BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The 2021-2022 hockey season is inching closer with each passing moment, and more and more activity is happening as teams look to complete their rosters.
The AHL released the playoff format for this coming season, and 23 of the 31 teams will make the chase for the Calder Cup. Making the playoffs until recently was the benefit to a team’s and a player’s hard work. Now, it’s being handed out to just about everyone. Also, the three-game playoff series makes its return allowing for more playoff revenue by trying to attract the marginal hockey fan but at the same time further dilutes the AHL product and makes the regular season meaningless. Read more about it HERE.
RANGERS AND WOLF PACK NEWS
The Hartford Wolf Pack search for a new assistant coach to replace Gord Murphy, elevated to the New York Rangers staff as an assistant to new coach Gerard Gallant last month, has been sourced and selected. However, an announcement should be coming shortly, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. He declined to name the chosen candidate.
Meanwhile, up in the Big Apple, the Rangers announced the hiring of John Lilly as the new Director of Amateur Scouting and Player Development. Lilley went to Boston University for a season-and-a-half in the early 1990s. He played in the NHL and spent the last 14 years in the same role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Lilley, a Massachusetts native, played on the 1994 US Olympic Team with current Rangers President/GM and Wolf Pack GM, Chris Drury’s older brother, ex-Hartford Whaler, Ted Drury.
How this hire affects Jed Ortmeyer and Tanner Glass remains to be seen in the new organizational scheme.
Forwards Tim Gettinger, Ty Ronning, and goaltender Adam Huska all received new contracts. The trio each get one-year, two-way deals. Huska will make $750K in the NHL and $80K for his season in the AHL. Gettinger and Ronning will earn the same $750K as Huska in the NHL but will get $75K in the AHL.
Ex-Wolf Pack Sean Day re-signs with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a one-year, two-way deal at $750K for playing in the NHL and $100K to play in the AHL.
The Rangers’ new Double AA affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), lost their head coach, Jason Christie. He is no on the Buffalo Sabres’ coaching staff as an Assistant Coach. Christie is the only coach in the team’s franchise history and is the all-time winningest coach in ECHL history.
Jacksonville team president, former CT Whale front office executive Bob Ohrablo, said a search for a new bench boss has begun. According to various reports, a new coach should be announced in about three weeks.
MOVEMENT
Six more AHL’ers are packing for Europe with their training camps starting in the next two weeks.
Ben Street leaves the Binghamton Senators and signs with EHC Munich (Germany-DEL).
Adam Mascherin departs the Texas Stars for Skellefteå AIK (Sweden-SHL).
Theodor Lennestrom no longer flies with the Bakersfield Condors. He will join the Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL).
Skyler McKenzie of the Manitoba Moose signs with Västerviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Nathanael Halbert who played two games for the Laval Rocket goes to the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL) and Keegan Kanzig, who played eight games for the San Diego Gulls, heads to EC Salzburg (Austria-IceHL).
That makes 63 total players heading overseas. Six are off to Austria, while eleven go to Germany, which is second to Russia at 17, and nine go to Sweden.
Former QU Bobcat Chase Priskie signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Florida Panthers. He’ll earn $750K in the NHL and$70K for play in the AHL. Greg Printz (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) signs the same deal with San Diego, and ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Mason Jobst, signs an AHL deal with the Rochester Americans.
KOWALSKY JOINS BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS
The New York Islanders have named Rick Kowalsky the new assistant coach for the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders and their tenured head coach, ex-Wolf Pack, Brent Thompson (Milford).
Kowalsky had been with the New Jersey Devils coaching staff the past three seasons, following eight years as head coach of the Devils’ AHL affiliates in Albany and Binghamton.
He guided the AHL Devils to three Calder Cup Playoff appearances in 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2015-16, Kowalsky earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach.
He replaces the assistant coach of the last ten years, Eric Boguniecki (West Haven/Gunnery Prep-Westminster Prep). Boguniecki played for Bridgeport. Matt Carkner was the assistant for five years.
Kowalsky served four seasons as Head Coach of New Jersey’s ECHL affiliate, the Trenton Devils and Trenton Titans. He received the 2009 John Brophy Award as the league’s top coach. The Simcoe, ON native, was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in January 2017.
The Bridgeport Islanders signed their first minor league free agent. He is the sharp-shooting, swift-skating Chris Terry, who comes back from Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). He has 552 career AHL points under his belt and led the AHL in scoring with 71 points in 2017-18 in Laval’s first season at Place Bell. In addition, the Islanders re-signed five other players from last year’s squad. They include; Jeff Kubiak, Erik Brown, Felix Bibeau, Cole Coskey, and Kyle MacLean.
DINEEN IN THE NEWS
Former Whalers great Kevin Dineen was named the new head coach for the Utica Comets, now the New Jersey Devils affiliate. Dinneen’s contract wasn’t renewed by the Anaheim Ducks in San Diego, coaching the Gulls. The irony is that Utica is now the new ECHL affiliate of the Adirondack Thunder. Dineen played for the Binghamton Whalers for half a season. The Dineen family has been a part of Glens Falls AHL hockey and upstate New York hockey history.
As a head coach, Bill Dineen, Kevin’s father, won two Calder Cups in seven years with the Adirondack Red Wings, the second coming over the New Haven Nighthawks. He was the last WHA New England Whalers head coach and a scout for two years for the NHL Whalers.
Gord Dineen, Kevin’s brother, coached in Rochester and was a volunteer assistant at D3 Hobart College last year. A pair of ex-Nighthawks, Peter and Shawn Dineen, played in Adirondack, and Kevin’s brother Jerry was the Rangers video coach for 17 years. He was let go this summer. In his playing days, he played at SUNY-Plattsburgh, a Division III school.
MORE MOVEMENT
Larry Pleau, the New England Whalers (WHA) great and a one-time Hartford Whalers head coach, was also a Rangers assistant GM/Director of Player Personnel in the mid-1990s and a senior advisor to the St. Louis Blues for the last 23 years, becomes a 76-year-old “free agent” and takes a job as the new senior advisor for the Arizona Coyotes.
Former Rangers head coach and New Haven Nighthawks assistant coach John Tortorella signs to be a part of ESPN’s new NHL coverage team as an in-studio analyst.
Ex-Wolf Pack captain/Sound Tiger Greg Moore, the current head coach with the Toronto Marlies, has added a new assistant coach, in former head coach from the Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL), John Snowden.
This leaves Newfoundland-native and current resident, former New Haven Nighthawk, and Rangers assistant coach Darryl Williams, the team’s assistant coach, as the only staff member left.
The new AHL coaching parade sees long-time AHL assistant for eight teams, Scott Allen, named the Hershey Bears’ new head coach. The Iowa Wild names Nate Dicasmirro and Nolan Yonkman as the team’s new assistant coaches.
Andy Chiodo was hired as the goalie coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
AND THE CHANGES KEEP POURING IN
Former Ranger Rick St. Croix, the father of two ex-Wolf Pack in Chris and Michael St. Croix, retired from the Manitoba Moose. The Moose is also in the news for hiring recently retired goalie Drew MacIntyre as the new goaltending coach and scout. He finished his career last season, winning the Japanese Hockey title with the Oji Eagles.
Ex-Pack and Ranger Gordie Dwyer was hired as the new head coach of the Saint John Seadogs (QMJHL).
Ex-Wolf Pack Dave MacIsaac comes back to Danbury for the third time. He was named the new head coach of Danbury Hat Tricks (FPHL). He played for the infamous UHL Trashers from 2004-2006 and was head coach of the Danbury Mad Hatters (EPHL) in 2008-09. He has coached in Louisiana (ECHL), Björninn in Iceland for two years, and was the GM of St. Jerome (LNAH). His assistant coach Adam Blanchette (Berlin/CT Clippers-MetJHL/Danbury Titans-FPHL), was hired last week.
Hamden’s Mike Lee (Gunnery/Sacred Heart University) re-signs with the Indy Fuel (ECHL).
Former UCONN captain Miles Gendron signs a one-year AHL two-way deal (AHL-ECHL) with the Colorado Eagles-AHL/Utah Grizzlies-ECHL for the 21-22 season.
Ex-CT Whale Mike Pelech, who split last season between the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and Indy (ECHL), signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) for the 2021-22 season.
Ex-Sound Tiger Justin Taylor returns to the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) after playing last season for the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL).
Nick Hutchison (Avon Old Farms) goes from Indy (ECHL) to Adirondack (ECHL).
AND THE SIGNING JUST KEEP COMING
Greg Harney (East Haven/ND-WH) signs with Port Huron (MI) Prowlers (FPHL) after playing for four years at Framingham State (MASCAC).
Ex-Pack Eric Selleck will play Canadian senior hockey for Gananoque Islanders (EOSHL) Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League.
Ex-Sound Tiger David Quenneville leaves the Rapid City Rush (ECHL) for IK Oskarshmamn (Sweden-AHL).
Former Whaler/Ranger Dave Barr leaves the Canada U-18 hockey program and becomes the head coach with the Vienna Capitals (Austria-IceHL).
Brandon Whistle, the nephew of former Nighthawk Rob Whistle, returns to play after a year off with the Leeds Knights (England-NIHL), whose Head Coach/GM is his father, David. Brother Jackson is playing for Belfast (Northern Ireland-EIHL) this season.
UCONN hockey released their full 2021-22 schedule. The first two games will be at home at the XL Center on October 2nd against Sacred Heart University (AHA), a non-conference matchup. The school’s first Hockey East contest is October 8th against Boston University. Read more HERE.
Jason Fortier, a long-time Junior-A coach who was head coach/GM of the Odessa (TX) Jackalopes (NAHL) last year, was named the new assistant coach with the University Maine Black Bears (HE), replacing ex-Sound Tiger Ben Guité.
Guité was named the new head coach of the ECHL Maine Mariners as Riley Armstrong is heading to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to be an assistant coach. Guide’s, father Pierre, played in all seven years of the WHA.
Ex-Wolf Pack Daniel Paille was upgraded from a volunteer assistant coach to a full-time assistant coach with Canisius College Golden Griffins (AHA).
MORE SIGNINGS?
J.D. Greenway completed his four years at Maine after transferring from Wisconsin. He signs with the Providence Bruins. After four years at Denver University (NCHC), Jack Doremus signs with the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL), and Quin Foreman Dartmouth College (ECACHL) signs with Indy (ECHL). These signings make 26 players from Hockey East schools who signed a pro deal and 16 from the NCHC. The breakdown for the other conferences is; Big 10 has 21, AHA and ECACHL seven each, WCHA (CCHA) four, and Division I Independent Arizona State two.
Ludwig Stenlund of Niagara University (AHA) heads home to play for HC Vita Hasten (Sweden-Allenesque). Ashton Stockier from Mercyhurst University (AHA) and Division III Adrian College’s (NCHA) Mike Finger are both going to HCB Ticino (Switzerland-LNB). Now 82 college players have signed in North America, 33 in Europe. 118 total college players from Division I and Division III are signed to pro deals in Europe and North America. 34 underclassmen have left school early.
TRANSFERS
10 more college transfers for a hectic college hockey off-season.
Grant Hebert transfers from the Robert Morris University (AHA) program canceled to the University of Maine (HE).
Minnesota-Mankato (CCHA) gets David Silye from Clarkson University (ECACHL) and Josh Groll from Michigan (Big 10).
Tyler Ghirardosi of Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) heads to Worcester and Holy Cross (AHA). Then after his freshmen year at Bentley University (AHA), Christian Felton heads up I-90 to Merrimack College (HE).
Canisius College (AHA) gets Jake Witkowski from Boston University (HE) and Randy Hernández from Robert Morris University (AHA).
Miami (OH) (NCHC) gets Thomas Daskas from the Air Force Academy (AHA) and Michael Regush of Cornell University (ECACHL).
Garrett Clegg goes from Robert Morris heads to D3 SUNY-Oswego (SUNYAC).
76 players have transferred this off-season. There are also 51 grad transfers for an amazing 127 players moving this collegiate off-season.
RICHTERS MAKING MOVES
William “Beanie” Richter, the youngest son of former Ranger goalie great Mike Richter of Greenwich, has committed to New Haven’s Yale University (ECACHL) for 2023-24. The 16-year-old is currently enrolled in Brunswick School in Greenwich. Last year, Richter played just one game with the Penticton Vees (BCHL). He was also a 2020 QMJHL US Draftee by the Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) Eagles.
Richter’s oldest son, Tom (Greenwich/Brunswick School), also a forward, played at Penticton (BCHL) last year and will be a freshman at Union College (ECACHL) in the fall.
Goalie Edvard Nordlund of the Danbury Jr Hat Tricks (NAHL) commits to UMASS-Lowell (HE).
Ryan Colwell (Taft School) from the Connecticut Jr. Rangers (NCDC) commits to Albertus Magnus College (NCAA Division III Independent). Sam Mitchell (New Fairfield) commits to Western New England University (CCC) in the fall.
Michael McCosh, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Senator Shawn McCosh, finishes juniors with the New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL) and commits to D3 Buffalo State (SUNYAC).
COACHING MOVES
The 2022 US WJC coaching staff named head coach Nate Leaman (Providence College-HE) returns for another shot at gold. Joining him are ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger Ted Donato (Harvard University-ECACHL) and Kris Mayotte (Michigan-Big 10). And add traditional rival of Michigan, Steve Miller of Ohio St. (Big 10). In addition, Theresa Feaster (Providence College-HE) returns as their video coach.
The 45-player roster at the Canada Junior Development camp held at the Seven Chiefs Sports Complex in Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary features several Rangers prospects, starting with goalie Dylan Garand of the Kamloops Blazers (WHL), who’s coming into his final junior year. Last year, he played two games in Hartford and the recently drafted Brennan Othmann from the Flint Firebirds (OHL).
Other notables include Cole Sillinger, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), who played in Sioux City Stampede (USHL) last year and is the son of former Sound Tiger Mike Sillinger. Ridley Greig, the son of former Whaler Mark Greig, invited but not attending this camp, is giant forward 6’6 Jack Finley Spokane Chiefs (WHL) who played in Syracuse for ten games last year and is the son ex-Wolf Pack, Jeff Finley.
EVEN MORE
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL), which are members of the Junior-A Canadian Junior Hockey League, announced its schedule for the 2021-22 season that will feature all 12 teams NOJHL playing a 56-game schedule and the MHL playing a 52-game schedule.
Fellow junior A league member, the Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA du Quebec (QJAAAHL), which canceled its entire 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 pandemic, announced its 2021-22 season would feature 12 teams in three four-team division set-ups will play a 48-game regular season schedule.
The Chambly Forts team is the only team in the league to drop out. Only nine of the NOJHL’s 12 teams participated in the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season.
The schedule dates remain tentative pending approval from the Canadian government and health officials because of the coronavirus.
