By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack Training camp is three weeks away. Still, several New York Rangers prospects skated for various countries at the World Junior Championships version of the postponed from December WJC tournament in Edmonton, Alberta.

For the fourth time in history, the US squad finished with a perfect record (4-0) during the qualifying rounds. Rangers’ draftee, Brett Berard, scored the first goal in a 3-2 win over Sweden.

Canada, always a force in this tournament, also finished unbeaten. The Canadians were on track for a meeting with the US, who were victorious in an 11-1 rout of Slovakia with Will Cullye, and Brennan Othmann on a line together copped a goal and assist.

A 6-1 win over Austria followed Ridly Greig, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler and Springfield Falcon Mark Grieg, scoring and earning Player of the Game honors.

Another Rangers draftee, and their first pick last month in Montreal, Slovakia’s Adam Sýkora, a Rangers draftee and first pick last month in Montreal, scored in a Slovakia 3-2 win over Latvia and scored the goal of the tournament outside of the finale.

Sýkora came from center ice off a turnover on the left-wing boards. He carried it into the Latvia zone and slipped the puck past Bogdan Hadass, the Latvian defenseman, who played the puck rather than the man, before firing a cross-ice pass to teammate Jakub Demek on the right wing. Demek fed it right back, and Sýkora slipped the puck into the open right side of the net.

The 17-year-old was voted Slovakia’s Player-of-the-Game and will play for the WHL Medicine Hat Tigers starting next month. Medicine Hat selected him first overall in the July CHL Import Draft.

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Finland won the first quarterfinal game 5-2 over Germany. Ottawa Senators’ prospect Roby Jarventie had two goals and two assists.

Sweden advanced in the second QF meeting but barely edged out a tough Latvia squad, 2-1.

Canada advanced 6-3 over the Swiss. Culleye scored off a solid offensive zone cycle and cross-ice feed from the right side on a rush. He scored from off the left-wing short side high.

The last QF games saw Czechia pull off a big 4-2 upset victory over the US to advance to the semi-finals.

US ISSUES AT WJC

The US squad victimized itself with sloppy play and missed offensive opportunities by hitting several posts. The US took a foolish, unnecessary penalty early in the third period. Berard’s dangerous slew foot hurt the US team.

However, the Americans pulled within a goal cashing in on a major penalty, but that would be as close as they would get.

In a North Atlantic semi-final showdown for the nightcap, Finland slipped by Sweden 1-0 to meet host Canada for the Gold Medal.

Canada played Czechia in the late afternoon game and earned a commanding 5-2 win. Columbus draftee, Kent Johnson, had a goal and two assists. Future Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand notched 32 saves en route to the gold medal game.

In Edmonton, Team Canada won its fourth gold medal in ten years in spectacular fashion with a 3-2 overtime victory. It was a summer classic that was a well-played and highly entertaining game as the last hockey of the 2021-22 calendar year.

Topi Niemela took a shot that evaded Garand after he came out and challenged the Fin. Unfortunately, Garard wasn’t where he wanted to be and left an open net.

Mason McTavish (Anaheim), the tournament MVP, made a remarkable play batting the puck out of mid-air, over the goal line, near the right goal post.

It was swept away and began what would become the winning goal-scoring sequence.

In the wild three-on-three overtime Logan Stankhoven (Dallas) came in right-wing toe dragged it past his check. Then on his backhand caught an onrushing Kent Johnson. He went backhand for the five-hole and was still in a position while falling to slip in the rebound for the winning goal sending 13,327 fans at Rogers Place into a Stanley Cup winning-like frenzy at 3:20 as Canada captured their 19th overall World Junior Gold with an undefeated tournament record of 7-0.

The Finns had stormed back with two goals in the third after Josh Roy (Montreal) and future Bridgeport Islander William Dufour had scored.

McTavish, with 17 points, finished now among the pantheon of WJC greats Dale McCourt, Wayne Gretzky, and Brayden Schenn in all-time Canada WJC greats.

Finland took silver and didn’t toss them in a garbage can, and Sweden took bronze in a 3-1 win over Czechia.

Now it’s on to training camp next month.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Adam Húska gets away as far as he can from Hartford, signing with Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL).

In addition, the Islanders signs winger Arnaud Durandeau and defenseman Paul LaDue. The parent club re-signed Kieffer Bellows.

Amazingly, players present and past are still signing despite all the talk of hatred of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are far ahead of the pack in players to Europe, with 18 heading to Russia along with the Húska signing, along with other countries in the KHL is far ahead with new signees with 26.

Just a few more summertime moves as James Sanchez has moved on to Iowa Wild-AHL/Iowa Heartlanders-ECHL next year.

Former UCONN goalie Darion Hanson signs with his old first college coach, former Ranger and Springfield Falcon, and Springfield native Rick Bennett with the ECHL expansion Savannah (GA) Ghost Pirates. The team President is Bob Ohrablo, a former CT Whale executive.

Ex-Pack Travis Oleksuk moves on from Villacher SV (Austria-IceHL) and Rosenheim (Germany Division-III).

Vincent LoVerde, the ex-Pack team captain from two years ago, leaves EC Salzburg (Austria-IceHL) after a year to play for the Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL).

Former Wolf Pack Chad Nehring, 35, who was looking to hook up with an AHL team out West in the Las Vegas area where he lives, found no takers and has gone from Augsburger (Germany-DEL) to Grenoble (France Magnus-FREL), the former hometown of the legendary late pro wrestler, Andre the Giant (Rousimoff).

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Ex-Pack/CT Whale Devin DiDiomete re-signs for 2022-23 with Gyergyói HK (Romania-MOL).

The son of former New Haven Nighthawk Andy Rymsha, Drake Rymsha, goes from the Hershey Bears to the Bakersfield Condors.

The Bears and new coach Todd Nelson get former Quinnipiac University Bobcat (ECACHL), Sam Anas, under contract for next season.

Ex-Bridgeport Islander/Sound Tiger Cole Coskey signs with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).

The Bridgeport Islanders have joined the tall goalie craze. The parent New York Islanders’ seventh round pick from last season, the 6’8 Finnish netminder, Henrik Tikkanen (MODO Sweden-Allsvenskan) and KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL).

The team also announced the signing of last year’s Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) captain, the undrafted Vincent Sévigny of the Memorial Cup champions. He was traded from the Victoriaville Tigres and scored the game’s opening goal of the championship win, his last game in junior hockey.

They also re-signed a defenseman from two years ago, Ryan MacKinnon, who split last year between Lehigh Valley and Reading (ECHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger Alan Quine departs Henderson (AHL) for Ontario (AHL)

Robin Figren, a former Sound Tiger from two years in the Park City, has retired from hockey. The Swedish native played the last three seasons, with EHC Kloten winning the NLA title the previous year.

Ex-Pack, Ranger, and Springfield Falcon Gordie Dwyer signs on to be the coach/GM for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL).

Thomas Schmetisch

The list of AHL’ers to Europe has grown to 84. In addition, the list now includes former Springfield Thunderbird from four years, Thomas Schmetisch. He goes from Cleveland to Malmö  IF (Sweden-SHL).

Schemitch’s older brother, Geoffrey, was a Tampa Bay Lightning fourth-round draftee in 2010. He spent four years with a Canadian University and a 111-game career with Acadia (AUAA). He has taken the route of ex-Whaler Dr.Fred Arthur and was just accepted into residency at the University of Toronto’s nationally renowned orthopedic program.

He also had a four-year OHL career with Owen Sound and Oshawa, totaling 222 games.

Former Springfield Falcon Goran Bezina retires and becomes an assistant coach with HC Sierre (Switzerland-LNA).

Collegiate North American pro signees for Hockey East 52, NCHC-36, CCHA-32, Big Ten-31, ECACHL-25, AHA-18, and NCAA Division I Independents-12. Division-III have now just 17 players. Underclassmen pro signees are 32, European college signees are 41, and the total number of signees for North America is 240, and North America plus Europe is 273.

Sammy Walker, a four-year Minnesota (Big 10) grad, signed a free agent, two-year, two-way ELC deal with the Minnesota Wild. His draft rights with Tampa Bay expired last week, making him an unrestricted free agent. He is from the Minnesota hockey-producing town of Edina.

Jack St. Ivany, formerly of Yale, took the same road and signed with Pittsburgh out of BC.

Three are attending Canadian colleges, and just one is attending a major Canadian junior.

The newest additions to the transfer list include the Fusco brothers, John and Matt, who have both transferred from Harvard (ECACHL) to Dartmouth College (ECACHL), a true rarity to have an intra-Ivy school transfer.

Yale University saw freshmen Phillip Tresca skating at Ingalls Rink in New Haven. He transfers from the Bulldogs to rival Harvard University.

In-school transfers are at 108, and grad transfers are 106 for a total of 214 to be moved this off-season in college hockey. One hundred players remain in the transfer portal.

Will Reardon, Loomis Chaffe (Windsor) (CTPREP) commit to Holy Cross (AHA) for 2024-25.

Sam Scopa from Belmont Hill (MAPREP) commits to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) for 2024-25.

UCONN

The UCONN men’s hockey team finally announced their home slate for the 2022-23 season. They still have no venues or times listed as a deal with the CRDA, and their negotiating partner Stafford Sports, is still not yet done. However, there will be 17 games on the Huskies’ home ice this season.

UCONN will host Union College for their home opener on October 7th and 8th to kick off their non-conference home dates. The Huskies will then welcome from the Big Ten conference Ohio State on October 14th and 15th with a newcomer from Stamford in Richard D.J. Hart; this could be at the XL Center, rather it should be.

To wrap up their non-conference home games, the Huskies will welcome LIU (Long Island University)-Post for the first time on December 31 in a New Year’s Eve doubleheader with the Wolf Pack, likely at the XL Center.

Then another first-time opponent will see the reborn University Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves on February 22.

The Huskies are set for 11 Hockey East conference matchups on home ice with Boston College on October 27, likely at the XL Center.

The Huskies will welcome the Maine Black Bears for a two-game homestand on November 4th and 5th. UCONN will welcome Providence College and UMass- Lowell as part of a home and home series on November 12th and 19th, respectively. The December schedule for the Huskies will feature Merrimack and Boston University on December 2 and December 11, respectively.

The news on the yet named or with a corporate sponsor on-campus arena won’t be ready for games till likely mid-January as of now, till they get their CO (certificate of occupancy) to have fans.

The Huskies leaked to the UCONN Blog that the final four games have been scheduled for the new arena in Storrs.

Three conference games with UMASS, UNH, and BC and the non-conference date with Alaska-Anchorage are slated to be a student-only game, according to the microsite announcing season ticket packages.

MORE ON UCONN

The inaugural game is tentatively slated as part of a men’s and women’s doubleheader against a yet-named opponent on January 14.

The University has been pushing its winter athletic teams, men’s and women’s basketball plus hockey, to play more on-campus games to prevent the need to play or practice at the XL Center for the game night charge of $20K for hockey and $40K a night for hoops (or practice rental charge) as they seek to tackle a nearly 60 million dollar budget shortfall in the sports department, that includes last spring’s summary judgment of 11-million dollars to pay former men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie. The $11M is the balance of his contract owed.

There is a tug-of-war between the CRDA. The quasi-public agency oversees the venue’s operation, new building operator OVG-Oak View Group, the state legislature, and UCONN.

The school publicly dropped several hints in the late spring as their contract was expiring regarding this subject.

UCONN hired an outside entity familiar to all parties involved. In addition, they were familiar with Stafford Sports to handle the negotiations for a new contract, which is still unfinished.

The nearly 50-year-old building’s future is still in a state of limbo, and the more than necessary complete rebuild is eight years overdue.

That’s the reason why no venues or times were released last week. Now hockey has been hoping to practice in the new building this fall. Howlings learned several months ago that with all the exterior work now done, all that remains is the interior work, again to save money on practicing at the XL Center as much as possible.

FREITAS ICE FORUM

The Freitas Ice Forum has a new sheet of ice. Unfortunately, it’s reportedly on its last legs as a functional building to play games or practice in after this year. Will UCONN wrangle out of Hockey East another waiver?

The building is scheduled to be re-purposed in two years for another sports facility, likely for volleyball.

Fellow Hockey East school members are more than just slightly irritated with UCONN. Perhaps they can get a few more games in the severely sub-standard building, last used two years ago in the pandemic year.

UCONN has remained mum on the subject.

Ex-UCONN Husky Joe Masonius departs Adirondack (ECHL)/Utica (AHL) for Kalamazoo (MI) (ECHL).

Steve Bergin, from the UCONN (AHA) years, comes back from a year with Hershey (AHL) to be the new associate head coach at Sacred Heart University’s (AHA) with head coach C.J. Marrotolo (North Haven) next season. He was his assistant two years ago and had a five-year minor pro career with Pensacola (SPHL).

RIP

Sadly, two more former Hartford Whalers have passed away in the last several weeks.

Original New England Whaler Terry Caffrey dies. He and the New England Whalers’ all-time leading scorer, the late Tom” Hawkeye” Webster, topped the 100-point plateau in that first year in Boston. He was the first ever WHA Rookie-of-the-Year. George Lye, in 1976-77 was the second Whaler to win the Award.

Secondly, also passing away was former Hartford Whalers trainer (1983-1990)  Tommy “Woody” Woodcock, whose wake was in Rocky Hill. He was a member of PHATS (Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame), the National Hockey Hall of Fame, and the AHL Rhode Island Reds Hall of Fame.

Howlings sends its sincerest condolences to the friends and families of these two Hartford legends.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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The post CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON NEWS 11 first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are not standing pat as their roster has undergone more shuffling. The team continues to struggle to find some consistency, but while they are no longer occupying the last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-12-3-1 (20 pts), they head into a three-games-in-three-days weekend. They will visitProvidence and then host Rochester on Saturday night before heading up I-91 to battle with Springfield on Sunday afternoon.

Since their last home date in Hartford, the team has added Dawson Leedahl who was recalled from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and they traded Adam Cracknell ($675K one-way) to Laval for Peter Holland ($650K – NHL / $300K – AHL). Then on Tuesday, the Rangers claimed goalie Marek Mazanec on waivers from Nashville. Mazanec was playing for HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia-KHL).

Mazanec signed a one-year deal with New York ($650K – NHL / $150K – AHL) played mostly for Milwaukee last year and few games for Nashville, the 6’4 Czech Republic native was on a two-way deal in the summer with Nashville. By agreement the contract was terminated, so he would be allowed to sign in Slovakia.

As part of the CBA, upon returning to North America, every player in Europe must go through waivers first.  

The Rangers assigned Mazanec to Hartford Wednesday where he will become Alexander Georgiev’s new battery mate in net. The team now has three goalies on the roster, Mazanec, Georgiev and Chris Nell. It seems evident that Nell would eventually be assigned to Greenville to get more playing time and Brandon Halverson and his 3.98 ECHL GAA would be reassigned somewhere else.

“Today (Friday) was his first day in practice, for now, its day-to-day. We’re going to have three goalies,” head coach Keith McCambridge said.

Mazanec, a five-year pro is tall and covers the net well. According to several Nashville sources, he was well thought of and was believed to be a #2 goalie in the NHL, but he had several bad games and didn’t recover well. The skill level, however, is there.

Mazanec is likely an insurance policy for any potential long-term injuries in goal in New York.

It seems the Rangers aren’t finishing retooling the Pack.

Heading into the trio of weekend games, the Pack are still on the AHL learning curve after showing some resiliency in coming back from three deficits against the Rochester Americans to win their first shootout game of the year. They then let a two-goal lead dissipate in Toronto late in the third period in what was a 4-3 overtime loss.

“To get all the points against a deep Rochester team and the #1 team in the AHL in Toronto would have been nice. We did get some points. We’re learning how to play in pressure situations and put ourselves in positions to succeed,” McCambridge said.

Toronto tied the game on the powerplay with a blind backhanded pass along the goal line that Trevor Morre buried for his second of the game to tie it.

“That’s about awareness and positioning. We can’t allow that to happen. It’s against of the learning process.”

Two players have begun to demonstrate significant growth.

Rookie winger Ryan Gropp picked up his first two-goal game in Rochester.

“He is doing better and getting to those quiet areas and using his shot, which is very good, more effectively and he isn’t standing around waiting for the puck. He is going and getting it for himself and his linemates,” McCambridge said speaking of the former Seattle Thunderbird (WHL) product drafted in the second round.

The other player is on the backline. Brandon Crawley’s hard work is paying off for the former fourth-round pick from the well-regarded London Knights (OHL) program.

“He is starting to eliminate those mistakes, not running around and letting the game go a 100-mph in his head. He is making much better first passes which allow us to get out of the zone quicker. He is getting a better understanding of the game and getting more consistent in several areas.”

The weekend health update has two players listed as day-to-day. Filip Chytil has an upper-body problem. Steven Fogarty’s issue is an injury to the lower body. Dan Cantenacci returned to the lineup in Toronto. Eric Selleck will be the healthy scratch against Providence.

CRAWFORD GETS THE CALL

30-years and more than 2,000 AHL games under his belt and now Bob Crawford will get a chance at calling a game in, “The Show.”

The only radio voice the Hartford Wolf Pack have ever known will get to call his first NHL game between the Rangers and New Jersey Devils on Saturday Night from Madison Square Garden. The game will be heard on ESPN Radio 98.7 in New York.

It was indeed a call out of the blue.

“I was doing several things on Monday with practice underway. I see the call coming in. The number is unfamiliar. Let’s see who this is? It was a very nice early Christmas present indeed,” Crawford, who spent six years with the Adirondack Red Wings and one year with the Providence Bruins as well as two years with the Binghamton Rangers before moving with them to Hartford in 1997, said.

Longtime Rangers’ voice Kenny Albert has another assignment. His backup, Don LaGreca, is celebrating the arrival of twins with his wife, so Crawford gets the radio tap on the right arm and gets to go to Broadway.

“Just a fortunate series of events gives me a great opportunity. It’s a thrill and something I’ve wanted to do for all 30-years, to do an NHL game.”

Crawford gets to work with a Rangers’ legend from the 1970’s. Pete Stemkowski will fill in for Dave Maloney who will be between the benches for MSG while John Giannone fills in for Sam Rosen on the TV play-by-play.

Crawford’s career has taken him to many North American hockey destinations from Houston, to San Antonio to Winnipeg. He’s done games at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the Le Colisee in Quebec City.

Other places remain near and dear to him from his illustrious career.

“Glens Falls will always be special. It was my first place, and I always loved Hershey. Both arenas have an atmosphere that are fantastic. I really liked the new place in St. John’s (the Mile One Centre). It had a lot of character, and I also did some games in the old building (Memorial Stadium) there. But getting to do a game at MSG just very special.”

There are a lot of ex-Wolf Pack and few CT Whale players dotting the lineup for the Rangers and having seen the Devils these past few years before they moved to Binghamton, Crawford has a good grasp on the Devils.

“I have seen a lot of the players from a JT Miller to Mats Zuccarello to Boo Nieves, who just scored his first NHL goal the other night. Having seen Albany the past few years, I have a good idea on their lineup, and it’s a big rivalry as well. It’s great to have them as an opponent for this game.”

He has seen a lot of great AHL moments and players.

“I saw a young Adam Graves in Glen Falls score an overtime game seven winner against Hershey to complete a comeback from a three-games-to-none (series) deficit. The 1992 Calder Cup in Glen Falls with Barry Melrose as coach with Keith Primeau, Mike Sillinger and Sheldon Kennedy on that team and of course the Wolf Pack Calder Cup team.”

The Wolf Pack broadcast will be manned by long-time home color analyst Mark Bailey, who has held that role for the last seven years. Bailey, a Danbury native, has been involved with the Wolf Pack broadcasts for the last two decades from doing between period interviews to pre- and post-game shows, between period highlights and the NHL and AHL scoreboard.

Bailey filled in for Crawford during the lockout year several times and the rare times due to illness or family commitments that Crawford was unable to do a game.

NHL EXPANSION

Cantlon’s Corner reported this several times, and now it’s finally come to pass.

The NHL wasted little time in starting the process of putting their 32nd franchise into the league, and it will be, as we reported, Seattle by 2020.

The city council approved an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on Monday by a vote of 7-1, the day after the previous one that was held by Chris Hansen of Microsoft, expired and failed to get a downtown SoDo Arena approved.

There are some final pieces to be worked out before the deal is officially signed with the mayor. Those include a long-term lease, final environmental impact studies and the final parts of the financing of the all privately financed $660 million renovations to the 55-year-old Key Arena.

On Thursday, the NHL announced a limited expansion application could be filled out by the Bonderman group that consists of Dave Bonderman, a multi-billionaire, and TV/Film producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, a long time hockey fan and someone who has long expressed an interest in owning an NHL franchise.

The expansion fee set the NHL Board of Governors is an astounding $650 million, up $150 million from Las Vegas’ expansion fee. The application fee is $10 million with $2 million of it being non-refundable.

This move sets the NHL with 16 teams in the East and 16 teams in the West. Then teams can move within that framework, the most likely being Arizona. Unless there is some last minute lease deal arrangement in Glendale which is set to expire, the team would likely be relocated to Houston, Texas who has expressed interest in getting an NHL team and already has a facility.

Eventually, this will trickle to the AHL which will have to find a West Coast city for Seattle and probably Vancouver as well as they will ultimately relocate its farm team out of Utica, though they are likely to move them to Abbotsford.

One hiccup does remain, and that is the financing part.

Reliable sources have told Cantlon’s Corner that historic preservation tax credits are a major piece of the financing puzzle since the building is in a historic district and the roof of the arena is considered a unique historical part of the architecture that fits the criteria to be preserved.

These two features would allow OVG Group to be eligible to apply for these credits. The catch is that in the current federal tax bill that was just passed by the GOP, the House eliminated those credits while the Senate bill keeps those credits intact. It will be a battle of lobbyists on this one.

Just an exciting FACTOID: The NHL expansion fee in 1967 that doubled the size of the NHL from six to 12 teams was $2 million.

Here are a few articles on the events of the week. HERE and HERE

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Dreams of the Whalers returning to Hartford are now officially over.

Peter Karmanos has agreed in principle to sell the team to Texas billionaire, Thomas Dundon.

The deal will keep Karmanos as the minority owner with 48% for three years before he can be fully brought out. The price tag is $500 million and keeping the team in Raleigh was a condition of the sale.

The final sales agreement has to be finalized and then ratified by the NHL Board of Governors sometime in 2018.

Stories on that can be found HERE and HERE

NOTES:

The Pack visits Providence tonight. The Bruins lost Adam Payerl and Chris Porter to suspension by the AHL. Each received a game apiece for separate transgressions.

Toronto’s Andreas Johansson received just one game for boarding Hartford’s Filip Chytil.

Springfield has reassigned Matt Buckles and Mikel Aagaard to Manchester (ECHL). Bridgeport assigned defenseman Patrick Cullity to Worcester and promoted winger Yannick Turcotte.

Ex-Pack and Sound Tiger, Justin Vaive, was reassigned by Belleville to Cincinnati (ECHL).

Congrats to San Jose head coach Roy Sommer on his 700^th win Sunday in a 2-1 win over Bakersfield.

Russia’s ban from the 2018 PyeonChang Olympic games will likely affect two Rangers prospects who were expected to play for the Russian hockey team that was supposed to be a favorite among the strong competition for a medal.

Goalie, Igor Shestyorkin, and defenseman, Alexei Bereglazov, were expected to be on the roster. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, says that athletes will be allowed to compete under the Olympic banner, so a “Russian” hockey team might indeed yet still play in South Korea

Former Yale standout goalie, Alex Lyon, was recalled by the Flyers from Lehigh Valley. So far, Lyon was a backup in Edmonton and Vancouver.

Former Salisbury Prep player Nick Lukko was recalled by Lehigh Valley from Reading (ECHL).

Josh Wesley, the son of ex-Whaler, Glen Wesley, was reassigned to Florida (ECHL) by Charlotte.

Ex-Pack, Garrett Noonan, who played six games at the start of the season in Hartford before being reassigned to Greenville and before his contract was terminated, has signed with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia-AEHL) of the Austrian Elite Hockey League.

Ex-Pack, Andre Deveaux, has left Sheffield (England-EIHL) after just nine games.

Ex-CT Whale, Andreas Thuresson, leaves Kunlun (China-KHL) for SC Langnau (Switzerland-LNA) for the rest of the year.

Ex-Pack, Vinny Saponari, heads from HC Sparta Prague (Czech Republic-CEL) to IF Frisk Asker (Norway-NEL).

Wilton native, Matt Gosiewcki, playing with Central Illinois (USHL), gave a verbal commitment to Colorado College (WCHA) for next year after rescinding his commitment to Harvard.

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The post CANTLON: WOLF PACK CONTINUE ROAD PLAY BEFORE COMING HOME first appeared on Howlings.

 BY: Mitch Beck

The 2011-2012 season is underway and it starts with a thud as the team blows an early 3-1 lead from a Kris Newbury hat trick in the first 21:09 of the game and they went on to get doubled-up by the Adirondack Phantoms 6-3 at the Glens Falls Civic Center Saturday night.

Everything was looking bright for the Whale right from the open as they pounced on Adirondack netminder Michael Leighton just 37 seconds into the game when Tomas Kundratek sent a pass from the right corner to Newbury in front of the crease and the puck found it’s way through the five-hole and into the back of the net.

For Leighton, a Stanley Cup finalist just two seasons earlier with the Flyers, it was a tough start, but the veteran would eventually settle in and close the door on the New York Rangers top affiliate.

Brayden Schenn, the Los Angeles Kings’ first round draft pick (fifth overall) in the 2009 NHL entry draft and part of the package that sent former Flyers captain Mike Richards to LA-LA Land, was past dominant in this one. Every shift it seemed that Schenn was making a big play somewhere.

At 9:21, Schenn led defenseman Oskars Bartulis, also just sent to the AHL from the big club, on a 3-on-2 and fed the Ogre, Russia native for a shot from the slot. Bartulis’s shot hit the stick of Whale d-man Jared Nightingale and went over the glove of Whale starter Cam Talbot to even the score.

Nightingale made up for the inadvertent deflection less than three minutes later when his madman rush up the left wing side around Mike Testwuide. The puck was put on net and bounced out in front to Newbury who was Johnny-On-The-Spot and flipped the puck into the back of the net at 12:15.

The first period ended with the Whale and Phantoms deadlocks in shots at eight each, but the Whale were clearly in command of the game.

Newbury completed his second career hat trick, the first coming while he was with Toronto, ironically enough, against he Hartford Wolf Pack, when he reigned in a shot pass from deliberately sent off the back wall by John Mitchell from the right point to Newbury on the left side of the crease for the easy finish. It was a power play goal set up by a Kevin Marshall high stick that came with just 3.3 seconds left in the first.

It was 3-1 and the Whale spent the rest of the game as spectators.

Less than two minutes later it was 16 year veteran Denis Hamel who brought the Phantoms within a goal when he deflected a Cullen Eddy shot from the right point that got past Talbot (18 saves, 0-1-0-0) as well.

But then Schenn allowed the Adirondack team record of 4,521 in attendance to see why he is such a valuable NHL star of the future. He just took over the game.

At 11:11 of the second frame Schenn made a hard attack of the net and picked up his own rebound and sent the puck to the point to Hamel who found Marshall alone on the left point. Marshall ripped the black out of the vulcanized rubber as his wrister beat Talbot over the blocker to knot the game at three.

The Whale had excellent scoring chances at 12:59 when Newbury’s pass to rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and subsequent shot was denied by Leighton.

At 16:23 much heralded rookie Carl Hagelin skated away from Leighton and stared at the ceiling when his shot was stopped off a three-on-one odd man rush.

The turning point of the game came 37 seconds later when newcomer, veteran Andre Deveaux, made a bone headed pass up the slot that would wind up in the back of the net. Deveaux’s pass was summarily intercepted by Phil Kessel’s brother Blake who found Shane Harper who found who sent it across to Luke Pither who in turn fired the biscuit past Talbot for his first of the season. Nightingale, who had lost his stick and was bent over picking it up in front of Talbot picking it up, never saw the play unfold, It’s highly probable that Nightingale likely didn’t figure that a play was coming right back at him given the relative safe position Deveaux was in in the right corner or that it’s a fundamental lesson for young kids not to pass the puck like that. Awful.

Kyle Wellwood’s brother Eric added a power play goal to make it 5-3 at 7:22 of the third and Testwuide added an empty netter with 6 seconds left for the final tally.

“I think we took a step back and kind of sat on the lead, so in the future we have to work on putting the pedal down and stepping on their throats,” Newbury said. “It’s the first game of the year so we can take it as measuring stick. There are a lot of things to work on because it’s so early, but the good news is we’re going to get back at it tomorrow (in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) and hopefully get a win on this trip.

“I think we’ll mention some things before the game tomorrow, but the most part, the older guys maybe made too many mistakes. The younger guys played well and created good energy, but us older guys have to take responsibility and make better plays and better passes in our own end.”

Head Coach Ken Gernander’s press conference and reaction to the game is below as are comments form Adirondack Head Coach Joe Patterson.

Bruce Berlet has his story here on Howlings.  For the Adirondack perspective we have Tim McManus with the coverage at the Post Star.

GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL SCORERS SHEET

STANDINGS:

(Standings via theahl.com)

VIDEO:

SOUNDS OF THE GAME:

Kris Newbury – 

Joe Patterson (Adirondack Head Coach) –  

NOTES:

* 4,521 was the largest attendance in the Phantom’s short history.

LINES:

Hagelin – Newbury – Marchessault
Bourque – Mitchell – Thuresson
Grant – Tessier – Tanski
McKelvie – Owens – Deveaux

Redden – Nightingale 
Niemi – Kundratek
Fast – Parlett

Talbot
Johnson

(Assistant Captains Bold and Italicized)

SCRATCHES:

Sean Avery – Healthy Scratch
Stu Bickel – Healthy Scratch
Pavel Valentenko – Groin – Day-to-Day
Lee Baldwin – Quad – Indefinite

THREE STARS:

1. CT – K. Newbury
2. ADK – B. Schenn
3. ADK – O. Bartulis

ON ICE OFFICIALS:

Referee:
Francis Charron (46)

Linesmen:
Jim Harper (59)
Mike Emanatian (69)

NEXT GAME:

The Whale are back on the air Sunday at 5:05 as they travel to Pennsylvania to meet up for the first time with ex-Wolf Pack / CT Whale and XL Center fan favorite Devin DiDiomete and the Wilkes Barre / Scranton Penguins. Bob Crawford will have the broadcast with the pre-game show starting at 4:35 at WCCC.com.

To watch the game live, you can purchased it for $6.99 at AHL-live.

For Ticket information for all home games, call (860) 548-2000.

Too far away or can’t make it? Listen live at WCCC.com or from your cell phone or computer visit www.twitter.com/howlingstoday for complete live in-game coverage of all games both home and away.

SCORE-SHEET:

Connecticut Whale 3 at Adirondack Phantoms 6 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 8, 2011 – Glens Falls Civic Center

Connecticut 2 1 0 – 3
Adirondack 1 3 2 – 6

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Newbury 1 (Kundratek), 0:37. 2, Adirondack, Bartulis 1 (Schenn), 9:21. 3, Connecticut, Newbury 2 (Nightingale), 12:15. Penalties-Schenn Adk (hooking), 7:01; Marshall Adk (high-sticking), 19:56.

2nd Period-4, Connecticut, Newbury 3 (Mitchell, Redden), 1:09 (PP). 5, Adirondack, Hamel 1 (Eddy, Testwuide), 2:53. 6, Adirondack, Marshall 1 (Hamel, Schenn), 11:11. 7, Adirondack, Pither 1 (Harper, Kessel), 17:00. Penalties-Niemi Ct (interference), 4:47; Mitchell Ct (boarding), 9:02; Lauridsen Adk (hooking), 13:18; Gustafsson Adk (delay of game), 19:42.

3rd Period-8, Adirondack, Wellwood 1 (Roe, Bartulis), 7:22 (PP). 9, Adirondack, Testwuide 1 (Hamel, Roe), 19:54 (EN). Penalties-Audy-Marchessault Ct (slashing), 3:09; Harper Adk (tripping), 5:03; Fast Ct (tripping), 6:55; Bartulis Adk (tripping), 9:55; Redden Ct (tripping), 11:04; Parlett Ct (delay of game), 12:59.

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 8-8-11-27. Adirondack 8-11-5-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 6; Adirondack 1 / 6.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 0-1-0 (23 shots-18 saves). Adirondack, Leighton 1-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves).A-4,521
Referees-Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Mike Emanatian (69).

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