FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet The run of Trumbull native Chris Drury as center and captain of the New York Rangers is over. The Rangers bought out the final year of Drury’s five-year, $35.25-million contract on Wednesday, making one of the world’s all-time great…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet An estimated 5,000 fans lined the streets of Binghamton, N.Y., on Wednesday to celebrate the city’s first pro hockey title. Few enjoyed it more than two men with Connecticut ties, one of whom had to get reports in his hospital bed. The…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet The Binghamton Senators hadn’t even qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs the past five seasons, but Tuesday night they had extra incentive to win their first AHL championship. With assistant coach and former Bridgeport Sound Tigers and…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet Good news and bad news today on the “used to be on the local hockey market scene.” First, the Phoenix Coyotes, who are NOT moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba, signed former Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Rangers goalie Jason LaBarbera to a…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet After a 15-year absence, the NHL is returning to Winnipeg, Manitoba. After weeks of denial by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and other league officials, True North Sports and Entertainment announced a conditional purchase of the…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet The Manny Malhotra Miracle Saga took another major positive step Saturday. And the former Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers forward had a difficult time hiding his emotions in his first media interview since a deflected puck to his…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
BY: Bruce Berlet The Connecticut Whale has made the offseason a lot more pleasant and relaxing for Jared Nightingale. The Whale exercised their 2011-12 option on the AHL contract of the unrestricted defenseman six weeks before the parent New York Rangers…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By: Bruce Berlet It seemed appropriate that rain fell as hundreds of family, friends and hockey teammates, opponents and officials filed in and out of the chapel for the private funeral of Derek Boogaard on Saturday. The New York Rangers were well…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet The cause of Derek Boogaard’s death was never going to be easy to accept, but it was especially sad to hear that it was from an accidental mixture of alcohol and oxycodone toxicity. That’s what the Hannepin (Minn.) County Medical…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet The financially strapped New York Islanders and their top affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers might finally have got some much needed/desired help Wednesday. The Islanders’ lease with the Nassau Coliseum doesn’t end until 2015, but concern…