FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet CROMWELL, CT – As most of the Connecticut Whale players relaxed in the locker room after practice Monday morning, new/old right wing Dale Weise had a chalk talk session with assistant coach J.J. Daignault. Daignault drew up some notable…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet The XL Center could have made some serious money selling programs Tuesday if Connecticut Whale practice was open to the public. Coach Ken Gernander and assistants J.J. Daignault and Pat Boller were in scramble mode again thanks to a…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet Cleaning out the notebook after cleaning off the driveway and sidewalk in the wake of the record snowfall from Winter Storm Benedict before heading to Washington, D.C., for my first visit to Arlington National Cemetery and the memorial…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet An autographed Toronto Maple Leafs prospect trading card of Jeremy Williams showed up on eBay on Tuesday morning. Its value likely increased by day’s end after Williams, the Connecticut Whale right wing tied for the AHL goal-scoring lead,…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet The Connecticut Whale has provided more support to the parent New York Rangers this season than ever before in the franchise’s 14-year history. Long-term injuries to former Hartford Wolf Pack All-Star right wing Ryan Callahan, Vinny…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet The stunning news out of Providence again emphatically demonstrated how precious life is. Tom Cavanagh, the all-time leading scorer for the Worcester Sharks (46 goals, 92 assists in 202 games), was found dead Thursday of an apparent…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet When forwards Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal return from long-term injuries in the next few weeks, New York Rangers management will have some interesting and difficult decisions to make.
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet CROMWELL, Conn. – Less than seven months after being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, defenseman Michael Del Zotto has begun a hockey refresher course with the Connecticut Whale. Del Zotto was sent to the minors for the first time on…
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet While growing up in the Boston area, pond hockey was something that Trinity College hockey coach Dave Cataruzolo always looked forward to doing. No boards. No whistles. No systems. Just play.
FROM THE CREASE with Bruce Berlet
By Bruce Berlet While the parent New York Rangers are on a youth kick, the Connecticut Whale added two thirty-something forwards this week who will make their Whale debuts Friday night perhaps on the same line in a key rematch with the Portland Pirates…