By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – Hartford Wolf Pack news is everywhere in this early part of the season.
The Pack recalled defenseman Seth Barton and forward Drew Worrad from their ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. It’s the first recall of the season as the Pack prepares for a busy weekend by adding some insurance depth.
Both are just paper transactions. The team will shortly announce the termination of Barton’s contract; he signed a European deal.
Worrad’s situation is more complex but is not a contract termination situation.
The Pack hosts the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday at 7 p.m. at the XL Center.
On Saturday, the Wolf Pack will start their weekend by hitting the road to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania, for a matchup with the Penguins at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the Pack will make their way to Allentown, where they will face off with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 5 p.m.
The Pack has had to change the starting times for two games. November 11th, 7 p.m. start against the Providence Bruins moves to 7:30 p.m. because of a doubleheader with UCONN men’s basketball and the changeover required from the hard court to ice. The second is a December 30th holiday period date with the Bridgeport Islanders, which moves back an hour to 6:00 p.m.
Ex-Pack Vinni Lettieri was recalled from the Iowa Wild by the Minnesota Wild.
Easton Brodzinski, younger brother of Pack captain Jonny Brodzinski, was the last cut of the Jacksonville Ice Men (ECHL). He signed with the Allen (TX) Americans.
Two ex-Pack sign early season deals in Europe after the first month of their regular season. Anthony Greco, a Pack player two years ago, switches Swedish teams and signs with Linköping HC (Sweden-SHL). Adam Clendening, from last year’s team who was without a deal in North America or Europe and attended Ranger’s training camp on a Professional Try Out (PTO) deal, has signed with Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL), where he joins ex-Pack Ville Mekanen.
Mike Dalhuisen (Quinnipiac University ECACHL) departs HC Bolzano (Italy-IceHL) and heads to Gyergyói HK (Romania-MOL), where he joins ex-Pack Devin DiDiomete as a teammate.
Sam Gagner, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Ranger Dave Gagner, after attending the Edmonton Oilers’ training camp on a PTO, was cut and signed with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL).
Rob Schremp, the ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger of one game and Springfield Falcon finds himself in Hong Kong. He lands as the head coach, Director of Hockey Ops, and Youth Hockey Supervisor for the RBC Jr. Tigers, teaching the game to a new market and generation of young players. He is also the European scout for the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms (USHL).
Among the coaches and instructors are all-time Wolf Pack leading scorer and AHL Hall of Famer Brad “Shooter” Smyth. Smyth’s older brother has lived and worked in Hong Kong for ten years.
Jakob Karpa, the son of ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger and former Ranger David Karpa, is skating with the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) and committed to Trinity College (NESCAC). His twin brother Zakary is entering his third year at Harvard (ECACHL). He was a Rangers’ draftee last year.
He could be in Hart City this spring when the college season ends if he’s offered a short-term and long-term deal to leave Harvard.
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