BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack more than just recovered from a dreadful, defensively after a garish second period, they erupted, scoring a season-best five goals in a 7-3 win over the Hershey Bears before 3,699 at the XL Center.
The Pack onslaught began with 3:32 left after Hershey’s third goal and 14-shot second period.
Goalie Keith Kinkaid was visibly disgusted after ex-Pack Dylan McIlrath’s goal. The next shot forced a glove save on a wide-open Mason Morelli on the right-wing, who was another clean entry facing no checking or stiff opposition.
He went to the bench on a commercial time-out – a goalie rarity, but just prior, he’s chucked the puck to the corner rather than hand it over to the linesman. His disgust at the play of his teammates was clear.
“We realized when we were in the locker room after the second period. He’s building a wall for us, one save at a time. I heard guys saying it. He has done so much for us (this season), we’ve got to play better for him,” said veteran P.C. Labrie.
KNOBLAUCH SEES THE HUMOR
“We had the same thing happen with Shesty (Igor Shesterkin) once came to the bench, but nobody understood him because he was muttering in Russian,” Knoblauch said with a smile. “He would bark at people. Everybody knows because they have a lot of respect for him (Kinkaid). He’s done a lot for us in lots of games. We shouldn’t have won. Obviously, we responded well in the third.”
The third-period onslaught was ignited by the stick of Lauri Pajuniemi, who scored twice his fourth and fifth goals in 64 seconds, starting at 2:53.
The first one came off a redirection of a Ty Ronning shot. The second was a two-pass masterpiece that gave him his first multi-goal game. The second goal started in the defensive zone with a Tanner Fritz outlet pass, finding Ronning, who then sent a lead pass for Pajuniemi, who outraced three Bears to the puck. Once gaining control, Pajuniemi fired it past goaltender Zach Furcale, a former #1 pick of the Montreal Canadiens.
“I didn’t have time to (process) that he had two goals,” Labrie said. “Boom, he got one. Boom he gets another. We’re in control here. That’s the strength of this team. (Goals) can come from any side of the ice or line for the team and when we defend against a team it’s the combo we have.”
PAJUNIEMI
Knoblauch complemented his rookie forward. “He did the same thing in Providence with a guy draped all over his back. There isn’t a lot of room to score goals out there, but he’s starting to find them.”
Labrie completed his three-point night with the Pack’s third goal in a 1:51 timeframe. Labrie jammed home his second goal of the year in front of the Hershey net. His excitement and exuberance were on full display as he banged on the glass behind the net afterward.
“We’re working smart in practice, and it paid off (tonight),” Labre said in his French-accented English. “We’re putting in five 10-minute drills in front of the net. Anybody we put on the fourth line is playing the right way. We’re fighting and battling to stay there, and I like the chemistry we have. It doesn’t matter who is on that line; nothing feels out of place. Everyone wants to chip in.
MORE PAJUNIEMI
His head coach spoke of and thought highly of him, not as a spare part in returning to North America from Germany after two years at the last minute.
“He has a good shot and protects the pucks well. P.C. has brought a lot. He has played more than we expected. We knew he was a tough guy and had skills. We knew he could play. He played in the NHL before. It’s been a nice surprise for us. He is by far one of the most popular guys in the dressing room.
“I love the way he plays and the energy he brings to the room,” remarked Knoblauch. “As a fourth liner, he doesn’t get that much ice time. Sometimes players get out of a game, can get out of focus. He doesn’t. Some guys can get lulled by the game; He knows when his shift is. He is encouraging his teammates. He’s making sure his linemates are ready for their shift. He’s another coach on the bench.”
BRODZINSKI
Captain Jonny Brodzinski scored two goals on special teams. The first was the team’s first power play goal in ten tries, and they added a shorthanded goal to complete Labrie’s prophecy from three weeks ago when he said, “When it cracks for us, it will crack.”
“He is working the wall so well for us. He wins like 90% of the puck battles he’s in. That’s why he’s our captain he gets rewarded.”
The first period was all Hartford. The second all Hershey as they tallied three goals to take an albeit brief lead.
“We had a good effort in the first and third period, not the second. We’ve been down numerous times like in Providence. There is no quit on this team and we stick with a game plan, and it works. We have had good leadership and the young guys have been respectful, hard-working and want to get better,” Knoblauch said.
SECOND PERIOD BLUES
Libor Hajek, playing in the last game of his conditioning stint, sent an ill-advised pass up the middle of the ice. The pass was broken up by Michal Kempny and set up Shane Gersich to score his first goal of the year, getting it past Kinkaid at 1:33 of the second.
The Bears tied it at two on an extended shift in the Pack end. The Pack was unable to clear their end. A shot from the left point by Lucas Johansen was deflected by Bears veteran and AHL sharpshooter, Mike Sgarbossa who tallied his team-best sixth goal at 10:06.
Then McIlrath, an ex-Wolf Pack and former Rangers 2010 first-round draft pick took an elusive shot from along the far side past Kinkaid at 15:13. It completed another Bears cycle in the Wolf Pack end of the ice.
It was the second time of his career, the first coming as a Springfield Falcon, that McIlrath has scored as an opponent against the Pack.
PACK RESPOND
The Wolf Pack has done well in reversing their first-period blues.
Anthony Greco (six shots) came on for a line change burst down the left-wing side in the Bears zone. Braden Schneider (two assists) was able to see him and hit him with a perfect, diagonal pass. In one motion, Greco put it on the net past Furcale with the puck headed low to the far side of the net at 6:18
McIlrath clipped Zach Jones on a play that didn’t go unnoticed. When the play stopped, Ronning showed fearlessness, loyalty by going after the much bigger and enforcer-minded McIlrath.
Labrie, the Pack’s tough guy, appreciated Ronning’s effort.
“That’s the mentality we have. We don’t have to fight every night, but when that crap happens, when you see Ty doing that, we’re all right there backing each other up.”
AFTERMATH
On the ensuing rush, Patrick Khordorenko picked up the loose puck generated by a Labrie clearing play and got a clean zone entry used. Next, Khodorenko used Bears defenseman Cody Franson as a screen and shot over Furcale’s glove with 6:18 remaining in the period. It was his first goal as Franson skated to his netminder to apologize to him.
Labrie likens the team to the 2012 Calder Cup-winning team he was a part of in Norfolk. “There’s a lot of (similarities) like the young guys and the veterans, the coaching staff we have. I think we have the two best goalies in the league.”
LINES
Fritz-Brodzinski-Greco
Barron-Ronning-Pajuniemi
Whalen-Khordorenko-Richards
Labrie-DiGiacinto-Rueschoff
Schneider-Robertson
Jones-Hájek
Reunanen-Guittiari.
Kinkaid
Huska
SCRATCHES
Bitetto
Gettinger
Skinner
Brassard
O’Leary
NOTES
Hajek played all weekend. The decision was made that his conditioning would not be extended. On Monday, he returns to New York.
“He has spent his time in development here. He’ll be moving on to New York. They can’t extend it.” Knoblauch said.
Gettinger was scratched from the lineup for a second game as he nursed an AHL campaign’s assorted bumps and bruises.
“It’s a nagging injury. He’ll be on the ice on Monday. We want him to get the rest and heal. It’s a persistent injury. He needs the time to heal, but if it were the playoffs, he would play. We just don’t want it to be all season long.”
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER
It was ‘Hockey Fights Cancer Night’ at the XL Center. Before the game, Labrie reflected on his former assistant captain and Quebec Triple AAA teammate Alexandre Charest of the Coaticook Frontaliers (QJAAAHL) who passed away from a rare form of cancer while very young.
“He fought and battled very hard, but sadly he didn’t make it. During the opening ceremony and anthem, I thought about him, and said a quick prayer and had a good thought about him. We’re all wearing a jersey, playing or not.”
WINNING STREAK
Friday, the Utica Comets won their 12th straight to start the season at home. It was a 4-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers. The old record was eleven held by the 1984-85 Rochester Americans who got win number 13 as they built a 5-0 lead held on for a 5-3 win.
The league record for consecutive wins is 28. That record is held by the now-defunct Norfolk (V.A.) Admirals in 2011-12. They went on to win the Calder Cup title. The only losses they suffered in their march to the title in that impressive run were at the hands of the C.T. Whale in the playoff quarterfinals which they lost in six games.
MORE NOTES
Ex-Pack Deven DiDiomete signs with Gyergyói HK (Romania-MOL) in the Erste League,
Max Sauvé, who played at Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) and played at Penn State (Big 10), signs with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).
CRAWFORD SELLS OUT
Former Hartford Whaler and New Haven Nighthawk and briefly C.T. Whale President of Operations, Bob Crawford, sold his stake in Connecticut arenas but sold the International Skating Center in Simsbury to local business interests.
He also sold Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, the Wolf Pack second practice facility, and the Bolton Ice Palace to a national arena management company called Black Bear Sports Group that will handle all the business operations and maintenance operations. Crawford will still be involved on the hockey side of things and will still be doing the winter open ice at Bushnell Park in the heart of downtown Hartford. The two buildings give Black Bear 29 in total.
The release state that “An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT, and Bolton Ice Palace in Bolton, CT (the “Arenas”). The Agreement is subject to normal course closing conditions. The Arenas collectively feature two NHL ice sheets, one Olympic ice sheet, a full-service gym, and a pool. The transaction also includes purchasing the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, the elite Tier I and Tier II youth hockey program. The Arenas are also home to the Whalers Youth Hockey Association & Eastern Connecticut Stars, and many figure skating. The Sellers included long-time silent business partner Alan Lazowski, Founder and CEO of Laz Parking, and former NHL player Bob Crawford. Crawford is assuming a senior role with Black Bear, including becoming a member of the Board of Directors. Black Bear, the largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., was founded by CEO Murry Gunty in 2015.
The two buildings give them 29 in total.
“I am thrilled that Bob will continue his life’s work and legacy with Black Bear, the best and most prolific rink owner and operator in the United States.”
“It has been my great honor to partner with Bob Crawford over the past 30 years and watch his passion and love for the game and his commitment to teach young men and women the art of the game,” said Lazowski. “I am thrilled that Bob will continue his life’s work and legacy with Black Bear, the best and most prolific rink owner and operator in the United States.”
“We are excited to expand our Connecticut presence with this transaction, as Connecticut is such a strong hockey market,” said Murry N. Gunty, Founder and CEO of Black Bear. “More importantly, I am thrilled to have Bob Crawford has joined our organization to help us continue to build out our hockey business. Bob brings deep hockey experience from both his distinguished NHL career and his extensive youth hockey experience including leading leagues, representing his district and serving in leadership capacities at the highest levels of hockey especially USA Hockey. It is an honor to have him on board.”
“I’m excited to stay on board and continue to develop players in the Jr. Wolf Pack program and support Black Bear’s overall hockey business,” said ex-NHLer Bob Crawford. “Over the years we have had numerous offers to sell the rinks, but both Alan and I believe that Black Bear will be the best home for our families and our buildings and a great place for my wife, Kathleen, and I to continue to make a large impact on both our community and the sport that we both love. In addition, Bolton Ice Palace and Champions Skating Center will continue to thrive under Black Bear’s ownership.”
The arena in Cromwell was first purchased in 1997.
“Our mission is to continue growing hockey and ice sports in Connecticut and are thrilled to add another Tier I franchise that we can support through our numerous junior team franchises such as the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL,” said Ryan Scott, Vice President of Black Bear. “Under Bob’s leadership, we also look forward to growing our league and tournament businesses in Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast and expect to host numerous boys’ and girls’ events in our rinks.”
-This is the first of six meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Bears during the 2021-22 AHL regular season. This is also the first of three meetings at the XL Center. The sides will meet back in Hartford on March 5th and 26th. The following three meetings will occur in Hershey, coming on January 22nd and 23rd and February 2nd.
