HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack collected four important points to kick off the month of March. The club opened the month with a 2-1 victory at home over the Laval Rocket on Friday night, then ended the five-game winning streak of the Providence Bruins on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 5-2.

The Pack is back for the final 20 games of the 2023-24 regular season starting tomorrow night. The club will play two key Atlantic Division games as it opens a stretch that will see it play seven of nine games on the road.

Friday, March 8^th, 2024, Vs. Providence Bruins (7:00 p.m.): NHL Trade Deadline Day will end with some action on the ice as the Wolf Pack welcome the Bruins to town for the final time this season. It’s the ninth of ten overall meetings between the clubs during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Wolf Pack evened the season series with a 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Among the highlights of the afternoon, Karl Henriksson struck just 43 seconds into the contest for Hartford’s fastest goal to start a game on the road this season. Bryan Yoon’s tally 1:58 into the second period was his first career AHL goal and gave the Wolf Pack a lead they never lost.

Brett Berard’s first goal back in his hometown of Providence would stand as the game-winner. The goal, Berard’s team-leading 19^th of the year, came at 6:02 of the second period. It was his team-leading seventh game-winning goal.

The Wolf Pack have a record of 4-3-1-0 against the Bruins this season, while the B’s are 4-2-1-1 in the head-to-head matchup.

The sides will wrap up their season series on April 21^st, back in Providence.

Saturday, March 10^th, 2024, @ Bridgeport Islanders (7:00 p.m.): The ‘Battle of Connecticut’ makes its final stop in Bridgeport during the 2023-24 season on Saturday night. It’s the ninth of ten overall meetings between the rivals.

The Wolf Pack have dominated the season series, winning seven of the first eight meetings. In the most recent matchup, the Pack took a 2-1 decision at the XL Center on February 21^st.

Jake Leschyshyn opened the scoring with a powerplay goal 5:29 into the contest, his fifth goal of the season. Brennan Othmann’s 14^th goal of the year at 4:14 of the second period would stand as the game-winner, his third of the season.

Matthew Maggio had the only goal of the night for the Islanders, striking at 12:03 of the middle frame.

Dylan Garand made 29 saves in the victory, improving to 5-0-0 against the Islanders on the season. In the head-to-head matchup, Garand has a .975 save percentage (155 saves on 159 shots).

The Wolf Pack have won each of their last seven visits to Total Mortgage Arena and are a perfect 4-0-0-0 there this season. Overall, they have won six straight against the Islanders and have held the Isles to one or fewer goals in each of the last four meetings.

The season series wraps up back at the XL Center on April 3^rd.

Quick Hits:

• On Wednesday, the parent New York Rangers (NHL) acquired forward Alex Wennberg from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (originally belonging to the Dallas Stars).
• On Tuesday, the Rangers assigned forward Alex Belzile to the Wolf Pack. Belzile leads the Pack in points with 37 (14 g, 23 a) through 43 games. He is currently tied with Othmann for second on the club in goals with 14.
• Also, on Tuesday, the Wolf Pack released forward Tag Bertuzzi from his professional tryout agreement. Bertuzzi collected one assist in eight games with the club. He was returned to the ECHL’s Reading Royals.

About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety, and more.   

ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.    

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

HOWLINGS

The post WOLF PACK WEEKEND PREVIEW: MARCH 7th, 2024 first appeared on Howlings.

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the Wolf Pack have released forward Tag Bertuzzi from his professional tryout agreement (PTO).

He will report to the ECHL’s Reading Royals.

Bertuzzi, 23, signed with the Wolf Pack on February 8th and played in eight games. He recorded his first career AHL point, an assist, in the Wolf Pack’s 2-1 victory over the Laval Rocket on March 1^st.

Before joining the Wolf Pack, Bertuzzi appeared in 42 ECHL games this season. He also played 14 games with the Tulsa Oilers, recording three points (1 g, 2 a). The Oilers traded Bertuzzi to the Royals on November 26^th, 2023, in exchange for forward Alec Butcher.

Since joining the Royals, Bertuzzi has scored 20 points (10 g, 10 a) in 28 games. He has recorded three multi-goal outings since the trade.

The native of Vancouver, BC, has skated in 106 career ECHL games with the Royals, Oilers, and Norfolk Admirals. He has scored 75 career points (35 g, 40 a).

The Pack is back at the XL Center on Friday night when the Providence Bruins come to town for the final time this season. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Join us for $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs until the end of the first intermission!

Additionally, help us welcome back Wolf Pack legend P.J. Stock! The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a P.J. Stock bobblehead courtesy of Xfinity.

Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.

About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety, and more.

ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

HOWLINGS

The post WOLF PACK RELEASE FORWARD TAG BERTUZZI FROM PTO first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are not the only team looking to make a few late signings and moves. A few stray signings this week as Labor Day approaches.

Tanner Fritz has resolved his contract situation.

On Thursday morning, his situation was unresolved, but by that afternoon, it had concluded. Fritz signed a one-year AHL deal to return to the Bridgeport Islanders, where he spent his first six years. He spent the last two in Hartford.

Fritz (the second player named Fritz to play in Hart City and Park City) often played out of position to help when the Wolf Pack were shorthanded at forward.

He had talks with Hartford and Springfield, all to tend to his son’s special needs.

MISCELLANEOUS HARTFORD RELATED NEWS

Ex-Pack Alex Bourret was named head coach for the CCL Dynamiques M (minor)15 team (QBAAA).

The Islanders named ex-Pack/Ranger Pascal Rheaume as one of the two new assistant coaches to work with their new head coach, Rick Kowalsky. It’s his first AHL stint. He was initially an assistant with Iowa in 2015-16. The last two years he spent with the Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL).

Bryce McConnell-Barker might be in Wolf Pack training camp, but his ticket back to Sault Ste. Greyhounds Marie (OHL) is already stamped. He spent three weeks here last spring without playing a game before being released.

Like Will Cullye and Brennan Othmann before him, he is still 19 and can’t play in the AHL until his junior season. He will likely captain the Greyhounds and be on the 2024 Canadian WJC Team. McConnell-Barker hopes to be like Othmann, go deep in the OHL playoffs, and maybe get a shot at the Memorial Cup.

An ex-Pack/Ranger, Libor Hájek, has signed as a PTO training camp invite with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Next year, he will go to the Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). He joins another ex-Pack, Ryan Graves, who starts his first season of a six-year deal in the Keystone State.

Howlings learned that Adam Samuelsson, the youngest son of Hartford Whaler great Ulf Samuelsson, an ex-New York Ranger whose Whalers #5 is “retired” in the XL rafters. Ulf is also a former Wolf Pack and Avon Old Farms assistant coach. Adam will attend the training camp on an invite basis of the independent Chicago Wolves this fall. He signed a deal with Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) earlier this summer.

Sam Gagner, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Ranger Dave Gagner, has gone from the Winnipeg Jets to the  Edmonton Oilers on a PTO deal. Gagner was a first-round pick of the Oilers in 2007 and had 519 career points in 1,015 games played with seven different teams.

HAGELIN CALLS IT A CAREER

Carl Hagelin, who played 17 games for the CT Whale en route to 713 NHL games and who won two Stanley Cups, two silver medals for Sweden in the Olympics and the WJC, and two NCAA national titles in four full years at Michigan, had a career of 152 points in 171 games – a sure-fire entrant in the Wolverine HOF.

After a year off, Hagelin retires from active playing, resulting from an eye injury suffered in practice two years ago in Washington. Hagelin exceeded expectations as a sixth-round draft choice, as it was considered a stretch that he would ever play in the NHL. He was supposed to be too small and slight. However, nobody could catch him with his outstanding speed.

Hagelin was traded early Saturday morning for the Anaheim Ducks’ Emerson Etem in late June 2015.

MORE MOVES

Madison Bowey goes from the Laval Rocket to Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL). Turner Ottenbreit of Iowa heads to Kunlun (China-KHL), making 78 AHL’ers signed in Europe.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Milwaukee Admirals are the only two teams not to have lost a player.

A story on the website Detroit Hockey Now reprised a story from an Inside AHL Hockey interview with long-time Chicago Wolves GM Wendell Young. The story was that former coach Ryan Warsofsky (Sacred Heart University) was threatened with dismissal by Carolina two years ago before his Wolves team went on to win the Calder Cup final against the Springfield Thunderbirds in seven games. Warsofsky was and is now an assistant with the NHL San Jose Sharks.

Warsofky is an old friend of ex-Pack/Sound Tigers, the now-retired Bourque brothers, Chris and Ryan. He chose to play the former Yale goalie, Alex Lyon, over Carolina’s objections instead of their Russian prospect Pytor (Peter) Kochetov two springs ago.

Carolina had gone through hoops to get him to North America via Austria first because of the war in Ukraine.

Now Lyon, who then made a very public obscene gesture in the championship team picture at center ice, with a two-middle-fingered salute. It was not meant or directed at the Springfield fans but rather the Carolina management, despite having just won the Calder Cup.

Lyon was given a one-game AHL suspension for his stunt. Chicago has gone the independent route this season and has gone through four affiliates in the last seven years. Winning a championship is very important in Chicago.

Instrumental in Florida making the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, Lyon was a backup to Spencer Knight (Darien/AOF). The previous spring, they had to enter a substance abuse clinic as they made it to the finals before bowing out to the eventual champion, the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Lyon is expected to be in Grand Rapids this year to teach and tutor the highly regarded prospect Sebastian Cossa, who battled Pack goalie Dylan Garand two years ago in juniors, as they were the two best netminders in the WHL. Lyon was helped at Yale when he played by another ex-Yale goalie, Jeff Malcolm, the current Wolf Pack goalie coach.

The Red Wings have four goalie prospects: Cossa, Carter Gylander, a junior at Colgate University (ECACHL) under the guidance of new head coach ex-Pack Mike Harder, John Lethmon, a Grand Rapids returnee, and Yale-bound next year, just drafted (sixth-round) Rudy Guimond (Taft School) in Cedar Rapids (USHL) this year.

Ex-Pack Tysen Helgesen, re-signs with the Rapid City Rush (ECHL).

Chase Zieky (Avon/AOF) signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL) for next year.

Matt Tugnutt (Sacred Heart University) leaves HC Chamonix (France-Magnus League FREL) and signs with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) for next season.

Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Anthony Greco is at an unknown Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL) destination.

Ex-Sound Tiger Brandon DeFazio announced his retirement from hockey. DeFazio played last year with ERC Schwenniger (Germany-DEL). His father, Dean DeFazio, was a former New Haven Nighthawk with four sons involved in hockey. Jeremy and Cameron have already retired. His youngest, Cole, is entering his sophomore year at Division III, Neumann (Aston, PA) College (UCHC).

Brandon has taken an amateur scouting position (Ontario region) with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mark Osiecki, a former New Haven Senator, also becomes a Midwest region Penguins Pro Scout as he leaves the University Wisconsin-Madison (Big 10) campus.

Ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger Matt Lorito, a Greenwich resident, also announced his retirement from hockey. Lorito played with EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL) last year and took a pro scouting position (Midwest) with Pittsburgh.

DeFazio and Lorito join another ex-Sound Tiger, Matt Mangene, who has been a Penguins amateur scout for the last three years.

After his grad year at Michigan Tech (CCHA) after playing at Ohio State (Big 10), Ryan O’Connell becomes the 63rd college player to sign in Europe with Toulouse-Blagnac (France-FFHG-Division-3). He is also the nephew of ex-New Haven Senator Brian Downey.

Jack Badini (Old Greenwich/CT Oilers-EHL) departed Newfoundland (St. John’s) (ECHL), had a few call-ups to Toronto (AHL), and signed overseas with Stjernen (Norway-NEL).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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The post HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack and every professional team everywhere, for that matter, are all busy at work getting their roster ready for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

The Wolf Pack added roster depth by inking forward Cristiano DiGiacinto, to a one-year AHL deal.

DiGiacinto, 27, appeared in 36 games with the Wolf Pack in the 2022-23 season, his second with the team. He registered 12 points on three goals and nine assists and collected 44 PIMs.

DiGiacinto, a walk-on from Canadian college hockey (Acadia University), also appeared in 47 games with the Wolf Pack during the 2021-22 season scoring 13 points and scoring six goals.

In addition to his time in Hartford last year, DiGiacinto skated in 19 games with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, who were then the Wolf Pack’s Double AA affiliate. While in Jacksonville, he tallied 15 points, including ten assists. He added three points and two assists in 12 Kelly Cup playoff games.

DiGiacinto hails from Hamilton, Ontario. He has scored 25 points with nine goals in 83 AHL games, all with the Wolf Pack. He has also dressed in 31 ECHL games, all with the Icemen, scoring 21 points on six goals.

The 5’11, 192-pound forward was selected originally in the sixth round, 170th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He was never offered a deal and signed with the Rangers.

After three seasons, newly ex-Pack Patrick Khordorenko, who played in just four games last year after season-ending shoulder surgery, signs with the Charlotte Checkers for ’23-’24.

Another ex-Pack who suited up for just two games over two years, Easton Brodzinski, the brother of Pack captain Jonny is now a minor league free agent. He heads to familiar territory signing with the Jacksonville Iceman (ECHL), currently affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres.

Ex-Pack Malte Strömwall leaves the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and heads home. He signs with Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL) for the 2023-24 season.

After a year with HC Litvinov in Czechia, ex-Pack Josh Wesley, the son of former Hartford Whaler Glen Wesley, signs with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Former Pack Jacob Hayhurst signs an AHL two-way deal with Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) /Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).

Ex-Pack Blake Parlett departs Nuremberg (Germany-DEL) and signs with HC Bolzano (Italy-IceHL) for 2023-24. He joins another exp ex-Pack Christian Thomas and ex-Sound Tiger Mike Halmo.

Former CT Whale Mike Pelech departs the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) for Glasgow (Scotland-EIHL).

Parker Gahagan, the Wolf Pack emergency goalie last year, spent most of the season with Jacksonville (ECHL). He suited up for just two games with Hartford. He signs a one-way, one-year deal with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)/Reading Royals (ECHL).

Adam Samuelsson, the youngest son of Whaler great, former Ranger, former Wolf Pack, and Avon Old Farms assistant coach, Ulf Samuelsson, leaves the Newfoundland Growlers (St. John’s) (ECHL) and signs with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL).

Three new junior coaching adds ex-Pack Chris Nell, who returns to his hometown of Green Bay for a second consecutive season. Nell leaves Marian University (NCHA), where he was an assistant coach, and his high school alma mater, Notre Dame Academy, where he was the goalie coach last season. He now becomes the assistant coach and Director of Goaltending for the local junior team, the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

NEXT

The NHL released its preseason schedule with dates, times, and locations; unfortunately, there won’t be any games in Hartford. While Hartford is not on the schedule, surprisingly, Sydney, Nova Scotia did.

If Hartford can’t even get an exhibition game, it’s time to move on from this fantasy that the NHL will return to the Connecticut capital.

UCONN RELATED NEWS

The UCONN men’s hockey team has announced their home slate for the Hockey East season. It will feature a very light XL Center presence with 17 games on the Huskies’ home ice in Storrs after their direct negotiations with the current building operator, OVG 360.

UCONN will play its first full season at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. The Huskies had a strong start last year in the first half of the season and faded in the second half finishing the season 20-12-3.

The Huskies bowed out to UMASS-Lowell in the playoffs after losing to UMASS in the conference title game the prior year. Across the hallway with the Hartford Wolf Pack is Bobby Trivigno, who swiped their national tournament aspirations.

The team opens up on the road in a non-conference set against Colgate University (ECACHL) and their new head coach, ex-Pack Mike Harder. His assistant is one-time Yale Bulldog captain Anthony Walsh.

The non-conference slate has the Huskies hosting the Holy Cross Crusaders (AHA) with assistant coach and ex-Pack Bobby Butler on October 14th at Toscano for the home opener.

The Huskies will host just three Hockey East matchups at the XL Center. It will be just one of the few times the fans in Hartford will see the #15 overall draft pick of the Nashville Predators, Matt Wood.

The reason for that is Hockey East requires all its schools to play primarily on campus. For years waivers were granted to UCONN, and the conference schools chafed about their teams playing on campus buildings. That includes UCONN.

Now with the Toscano sandbox built, the school can’t hide anymore.

The XL as a home rink doesn’t cut even with no tickets available.

A few years ago, a source indicated that the negotiations before Toscano were built centered on how low they could go and not meeting the 4,000 standard Hockey East requirement. They couldn’t go lower than Merrimack, and many fans will now be shut out.

The Huskies are being held to the letter of the law of their conference entry application.

The only Hockey East games at the XL Center are UMass-Lowell on October 28th, then the University of Maine Black Bears for two games on January 12th and 13th.

The XL Center games will include a non-conference meeting with Dartmouth College and their head coach, former Quinnipiac assistant coach, and player Reid Cashman, on November 25th.

They will host Harvard on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, at Toscano at 3:00 PM.

UCONN will wrap up its XL Center activity with non-conference action on January 26 and 27, hosting their annual  Connecticut Ice Festival for the fourth time. It will feature the reigning National Champion Quinnipiac Bobcats, the Yale Bulldogs, ECACHL teams, and the Sacred Heart Pioneers (AHA).

The rest of the Hockey East contests will be held at the Toscano Family Ice Forum.

On November 10th, the Huskies host Merrimack, and then the Boston College Eagles, loaded with NHL prospects, on November 18th at Toscano.

UCONN will host UMass-Lowell for their third season matchup on Friday, December 1st.

The school will start the new year with the first game in Storrs on January 19th. The Huskies will welcome the University of New Hampshire.

UCONN will host Providence College, Massachusetts, and Boston University in February after the Connecticut Ice tournament at the XL Center.

The Huskies finish the regular season at their on-campus home skating against the Northeastern Huskies and then end the regular season against the University of Vermont. That will complete their 35-game regular season in early March.

Any Hockey East post-season games are all single-game affairs per the conference format and will be played at Toscano.

Former Husky Spencer Naas, UCONN (HE)/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep (CTPREP), leaves the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL ) and signs with the Dundee Stars (Scotland-EIHL) for the 2023-24 season.

Another ex-Husky, Ryan Wheeler, leaves the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) and signs with the Adirondack Thunder(ECHL).

The current Huskies saw their former highly-rated goalie, Logan Terness, transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10). Head coach Mike Cavanaugh, in turn, then rolled the dice with a grad transfer from the ECACHL goalie Carson Haider from Clarkson University. They had great success two years ago with Darion Hanson.

DRURY’S SON

Luke Drury, the son of Rangers’ President and General Manager Chris Drury, is captain at the Brunswick (Bears) School in Greenwich. He commits to attend and play at Brown University (ECACHL) for the 2025-26 season.

The elder Drury’s ex-Hartford Whaler brother Ted has five children-four boys and a daughter. Each of his offspring is involved in hockey at some level.

Owen Drury will play with the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) next year. He has not committed to college yet. His youngest, Ryan, is 12 and playing with the CCM Chicago team.

His eldest son, Jack, played for his hometown, Chicago Wolves, last season before a late injury recall by the Carolina Hurricanes.

SOME NEW HAVEN CONNECTIONS

Ronan Buckberger, the youngest son of former Beast of New Haven forward Ashley Buckberger, commits to the Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10) in 2025-26.

Ryan McCleary, the son of former New Haven Senator Trent McCreary, was traded from the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) to his hometown team, the Swift Current Broncos (WHL). He is a Pittsburgh (NHL) seventh-round 2021 draftee.

His sister, Maddy, just completed her Canadian college career with the St. Mary’s (Halifax) University Huskies (AUAA-W).

ODDS AND ENDS

Rayen Petrovický, the son of former Whaler and New York Ranger Róbert Petrovický, skated with three European teams last year. The previous was JoKP (Finland-Mestis) on a loan. He signs with HC Liberec (Czechia (Czech Republic-CEL) for the 2023-24 campaign.

A trio of ex-Sound Tigers got new addresses as Mitch Vande Sompel goes from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) to the independent AHL Chicago Wolves. Bode Wild goes from Atlanta (ECHL) back overseas to HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). Victor Crus-Rydberg switches teams in the Swedish lowest Division 1 league, HockeyEttan Kalmar HC, to Karlskrona HK.

Alex Kromm, the son of former Whaler Rich Kromm, retires and becomes the assistant coach for the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL). Alex Drulia, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Stan Drulia, becomes the Austin Bruins (NAHL) assistant coach.

As of August 1st, the early signing and commit phase starts in college hockey recruiting.

Quinnipiac University snagged Conrado Calderini from Greenwich, who’s attending Berkshire School. They also got a commitment from Ethan Wyttenbach, who commits for 2026-27. He played last year on the Long Island Gulls U-15 team. He will likely be heading to a prep school and juniors until he arrives.

Yale got Kirby Perler and Dylan Hunt of the Boston Junior Eagles via Milton Academy. The 16-year-old Perler, a Woodbridge native, knows the difficulties surrounding Ivy League school admissions, so this was a verbal commitment pending he meets the strict academic requirements for entry. Even ECACHL schools need to compete in the highly competitive college hockey marketplace.

Perler still faces a tough road and will need to go to either a prep school, the USHL, or the now independent of BC Hockey, BCHL, before he sees the ice at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, the home to the Bulldogs.

Among the incoming class of six are Dave Andreychuk (no relation to the former NHL player of the same name and spelling). He played Frederick Gunn School (Washington). He then migrated to the Northeast Generals (NAHL).

Another is William (Will) “Beanie” Richter of Greenwich/Brunswick School, the son of legendary Rangers goaltender Mike Richter. He played with the Penticton Vees (BCHL) last three years.

UCONN has not released its list.

Four of a half-dozen prospects committed to Harvard are considered blue-chip prospects.

Michael Munroe of Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) is a 2025-26 commit to the University of Maine (HE) Black Bears.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack employed solid defense, good goaltending, and opportunistic scoring to defeat the Bridgeport Islanders 4-1  in a must-win game for the New York Rangers AHL affiliates. The win propelled the Wolf Pack past the Islanders by a point for the sixth and final playoff spot. Seven games remain for both teams.

The Wolf Pack hosts the Providence Bruins on Friday. The sixth-place team would likely play the Bruins, who had already made the playoffs. On Saturday, the team travels to Allentown, PA, to play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The game will be broadcast on the NHL Network live at 7 PM.

“I was very happy down 1-0 in a must-win game. We came out in the second with no nerves and just let’s get this done; do it right. We made a lot more easy, simple plays and forechecked better,” Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said while unloosening his tie.

Unlike past third-period struggles, the Wolf Pack buckled down. At 1:02, the Pack nearly extended the lead as Brandon Scanlin put a huge drive from the point toward the net, but starting netminder Corey Schneider made a shoulder save. The rebound went to his left-wing side. With the net wide-open, Tanner Fritz fanned on his shot.

“We knew they would come back in the third with a big push (16 shots). They need points too and to score. We did all the right things and we put pressure at the right time when they had the puck,” Knoblauch commented.

The physical play picked up.

In one sequence, in the right-wing corner at 6:21 and after a super right shoulder save by the Pack’s Louis Domingue on Arnaud Durandeau. It prevented the game from becoming a 3-2 contest early in the third. However, Ryan MacKinnon was stopped on the rebound.

“Louis is one of the better goalies in this league, and that (sequence) showed it. We’re very fortunate to have him when the game is on the line. His save percentage when the game is on the line has gotta be there. I don’t know it, but it’s very favorable to him,” said Knoblauch.

After Bridgeport’s Cole Bardreau jumped at Pack Captain Jonny Brodzinski, Scanlin backed up his captain, and all five Wolf Pack – Brodzinski, Cullye, Scanlin, Lockwood, and Elson were involved.

“Guys want to win,” Knoblauch said. “They know what’s on the line.”

Ultimately, the commitment to team defense and outstanding goaltending for the Pack prevailed.

Brodzinski became the second Wolf Pack to hit the 20-goal mark with his 20th at 17:57 with an empty-netter.

In the second period, the Pack evened the score at 2:10 on a two-on-one break-in. Brodzinski was on the right wing and used Will Cullye as a decoy before firing in his 19th upstairs over Schneider. Brodzinski successfully maneuvered around a sliding Islander, trying to block the shooting lane.

The Pack took the lead on the power play to register their second goal. Jake Lechyshyn went down the left wing, took Lauri Pajuniemi’s pass, and fired it over Schneider’s right shoulder for his third tally at 9:49.

“Jake, great shot,” Knbolauch said. “He had a very strong game, very good defensive plays and face-offs and was rewarded with a goal. He had a lot of crucial face off wins in the defensive zone tonight.”

Leschyshyn knew where he wanted to go with his shot and the game’s magnitude.

“I saw a little room and put the shot there, and it went in. It was a big game. We all knew what was at stake to go with his shot.”

The Pack extended the lead to 3-1 late in the second. Scanlin was at the right point and launched a rocket off Pajuniemi’s pass. It hit the stick of Karl Henriksson past Schneider’s blocker side at 17:02.

It was Henriksson’s sixth goal.

Pajuniemi’s all-around efforts at both ends of the ice were appreciated.

“Lauri has been playing really well for us lately. I was happy with the way a lot of guys that have been playing when games have been on the line. Scanlin’s been playing very played where Robertson (out injured) left off.

Henriksson’s play brought a smile to Knoblauch’s face.

“We appreciate his play and he’s appreciated in that locker room. He’s going to continue to get better and better. Next year he has a lot of upside going in. He’s very polular in the room and guys were cheering for him,” said Knoblauch.

The play was aided by the Islanders’ Ryan MacKinnon, who fell trying to execute a crossover skating backward that allowed the play to stay in the zone.

The Pack held the Islander offense in check to just four shots on goal but faced 16 in the third when the expected push-back came. But, when it did, the Pack held firm.

The first period was played in classic playoff style with close-checking. It was the Islanders, though, who would score the first goal.

Collin Adams won the four-player rugby scrum with teammate Dennis Cholowski on the right wing boards battling Tim Gettinger and Libor Hájek. The puck came out to ex-Pack Paul Thompson (game-high six shots), who snapped his ninth of the year over Louie Domingue’s blocker side just above the right-wing face-off dot on just their sixth shot of the game.

Thompson helped create space for himself with a small crosscheck to the back of Pack’s Ryan Carpenter and skated backward into the slot.

The Pack had two quality chances of their nine shots. The first came early by Cullye at the right-wing side of the net and another by Leschyshyn.

“Guys all stepped from Lauri to Brandon to every one in the room. It was obviously a big win for us. Everybody was important and going forward, with everybody pitching in,” remarked Leschyshyn.

LINES:

Cullye-Leschyshyn-Brodzinski
Gettinger-Lockwood-Carpenter
Fritz-Pajuniemi-Blidh
Elson-Berard-Trivigno

Jones-Emberson
Hájek-Scanlin
Clendening-Kalynuk

Domingue
Garand

SCRATCHES:

Matt Robertson (upper-body, long-term)
Karl Henriksson (Healthy)
Matt Rempe (Healthy)
Blake Hillman (Healthy)
Adam Sýkora  #29 (Healthy)
Bryce McConnell-Barker (Healthy)
Patrick Khordorenko (Season-Ending, Shoulder surgery).
C.J. Smith (Hip Area Surgery, Season Over)

NOTES:

The crowd was announced at 2,007, which seemed exceptionally generous.

Goalie Carter Hart was injured in Philly. That forced the team to recall Samuel Ersson from Lehigh Valley, likely nixing him from Saturday’s game. In addition, Lehigh Valley recalled Pat Nagle from the Reading Royals (ECJL). He is a 37-year-old journeyman with success against the Pack.

The Pack added two players and deleted one.

They have added Adam Sýkora from HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL) and Bryce McConnell-Barker from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). Sýkora was the first pick last year in the second round (63rd overall) in 2023 in Montreal. He played with Slovakian WJC the previous summer in Edmonton and this year in Moncton/Halifax. He also played for the Slovakia World Championship team.

With HK Nitra this season, Sýkora registered 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists), tying him for third-best in the club’s scoring. His 13 assists tied him for second on the team.

The goal he scored in Edmonton was the highlight of last summer’s WJC tournament. But, surprisingly, he didn’t play with the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), who had selected him #1 overall in the CHL Import Draft but elected to go back to Slovakia instead.

McConnell-Barker was a third round (97th overall) in the 2022 draft. Both players are 18 years old and signed Amateur Try-Out (ATO) deals. Both have had their respective European and junior seasons end. Both arrived late yesterday and didn’t play. Depending on Knoblauch’s evaluation after a practice, they should either play against Providence Friday or, in Allentown, PA, against Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

McConnell-Barker is a left-handed centerman. In 68 games with the OHL’s Soo (Sault Ste. Marie) Greyhounds this season. He finished the 2022-23 OHL season with 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists). His 47 assists and 77 points led the Greyhounds; his 30 goals were second on the club. Gettinger is a program graduate, and current assistant coach Jamie Tardif coached him for two years in Sault Ste. Marie.

McConnell-Barker was the team captain of the Greyhounds and was named the OHL’s Player of the Week the first week of January after he recorded eight points (four goals and four assists) in three contests.

Because both players will be 19 next year, as per the CBA, they will be ineligible for the AHL. As a result, neither will be able to play in the AHL until their junior seasons end next year.

“We’ll see after (Thursday) practice, and we’ll make decisions then. We’re hoping to get both players some American (Hockey) League time at some point,” remarked Knoblauch.

Cristiano DiGiacinto was sent back to the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), where he started the season to get some game time. The addition of these two players slides DiGiacinto down the depth chart.

This season, DiGiacinto appeared in 36 games, with the Wolf Pack scoring 12 points (3 goals and 9 assists). In ten games with the Icemen earlier this season, DiGiacinto scored six points (3 goals and 3 assists).

Matt Stienburg, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk Trevor Stienburg, will sign shortly with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) coming out of Cornell University (ECACHL). However, he is likely waiting until mid-August to get more from the Avalanche, who drafted him as per the CBA.

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HARTFORD, CT – Despite Louie Domingue’s repeating his season-high 42 saves, the Hartford Wolf Pack lost 1-0 to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Quinnipiac grad Matt Peca’s glove-high game-winner.

Dylan Garand posted a scoreless 65 minutes against Hershey, making the Pack 2-7 in shutouts this season.

The lone Pack shootout goal was by a defenseman, newcomer Adam Clendening wearing jersey #5.

In overtime, the Pack displayed a strong PK after Matt Robertson was penalized on a Will Bitten clean breakaway. The Pack had three blocks, and broke-up two plays, and Domingue, was solid on the delayed penalty situation on Robertson, while making a beautiful right pad save on Hugh McGing.

He had three strong late OT saves on a stick save on Adam Gaudette, Matt Kessel, and Martin Frk to keep it scoreless.

The Pack got a solid bid to win early in OT by Will Cullye.

In the third period, Domingue was strong, made early saves on Gaudette, leading scorer Matt Highmore, who was just sent down by the St. Louis Blues, and Mathias Laferriere.

McGing and Kessel tested Domingue. Steve Santini had a quality shot with Mikhail Abramov in front waiting for the rebound. Zac Jones followed with a good stick stop on Santini on his next shift.

The Pack’s Bobby Trivigno, Ryan Carpenter, and then Libor Hájek tested Springfield goalie Joel Hofer in the last five minute overtime.

In the final minute, with 45.7 seconds left, Hofer stopped Abramov. Cullye had a good chance as time expired in regulation.

The second period saw Springfield mount some sustained offensive zone pressure. First, Carpenter had two shots five seconds apart in the first three minutes. He was left muttering to himself and six minutes in Cullye tested Hofer.

Springfield Frk, Mitchell Hoelscher, and Peca were in on Domingue. Matt Rempe was in front and was pushed away by Griffin Luce (Salisbury School).

Dmitri Samurukov had a quality shot at Domingue. Karl Henriksson, made a smart defensive covering the left point as Carpenter had two shorts five seconds apart in the first three minutes, left muttering to himself.

Karl Henriksson made a quality defensive play at the left point, preventing any Springfield breakout and keeping the puck in as Hájek pinched in.

The first period felt like a training camp period with the Wolf Pack, as they have had seven players traded over the last 72-hours all finding new addresses. Finding chemistry was going to be tough.

Not changing was captain Jonny Brodzinski. At 3:40, the Pack had the first quality shot on goal in a scoreless first period. Matt Robertson from the left point. Hofer stopped Rempe on the Springfield doorstep. At 10:03 the Pack tested Hofer with their tenth shot on goal.

Both teams had a powerplay chance, and neither registered a shot on goal.

Domingue made a save at 12:57 and at 14:23. Newcomer Jake Leschyshyn had a chance with 1:50 to go in the period.

Riding a four-game winning streak, and enduring having their lineup changed during the week. the Wolf Pack were ready for an all-important three-games-in-three-days weekend.

The first two games are on the road. On Friday, they head twenty minutes up the road back to Springfield and then an hour South to Bridgeport to meet the Islanders on Saturday.

Then, they have a Sunday mid-afternoon clash with the Charlotte Checkers at 3 pm at the XL Center.

LINES:

Cullye-Brodzinski-Pajuniemi
Gettinger-Elson-Carpenter
Trivigno- Fritz-Jake Leschyshyn
DiGiacinto-Henriksson- Rempe

Jones-Hájek
Emberson-Robertson
Scanlin-Adam Clendening

Garand

SCRATCHES:

Joe Lockwood (healthy)
Cooper Zech (healthy)
Wyatt Kalynuk (unavailable in transit)
Anton Blidh (unavailable in transit)
Ben Tardif (healthy)
Patrick Khordorenko (season-ending shoulder surgery)
C.J. Smith (hip area surgery done for the season)

NOTES:

Bridgeport’s top goal scorers Simon Holmstrom and Otto Koivula were recalled by the big Islanders. They returned Arnaud Durandeau, a notorious Pack killer for the past three years.

Winger Collin Adams was recalled from Worcester (ECHL).

Calgary Wranglers (AHL) recalled ex-Pack defenseman Tyson Helgesen and ex-Sound Tiger Calder Brooks from Rapid City (ECHL).

Goalie Jon Gillies (Salisbury School) goes from Tucson to Cleveland.

Hamden’s Jonathan Quick was traded twice this week, first from LA to Columbus, and then Blue Jackets moved him the next day to the Vegas Goldne Knights. Quick (AOF), who won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles has struggled this year. He was pulled in New York despite two of the three goals not being his fault, and his visible annoyance was shown by the 37-year-old exiting on TV.

He flew back with the team at the end of a road trip to LA and then was told he was traded to Columbus.

Nick Bonino (Farmington/AOF) was traded from the San Jose Sharks to Pittsburgh.

Vladislav Namestnikov, the son of ex-Pack Evegeni “John” Namesnikov, now a Maple Leaf scout was traded from San Jose to Winnipeg.

Ex-Pack Sammy Blais who was just traded to St. Louis. He signed a contract extension.

Ex-Pack goalie J.F. Berube was recalled then sent back to Charlotte by Florida.

Adam Erne, (North Branford) was called up from Grand Rapids by Detroit.

Pete DiLiberatore (QU) was recently sent to Savannah (ECHL) by Henderson and was dealt by Vegas to Wilkes Barre/Scranton.

Fellow former Bobcat Chase Priskie goes from Rochester to San Diego.

Kevin O’Neil (UCONN/Yale) was cut loose by Colorado Eagles (AHL) released from his PTO, and heads back to South Carolina (ECHL). The team also had ex-Pack goalie Keith Kinkaid, who just traded and recalled by the Avalanche.

Luke Evangelista was recalled from Milwaukee by parent Nashville.

Ex-CT Whale Mike Pelech of the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) is officially now the second all-time leader in assists in ECHL history, recording three on the road in Savannah, GA, Thursday night.

Former UCONN forward Jordan Timmons was dealt from the Reading Royals (ECHL) to the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).

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HARTFORD, CT – The New York Rangers made their first round of cuts on Thursday and Friday, sending plenty of players to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Physicals for these players will be Sunday, with training camp beginning on Monday, with the lineup in flux with more cuts in New York coming until the regular season starts.

Among the forwards returning to Hart City are; Tanner Fritz, Austin Rueschhoff, Patrick Khordorenko, Bobby Trivigno, Alex Whelan, and Cristiano DiGiacinto. Newcomers include off-season signees Zach Jordan and Ryan Lohin. Also making their way to Head Coach Kris Knoblauch’s training camp are Junior draftees Ryder Korczak, Matt Rempe, and Swedish import Karl Henrickson.

Heading to training camp after being sent to Hartford by the Rangers are Defensemen returnees; Zach Giuttari, Matthew Robertson, Brandon Scanlin, and Hunter Skinner. Newcomers and off-season signees include Louka Henault, Blake Hillman, and Luke Martin.

The club also assigned goaltenders Talyn Boyko, Parker Gahagen, Olof Lindbom, and Dylan Garand.

Unless something unusual happens, the four goalies are earmarked with different destinations. Garand is ticketed for Hart City, while Gahagen and Lindbom are likely headed to the franchise’s ECHL affiliates, the Jacksonville Icemen. Lindbom may go back to Europe or be one of the two potentially reassigned to another ECHL club. Because of his age, the 6’8 Boyko will be heading back to junior and the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) at the end of camp. The NHL contract agreement with the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) mandates that 19-year-olds cannot play in the AHL until their junior season ends.

Newcomer forwards C.J. Smith, Turner Elson, defenseman Andy Welinski and returning top player Tim Gettinger must pass through waivers before they can be formally assigned to Hartford.

Adam Edström, a 21-year-old, 6’4 center, heads home to play for Rögle BK (Sweden-SHL) on loan from the Rangers. Surprisingly, also sent to Europe was last year’s first draft pick Adam Sýkora. He also returns home to play for HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL) on a loan basis. The thought was that the 18-year-old, the first overall selection in the CHL Import Draft, would be heading to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Brennan Othmann was returned to juniors and the Flint Firebirds (OHL).

The Wolf Pack’s roster currently has four goaltenders, seven defensemen, and thirteen forwards. Several of these assignees will be heading to Jacksonville with only so many openings for GM Ryan Martin and limited ice time available for the recently arrived Knoblauch and his staff to carry on the roster.

Monday, the team will release the training camp roster. As of late Friday, the team was still finalizing those players they will invite to camp on Professional Try-Out contracts.

Given the collapse in the second half of last season, this training camp in Hartford is expected to be highly competitive with a comprehensive screening of the competitors.

The Rangers presently have 34 players still in training camp, including 20 forwards, 11 defensemen, and three goaltenders on the roster.

Another round of cuts is expected either late this weekend or as late as mid-week after the team plays in Boston against the Bruins. A final cut to get to the CBA-mandated roster of 23 and keep within cap space compliance will occur just before the season starts. Final rosters must be submitted by October 9-10 to certify all contracts.

The Rangers will likely go with 22 or 23 players depending on those two factors’ status.

Several players are informally skating at the XL in preparation for the opening of training camp. Ice was laid down ice last week.

The Wolf Pack will have a closed-to-the-public exhibition game next Thursday in Bridgeport against the Islanders and then have a game against Bridgeport at the Koeppel Community Center at Trinity College next Friday (6 PM). It will give fans their first look at the Wolf Pack as part of the Annual Ryan Gordon Foundation event with a suggested $5 donation.

NOTES:

The Rangers have already sent two players back to juniors. Bryce McConnell-Barker was sent to Sault Ste. Marie (OHL), where he had current new Hartford assistant coach Jamie Tardif as his assistant coach last year.

Also returning to junior hockey is third-round-draft-pick forward Jayden Grubbe. He goes to Red Deer (WHL), where he will captain his Rebels team again for the second year in a row. He is WJC eligible, whose 20th birthday is a week after the tournament ends.

Former Wolf Pack/Bridgeport Sound Tiger Matt Lorito and his wife are expecting their first child shortly, so his next hockey destination is on hold. Instead, expect he will likely head to Europe as an injury roster replacement/last import quota player.

Jake Elmer is the only other ex-Wolf Pack from last season who is still waiting on a new destination. He is said to be unofficially heading to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in South Carolina, the former ECHL affiliate for Hartford.

Released and assigned to AHL camps were ex-Pack’s Ty Ronning (Minnesota-Iowa – AHL), Darren Raddysh and Daniel Walcott (Tampa Bay-Syracuse-AHL), and Peter Diliberatore (QU) and Mason Primeau, nephew of ex-Hartford Whaler Keith Primeau, who both head to (Vegas/Henderson-AHL).

After singing with Adirondack Thunder (ECHL), Luke Stevens (Yale) signs a training camp try-out PTO with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Palm Springs)-AHL and Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep) (Seattle/Coachella Valley-AHL).

Goalie Spencer Knight (Darien/Avon Old Farms) signs a one-year ELC contract extension with the Florida Panthers.

Jeff Kubiak was sent to Bridgeport by the New York Islanders. They signed Matt Maggio, a fifth-round Islanders draftee this past summer in Montreal, from Windsor (OHL) to a try-out PTO deal. He is a younger cousin of former Sound Tiger and Ranger draftee, the retired Daniel Maggio. He signed a provisional contract with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) to cover his bases last week.

Another junior PTO signee for Bridgeport is Daylen Kuefler from the Kamloops Blazers (WHL).

Shane Sellar (Canterbury School-New Milford) signs a try-out deal with the Hershey Bears and already has a contract with the Reading Royals (ECHL) to start the year.

AHL players to Europe have risen to 108 as ex-Pack as Josh Wesley, the son of former Whaler Glen Wesley departs the Springfield Thunderbirds for HC Litvinov (Czech Republic (Czechia)-CEL). He is the first Thunderbird from last season to go to Europe, and now 29 of 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player overseas.

Former Wolf Pack Tyler Brown is named scout for the Barrie Colts (OHL) covering the GOJHL after being the head scout last year for Stratford (Ontario) Warriors (GOJHL) and was a regional scout for Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) as well.

If this report from Eliott Friedman of Rogers SportsNet is on the mark, the NHL and AHL future will change in a big way salary-wise in two years. He is usually very accurate with such info.

The league’s salary cap, which will set a record of $82.5 million this year in the 2022-23 season, could rise around nearly $10 million over the next three years, sources told Friedeman and SportsNet, the Canadian TV rights holder. However, teams have reportedly been given guidance on the cap’s future, and upward is the word.

Our long-time source confirmed this is the word on the street.

“I’ve heard its going up, how much and when, I’m not sure, With the TV deals kicking in, the money will start coming in.”

According to Friedmann, the cap could elevate another $1 million in 2023-24, then jump up another $4 million in each of the following two seasons.

That would place the spending limit at approximately an astonishing $92 million by 2025-26.

In addition to the cap, the NHL will have a spending floor, which is $61 million this year. That would primarily affect the Arizona Coyotes, who will play at the new 5,000-seat college-level ASU-Arizona State University Mullett Center starting this year for the next three years. How they can exist in that world is anyone’s guess.

“I don’t have first-hand knowledge. In the short term, they’re staying in Arizona in Phoenix. Long-term, they have challenges as they always have. Some of this is above my pay grade. If all goes well, you’re still looking at five years for this team. They’re committed to the (ASU) arena for three years, and IF Tempe approves their new building plan, and that’s not a given, a new building will still take two years to build, despite the good weather for construction out there.

The other factor is fielding a competitive, winning team, which they don’t have presently. The current new building handicaps them from signing free agents.

Players want to be paid, and they want a winning team, and they will wrestle with that, and that’s part of the equation going forward,” remarked our source, who requested anonymity.

The league instituted a $39 million cap for the 2005-06 season. However, the cap has risen steadily before freezing at $81.5 million for the three pandemic-affected seasons, beginning with 2019-20.

The NHL hit $5.2 billion in revenue last season on the strength of the new media deals as they returned and finally had a full schedule. The league took in $5.1 billion in revenue 2018-19, and the escrow is still a thorny and complicated issue.

Disney, owners of ESPN/ABC, is paying the league $400 million annually, while Turner Sports, the other holder of the US broadcast rights, is forking over $225 million per season. Both were seven-year deals signed last year.

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GREENVILLE, SC –  The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced today that the club had re-signed experienced defenseman, Frank Hora to an ECHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Hora, 26, returns to the Swamp Rabbits after beginning the 2021-22 season with Greenville and the Charlotte Checkers before finishing the season on an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch. Having made 71 appearances for the Swamp Rabbits during the 2020-21 season, the Cheektowaga, NY native played in just eight games for Greenville and posted five points (1g, 4a) during the 2021-22 campaign.

The blue-liner made a pair of appearances with Charlotte before signing with Syracuse for a 42-game showing where he recorded seven assists.

Before he arrived in Greenville, Hora recorded 12 games in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms between the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons.

In his ECHL career, the veteran defenseman has played in 271 games between the Reading Royals, Cincinnati Cyclones, and the Swamp Rabbits and has totaled 74 points (14g, 60a) over that span.

Before beginning his professional career, Hora captained the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers during the 2016-17 season, capping a four-season tenure with the junior club.

The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the select “Big 5” promotional games are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com.

About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Additionally, Greenville is an ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League member.

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Garret Cockerill for the 2022-2023 season.

Cockerill, 28, returns for a second stint in Jacksonville after recording 23 points (4g, 19a) in 41 games played last season with the Reading Royals.  Cockerill initially played for the Icemen during the 2018-2019 season, collecting 14 points in 40 games.  The 6-0, 210-pound defenseman has totaled 111 points (23g, 88a) in 226 career ECHL games split between the Icemen, Reading Royals, Tulsa Oilers, and Kalamazoo Wings.

Cockerill has also registered 19 points in 56 career AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters from 2017-2019.  Before his professional career, the Brighton, Michigan resident played four seasons at Northeastern University, where he totaled 84 points (19g, 65a) from 2014-2018 while winning a Hockey East championship in 2016.

The following is a list of players that have agreed to terms with the Icemen for the 2022-2023 season:

Goaltender
Charles Williams

Defensemen
Garret Cockerill
Victor Hadfield
Bo Hanson
Brandon Fortunato
Brendan Less
Jacob Panetta
Tim Theocharidis

Forwards
Jake Hamacher
Brendan Harris
Luke Keenan
Luke Lynch
Matt Salhany
Sam Sternschien
Mike Szmatula

The Icemen open the 2022-2023 season at home on October 22 against the Orlando Solar Bears.  Full and partial season ticket packages are currently available!   Contact the Icemen office at 904-602-7825, or visit jacksonvilleicemen.com for more information.

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BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

EL SEGUNDO, CA –  The LA Kings announced a new two-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits today.

The Kings have been members of the NHL since 1967, capturing two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. Currently calling Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, CA home, the Kings most recently earned a Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance following a third-place finish in the league’s Pacific Division in 2021-22.

“On behalf of the entire LA Kings organization, we are excited to announce our new affiliation with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL,” said Kings Director of Player Development, Glen Murray. “We are very happy to have this development route for our future Kings under the leadership of Spire Sports + Entertainment and direction of Head Coach & General Manager Andrew Lord. We know that our prospects will have a first-class experience in Greenville while developing as players and people.”

Lord has led the Swamp Rabbits to a combined record of 71-48-25 over the last two seasons in his current role.

LORD REACTS

“The Swamp Rabbits organization is excited to be affiliated with the Kings organization and with their development model,” said Lord. “The Kings and Reign are first-class organizations that share the same values and drive for excellence that we do as the Swamp Rabbits organization. We look forward to developing the future Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup champions within the Kings organization.”

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick also spent time in the ECHL after turning pro with the Reading Royals during 2007-08.

The Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, has also announced five two-way player contracts for the upcoming 2022-23 season, including defenseman Joe Gatenby and forwards Alex Ierullo, Brett Kemp, Justin Nachbaur, and Nikita Pavlychev.

GATENBY SIGNS WITH GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS

Gatenby, 25, signed a PTO with the Reign last season after completing his collegiate campaign at the University of New Brunswick, where he appeared in 83 games while scoring 41 points on eight goals and 33 assists an alternate captain. He recorded 10 points on two goals and eight assists in 23 games last year and joined the Swamp Rabbits for six Kelly Cup Playoff games, where he netted a goal and an assist.

The Kelowna, B.C. native also played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for five seasons with the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers, suiting up in 317 games from 2013-18.

IERULLO BACKGROUND

Ierullo (eye-ROO-low), 25, turned pro with the Reign last season by signing an ATO on March 25. He appeared in three games with Ontario before posting six points in seven ECHL regular season games (1-5=6) with the Swamp Rabbits. The Woodbridge, Ont. native also tasted the postseason with Greenville, scoring four points (1-3=4) in six playoff contests.

The attacker spent four seasons in the NCAA at Bemidji State University, appearing in 136 games while scoring 96 points on 36 goals and 60 assists. While serving as an alternate captain with the Beavers last season, Ierullo recorded 42 points on 16 goals and 26 assists in 39 games.

Kemp, 22, posted an assist for Ontario in two appearances with the Reign during his rookie professional season in 2021-22. The Yorkton, Saskatchewan. native also scored 37 points with Greenville on 17 goals and 20 assists while earning a +15 rating.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-shot forward turned pro after appearing in 255 career WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Everett Silvertips, posting 218 points (96-122=218). Kemp also played six contests with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers in 2020-21, tallying 10 points (3-7=10).

GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS SIGN NACHBAUR

Nachbaur, 22, is entering his second pro season after beginning his career on an AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers. The Cross Lake, Manitoba native made six appearances for Charlotte as a rookie while also suiting up for 24 ECHL contests with the Swamp Rabbits, where he registered 15 points (10-5=15). Nachbaur also played in all six Greenville’s playoff contests a year ago.

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound attacker played junior hockey in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders for four seasons from 2017-21, totaling 89 points in 216 games (45-44=89), and helped the team to a WHL Championship in 2019.

Pavlychev, 25, returns to the Reign for his third professional campaign after playing 13 contests for Ontario a season ago and scoring three points with two goals, an assist, and a +4 rating. He also suited up for 38 games with Greenville and posted 33 points on 14 goals and 19 helpers. The Yaroslavl, Russia, native appeared in the first six postseason games of his career with the Swamp Rabbits and scored four points (3-1=4).

PAVLYCHEV INFO

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound left-shot attacker made his AHL debut with the Syracuse Crunch during 2020-21, posting three points (0-3=3) and a +2 rating in eight games. Pavlychev also played in 28 games with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, recording 11 points (5-6=11). Before turning pro, he played four seasons at Penn State, appearing in 137 games with the Nittany Lions, where he registered 70 points (36-34=70) and helped the school to the 2017 Big-10 Championship and the 2020 Big-10 Regular Season Championship.

The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the select “Big 5” promotional games are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com.

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