BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The early season struggles of the truncated Hartford Wolf Pack season haven’t extended themselves to all-purpose forward Jonny Brodzinski, who has been the most productive and consistent player to date.
Brodzinski collected four goals and ten points in six games and earned a recall to the New York Rangers, where he had a goal in four games.
“I’ve had good linemates with (Anthony) Greco and Getz (Tim Gettinger) and been in the right spot, and the puck has fallen for me, and I think if we just limit our mistakes, it will start to drop for everyone,” remarked Brodzinski.
Skating with Greco, it’s the second time in a year the two have been linemates. Last spring, in San Jose, where he was skating with the Barracuda, the team acquired Greco at the trade deadline.
“One of his best traits is his speed, and it’s different with other players in his case. I have to put it in an area because he is so fast you know he’ll get to it. We react well together, and we both try to get to those open spots,” Brodzinski said.
His line last week scored 15 seconds into a game in Marlborough against the Bruins using that formula.
Coming to a top-heavy contract team like the Rangers was a gamble. He was playing out West in San Jose and Ontario, and he also had some time with the Los Angeles Kings.
BRODZINSKI SPEAKS
“There were a lot of things to consider, and I think it could bring a lot of things they wanted. My speed is my best asset, and I can be a versatile player. I can play all three positions. I mainly played center in San Jose (a glaring Rangers organizational need), and there are subtle differences in all three.
“Left-wing is a bit hard because you receive the puck on a backhand, and center has so many responsibilities especially down in the offensive zone, and I know I’m here helping in that capacity and helping the young guys.”
The five-year vet started his pro career in Ontario, and his team captain then was Vincent LoVerde.
“Vin is a guy who brings things every night and did a great job there making everybody feels involved, and obviously, this year is much harder for everyone trying to keep things tight because of the restrictions.”
Technology has been a major additional tool for training and keeps personal interaction going.
“The coaches have used Zoom and several things, and that’s been a very different aspect to training that I think has taken us all some time to adjust to. It’s one thing for a meeting and another as a tutorial.”
For bonding purposes, it has helped.
“We’re using Xbox and FaceTime a lot, and I think everyone is trying their best to cope and deal with this.”
HOCKEY FAMILY
Brodzinski, who sports a big, broad smile and comes from a huge hockey family in Minnesota, where getting a game started as a kid was no problem. He had his older brother Mike, now playing with HC Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia Elite League, and two younger brothers Easton (St. Cloud State – NCHC) and Bryce (Minnesota-Big 10).
“That was always a big plus. We choose up a team pretty quickly and get a game going.”
Hockey players are competitive, and the Brodzinski family were no exception, whether his father Mike and his Uncle Steve both played collegiately at St. Cloud when it was a Division-III powerhouse.
Brother Mike went to the Golden Gophers at the University of Minnesota, the King of the Mountain for hockey in the state, and he skated for St. Cloud State, and they played against one another.
“That was fun, and I was glad we got to do that, and we have a good family rivalry going.”
Brodzinski keeps the family scoresheet as they all went to Blaine High in their hometown before the choice for colleges is made, and he gives the nod to his younger brother, Bryce.
“He has had the high school scoring (73-76-93-169), but I have the college record (120-64-48-112) in the family!”
BROTHERS
Both brothers are currently skating in their conference post-season tournaments.
Easton is with St. Cloud 3-2 winners on Monday over current teammate Justin Richard’s old team, the University Minnesota- Duluth Bulldogs, who won the last two NCAA national titles.
The senior undrafted has some big decisions upcoming, and his brother is a big fan.
“He has the best size among us at 6”3, and he is a physical winger, and I think somebody will grab him, but NCAA is giving an extra year for everybody, so he will meet with advisors. I think he has a really good range of options.”
Bryce, a seventh-round pick of the Flyers, is a sophomore with Minnesota who won spectacularly in overtime and was on the ice for the game-winner 3-2 over upset-minded Michigan.
Giving younger players some valuable direction is something Brodzinski enjoys doing.
“It’s always a lot to take in as a rookie, and a guy like Vin in Ontario helped me, and hockey players are generally a little bit relaxed because we often face a lot of hurdles off-ice too.
When the Rangers recalled me, we had a big snowstorm coming in of about a foot. I was able to drive down and get a hotel but then had a hard time with pass-key for the garage and then find your way walking around. It can be stressful if you’re not prepared, and that is some of the things you have to do in getting them prepared because I have kind of seen quite a lot, I can tell them about.”
Right now, the Wolf Pack can hope Brodzinski can lead them out their funk Thursday against the division-leading Bruins.
NOTES
The Wolf Pack (3-5-0 and six points) lost an essential part of their team on Monday. Mason Geersten was hit with an AHL suspension for two games for a high-stick play against the Providence Bruins last Saturday. On the play, Geersten was not given a penalty on the infraction he was suspended for.
Geersten will miss Thursday’s game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Saturday’s home date with Providence. Brandon Crawley will be playing in his spot.
Also, on Monday, Tarmo Reunanen was on an emergency recall to the Rangers. They played to a 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers when Adam Fox was among three players on COVID-19 protocols.
The Finnish defenseman earned his first NHL point with a gorgeous tape-to-tape, cross-ice, give-and-go from the right-wing half-wall with Artemi Panarin setting him up for a cannon slapshot in the left-wing face-off circle in the second period.
Providence knocked off Bridgeport on Monday, 5-2, and lead the Atlantic Division at 10-2-1 (21 points), and the Sound Tigers are still last with a mark of 2-7-0 (4 points) and pulled goalie CJ Motte and put in their third goalie, Francois Marrotte.
GOALIE SIGNED
As hinted last week by Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, the Wolf Pack signed another goalie, 6’4 Michael Lackey, who played with ECHL Orlando Solar Bears, posting a 5-6-2 record.
Lackey played for four years at Harvard University (ECHAL). His teammates included the Rangers Adam Fox and Colin Blackwell. He gained his degree and spent last season as a grad transfer with the Providence College Friars (HE). He spent his junior career with the US National Team Development program.
Lackey joins Tyler Wall and Francois Brassard as the teams’ goalies. He is the second Wolf Pack goalie in franchise history with a Harvard background. The other was Dov-Grumet Morris.
