BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack start the second half of their season at their secondary training facility, Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT, over the next two days as they prepare for Friday’s game with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The taxi squads have been a significant roster disruption for the last two months, but they appear to be gone now. Only one present roster issue remains up in the air.
Jarred Tinordi was reassigned by the New York Rangers, as is Zac Jones. They are still with the Pack, who have nine defensemen.
As expected, Zach Berzolla was shipped back to the Jacksonville Icemen, the Wolf Pack, and Rangers’ ECHL affiliate to get ice time.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching next month, it is likely that if the organization makes trades, they will deal from their logjam presently on the backline.
The Pack host Springfield and Rochester and Friday and Saturday as they return to action with a full roster of players.
NOTES
The Bridgeport Islanders saw Austin Czarnik get picked up on waivers by the Seattle Kracken.
Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger captain Ben Holmstrom will be with the Rochester Americans on Saturday after signing a PTO yesterday from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).
Former Wolf Pack Nikalas Jensen was part of Danish hockey history as they won their first Olympic game in 75 years. Denmark won 2-1 over the Czech Republic. Across the way was ex-Pack Tomas Kundratek. He hit the crossbar in the waning seconds for the Czechs as they sought to tie the game.
After just one game with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), former QU goalie Keith Petruzzelli was sent back to Newfoundland (St. John’s) Growlers (ECHL).
Former Wolf Pack Shawn St. Amant plays under his full name Shawn Ouellette St. Amant with the Trois-Rivieres Lions (ECHL). It’s common among French players to include either your middle name or your mother’s maiden name.
Team USA defeated China 8-0 as Sean Farrell had a hat trick and five points in their opening game of the Olympics. A former Yale Bulldog is a brand new father, Brian O’Neill (Jokerit Helsinki Finland-KHL), the only US player with Olympic experience, scored a power play goal.
FAMILIAR NAMES
A plethora of familiar names on both lineups.
Ex-Sound Tiger named an alternate captain, Aaron Ness, now with the Providence Bruins. He was paired with ex-Pack Steven Kampfer who plays with AK Bars Kazan (Russia-KHL) in the opening lineup. He had a gorgeous primary assist on Farrell’s second goal.
Former Yale Bulldog Ken Agostino (Torpedo Novgorod Russia-KHL) was among the forwards selected by former Rangers coach David Quinn.
China had goalie ex-Sound Tiger Jeremy Smith (Kunlun China-KHL) starting in net. The game’s first penalty was the one-time Ranger draftee who was traded, Ethan Werek (Kunlun China-KHL). The Chinese assistant coach is former Ranger Alexei Kovalev.
Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell (Bakersfield-AHL) and ex-Sound Tiger David Desharnais (HC Fribourg-Gotteron Switzerland-LNA) assisted on Canada’s third goal in their opening 5-1 win over Germany.
Ex-Pack Adam Tambellini (Rogle BK Sweden-SHL) had the primary assist on their last goal.
Ex-Sound Tiger for Germany Tom Kuhnhackl (Skelleftea AIK Sweden-SHL) was held scoreless.
Slovakia lost 6-2 to Finland as ex-Pack Marek Hrivik and ex-Springfield Falcons Tomas Jurco, Marko Dano, and ex-Springfield Thunderfield Martin Mancini were held pointless.
Another ax-QU goalie Andrew Shortridge is recalled by the Stockton Heat from the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).
Ivan Nikolishin, the son of the former Hartford Whaler Andrei Nikolishin, heads to his third team and league as he’s loaned from Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL) to Ilves Tampere (Finland-FHL).
