BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – Goalie Adam Huska made his NHL debut against Colorado in a tough 7-3 loss. He was sent down in an exchange of goaltenders with veteran Keith Kincaid going back to New York.
He is the third UCONN player to play in the NHL. The first was Todd Krygier (Hartford Whalers / New Haven Nighthawks), an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). The other was Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), the Husky’s highest-ever draft pick.
Krygier played for ten years and in 543 NHL games. He was taken in the pre-CBA era feature – the NHL Supplemental Draft.
NOTES
One-time UCONN Husky defenseman David Drake of the Reading Royals (ECHL) signs a PTO deal and is loaned to the Providence Bruins (AHL).
Goalie Jon Gillies (Salisbury Prep) signs a one-year, two-way deal worth over $2 million with the St. Louis Blues and replaces the recalled Charlie Lindgren (older brother of ex-Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Ranger Ryan) in Springfield. They have 13 players and staff test COVID positive over the last two weeks.
Lindgren will see his old team Montreal who drafted him in 2010 on Saturday. He played 24 games in his first years as a pro. Lindgren was named the game’s second star on Thursday in a 6-2 win.
St. Louis signed Gillies. He was 3-1-0 in four AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Providence Bruins (three games) with a 1.76 GAA, and a .939 save percentage and won his only ECHL game in Portland with the Maine Mariners. He played in twelve games (3-5-0) in the NHL in Calgary in 2017-18.
Gillies was the backup for St. Louis tonight to Lindgren against the Detroit Red Wings.
OTHER NEWS
Matt Peca (Quinnipiac University) was called up by Blues.
Former Springfield Falcon Devan Dubnyk signs a deal with Charlotte Checkers.
Nick Hutchison, a one-time former Avon Old Farms player has gone from the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and has earned a recall to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Two ex-Yale players are on the move. Matt Foley, who’s currently with Wheeling (ECHL) signs a PTO deal with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). Ted Hart, a Maine resident, signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL).
Two Beast of New Haven sons were taken in the WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday. In the first round (14th overall), the Prince Albert Raiders selected Ryder Ritchie, the son of Byron Ritchie from the Rink Academy of Excellence U-18 (CSSHL) in Kelowna, BC. Ronan Buckberger, who is the youngest son of Ashley Buckberger, went in the fifth round (94th overall) to the Swift Current Broncos, who acquired the pick from the Moose Jaw Warriors. He skated for the Saskatoon Contacts U-18 (SMAAAHL).
The players who were eligible were 2006-born players residing in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon in Western Canada.
In the US portion of the draft, Tory Pitner of El Cerrito, California was taken 17th of 44 players taken by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Pitner played for the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep program. California led the US portion with 15 selections.
Forward Aidan Park from the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s U-16/U-18 (MNPREP) program went 19th (Playa Vista, CA) by the Calgary Hit Men. He was coached at one-time by former Wolf Pack great Derek Armstrong, who was coaching the LA Jr. Kings.
Australian whiz current leading Springfield scorer Nathan “Stormy” Walker scored his first-ever NHL hat trick in his first game of his recall Thursday evening against Detroit was naturally the game’s first star
Former Springfield Falcon Devan Dubnyk signs a deal with the Charlotte Checkers.
