(1/16) LOUIS DOMINGUE IS AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT– Hartford Wolf Pack goaltender Louis Domingue was selected as the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week, ending January 15th.

Domingue, a new father, posted a record of 2-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage, and a shutout in three road starts to help the Wolf Pack extend their point streak to seven games (3-0-2-2). They climbed five points behind the Charlotte Checkers in fourth place and the last playoff spot. The Wolf Pack escaped the Atlantic Division cellar and are in seventh place.

Domingue’s week started in Charlotte, where he made 21 saves in a 5-0 victory over the Checkers to earn his first shutout as part of the Wolf Pack. It was the Wolf Pack’s first regulation victory on the road against the Checkers.

The next night, Domingue earned his second straight victory over Charlotte, stopping 23 shots in a Wolf Pack 3-2 win. It was the first time this season that Domingue had started on back-to-back nights. The team won two games in regulation after a 20-game drought. His week finished with a 36-save effort in Sunday’s 3-2 overtime loss against the Providence Bruins in a well-played game.

In 22 appearances for Hartford this season, Domingue has a 9-6-6 record with a .914 save percentage while ranking eighth in the AHL with a 2.37 GAA.

Previous Wolf Pack players who’ve won the AHL Player of the Week award have included Nicklas Jensen (2015-2016) and CT Whale Kris Newbury (2012-2013). Jensen currently plays for SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers in Switzerland. Newbury plays with the Gananoque Islanders in the Canadian Senior League (EOSHL) alongside ex-Pack players Eric Selleck and Ryan Verbeek, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler/New York Rangers’ great, now Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek.

Kyle Beach is among eleven ex-Pack have won the POTW recognition but did so in other AHL cities.

Five ex-Bridgeport Sound Tigers have won it as well.

IN OTHER NEWS

The Rangers returned Ryan Carpenter to Hartford after a one-game recall. In turn, the Pack released Brandon Cutler from his PTO and sent him back to Utah (ECHL).

A few more moves are expected before they begin a three-in-three weekend with Providence at the XL Center Friday.

Dennis Cholowski and William Dufour were recalled by the Islanders from Bridgeport and then returned.

Former UCONN forward and Yale grad Kevin O’Neil signed a PTO deal with the Colorado Eagles.

Chase Zieky (Avon/Avon Old Farms) leaves Greenville (ECHL) for Wheeling (ECHL).

IN SCOUTING NEWS

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) released its mid-season preliminary draft list with six Connecticut connections.

In the Top 10 is UCONN freshman winger Matt Wood. He was listed eighth. He will likely become the highest-drafted player in school history, surpassing the current third-leading goal scorer in the NHL with 31, Tage Thompson (Milford). He plays for the Buffalo Sabres and played his college hockey at UCONN before being selected by St. Louis.

Three Avon Winged Beavers (10-2) prep school team members made the list.

Joseph Connor is listed at #71. He could be a mid-round pick and is committed to Northeastern (HE).

A potential later-round selection is Joseph Odyniec (Wilton, CT). He’s 6’3, 200lbs, and a commit to UCONN (HE).

The third member of AOF listed in the US in the goalie category is Stephen Peck, at #13 among netminders. He is collegiately uncommitted.

Taft School (Watertown, CT) saw Rudy Guimond from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, ranked at #16 among eligible goalies in North America. He, too, is uncommitted.

There are two others with Connecticut connections. Defenseman Lucas St. Louis (Riverside, CT/Brunswick School) with Dubuque (USHL) is the youngest son of former Ranger, NHL Hockey Hall of Famer, and current Montreal head coach Marty St. Louis. He earned a mid-season slot at #166 and is headed to Harvard University (ECACHL).

RW Dan Harkimo from Finland from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep is at #212 and is also not committed collegiately.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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