HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack have their backs against the wall for the first time during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. Tonight, the Pack will look to keep their magical season alive as they try to stave off elimination against the Hershey Bears in Game Three of the 2023 Atlantic Division Finals.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr.

Tale of The Tape:

The Wolf Pack and Bears met six times during the 2022-23 regular season, with the Bears taking four of the six meetings. Hershey ended the season series with a 4-2-0-0 record, while the Wolf Pack posted a mark of 2-3-0-1. The Bears won two of three meetings at the XL Center, going 2-1-0-0. They claimed a 2-1 victory on November 25^th and a 1-0 shootout decision on November 26^th.

Hartford won 4-2 on October 28^th. It was the Pack’s lone home-ice win in the season series. That victory was their first of the season.

The Bears won each of the final three regular-season meetings between the clubs and have since extended the winning streak to five games with victories in Games One and Two. In Game Two, the Bears put the Wolf Pack on the brink of elimination with a 4-2 triumph.

Mason Morelli opened the scoring 3:12 into the tilt, converting on the first powerplay attempt of the game. Will Cuylle drew Hartford even at 11:32, burying a centering pass for a powerplay goal of his own. The goal was Cuylle’s first career Calder Cup Playoff tally.

The draw would last just 72 seconds, however.

Beck Malenstyn sprung into the offensive zone and snapped a shot by Dylan Garand to give the Bears a lead they never lost. Mike Vecchione potted the eventual game-winning tally 8:48 into the middle stanza, making it 3-1 at the time. Hendrix Lapierre would then convert an odd-man rush at 13:14 of the third period, putting the Bears ahead 4-1 and cementing the 2-0 series lead.

Adam Clendening scored at 15:09 for Hartford, firing home his second goal of the postseason. It would not be enough to spark a rally, however.

Hartford’s last victory against Hershey came on November 20^th by a score of 4-2 at the Giant Center.

Wolf Pack Outlook:

The Wolf Pack have dropped back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game losing streak (0-3-1-0) that spanned from March 5^th through March 11^th. After going 1-for-2 on Saturday in Game Two, the Wolf Pack powerplay is 3-for-6 in the Atlantic Division Finals. They had been 2-for-16 through five prior playoff games.

Cuylle’s powerplay goal in the first period of Game Two was the first goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career. He became the tenth Wolf Pack player to score his first career playoff goal this spring.

Tanner Fritz, who racked up two assists in Game Two, leads the club in playoff scoring with ten points (1 g, 9 a) through eight games. It was Fritz’s third multi-point game of the postseason. Lauri Pajuniemi, meanwhile, paces the club in goals with four.

Bears Outlook:

The Bears finished second in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with a record of 44-19-5-4 during the regular season. Their 97 points were fourth overall in the entire AHL during the 2022-23 regular season. The Bears received a First Round bye in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, then eliminated the Charlotte Checkers in four games (3-1) in the Atlantic Division Semifinals.

The Bears were the stingiest defensive team in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, allowing just 184 goals. Only the Calgary Wranglers (174) allowed fewer goals in the entire league.

The eleven goals allowed by Hershey through six playoff games are tied for the fewest allowed by any team with a minimum of five games played. They are tied with the Texas Stars.

Aliaksei Protas (3 g, 4 a) and Sam Anas (2 g, 5 a) are tied for the team lead in points with seven each. Protas, Morelli, and Connor McMichael are all tied for the team lead in goals with three each through six games.

Game Information:

WATCH: AHLTV
LISTEN: Mixlr

Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr.

If the Wolf Pack wins, Game Four will take place at the XL Center on Friday, May 19^th, at 7:00 p.m. For playoff ticket information, please visit HERE.

ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK:

The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s 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

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First Round and the best-of-five Division Semifinals.

Atlantic Division First Round (best-of-3)
A3-Charlotte Checkers vs. A6-Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Game 1 – Tue., Apr. 18 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
Game 2 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change

Atlantic Division First Round (best-of-3)
A4-Springfield Thunderbirds vs. A5-Hartford Wolf Pack
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Hartford at Springfield, 7:05
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Springfield at Hartford, 7:00
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Hartford at Springfield, 7:05
if necessary… All times Eastern

North Division First Round (best-of-3)
N4-Utica Comets vs. N5-Laval Rocket
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Utica at Laval, 7:00
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Laval at Utica, 7:00
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Laval at Utica, 7:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

Central Division First Round (best-of-3)
C4-Iowa Wild vs. C5-Rockford IceHogs
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Iowa at Rockford, 8:00
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Rockford at Iowa, 8:00
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Rockford at Iowa, 4:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3)
P2-Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. P7-Tucson Roadrunners
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Tucson at Coachella Valley, 10:00
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Tucson at Coachella Valley, 10:00
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Tucson at Coachella Valley, 6:00
if necessary… All times Eastern
lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change

Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3)
P3-Colorado Eagles vs. P6-Ontario Reign
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Ontario at Colorado, 9:05
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Ontario at Colorado, 9:05
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Ontario at Colorado, 9:05
if necessary… All times Eastern
lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change

Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3)
P4-Abbotsford Canucks vs. P5-Bakersfield Condors
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 19 – Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00
if necessary… All times Eastern
lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change

Atlantic Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

A1-Providence Bruins vs. SPR/HFD/LV

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 28 at Providence, 7:05
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 29 at Providence, 7:05
Game 3 – TBD at SPR/HFD/LV
*Game 4 – TBD at SPR/HFD/LV
*Game 5 – Sun., May 7 at Providence, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern

Atlantic Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

A2-Hershey Bears vs. CLT/SPR/HFD
Game 1 – TBD
Game 2 – TBD
Game 3 – TBD
*Game 4 – TBD
*Game 5 – TBD
*if necessary

North Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

N1-Toronto Marlies vs. UTC/LAV winner

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 27 at Toronto, 7:00
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 29 at Toronto, 4:00
Game 3 – TBD at UTC/LAV
Game 4 – TBD at UTC/LAV
*Game 5 – Sun., May 7 at Toronto, 4:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

North Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

N2-Syracuse Crunch vs. N3-Rochester Americans

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00
Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Syracuse at Rochester, 7:05
Game 4 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Syracuse at Rochester, 3:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 6 – Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

Central Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

C1-Texas Stars vs. IA/RFD winner

Game 1 – TBD at IA/RFD winner
Game 2 – TBD at IA/RFD winner
Game 3 – Wed., May 3 at Texas, 8:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 5 at Texas, 8:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 6 at Texas, 8:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

Central Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

C2-Milwaukee Admirals vs. C3-Manitoba Moose

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Milwaukee at Manitoba, 8:00
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Milwaukee at Manitoba, 3:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 3 – Manitoba at Milwaukee, 8:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 5 – Manitoba at Milwaukee, 8:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 6 – Manitoba at Milwaukee, 7:00
if necessary… All times Eastern

Pacific Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

P1-Calgary Wranglers vs. ABB/BAK/ONT/TUC

Game 1 – TBD
Game 2 – TBD
Game 3 – TBD
Game 4 – TBD
*Game 5 – TBD
if necessary

Pacific Division Semifinals (best-of-5)

CV/COL/ABB/BAK vs. COL/ABB/BAK/ONT

Game 1 – TBD
Game 2 – TBD
Game 3 – TBD
Game 4 – TBD
*Game 5 – TBD
if necessary

Twenty-three teams qualified for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. The first-round series are best-of-three, the division semifinals and division finals are best-of-five, and the conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven.

All Calder Cup Playoff games will stream live on AHLTV.

Since 1936, the American Hockey League has continued to serve as the top development league for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years, the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT –  With his first contract nearing completion, Scott Howson, AHL President,  Scott Howson is facing an insurrection from league owners. It has become severe enough that the NHL’s second-in-command, Bill Daly, has been brought into the fray to deal with the issue. An unknown number of teams apparently want to end the relationship with Howson and go in a yet undefined different direction.

The first report on this story came during a segment of The Insiders on Tuesday night’s TSN Montreal Canadiens – Philadelphia Flyers broadcast. Right off the bat, Darren Dreger, one of TSN’s top reporters, dropped the bombshell.

Howson was selected to replace AHL Hockey Hall Of Famer Dave Andrews (1994-2018), who has now retired to Phoenix and Cape Breton.

Several long-time top sources were equally as stunned and perplexed by the news, with only one offering an opinion. Unfortunately, at this point, facts and solid information are hard to come by.

“I’m puzzled by this,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, stated. “He got the AHL through the pandemic, opened four brand new state-of-the-art arenas (Laval, Henderson, San Jose, and Coachella Valley), and the NHL has majority ownership (22 of 32 teams). I can only surmise that a block of independent owners are unhappy somehow. It’s perplexing. When Scotty played, he was a lawyer-like in every way back then; I can’t imagine that’s changed.

“Did he rub somebody the wrong way? I don’t know. I am in the dark on this as much as everybody. If Daly is involved, however, that’s significant.”

With the 2/3 majority ownership, the NHL has full veto power over the direction of the league.

There are no more independent teams. The last two were the Worcester (MA) Ice Cats in their first season under the late Roy Boe. They’re no longer in the AHL. Worcester is now an ECHL city. There’s the other, the long-gone 1991 New Haven Nighthawks. They have comprised of Quebec Nordiques (now the Colorado Avalanche), farmhands, and free agents.

Dual affiliations are a thing of the past too. The Charlotte Checkers were split by the Florida Panthers and Seattle Krakken last year while their new building in the California desert was being built. This was the first one since the ill-fated, two-year experiment known as “The Beast of New Haven” in the late 90s that was shared by both the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida.

The AHL had come a long way in 46 years since they nearly went out of business during the WHA-NHL war before they merged in the late 1970s.

The league was nearly scuttled when they almost fell out of the minor-league required range of having six teams to qualify as a minor league.

They put an expansion team, then a brand-new expansion team called the Maine Mariners, affiliated with the Flyers, in a location that saved the AHL, which had lost cities and players in the WHA-NHL war. Ironically, Portland, Maine, is no longer in the league but has a team called by the original name of the Maine Mariners, now in the ECHL.

The AHL absorbed six teams from the original IHL (International Hockey League) in 2000. It comprised Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Milwaukee (all still playing). Manitoba is the second edition of the Manitoba Moose. The Utah Grizzlies have dropped to the ECHL. Gone are the Houston (TX) Aeros, who became the Iowa Wild.

The minor league hockey scene went thru a boom-and-bust cycle in the early part of this century. The Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) folded in 2001, and pieces went to the Central Hockey League. However, one city, Austin, TX, formerly the Ice Bats, survived in a new form as the Texas Stars.

They lost teams (with great logos) like the Amarillo (TX) Rattlers, El Paso (TX) Buzzards, San Angelo (TX) Outlaws, and the Lake Charles (LA) Ice Pirates.

The Central Hockey League (CHL) went out of existence in 2014. In the second creation of the league, only the Tulsa (OK) Oilers, Allen (TX) Americans, and Wichita (KS) Thunder have lived on in the ECHL. The West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) also quit the business in 2003. Only the Idaho (ID) Steelheads in the ECHL and the San Diego (CA) Gulls and Bakersfield (CA) Condors make up the AHL Pacific Division survived.

The United Hockey League (UHL) went out in 2007. Living on from that league in the AHL is Rockford Ice Hogs. Now in the ECHL are the famous Ft. Wayne (IN) Komets (in their fourth league) and Kalamazoo (MI) Wings, and the Quad City (IL) Storm are in the SPHL, the fourth league. So the city has been in.

The WHA-2 lasted one year (2003-2004), and only one city is still involved in hockey, Macon (GA), which has from Whoopee to Trax. The reborn Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) lasted one year (2002-03) and had two cities still in hockey Macon and the Knoxville (TN) Ice Bears (SPHL).

The AHL is married to the NHL with 32 teams like the NHL direct affiliates, and the ECHL is up to 28 cities and affiliates to the AHL.

The AHL has remained quiet. The only low-grade rumbling is the Nashville Predators, who are potentially looking to leave Milwaukee for a brand-new, closer-to-home arena built by the Predators in Sumner County, TN. It will encompass 100,000 square feet a half-hour from Nashville, and two other small arenas are already built in Bellevue, TN, and Antioch, TN.

AHL

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HARTFORD, CT – Alex Barré-Boulet’s goal and two assists paced an 8-4 Syracuse Crunch victory as the tumble down the Atlantic Division standings for the Hartford Wolf Pack continues.

The Pack dropped their seventh straight and have lost nine of their last eleven games while surrendering 24 goals in the previous four games and allowed seven or more goals three times in a month.

Only the exemplary efforts of newcomers former UCONN Husky Maxim Letunov and UMASS Minuteman Bobby Trivigno, who had two primary assists in his debut game, have stood out.

The team had a players-only meeting after the game, while the coaches and upper management were in post-game meetings as they separately tried to sort out what had caused this unraveling. In addition, the team pulled the plug on their post-game Zoom press conference for the first time to deal with this on-ice collapse.

The Wolf Pack leave home for what remains of the regular season in an all-important seven-game road trip.

As a result of their strong play earlier in the season, the team remarkably is still in the playoff hunt sitting in fifth place with a .524 winning percentage, just a fraction ahead of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who were 9-2 winners at home against the Bridgeport Islanders who led 2-0 in the first period but allowed nine unanswered goals.

Bridgeport has a .523 winning percentage, but the Wolf Pack still control their destiny as just the Penguins and the Charlotte Checkers, 3-1 winners over the Hershey Bears, took advantage of the losses in the division.

SECOND PERIOD

Both the first and second periods were a wild affair as in the first period, the two teams exchanged goals. However, when the second intermission came, the Wolf Pack trailed 6-4.

The goal-scoring started early as Cole Koepke registered his 19th of the season at 1:32 from new defenseman Brandon Scanlin. An assist each went to Barré-Boulet and ex-New York Ranger, Frederik Claesson. The Pack came back to within one at 4-3 after Hunter Skinner sent his fourth of the season into the net from a cross-ice pass from Trivigno, who registered his first pro point at 7:36.

However, the Pack’s poor play continued as the Crunch tallied just 1:23 later.

Simon Ryfors was in the slot in the shooter’s position on one knee and blasted home Gabriell Fortier’s left-wing corner pass past Pack starter Keith Kinkaid at 10:28.

At 17:51, Ty Ronning brought the Pack back to within a goal on his 17th of the season, taking advantage of Alex Whelan’s second effort hustle on the left-wing boards. He beat ex-Pack Darren Raddysh to the puck and caught Ronning in full stride with a backhand chip pass. Ronning snapped it past Amir Miftakhakov to the glove side. Miftakhakov hasn’t played since February 19th.

The Wolf Pack gave the goal right back just 59 seconds later.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Ronning was the first Pack player to tally multiple goals in a game in a month. His last multiple-goal game came on November 5th.

Syracuse’s Otto Sompii beat everyone to a loose puck on the left-wing side and shipped it back to ex-Pack Sean Day at the blue line. Day beat Kinkaid from 55-feet out with a high shot to the short side and off the post.

In the third period, Nick Merkley cashed in for his 13th goal to make it 6-5, with Trivigno earning his second pro point with a nice setup in tight at 3:29.

The Pack power-play continued to sputter, going 0-for-9 on the weekend, and gave up their ninth shorthanded tally.

Merkley had a quality chance stopped, and Lauri Pajuniemi’s cross-ice pass for Austin Rueschoff late in the power play was picked off by Gabriel Dumont.

Anthony Richard broke away from Scanlin and Ronning and slipped in his 13th goal on Dumont’s lead pass at 8:09. Finally, Richard put the last nail in the coffin with his second goal into an empty net at 17:13.

FIRST PERIOD

A wild first period started with Barré-Boulet’s tally at 1:50. Syracuse had the edge in shots, 6-1 in the game’s first two minutes. However, the Wolf Pack answered as Patrick Khordorenko snaked a pass for his eighth goal off assists by Zac Jones with the primary helper and Zach Guittari earning the secondary assist at 4:47.

The Pack took a rare lead at 2-1 when Ronning got his 16th goal at 3:05. His shot went off rookie Declan Carlile.

Gabriel Fortier, who could operate freely from behind the net, found Simon Ryfors open on the doorstep, and he jammed home his eighth goal at 10:28.

Again operating behind the net, Riley Nash found Carlile, a former Hockey East second-team All-Star, up top. Carlile put a nice shot over Kinkaid’s right shoulder to restore Syracuse’s lead at 13:56 with his first AHL goal.

LINES

Merkley-#10-Bobby Trivigno-Letunov
Ronning-Greco-Khordorenko
Rueschoff-Pajuniemi-Fritz
Whelan-O’Leary-DiGiacinto
Lorito

Tinordi-Skinner
Jones-Scanlin
Robertson-Guittari

Kinkaid
Huska

SCRATCHES:

Gettinger – (Upper-Body)
Taylor
Lundkvist (Illness, day-to-day, Questionable for Monday)
Brodzinski #17

NEWS

Abbott Girduckis was released from his PTO and sent back to the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) with Trivigno and Brodzinski now in Hartford.

The signing of Ethan Brodzinski from St. Cloud State (NCHC) to a PTO deal makes him the third Brodzinski to put on a Wolf Pack sweater this season. Only one Brodzinski brother hasn’t yet. That would be Bryce Brodzinski, who is currently going to the Frozen Four next weekend in Boston with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

It’s not the first-time siblings there have been brought into the Wolf Pack fold, but the first time in the regular season and three of them.

Michael Brodzinski is back with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) and played three games mid-season. But, of course, Jonny, the team’s leading goal scorer and captain of the Wolf Pack, is currently on recall in New York.

Over 25 years, just a few brothers have been on the ice in three separate training camps. Wolf Pack great and AHL Hall of Famer, Ken Gernander, saw his twin brothers Jim and Jerry here one fall. PA (Pierre-Alexandre) Parenteau brought brother Guillaume, and Dane Byers had brother Cole to Hartford one year.

Only a few have played together in the regular season. The most famous were brothers Chris and Ryan Bourque, the sons of Hall-of-Famer Ray Bourque. They were the only duo to play together. The other two did not, Peter and Chris Ferraro, and Chris (older) and Michael (younger) St. Croix.

In the lineup, Syracuse had ex-Pack’s P.C. Labrie, Daniel Walcott, Day, and Raddysh.

Scratched as he was when he was here was  Brandon Crawley.

Day was hurt late in the game in the neutral zone. At the first break in play, he exited to the dressing room with an undisclosed injury. He never returned.

In 16 months of playing and a little over two years since the Las Vegas Golden Knights purchased their AHL team, The Henderson (NV) Silver Knights debuted their new $84 Million Loan Arena on Saturday night in a 5-2 loss to the Bakersfield Condors.

Next season San Jose Barracuda and Coachella Valley Firebirds will debut new state-of-the-art-new arenas.

Tarmo Reunanen will be wearing #29 for his new team, the Chicago Wolves. He will skate along with ex-Hartford Whaler and Trumbull product Ted Drury’s son, Jack Drury, ex-Pack skaters Chris Bigras, Joey Keane, and former Yale Bulldog Alex Lyon. also on the roster are the loaned-out former Bridgeport Islander, Richard Pánik. They will host the Texas Stars featuring one-time Sound Tiger Blake Comeau and GM, one-time New Haven Senator MVP Scott White.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – September 28, 2021 – The Mariners and forward Conner Bleackley agreed to a 2021-22 season contract, the team announced on Tuesday. Bleackley returns to Maine after spending the end of the 2019-20 season with the Mariners.

Bleackley, now 25 years old, holds the rare distinction of being selected twice in the NHL Entry Draft. In 2014, he was a first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, going 23^rd overall. After being traded to the Arizona Coyotes, Bleackley did not sign an entry-level deal and re-entered the draft in 2016. The St. Louis Blues took him in the fifth round, 144^th overall.

BLEACKLEY HISTORY

Under his entry-level contract with the Blues, Bleackley moved up and down between the American Hockey League and ECHL over the first three years of his professional career. He debuted in 2016-17 with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and spent part of the season with the ECHL’s Missouri Mavericks. Over the next two seasons, Bleackley suited up with the Blues’ new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, and also played with their ECHL club, the Tulsa Oilers. His 2017-18 statistics with Tulsa represent his best professional season-to-date: 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 40 games. He was also named to the ECHL All-Star Classic.

During the 2019-20 season, Bleackley played for four different teams. He originally signed with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads and was loaned to their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. In January 2020, the Steelheads sent Bleackley to the Mariners as part of a three-team trade, which saw forward Taylor Cammarata dealt to the Orlando Solar Bears. Bleackley was briefly loaned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack during his time in Maine but played just one game. With the Mariners, he played in 15 games, scoring five goals and adding five assists. He scored one of the two goals in the last game the Mariners played before the pandemic: a 3-2 loss to the Norfolk Admirals at the Cross Insurance Arena on March 10^th, 2020.

BLEACKLEY UPBRINGING

Bleackley, a native of High River, Alberta, intended on returning to Maine for 2020-21, but when the pandemic canceled the Mariners season, he signed with the Allen Americans. In 32 games for Allen, Bleackley scored four goals and chipped in five assists. In April of 2021, he was dealt to the Indy Fuel but did not appear in a game.

Before turning pro, Bleackley was a big-time scorer in the Western Hockey League for the Red Deer Rebels. He had three seasons of at least 46 points, including a 68-point campaign in 2013-14. Bleackley was a three-year captain for the Rebels as well.

The Mariners have now announced a total of fourteen players to the 2021-22 roster. Training camp is set to begin in less than two weeks.

The Mariners are now proud affiliates of the Boston Bruins and begin their 2021-22 season, presented by Hannaford To Go on October 22^nd, with the home opener against the Worcester Railers, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings. The full schedule can be found here. Full season, half-season, 12-game mini-plans, and 10-ticket flex plans, as well as group tickets, are available now. Single-game tickets will go on sale tomorrow, September 29^th. More information on current ticketing options is available by calling 833-GO-MAINE, emailing mariners-sales@comcastspectacor.com, or visiting MarinersOfMaine.com.

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HARTFORD, CT –  The future of the home of the Hartford Wolf Pack, XL Center remains in a state of status quo, according to CRDA Executive Director Michael W. Freimuth.

“The complex needs work, but nothing has changed. We lost a couple of events at the Convention Center. Everybody has a different ‘handle’ on it, different labor costs, contracts, and there are a lot of issues right now to deal with.”

The proposed sale by OVG of the management and food & concessions doesn’t faze him. However, Friemuth sounds a note of caution. “We knew about this, and there was a chance this was going to be happening with OVG’s offer. These types of deals happen a lot and are usually going to take three-to-six months for the regs. This is so big, complicated, some cross-border properties, contract issues, it’s likely to take six-to-twelve months. The deal of the XL’s size and scope; it could take that long.”

The sports betting hubs for Connecticut were just federally approved last week. However, it remains an ongoing process.

“We’re working with the Connecticut Lottery (the overseer of the project as per how the law is written) on sports betting now. There is no definitive route or timetable laid out yet.”

THE ATRIUM MESS

The atrium inside the XL Center, whose title’s owner is Northland Corporation, has been the subject of a three-year plus negotiation.

“There is no progress on the lease or sale of the retail space either.”

When asked if the exiting of St. Joseph Pharmacy from the XL to its West Hartford campus was a sign of progress, Friemuth replied, “That is a Northland issue, so any new plans are with them.”

EX-PACK PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

Ex-Pack and New York Ranger Artem Anisimov leaves the Ottawa Senators to join the Colorado Avalanche.

Ryan Donato, the son of ex-Pack/Bridgeport Sound Tiger Ted Donato, the Harvard coach and a team USA WJC assistant, signs with his fifth team in five years. Keeping with the theme of playing for teams that start with an S, he departs the San Jose Sharks and heads to the expansion Seattle Kraken on a one-year, one-way deal paying $750K.

Another ex-Pack, Sylvain Lefebvre, who coached the San Diego Gulls over the last several years, was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets and then unhired after refusing to get a Covid vaccine.

Ex-Pack defenseman Zach Tolkinen (Quinnipiac) signs with the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL).

Ex-Wolf Pack, Conor Allen, who played with two Czech Republic teams last year, Motor Ceske Budejovice, and on loan with BK Mlada Boleslav. Allen has retired from playing.

OTHER PLAYERS MOVING

Patrick Mullen, the son of ex-NHL’er Joe Mullen, and nephew of ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Tom Mullen, goes from Belfast (Northern Ireland-EIHL) to ASC Corona Brasov (Romania-MOL).

Three college pro signees, all from the AHA, go to the Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL). The first two are from Niagara University (AHA), Ben Sokay and Jack Billings. Jack Pappalardo from Holy Cross (AHA) signs with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL).

The college conference breakdown shows Hockey East with 29, the Big 10 has 23, the NCHC has 17, the AHA has 11, ECACHL with eight, CCHA, formerly the WCHA, has four, and independent Arizona State has two. In addition, 94 Division-I players signed North American pro deals, and 38 Division-III have signed.

Nikita Scherbek goes from the Texas Stars to HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). 82 of last season’s AHL’ers have signed overseas, and 28 of the leagues’ 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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The post CANTLON’S CORNER: THE LATEST ON THE XL CENTER first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Jason Chaimovich, AHL

TEXAS STARS’ RILEY DAMIANI VOTED WINNER OF DUDLEY (RED) GARRETT AWARD AS AHL’S OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Texas Stars forward Riley Damiani has been voted the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie for the 2020-21 season.

The award was voted on by coaches, players, and media members in each of the league’s 28 active cities.

Damiani, who earned spots on the AHL All-Rookie Team and the Central Division All-Star Team for 2020-21, led all AHL rookies in scoring and tied for third in the overall scoring race with 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 36 games for Texas. He notched two goals and an assist for the Stars on opening night and was named the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for March after registering 15 points in 10 games, including a streak of five consecutive multiple-point outings. Damiani finished his rookie season with an eight-game scoring streak.

A fifth-round selection by Dallas in the 2018 NHL Draft, Damiani turned pro after four seasons with Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey League. The 21-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., served as captain of his junior club and was the team’s leading scorer in 2019-20. He signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Stars on April 1, 2019.

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Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have announced the roster addition of defenseman Luke Martin ahead of this weekend’s homestand. Previously, Martin landed his AHL debut with the Texas Stars on a professional tryout agreement. The 22-year-old signed a Standard Player Contract with Greenville on December 29, 2020, and appeared in three games.

The St. Louis, Missouri native, armed the blueline at Michigan from 2016-2020 and served as an alternate captain in his senior season.

#RABBITSRISING#

The rugged 6-foot-3, 215-pound stay-at-home defenseman totaled 30 points (three goals, 27 assists) in 139 games with the Blue. Martin was drafted in the 2^nd round, 52^nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL Draft.

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits return to action on Friday, May 21, against the Wheeling Nailers. It’s Family Four Pack Friday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Fans can secure 4 tickets, 4 Hotdogs, 4 bags of chips, and 4 Pepsi Products, all for $80! Ticket information is available online at swamprabbits.com.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.

GEAR UP!

Represent the Swamp Rabbits for the 2020–21 season by heading to our online store, the Hop Shop, to purchase your Bits gear. On sale now!

ABOUT US

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 professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are proud affiliates of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. Since the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL Season, 678 former ECHL players have debuted in the NHL. Nine former Greenville Road Warriors/Swamp Rabbits have later made their NHL debut.

GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS

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The post TRUST: LUKE MARTIN REJOINS GREENVILLE first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack scored five unanswered goals, including four in the third period, from five different players, and pulled away from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 5-2 season-opening win at a fan-less XL Center on Sunday afternoon.

“It was a great game tonight. The guys played very hard. We picked up on our systems, and the mistakes were minimal. The effort was maximized. From a coaching perspective, I’m happy,” Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said.

The win gets the start of Knoblauch’s second season behind the Pack bench off to a good start.

THIRD PERIOD RALLY

The Pack entered the third period trailing 2-1. They came out of the second intermission to start the third period’s four-goal assault with a two-man forecheck on the first shift. It paid immediate dividends.

After a dump-in into the Sound Tigers’ zone, Paul Thompson took his man out. The Sound Tigers’ Kurtis MacLean tried to exit the zone with a pass, but Morgan Barron lifted his stick. Jonny Brodzinski swooped in, recovered the puck, and raised a perfect wrister over the glove of goaltender Jakub Škarek at the 26-second mark to tie the game at two.

”Jonny is an exceptional shooter. The guys don’t know him very well, but he’s like (ex-Pack) Vinni Lettieri. He likes to shoot. Jonny’s game is a little more complete, but both are great hockey players. We’re very glad to have Jonny with us this year,” said Knoblauch.

The Wolf Pack continued charging at the Sound Tigers and maintained puck possession, something Bridgeport could do in the first half of the game.

The goal that would prove to be the game-winner was a tic-tac-toe exit-to-transition that led to the Wolf Pack’s third tally.

THE GAME-WINNER

Finnish defenseman, Tarmo Reunanen, was along the left-wing boards in the Wolf Pack zone. Reunanen feathered a head-man pass up to rookie Justin Richards at the Sound Tigers blue line.

Richards skated in a few feet and left a drop pass to the player trailing the play,  second-year pro Patrick Newell.

The swift-skating Californian drove past the Sound Tigers Mitch Vande-Sompel to the net. Newell’s shot from the right-wing side deflected perfectly off the far post and into the net.

Knoblauch emphasizes speed from his troops and saw it perfectly executed at 4:23.

“In the third period, the majority of the play was in our favor. Credit Bridgeport in the first and second, they didn’t make as many mistakes as maybe they did in the third. We were able to score some goals, but overall, we played well for 60 minutes,” Knoblauch said.

34 SECONDS BREAK THE TIGERS’ BACK

The Wolf Pack then broke the game open with two goals in 34 seconds from two of their more-prized rookies.

Barron’s first pro goal came at 10:51. He dropped the puck to Richards, covering the right point, who then went past Felix Bibeau, who was looking for a penalty and was out of the play.

Richards slipped the puck back to Barron at the top of the right-wing circle. Barron migrated to a favorite spot and whistled a shot from 25-feet out, going top-shelf to the glove side, beating Škarek, and increasing the Wolf Pack margin to 4-2.

“I knew we were on the power play, and space had opened up. I saw Richie had time coming down the wall. I called for it, and he put it on my stick. I just wanted to get it off my stick as quickly as I could, lucky enough that it went in,” Barron remarked.

Luck had very little to do with the goal. Barron’s talent is why the New York Rangers were prying him away from Cornell University for the last two years.

Will Cuylle completed the scoring barrage at 11:25. Another rookie, Austin Rueschhoff, spun off a checking attempt by Bridgeport’s Cole Caskey and threw a shot towards the net from on top of the right-wing circle that was blocked, but the puck caromed right to Cuylle, who out-positioned the Sound Tigers’ Robert “Bobo” Carpenter in the left-wing circle. Cuylle didn’t waste any time and drilled a strong wrist shot low to the stick-side past Škarek.

KNOBLAUCH REACTS

“It’s good to get the (young) guys comfortable and feeling confident, like a Newell getting his first goal. He played well for us all (last) season, but he didn’t have the same swagger and confidence.

“This year, all training camp, he looks like a different player. It shows how hard he trained in the summer. You can see he wants to be the go-to guy this season, like the way he played today,” Knoblauch stated.

One of the Pack’s returning veterans hasn’t played hockey in a year-and-a-half, Gabriel Fontaine. He aptly summed up the team’s first game.

“We all haven’t played much hockey. We were a little rusty at the start today, to say the least, but once we got going, we showed we had some chemistry.”

SECOND PERIOD

In the second period, Bridgeport took advantage of a Wolf Pack miscue to take a 2-0 lead.

Darren Raddysh was behind the net and made a backhanded clearing attempt up the middle of the ice. Sound Tigers rookie Cole Coskey picked it off and went to the backhand, and lifted his first pro goal over the left shoulder of the Pack goalie, Keith Kinkaid, at 5:46.

On the Wolf Pack’s first goal of 20-21 season, Sound Tigers defenseman Parker Wotherspoon grabbed the puck, skated behind his net, and sent a clearing attempt off the left-wing boards. The pass went past it’s intended target, Arnaud Durandeau. Instead it went to Reunanen.

With Sound Tiger, Cole Barbeau, bearing down on him from behind like a defensive tackle going for the sack, Reunanen released a shot from 55-feet out that beat Škarek to put the Wolf Pack on the scoreboard.

The Wolf Pack had two back-to-back chances that both hit the post. The first off Fontaine’s stick and the second from returnee, Tim Gettinger, at 14:45.

Kinkaid stopped a backhanded drive from the rightside by Durandeau and then Bibeau from the right-wing off a three-on-two odd-man break-in that prevented the Sound Tigers from reestablishing a two-goal lead.

Thompson, a Wolf Pack newcomer, a scoring chance from the left wing with 5.6 seconds left on the period, but Škarek denied him.

FIRST PERIOD

The first period demonstrated the youth of the Wolf Pack playing in their first professional game. The Sound Tigers outshot the Wolf Pack 8-4, and dictated play leading to the game’s first goal.

The Sound Tigers won the one-on-one battle behind the Pack net. Eric Brown got the puck to the Wolf Pack net,, and Bibeau used his 6’4 frame and strength to get position on Newell. His wraparound attempt went wide and bounced off the left-wing boards. Rookie, Daniel Bolduc, retrieved the puck and let fly a 55-foot blast that eluded Kinkaid and found the back of the net at 14:12.

The young Pack’s inexperience and expected nervousness showed through some over-puckhandling that caused turnovers, both forced and unforced. The Sound Tigers road play effort stymied the youthful Wolf Pack at the outset.

The Wolf Pack defense, however, did make some strong plays. Rookie Braden Schneider was on Dandareau and made a good recovery play taking him to the backboards to prevent a clean shot at Kinkaid.

Reunanen in his zone made a strong positioning play to intercept a  Carpenter pass to the middle.

The Wolf Pack’s first effective and lone quality chance came from  Raddysh from the right point.

The Sound Tigers’ Simon Holmstrom, who played on the Bronze Medal winning Swedish WJC team, had a clean backhand shot go off the far post.

The Sound Tigers Jeff Kubiak was suspended for the game Sunday morning for a charging play on Friday’s opener against the Providence Bruins.

LINES:

Brodzinski – Barron – Thompson
Richards – Gettinger – Newell
Fontaine – Cullye – Dmowski
Khordorenki – O’Leary – Rueschhoff

LoVerde – Schneider
Reunanen – Raddysh
Crawley – Guattari

SCRATCHES

Ty Ronning
Alex Whelan
Anthony Greco
Jake Elmer
Patrick Sieloff
Dylan Garand
Jeff Taylor

NOTES:

The Wolf Pack play their next two games on the road. On Thursday, they travel to Marlborough, MA to play the Providence Bruins, and next Wednesday, they’ll head to Webster Bank Arena for a return engagement with the Sound Tigers/ They won’t return to the XL Center until February 21st when they play Providence.

Mason Geersten was out serving the second game of a three-game suspension from the end of last season.

Looking back at an opening night in Wolf Pack history when they started their season in Quebec City at the famous Le Colisée. The Wolf Pack beat the Quebec Citadelles 6-3 with AHL Hall-Of-Famer, J.F. Labbe, a Quebec native, scoring the only goal in the empty net in Wolf Pack history.

Out in the AHL West, Trevor Zegras (Avon Old Farms) has five points in two games for the San Diego Gulls.

In the Henderson (NV) Silver Knights inaugural game, Danny O’Regan, an ex-Pack from last season and a linemate of Patrick Newell’s, racked up two goals and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Ontario Reign.

The Chicago Wolves loaned ex-Sound Tiger, Colin Markison, to the Texas Stars.

Matt Peca (Quinnipiac University) and Logan Brown, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler, Jeff Brown, were assigned by the Ottawa Senators to their AHL affiliate in Belleville.

BOX SCORE

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 5 – Status: Final
Sunday, February 7, 2021 – XL Center

Bridgeport 1 1 0 – 2
Hartford 0 1 4 – 5

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Bolduc 1 (Bibeau, Brown), 14:12. Penalties-Greer Bri (roughing), 10:46; Rueschhoff Hfd (high-sticking), 19:13.

2nd Period-2, Bridgeport, Coskey 1   6:55. 3, Hartford, Reunanen 1   9:22. Penalties-Hutton Bri (tripping), 10:41; Helgeson Bri (checking to the head, fighting), 13:31; Rueschhoff Hfd (fighting), 13:31.

3rd Period-4, Hartford, Brodzinski 1   0:26. 5, Hartford, Newell 1 (Richards, Reunanen), 4:23. 6, Hartford, Barron 1 (Richards), 10:51 (PP). 7, Hartford, Cuylle 1 (Rueschhoff), 11:25. Penalties-Richards Hfd (interference), 8:04; Coskey Bri (slashing), 9:10.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-12-7-27. Hartford 4-9-13-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 2; Hartford 1 / 4.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Skarek 0-2-0 (26 shots-21 saves). Hartford, Kinkaid 1-0-0 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-
Referees-Jordan Deckard (14), Conor O’Donnell (41).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Kevin Briganti (39).

GAME SUMMARY

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The post CANTLON: WOLF PACK WIN BIG IN SEASON OPENER first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The AHL will open its season in just over two weeks.

The Hartford Wolf Pack will have a 24-game schedule featuring all afternoon games. Friday was the schedule’s release date, but issues surrounding players’ compensation, including their housing arrangements, are in great flux. That flux has created genuine consternation among players throughout a league season that will consist of 28-teams. Over that last week, the myriad of concerns run from coast-to-coast.

In an exclusive interview with Cantlon’s Corner, PHPA AHL union head Larry Landon, who has been in his role for the last 28 years, has been ringing a five-alarm bell in private for some time and especially over the previous week.

On Friday, Landon’s discussions with new AHL President and CEO, Scott Howson, and Executive Vice-President of the NHL, Bill Daley, have not quelled his concerns. Landon’s nature is to remain hopeful that a meeting of the minds will occur.

“We have three experienced people that have to find a way forward with different constituents. We have to find that path going forward that will be to the satisfaction of all,” Landon said from Niagara Falls, Canada, in the province of Ontario, on Friday, where they are in the midst of a COVID lockdown.

At present, most of the AHL’s markets have fan restrictions or that do not allow, and a small percentage of markets are presently in lockdown.

To start the 2020-21 season, only two AHL markets, Austin, TX, the home of the Texas Stars, and the Cleveland Monsters, will allow reduced capacity fan attendance. Others are waiting on decisions by public health officials.

At the heart of the anxiety happening across the board in the AHL is players’ compensation payments plans and if the formula going forward will be on a per-game basis or a per-day basis.

“We have a proposal on the table that is fair. We don’t want players playing and being paid below the poverty line. I had an understanding under the letter of June 2nd, which MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) extended the CBA, and I understood we would be pro-rating salaries.

“That, however, was based on a 56-60 game season. When I discussed those with outgoing AHL President, Dave Andrews, and Scott Howson, the new incoming AHL President, and the Return to Play committee, we never envisioned a 24-game schedule like Hartford has, or a 32 (game schedule), or in some cases, a 44-game schedule, for teams in the Pacific Division.

“I’m not lost on the fact that we have just 28 teams. We just want the players to be properly compensated and they and their families to be treated fairly this year. If there had been, say, a universal schedule of say 40 games, players could have lived with that, but that’s not what we have.

“I really respect the work Scott has done because about six weeks ago, we had just 20 teams that were going to be able to play.

“Given the cost of housing and costs after taxes, on say $27-to-$35,000, in a place like California, where rents are, in some areas, $6,000 to $10,000 for a four-month period, and that’s what the AHL season is going to be, February 5th to May 16th, just 101 days. These athletes are not buying flashy sports cars. They need the money to train and live on with their expenses.”

A long-trusted source with intimate knowledge of what is presently at stake stated that it would have both short and long-term effects on the AHL and its future operations.

“It’s a tough situation all around. I don’t blame Scott (Howson), who really gets the short-end-of-the-stick coming in as the new guy with all of this (crap) going on, or Larry (Landon), but I think it should not have gotten this far so late with so many unresolved issues.

“I just think this should have been dealt with in the summer in between ending the 2019-20 NHL season and planning for this 2020-21 season when they did the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) that extended the NHL CBA. But, here we are.”

AHL salaries have gone up over the years, and many guys signed healthy deals back in the fall when contract signing season began.

Now that the schedules have been slashed because of COVID-19, particularly the minor leagues operating without fans, cutting off the ANY minor league sports entity’s financial oxygen.

The San Diego Gulls will play a 44 game schedule. The Stockton Heat, Bakersfield Condors, and Henderson Silver Knights will each have 40 games.

Texas, the Colorado Eagles, Ontario Reign, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms all have 38 games on their schedules, while the Hershey Bears have 36 contests.

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Wolf Pack, and Providence Bruins have the fewest games at 24. The Canadian division, consisting of the Laval Rocket, Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, and the Province of Ontario, will release their schedules later.

The question is the basis for whether contracts are on a per-game or a per-day basis. As of today, no financial standard is embedded in stone but remains a free-floating target and has added a significant level of stress to an already tense environment.

“The numbers have changed on a weekly basis. I heard $50K was the floor Friday and Monday. I’m hearing $40K. How can players, their agents, or the GM’s of a team actually operate like that?

“I hope a third party with some clout, maybe an arbitrator, can come in and help as everybody moves to a plateau they can all agree on and live with. Nobody will get a 100%, but this a serious issue for players.”

The AHL CBA has $51K as the minimum salary, but these are not standard times, and the NHL MOU supersedes their deal.

“The players are hearing the double-negative talk. You say, for argument’s sake, signed a deal for $100K with your team. You’ll only play 30 games. If you’re talking per game roll back, guys will lose in some cases over 50%, and they have expenses too, like rent, and where do you get a four-month private lease?

“If you’re in a market, based on what I have heard, it’s going to be a 100-day max during the AHL season. If you have a flat rate to negotiate for a player, you have something to negotiate about and some starting point.

“The players need to have some level of knowledge of what the rules are going to be. Right now, so much is unknown, and the time is very short right now.”

With these issues beginning to mushroom, Landon has been working around the clock over the past two months.

He passionately defends his 1,800 members as if they were his own family.

“These are young men not driving flashy cars, multi-millionaires, they’re chasing their dreams, and this is their job, and all we’re asking is they be treated fairly,”  Landon said.

The rollback was based on a more consistent schedule of at least 40 games. The 24 games that the Atlantic Division is having was not in the cards.

NHL teams currently own 20 of the 32 AHL franchises. Three AHL teams, the Springfield Thunderbirds, Charlotte Checkers, and Milwaukee Admirals, have stated they will not play this season. Those teams’ move has had and will continue to have a severe effect on the player market.

“To be honest, some AHL veterans have been phased out because of this, and young college or junior players looking for that training camp chance to impress somebody and maybe get a nice AHL deal for a year has been lost with no training camps and a reduced pool of players.

“Look, Chicago, Utica, and Syracuse, they don’t have to sign some vets or younger guys because they’re getting those players for free with the dual affiliation!

“Now, the average AHL player has their budget for housing, and some markets are pretty steep. How can the gap be bridged and be filled? I’m not sure the guys with families have serious decisions to make. I can’t even take a wild guess how they do this!”

Billet families have long been the staple of junior hockey, and some AHL teams become impossible because the COVID health protocols of reducing exposure possibilities are a no-go.

Doing a team housing situation is an idea to control the environment, but married and single guys have different priorities.

Can housing be done on a short-term rental deal? Possibly. Some short-term deals at several of the newly built apartments along Allyn Street, near Bushnell Park, and of course Hartford 21 attached to the XL Center remain an option.

How viable? It’s impossible to know for sure at this point.

“The NHL really values the AHL as an asset and vehicle for their prospects to play, and not playing a whole year is not an option.

“However, the NHL has taken some shots off the shins too, and are hobbling around like everyone else, but there are many people in a much different and in more precarious situations (in the outside world) than we even realize. I like to think something can get done. What is happening out there isn’t good for anyone.

“Hey, we all laughed at the ECHL when they announced their schedule so early, but they’re playing right now. It might not be ideal, but hell, they lost a whole division and are playing with just 15 (13) teams, but the doors are still open.”

The AHL meets two critical pieces in the NHL scheme of things. It allows teams’ prospects to play this year and not lose a whole season, no matter how shortened that season will be.

The other is written in stone that by July 17th, all the NHL teams must submit their expansion list for the Seattle Kraken to review for the NHL expansion draft.

Seattle’s General Manager, and former Hartford Whalers great, Ron Francis, will need to decide which players to select. They would prefer to have their scouting departments see them play to make a current evaluation, rather than relying on reports that are a year old.

Off the ice, things are moving along as best they can in this COVID environment. The Wolf Pack are operating at the XL Center and Champions Skating Center in Cromwell in small pod groups. Still, training camp is not expected to take place officially until Monday the 25th, but they have cleared and resolved all issues with the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) requirements.

All contract amendments have been approved by the CRDA Venue committee and were unanimously approved Thursday by the full board at their monthly meeting. That makes them legal and binding, and MSG and the CRDA can sign new amended contracts.

The time-period will overlap as it covers the fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

Spectra, the XL Center’s building operator, and MSG are handling all building cleaning matters. It’s taking place after hours and overnight, according to CRDA Executive Director Michael W, Freimuth.

No fans will be allowed in the building at the start of the season, but Wolf Pack fans who put their season ticket deposit money down are getting the subscription to the AHLTV package for free. When the season starts on February 7th against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, it will be the first Wolf Pack season to begin on a Sunday in the team’s 24-year history. It starts on Super Bowl Sunday, no less.

Like everything else, it’s subject to change.

The post CANTLON’S CORNER: AHL ON THIN ICE first appeared on Howlings.