FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet HARTFORD, CT. – If the New York Rangers are to find a trade for veteran defenseman Wade Redden to eliminate his annual $6.5 million salary cap hit, they’ll have to find out which eight teams he doesn’t want to be dealt to that’s part of…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet Anticipation. Instincts. Timing. Guts. In some ways, blocking shots in hockey is even more dangerous than goaltending. Neither is for the faint of heart, but at least a goalie has plenty of padding and a facemask. But a willingness to…
GAME FIVE – DUPONT GIVETH AND DUPONT TAKETH AWAY
VERSUS The Connecticut Whale fought back valiantly from a three-goal deficit, not once but TWICE, and finally tied it early in the third on a Brodie Dupont goal. But as has been the case with this team all season long with the entire team, Dupont’s…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet The headlines Tuesday night at the XL Center were the Connecticut Whale’s continued penalty killing excellence backstopped by goalie Dov Grumet-Morris, the return of their two most skilled players, wings Mats Zuccarello and Chad Kolarik,…
GAME THREE: NOW WE HAVE A SERIES
VERSUS In a must-win game for the Connecticut Whale, Sunday evening in Game Three of their first round playoff series, the New York Rangers AHL affiliate used a total team concept from the goaltender on out and knocked off the visiting Portland…
1ST RD: GAME ONE – ’57 MINUTES NOT ENOUGH!
VERSUS Thursday night the Connecticut Whale returned to the playoffs after a one year absence, the first in the team’s history, only to have the first game turn into a microcosm of their entire 2010-2011 season. The Whale didn’t put out a full…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet HARTFORD, CT. – The newest Connecticut Whale player, University of Michigan left wing/captain Carl Hagelin, circled the team’s XL Center locker room early Wednesday afternoon, extending his right hand to introduce himself. Hagelin, fresh…
FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET
By Bruce Berlet With veterans such as Wade Redden, Kris Newbury, Brodie Dupont and All-Star Jeremy Williams in the Connecticut Whale locker room, one might not think there’s much room for others to make an imprint on the team. But defenseman Jared…
COMMENTARY
Thursday night’s 6-2 shellacking by the New York Fish Sticks over the Rangers got me thinking about the similarities between the parent club and their trainees in Hartford.
HOPE HE LIKES PLAYING IN THE QUIET
According to TSN.ca, goaltender Al Montoya has signed a one-year extension with the New York Islanders. Montoya, who was the New York Rangers’ first round pick, sixth overall, in the 2004 draft is also the second winningest goaltender in Hartford Wolf…