the University of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) signs with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL). Joining him in Boise is Matt Stief of Canisius College (AHA).

Patrick Polino graduated RPI (ECACHL) and signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL).

Jacob Hayhurt of the University of Michigan Wolverines (Big 10) signs with the Worcester Railers (ECHL).

North American signings by conference break down as; Hockey East (29), NCHC (25), the Big 10 and the ECACHL each have lost (21), WCHA (19) and the AHA (15).

After completing his sophomore year with the Air Force Academy (AHA), Carter Ekberg transfers to the brand new Long Island University Sharks Division-I independent program where he will play in 2021-22 making 28 college transfers and 18 grad school transfers.

Martin Mellberg of AIC (AHA) signs with Almtuna IS (Sweden-Allsvenskan)

Adrian Holesinsky of the University of Maine Black Bears (HE), after playing just 17 games in three years, has left. He will play for HK Nitra (Slovakia-KHL).

Tomi Hiekkavirtu leaves the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (WCHA) and signs with Hermes (Finland Division-1).

In Division III, Daniel Backstrom graduates Westfield State (MASCAC) and signs in Europe with FPS (Finland Division-1) and Georgy Gorodetski of Wentworth Institute of Technology (MASCAC) signs with Yugra-Khanty (Russia-VHL).

Also from D-III, Lucas Smith from Connecticut’s Post University (Northeast-10) signs with HCB Tirino (Switzerland-LNB).

Matthew Cuce of Elmira College (UCHC) signs with Tyringe SoSS (Sweden Division-1),

59 skaters from Division I and III have signed in Europe, 239 total players Division I and III have signed pro deals 130 in North America.

RANGERS WIN THE DRAFT LOTTERY

It’s been 54 years since the Rangers garnered the number one overall selection in the NHL Draft,, but back then, it was a much different hockey world.

Back in 1965, there were only six teams. The Rangers drafted a Quebec-born player, center Andre Veilleux, from the Trois-Rivières Reds of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League (QJAHL).

Veilleux played the following year, just 16 games, for the Rosemont Bombers (MMJHL), but never played pro hockey in the NHL or the AHL and  he never left Quebec.

It’s highly doubtful that will happen this time.

The Rangers, eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the qualifying round, along with eight other teams, had an equal 12.5% chance to come up the winner of the top pick in the NHL Draft which will be held virtually on October 9 & 10.

It’s almost a sure thing that The Rangers will draft the 6’1, 195lb. left wing, Alexis Lafreniere, of the QMJHL Rimouski Oceanic. Rimouski is located in the Gaspe region of Northern Quebec and was also the junior team of future Hall-of-Famer, , Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lafreniere helped Canada win the WJC Gold back in January in the Czech Republic. He was named the tournament MVP and earned his selection on the Tournament’s first team.

Last season, in just 53 games, he had 35 goals, a league-best 77 assists, for 112 points for the Oceanic. He won his second consecutive Jean Beliveau Trophy and crossed the century mark for the second consecutive season of his three-year major junior career.

His trophy room has a slew of additions as he was named the best player in all of Canadian junior hockey for a second season in a row, as well as earning the QMJHL Michel Briere MVP Trophy and was a first team All-Star selection.

In his first junior year, after being the Q’s number one overall selection from the St. Eustache Vikings, he had 80 points in 60 games and was on the All-Rookie team. He captured the Silver Medal on the Canadian team at World Hockey U-17 tournament and was the QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year (Michel Bergeron Trophy) winner.

The esteemed and now semi-retired, Bob Mckenzie of TSN, announced mid-week on Twitter, that Lafreniere’s junior career is over.

“Alexis Lafreniere will not be reporting to Rimouski training camp this fall and will not be going to Europe to play. He’s training in Boisbriand (home of the QMJHL Blaineville-Boisbrand Armada), and plans to be drafted and report to his NHL team in November and play 20-21 in the NHL.”

Lafreniere is a St. Eustache, Quebec native which is 25 miles northwest of Montreal.

The drafting of Lafreniere will likely mark the end of the failed Lias Andersson experiment, who was the number seven overall selection in 2017.

The Rangers hope Andersson plays well at HV71 (Sweden-SHL) next season, where he’s on a loan on his original Entry-Level Contract, so his trade value will increase.

Lafreniere spending any time with the Wolf Pack is highly unlikely.

The Rangers did have another Lafreniere in team history. In 1988-89, Jason Lafreniere (no relation) played half of a season (38 games) after playing with the Denver Rangers (IHL), their farm team for the first half of the year.

That Lafreniere was traded by the Quebec Nordiques to the Rangers on August 1, 1989 along with defenseman Normand Rochefort for Bruce Bell, Jari Gronstrand, Walt Poddubny and a fourth-round draft choice that became former Nighthawk, Eric Dubois, whose son Pierre-Luc plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets,

IN MEMORIAM

The writing fraternity has lost one of it’s best.

Chip Malafronte, 48, passed away on Thursday after a valiant two-year battle against esophageal cancer.

Over a 24-year splendid career, Malafronte was always smiling, writing accurate stories in which he took great care to present the subject honestly. He was among the state’s best college hockey writers covering both Yale University and Quinnipiac University for the New Haven Register.

Malafronte was a private person and kept his issue under wraps. He had that quiet aura and respect about him.

He has left his treasured son, JP (John Paul), of whom he was immensely proud, who he brought him with around while covering stories. The glow and pride he had simply could not be missed.

Cantlon’s Corner has lost a friend and colleague, but young JP has lost his Dad. In the coming days of sadness and sorrow, hopefully his father’s love and pride will take a permanent residence in his heart.

Rest In peace, Chip. You’ve earned it.