WOLF PACK CONTINUE TO EXPAND FOOTPRINT WITH STRONG 2024-25 SEASON IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT THE BOX OFFICE
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The 50th Anniversary of professional hockey in the city of Hartford was a roaring success for the Hartford Wolf Pack, as the organization completed another successful season.
The Wolf Pack enjoyed another strong year of growth in terms of ticket sales and their footprint in the Greater Hartford Community.
The club sported 19 lower bowl sellouts during the 2024-25 campaign, a mark that helped them see another historic season at the box office.
Over the course of 36 regular season home games, the Wolf Pack welcomed an average of 5,590 fans to the XL Center in downtown Hartford. This marked the club’s highest single-season average attendance since the 2010-11 season.
This marked the first time since the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons that the Wolf Pack averaged over 5,000 fans per game in back-to-back seasons. The club averaged 5,456 fans during the 2023-24 campaign.
In total, over 201,000 fans came through the XL Center doors this season, including 10,074 on Jan. 11, 2025. That marked the first time since Jan. 28, 2017, that the club welcomed over 10,000 fans to the XL Center for a game.
The club also set a record for the most paid tickets distributed in franchise history.
The 2024-25 season also saw the Wolf Pack continue to expand their footprint in the Greater Hartford Community. The franchise’s beloved mascot, Sonar, made 67 appearances during the season at local schools, community events, community fundraising initiatives, youth sports practices, and more.
Hartford Wolf Pack players and coaches also chipped in, making 41 visits during the season. In addition to traditional visits to local schools and youth hockey practices, Wolf Pack players and coaches made trips to Connecticut Children’s Hospital to donate toys during the holiday season as part of the team’s annual toy drive and to donate the teddy bears following the team’s annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ game.
Players and coaches also stopped by a local soup kitchen in Southington, CT, to assist with dinner service and cleanup in November around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Players also participated in CHR’s ‘Adopt-A-Family’ Toy Drive, where they purchased gifts for families dealing with financial hardships during the holiday season.
Additionally, the ‘Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’ donated over 1,912 tickets to the community during the 2024-25 season. These tickets were donated to local schools, hospitals, youth sports organizations, and charitable organizations for a variety of purposes.
Over $36,000 was donated by the ‘Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’ as part of the annual grant process. Grants were awarded to ‘Hands of Hartford’, ‘Horizons at Westminster School’, ‘Ädelbrook Behavioral Consultation’, ‘Hartford P.A.L’, and ‘Gaylord Specialty Healthcare’.
$12,321.89 was raised by the organization via DASH Auctions throughout the season. That money was then donated to numerous nonprofits in the Greater Hartford Area.
Additionally, the Wolf Pack hosted numerous drives throughout the season. The club helped collect over 200 care packages put together thanks to donations from their ‘Military Appreciation Night’. Those care packages, in conjunction with ‘Boxes to Boots’, were sent to a unit in Syria, a naval ship, and two other undisclosed addresses. The care packages, along with letters written by players and coaches, were sent to units with ties to the state of Connecticut.
Over 350 books were donated by fans at the club’s annual book drive this past March. Those books were donated to the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).
“The CREC Academy of Computer Science and Engineering Middle School is so thankful to the Hartford Wolf Pack and it’s fans for this generous donation,” said Jill Wnuk, school Principal, ahead of the annual drive.
On Feb. 22, the club hosted its annual food drive benefitting ‘Hands on Hartford’. The food drive brought in over 600 pounds of food.
“Hands On Hartford is so grateful for our wonderful, ongoing partnership with the Hartford Wolf Pack,” said Kelly Dougherty, Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Communications Coordinator with ‘Hands on Hartford’.
“With their (along with their loyal fans’) generous support over the years, through gameday food drives, financial donations, and their very special player-made ornament auction, we have been able to continue to stock our community pantry’s shelves and stuff hundreds of backpacks full of nourishing food for individuals, families and children falling on hard times and experiencing food insecurity.”
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Hartford Wolf Pack for exemplifying the true meaning of teamwork. We could not do this important work without the support of our community.”
For more information on the Wolf Pack’s community initiatives and the ‘Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/fan-zone/hartford-wolf-pack-community-foundation.
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DYLAN ROOBROECK SCORES 20TH GOAL AS WOLF PACK DOWN ISLANDERS 4-1
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded the 2024-25 season with a 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders at the XL Center on Friday night.
Alex Jefferies opened the scoring 4:05 into the hockey game, scoring his 13th goal of the season. Jefferies worked in on the left-wing side, cut to the front of the net, and beat Dylan Garand up high to break the ice.
The goal was Jefferies’ sixth against the Wolf Pack in the season series.
The Wolf Pack erupted for three goals in the middle frame, taking a 3-1 lead.
Brandon Scanlin tied the game 10:11 into the period, jamming home a rebound for his eighth goal of the season. Nathan Sucese’s shot from the point was denied by Tristan Lennox, but Scanlin collected the loose puck and evened the score.
Dylan Roobroeck became the fourth rookie in the last three seasons to record 20 goals in a season for the Wolf Pack at 12:21. Roobroeck took a pass from Sucese in the slot and ripped a shot by Lennox to make it a 2-1 hockey game.
In the final minute of the period, Noah Laba made it 3-1 with a breakaway goal. Brendan Brisson swiped a puck from his own blueline to Adam Sýkora, who sprung Laba into the offensive zone. Laba went to the backhand and beat Lennox through the five-hole at 19:32.
The goal was Laba’s third in eleven pro games since joining the team from Colorado College. It was also the first of two points (1 g, 1 a) on the night for the rookie forward.
1:00 into the final frame, Jaroslav Chmelař tipped a Casey Fitzgerald point shot by Lennox to make it a 4-1 game. The goal was Chmelař’s 12th of the season, while Fitzgerald’s assist was his 21st point of the campaign, tying a career-high.
Garand made 23 saves on 24 shots to collect his 20th victory of the season.
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RANGERS REASSIGN G TALYN BOYKO TO ECHL’S TULSA OILERS
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned goaltender Talyn Boyko to the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Boyko, 22, has appeared in 33 games with the Oilers this season, posting a record of 20-8-5. The native of Drumheller, AB, has recorded a .913 save percentage, a 2.66 goals-against average, and two shutouts in his 33 appearances.
With the Wolf Pack, Boyko has appeared in five games this season, posting a record of 2-2-0 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average. He made 32 saves in his first career AHL start on Dec. 31, 2024, against the Springfield Thunderbirds, collecting both his first career AHL shutout and victory.
He also recorded an assist, his first point in the AHL.
Boyko was selected in the fourth round, 112th overall, by the Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
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ANTON BLIDH SCORES CAREER-HIGH 19TH GOAL, BUT WOLF PACK FALL 3-2 TO CHECKERS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – Anton Blidh continued a career-year for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday night at the XL Center. It was not enough to push the club to victory, however, as the Charlotte Checkers collected a 3-2 win in the season series finale.
John Leonard opened the scoring 3:35 into the hockey game, burying a rebound for his 35th goal of the season. Jack Devine fired a backhand shot that Talyn Boyko denied, but the rebound came right to Leonard.
The goal was Leonard’s fourth in the season series against the Wolf Pack.
Late in the period, the Checkers got a five-on-three advantage. The Wolf Pack killed off the first penalty, but Oliver Okuliar converted on the ensuing five-on-four to make it 2-0 at 19:54. Devine fired a pass from the right-wing side that clipped a defenseman in front of the net and found Okuliar on the left-wing side.
The goal was Okuliar’s 17th of the season.
Blidh tipped home a Chad Ruhwedel shot 16:38 into the second period, making it 2-1. Ruhwedel fired a shot from the right-wing wall that Blidh deflected in the slot for his career-high 19th goal of the season.
Just over a minute later, however, Okuliar restored the two-goal lead. Ben Steeves snuck behind the Wolf Pack defense and got a good look on Boyko that the goaltender denied. Steeves stayed with it and got a second look on the right-wing side but was denied by Boyko a second time. This time, the rebound popped to Okuliar in front of the crease, allowing him to secure his 18th goal of the season at 18:04.
The Wolf Pack pushed in the final period and were able to draw it to 3-2. Adam Sýkora stripped Michael Benning off the puck in front of the Charlotte goal, gained possession, and ripped a shot by the glove of Kaapo Kähkönen at 12:11.
Despite a good push late, the Wolf Pack were unable to find the equalizer on Kähkönen.
With the defeat, the Wolf Pack settled for a season series split with the Checkers. The Wolf Pack went 4-3-1-0 in the eight game series.
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NATHAN SUCESE NAMED WOLF PACK’S IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack is proud to announce that forward Nathan Sucese has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Greater Hartford community during the 2024-25 season.
As part of his community efforts, Sucese was the leading force behind the club’s participation in the CHR’s annual ‘Adopt-A-Family’ initiative during the holiday season. As part of the initiative, Wolf Pack players purchased gifts for families dealing with financial hardships during the holidays.
The native of Fairport, NY, also took part in the club’s annual visit to the Southington Bread for Life Soup Kitchen to assist with dinner service in November. Additionally, Sucese took part in the club’s ‘Cards for Soldiers’ initiative in partnership with ‘Boxes to Boots’ in November, attended local youth hockey practices, and visited local Hartford area schools.
Sucese is now one of 32 finalists for the AHL’s 2024-25 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League later this month.
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RANGERS REASSIGN HUGO OLLAS TO WOLF PACK
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned goaltender Hugo Ollas to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from the ECHL’s Worcester Railers.
Ollas, 22, has split his rookie season between the Railers and Bloomington Bison in the ECHL. With the Railers, Ollas appeared in 22 games and posted a record of 10-9-2 with an .896 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average.
With the Bison, Ollas went 2-7-1 with an .888 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average in eleven games.
Prior to turning pro, Ollas spent three seasons with Merrimack College. With the Warriors, Ollas compiled a record of 27-27-0 with a .914 save percentage, a 2.48 goals-against average, and six shutouts over 60 games.
The native of Linköping, SWE, was named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team following the 2022-23 season, his sophomore year.
The 6’7”, 251-pound netminder was selected in the seventh round, 197th overall, by the Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
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WOLF PACK WEEKEND RECAP: APRIL 14th, 2025
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack completed their penultimate weekend of the season with a 1-1-0-0 record. The club also concluded it’s road portion of the 2024-25 season.
Hartford concludes it’s 2024-25 season with two home games this week.
Friday, April 11th, 2025, Vs. Providence Bruins (2-6 L): The Wolf Pack fell behind 4:49 into the hockey game on Friday night and were unable to claw back against the Providence Bruins.
Matt Poitras backhanded home a rebound at 4:49 of the first period, giving the Bruins a lead they never lost. Dans Ločmelis potted his first career professional goal at 8:53 of the second period, taking a centering pass from Poitras and making it 2-0. Tyler Pitlick made it 3-0 at 11:23, beating Dylan Garand by the glove for his 21st goal of the season.
Oliver Wahlstrom blasted home a one-timer from the right-wing circle 1:25 into the third period, making it a 4-0 contest. Anton Blidh got the Wolf Pack on the board at 3:18, tipping home a Jackson Dorrington shot from the left-wing point.
Less than a minute later, however, Poitras tipped a Frederic Brunet shot by Garand to make it 5-1.
Adam Sýkora got it to 5-2 at 14:37, jamming home a rebound, but John Farinacci ended the intrigue at 19:09 with an empty net goal.
With the loss, the Wolf Pack finished the season series with a 3-7-0-0 record against the Bruins.
Saturday, April 12th, 2025, at Bridgeport Islanders (5-3 W): The Wolf Pack jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the 17:17 mark of the first period on Saturday night in Bridgeport.
Dylan Roobroeck broke the ice at 1:12, banking a pass off the skates of Jesse Pulkkinen and in for his 19th goal of the season. Noah Laba then made it 2-0 at 5:53, jamming home a rebound for his second career goal.
Jake Leschyshyn tipped his 13th goal of the season by Hunter Miska at 8:27. Stationed at the top of the crease, Leschyshyn got a piece of Connor Mackey’s shot from the point to make it 3-0. Alex Belzile then fired a shot home on the power play at 17:17, making it 4-0.
Tyce Thompson backhanded home a loose puck over the right pad of Callum Tung at 17:40, making it 4-1 after 20 minutes of play.
Tung suffered an injury early in the second period, forcing Talyn Boyko in for the final 38:41 of play.
3:49 into the second period, Brian Pinho tapped a backdoor pass from Marshall Warren by Boyko to make it 4-2. 1:04 later, at 4:53, Alex Jefferies snuck a shot by Boyko from the right-wing circle to make it 4-3.
Boyko slammed the door shut from there, however, making 20 saves to help the Wolf Pack conclude their road schedule with a victory.
Jackson Dorrington hit the empty net at 19:38, scoring his first career professional goal.
Quick Hits:
- The Wolf Pack finished their road schedule with two consecutive victories. It marks the third time this season that the Wolf Pack have won back-to-back games on the road.
- The club finishes the season with an 11-18-6-1 record on the road.
- Belzile’s goal in Bridgeport on Saturday night was his 300th career point in the AHL. His 19th goal of the season matches his previous career-high of 19, set during the 2023-24 season with the Wolf Pack.
- Despite leaving the game due to injury at the 21:19 mark, Tung collected his first career AHL victory on Saturday night. He made eleven saves on 12 shots before exiting the contest.
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RANGERS RECALL D MATTHEW ROBERTSON FROM HARTFORD WOLF PACK
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Matthew Robertson from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Robertson, 24, has recorded a career-high of 25 points (1 g, 24 a) in 60 games with the Wolf Pack this season. His 24 assists also set a new career-high in that category.
The native of Edmonton, AB, has scored 80 career points (11 g, 69 a) in 250 AHL games, all with the Wolf Pack. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
Robertson was selected in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
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WOLF PACK WIN WILD GAME OVER ISLANDERS 5-3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Wolf Pack jumped out to a 4-0 lead at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport on Saturday night, then hung on for a 5-3 victory over the rival Bridgeport Islanders.
The Wolf Pack exploded for four goals in the opening frame, taking a commanding 4-1 lead into the intermission. Dylan Roobroeck opened the scoring just 1:12 in. His shot toward the goal clipped off the skates of Jesse Pulkkinen and beat Hunter Miska. The goal was Roobroeck’s 19th of the season.
Noah Laba then jammed home a rebound at 5:53, making it 2-0. Casey Fitzgerald fired a shot that Miska denied, but Nathan Sucese got a look on the rebound. Miska made the save on that as well, but Laba made sure the third time was the charm as he secured his second career goal.
Jake Leschyshyn made it 3-0 at 8:27, tipping home a point shot from Connor Mackey for his 13th goal of the season and his first in ten games. Alex Belzile then ripped home a shot from the slot at 17:17 on the power play, tying his career-high with his 19th goal of the campaign.
Belzile’s goal was also his 300th career point in the AHL. The goal stood as the eventual game-winning tally.
Tyce Thompson got the Islanders on the board at 17:40, lifting a rebound over the right pad of Callum Tung to make it 4-1.
Early in the second period, Tung was forced to leave the game due to injury. Talyn Boyko finished the game in net for the Wolf Pack, making 20 saves. Tung played 21:19 before leaving the game, making eleven saves on 12 shots.
The Islanders struck twice in just 1:04, making it a 4-3 game by the 4:53 mark. First, Marshall Warren fired a slap-pass from the left-wing point to the back door, where Brian Pinho tipped home his team-leading 25th goal of the season at 3:49.
At 4:53, Alex Jefferies fired a shot from the right-wing circle that beat Boyko by the right arm for his 12th goal of the season.
Boyko made 12 saves in the period, keeping the Wolf Pack up a goal through 40 minutes despite being outshot 14-5 in the frame.
The Islanders pushed in the final stanza, but Boyko made eight saves to preserve the victory. Jackson Dorrington hit the empty net at 19:39, scoring the first goal of his professional career.
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WOLF PACK FALL 6-2 TO BRUINS AT XL CENTER
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – Anton Blidh scored his career-high 18th goal of the season for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night at the XL Center in front of 7,629 fans. Unfortunately, it would not be enough as the Wolf Pack fell 6-2 to the Providence Bruins.
11:23 into the second period, Tyler Pitlick ripped home his 21st goal of the season from the slot on a feed from Jeffery Viel. Pitlick’s goal gave him ten points (5 g, 5 a) in the season series, while Viel’s assist gave him helpers in back-to-back games. The goal stood as Pitlick’s fourth game-winning tally of the season.
Alex Belzile had a terrific chance in the opening minutes of the hockey game, set up in the left-wing circle. Belzile’s one-timer looked destined for the back of the net, but a diving Brandon Bussi was able to snag it with his glove to keep it 0-0.
Moments later, Matt Poitras followed his own rebound and backhanded his 15th goal of the season into the net at 3:36 to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
The Bruins extended their lead to 2-0 8:53 into the second period. Poitras sent a centering pass to Dans Ločmelis, who quickly snapped a shot by Dylan Garand for his first career professional goal.
Moments later, Pitlick extended the lead to 3-0, scoring the eventual game-winning goal.
Oliver Wahlstrom ripped a one-timer from the right-wing circle 1:25 into the third period, making it 4-0 Bruins. The goal was the veteran’s eighth of the season, and second point of the night (1 g, 1 a).
Blidh got the Wolf Pack on the board with his 18th goal of the season at 3:18. While providing a screen in front of Bussi, Blidh tipped home a point shot from Jackson Dorrington. The assist was Dorrington’s first career professional point.
Less than a minute later, however, a blast from the point from Frederic Brunet snuck through traffic just seven seconds into the fourth power play of the game for the Bruins. The goal, scored at 3:59, was Brunet’s sixth of the season and first against the Wolf Pack. Ločmelis picked up the primary assist on the goal, his career-high fourth of the night (1 g, 3 a).
Adam Sýkora beat Bussi at 14:37, scoring his ninth goal of the season off a rebound, but 5-2 was as close as the score got.
John Farinacci hit the empty net at 19:09 to cement the two points.
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WOLF PACK RECALL D RYAN SIEDEM
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that defenseman Ryan Siedem has been recalled from loan to the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison.
Siedem, 24, has scored one assist in five appearances with the Wolf Pack this season. He recorded his first career AHL assist on Oct. 19, 2024, against the Bridgeport Islanders.
The native of Madison, NJ, has also recorded 20 points (3 g, 17 a) in 44 games with the Bison as a rookie. He ranks ninth overall on the team in scoring and third in scoring among defensemen.
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DYLAN ROOBROECK’S TWO GOALS PACE WOLF PACK IN 3-2 VICTORY OVER ISLANDERS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Dylan Roobroeck struck twice on Wednesday night to help the Hartford Wolf Pack snap a four-game losing streak (0-2-2-0). His two goals in 4:16 during the second period proved to be the difference as the Wolf Pack downed the rival Bridgeport Islanders 3-2.
At 19:50, while on their fourth power play of the game, a shot from Alex Belzile whistled wide and hit the end boards. The ricochet clipped the left skate of Roobroeck and crossed the line to make it a 3-1 spread after two periods of play.
Jaroslav Chmelař opened the scoring with a power play goal 8:04 into the hockey game. Chmelař rushed down the right-wing side and cut to the net, where he put a backhand shot off the crossbar. The puck bounced off the backside of Tristan Lennox and rolled over the line for the rookie’s eleventh goal of the season.
Just 50 seconds later, however, Joey Larson tied the game. Larson outmuscled a Wolf Pack player in the slot, gained puck possession, and ripped a shot by the blocker of Talyn Boyko at 8:54. The goal was Larson’s first career goal as a pro.
Roobroeck’s third career multi-goal game put the Wolf Pack ahead 3-1 through 40 minutes, as he struck twice in the final 4:16 of the middle frame.
First, Nathan Sucese entered into the offensive zone on the right-wing side, then dished a pass through two defenders right to Roobroeck in the slot. The rookie quickly gained possession, then snapped a shot by Lennox to make it a 2-1 game at 15:34.
At 19:50, Roobroeck potted his second career game-winning goal, making it 3-1. The goal was the club’s second power play strike of the night. For Roobroeck, it was his 18th goal of the season, tying him with Belzile for the team lead.
Belzile’s helper was his team-leading 37th of the season.
Larson got the Islanders within one 1:54 into the third period, blasting home a power play goal from the left-wing circle for his second tally of the night. That would be as close as the Islanders drew it, however, as Boyko made seven saves in the final period to preserve the victory.
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RANGERS REASSIGN G TALYN BOYKO TO WOLF PACK
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned goaltender Talyn Boyko from the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Boyko, 22, has appeared in 33 games with the Oilers this season, posting a record of 20-8-5. The native of Drumheller, AB, has recorded a .913 save percentage, a 2.66 goals-against average, and two shutouts in his 33 appearances.
With the Wolf Pack, Boyko has appeared in two games this season, posting a record of 1-1-0. He made 32 saves in his first career AHL start on Dec. 31, 2024, against the Springfield Thunderbirds, collecting both his first career AHL shutout and victory.
He also recorded an assist, his first point in the AHL.
Boyko was selected in the fourth round, 112th overall, by the Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
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NEW YORK RANGERS RE-SIGN FORWARD ANTON BLIDH
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has signed forward Anton Blidh to a two-year contract extension. The extension will cover the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.
Blidh, 30, has set new career-high marks in both goals with 17 and points with 30 (17 g, 13 a) this season in 66 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack. His 13 assists this season are tied for the second most in a single season in his career. His career-high in assists is 15, set during the 2017-18 season as a member of the Providence Bruins.
Acquired by the Rangers from the Colorado Avalanche on Mar. 2, 2023, Blidh has played parts of three seasons in Hartford. As a member of the Wolf Pack, the native of Mölnlycke, SWE, has skated in 147 games and scored 58 points (31 g, 27 a).
He has also appeared in 19 Calder Cup Playoff games with the Wolf Pack, registering nine points (4 g, 5 a) and a +12 +/- rating.
The 6’1”, 196-pound forward has also appeared in one game with the Rangers.
Blidh has dressed in 461 career AHL games with the Wolf Pack, Bruins, and Colorado Eagles, scoring 158 points (83 g, 75 a). He has also appeared in 85 career NHL games with the Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Colorado Avalanche, recording 12 points (4 g, 8 a).
Blidh was selected in the sixth round, 180th overall, by the Bruins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Hartford Wolf Pack transactions during the 2024-25 season are powered by Verizon.
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WOLF PACK SIGN FORWARD NATHAN ASPINALL TO ATO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has agreed to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with forward Nathan Aspinall for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Aspinall, 19, appeared in 62 games with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds this season. He recorded a career-high 30 assists and 47 points (17 g, 30 a). In five playoff games this spring with the Firebirds, Aspinall scored three points (2 g, 1 a).
The native of Markham, ON, scored a career-high 18 goals with the Firebirds during the 2023-24 campaign. Throughout three seasons, Aspinall has scored 85 points (36 g, 49 a) in 156 OHL games with the Firebirds.
The 6’7”, 194-pound forward was selected in the fifth round, 159th overall, of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
Hartford Wolf Pack transactions during the 2024-25 season are powered by Verizon.
Join the Wolf Pack for the 2025-26 season! Renew your membership now or learn more about becoming a ‘Pack Member’ here.
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NEW YORK, NY – New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick has been named the recipient of the fourth annual Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award, given to the Rangers player “who best honors Rod’s legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.”
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WOLF PACK WEEKEND RECAP: APRIL 7th, 2025
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack were swept in a back-to-back set by the Hershey Bears over the weekend in Pennsylvania. With the losses, the Wolf Pack have now lost four straight games (0-2-2-0) by one goal.
Sunday’s regulation loss also eliminated the team from playoff contention.
Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at Hershey Bears (2-3 OTL): Casey Fitzgerald opened the scoring for the Wolf Pack 10:39 into the hockey game, firing a shot from the right-wing circle that beat Garin Bjorklund.
The lead lasted a mere 1:29, however, as the Bears quickly responded at 12:08. Bogdan Trineyev rushed down the right-wing side and snapped a shot that Dylan Garand denied, but the rebound went to the right of the netminder. There, Luke Philp pounced on the loose change and tied the game with his eighth goal of the season.
Late in the period, David Gucciardi scored the first goal of his professional career when he fired a shot into traffic that got by Garand. The goal, scored at 17:37, had the Bears up 2-1 until late in regulation time.
With a six-on-five advantage in the final minutes of the third period, Dylan Roobroeck tied the game with his 16th goal of the season. The rookie deflected Connor Mackey’s shot from the left-wing point by Bjorklund at 18:34 to force overtime.
61 seconds into the extra session, the Bears made the Wolf Pack pay for a defensive zone turnover. Alex Limoges buried his 16th goal of the season to earn the extra point for the Bears.
Sunday, April 6th, 2025, at Hershey Bears (1-2 L): Brendan Brisson ripped home the icebreaker 18:11 into the hockey game, working his way into the slot before snapping a shot by the glove of Clay Stevenson. The goal was Brisson’s seventh of the season and his second as a member of the Wolf Pack.
The Wolf Pack would protect their 1-0 lead until the third period but could not push it over the finish line. Two goals in 95 seconds for the Bears would prove to be the difference in the hockey game.
Ryan Chesley, in his pro debut, fired a shot from the blueline that beat Callum Tung by the glove. The goal, Chesley’s first as a pro, came at 3:24 and tied the game 1-1. Mike Vecchione’s shot from the slot missed by the glove of Tung moments later, bouncing off the end boards and popping to the right of the netminder.
There, Ivan Miroshnichenko collected the puck and lifted it over the right pad of Tung for his 20th goal of the season. The goal would prove to be the game-winning marker.
Quick Hits:
- The Wolf Pack earned five of a possible eight points against the Bears this season, posting a record of 2-1-1-0.
- Sunday’s loss marked the third time this season that the Wolf Pack lost in regulation time when leading after two periods of play. All three losses have come on the road.
- Including the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Wolf Pack have now lost five straight games at the Giant Center against the Bears.
- The Wolf Pack were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. It is the first time since 2022 that the club will miss the Calder Cup Playoffs.
- Forward Sullivan Mack made his professional debut in Sunday’s loss against the Bears.
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BRENDAN BRISSON STRIKES, BUT WOLF PACK FALL 2-1 TO BEARS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HERSHEY, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack dropped their third game in regulation time when leading after two periods of play this season on Sunday night in Hershey. Two goals in 95 seconds for the Bears flipped the game, as Hershey hung on for a 2-1 decision.
Mike Vecchione fired a shot from the slot that whistled wide by the glove of Callum Tung. The puck bounced off the back boards to the right of Tung, where Ivan Miroshnichenko pounced. Miroshnichenko collected the loose puck and lifted it over the right pad of Tung at 4:59 to make it 2-1 for the Bears.
The Wolf Pack opened the game with one of their better periods of the season, limiting the Bears to just two shots on goal. They were rewarded for their effort at 18:11, as Brendan Brisson ripped home his seventh goal of the season to make it 1-0.
Brisson danced into the offensive zone, made his way to the slot, and beat Clay Stevenson by the glove to break the ice. The goal was Brisson’s second as a member of the Wolf Pack.
The two shots on goal surrendered in the first period were tied for the fewest allowed in a single period this season by the Wolf Pack.
For the second straight night, the middle stanza failed to produce a goal. Each team had numerous looks, but both Stevenson and Tung stood tall. Tung’s best save of the period came in the opening minutes, when Brennan Saulnier was robbed on a backhand chance in-tight.
Stevenson’s best save came midway through the period, when Noah Laba set up Nathan Sucese at the backdoor. Stevenson was able to deny Sucese with the right pad, keeping the game 1-0.
Stevenson made nine saves in the period, while Tung denied six bids from the Bears.
The Bears struck twice in 95 seconds in the third period to take the lead and inch closer to an Atlantic Division title. Ryan Chesley tied the game at 3:24, firing a shot into traffic that beat Tung by the glove. Moments later, Miroshnichenko buried the goal that gave the Bears the lead for good.
The loss extends the Wolf Pack’s current losing streak to four games (0-2-2-0). It also mathematically eliminates the team from Calder Cup Playoff contention.
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DYLAN ROOBROECK SCORES LATE, BUT WOLF PACK FALL 3-2 TO BEARS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HERSHEY, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack turned in a strong effort on the road Saturday night, but dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to the Hershey Bears in overtime at the Giant Center.
Pierrick Dubé forced a turnover deep inside the Wolf Pack’s zone, gaining puck possession and then feeding Alex Limoges. Limoges let a quick shot go that beat Dylan Garand 1:01 into the extra session to give the Bears the second point.
Casey Fitzgerald opened the scoring 10:39 into the hockey game, burying his fifth goal of the season. Blake McLaughlin won puck possession in the left-wing corner and swung a pass to Fitzgerald at the top of the right-wing circle. From there, the captain snapped home his first goal in 19 games to break the ice.
The Bears countered at 12:08, however, tying the game 1-1. Bogdan Trineyev rushed down the right-wing side and fired a shot that Garand denied. The rebound popped to the left-wing side, however, where Luke Philp picked up possession. There, the veteran tapped home his third goal in as many games.
Just over five minutes later, at 17:37, David Gucciardi lit the lamp in his professional debut. Matt Strome poked the puck to Gucciardi in the slot. The former Michigan State Spartan fired a shot into traffic that beat Garand to make it 2-1.
The goal was Gucciardi’s first career tally.
The Wolf Pack turned in a solid road period in the second, but were unable to solve Garin Bjorklund to tie the game. Jake Leschyshyn was denied on a backhand chance in front of the net, while Connor Mackey was stopped on a breakaway bid.
The sides combined for 15 penalties in the second period, resulting in four separate occasions in which they played four-on-four.
Late in the third period, the Wolf Pack elected to go with a six-on-five attack, pulling Garand in favor of the extra skater. Nathan Sucese found Mackey at the left-wing point, who stepped into a shot that Dylan Roobroeck deflected home. The goal, scored at 18:34, was Roobroeck’s 16th of the season and forced overtime.
In the extra session, however, the Bears outshot the Wolf Pack 3-0 and ended the proceedings at 1:01 with Limoges’ strike.
Despite the loss, the Wolf Pack have five of a possible six points (2-0-1-0) against the Bears this season and points in five of their six games overall (3-1-2-0).
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WOLF PACK DROP OVERTIME THRILLER 4-3 TO PENGUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins played a wildly entertaining game on Wednesday night at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. The Penguins would prevail 4-3 to sweep the six-game season series thanks to Avery Hayes’ second goal of the night.
Hayes was sprung in on a breakaway in the dying seconds of the extra session by Vasily Ponomarev. Hayes beat Dylan Garand through the five-hole at 4:48, giving the Penguins a comeback victory to move to 6-0-0-0 against the Wolf Pack this season.
Valtteri Puustinen opened the scoring 11:16 into the hockey game, jamming home a rebound for his 13th goal of the season. Nate Clurman fired a shot into traffic that Garand denied, but Puustinen was located at the top of the crease and banged home the game’s first tally.
Alex Belzile responded with the club’s ninth shorthanded goal of the season at 14:33. Belzile forced a turnover at the blueline, entered into the offensive zone on a two-on-one, and elected to shoot from the right-wing circle. His shot beat Sergei Murashov for his 17th goal of the season.
Less than a minute later, however, the Penguins responded on the power play. Hayes took a tap pass in the right-wing circle from Sam Poulin and ripped his 20th goal of the season by Garand at 15:21.
The Wolf Pack were awarded a five-on-three power play for 1:40 late in the period but were unable to beat Murashov to tie the game before the intermission.
Jaroslav Chmelař tied the game 95 seconds into the middle frame, potting his tenth goal of the season. Chmelař won possession of the puck in front of the Penguins’ bench, slipped by a defender and entered into the offensive zone on the left-wing side with speed. From there, Chmelař made his way to the front of the net and beat Murashov for his first goal in seven games.
Brendan Brisson’s first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack gave the team their first lead of the night. Late in the period, Anton Blidh sat in the penalty box for roughing. During the power play, Murashov played the puck over the glass and out of play, giving the Wolf Pack an abbreviated power play after 70 seconds of four-on-four play.
On their fifth advantage of the night, Connor Mackey fired a point shot that Brisson deflected in the slot at 17:14. The goal was Brisson’s sixth of the season.
The Penguins tied the tilt just 28 seconds into the third period. Sebastian Aho flung a perfect pass from his own zone to Ville Koivunen. Koivunen sped into the offensive zone on a breakaway and beat Garand to make it 3-3. The goal was Koivunen’s 21st of the season.
For the first time in the season series, the sides required overtime. In the extra session, the clubs combined for 12 shots, each firing six on goal. It was the 12th bid of overtime, Hayes’ breakaway, that proved to be the difference.
Despite the loss, the Wolf Pack extended their current point streak to four games (3-0-1-0).
About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Established by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
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