HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack announced their 2023-24 home opener will be Friday, October 20, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the second time in team history.

The season for the Pack will open on the road on Friday the 13th against the Providence Bruins, and the following night, the team will be in Springfield to challenge the Thunderbirds at the Mass Mutual Center.

The full schedule will be released Wednesday.

THOMPSON LEAVES BRIDGEPORT

The Bridgeport Islanders head coach, and ex-Pack defenseman, Brent Thompson, has departed The Park City to join the Anaheim Ducks, where he will join another Bridgeport coaching alum, Greg Cronin, as his new assistant. Cronin was named the new Ducks head coach last month.

Rick Kowalsky was named Thompson’s new assistant in Bridgeport last year, and like Ken Gernander a few years ago in Hartford when he saw Keith McCambridge named his new assistant, he was gone a year later.

PADDOCK

Former Wolf Pack John Paddock, 69, has retired from the Regina Pats (WHL) as Coach/GM/VP of Hockey Operations.

The AHL HOF coach won two WHL Coach of the Year honors, won a conference title, and reached a Memorial Cup final in his tenure.

In his nine years at Regina, he had 12 players drafted into the NHL. Connor Bedard was the third time a Regina player was taken first overall.

Paddock finishes with 209 wins, the second most in team history.

MISHEGOSS

Easton Armstrong, the youngest son of Wolf Pack great Derek Armstrong, who played a year-and-a-half with Paddock before being dealt to Winnipeg, will be on his third WHL team as an overage player next year. He will play with the WHL expansion Wenatchee (WA) Wild.

Ex-Pack Austin Rueschhoff will be seen up to six times next year after signing a one-year AHL deal with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Ex-Pack François Brassard departs the Maine Mariners and signs with the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL).

Former Bridgeport Sound Tiger Alan Quine leaves Ontario and signs with the Malmö IF Redhawks (Sweden-SHL).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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