HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK 

By: Gerry Cantlon, Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack announced their home game promotional schedule for the 2023-34 season. It features the return of last year’s successful “Pucks and Paws” event, where fans can bring their beloved dogs to the game.

The date for the “Pucks and Paws” game is December 22nd against the Bridgeport Islanders. That date is one of the season’s 72-game schedule featuring 36 home dates.

Another favorite returning is “Hops and Hockey Night” on December 30th, also against the Islanders.

HARTFORD RELATED PLAYER MOVES

Ex-Pack goalie Keith Kinkaid has dissolved his association with the Chicago Wolves. He signed a one-year, two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils and their AHL affiliates, the Utica Devils. The contract pays $775K in the NHL and $350K for games in the AHL. There are reports he could still be assigned to Chicago if he is reassigned to the AHL.

A trusted West Coast NHL team source said of Kinkaid, “He can play well. We talked with two teams he has played for. We got a thumbs down on him. He’s not a good locker room guy. So, we opted not to sign or offer him a deal.”

Rayen Petrovický, the son of former Hartford Whaler/Ranger Róbert Petrovický, signs with HC Liberec (Czechia-CEL). He was then loaned to VHK Vestin Czechia (Czech Republic) Division-II. The move makes him eligible to play for both teams next season.

CONNOR BLEACKLEY

Connor Bleackley, another ex-Pack, moves on from the Maine Mariners (ECHL), who are coached by ex-Pack Terrance Wallin (Hotchkiss Prep), to the Rapid City Rush (ECHL).

Incidentally, Bleackley was the last Wolf Pack player signed before the pandemic hit. The Pack were severely shorthanded for a game against the Providence Bruins. Bleackley was signed after the Pack saw three players suspended from a brawl in Springfield against the Thunderbirds a few days earlier. Those three were Vinni Letterieri, now with the Iowa Wild, Mason Geersten, playing for the Henderson Silver Knights, and the retired Matt Beleskey. Then there were injury issues in New York, and then captain Steve Fogarty was on an emergency recall in Colorado by the Rangers, which necessitated the signing of Bleackley.

After the loss to the Bruins, then Pack Danny O’Regan told Howlings in his post-game comments, “You can’t construct a lineup in 36 hours and expect to win.”

EX-BRIDGEPORT PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

Some ex-Sound Tigers get some new addresses.

Casey Bailey signs a PTO deal with Ottawa. Connor McCarthy, who played part-time over the last two years with the Islanders after training camp, was dropped by HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). He signs with St. Georges-de-Beauce (LNAH).

Kieffer Bellows signs a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, and Mark Louis, who played briefly in Bridgeport, departs Cardiff (Wales-EIHL) and signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL).

CASSELS FAMILY STAYING ACTIVE

Cruz Cassels, the youngest son of former Whaler Andrew Cassels, is with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-14 AAA (T1EHL). Birk, his second son, is also with their program. He plays with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets U-18 AAA (T1EHL) and is an Ottawa 67’s (OHL) 2022 Draftee. His oldest, Cole, played with both Södertälje SK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and the Belleville Senators last year. He just signed a one-year deal with San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for next season. Their cousins are in the NHL. Justin Barron is with the Montreal Canadiens, while ex-Pack Morgan Barron is with the Winnipeg Jets. Morgan signed a two-year extension earlier this summer.

ROB MALLOY

Cheshire native and former Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, Rob “Bert” Malloy, confirmed via e-mail from New South Wales that he is happy to decompress from his one-win season for his local AIHL expansion team, the Central Coast Rhinos. Malloy hopes to return next season for a better season in the league’s 23rd year. He finished second in team scoring with ten goals and 31 points in 19 games. Malloy hopes to get one more crack at the Australian National team in April when they play at the IIHF Group A Division II tournament in Serbia.

He will hope to start with a three-game series against neighbor and Southern Hemispheric rival, New Zealand, and looks to lengthen his play from last year’s tournament in Madrid, where he suffered a broken jaw in their game against Israel.

That led to a harrowing experience in a Spanish hospital where nobody spoke English.

16 native Australians are on the national team.

Malloy hopes in his post-season career, whenever it starts, to coach at the junior level with the Central Coast Stingrays team and help grow the game in Australia.

NHL DOWN UNDER

Malloy, like others, is anxiously waiting for the NHL exhibition games to be played this week in the Land Down Under at the Rod Laver Arena. They will be the first two NHL games ever to be played there. The two games will air the pair of Los Angeles Kings – Arizona Coyotes contests on the NHL Network. The games will be played on Friday, September 22nd, and September 23rd at 9 p.m., 17 hours ahead in the Pacific time zone, where they will be played at 2 p.m. local time.

Melbourne’s ice hockey rink seats only 1,500. The Henke Rink at the O’Brien Icehouse in the Dockland’s precinct of Melbourne is home to two AIHL teams, the Ice and Mustangs. A building only seating 1,500 is not suitable for NHL hockey.

The first Australian to score an NHL goal was Nathan Walker, now with the St. Louis Blues. “Stormy” Walker scored in his NHL debut on October 7th, 2017, with the Washington Capitals. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, but raised in Sydney, Australia.

Jorden Spence of the LA Kings will be on one of the teams as an Australian native born in Manly, New South Wales – NSW, Australia. His family moved to Osaka, Japan, and eventually landed in Cornwall, PEI (Prince Edward Island), Canada.

The first Australian ever drafted was Darren Gani (Perth, AUS). He grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, and back in 1984, he participated in the Edmonton Oilers’ training camp.

MORE AUSSIE NEWS

One of the other three players with a little Aussie in them includes ex-Pack and current Ranger Bryce Harpur. He is a dual-born citizen; his mother, Margery, is Australian.

Ex-King, who played briefly with the Wolf Pack, Steve McKenna, played in the AIHL (Adelaide Avalanche) and coached the Australian national team for a few years.

No Australian has his name on the Stanley Cup. Just one Australian player is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Tommy Dunderdale of Benalla, AUS, was inducted post-humously in 1974. He was credited with the very first penalty-shot goal in NHL history. He was a prominent player in the early 20th century as he skated with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). Dunderdale grew up, learned hockey in Winnipeg, and played against the Montreal Canadiens before they were in the NHL.

The 114-year-old Goodall Cup is awarded each season to the AIHL champion. Two weeks ago, it was awarded to the Melbourne Mustangs. The Goodall Cup is the fifth oldest trophy competed for in hockey.

Three Southern Hemisphere countries are full members of the IIHF in ice hockey. They include South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Just seven NHL players in league history have been born in that hemisphere.

The Arizona Coyotes, at its temporary home in Tempe, the Mullett Arena at ASU (Arizona State University), is 8,227 miles from Melbourne. The LA Kings will travel 7,932 miles to play the game.

The Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) have Alec Nasredinne, the son of former Sound Tiger player and current Dallas assistant coach Alain Nasredinne. They also have Brady Schultz (Monroe, CT), the grandson of former Whaler Norm Barnes, and Liam Kilfoil, formerly of Selects Academy at South Kent Pre,p on their lineup as the junior season gets underway.

In other moves, Pat Harper (AOF/New Canaan) signed a training camp Professional Try-Out (PTO) contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

Connor Stokes, with the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep program, commits to the Sault Ste. Marie Eagles (NOJHL).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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