CANTLON: HOCKEY OFF SEASON NOTES VOLUME 33 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The professional hockey world is still at a standstill with the NHL having publicly issued a January 1st, 2021 projected start date with the AHL calling for February 5th. Even having publicly stated that there remains so much still up in the air.

Ticket revenue from hockey fans is the oxygen to breathe for the NHL and AHL to maintain their business.

The Montreal Gazette’s Pat Hickey encapsulated the financial playing field for the NHL.

Read the whole story HERE.

HOCKEY NEWS

College hockey will emerge from its COVID-19 hibernation and start next weekend as the Big 10 conference dips its skating toes with game action. The schedule will kick off with the University of Wisconsin Badgers at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Find the initial schedule HERE.

The fully completed schedule will feature 24 conference games for each team, plus an additional four games per school against Arizona State at Big Ten venues.

The Sun Devils travel to Michigan for games on November 14-15 as a participating non-conference member.

The 2020-21 schedule will conclude the weekend of March 18-20, 2021 with the Big Ten tournament. Arizona State will not be involved.

Big 10 hockey teams will follow the same medical protocols set by the conference’s “Return-to-Competition” Task Force that was announced on September 16, 2020. Among the regimen is the requirement of daily antigen testing, enhanced cardiac screening, and an enhanced data-driven approach, when making decisions regarding practice/competition.

Arizona State University has agreed to adhere to the same testing protocols that the conference will be following.

Schedules including their game times and television designations, for the remainder of the 2020-21 season regarding the 2021 Big Ten tournament will be announced at a later date.

The conference’s Big 10 Network (BTN) and regional outlets will likely carry the games. Whether the announcers will be on or off-site is still to be determined.

No details were announced regarding spectators.

WOLF PACK IN EUROPE

Four players are currently in Europe.

Adam Huska has played in just one game. He has a 2.00 GAA with HKM Zvolen (Slovakia-SLEL) and had a .920 save percentage.

Vitali Kravtsov is with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia-KHL). In 16 games, he has eight goals and ten points and is a plus-7.

Yegor Rykov, playing with CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL), through 19 games, he has six assists and is a plus-5.

Because of a COVID lock-down, Libor Hájek is still waiting for play in the Czech Elite League (CEL) to start. He is on loan to HC Olomouc.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

New York Rangers defense prospect, Tarmo Reunanen, drafted in the 2016 draft in the fourth-round (98th overall) had his loan upgraded by the Rangers from TUTO (Finland Division-1) to HPK Hameenlina (Finland-FEL), He is expected to play starting next Friday against Assat Pori.

Thus far this season, he has nine points in seven games and was a plus-7.

If-and-when the AHL season starts, Reunanen is expected to be in the mix for one of the six spots on defense for the Wolf Pack.

Ex-Wolf Pack goalie, Dustin Tokarski, signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Buffalo Sabres/Rochester Americans paying him $700K in year one and $750K in year two.

Ex-Wolf Pack rearguard, Ilkka Heikkinen, who played his one-and-only AHL season in Hartford in 2009-10, announced his retirement from hockey. He played last season with Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL). He was brought in with the expectation of being a powerplay specialist in Hartford but managed just eight goals.

Dillon Heatherington has gone from Texas to Barys-Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan-KHL).

Kyle Wood of the Grand Rapids Griffins and Charlotte Checkers goes to Löwen Frankfurt (Germany DEL-2).

Marcus Davidsson of the Belleville Senators is loaned to Vasterviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Joining him from Belleville, but of no relation, will be Jonathan Davidsson.

Marc Michaelis goes from the Utica Comets to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL).

Zach Jordan is loaned out by the Cleveland Monsters to DVTK (Hungary). It’s the third AHL player to be assigned to the team which plays in the Slovak Elite League because the city is close to the Slovak border.

Connor Ingram of the Milwaukee Admirals is being loaned to IF Bjorkloven (Sweden-Allsvenskan) to play for ex-Sound Tiger goalie, Kevin Poulin, who suffered an injury and is sidelined for four-to-six weeks.

Josh Brook of the Laval Rocket is loaned out to Krefeld (Germany-DEL).

Wiley Sherman (Greenwich/Hotchkiss Prep) departs the Providence Bruins and will skate for Esbjerg (Denmark-DHL).

Adam Helewka of the Cleveland Barons is loaned to HKM Zvolen (Slovakia-SLEL).

Colby Williams of the Hershey Bears signs with Neftekhmik (Russia-KHL).

Now 181 AHL players have been loaned or signed for Europe.

The country breakdown is as follows;

SWEDEN-42

RUSSIA-28

FINLAND-23

SWITZERLAND-13

GERMANY-12

SLOVAKIA-11

AUSTRIA-9

CZECH REPUBLIC-7

DENMARK-4

HUNGARY-3

KAZAKHSTAN-3

BELARUS-2

LATVIA-2

NORWAY-2

CHINA-2

FRANCE-1

Mason Marchment, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Bryan Marchment, signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Florida Panthers, whose new AHL team is the Charlotte Checkers. He signs for $700K (NHL) and $85K (AHL). He was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline last season.

Christian Jaros of Belleville signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Ottawa Senators for $700K (NHL) and $250K (AHL).

Chase Stillman, the grandson of former New Haven Nighthawk, Bud Stefanski, has left the Sudbury Wolves (OHL) for Denmark until the new OHL season begins on February 4th.

Former Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Ryan Pulock, signs a two-year, $10 million deal with the New York Islanders.

Marko Dano is back in Winnipeg for a second tour. He joins the Jets for a one-year, one-way $700K deal. His top production season was last year with 21 points.

UCONN hockey received a commitment from a goalie for the 2021-22 season. Logan Terness of the Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL) chose the Huskies to play his college hockey at. In last season’s COVID-19 shortened play, in 44 games he amassed a record of 27-10-2 with one shutout. He had the fourth-best GAA in the BCHL at 2.36 and third-best save percentage of .932. The team won their only playoff series in a four-game sweep over the Prince George Cougars. They were scheduled to play the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the quarterfinals when the season was canceled. In three games this season he is 2-1-0 and a 3.05 GAA and .918 save percentage.

Jack Finley, a Tampa Bay Lightning draftee this past October, and the son of former Wolf Pack and Ranger, Jeff Finley, who’s now an amateur scout with Winnipeg, plays with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL). He will be lacing them up for the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) until the WHL season begins and the Canada-US border is resolved.

Dean Chitaroni, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Mario Chitarioni, signs with a junior independent team, the West Nipissing Lynx (GMHL).

Moe Acee (Avon Old Farms) goes from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) to the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) this fall and is a St. Lawrence University Saints (ECACHL) commit for 2021-22. The Nanaimo goalie coach, team President, and part franchise owner, is former Wolf Pack goalie, David LeNeveau.

Jaycob Megna, the younger brother of former CT Whale, Jason Megna, goes from the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and signs with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). He was making $400K last year with the Wolves, who at the time were the AHL affiliate of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Adam Brady of Bemidji State (NCHC) signs an AHL deal with the Stockton Heat.

Dalton Skelly of Holy Cross (AHA) signs with the Wichita Thunder (ECHL) making 187 players from Division I colleges who have signed North American professional contracts and a total of 321 players between Division I and III to sign pro deals in North America and Europe.

The conference breakdown is Hockey East 35, NCHC 33, WCHA, and the Big 10 each have 31, the ECACHL 30, AHA has 25, and Division I independent Arizona State has four.

Sutter Muzzatti, the son of ex-Wolf Pack and Whaler, Jason Muzzatti makes a commit to RPI (ECACHL) in 2022-23.  his father is the goalie coach for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The USHL has finished training camp and their exhibition season and the teams have named their starting rosters with quite a few CT connections.

Chicago Steel

Andon Cerbone (Stamford) – Brunswick School (University of Michigan, Big 10 commit 2022-23)

Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich (Sandy Hook) – (University of Michigan, Big 10 commit 2021-22)

Des Moines Buccaneers (Head coach is ex-Sound Tiger, Peter Mannino)

Tyler Young (the son of former Whaler, Scott Young) – (Providence College, HE 2021-22 commit). 1

Green Bay Gamblers (Head coach/GM: Pat Miskech, Beast of New Haven)

Matt DeBoer (Salisbury Prep) – (Holy Cross AHA commit 2021-22).

Muskegon Lumberjacks

John Farinacci (the nephew of ex-Wolf Pack & Sound Tiger, Ted Donato) – (current Harvard University ECACHL).

Omaha Lancers (Head coach is Ex-Wolf Pack, David Wilkie)

Zakary Karpa (son of ex-Wolf Pack & Sound Tiger Dave) – (Princeton ECACHL commit 2021-22).

Kennedy O’ Connor (Loomis Chaffe) (also has a commit to Chilliwack – BCHL) – (UMASS-Amherst HE commit 2021-22).

Sioux City Musketeers

John Fusco (the son of former Whaler, Mark Fusco) – (Harvard bound 2020-21) (Toronto NHL Draftee)

Tabor Heaslip Avon Old Farms – (UCONN HE commit 2021-22)

Garrett Pinoniemi – (the nephew ex-Whaler, Jim Storm) – (University Minnesota Big 10 commit 2021-22)

Sioux Falls Stampede

Will Dineen (the son of former Whaler, Kevin Dineen, and the nephew of former Nighthawks, Peter, and Shawn) – (Yale University ECACHL commit 2021-22).

Tri-City Storm

Victor Czerneskianair (Southington/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) – (Quinnipiac University ECACHL commit 2021-22).

Jacob Elik, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Todd Elik, is skating for Selkirk College (Castlegar, BC) (BCIHL) this fall.

Mark D’Agostino (North Branford/Gunnery Prep) – UCONN (HE) commit for 2021-22. He was scheduled to skate for the Langley Rivermen (BCHL), but the league hasn’t started to play. While the border remains closed, he is skating for the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) and is off to a good start with four goals (seven points) in six games. The team returns home November, 11th at 1:30 pm to play the league-leading Maine Nordiques at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Tanner Pochipinski, the son of former Nighthawk, Trevor Pochipinski, is skating with the Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) under the guidance of ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger, Stu Bickel, who is in his first season as a head coach. Another teammate of Pochipinski is Levi Stauber, the nephew of former Wolf Pack/Nighthawk goalie, Robb Stauber.

HOCKEY HISTORY

The long-forgotten WHA, the league that changed the face of hockey, has 13 Hall-of-Famers who played both in the WHA and NHL.

Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey is the only player who went to WHA after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The other inductees with dual hockey citizenship WHA and NHL are:

Former NY Ranger legend, Harry Howell, who was the first to have NHL-WHA duality. He was followed by Frank Mahovlich, Bobby Hull, Gerry Cheevers, Norm Ullman, Andy Bathgate, Jacques Plante, Michel Goulet, Wayne Gretzky, Mike Gartner, Rod Langway, Mark Messier, Mark Howe, and Vaclav Nedomansky.

Three great players who should get into the Hall-of-Fame that share the WHA/NHL connection all who grew up in Quebec. Andre Lacroix (Lauzon, QC), Real “Buddy” Cloutier (Saint-Émile, QC), and the late J.C. Tremblay (Bagotville, QC) should be enshrined as well.

IN MEMORIAM

Honoring the memory of the late Portland Press Herald writer, Paul Betit, who passed away earlier this week at age 73. He was just a week shy of his 74th birthday. He died following complications from heart surgery in his hometown of Augusta, Maine.

Betit covered the now-defunct AHL Portland Pirates for many years and was always a friendly companion in the press box. He was a great raconteur on both hockey and life. Our deepest condolences to his family. Read about it HERE.

Also, it was announced Sunday that legendary game show host, most notably with Jeopardy for 36 years, Alex Trebek, a long time fan from Ottawa, passed away at the age of 80 after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer.

So glad he got to do the Ottawa draft call selection last month.

It was also made public on Sunday afternoon that legendary player and broadcaster, Howie Meeker, also died. He was 97.

Meeker played eight seasons in the NHL, all with the Toronto Maple Leafs, just after WWII. He helped them win four Stanley Cups over those eight seasons back in the six-team era. He was the last living member of those Cup teams.

He won the NHL Rookie-the-Year Calder Trophy in 1947.

He was a three-time NHL All-Star 1947-1949.

After his NHL career ended, he played eleven seasons in Newfoundland in St. John’s senior league.

He coached two years with the AHL’s Pittsburgh Hornets, and one season for the Maple Leafs, but did not qualify for the playoffs.

Meeker had a splendid thirty-year broadcasting career on Hockey Night in Canada on the CBC and TSN. He won the Foster Hewitt Award for broadcasting excellence.

He embraced the new technology of the day, the telestrator, and developed a signature phrase, “Stop right there,” with his unique voice. May he rest in peace.