BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – With the news that the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) has signed Sean Avery to a Professional Try-Out (PTO) contract and his subsequent release two days later, it harkens back to his very last game, the now 41-year-old’s last game with the Hartford Wolf Pack over ten years ago.
It was Friday, January 27, 2011. The Wolf Pack played against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and lost 3-2 in overtime. It would be Avery’s seventh and final game on his second tour of duty in Hart City. Avery had already been suspended at one point for threatening one member of the team’s off-ice personnel.
THE INCIDENT THAT ENDED IT
At 3:28 of the second period, the former CT Whale, as they were known for a brief period during the Howard Baldwin Sr./Jr. run days, received a stretch pass from team captain Ryan Bourque that sprung him free. The secondary assist came from the current Rockford Icehogs (AHL) assistant coach Jared Nightingale.
Avery kicked up his right leg and buried his final goal past the Penguins Brad Thiessen. he made a beautiful backhand-to-forehand move for the goal. But as he circled the left-wing boards to celebrate, he inexplicably sucked punched future Wolf Pack Assistant Coach Joe Mormina igniting a line brawl. Mormina is out of pro hockey now but still lives in the area.
When the dust settled, Avery popped up out of the pile and began barking at referee Jean Hebert, who subsequently tossed him from the game, and that would be the last time anyone saw the truculent and oft-troubled Avery in Hartford.
The Wolf Pack coach was their legendary great, Ken Gernander. Cantlon’s Corner asked Gernander in the post-game if he had asked Avery why he engaged in his action?
Gernander dead-panned in his subtly humorous way and sarcastically sneered, “I didn’t bother to ask!”
That other Pack goal on the night came from Jonathan Marchessault, who is now thriving in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights.
OTHERS CHIME IN ON COMEBACK
Matthew Barnaby, Sr, and Georges Larocque have said they would sign a deal with teams in their division to get a crack at Avery. He engendered so much hatred during his playing days that even ten years later, there are guys who still want to drop the gloves with him.
Aaron Ward, a regular guest on TSN 690 Montreal weekday afternoons on “The Mitch Melnick Show,” told the audience this week that when he was a member of the Boston Bruins for one game, they had five guys lined up to take him on.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
In an initial press conference upon his return to Hartford, a staging area was set up for a press conference, and the building was hosting on the same weekend a mini-dog show.
In a scene that you couldn’t have scripted any better, as he began to speak, all the dogs all started barking simultaneously. (True story)
