KEELEY: JUSTIN BRAZEAU WAS ASSIGNED TO MAINE, COMPLETING THE SEASON-OPENING ROSTER
Former Newfoundland Growler star joins Mariners from Providence

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – October 21, 2021 – Forward Justin Brazeau was assigned to the Mariners Wednesday from the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins. A former 100-point scorer in the Ontario Hockey League, Mariners fans may remember Brazeau from his time with the Newfoundland Growlers in 2019-20.

Brazeau, 23, hails from New Liskeard, ON, and is 6’6, 225 pounds. A star in the OHL, he played four seasons for the North Bay Batallion, where he increased his point total exponentially each year. In the 2018-19 season, he finished second in the league. He had 113 points in 68 games, including a league-best 61 goals. That season, he was also captain of the Batallion.

Brazeau also put up a 75-point campaign for North Bay the season prior.

Turning pro in 2019-20, Brazeau signed a two-year deal with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. He played just one game for the Marlies and spent the remainder of the season with their ECHL affiliates and Mariners division rival, the Newfoundland Growlers. Brazeau led the Growlers with 27 goals and was second in points, with 55 in 57 games. He was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team.

Last season, Brazeau appeared in 21 games for the Marlies, scoring four goals and adding one assist. In late August, he signed with Providence.

The Mariners season-opening roster is complete, consisting of 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders. Click here to view the roster.

The Mariners are now proud affiliates of the Boston Bruins and begin their 2021-22 season, presented by Hannaford To Go on October 22, with the home opener against the Worcester Railers, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings. Individual game tickets for all 36 home games are on sale now, online at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena or by calling the box office at 207-775-3458. In addition, full season, half-season, 12-game mini-plans, and 10-ticket flex plans are also available. More information on ticket packages is available by calling 833-GO-MAINE, emailing mariners-sales@comcastspectacor.com, or by visiting MarinersOfMaine.com.

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The post KEELEY: BRAZEAU LAST ONE TO MAKE MAINE ROSTER first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Alain Vigneault, Via New York Rangers

NEW YORK, April 8, 2018 – The following is a statement from Alain Vigneault:

“I would like to thank the New York Rangers management – Mr. James Dolan, Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton – for allowing me the privilege to coach the Rangers. I spent five wonderful years in New York and I want to express my gratitude to all the coaches, players and staff that I worked with during that period of my life. The Rangers have an incredible fan base and I will cherish many special moments, especially our trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers are going in a different direction, I respect that and I wish them all the best. Thus far in my coaching career, I am very grateful that I have had the privilege to work with three great organizations – Vancouver, and two Original Six teams with New York and Montreal. I have great respect for everyone in the media but for now please understand that I don’t intend to comment any further, as I will regroup with my family. Thank you, everyone, for a great ride and life-lasting memories.” 

AV

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The post RANGERS: STATEMENT FROM ALAIN VIGNEAULT first appeared on Howlings.

BY: The New York Rangers

NEW YORK, April 7, 2018 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that Head Coach Alain Vigneault has been relieved of his coaching duties.

Vigneault served as the Rangers Head Coach for five seasons (2013-14 – 2017-18) after he was named the 34th Head Coach in franchise history on June 21, 2013. In 410 regular season games with the Rangers, Vigneault posted a 226-147-37 record. He ranks third among head coaches in wins and ranks fourth in games coached in franchise history. During his tenure, the Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season with the team in 2013-14 and captured the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15 for posting the top record in the NHL during the regular season.

Vigneault accomplished several personal feats during his five seasons with the Rangers. He earned his 100th regular season win as the Rangers’ Head Coach on Oct. 9, 2015, at Columbus, and he reached the milestone in fewer games than any other head coach in franchise history (166). Vigneault earned his 500th career win as an NHL head coach on Feb. 14, 2015, at Arizona and his 600th career win as an NHL head coach on Feb. 7, 2017, at Florida. Vigneault became the first head coach to earn his 500th career NHL win while serving as the Rangers’ head coach, as well as the first head coach to earn his 600th career NHL win while serving as the Rangers’ head coach. Vigneault also coached his 1,000th career NHL game on Dec. 11, 2015, at Edmonton, becoming the 23rd head coach in league history to accomplish the feat.

Photo credit: Getty Images

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The post RANGERS: ALAIN VIGNEAULT RELIEVED OF COACHING DUTIES first appeared on Howlings.

Greenville earns 4-0 shutout on the road over Atlanta to wrap up the 2017-18 season.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Duluth, GA – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (24-40-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, powered through to a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators (32-35-2-3) to end the regular season tonight at the Infinite Energy Arena. In the wake of the tragedies in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, the Swamp Rabbits channeled an emotional performance, which included a 49-save shutout from goaltender Chris Nell.

BOX SCORE

In the first period, the Swamp Rabbits battled with the Gladiators for the opening goal, trading blows left and right. Greenville would eventually find the back of the net first as defenseman Matt Prapavessis net his sixth of the campaign. Shane Walsh went across the rink with a pass to Sean Flanagan before the defensemen exchanged on a one-timer that rang the crossbar. The effort dropped right down inside the goal line at 18:24 of the opening period.

After the intermission, the Swamp Rabbits would need some solid saves from Nell in net. The Gladiators posted 19 shots on goal in the middle period but the rookie goaltender remained perfect. The Gladiators came close to ruining his first career shutout but had an attempted chance waived off by the referee.
The Swamp Rabbits had some chances to extend the lead but would finally bury a chance nine minutes into the period. Wade Murphy bodied up the Gladiators defense to force a turnover below the goal line and deked his way to the crease. The winger fought across the crease and tucked a shot just under the crossbar to extend the lead to 2-0 with his sixth of the season.

Johno May was the next Swamp Rabbits skater to have a chance at extending the lead. The winger came down on a shorthanded breakaway but was hooked from behind by the Gladiators. On in ensuing penalty shot, Sean Boner held his ground to keep his team in the game. The netminder finished the outing with 38 stops.

At the start of the third period, leading scorer Caleb Herbert notched a pair of goals to extend to 24 goals in the campaign. Walsh tossed a pass from the defensive zone for Herbert on a breakaway down the ice. The fourth-year skater touched the puck through the legs of Boner to extend the game to a 3-0 lead.

Herbert put himself in a spot for a rebound late in the game to net his second goal of the contest. Joe Basaraba launched a long shot from the blue line that was kicked by Boner right to his stick on the left post. He hammered the rebound into the cage for the exclamation point to end the year.

Nell’s shutout was the first of his career and the first of the year for Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits 4-0 win was also the first win in the season finale in the last three seasons. Greenville now ends the 2017-18 regular season and begins preparations for the 2018-19 campaign.

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The post TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS END SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE AGAINST GLADIATORS  first appeared on Howlings.

BY: The New York Rangers

NEW YORK, April 7, 2018 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has assigned forwards Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, and Steven Fogarty to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Andersson skated in seven games with the Rangers in 2017-18, registering one goal and one assist for two points. He tallied his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26 vs. Washington, and he became the youngest player (19 years, 164 days old) to tally a goal in his NHL debut in franchise history. Andersson also recorded his first career NHL assist while skating in his second career NHL game on Mar. 28 at Washington.

The 6-0, 204-pounder has skated in 24 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering five goals and nine assists for 14 points, along with a plus-one rating and eight penalty minutes. Among AHL players younger than 20 years old, Andersson ranked third (min. five games played) in points per game this season (0.58) at the time he was recalled by the Rangers on Mar. 25. He tallied his first career AHL assist/point, which was an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-one rating while making his AHL debut on Jan. 24 at Utica. In addition, Andersson registered three points (one goal, two assists), including his first career AHL goal, on Feb. 7 vs. Bridgeport. Andersson registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last 18 AHL contests prior to being recalled by the Rangers.

Chytil skated in nine games with the Rangers in 2017-18, registering one goal and two assists for three points. He made his NHL/Rangers debut on Oct. 5 vs. Colorado, becoming the fourth-youngest player to skate in a game with the Rangers in franchise history. Chytil recorded his first career NHL assist/point on Mar. 26 vs. Washington and he tallied his first career NHL goal on Mar. 30 vs. Tampa Bay. Chytil became the first 18-year-old to register a goal, assist, and point with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra during the 1998-99 season.

The 6-2, 202-pounder has skated in 45 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points, along with four penalty minutes. Chytil’s 31 points thus far this season are tied for the 12th-most a player younger than 19 years old has tallied in one season in AHL history. In addition, Chytil led all AHL players younger than 20 years old in goals and points per game (0.69), and ranked second among all AHL players younger than 20 years old in assists and points in 2017-18 at the time he was recalled by the Rangers on Mar. 25. Prior to this season, the last AHL player younger than 19 years old who registered at least 30 points and averaged at least 0.69 points per game in a season was William Nylander in 2014-15.

Fogarty skated in one game with the Rangers this season after he was recalled by the Blueshirts on Apr. 6. He made his NHL/Rangers debut on Apr. 7 at Philadelphia. Fogarty has skated in 60 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points, along with 20 penalty minutes. He has established AHL career-highs in several categories in 2017-18, including goals, shorthanded goals (two), game-winning goals (two), and shots on goal (84). Fogarty leads Hartford in shorthanded goals this season.

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The post RANGERS ASSIGN LIAS ANDERSSON, FILIP CHYTIL, AND STEVEN FOGARTY TO HARTFORD first appeared on Howlings.

Swamp Rabbits join the hockey community in support of the Humboldt Broncos after a tragic accident last night

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

GREENVILLE, SC – After the tragic bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos, the Swamp Rabbits are joining in the fundraising efforts. Fans can immediately give back to the families of players affected through a GoFundMe fundraiser created by Humboldt resident Sylvie Wellington who has been in contact with the organization.

The Swamp Rabbits organization is also in the process of creating a fundraising initiative to raise money for the Broncos. More details will be announced on SwampRabbits.com, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Tonight, the Swamp Rabbits and Atlanta Gladiators will observe a moment of silence for the victims, survivors, and families connected to the crash before the game. Those in attendance will also be asked to join together in singing the Canadian National Anthem at the Infinite Energy Arena. Proceeds from a post-game jersey auction and a pair of team signed sticks will benefit the Broncos’ fundraising efforts at https://twitter.com/hashtag/prayforhumboldt?src=hashwell.

#PrayForHumboldt      #HumboldtStrong

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The post TOSTI: #PRAYFORHUMBOLDT first appeared on Howlings.

–       BROADWAY DEBUT – Matt Beleskey and Steven Fogarty each made their Rangers debut in today’s contest. Including Beleskey and Fogarty, 22 players made their debut with the Blueshirts this season (David Desharnais, Kevin Shattenkirk, Paul Carey, Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo, Ondrej Pavelec, Adam Cracknell, Vinni Lettieri, Peter Holland, Daniel Catenacci, Cody McLeod, John Gilmour, Neal Pionk, Ryan Sproul, Brandon Halverson, Alexandar Georgiev, Rob O’Gara, Ryan Spooner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Lias Andersson, Beleskey, and Fogarty).

–       HOT AT THE DOT –  The Rangers won 29 of 54 faceoffs in today’s game (53.7%). The Blueshirts posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in 41 of 82 games this season.

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves in the contest. Lundqvist was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player in 2017-18 and won the award for a franchise-record ninth time. He made 30 or more saves in 37 of his 63 appearances this season, and he ranked second among NHL goaltenders in games with at least 30 saves in 2017-18. Lundqvist accomplished several milestones and feats during the 2017-18 season. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 seasons in the league, as well as the first goaltender in NHL history to register at least 20 wins in 13 consecutive seasons at any point during the course of a career. Lundqvist also represented the Rangers at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, as he participated in the NHL All-Star Game for the fourth time in his NHL career (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018).

–       Mats Zuccarello led all skaters with two takeaways in today’s contest. He led the Rangers in several categories this season, including assists (37), points (53), primary assists (23), power play assists (16), and takeaways (69). Zuccarello led the Rangers in points for the third consecutive season (2015-16 – 2017-18) and for the fourth time in his career (2013-14; 2015-16 – 2017-18). He is the eighth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least four different seasons (along with Messier, Esposito, Ratelle, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Boucher, and Bill Cook) and the ninth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least three straight seasons (along with Jagr, Gretzky, Esposito, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Dillon, Bill Cook, and Boucher).

–       Kevin Hayes led all skaters with 15 faceoff wins (15-for-17; 88.2%) and recorded two shots on goal in today’s game. Hayes established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (25), even strength goals (17), power play goals (six), shorthanded goals (two), and shots on goal (172). He recorded 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 33 games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 following an injury, and he led the team in goals and points over the span. In addition, he became the fifth Ranger to win at least 15 faceoffs and post a faceoff win percentage of 88.0% or better in the same game since the NHL began tracking faceoffs in 1997-98. Hayes won 562 of 1,112 faceoffs he took in 2017-18 (50.5%).

–       Mika Zibanejad tied for the game-high with three blocked shots, registered two shots on goal, and won nine of 17 faceoffs (52.9%) in 18:24 of ice time. Zibanejad established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (27), power play goals (14), power play points (21), and shots on goal (212), and he led the Rangers in all four of those categories in 2017-18. In addition, he registered 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in his final 18 games of the season.

–       Chris Kreider was credited with two hits in today’s game. In 2017-18, Kreider was selected as the team’s nominee for Bill Masterton Trophy which is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” He recorded 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the last 19 games of the season, and he tied his career-high in power play goals this season (seven).

–       Pavel Buchnevich tied for the game-high with three blocked shots in today’s contest. Buchnevich established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (14), assists (29), and points (43). He tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (four) and ranked second on the Rangers in assists this season. In 2017-18, Buchnevich became the sixth player of Russian nationality to record at least 40 points in a season with the Rangers in franchise history (along with Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov, Sergei Zubov, Artem Anisimov, and Nikolai Zherdev). He also tallied 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) at MSG this season, and he led the Rangers in assists and points at home in 2017-18.

–       Brady Skjei tied for the game-high with three blocked shots in 18:33 of ice time in today’s game. Skjei is the only player who skated in all of the Rangers’ 82 games in 2017-18.

–       Neal Pionk skated in a game-high 23:37 of ice time today. Pionk, who was recalled by the Rangers on Feb. 8 and made his NHL/Rangers debut on Feb. 9 vs. Calgary, recorded 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 28 games with the Blueshirts in 2017-18. He registered 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) over a 12-game span from Feb. 28 at Vancouver to Mar. 24 vs. Buffalo; he led all NHL defensemen in assists and tied for second among NHL defensemen in points during the stretch.

–       Filip Chytil recorded one shot on goal in 17:28 of ice time. Chytil, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (21st overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, skated in nine games with the Rangers this season, and he became the fourth-youngest player to play in a game and tally his first goal with the Blueshirts in franchise history.

–       Lias Andersson recorded two shots on goal in 15:17 of ice time. Andersson, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, skated in seven games with the Blueshirts in 2017-18. He recorded his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26 vs. Washington, and he became the youngest player (19 years, 164 days old) to tally a goal in his NHL debut in franchise history.

–       Marc Staal recorded two shots on goal and was credited with two hits in 22:40 of ice time. Staal, who served as an alternate captain with the Rangers for the eighth season (since 2010-11), tied for the team lead – and led Rangers defensemen – in plus/minus rating in 2017-18 (plus-11).

–       Jimmy Vesey registered one shot on goal in 15:45 of ice time in today’s contest. Vesey established career-highs in goals (17) and points (28) while playing in his second NHL season in 2017-18.

–       Ryan Spooner recorded 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 20 games with the Rangers after he was acquired from Boston on Feb. 25, and he tied for the team lead in assists and points over the span. He notched 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 59 games this season and reached the 40-point plateau for the second time in his NHL career (2015-16 – 49).

–       Vladislav Namestnikov was credited with three hits in today’s contest. Namestnikov established career-highs in several categories in 2017-18, including goals (22), assists (26), and points (48).

–       John Gilmour was credited with two hits and recorded one shot on goal in 17:31 of ice time. He skated in 28 games with the Rangers in 2017-18 after he was recalled on Feb. 9, and he led Rangers defensemen in shots on goal from the time he was recalled until the end of the season (61).

–       Ryan Sproul logged 18:52 of ice time in today’s game. He registered five points (one goal, four assists) in 16 games with the Rangers this season.

–       Rob O’Gara was credited with three hits and recorded two blocked shots in 17:46 of ice time in today’s game. He recorded three assists/points in 22 games with the Rangers after he was acquired by the Blueshirts from Boston on Feb. 20.

–       Matt Beleskey led all skaters with seven hits while making his Rangers debut in today’s contest.

–       Steven Fogarty was credited with two hits and registered one shot on goal in 12:16 of ice time while making his NHL/Rangers debut in today’s contest.

–       Tuesday, Apr. 10: End of season availability at MSG Training Center

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The post RANGERS SEASON MERCIFULLY COMES TO AN END first appeared on Howlings.

Swamp Rabbits Complete Home Finale Against Stingrays

Greenville upended by South Carolina in the third period after holding a 1-0 advantage through the second frame.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-40-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, opened the scoring in the first period and hung on into the second intermission against the South Carolina Stingrays (46-16-7-1) tonight. However, a third-period surge by the second-place team in the South Division upended Greenville with a 4-1 final score in the home finale. Greenville welcomed a season-high 7,601 fans for Fan Appreciation Night, handing out hundreds of prizes throughout the night.

BOX SCORE
The Swamp Rabbits entered the first period with fire and turned 12 shots on net. One that did not count was Austin McKay who put a quick shot of the outside of the net bringing the crowd to its feet. The Swamp Rabbits forward put himself in perfect position a few minutes later. Greenville forced the puck to the left wing where Caleb Herbert pushed by the Stingrays defense, finding Shane Walsh below the goal line. The winger fired a pass right to McKay at the left circle for a one-timed shot that beat netminder Parker Milner just over the left shoulder. McKay’s 10^th of the season gave Greenville a 1-0 lead which held until the first intermission.

The Stingrays countered back with an all-out attack in the second period, outshooting the Swamp Rabbits 17-4 in the middle period. Goaltender Ty Rimmer was spectacular in the contest, halting all 17 shots in the second and making 27 saves through two periods of play. The fifth-year netminder made a pair of show-stopping saves including a sprawling effort along the goal line as time expired at the end of the frame.

South Carolina finally broke through in the third period. Walsh was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking, resulting in a Stingrays power play. J.C. Brassard launched a long shot from the blue line, netting the Stingrays first goal of the game 3:06 into the final period to tie the contest.

Three minutes later, Jonathan Charbonneau fought his way to the front of the net, faking out the Swamp Rabbits with a drop pass to Evan Fiala on the left side of the crease. The rookie tapped in the loose puck for his first goal of the season and gave the Stingrays a 2-1 lead. The goal went down as the game-winner for the Stingrays.

Jake Kamrass notched the final two goals, scoring on a breakaway at 8:13 and eventually tallying an empty net goal in the final minute of the contest. Greenville tried to battle back and also went on a five-minute power play in the final seven minutes of the game. The top-ranked South Carolina penalty kill held Greenville at bay on the chance and on all three in the contest.

Rimmer made 34 saves in the game while Milner recorded the win with 19 stops in net as the Swamp Rabbits home schedule concluded. Greenville will make the trip to Duluth, Georgia tomorrow to face the Atlanta Gladiators for the final game of the season at 7:05 p.m.

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The post TOSTI: (FRI) SWAMP RABBITS COMPLETE HOME FINALE AGAINST STINGRAYS first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – Despite a never-ending drama replete with plenty of dire predictions about the future of the XL Center, the building continues to live and breathe – for at least two more years.

Despite all the existing problems, the CRDA acknowledges they have been able to secure the short-term future of the building after getting all the current parties to sign new contracts despite the building’s future remaining as nebulous as ever.

In a wide-ranging interview with CRDA Executive Director, Mike Freimuth, he remains pragmatic and sanguine about the building. It has been a major emphasis for the CRDA in its entire tenure and without an elusive final resolution, they are doing their best to maintain the facility and improve it as best they can.

The first deal was in getting MSG to agree to a five-year deal, but just the first two years are locked in. There are three option years in the deal, all of them controlled by MSG and that depends on the building’s status. There is a re-negotiation clause should the building be sold.

Both the UConn men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s hockey programs do not as of yet have a done deal in place.

We’re still in discussions,” Freimuth said. “We have a lot of areas of agreement and there are some details still to be hammered out. Its really about what their rights and obligations should be if the building is sold. Every party had a different viewpoint, so, it has been a lot to address and the only unique twist to it.”

UConn signed an LOI (Letter of Intent) agreement nearly two years ago, It only goes into effect if the building is fully renovated.

“Unless the legislature grants the money to be appropriated, the deal doesn’t go into effect. If it was granted, and the $250 million is approved, they would have a twenty year and at least 30-game commitment.

“The key word is IF the legislature makes the commitment. The word IF is a very big word here and it hasn’t manifested itself at all.

“Any investor would want to see how that could play out.”

“The RFP (Request For Proposal) process that will seek to open to the wider business community to come in to purchase the XL Center as per the last bonding issued for the building. Not that the state and city will sell its interest but they’re seeking to find a majority owner with deep pockets to deal with the gargantuan task of rebooting the arena who’s plan is now nearly three years old and has only gotten a fraction of the revenue they need and the clock is ticking on the XL Center.

“The target date to get it on the street is at the end of April. The request will be for private investment that could manifest itself as a sale or could manifest itself as a public-private partnership which we attempted last summer (and received just one response). The question still outstanding is, ‘how this will take shape?’

The idea is we’ll have it out for sixty-days and by mid-summer, so over the summer period we can review the applicants and go forward sometime in the fall.”

When asked if his preference was a public-private route, Freimuth was indifferent. “I’m pretty agnostic on that. Either pathway is going to be complicated financially and legally. Neither looms as an easy pathway, any way you look at this. We’ll wait to see what materializes first and move forward from there.”

The time frame was slightly extended.

“People have to go through the books, review the building and the application. In reality, we hope to catch some people’s attention, like I said review things in the summer and hopefully and put something in place in the fall.

“We have some complicating factors, like an election in the fall, because in all likelihood, there will be legislative changes required on this, regardless of which we way we go, and whoever is here (both the new governor and legislature).

“We have to play it by ear as to how much public money might be available or necessary. Right now, we really have more questions than answers at this point. These are notoriously difficult deals, generally very complex. It takes a learning curve, not only at the management level, and it would require legislative approval and/or changes to the statute.

“It will take major work and will take place in a transition period in leadership (in state government).”

It will take a company or individual with very deep pockets to get this project across the finish line. Companies like an MSG or a Comcast would certainly qualify as prospective suitors. Freimuth was asked if they have had any contact with the CRDA.

“We have had inquiries, but neither from MSG or Comcast. We have been approached by groups that do investments in public projects and several large ones from across the country. It’s an unconventional investment and its different from the standard public-private partnership. Things like investment strategies, risk tolerance, and the nature of the business they want to get into and is it a complementary business-like business or entertainment and these play out on a variety of platforms. That all doesn’t show on the mast of the building.

“It’s real estate 101. Those that are probing on this realize we want to know about them and have conversations with them. At this point, the conversations are very, very preliminary and superficial.”

The other contract that was finalized was on the naming rights of the XL Center. It will remain that way and they too wanted a re-negotiation clause in their renewal. Read about that HERE.

The other elephant in the neighborhood is the atrium portion of the XL Center. It’s still owned by Northland Corporation and its been in the discussion stage for two years and still with no resolution in sight.

“We haven’t spoken in a bit, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any activity. We have completed the two appraisals (one from each side) the second one (of the CRDA’s) just came in last week. The board met last Thursday (in executive session) and voted for me to proceed with a formal offer, so that’s what we’re about to do.”

The chances though the two sides might come to a quick, equitable agreement look bleak at this point, with a thorny dispute ongoing about the YMCA building that has now gone public.  Read about that HERE.

The Wolf Pack attendance numbers are down to 3,500 per game, and that’s boosted by a recent wave of strong crowds. Prior to that, it was hovering around 2,700 per game for most of the season. The Pack presently sit 22^nd  in attendance in the AHL. They are at a 4,132 per game average with three home games left.

UConn men’s basketball attendance sits at around 7,200 with some good crowds such as Wichita State and the new national champion, Villanova. The women’s squad, who went to the NCAA semi-finals before losing to the eventual champion, Notre Dame, comes in at 8,600 per game with good dates against ND and Cincinnati.

UConn hockey attendance was at 2,300 per game with a peak at 4,300 per game for the last quarter prior to their last three home games at the close of the books in February.

“We made some progress late in the season with the hockey (Wolf Pack and UConn). The per caps are up on all events.”

Per caps refers to the concession side of the attendance ledger.

“We have seen an improvement in the food and beverage area. There has been some creativity and performance increase there,” Freimuth said.

Freimuth was referring to the introduction of the Meriden-based, “Ted’s Nationally Renowned Cheeseburgers,” and the “Chick-Fil-A” stand.

“The biggest problem over the last year was that we had some poor performing teams. The Wolf Pack, men’s basketball (and UConn hockey for a period of time). The women’s basketball numbers are actually up.  It’s a mixed bag on performance on the sports team front. You can’t fault any one person or management group for that. The other thing is we didn’t land any big concerts this year of consequence. Next year is a different story. We lost a lot of concerts and there are other factors that hit our operating budget hard.”

The big concerts set to come for 2018 and 2019 to the XL Center include the Eagles, Journey, Def Leppard, Maroon 5, and the Elton John’s Farewell Tour.

“That’s a very nice calendar to have, but to be honest, we lost quite a few shows because of the state admission tax. It really hurt us. While next year promises to be a very good one, and we did secure an NCAA Round 1 men’s basketball tournament. That will be of help, and with an improved men’s basketball team performance (under the guidance of new head coach Dan Hurley), I have a lot  more of an at ease feeling about next year’s budget than where our current one is going to end,” Freimuth said with a duly noted level of sarcasm and laughter.

“So, with us securing some good concerts and a trending forwards in our sports team’s performances next season, those combinations bode well. All of those are measured up against our breakdown in equipment and other repairs as they crop up and that you really can’t forecast that either.

Since he mentioned the state admission tax, Freimuth was asked how much impact that has on the bottom line. “The tax takes $500 million out of our pockets every year.”

Freimuth, XL Center GM, Chris Lawrence, and Live Nation Connecticut president, Jim Koplik, recently testified before a legislative committee to the draconian and onerous nature of the 10% tax.

“The right hand and left hand are working against each other. There is no doubt to the presence of it. It affects our budget and creates a hole in it which in turn forces us to subsidize some of the operations here. It’s counter-intuitive, to say the least.”

The CRDA budget loss of $800K last year will likely surpass a million this year.

“Easily sail north of a million.”

Potentially between $1.4 to $1.6 million?

“That’s a fair assumption.”

U2, the famous Irish rock band on tour and who have played the XL Center their entire thirty-year career, will now be playing at Mohegan Sun in early July is indicative of a number of things.

The tax does hurt and the future of the marketplace will only get tighter. They will soon also be competing against the MGM casino in Springfield when it comes online in September, not to mention the marriage between the Mohegan Sun and Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport that starts on July 1^st.

“You can never really tell why you might gain or lose a show. However, casinos, generally speaking, have the ability to write checks and present guarantees that we can’t. They can use that as a way to invest in getting people into gaming rooms and they don’t have the admission tax.

“Throw what it takes to bring a show in and out and, the man-hours involved in those areas alone, the sound systems, the light systems. Throw in having to rewire a place for a new show or concert. It’s easier in a new state of the art building than an old one. Building obsolesce issues play a part here. Complicating it is having just one loading dock and the costs they present and put the old building with a 10% admission tax side-by-side with a new building and no 10% tax making most of its money down the hall, not in the concert hall, it doesn’t take a hell of a lot of thinking. The XL is at a serious disadvantage.”

For Freimuth, the future looking forward is clear.

“Future budgets can’t count on concert revenue. We can count on maybe one or two concerts, maybe (like this year) and get half a dozen. We’re not getting the concerts by the dozen like we did years ago. The marketplace has changed and will be changing. You always had certain size shows play Springfield, Bridgeport and when we had New Haven. Now, New Haven is gone. Springfield is owned by the casino, and you have the relationship at Webster with Mohegan. The market is now slicing and dicing into different parts.

“What is different is when Springfield was just another building up the street or Bridgeport is the casino’s, they can underwrite things. There are more places to hold shows like the Meadows, the new place in Bridgeport, and we can offer 15 or 16,000 seats. We pickup 50% more revenue because we have 50% more seats. They aren’t putting those kinds of shows on anymore. We caught some lightning in a bottle for next year.”

Spectra’s relationship with Live Nation is critical to this small wave of concert good fortune.

“Chris Lawrence (XL Center’s GM) has developed a good relationship with Live Nation. They have tilled the soil very well over the last three-or-four years. Maintaining this relationship that we have had concerts three or four years in the pipeline. That has helped us make a nickel and kept us in the picture for shows and that is a lot of investment and ground work and it’s starting to pay off in securing shows in our portfolio. However, it doesn’t change the reality of dealing with and competing with a casino checkbook.”

The recent budget announcement with the CRDA requesting a $100 million dollars, follows last year’s similar request that was whittled down to a $40 million dollars, might seem a bit crazy.

“It’s a big ask in an election year, but we need the money. I can spend $25 million on an electrical upgrade tomorrow morning. That is the type of money and issues were dealing with here. I have no idea where the private partnership RFP process is going to end up. Honestly, the building is going to need some heavy cash one way or the other. The larger macro picture is as important of all the micro stuff we have just been talking about.

“The macro economics of the building plays a very important role in Hartford. People are just not prepared to say, ‘shut it down.’ There is a hope that direct private capital can complement public capital to maintain this facility. It’s going to require some public investment and that’s what we have been doing over the last four or five years. We wouldn’t be asking for it if we didn’t need it.”

Freimuth elaborated more on his public testimony regarding the building’s structural issues. “It’s just not we need to replace a 40-year-old roof, we need a new kind of roof. These are the things we are up against in seeking shows and other events.”

Anybody with a flat roof knows how limited a lifespan they have.

“(The CRDA) added a lot of extra Arnold Schwarzenegger muscle to the roof 40-45 years ago and water still gets in. Its liners are torn and broken hoses need to be replaced, not as a super structure, but the basics. It leads to some unique issues. We had rigging for the (the recently departed Ringling Brothers) circus but today you need a certain type of rigging system for certain shows and it can be designed and added, but you have have a roof that can support and handle it. That makes you ask, ‘Does getting those shows or shows to pay for that addition of a new system?’

“If you had 30 of those shows, and you were making money, it changes the rationale of doing the work and pursuing those shows or somebody comes along an outbids you for those shows and that is the fundamentals built into this business.

“There are constant changes in this business. In fact, at the Comcast Center in Philly, which is half the age of the XL, they’re rebuilding their systems to accommodate the new shows and their requirements. Over at the Convention Center, every week we’re going over changes; plugs, wirings, adapters, and all the components to keep it operating. It just was never done at the XL Center over the years.”

The $250 million figure of three years ago clearly had to change given the ever-rising costs of construction, materials, and labor. Adding in the interest rates to borrow the money must be an additional cost.

“Well, if I had a crystal ball, I could give a full forecast, but the question was  valid number three years ago. It could creep up in some spots. We have never gotten to the hard construction phase yet. It was just bare bones. It was strategic in what we wanted to accomplish. We just haven’t gotten down to hard construction data to take this out and add this in. When you have a budget you always have a contingency there. The longer it sits on the shelf, naturally it will cost more.”

With the $40 million in bonding, the CRDA received, they’re now working on using it to address serious long term pieces of the XL puzzle that have been ignored.

New elevators, LED lighting for the arena, and the purchase of a new modern chiller system for the ice surface will turn force them to find a new and larger spot to house the newer and bigger chiller to replace the present vastly outdated one.

“We have a lot of things in the pipeline, things that just have to get done. We put off LED lighting and we put off this capital investment, but we’re at the point where lights are failing and to put the same old lighting back in doesn’t make sense. Now you can’t find stuff or complimentary pieces (in some cases its classified under EPA guidelines as light pollution and are no longer available).  Whenever we get the new building, they’re going to have to live with it.”

So, while the short-term future of the XL Center is secure, the long-term remains very unsettled.

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The post CANTLON’S CORNER: XL CENTER REMAINS ALIVE AND KICKING first appeared on Howlings.

Home Finale Pits Swamp Rabbits Against Stingrays

Greenville wraps up play at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena with Fan Appreciation Night as they club thanks the fans for their support.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBIT TALES
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-39-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, finish the regular season at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena tonight at 7 p.m. The Swamp Rabbits welcome back the South Carolina Stingrays (46-16-7-1) for the 12th and final meeting of the 2017-18 season. South Carolina took the 5-2 win last night while Greenville is looking for revenge during the final game in the Upstate this year.

THANK YOU!
As a thank you to the faithful fans in Greenville, the Swamp Rabbits are throwing out prizes all game long! Hundreds of gifts will be given out at every stoppage of play from over 50 local businesses. There are many ways to win tonight, but you must be at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the 7 p.m. puck drop. Tickets are on sale for just $10 at the box office or through the Swamp Rabbits office.
DOING HIS THING
Forward Caleb Herbert net a pair of goals last night, earning the fourth-year forward 22 goals in the campaign. The Bloomington, Minnesota native has averaged well over a point per game this season, leading the club with 49 points (22G, 27A) in 36 games. Last night was the sixth multi-goal game for Herbert and his 15th multi-point effort. The 6-foot skater has been one of the most dynamic scorer in the league this year, with the highest point per game average by any player with at least 30 games played.

HOME SWEET HOME
Rookie Johno May has earned his keep on home ice in the first six games of his pro career. In his first three games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Mahtomedi, Minnesota native has produced five points (1G, 4A). May’s six points since signing with the Swamp Rabbits are more than he recorded in 36 games this season at American International College. The Yellow Jacket alum posted 60 points (22G, 38A) in four years at AIC. Out of the 430 rookies in the ECHL, May is one of just 20 players to have averaged a point per game.

LEAVING ON A HIGH NOTE
The Swamp Rabbits have been successful in the final game of the regular season, earning a 4-2-0-1 record since 2010. The Swamp Rabbits have won three consecutive home finales and have not dropped a game in regulation since 2013 against South Carolina.

MASTER MASON
Stingrays rookie Mason Mitchell joined the South Carolina roster on Mar. 30 from the Hershey Bears and has made an impact right away. The 6-foot-2 winger has tallied four goals in his first four games in the ECHL after posting just five points (1G, 4A) in 29 AHL games. The Edmonton, Alberta native entered the pro ranks by signing an entry-level NHL contract with the Washington Capitals this summer. Mitchell played two seasons for the University of Alaska-Anchorage earning 26 points (15G, 11A) in 50 NCAA games.

CARROT BITES

• Forward Caleb Herbert has notched nine points (6G, 3A) in five games against the Stingrays.
• Only six skaters have played all 11 games in the intrastate rivalry (Joe Basaraba, Sean Flanagan, Chad Duchesne, Danny Federico, Patrick Gaul, and Joe Devin).
• Wade Murphy has tallied three points (1G, 2A) in his last four games.
• South Carolina leads the league with a 90.6% penalty kill and has notched 12 shorthanded goals.
• Goaltender Parker Milner was named to the All-ECHL First Team after leading the ECHL with a 1.88 goals-against average and ranking third with a .929 save percentage.

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The post TOSTI: HOME FINALE PITS SWAMP RABBITS AGAINST STINGRAYS first appeared on Howlings.