BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – Activity in Connecticut college hockey is m making headlines.
The Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) in Hamden have received a grad transfer goaltender to replace the graduating Keith Petruzzelli. The new goaltender will be Notre Dame Fighting Irish starter Dylan St. Cyr.
St. Cyr is the son of former New Haven Senator Gerry St, Cyr. His mother is Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to play in an NHL net in an exhibition game for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 against the St. Louis Blues and again in 1993 against the Boston Bruins.
St. Cyr’s uncle is former New York Ranger and Hartford Wolf Pack, Pascal Rhéaume. His cousin is Nick Rhéaume, who plays at Cushing Academy (MAPREP).
HEADING OUT TO SOUTH BEND
Heading out to South Bend is last year’s UCONN captain, Adam Karashik (Ridgefield/Avon Old Farms). He will be playing near the Golden Dome in the fall as a grad transfer.
During the college hockey transfer portal, Brian Rigali is expected to be heading elsewhere. No word on whether or not Zach Robbins will return for a fifth year at UCONN or if he will use his grad transfer option as well.
Goalie Tomáš Vomáčka is expected to sign with the Nashville Predators who drafted him in the fifth round (154th overall) in 2017. Their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, opted not to play this season. They would need a goalie who played this past year next season.
It’s a 50/50 proposition regarding whether or not he turns pro or returns to Storrs for a senior season.
One of the first two college players (both Division III) heading to Europe has a tie to Connecticut.
ISRAEL OF BUST
Michael Gennello, who played for the Connecticut Nighthawks (EHL) and the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack (METJHL), graduated from Division-III Framingham State (MASCAC). He will be skating for HC Tel Aviv in the new Israel Elite Hockey League (IEHL), which will play a short season.
The four-team league will play in June and July with games two-to-three times a week.
The four teams are the Jerusalem Capitals, Holon Vipers, the Bat Yam Dolphins, and HC Tel Aviv.
The new league owners and operators will be the Israeli Hockey Society, not the Israeli Hockey Federation. Talk is that when the season is completed, some players may play in the six-team Federation, the Israeli Hockey League (IHL). They have teams in Metula, Haifa, Rishon, a second team in the Holon Ninjas, and a second-team, HC Bat Yam Chiefs and Petakh.
There are only two naturally-sized hockey rinks in Israel: the Canada Ice Center of Metula and the Ice Palace in Holon.
