BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – With the first round of the NHL playoffs on the verge of completion, there is news from all over the globe with the sport still making news.

AHL ALL-STAR GAME

The AHL has moved the All-Star Classic out of 2021 and ahead to 2022. They kept the game in Laval at the Place Bell just outside of Montreal.

“The All-Star Classic is a signature event of the American Hockey League, and although the decision to postpone it was difficult, it was unfortunately unavoidable given the exceptional circumstances we are currently going through. However, the organization is very excited to know that this is only a postponement and that Laval will still welcome the best players in the AHL during the 2021-22 season. “Place Bell remains the perfect place to host an event of this magnitude. We are very grateful to our fans for their loyalty during this difficult time. We also want to thank the American Hockey League for their trust throughout this process,” said Groupe CH Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, France-Margaret Bélanger.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be able to hold our All-Star Classic festivities in 2021, we look forward to continuing the work that is already underway with the Rocket organization and are excited to have the city of Laval and Place Bell host the AHL’s annual showcase event in 2022,” said American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson in a joint public statement.

OTHER MOVES

The ECHL announced they will start their season on December 4th with a complete 72-game schedule.

The OHL made an announcement that December 1st will be their start date and that they will play a slightly reduced schedule from 68 games down to 64.

They will work with the Canadian government regarding the cross-border issue with their US-based teams in the Saginaw (MI) Spirit, Flint (MI) Firebirds, and the Erie (PA) Otters since presently the border remains closed.

The WHL responded to the current world situation by delaying the start for its opening date from October 2nd to December 4th. They have three teams based in the US. The Portland (OR) Winterhawks, who presently have serious civil unrest issues in the city, and the Winterhawks are currently in bankruptcy with a sale to be announced any day now. The other teams are the Spokane (WA) Chiefs and the Everett (WA) Silvertips.

The QMJHL has no US-based franchises, but an inter-border issue between Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes remains.

The Charlottetown Patriot-Guardian newspaper says the QMJHL made a formal proposal on a Return-To-Play plan to the provincial governments of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island). The schedule would be reduced from 68 to 60 games, and would include making three new divisions that will be based on geography to reduce travel, overnight hotel stays, and would scale back training camps basically in half from 60 to 34 players.

The league still has August 26th set as an opening date for camp.

The new divisions would be an Atlantic, which would include Acadie-Bathurst, Cape Breton, Halifax, Moncton, and Saint John. Four-of-the-five cities have had old AHL franchises.

The second group includes Blaineville-Boisbrand, Drummondville, Gatineau, Rouyn-Noranda, Sherbrooke, and Val-d’Or with the third division consisting of Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi, Quebec City. Rimouski, Shawinigan, and Victoriaville.

The league has an ambitious starting date of October 1, which will more than likely be changed.

In the KHL, Alexei Morozov, the league’s President, announced its season will begin on time on September 2nd, but that all teams in the league will start their respective seasons in Russia in an attempt to mitigate cross-border issues during the pandemic.

The five teams are Jokerit Helsinki (Finland), Dynamo Riga (Latvia), Dynamo Minsk (Belarus), Barys-nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) and the Kunlun Red Star (China).

The Beijing-based team that just signed ex-Hartford Wolf Pack forward, Danny Kristo, will play in the former KHL city of Mytischi which is roughly 15 miles Northeast of Moscow along the Yauza River near the Yaroslavl rail-line and is easily accessible.

A three-nation, six-team Baltic Cup tournament has been organized and might be an early blueprint for a new local regional league separate from the KHL.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia will send two teams each for the round-robin tournament to be played just before Christmas time.

Darius Kasparaitis, the former New York Ranger, and Wolf Pack d-man will be the General Manager of one of the teams from his native Lithuania. Former Ranger, Sandis Ozolins, currently a KHL assistant coach with Torpedo Novgorod, will manage one from Estonia while former Flyer and NHL’er Ukrainian, Dainius Zubrus, is slated to be involved as well.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Player movement is starting for the AHL and especially at with college athletes demonstrating just how different the roster landscape will be for 2020-21.

AHL free-agent signee, Jarrett Burton, leaves the Rochester Americans for a new contract with the Iowa Wild.

According to Rhode Island-based, minor pro and college hockey reporter, Mark Divver, Derek Sheppard is leaving the Charlotte Checkers and moving north to join the Providence Bruins.

The Rangers 2018 fourth-round draft pick, Nico Gross, much like Nils Lundkvist, won’t be in Hartford for the 2020-21 season, Instead, the 20-year-old defenseman will be skating with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA). He played for the Oshawa Generals (OHL) last year.

Zach Malik, the oldest son of former Hartford Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven, defenseman, Marek Malik, will join his father with HC Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2) for the 2020-21 season leaving the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). The elder Malik is still the team’s assistant coach while his younger brother, Nick Malik, has not made a commitment yet as to whether he will return to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL).

Goalie Mark Sinclair transfers from the University Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (WCHA) to the Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA).

Former UCONN Husky, Karl El-Mir, signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) while his former UCONN teammate, Derek Pratt, re-signs with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) for next season. Another former Husky, Ben Freeman, (Falmouth, ME) signed his first professional deal with the Maine Mariners (ECHL) the Double AA affiliate of the Rangers and Wolf Pack. Brant Harris, another former Husky, leaves Mora IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and heads to HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia-SLEL).

Ex-Wolf Pack, Shawn St. Amant, leaves the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL) and signs with Gyergyoi HK (Romania-ERLH), which plays in a 10 team league based in Romania and Hungary.

Andrew Gaus, (Taft Prep/Yale University) leaves Colorado College (NCHC) after his grad transfer year and signs with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).

Henry Bowlby becomes the third Harvard University player and fifth in the ECACHL to leave school early and goes on to sign an ELC deal with the Florida Panthers (NHL) and their yet-to-be-announced new AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Colin O’ Neill, UMASS-Lowell (HE), signs with Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) as does defenseman, Clark Kuster, of St. Cloud St. Huskies (NCHC).

Brendan Van Riemsdyk, the younger brother of James (Philadelphia) and Trevor (Carolina) has finished his career with the Northeastern Huskies (HE) and signs with Reading Royals (ECHL) making 30 Hockey East players that have signed pro deals. The other conference breakdown see NCHC with 25, the Big 10 has 20, the WCHA is at 18, the ECACHL has 18, and the AHA sees 14 signings. Division-I independent, Arizona State, has three.

Now 126 players have signed pro deals in North America. A total of 227 have now signed North American and European pro deals.

Two transfers to report, one in Division-III which saw Matthias Gervais (Canterbury School-New Milford) go from the University of New England (CCC) to Elmira College (UCHC) and the other sees Christian Hayes leave Division-I, Holy Cross (AHA), for Trinity College (NESCAC) of Hartford.

That makes 27 school transfers this off-season.

Karlis Cukste, an unsigned fifth-round San Jose Sharks draft pick from the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) has signed a try-out deal at home with Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL).

Kaspar Kotkansalo departs a year early from Boston University (HE) to sign with Assat Pori (Finland-FEL).

Adam Winborg of the University of Michigan (Big 10) heads to AIK (Sweden-SHL) on a loan.

Jordan Fogarty departs the Princeton University Tigers (ECACHL) and signs with Virserums SGF (Sweden Division-3).

Spencer Fox from Wesleyan University (NESCAC) (Middletown) signs with IFK Falkoping (Sweden Division-3).

Latvian Filip Buncis had signed an AHL two-way with Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AHL)-Wheeling (ECHL), but because of the pandemic will play at home for Zemgale (Latvia-LHL).

Patrick Demel of AIC (AHA) becomes the fifth member of last year’s team to graduate. He is currently on a try-out deal with HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic-CEL).

Brent Raedeke, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk, Mark Raedeke, leaves Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) for the Iserlohn Rooster next year, not the Cologne Sharks as previously reported.

The AHL also continues to see players leave or elect not come and will play at home.

The Wolf Pack’s Yegor Rykov is loaned to CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL) likely ending the Rykov experiment. After supplanting former Wolf Pack, Sean Day, his star was bright. He played in 27 games but soon fell into disfavor with management, and by the end of the season, he was a passenger being scratched for nine of the Wolf Pack’s last ten games including the last game in March against the Providence Bruins where the team instead played rookie Zach Giutarri in his first pro game. Rykov’s KHL rights were traded from SKA St. Petersburg to CSKA Moscow last week paving the way for the deal.

Rodrigo Abols, who played last season for the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) was loaned by the team’s parent, the Florida Panthers, to Orebro HK (Sweden-SHL) for the 2020-21 season.

Otto Leskinen, of the Laval Rocket (AHL), was loaned by the Montreal Canadiens to KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL).

The Utica Comets (AHL) lost Carter Camper, who signs with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL).

Marko Dano of the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) is a free agent. He has expressed a desire to start the year with HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL).

The Bakersfield Condors’ Kirill Maximov was loaned by the Edmonton Oilers to CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL).

Michael Spacek, of the Manitoba Moose (AHL), was loaned by the Winnipeg Jets to Tappara (Finland-FEL) while teammate, Andrei Chibisov, was loaned to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia-KHL). teammate, Leon Gawanke, is staying home and was loaned from the Manitoba Moose to Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL) who’s Sports Manger is ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Stephane J.G. Richer.

The Ontario Reign’s (AHL) Tobias Bjornfot was loaned to Djurgardens IF (Sweden-SHL). Martin Frk also with Ontario and the Los Angeles Kings, is looking at possibly heading to HC Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic-CEL).

Moritz Seider of the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) was loaned to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL), while his teammate, Filip Zadina, saw his loan deal with HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL) be officially announced.

Tim Berni, who was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets was loaned out to the ZSC Zurich Lions (Switzerland-LNA) for the season.

The Hershey Bears (AHL) have lost Alexei Protas who was loaned by the Washington Capitals to Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL).

Dominik Masin, now formerly of the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) was announced to have signed a deal with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia-KHL) located closer to China than Russia.

Carter Camper (Utica) deal with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) was announced.

Linus Sandin, the older brother to Toronto Marlies/Maple Leafs prospect, Rasmus Sandin, and who was under contract by the Philadelphia Flyers will remain in Sweden with HV 71 under a loan.

61 AHL players have signed or were loaned to Europe from last year. 23 of 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player to Europe.

Ex-Pack, Kodie Curren, who signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Anaheim Ducks in June. is now apparently in talks with his old team, Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL), for him to start his season in Europe. Anaheim also loans goalie, Lukas Dostal, for another year to Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL). He would have been in San Diego with the Gulls. Ilves Tampere also adds Artuu Ruotsalainen on loan from the Buffalo Sabres.

Mathias Bromé, who was under contract by the Detroit Red Wings, leaves Mora lK to play for Orebro HK in another loan situation. Since the 2020-21 NHL/AHL season and training camps are not going to start before December 4th, it’s possible the AHL season in San Diego will likely be a truncated one getting him ready with game time in Sweden is on the table.

All of these loans and movement agreements are likely short-term, three-month contracts.

Mike Murtaugh of the Gunnery School (Washington, CT), has committed to UCONN (HE) for 2023-24. The private prep school has formally changed its name to the Gunn School.

Shaun McEwen of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team makes a commitment to UMASS-Amherst (HE) for 2023-24. McEwen was drafted by Tri-City (USHL) and in Canadian major junior by Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) this season.

Kyle Tomaso of Pomfret School (CTPREP) commits to the Division-III Trinity College Bantams (Hartford) (NESCAC). Ned Blanchard (West Hartford ) graduates Westminster Prep of Simsbury and commits to Trinity as well.

Nick Wallace makes a commit to the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) for the 2022-23 season. He skated for Bergen Catholic (NJPUB) and a few games with Tri-City (USHL) last year. He was a 2019 draft choice of Tri-City and by the Owen Sound Attack (OHL).

Samuel Timonen (Avon Old Farms), who played for the Stamford-based, CT Jr. Rangers (NCDC) last season, heads home to play for IPK (Finland Division-1). He is the son of former Flyer and Nashville Predator, Kimmo Timonen, who played over 1,100 games in his NHL career.

Malik Alishlalov (Westminster Prep), a UCONN (HE) commit for 2021-22, leaves the Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL) and returns to Russia for his last season of junior hockey with Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (Russia-MHL).

British born goalie Ben Churchfield departs after his junior year from Division III University of New England (CCC) and signs with the Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL) making 52 Division-I and III college players to sign contracts in Europe.

GOOD NEWS FOR GOOD PEOPLE

One-time Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach, and former New Haven Nighthawks and Yale University player, Dave Baseggio, has been named as the first Director of Pro Scouting for the newest NHL expansion team, the Seattle Kraken by GM and former Whaler great, Ron Francis.

Baseggio played for the Nighthawks (1991-92), who, at the time, were one of the last two independent teams in AHL history. The Worcester Ice Cats were the other. He played for half of a season after a trade from Rochester. It was the last-named Nighthawks team in the Elm City. He played at Yale (1985-1989) and was the captain his senior year.

Baseggio has always maintained a sunny optimism despite some serious impediments he has endured over his career.

He inherited a very poor Sound Tigers roster (2005-2006) in his only season as head coach after spending four years as an assistant coach. He lost out on an opportunity to coach his alma mater, despite the late Tim Taylor’s preference that he would be named his successor. Despite taking his team to the playoffs his contract was not renewed in Bridgeport after that season.

Baseggio went off to the Peoria Rivermen (2006-2008), who had migrated to the AHL, but, much to his surprise, he was relieved of his duties after just two years.

He then applied for the head coaching job in Chicago (AHL) with the Wolves, but the St. Louis Blues held him to the last year of his deal, closing that door, so he returned to Connecticut.

He kept busy in Connecticut working with every major college it seemed. Yale, Quinnipiac, and Sacred Heart as well as getting to every Bridgeport and Hartford game he could before hooking up with Anaheim.

Baseggio spent 12 years in total with the Ducks, seven as a pro scout, and three as their Director of Scouting. He worked his way up to Assistant GM in Anaheim for three years and went through a very laborious sale of the family’s Connecticut coastline home. He moved to California before being pushed aside with the arrival of former Vancouver GM, Dave Nonis. Now he gets the dream of coaches and scouting people to start with a fresh clean slate with a brand new team.

He will be operating out of Connecticut.

“I’m very honored to have been chosen and I am looking forward to the exciting challenge of building the Kraken team from the ground up with our talented and diverse team in hockey operations.”

Baseggio brings some New Haven hockey DNA to his scouting department with the addition of Lorne Henning, who did work in Montreal last year as a scout. Henning played four games for the very first New Haven Nighthawks team in 1972-73.

William White, the son of former New Haven Senators defenseman, Scott White (their team MVP), and who is currently the GM of the Texas Stars and Assistant GM in Dallas. The younger White played Division-III college hockey in New London at Connecticut College (NESCAC).

The Seattle Kraken also added an Ontario scout in former New Haven Nighthawk, John Goodwin.

Francis also added his long-time teammate, friend, and former Whalers great, Ulf Samuelsson.

Samuelsson also played for the Rangers, was an assistant coach there as well as with the Wolf Pack and Avon Old Farms.

STILL PLAYING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Former Rangers and Wolf Pack left-winger, Jan Hlaváč 43, is still actively playing, leaving HC Vrachlabi (Czech Republic Division-3) and heading to BK Nova Paka also in Division 3.

Hlavac’s older brother, Petr Hlaváč, will be the team’s head coach and Sports Manager this season. It’s Petr’s sixth season as a coach. The team plays in the 24 team league as part of the North Division.

The post CANTLON: HOCKEY OFF-SEASON NEWS & NOTES VOLUME 21 first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – While the Hartford Wolf Pack are reassessing, reevaluating, and making some signings and course corrections, the rest of the hockey world continues to make the news.

AHL CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

The AHL quarterfinals are set to start this weekend.

In the first, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms will play the Charlotte Checkers. The series will be played in a 2-3-2 format.

In the other, the Toronto Marlies take on the Syracuse Crunch. That series will be in the only traditional playoff formatted series, playing 2-2-1-1-1. Game 1, in a high scoring affair, went to the Marlies who came out on the high end of a 6-4 score.

The Manitoba Moose, who eliminated the defending champion, Grand Rapids Griffins, will take on the Rockford IceHogs. The Tucson Roadrunners, the top affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, is the franchise’s first farm team since 1997 to make the AHL playoffs. They will challenge the Texas Stars. 

AHL COACHING CHANGES

The list of coaches being relieved of their duties – fired for those who prefer the more blunt way of saying it – has grown to five following Sylvain Lefebvre (Laval Rocket), the first to be let go.

Troy Mann (Hershey Bears), assistant coach and ex-Pack, Randy Murphy were dismissed after the Bears finished in last-place for the first time since 1983-84 in the AHL Atlantic. Former QU Bobcat Reid Cashman remains as an assistant coach.

After nine years with the Edmonton Oilers organization, Gerry Fleming was let go by the Bakersfield Condors. Also relieved of their position were assistants, Tony Borgford. That move matches their parent club in Edmonton who relieved its entire coaching staff including Todd Mcllelan, Ian Herbers, and Jim Johnson.

The Oilers wasted little time appointing Jay Woodcroft as the Condors new head coach. He was an Oilers assistant for the last three years.

Eric Veilleux was let go by the San Antonio Rampage. He could be returning to the QMJHL after a surprise opening came up in Halifax, after the Mooseheads fired their head coach, Jim Midgley, after just one season.

The latest to be pink-slipped is former New Haven Nighthawk, Kurt Kleinendorst. He was fired for the second time as a head coach of an Ottawa AHL franchise. The first time was in Binghamton. He was let go after the team’s initial year in Belleville. The assistant coaches are one-time Nighthawk, Paul Boutilier and former New Haven Senator, Tony Cimellaro, who are staying put for now.

CHAMPIONS CROWNED

The Federal Hockey League saw the Watertown Wolves win the league title while the SPHL’s Huntsville Havoc shut the door on the Peoria Rivermen’s third straight final appearance. The Havoc won the series in two straight games in the best of three final.

WORLD UNDER-18 TOURNAMENT

After marching thru the tourney, the US team lost in the gold medal game to Finland.

In Division II, Group B, New Zealand knocked-off Hong Kong 8-5 to earn a promotion to Division II Group A next year.

USHL DRAFT

The top US junior draft will be held early next week in the usual two-phase format.

Phase I starts Monday, May 7th at 6:00 pm CST and is limited to 2002 birth year eligible players. A team can sign a player to a tender contract guaranteeing them a roster spot for the 2018-19 season. If a team does that, they lose a first-round pick. Teams are only permitted two tenders a year and if a second player is signed the team loses a second-round pick. Currently, eight players have been signed to tenders as of Thursday.

Phase Two is Tuesday, May 8 and is an open draft format.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

The US finally released their team’s roster. Several names with Connecticut connection dot the lineup sheet.

Cam Atkinson (Greenwich/AOF), ex-Pack, Brian Gibbons (Salisbury Prep), ex-CT Whale, and current New York Ranger, Chris Kreider, ex-Sound Tiger, Anders Lee, ex-Pack, Neal Pionk, and Tage Thompson (Orange/UConn).

Canada is led by former Hartford Whaler, Sean Burke as the team GM. Their roster sports two ex-Sound Tigers, in Ryan Pulock, and Anthony Beauvillier.

Switzerland has ex-Pack/Ranger, Raphael Diaz, and ex-Sound Tiger, Nino Niederreiter.

Belarus has ex-Wolf Pack, Vladimir Denisov.

Slovakia’s roster has a former Sound Tiger, Tomas Marcinko, and one of the assistant coaches is former Whaler, Robert Petrovicky.

Host Norway has ex-Pack, Nicklas Jensen, and former Sound Tiger, Franz Nielsen.

The Czech Republic has no Filip Chytil, but they do have a former Beast of New Haven as an assistant coach, Jaroslav Spacek.

Russia has ex-Pack/Ranger, Artem Anisimov, and former Wolf Pack, and current Ranger, Pavel Buchnevich. They also have Rangers’ draft pick, goalie, Igor Shestyorkin.

Sweden does have the Wolf Pack’s Lias Andersson (read the following piece) and in goal, former Wolf Pack, Magnus Hellberg. They also have former Sound Tiger, Anders Nilsson, as well as current Ranger, Mika Zibanejad.

The tournament starts in Copenhagen, and Herning, Denmark on Friday. The US and Canada start the tournament with a day off.

Just before the tournament got underway, the IIHF issued suspensions to four players of Sweden’s World Junior Championship squad for their conduct in Buffalo.

One of those suspended is Andersson, who infamously tossed his silver medal into the crowd. He was hit with the toughest ban, four games. Since the suspension wouldn’t have mattered as Andersson is aged out and would have likely been on the Rangers NHL roster and ineligible to play anyway, the IIHF changed it to keep him from the World Championship games next season.

Rasmus Dahlin, who is expected to be the first overall in the NHL Draft pick in Dallas next month, was given a two-game ban. It affects only his eligibility for the 2019 WJC and 2019 Under-18 team games. He was 17 at the time of the incident, but he is not on Sweden’s team.

Read the full details of the decision HERE

PLAYERS AND COACHES, PLAYING, ON THE MOVE OR SIGNINGS

Ex-Pack, Chris Summers, leads 13 Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins players elevated to Pittsburgh to be Black Aces.

Connor Clifton, a QU Bobcat grad, was called up from the Providence to the Boston Bruins.

Ranger draft choice Tim Gettinger and his Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) Greyhounds won the OHL Western Conference final against the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 in double overtime. Gettinger has 16 points in 18 playoff games. He had no points in Game 7 but led the team with six shots on goal. The team also featured Hayden Verbeek, the nephew of former Whaler and Ranger, Pat Verbeek. Hayden is finishing his junior career and has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens that starts next season.

Pat Verbeek is the current assistant GM and Director of Player Development for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Greyhounds head coach is ex-Pack, Drew Bannister. His assistant coach is former Ranger, Joe Cirella.

The OHL Finals pits the Greyhounds against the Hamilton Bulldogs, who eliminated the Kingston Frontenacs. That team featured Rangers prospect defenseman, Sean Day who will play in Hartford next fall.

The last line of attachment between the Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes was NHL Hall-of-Famer, Ron Francis. While he is the franchise’s all-time leader in scoring, it was announced on Monday that Francis was dismissed as the team’s President of Hockey Operations after having been demoted from the GM position nearly two months ago.

The Hurricanes are an organization in complete disarray.

Despite a revitalized AHL farm team in Charlotte, and having the second overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, not only does the team not have someone in Francis’ role, but the team has no head coach, and Pro Scout – and Francis loyalist, Joe Nieuwendyk, also resigned this week.

Read about it HERE.

One-time Whalers GM, Brian Burke, announced that he is stepping down from being the President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames.

The Montreal Canadiens released former Wolf Pack assistant coach, J.J. Daigneault, after six years. The former Ranger and Daniel Lacroix were shown the exit door last Friday.

Rick Dudley, 69, a former Nighthawks head coach, was also dismissed by Montreal and also after six years on the job. Dudley was not unemployed long as he has signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes to be their Senior VP of Hockey Operations.

Sam Anas, the former QU Bobcat, has signed a new two-year, two-way deal with the Minnesota Wild.

Former Yale Bulldog, Ryan Hitchcock, has signed a two-year AHL deal with Bridgeport. After Yale’s season concluded, he signed an ATO deal and played five games for the Sound Tigers.

Former Sound Tiger goalie, Mikko Koskinen, signed a one-year, one-way deal with Edmonton. He played the last four years with SKA St. Petersburg (Russia-KHL) and with the Finnish Olympic team this year.

Patrick Roy is back as GM/Head Coach for the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) after ex-NHL’er Phillippe Boucher stepped down two weeks ago after five years in the role.

Three more AHL’ers are heading to Europe next year. They are former Yale Bulldog, Andrew Miller, who was with Charlotte. He heads to HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland-LNA) and his new Swiss teammate is the Swiss-born goalie, Reto Berra, who leaves the San Diego Gulls to return HC Fribourg too. Defenseman Andrey Pedan one of the Penguins Black Aces leaves Wilkes Barre/Scranton to join AK Bars Kazan (Russia-KHL).

Ex-CT Whale defenseman, Blake Parlett, leaves Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL) to make his way to Kunlun (China KHL) next year.

Ex-UConn defenseman, Jonna Kunnas, goes from Grenoble (France-FREL) to HC Mulhousie (France-FREL) in the Elite Magnus League.

Lucas Bombardier, a former CT Oiler who played this year for the Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL) heads to play for the Botany Swarm (New Zealand-NZIHL) this summer.

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DIVISION II

For Cheshire native Rob Malloy, things were going well for his Mighty Roos Australian national team. They were undefeated going into their last game of Division II Group A tourney in Tilburg, Netherlands with a grand chance to be elevated to Division 1 Group B. Well, that all ended with a crushing loss at the hands of the host country.

The undefeated host, the Netherlands (5-0-0), crushed Australia’s hopes with a 9-2 victory. They tallied four goals in the first 1:02 of the game. Ivy van den Heuvel had three assists for the Dutch while Thomas Stempher added a goal and three assists.

The goal of the game, and maybe the tournament, came off Mickey Bastings’ stick. He was in full flight, took a pass from van den Heuvel, did a spin-a-rama before, with his back to the Aussie goalie, Anthony Kimlin, going backhand-to-forehand and put it in the net.

The first loss by Australia came a day after an emotional 5-4 shootout win over Serbia that kept their gold medal hopes alive.

The Mighty Roos built a 4-2 lead as Malloy, who had a strong tournament factored into their attaining the lead early in the third period.

After starting an early opportunity in the second period by winning a one-on-one battle behind the net, Malloy set-up teammate Matt Armstrong, who was stopped at 13:48. A few minutes later, Malloy delivered a clean and thundering hard hit to Serbian defenseman, Dominik Crnogora. the hit left Crnogora in a heap.

At 1:04 of the third period Malloy on the right wing and got the puck after defenseman Per Goransson’s left point shot sailed wide to the short-side. The puck came right off the backboards to Malloy who beat goalie Arsene Rankovic before he could recover and broke a 2-2 tie.

At 6:55, Malloy was on the left-wing side of the net. He took a shot that went off the skate of Serbian defenseman, Peter Novakovic’s skate. Armstrong was there to backhand the loose puck past Razanovic and gave the Mighty Roos a seemingly secure 4-2 lead.

Four consecutive penalties in the second-half of the third period allowed the Serbs to even the game. On some loose defensive play, the Serbs got a two-on-one that ended with Marko Sretovic on the right wing to make it 4-3.

A five-on-three power play followed and with their goalie pulled turned it into a six-on-three with ten seconds left. Novakovic was on the right wing side when he buried a cross-ice pass to tie the game at four.

After a scoreless five minute overtime, the teams had to rely on the shootout.

Australia’s Beau Taylot’s tally proved to be the game-winner.

The Netherlands earned the gold and promotion, while Australia earned the silver and Serbia took the bronze.

China, in its first time at the Division 2 level, finished fourth. They will play Yale University in December as they seek to upgrade their skill level in preparation for hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

In Division II, Group B, Great Britain pulled off an upset winning 3-2 over host Hungary in Budapest to capture the gold. Italy took silver and Kazakhstan took bronze.

In Division 1, Group B, an all Baltic final as host Lithuania won 4-1 over Estonia with ex-Pack, and Ranger, Darius Kasparaitis in the lineup. Japan took the silver and Estonia earned the bronze. Kasparaitis announced he was officially retired from playing at age 46

EURO CHAMPS

The ZSC Zurich Lions captured the Swiss NLA title in seven games over HC Lugano.

The Lions have ex-Ranger, Kevin Klein, who is retiring as well as former Wolf Pack and Ranger, Lauri Korpikoski. Former Sound Tiger, Robert Nilsson (the younger brother of Anders Nilsson) had a season-ending knee injury early in the campaign.

HC Lugano had former Wolf Pack and Ranger Bobby Sanguinetti.

The winner of the NLB Swiss League was SC Rapperswil-Jona, who earned a promotion to the NLA after beating the NLA’s EHC Kloten for honors. For Kloten, it will be the first time in 56 years they will not be in the countries, top-tier league.

The Aalborg Pirates captured the Denmark title beating the Herning Blue Fox in six games. They won the title-clinching 4-2. It was the Pirates first championship in 37 years.

The Pirates had ex-Sound Tiger forward Kirill Kabanov and one time Quinnipiac University Bobcat, Peter Quenneville.

The post CANTLON’S CORNER: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME TWO first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The off-season for the Hartford Wolf Pack has begun, but hockey news is still very active.

Here’s what’s happening.

PLAYOFF HOCKEY IN ALL NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUES

In the NHL playoffs, an entertaining and exciting finish to a terrific series as the Boston Bruins eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 7-4 win in Game Seven.

The Bruins posted a four-goal third period that was fueled by an early goal by Jake DeBrusk, the son of former Wolf Pack, and New York Ranger, Louie DeBrusk. The Maple Leafs had grabbed a 4-3 lead in the second period on a shorthanded breakaway goal by the Maple Leafs’ Kasperi Kapanen, who is the son of Hartford Whaler great, Sami Kapanen.

Meanwhile, back in the AHL, the Calder Cup playoffs are also well underway.

In Game 1, the Toronto Marlies got an overtime win over the Utica Comets with the help of an ex-Pack player. Chris Mueller’s seventh shot of the night ended the game at 17:48 of overtime on the powerplay.

Just three of the Best-Of-Five series have concluded entering the weekend.

On Thursday, the Charlotte Checkers completed a sweep of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Syracuse Crunch eliminated the Rochester Americans in three straight and the Texas Stars advanced in four games over the Ontario Reign.

Over in the ECHL, they are already in their quarterfinal series round with all four series being travel-friendly.

The Adirondack Thunder, featuring ex-Pack, Desmond Bergin, play the Manchester Monarchs, coached by ex-Sound Tiger, Richard Seeley, and have ex-Pack, Charles Williams, and Mark Morris, who’s the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Mark Morris.

The Florida Everblades have former Yale defenseman, Gus Young, former Kent Prep player, Logan Roe, and former Salisbury Prep goalie, Callum Booth all on their roster. They are playing the Orlando Solar Bears, who feature Enfield native, Robbie Baillargeon and a pair of ex-Wolf Pack players in Kale Kerbashian, and goalie, Mackenzie Skapski. It’s an all-Florida matchup.

The Toledo Walleye have ex-Pack, Simon Denis, on their roster. They are playing the Ft. Wayne Komets, who have former UConn (AHA) goalie, Garrett Bartus.

The Colorado Eagles are playing in their last ECHL season before moving up to the AHL next year. They will be the Colorado Avalanche’s top AHL affiliate. They feature ex-Pack Michael Joly, and their assistant coach is former Pack, Ryan Tobler. They are playing the Idaho Steelheads, who have ex-Pack, Tommy Thompson.

In the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) finals, the Huntsville Havoc and the Peoria Rivermen are playing for that championship. Huntsville won the first game. They advanced by knocking off the Macon Mayhem. Peoria, who has a former UConn (AHA) Husky on the roster in Ben Oskroba, eliminated the Knoxville Ice Bears with Evan Neugold (Goshen/Westminster Prep) on their squad.

PLAYOFFS AROUND THE GLOBE

Cheshire native, Rob Malloy, is off to a good start. He helped Australia, playing in the IIHF Division 2 Group A World championship tourney in Tilburg, of the Netherlands in his fourth international tournament with the Australian national team.

The Mighty Roos, as they are known, wearing their spiffy kelly green uniforms, registered back-to-back shutouts to start the tournament.

The Roos beat Iceland with Malloy, an assistant captain, scoring a late powerplay goal at 18:08 of the third period. He crossed in front and redirected defenseman Lliam Webster’s right point shot. Malloy is playing right wing in this tournament was stopped seconds before from 15 feet out.

Then Australia blanked Belgium 6-0 with Malloy picking up two assists on goals in the third period that broke the game open.

In making it 5-0 Malloy took a Belgium turnover deep in their own zone and on the left wing feathered a pass to Cameron Todd who quickly buried it.

At center ice, after winning a one-on-one battle, Malloy backhanded the puck to an open teammate, Matt Armstrong, who was on the left wing. Armstrong fed a streaking Todd whose first shot was stopped but he tapped in the rebound for the last goal scored. Their line had six points and Malloy was a plus-two and had a team-high six shots.

In the third game, they took on the Chinese National Team. Malloy went scoreless in the game but was a plus-one and tied for the team-high in shots on goal with seven. Josef Rezek also had seven shots in the 3-1 victory.

The Roos fell behind 1-0 as the Chinese scored the first goal in the first period.It was the first goal they surrendered in the tournament. The Mighty Roos responded with three goals in the third period to secure the victory.

They play the Serbian National Team coached by ex-Wolf Pack, David Urquhart on Saturday.

The Vaxjo Lakers swept the Swedish Hockey League championship for the LeMat Trophy over Shelleftea AIK. In the series, the Lakers outscored their opponents 27-1!

The new German DEL champion is a familiar one.

EHC Munich captured their third straight title winning Game 7, 6-3 over Eisbaren Berlin. EHC Munich is now the third team in DEL history to win three straight titles. The other two are Eisbaren Berlin and Adler Mannheim.

The rosters of both squads have lots of AHL names. Among them with their previous team in parenthesis are:

EHC Munich:

• Keith Aucoin (Chicago was voted DEL Player of the Year at age 39)
• Daryl Boyce (Peoria)
• Keith Aulie (Chicago)
• Ryan Button (Texas)
• Derek Joslin (Worcester)
• Markus Lauridsen (Lake Erie nee Cleveland)
• Jason Jaffray (St. John’s)
• Steve Pinizzotto ( Oklahoma City)
• Jon Matsumoto (San Antonio)
• David Leggio (Bridgeport)  The ex-Sound Tiger goalie did not play in the playoffs due to injury.

Eisbaren Berlin:

• Sean Backman (Ontario also an ex-Sound Tiger and one time Avon Old Farms player)
• Blake Parlett (San Antonio) Parlett is ex-CT Whale defenseman
• Micki Dupont (Peoria)
• Louis-Marc Aubry (Grand Rapids)
• Danny Richmond (Lake Erie nee Cleveland, the son of ex-Nighthawk Steve)
• Jamie MacQueen (Iowa)
• Mark Olver (Lake Erie nee Cleveland)
• Nick Petersen (Houston)
• James Sheppard

The last two are the team’s assistant coach Clement Jodoin (Hamilton) and their Sporting Director, former Nighthawk, Stephane J.G. Richer.

HC Brno Comets won the Czech Elite League (CEL) title for the second year in a row beating HC Ocelari Trinec in five games. After dropping the first game, they won the last four straight to get the title.

Trinec featured ex-Wolf Pack Jakub Petruzalek, ex-Sound Tiger, Tomas Marcinko, and the nephew of ex-Whaler and Ranger, Bobby Holik, David Musil.

The Dubai Mighty Camels (that’s the team name) won the short-season UAE (United Arab Emirates) Emirates Hockey League title beating Al Ain Theebs sweeping the best of three final.

The six-team league has Canadian, American, Finns, Russians, as well as Czech players.

There is only one Connecticut connection, Jack Reynolds of New Canaan who plays for the Abu Dhabi Scorpions.

The Stoney Creek (ON) Generals captured the Canadian Senior League’s Allan Cup. They won the title 7-4 over the Lacombe (AB) Generals.

Ex-Pack Tyler Donati, and his twin brother Justin, plus ex-Sound Tiger, Rob Hisey, had a goal and an assist in the title win. The team also featured another former Sound Tiger, Ryan O’ Marra, and the backup goalie Brett Leggett, is the brother-in-law of ex-CT Whale, Jason Williams. Leggett was an emergency goaltender for Hartford in Hamilton for one night.

TOURNAMENTS

At the World Under-18 tournament’s Top Division, the US is in very good position after defeating Russia, 5-1 on Thursday. They are playing the Czech Republic in the semifinals on Saturday (NHL Network, 10:30 am puck drop). The Czechs knocked off Canada on Thursday by a 2-1 score.

The tourney is a preview of the WJC tournament in December which will be played in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada.

The US Men’s World Championships gets underway next Friday. The first game is against Canada at Jyske Bank Bozen Arena in Herning, Denmark. All US games will be shown on the NHL Network.

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks is the team captain as announced two weeks ago.

The first portion of the team roster will be announced shortly. Ex-CT Whale and current Ranger, Chris Kreider, is expected to be on that roster.

Canada has released a portion of its roster. The team features two ex-Sound Tigers in Ryan Pulock and Anthony Beauvillier. Sweden also has two and a Ranger. Ex-Sound Tiger goalie, Anders Nilsson, and expect to see current Wolf Pack, Lias Andersson, and Mika Zibinajad to be on the squad.

The Czechs will have Filip Chytil and  the host Denmark are likely to have ex-Pack, Nicklas Jensen.

At the IIHF Division 1 Group B tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania there is an ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger in action. This player is on his last go-round on the ice. He is Lithuanian born defenseman, Darius Kasparaitis. Read a fine feature piece done by Henrik Manninen of the IIHF.com HERE

MOVING AND SIGNING

This season’s first two AHL players to make the move to go to Europe next year have occurred.

Christoph Bertschy, who split the season by starting with the Iowa Wild before ending in Binghamton with the Devils, returns to his native Switzerland where he will play for HC Lausanne (NLA). Goaltender, Danny Taylor, makes the AHL Euro list for the second time in his career. He was playing with the Belleville Senators and made it to his first NHL game with the Ottawa Senators this season. He will be heading to Russia to play for Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL).

Former Wolf Pack, Alexandre Giroux, will not be returning to Grenoble (France-FREL) next season.

Austin Smith, who went to Gunner Prep (Washington, CT) and hails from Coppell, Texas, stays in the Austrian Elite League (AEHL). He will be going from HC Bolzano (Italy) back to HC Innsbruck (Austria) where he played two years ago.

Multiple concussions sustained this season lead Matt Generous (Cheshire) to take a leave of absence for at least a year from EC Salzburg (Austria – AEHL). His teammate, and fellow defenseman, Julien Brouillette, who was an ex-Wolf Pack, announced his retirement.

Ex-Sound Tiger Mark Katic is leaving AIK and going to Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) next season.

Ex-Sound Tiger Mike Halmo heads to the North Atlantic next year after playing with HC Bolzano (Italy-AlpsHL). He signed with Illves Tampere (Finland-FEL).

JUNIOR DRAFT

The OHL Priority Draft last weekend saw a slew of selected players with names that have Connecticut and professional connections of note.

Matt DeBoer of Salisbury Prep was taken by Oshawa in the 6^th round, 117^th overall. He is the youngest son of current San Jose Sharks head coach, Peter DeBoer. His older brother Jack, also an ex-Salisbury Prep Crimson Knight, is a Boston University (HE) commit for next season. He is currently playing for the US Under-18 team at the IIHF tournament in  Magnitogorsk and Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Ethan Cardwell, the nephew of former New Haven Knight, Matt Cardwell, went in the second round, 33^rd overall by Saginaw.

Jack Gorton, from South Kent Prep, and the Selects Academy program, was taken in the eleventh round, 280^th overall by Sault Ste. Marie.

Isaac Langdon, the nephew of former Rangers’ tough guy, Darren Langdon, was taken by the Kitchener Rangers in the second round, 32^nd overall.

Grant Eastwood, the son of former Ranger Mike Eastwood, was taken by the London Knights.

A few other notable names that were selected include Grayson Arnott, the son of ex-NHL’er Jason Arnott. He was selected by Sarnia. Jacob Perreault, the son of former NHL and AHL’er, Yanic Perreault, was taken in the first round, 19^th overall by the Sarnia Sting.

Kienan Draper, the son of former NHL’er, Kris Draper, was selected by Saginaw.

COLLEGE HOCKEY NEWS

In coaching news, the University of Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10) renewed and extended the contracts of former Whaler, Mark Johnson (Women’s) and ex-Ranger, Tony Granato (Men’s team) to 2022-23.

The University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (WCHA) has hired Matt Curly as their sixth head coach.

David Quinn (Kent Prep) at Boston University (HE) was named the new head coach for the 2019 US World Junior team. The tourney runs from December 26^th to January 5^th and will take place in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada.

Dutch-born forward, Guus van Nes of the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC) announced a commit next season to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL).

Talk about an early commit, Ryan St. Louis (Riverside/Brunswick Prep), the eldest son of former Ranger, Marty St. Louis, has made a verbal commitment to Northeastern (HE) for the 2021-22 season. He’s just 14 years old!

The NCAA needs to step in and do something. How about a suggestion of requiring a player to be at least 17 years of age to make even a verbal commit.  Things like this are bad for the sport. Bad for the image of college sports and most importantly bad for the kids.

The post CANTLON’S CORNER: HARTFORD WOLF PACK 2018 OFF-SEASON NOTES – WEEK ONE first appeared on Howlings.

The game will feature the return to the ice of Rangers greats Brian Leetch and Adam Graves.  Joining Leetch and Graves are Hockey Hall of Famers Glenn Anderson and Mike Gartner, in addition to goaltenders John Vanbiesbrouck and Dan Blackburn, defensemen Dave Maloney, Ron Greschner, Tom Laidlaw, Dale Purinton, Darius Kasparaitis and Mathieu Schneider, and forwards Darren Langdon, Stephane Matteau, Nick Kypreos, Darren Turcotte, Kris King, Brian Mullen, Paul Broten, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu and Pat Hickey.  Coaches will be Mike Keenan, Emile Francis and Colin Campbell.  The Rangers Off-Ice Ambassadors will include Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin and Harry Howell.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 28, following the unveiling of the Rangers jersey for the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on blueshirtsunited.com, fans will have the chance to vote for the starting lineup for the Rangers Alumni team who will be playing in the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Alumni Game. By casting a vote for their favorite former Rangers, fans will automatically be entered to win a host of prizes including Winter Classic jerseys and tickets to the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the Outdoor Alumni Game.

Fans will be able to participate in a live in-game chat during the alumni game on blueshirtsunited.com, as well as follow real-time game coverage via @thenyrangers on Twitter.

For ticket information on the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Alumni Game visit newyorkrangers.com or call (212) 465-6080.

The post RANGERS ROSTER SET FOR 2012 WINTER CLASSIC ALUMNI GAME AGAINST PHILADELPHIA FLYERS first appeared on Howlings.