By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The dog days of summer pose challenges for hockey executives of all levels, including the Hartford Wolf Pack, to fill out their rosters for the upcoming season.
The contract status of veteran Tanner Fritz, who spent the last two years with the Wolf Pack following six seasons in Bridgeport, remains unchanged. He is still unsigned.
For Fritz, securing a good contract to deal with the special medical needs of his son remains a priority. Fritz’s veteran status remains an issue, but he continues to look at all options. Fritz hopes to return to Hartford after being a solid fixture on and off the ice for the Pack last season.
EX-PACK PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
Tony DeAngelo returns to the Carolina Hurricanes a year later on a free-agent deal.
Danny Kristo leaves Sheffield (England-EIHL) and signs with Coventry (England-EIHL).
Zach Guitarri (Loomis Chaffe), traded to the Abbotsford Heat from Hartford at the trade deadline, leaves for Växjö (Sweden-SHL).
Patrick Newell, who started last year with Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL), then left mid-season for Södertälje SK (Sweden-Allsvenskan), signs for next season with Orlando (ECHL).
Luke Adam leaves EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL) and joins HC Plzen (Pilsner) Czechia (Czech Republic-CEL). The team also has ex-Pack, Petr Zamorsky.
Scott Kosmachuk left TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) and signed with Lada Togliatti (Russia-KHL).
DAVE BARR
After two years in Vienna (Austria-IceHL) as the team’s head coach, ex-Hartford Whaler Dave Barr leaves and signs to be the new assistant coach with AHL-independent Chicago Wolves.
Barr had 12 years in the NHL as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Florida Panthers. He also coached the Houston Aeros to a Calder Cup title in the AHL. He ran the bench for Houston’s IHL team and in Orlando with the Solar Bears. He also spent three years as head coach of the Guelph Storm (OHL).
ECHL
The ECHL Board of Governors formally approved the Lake Tahoe (NV) expansion team to begin play in 2024-25 at the brand-new Blue Lake Event Center to be run by OVG 360, the same operator of the XL Center.
The team name and staff will be done later, with an affiliation NHL/AHL to be announced in 2024-25.
CONNECTICUT RELATED PLAYER NEWS
New Canaan’s Pat Harper, who played at Avon Old Farms, started last year with Mora IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). He left mid-season for Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Harper signs with the South Carolina Stingray (ECHL) for next season.
Now former Bridgeport Islander Collin Adams, who split last season between Bridgeport and the Worcester Railers (ECHL), has signed with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) for the ’23-’24 season.
Tyler Drevitch, the son of ex-New Haven Nighthawk Scott Drevitch, departs the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and joins his brother Logan next year with the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL).
Players departing the AHL for Europe is at 65. The Springfield Thunderbirds’ Greg Printz (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) is the latest to leave, who heads to the Belfast Giants in (Northern Ireland-EIHL).
Kārlis Čukste (Quinnipiac University) leaves HC Oceláři Třinec (Czechia (Czech Republic-CEL) and signs with Brynäs IF (Sweden-Allsvenskan).
DON NACHBAUR
Former Whaler and New Haven Nighthawk Don Nachbaur, speaking on his return to Calgary as an assistant with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) this year, said, “We had a good team, and the fans in Calgary were super, but the winters are brutal. I grew up in Western Canada and have been out of there for 40 years coming from California (Stockton), where we were. I don’t enjoy it, didn’t miss it at all.”
Could the new building to be built in Calgary might ease some of that cold burden?
“It’s great for Calgary. The designs for the building look fantastic, but that building won’t be built till five years from now because of the financing, zoning, and environmental regulations. There is mountain of hurdles to overcome and get through before the first shovel gets in the ground. I likely will be retired by the time it happens.”
WAYNE BABYCH
Wayne Babych’s son Cole is a 16-years old playing goalie with Winnipeg (WAAA). He also has his learner’s permit to drive. Babych quipped, “I don’t know what scares me more, him facing slapshots as a goalie, or him driving?”
ANDRE LACROIX
Andre Lacroix, Sr.’s son, Andre III, is off to college at the University of Utah (ACHA Division-1), where he will play club hockey. “He loves to ski and play hockey. Out there, he can do both.”
His grandsons Anthony and Alex attend and play hockey at Gilmour Academy Prep in Ohio.
DOUG ROBERTS
Doug Roberts on Gordie Howe. “He just wasn’t only a great player, he was a great father too. Look at how well Mark and Marty have turned out. He did well with both of them (and his other son and daughter) as well.”
BOB CRAWFORD
Bob Crawford’s nephew Aidan was in town on his college tour. He’s looking at all the CT Division I schools, though not as a hockey player. He’s a track and field athlete. One of the schools he’s looking at is Yale in New Haven.
GRANT JENNINGS
Grant Jennings traveled the furthest to attend the Hartford Whalers Day at Dunkin Donuts Field, traveling from Alaska with his son Gordon, who plays at South Anchorage High School. He was a draft choice in the WHL US portion of their bantam draft by the Prince Albert (SK) Raiders in June.
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