#AlMontoya

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOL 9

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers have just four picks in this year's NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers’ highest pick this year is in the second round at No. 63 and is the only pick the Rangers have through the first three rounds. The draft was held in Montreal following a two-year absence because of the pandemic. The Rangers also have a fourth-round pick (#111), which was initially a Winnipeg Jets’ pick but made its way to New York via the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Brett Howden trade. The Rangers also have pick No. 159 in the fifth round and lastly at number 191 in the sixth round. The Rangers lost their 2022 first-round pick due to the conditions of the trade for Andrew Copp, whom President/GM Chris Drury acquired from the Jets at this year’s trade deadline in exchange for three draft picks and prospect Morgan Barron. The three draft picks were two conditional second-rounders and a 2023 fifth-round selection. The 2022 second-round pick the Rangers sent to Winnipeg became a first-round (number 30) since they reached the conference final, and Copp played in at least half of their playoff games. SECOND PICK For the other conditional second-round pick, the Jets had the option of taking the Blues’ original 2022 pick or the Rangers' in 2023. Instead, Winnipeg decided on this year’s second-rounder (number 55), which the Rangers acquired from St. Louis as part of the Pavel Buchnevich trade that also brought in the recently re-signed Sammy Blais. The Rangers' first selection in the second round (59th overall) was Adam Sykora, no relation to former NHL’er Petr. The young Slovak center showed a lot of little things in all departments, and the Rangers hope he grows into his body. Last week he was the first overall selection by the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) in the CHL Import Draft. The second pick in the third round (97th overall) of the draft, the Rangers selected LW Byrce McConnell-Barker. He's a solid 6’1 and 195-pounds with Sault Ste Marie (OHL) and had 23 goals in 68 games in the first season. FOURTH ROUND In the fourth round (111th overall), a center Noah Laba from Lincoln (USHL), a Colgate (ECACHL) commit next year, had 15 goals, 24 assists, and 39 points in 50 games. In the fifth round (159th overall), the Rangers selected a defenseman, Victor Mancini. He didn’t take the usual route. He's 6’3, 215-pounds, and was at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC). Laba played junior in Sweden for Frolunda HC and was named the team captain in his last season. His father, Bob, was all over the hockey map here and in Europe, from Michigan Tech as a head coach for four years as an assistant at Lake Superior State and Ferris State. He helped develop the fledgling hockey program nationally in South Africa. FIFTH ROUND In the fifth round (161st overall), they took Russian Maxim Barbashav, the younger brother of St. Louis Blue Ivan Barbashav from Moncton (QMJHL). At 6’1, 185-pounds, he has good size, and his first year's numbers include 15 goals and 42 points in 59 games. He was taken as the last pick of the round. The last Rangers pick has a familiar last name, defenseman Zakary Karpa. the son of former Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Ranger David Karpa from Harvard (ECACHL). Karpa was taken in the sixth round (191st overall). In 33 games in his freshmen year, he had six goals and 12 points. He has a twin brother Jakob. None of these picks will be in Hartford/New York for some time. GEORGIEV FINALLY DEPARTS After five seasons, the Rangers finally traded goalie Alexander Georgiev. The former Wolf Pack was sent to the Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche. Georgiev heads west for a third and fifth-draft pick and a third-round selection next year. The strategy increases their draft picks from four to six for Friday’s draft, rounds two through seven. The move came just hours before a CBA imposed the deadline of giving him a qualifying offer of $2.65M. He last played in Hartford for eleven games for the Pack in 2018-19. NHL DRAFT CONTINUED Nick Malik, the goalie son ex-Hartford Whaler, Ranger, Beast of New Haven, and Springfield Falcon, Marek Malik, was taken by Tampa Bay in the fifth round. David Spacek, the son of former Beast of New Haven's Jaroslav Spacek, was called by Minnesota in the fifth round. Landon Sim of London (OHL), the son ex-Sound Tiger Jon Sim, was taken in the sixth round. The youngest son of a former Whaler and the new scout with the Philadelphia Flyers, Sami Kapanen, Konsta Kapanen, was NOT selected. IN MEMORIAM Life intrudes at the worst times. On the eve of the draft, a sad development as former Whaler, a San Jose scout and skills development coach for their AHL team, Bryan Marchment, died suddenly in Montreal at the Sheraton Hotel next door to the Bell Centre at age 53. His son Mason is a member of the Florida Panthers. He also leaves behind his wife Kim, and daughter, Logan. Marchment played for nine NHL teams and was known as an abrasive player in his day, compiling over 2,307 PIM in 926 games and had a long-running feud with Mark Messier and Mike Gartner. QMJHL DRAFT The last of the amateur drafts took place on Monday and Tuesday before the NHL Draft by the QMJHL. The US portion of the league draft took place Tuesday after the main draft saw six members from Connecticut of the 36 players selected. The first one, taken second overall in the US portion, was Lucas St. Louis, the youngest son of current Montreal head coach, Hockey Hall of Famer, and former Ranger, Marty St. Louis. St. Louis, the youngest son of the former Ranger, is regarded as a very talented player from the Greenwich-based Brunswick School and was taken by the Victoriaville Tigres. The following selection was 13th in Stamford’s Matej Teply from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep by the Acadie-Bathhurst Titan. CT CHIEFS U15 STUD TAKEN Then 17th overall, from Westport, was the Charlottetown (PEI) Islanders took Aryx Siefker of the CT Chiefs U-15 squad (AYHL). He is a Winchendon Prep School (MAPREP) commit next year. Then the following three selections came back-to-back. Taken 22nd was Ryan Lucarelli, from the New Milford-basedthe Val D’Or Foreurs took Canterbury Prep Saints teams. Then Spencer Morrow (Darien), one of the four hockey-playing nephews and nieces of former Whaler and Springfield Indians player Scott Morrow, was selected by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Older brother Scott (a Carolina NHL draftee) is at UMASS, and younger sister Sydney is heading to Ohio State (Big 10) in the fall. The youngest Sophie keeps the family tradition alive by playing with the Shattuck’s St Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP). The last Connecticut player was Blake Burke of Trumbull, who went 24th to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. MORE DRAFT NEWS The first round of the general regional draft featuring selections from the Canadian territories of Quebec in the Canadian provinces that comprise the Maritimes of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland/Labrador area. Tomas Lavoie, a defenseman, was taken first overall by the Cape Breton (NS) Eagles. He is no relation to former New Haven Senator Domenic Lavoie. Four US players were selected in the first round. First went Bill Zannon, who was taken sixth by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from Northwood Prep (NYPREP). Owen Phillips was taken by his hometown Halifax Mooseheads from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U-15 (T1EHL) in Pennsylvania. Then Williams Shields of Nova Scotia was taken by Cape Breton at number 11, From upstate NY near Rochester, Bishop Kearney HS (NYPREP). Then the next pick from the Selects Academy program at RI’s Mt. Charles Academy program was Sacha Boisvert by Chicoutimi. The first of four taken from the team. In the later rounds Tyler Wood, a PEI native was drafted from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep in the sixth round and 96th overall by Rouyn-Noranda. WOLF PACK 2022-23 Twenty-six players are either under a contract to return on their current contracts for the 2022-23 edition of the Wolf Pack. Even though the team needs an overhaul, there are few roster spots. A particularly vexing issue that has plagued them the past few years is the surplus of defensemen. Zac Jones and Matt Robertson are back under the second year of their contracts for another year. Also, Zach Guittari (Loomis Chaffee) returns on a one-year AHL deal for the Rhode Island native. Another is Nils Lundkvist, who has two years to RFA status and had a less than stellar first year in NY and Hartford, both players are from Sweden. Others who played secondary roles are Brandon Scanlin, Zach Berzolla and Hunter Skinner. Louka Henault was added to the mix. The newcomer just signed from Windsor (OHL). They also just added last year’s training camp invitee among the last cuts Blake Hillman, who split last year with Toledo (ECHL) and s spell with Grand Rapids and most of the second half with Providence to an AHL contract. A question is Jarred Tinordi, a year away from UFA status will he be back reprising the mentor role after being traded at last season’s trade deadline? Up front will see the most significant number of new players. BRODZINSKI BROTHERS Captain Jonny Brodzinski is likely to start the year in Hart City as well as his younger sibling Easton on a new one-year AHL deal. Expected newcomers are Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL). From Europe draftee Karl Henrickson, free agent signees Gustav Rydahl (Farjestad BK) and Carl Berglund (who was given a training camp invite), all are from Sweden. Returning on one-year AHL deals are; Tanner Fritz, Alex Whelan and Cristiano Di Giacinto, the last two players were walk-on’s the last two seasons. Patrick Khordorenko comes back on the last year of his contract, and Bobby Trivigno from UMASS will have an entire season to marinate Add one more name to the list, Ryan Lohin, who split last year between Charlotte and Allen (ECHL). Gone is forward Anthony Greco, off to Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL, whoo was a Group 6 UFA. On the bubble as Group 6 (have reached age 25 and not playing enough NHL games under the CBA) is Kris Merkley and Maxim Letunov (UCONN-HE) both were acquired at the trade deadline. Likely neither will be back. RONNING Reports are that Ronning may sign with the hometown Canucks and be sent to Abbottsford (AHL) nearby. The other returning question marks are forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who has one year left before RFA status and had a rocky relationship with the team in the second half while being injury-riddled. Likely gone are underperforming Justin Richards, Mike O’Leary, and fill-in James Sanchez. Three players who had minor roles have gone to three different teams in Slovakia Abbott Girduckis (HC Presov), Liam Pecararo (HC Slovan Bratislava), and defenseman Hamden’s Mike Lee (HC Nove Zamsky). In goal, expect a whole new cast of characters. Already under contract on a three-year ELC coming in Dylan Garand (Kamloops-WHL) and Olof Lindbom (Kristianstads IK Sweden-Allsvenskan) and a new veteran goalie will more than likely be acquired to shepherd them the. through their pro baptism. Likely to be gone will be Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska (UCONN-HE), and Tyler Wall. LUKE MARTIN On Friday, defenseman Luke Martin was signed. He played a half-dozen games last year with Colorado (AHL) and most of the year with Utah (ECHL) and earned all ECHL Rookie team status. He has an interesting connection to current and past Wolf Pack and Rangers. He played under the stewardship of current Wolf Pack GM Ryan Martin at the US National Development program. Among his teammates then and is a new teammate are Patrick Khordorenko and current Rangers Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren were USNDTP teammates. He follows a long line of Michigan hockey players to suit up in Hartford from Chris Summers, Chris Brown, Steven Kampfer, Al Montoya and Director of Player Development, Jed Ortmeyer. His older brother Kenny is retired from hockey by nine years was a four-year player and senior captain at Yale. MORE CHANGES Coming in at goal under a three-year ELC deal is Dylan Grand (Kamloops (WHL) and Olof Lindbom, with a two-year ELC from Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Add to the training camp net menagerie now is Parker Gaghan who spent part of the year with Florida (ECHL) who went to the Kelly Cup final in a backup role and some time with Milwaukee. Then CT's own Charlie Leddy of Fairfield who spent one year at Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) from the US National Developmental Team (USHL) and played for the US WJC Team was taken by the Devils in the fourth round. He is BC (HE) bound in the fall. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[gregmikaels]

It's on! Go Habs Go!!!🔵⚪🔴 #GoHabsGo #habsfan #habsnation #HabsFanTilIDie #habscountry #habsempire #mtlhabs #allhabs #Habs #CareyPrice #almontoya @allcanadiens @allhabs @hockeycanada @insta.canadiens @canadiens_mtl @hockeycanada @ch.nation @rabidhabs #habsfie

[shapfu1]

Came across a hockey deli today in Burbank. Tremendous. #almontoya #hockey #bostonbruinsforlife (at Kings Deli)

[habsdiscussed-blog]

Montréal Canadiens planning to set a start limit for Pricey due to last season’s MCL injury, hence why Al Montoya was signed, so that we don’t have to solely rely on Mike Condon. Do you agree with Management’s decision?! Although this will annoy many Habs' fans, this is most definitely a smart move from the Management team, that nearly all fans would agree with, due to last season's terrible MCL injury which ended Carey Price's season early, and predestined the season of Le Club! Needless to say we will all miss Carey Price when he is not starting (something that we all got used to last season), however, this will ensure that he is healthy for a deep Stanley Cup Playoff run! This statement from management will clearly put doubters to rest about the move to acquire Al Montoya, who as a backup, has put up admirable numbers last season as a backup with the Florida Panthers, going 12-7-3 with a 2.18 GAA, a 0.919 Save Percentage in 25 Games. It is clear that Management has thought this threw by adding goaltender depth to the mix. Bring on the 2016-17 Season // Go Habs Go - HabsDiscussed.

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: ALL BLACK NHL LINE FOLLOWS A STRONG HISTORY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Hockey's continued growth in non-traditional communities received a big boost with the line of all-black players deployed by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Head Coach, Jon Cooper, at the end of the  NHL's regular season against their in-state and soon-to-be playoff rival, the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay suited up Gemel Smith, the older brother of Detroit Red Wings' Givani Smith, Mathieu Joseph, whose younger brother Pierre-Olivier is with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and ex-Hartford Wolf Pack, Daniel Walcott on Tuesday night.

HISTORY OF ALL-BLACK LINES

In hockey, there have been six all-black line combinations who've played together at various sports levels. The first known line was sent out on the ice in 1948-49 in the Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL). Brothers Herb and Ozzie Carnegie took the ice with Manny McIntyre for the Sherbrooke St. Francois. It wasn't until February of 1970 when the St. Mary’s University Huskies (Halifax, NS) had a game against Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick) in a Canadian college contest in the Atlantic University Athletic Association (AUAA) as it was called then. The school’s beloved and revered head coach, Bob Boucher, put together a trio of Percy Paris, Darrell Maxwell, and Bob Dawson. Skip ahead to the next known example in 1998-99 when the United Hockey League's Flint Generals sent out Kahil Thomas, Jayson Payne, and Nick Forbes to skate together. That team also featured ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Ross Wilson, and ex-New Haven Senator Lorne Knauft. Thomas reprised his role again with the Jacksonville Barracudas (SPHL) in 2006-07, skating alongside Hamden's Dan Hickman and a goalie turned forward for Ty Garner. Garner had suffered a serious groin injury in Norway the year before. He was advised by doctors not to play at all, let alone goalie, for a year, so he played as a forward instead and made history.

HAMDEN'S HICKMAN

Hickman played for one of the state’s premier public school programs, the Hamden High School Green Dragons. He would play Division-III college hockey with Southern New Hampshire University (Northeast-10) (formerly known as New Hampshire College). The Barracudas would be his second pro season of the four he would eventually play. Hickman skated for three teams that season having been traded late in the season by the Pee Dee (SC) Cyclones to Jacksonville. “Our coach put the line together. I think he and Ty might have been chatting,” remarked Hickman in a phone interview. ”The really neat thing is we had great camaraderie off the ice. We hung out on the beach, hit the arcades, and to be honest; I had never played on a team with three black players before at any level.

HICKMAN'S THOUGHTS

"We were a good line, too, because Khalil was a shifty quick player. I was kind of an in-between player with finesse and physical play, and Ty was a beast out there. We were together a few games, but I think we helped spark the team. We went all the way to the championship finals that year.” When asked if he realized at the time how unique and rare it was at that point to have an all-black line skating together, he replied, “We had talked about it, and Khalil had done it earlier. We really wanted to do it and, but I didn’t realize how rare it really is at the time.” In his first year, Hickman skated with four different teams in four different leagues before concluding his minor pro career in the Nutmeg State, playing for the Danbury Mad Hatters of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL). On March 22, 2021, Thomas’s son, Akil, was united with the LA Kings' top draft pick last season, Quinton Byfield, and NHL vet Devante Smith-Pelly. They played on a line for the AHL Ontario Reign against the Bakersfield Condors in a 5-4 shootout win.

WILLIE O'REE

In minor league hockey,  the great NHL Hall-Of-Famer, Willie O’Ree, played in the AHL for the New Haven Nighthawks in their first season in 1972-73. He played fifty games before heading back to his current home city of San Diego. He also played for the old Western Hockey League, San Diego Gulls, for five seasons in the late 1960s and early 1970s. O’Ree was drafted by the WHA's Los Angeles Sharks on February 12, 1972, in Anaheim. Despite living in the area, he never received a contract offer. When the WHA's San Diego Mariners came to town (1974-1977) with his old New Haven Nighthawks teammate, Kevin Morrison, there were some discussions, but not much came of it.

BREAKING THE COLOR LINE

O’Ree broke the NHL color barrier on January 18, 1958, to play for the Boston BruinsCanada against the Montreal Canadiens. He would score his first NHL goal nearly two years later, in 1960, with the Bruins against the Canadiens. O’Ree has stated that at the time, he was not aware he had done anything of significance.

MEETING JACKIE ROBINSON

O’Ree followed in the footsteps of Jackie Robinson, whom he met first on a youth baseball trip to Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn at age 14 in 1949, two years after Robinson had broken the color barrier (April 15, 1947) in baseball. They would meet again at an NAACP luncheon in 1962. O'Ree was skating for the minor pro WHL, Los Angeles Blades, at the time. Robinson was a fixture in the city of Montreal where O’ Ree broke the NHL color barrier when they had a Triple AAA farm team called the Royals in 1946. The first game for Robinson was on the road on April 15, 1946, in Jersey City, NJ, at Roosevelt Stadium before an SRO crowd in a 14-1 win. Robinson helped his team win the International League championship later that season in Montreal.

BLIND IN ONE EYE

O'Ree played his off-wing side because he was blind in one eye.  The accident was suffered in 1955 playing for the Kitchener Canucks (OHA) when he was hit by the puck in his right eye. He never divulged it to anybody but still managed to have a productive minor pro career.

OTHER HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTORS

The first black professional player in the United States was Art Dorrington. Like O'Ree, he was a fellow Canadian Maritimer from Truro, Nova Scotia. Dorrington is 91-years-old and played in the old Eastern Hockey League in the late 1940s and 1950s. The New Haven Nighthawks had two other black players of note. Dave Nicholls played one season with the 1985-86 Nighthawks and just six games the following season before being sent to Flint (IHL). The 6’7 tough-as-nails, Peter Worrell, played sixty games in a little over a season from 1997-1999 with the Beast of New Haven. In roller hockey, the Connecticut Coasters, who graced the concrete of the New Haven Coliseum for a summer in 1993, had a player. He was a former Middletown resident, Berkley Hoagland, who got his hockey baptism at Wesleyan University. Hoagland had been an assistant coach with Huntington Beach (CA) H.S. However, he stopped two years ago, but has been involved in ice and roller hockey in California for over twenty years and owns a local LA BBQ restaurant chain catering business.

THE FIRST FOR HARTFORD WOLF PACK

The Wolf Pack have had many minority players in their team history. The first edition featured defenseman Jason Doig, and later, Donald Brashear. Ryan Constan is a full-blooded Cree Indian, while goalie Al Montoya is a Cuban-American. Perhaps their most successful player is Maple Leafs' assistant coach, Manny Malhotra, of Indian-Canadian descent. The CT Whale had one minority player in Andre Deveaux. The Wolf Pack 2.0 has had Akim Aliu, Boo Nieves, Charles Williams, James Sanchez, and Walcott.

SOUND TIGERS

The former Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who have been re-christened as the Bridgeport Islanders, have had their share of minority players. Rhett Rakhshani grew up in California, learning hockey on the streets and in roller hockey leagues. Interestingly, Hoagland was one of his coaches. He is a second-generation Iranian-American. Joey Haddad played eight games with the Sound Tigers. He was a second-generation Lebanese-Canadian who comes from a very fertile Middle Eastern hockey community of Lebanese-Syrian heritage. It's located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, known locally as the ”The Gaza Strip.” Alaska's Justin Johnson is one of 14 Alaskans to play in the NHL that includes ex-Pack, Joey Crabb. Another Alaskan is New Haven Blades legend Kevin “Squid” Morrison. His mother was Lebanese, and his father of Scottish background. He's Haddad’s first cousin, as his mother’s maiden name was Haddad. Morrison loves being part of this niche part of hockey history.

OTHER MINORITY PLAYERS

The Hartford Whalers had Ray Neufeld and Scott “Chief” Daniels, a full Cree Indian, plus assistant coach Ted Noland, a full-blood Ojibway Native Canadian. Blair Atcheynum, a Whalers draft pick, never played for the team but did play for the New Haven Senators (AHL). He was also a full-Cree Indian like Daniels. The New England Whalers had one player, Henry Taylor, on their 1976-77 team. He played in some exhibition games but played for two years with the famous Johnstown (PA) Jets in the old North American Hockey League (NAHL). The New Haven Blades of the old Eastern Hockey League in the 1950s and 1960s. They had two players in Alf Lewsey who skated for two years and played on the 1955-56 championship team. The following season, Ray Leacock, played on the 1957-58 team for his last pro season. Lewsey was from Winnipeg and Leacock from Montreal. A new chapter could be written as the all-black college Tennessee State University is actively looking into making hockey a Division-I varsity sport and could become the first all-black college to do so in US history. Credit former Meriden Record-Journal sports reporter Geoge Dalek, who covered pro hockey for 30 years, for this info. Credit to Aubrey Johnson and John Gibbons from the Eastern Hockey League Facebook page for their information on the New Haven Blades. NHL HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: NHL/AHL FREE AGENCY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The roster wheels were churning on Monday. It was going so quickly that not a single hamster or a gerbil on a Habitrail wheel would have kept pace. The New York Rangers led the parade of signings by inking the most sought after free agent, Artemi Panarin, away from the Columbus Blue Jackets to a seven-year contract that will pay the Russian winger $11.642 million per year. Earlier, the Blueshirts sent winger Jimmy Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 third round draft pick. The Rangers also began their rebuild of the Hartford Wolf Pack by signing two players, center Greg McKegg and forward Danny O'Regan. McKegg, 27, split his season between the AHL Champion Charlotte Checkers and skated in 41 NHL games with the parent, Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19. While with the big club, McKegg registered six goals and five assists for 11 points, along with eight penalty minutes. McKegg is a solid two-way player who's particularly strong in taking draws. He has 146 faceoff wins in 286 (51%) taken this past season. He also helped Carolina advance to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he recorded two goals in 14 playoff games. McKegg recorded his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal/point, which also was the game-winning goal, in Game 4 of the Second Round against the New York Islanders on May 3rd; the goal helped the Hurricanes complete a sweep of the Islanders and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. While skating in 31 games in Charlotte in the 2018-19 season, the 6-0, 194-pounder registered six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 18 penalty minutes. McKegg tallied at least one point in 17 of his 31 AHL games with the Checkers during the past season, and he recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 16 games with Charlotte prior to being recalled by the Hurricanes on Jan. 4, 2019. McKegg has skated in 132 career NHL games over parts of six seasons (2013-14 – 2018-19) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and in Carolina, where he's amassed 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. During McKegg’s four-season career (2008-2012) in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he served as the Erie Otters’ captain for parts of two seasons, played in the OHL All-Star Game during the 2009-10 season, and helped the London Knights win the OHL Championship in 2011-12. McKegg was originally selected by Toronto in the third round, (62nd overall), in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. McKegg’s great uncle is “Leapin��� Lou Fontinato, who played parts of seven seasons with the Rangers (1954-1961) in 398 games he had 22 goals and 79 points and 939 PIM. He played his last two years of his 535 game NHL career in Montreal as he had 104 total career points and 1,274 PIM. Led the NHL with an unheard of then 202 PIM in 1955-56 again in 1957-58  for the Rangers and his first year in Montreal 1961-62. O’Regan like Rangers Head Coach David Quinn and Hartford GM and Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury, are all products of the BU Terriers. In 70 games with the AHL Rochester Americans, O’Regan, 25, this past season, registered 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points, along with a plus-four rating and 42 penalty minutes. O’Regan helped the Americans advance to the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, and he skated in three playoff games. The 5-10, 180-pounder right winger has 182 career AHL games over three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Barracuda and the Americans. He's logged 56 goals and 90 assists for 146 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 68 penalty minutes. O’Regan received the Red Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, as he led all AHL rookies with 58 points (23 goals and 35 assists) in 63 games with San Jose. O’Regan was also named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and played in the AHL All-Star Game in 2016-17. In addition, O’Regan has helped his team advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his three seasons in the AHL; he has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff games. O’Regan has also skated in 25 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres, registering one goal and four assists for five points, along with two penalty minutes. Prior to beginning his professional career, O’Regan played four seasons at Boston University (2012-16), registering 66 goals and 88 assists for 154 points, along with a plus-28 rating in 154 games. O’Regan was named to the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team and the Hockey East First All-Star Team as a senior in 2015-16, as he led Boston University in goals (17), assists (27), and points (44) during the season. He also was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2014-15, as he helped Boston University win the Hockey East Regular Season Championship and Hockey East Championship and advance to the National Championship Game. O’Regan established collegiate career-highs in goals (23), assists (27), points (50), and plus/minus rating (plus-40) in 2014-15. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2012-13, as he became the first freshman to lead Boston University in points since ex-Ranger Tony Amonte in 1989-90. O’Regan is tied for 15th on Boston University’s all-time points list. O’Regan was born in Germany while his father, former NHL player Tom O’Regan, was playing professionally. O’Regan has represented the United States in several international tournaments including winning a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship while playing alongside current Rangers Brady Skjei, and Jacob Trouba. O’Regan also played alongside Skjei, and Trouba, with the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2011-12 season. In addition, O’Regan, and Skjei were teammates with the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. O’Regan was originally selected by San Jose in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers then continued their revamp of the Wolf Pack to make it a more competitive team that can win games, as well as create an environment for young players to grow and build some organizational depth by announcing the signing of three players who all have won titles, been team-leaders. They will join McKegg and O'Regan to combat the laissez-faire hockey that has plagued the Pack the past five years. Defenseman Vincent LoVerde, a veteran of eight pro seasons, has spent the last two years with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In 68 games with the Marlies in 2018-19, the right-handed shooting LoVerde scored three goals and added eight assists for 11 points, while serving 33 minutes in penalties.  In 13 playoff games with Toronto, LoVerde had six assists. In 2017-18, LoVerde helped the Marlies to a Calder Cup, the second of his career. LoVerde, a 30-year-old native of Chicago, captained the LA Kings’ AHL affiliate’s for the previous three seasons, two with the Ontario Reign and one with the Manchester Monarchs.  In 2014-15 with Manchester, LoVerde won his first Calder Cup title, in the Monarchs’ last season in the AHL. In 432 career AHL games with the Marlies, Reign, and Monarchs, LoVerde has totaled 45 goals and 107 assists for 152 points and has registered 316 penalty minutes.  He played collegiately with Miami (OH) University when they were in the CCHA conference. Thomas McCollum, a 29-year-old netminder, just completed his tenth season of pro hockey, playing 34 games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. The 6-3, 215-pounder went 12-10-10, with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .899% save percentage and had two shutouts.  McCollum was a first-round draft choice (30th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. McCollum has seen action in 315 total AHL games with the Admirals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Charlotte Checkers, and Stockton Heat.  His career AHL stats are 147-117-23, with a 2.72 GAA, a .907% save percentage and 11 shutouts.  McCollum won a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13. Prior to turning pro, McCollum played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, with the Guelph Storm and Brampton Battalion. Harry Zolnierczyk enters his ninth pro campaign. He played last season up I-91 with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds as they tortured the Wolf Pack. The 5-11, 186-pound Toronto native had a pro-career-high 51 points, including a team-leading 36 assists (15-36-51), along with 38 penalty minutes, in 72 games. The former Brown University (ECACH;) product has skated in 84 career NHL games, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Nashville Predators, totaling seven goals and six assists for 13 points, plus 93 penalty minutes.  Zolniercyczk has always been a fleet skater and has an agitating side as well has played in 426 career AHL contests with the Thunderbirds, Adirondack Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, San Diego Gulls, and Milwaukee Admirals, the 31-year-old Zolnierczyk has amassed 106 goals and 137 assists for 243 points, along with 446 PIM. Zolnierczyk was originally signed as a free agent by the Flyers March 8, 2011. There were several signees with Wolf Pack and Connecticut connections. Former Connecticut Whale and Ranger, Mats Zuccarello. He left the Dallas Stars to lay roots in Minnesota with the Wild where he signed a five-year/$30 million deal with former New Haven Nighthawk, now Wild GM, Paul Fenton. Bolton, CT native Ron Hainsey signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators for $3.5 million. Former Kent Prep player, Noel Acciari, leaves the Boston Bruins and signs with the Florida Panthers earning a nice pay increase from $750K a year to $1.6M per year for four years totaling $5 million. Ex-Pack/Whale goalie, Cam Talbot, heads back out West and signs with the Calgary Flames for $2.75M on a one year deal. Former Yale Bulldog, Ken Agostino, departs the Devils and the swamps of New Jersey for the Maple Leafs on a two-year deal for a very cap friendly, $700K per year. Now ex-Pack, John Gilmour, as expected, left the Connecticut capital and choose to sign with the Buffalo Sabres who were among 13 suitors for the offensive-minded defenseman. He signs a one-year, one-way NHL deal at $700K. Former assistant captain Rob O’Gara, the other Wolf Pack Group 6 free agent remains unsigned at this writing. Gilmour’s now former teammate, Chris Bigras, landed a similarly sweet deal signing a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He will play with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a two-year, one-way deal paying him $700K per year. Another ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning / Syracuse Crunch earning the same $700K for one year. Ex-Sound Tiger, Aaron Ness, scored the same $700K deal with the Arizona Coyotes / Tucson Roadrunners for two years. Connor Clifton, the former Quinnipiac University Bobcat, signed a three-year extension at a million per year with Boston. He has one year left at $725K. Other players who have been made UFA’s and could be signed over the next few days include: Anaheim: Ex-Pack, Adam Cracknell Columbus: former Sound Tiger, J.F. Berube, signed with Philadelphia. Detroit: Wade Megan (Salisbury Prep) Edmonton: Ex-Pack, Al Montoya Minnesota: Landon Ferraro, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Ray Nashville: Ex-Pack, Cole Schneider Ottawa: Ex-Pack players Oscar Lindberg, Brian Gibbons, and Adam Tambellini Pittsburgh: Ex-Pack, Chris Summers Tampa Bay: Ex-Pack’s Dan Girardi, and Marek Mazanec Toronto: Ex-Sound Tiger, Steve Olesky. Washington: Ex-Pack, Jayson Megna, and goalie, Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms). The Calder Cup champion Checkers watched as two more players depart. Pat Brown went to the Las Vegas Golden Knights / Chicago Wolves (AHL)  on a $700K - NHL / $450K - AHL next year. His contract pays him $700K on a one-way in the second year. Andrew Poturlarski departs for California signing with the Anaheim Ducks / San Diego Gulls. Riley Barber of the Hershey Bears signs with Montreal/Laval for $700K-NHL/$400K-AHL. Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) leaves Cleveland and signs a one year $700K deal with the Florida Panthers / Springfield Thunderbirds. Daniel Carr, the AHL's regular season MVP, leaves Chicago (AHL) and signs with the Nashville Predators / Milwaukee Admirals for $700K. Tomas Jurco rescued from Springfield by Charlotte, signs with the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year, one-way $750K contract. Former Whaler, John Stevens Sr., signs as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. Nick Lukko (Salisbury Prep), the son of NHL power executive, Peter Lukko (Florida) has retired to become the assistant coach with Reading (ECHL) next year as he was their captain last season. In a very lesser note, the Wolf Pack’s secondary affiliate, the Maine Mariners, tendered qualifying offers to five players including two ex-Pack’s in Greg Chase, the nephew of former Whaler, Kelly  Chase, and Alex Kile. (NOTE: Some parts of a Hartford Wolf Pack press release were used in the formation of this story) Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: PRATT KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND THE XL CENTER

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - For Derek Pratt, it's nice to start your first pro camp in familiar territory. The two-time captain and of the UCONN Huskies had to go just about 15-feet from his former locker room to enter the Hartford Wolf Pack locker room. “It's funny how things work sometimes. It literally helps to be around familiar surroundings as opposed to a completely different environment and just taking advantage of the opportunity. For me, it has worked out so far.” Pratt is among ten graduates of last year’s Huskies team and seven that have taken their first steps in pro hockey in a lot of different AHL and ECHL locations.  Joseph Masonius and Johnny Austin are in Wilkes Barre/Scranton with the Penguins. Jesse Schwartz is with the Maine Mariners. Spencer Naas is with the Texas Stars. Dallas Drake found residence with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Max Letunov is in San Jose with the Barracuda. “I was sure to take a picture in front of the wall (the team photo just outside the locker room) and send it to the boys,” Pratt said with a wide smile. Pratt signed an ECHL deal with the New York Rangers new affiliation with the Maine Mariners. The team resurrected their original AHL name, but with a new logo. For Pratt, a New England hockey product its fitting perfect. “It's nice to have a team in Maine and getting a chance at being in an AHL camp before I go there really helps getting adjusted. Going to Traverse City really helped. We played against some elite talent and it was a big plus for me with my confidence and wherever I wind up its all good for me,” Pratt, a defenseman who has played primarily his left side. It was a baptism of fire for Pratt. “You learn real quickly it’s a grind. Guys are on you all night. You can’t take a night off. You're always being evaluated. It's all the (hockey) clichés; learning about being a professional, playing every night, training regimen, and they're all true.” His time spent with the Pack in Traverse City and training camp left a very solid impression on Wolf Pack head coach, Keith McCambridge. “Real good impression. He played for us in Traverse City. He's a good, puck-moving defenseman, and has a lot of physicality in his game. He's done a lot of good things so far.” He's also picked up tips already from assistant coach, Joe Mormina “They helped me out with checks in the corner; how to stick handle with one hand on your stick, and a lot of small technique plays.“ A big part of his hockey pedigree comes from his Dad, Tom Pratt, a former pro defenseman who played for the New Haven Nighthawks and has been able to help him prepare for his first pro camp. “It's nice to test him about some things and he has been through a few American (Hockey) League camps in his time. He knows what it takes. Like I said before, it’s the things you can control. It's what he has stressed to me. He was my coach for a long time in minor hockey and he taught me a work ethic and doing the extra things,” Pratt said. His father coached him at Northfield, Mt. Hermon for many years and has moved on to a non-hockey position for a few years at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. The difference from college to the pros has taught Pratt many things quickly. “There's a lot more question marks. There's a lot of things out of my control. I can control showing up to the rink and doing the best I can. In college its structure." From establishing his first skate cuts in Hockey East at UCONN was something that Pratt has enormous pride in. “Guys in the locker room have asked me what the UCONN program is like. I tell them from our first home game (a 1-0 win over BC) to last year battling BU hard, the program has come a very long way. It was extremely rewarding and all ten seniors can be so proud of it where the program has gone and the apart they had in it. We had a very good senior class, and coach Cavanaugh and the staff had a phrase, 'We're developing men for success, not just in the rink or on the ice, but on the outside for life.” The "C" he wore spoke a lot to his character, but as a rookie, the question comes in how to translate that when nothing is stitched into the upper left part of the jersey. “For me, I’m more vocal having been in the role. That helps a lot on ice to keep communication going. It’s all a new learning process.” For Pratt, the summertime allowed him to finish out the last of his educational needs to receive his degree in Sports Management at UCONN and for the off-ice summer training. “I took care of my internship and was able to train in Hooksett, New Hampshire, where I played my senior year in high school with the Junior Monarchs (Eastern Hockey league) and was able to kill two birds with one stone, so it worked out just right for me.” NOTES: The Wolf Pack's lone exhibition game is Saturday at Koeppel Community Center rink at Trinity College against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In lieu of admission, a minimum donation of $5 is requested for the Wolf Pack Ryan Gordon Scholarship Fund in the main lobby of the arena, the home of the Trinity College Bantams (NECSAC). In the last two days, the Rangers have finally assigned a bulk of their potential opening night lineup Seven forwards, which surprisingly includes the Rangers first round pick (7th overall), Swedish-born, Lias Andersson, who had a strong camp in New York. The others sent to Hartford, include the third-year pro, Steven Fogarty, leading scorer, Cole Schneider in his second year of a two-year deal and like Pratt, a UCONN alumnus. Finnish rookie, Ville Meskanen, and veteran Peter Holland, who played well with the Wolf Pack in 18 games before a recall to New York. The first two assigned were the veteran, Bobby Butler, who will take one of the vet slots and signed to a summertime AHL deal, former BU Terrier Drew Melanson. Defense is where the parent Rangers had a tremendous logjam that included Czech rookie, Libor Hajek, prized-prosect, Ryan Lindgren, Swedish rookie, Michael Lindqvist, and one-time Yale Bulldog, Rob O’Gara. They have all been assigned by the Rangers to the Hartford Wolf Pack. A bit of a surprise was Chris Bigras, who had a very good camp in New York. There are also two veteran goalies in Slovak, Marek Mazanec, and Dustin Tokarski. Schneider, Bigras, Holland, Mazanec, and Tokarski had to go through waivers before they were officially assigned to the Wolf Pack. The Rangers have 26 players remaining on their roster, including three injured players likely destined for Hartford : Matt Beleskey (separated shoulder), Brandon Crawley (undisclosed), and Boo Nieves (concussion protocol). On Thursday, the Rangers shipped back second-year forwards, Ryan Gropp, Gabriel Fontaine, rookie Tim Gettinger, and defenseman John Gilmour, who was recalled after 57 games last year and was the Wolf Pack lone AHL All Star representative last season. Other hockey news of note, a pair of ex-Wolf Pack players, in Scott Kosmachuk, and Ryan Graves were assigned by the Colorado Avalanche to their AHL team the Colorado Eagles. Ex-Pack Al Montoya was put on waivers by Edmonton with the intention of sending him to the Bakersfield Condors. Wade Megan (Salisbury Prep) and ex-Pack and Sound Tiger, Matt Ford, were assigned to Grand Rapids. Jansen Harkins, the son of ex-Whaler Todd Harkins, was assigned to Manitoba. Sam Anas (Quinnipiac University) was sent to Iowa. The Maine Mariners traded Mitch Jones, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Brad Jones, to the Cincinnati Cyclones for future considerations. Eric Hartzell (Quinnipiac University), a former big goalie star, is in camp with Wichita (ECHL). Aidan Muir of Western Michigan (NCHC) heads to Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL) camp, while Filip Starzynski of Northern Michigan (NCHC) signed a tryout with Norfolf (ECHL). That makes 207 Division I players to sign North American pro deals. 271 total college players have signed pro deals in North America, Europe, or transferred to a Canadian college. Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: PACK AND BRUINS BATTLE TO OT

      VERSUS     

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - A late bench minor penalty for Too Many Men cost the Hartford Wolf Pack dearly as it allowed the Providence Bruins to complete their comeback and earn a 4-3 win in overtime while sending the home team to their second straight loss. The game-winning goal came as Karson Kuhlman came off the right point and spotted Cody Golobeuf in the lower left wing circle and hit him with the pass. The right-handed shooting Golobeuf one-timed it to the far side past the Pack's starting goalie, Dustin Tokarski at 1:03. The late game critical error came when John Gilmour hopped off the bench, but the puck came to Rob O’Gara who was still seeking to exit the ice. “We talked about closing out games, and we did a good job of it early, but we sat back to play not to lose, rather than to play to win and you can’t do that in this league,” said assistant captain, Steven Fogarty. Fogarty, who was skating off the bench, felt that regardless, it was an opportunity that shouldn’t have been there. “We shouldn’t have been in that position to kill (a penalty) in overtime. It comes back to the way we played in the third. We just need to clean it up and figure it.” Head coach Keith McCambridge opted not to talk after the game. The two teams will meet again Saturday night in Providence in the back end of their home-and-home at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The puck drops at 7 pm. Midway through the third period, the Pack looked like they might steal two points on Tokarski's strong netminding (32 saves), but they couldn’t hold on to a two-goal lead that evaporated in a 36-second span as the Bruins clawed their way back to tie the game at three. Austin Fyten outworked two Wolf Pack players in the right-wing corner and chipped the puck over to Colby Cave, who made a pretty between the legs, blind pass, that found Anton Blidh, who snapped it to the far side on a sharp angle, semi-screened shot past Tokarski at 12:16. It was Blidh's first goal. The Bruins tied the game at three when Trent Frederic got behind the defense and despite losing his edge and falling to the ice, was able to shovel Kuhlman’s rebound to tie the contest at three. "It was a wasted effort by Tokarski. He played very big for us tonight, and he and (Marek Mazanec) have been keeping us in games. It feels bad not give get them the win,” Fogarty said. The Pack got the all-important third goal on one of their few effective forechecking sessions of the game. Ville Meskanen started the whole sequence in the Bruins' zone and got a quality chance that was denied. He and Fogarty kept the pressure on the Bruins' defense. The puck went up the boards where Chris Bigras, who was at the right point, was able to snare the puck from getting out of the zone. Bigras put it to the net where rookie Tim Gettinger and Fogarty were hovering like hawks in the high noon sun. Gettinger redirected the shot by Zane McIntyre at 7:01 for his third goal of the season. McIntyre appealed to referees to look for what he thought was interference on the play, but the referees disagreed and the play stood. “That’s how we have been playing. Punching it in, and pressuring, and that’s where we have our success. We have to get back to playing like that regularly. Biggie (Bigras) made the play there and we got to the net,” Fogarty, who has come out of the gate strong with four points in four games, remarked. The Bruins had a jump in their game that the Pack didn’t on the opening shift of the second period as Fyten shot it wide. Jakub Zbrobil had a wide open net on the left wing but shot the puck wide by 10 feet. The Wolf Pack however got the goal they needed. Bobby Butler, an offseason free-agent signee, stopped on a first-period chance, didn’t miss his second break-in chance. The Pack’s Peter Holland was at the blue line on the left wing side. Holland sent a perfect short pass that caught a Bruin flat-footed in a line change. Butler skated in, took the puck and snapped his first of the season to the far side past McIntyre at 5:41 and a 2-1 lead. The Bruins maintained puck control on a five-on-three penalty kill and Colby Cave and then Jeremy Lauzon, both had better quality scoring chances than the Wolf Pack. The Bruins came off the wing on Tokarski with chances by Karson Kuhlman, Mark McNeill, Cameron Hughes, Urho Vakkainen and then, Connor Clifton from the right point. Tokarski rejected them all. With just over a minute to go the Wolf Pack had a chance at the right side of the net as Meskanen was stopped. He then dug for the loose puck from under McIntyre, but his backhand shot went through the crease. The Bruins grabbed the early lead as Jacob-Forsbacka Karlsson tallied his first of the year taking a good, quick, short-pass from the Bruins early season scoring leader, Mark McNeill, and went in all alone past the Pack defensive tandem of Vince Pedrie and O’Gara on Tokarski. He went from the left to the right side with a nice forehand deke on Tokarski and slipped it behind him at 6:03. The Pack were outshot 8-2 and had little offensive zone pressure, but still managed to tie the game at one. Bigras, an early season rock on both sides of the defensive coin, used his good skating and stick skill and spotted Lias Andersson skating backwards at the left side of the Bruins net. Bigras slid a perfect pass to Andersson who redirected it perfectly at the center of the net at 10:58. For Andersson, it was his first of the season. Shortly afterward, the Bruins got a power play, and after hitting three posts last week in the regular season opener, managed to ding another one off the stick of Ryan Fitzgerald. The Bruins kept the pressure on the Wolf Pack. Tokarski was able to turn aside several strong chances by Vakkainen, a first-round draft pick who had three shots, as did Fitzgerald. The two defensemen combined for six of the Bruins 15 first period shots. The Wolf Pack's best chance came when Butler was on the right wing with a seemingly wide-open net and snapped it at the net. McIntyre stopped the shot that appeared to go in, as even the goal judge flicked on the red light, but was fooled. NOTES: The Pack had one injury scratches in Brendan Crawley who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Shawn St. Amant and defenseman Sean Day were both healthy scratches. PACK LINES: Butler-Holland-Gropp Andersson-Lindqvist-Schneider Fogarty-Gettinger-Meskanen Fontaine-Ronning-O’Donnell Gilmour-Lindgren Bigras-Hajak Pedrie-O’Gara The Pack defensive duo of Bigras and rookie Libor Hajak are each a plus-five which is among the best in the league. They have played together since training camp in New York. Hajak is top among rookies The Bruins have two players with CT ties. These are defenseman Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac University) and Wiley Sherman (Greenwich/Hotchkiss Prep). Clifton was in the opening lineup and Sherman was scratched. Among the early AHL leaders are Sam Gagner, the son of former Nighthawk, Dave Gagner, who is with the Toronto Marlies. He had two goals and five points and current teammate ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, has two goals and four points and Brad Malone, nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Greg Malone with the Bakersfield Condors, has four points. That team has a goalie with a familiar name, ex-Pack and New York Ranger, Al Montoya, also on Bakersfield and has a 1.45 GAA in two games. Among rookies, Tim Gettinger is in the top 10 with three points in three games. The Pack powerplay is 16th of the 31 teams scoring 16.7% of the time. Providence is 18th at 12.5%. On the PK, the Wolf Pack are 9th at a success rate of 92.9% and the Bruins are 20th at 75%, but they have only have had to kill off four minors so far. The Rangers play Saturday afternoon at 1 pm at MSG against Edmonton. Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON'S CORNER:

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2019 was announced late Thursday and Connecticut can raise it's collective glasses to two new AHL Hall of Famers who had their finest seasons in Connecticut. Brad “Shooter” Smyth, the Hartford Wolf Pack's all-time leading goal scorer (184) and all-time leading points leader (365), and was among the heroes of the 2000 Calder Cup championship run was announced to be one of those enshrined in the AHL Hall Of Fame. “I’m so very honored to be named and to be in a class with a guy like Don Cherry, a Canadian icon, John Anderson who had a fine NHL and AHL career, and Murray Eaves, a family with a great history in hockey. It’s a very great honor and humbling all at the same time,” Smyth said in an exclusive Cantlon's Corner phone interview. In 99'-00, Smyth led the Pack with 39 goals in the regular season and chipped in another 13 in the postseason. The following season he scored 50 goals, the only Wolf Pack player to ever accomplish that feat. He became just the sixth person in AHL history to score 50 or more goals with two different teams (68 in '95-'96 with the Carolina Monarchs). Smyth is the seventh player to lead the goal scoring department on two separate occasions and two separate teams. He reunited with Wolf Pack championship head coach John Paddock with the Binghamton Senators and went to the conference finals in 2002. Smyth played with the Manchester Monarchs before returning to the Wolf Pack for his third tour of duty. That season he registered 34 goals, and 86 points recording another Top 10 scoring spot for the fifth time in his career. His AHL totals are impressive with 667 points in 610 games, good for the 12th spot on the all-time leading scorer in AHL history. Smyth also ranks sixth on the post-season goal scoring list with 46 goals. John Anderson is presently an Assistant Coach with the Minnesota Wild with his lifelong friend, and fellow AHL Hall of Famer, Bruce Boudreau. Anderson is a former Hartford Whaler who played for the organization for four seasons. His career wound down when he played with the Binghamton Whalers and then had a superb season with the New Haven Nighthawks with a league-leading 41 goals and 95 points. He was a plus-42 in just 68 games and had a knee injury end his season prematurely. Anderson was named the AHL MVP and Fred T. Hunt Award winner for dedication to hockey, the only player to ever do so in the same season. Congrats to ex-Wolf Pack, Vinni Lettieri, and goalie, Alexander Georgiev, who after strong training camps, made the Rangers opening night roster against Nashville. The Rangers new goalie consultant is former Pack netminder, and Yale grad, Jeff Malcolm. He will be handling the goalie prospects in Maine, do some scouting, and handle other duties. Eric Raymond remains the Wolf Pack goalie coach. “Vinni did a great job for us last year. He worked in all situations and had a great camp in New York. So did Alex, who was such a big part of the turn-around when we picked up 18 out of 20 points before we lost him (to injury recall to the Rangers)." The Wolf Pack record in season home openers is 6-7-1 and overall 10-10-1. In 22 years, seven of the teams they played in those openers are no longer in the league. They are New Haven, Philadelphia, Albany, Manchester, Adirondack, St. John’s, and Quebec. The first ever Wolf Pack goal scored was from Pascal Rheaume, who is now the head coach of the Val D’Or Foreurs (QMJHL). PJ Stock scored the first one at XL Center. The highest attended home opener was in the team's first year against Portland. That attendance was 12, 934. The lowest attended was last year against Charlotte where 6,035 took in the contest. On Sunday, the Pack host the Laval Rocket at 3 pm coached by ex-Pack and Sound Tiger Joel Bouchard. The team is completely revamped from last year when they finished miserably in their first season in the suburbs of Montreal. The team features some local flavor such as former Yale Bulldog, Kenny Agostino, Hayden Verbeek, the nephew of former Whaler great and NY Ranger, Pat Verbeek, and ex-Springfield Falcon, Michael Chaput. The NHL is one step closer to a 32nd team in the Pacific Northwest after Tuesday’s immediate two thumbs up from the NHL Executive committee who are forwarding the Seattle application for a full vote by the NHL BOG on December 3-4 in Georgia. Seattle will have a nice early Christmas tree present nicely wrapped in two months time. This will also see the AHL expand to 32 teams and add one new Pacific Division member and likely a second. Vancouver will then likely leave Utica in two years and Abbotsford will likely be coming back to the AHL. The AHL will do all it can to keep Utica in the AHL, but they would likely migrate to the ECHL. A pair of ex-Pack players, Ryan Potulny, and Stu Bickel have both retired and become graduate assistant coaches with their alma mater, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. However, both must complete their undergraduate degrees to become paid assistants. Potulny left after his junior year and Bickel after his freshmen campaign. Now, 87 ex-Wolf Pack players are coaching at various levels in the US, Canada, and Europe. Some last camp cuts include a pair of ex-Pack; Dylan McIlrath (Grand Rapids), Chris Mueller and Adam Cracknell (Toronto), and Alex Krushelnyski from Lehigh Valley to Reading (ECHL) plus Al Montoya heads for Bakersfield after being cut from Edmonton. Former QU Bobcat, Devon Toews, was assigned by the Islanders to Bridgeport and ex-Sound Tiger Matt Finn is with Grand Rapids. Goalie Jon Gillies is sent to Stockton and Philip Samuelsson, the eldest son of ex-Whaler and Ranger, Ulf Samuelsson, signs with Lehigh Valley. Sam Gagner, the son of ex-Nighthawk Dave Gagner, was cut by Vancouver, but a deal was cut with Toronto to loan him to the AHL Toronto Marlies for him to be closer to his family in Ontario. Dominik Turgeon, the nephew of former Whaler Sylvain Turgeon, is with Grand Rapids. Johnny Austin (UCONN-HE) was assigned to Wheeling (ECHL) from Wilkes Barre/Scranton and fellow Husky, Spencer Naas, has been assigned to Idaho (ECHL) by Texas. Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms) was sent to South Carolina (ECHL) by Hershey and Josh Wesley, the son of ex-Whaler Glen Wesley, was assigned to Florida (ECHL). Ex-Pack goalie Charles Williams has re-signed with Manchester (ECHL), Brady Shaw, the son of ex-Whaler Brad Shaw, is with Orlando (ECHL) while Charlie Millen, the son of former Whaler Greg Millen, is in goal with Worcester (ECHL). Mark Zengerle of Lehigh Valley signs with Fischtown (Germany-DEL) making 79 AHL’ers from 27 AHL teams from last season who have signed with European or Southeast Asian teams. Alex Summers (no relation to ex-Pack, Chris Summers) goes from Clarkson University (ECACHL) to Adirondack (ECHL) making 208 Division I players to sign pro deals in North America and 272  total North America and Europe. Ex-Sound Tiger, Masi Marjamaki, who split last year between Jokerit Helsinki (Finland-KHL) and Almtuna IS (Sweden-Allsvenskan) signs with HC Chomutov (Czech Republic-CEL). Milan Mazanec, the older brother of the Pack's Marek Mazanec, plays with the Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL). Eric Linell, a UCONN commit for next season who has played for Choate and the CT Wolf Pack U-18 team, was traded from the Surrey Eagles (BCHL), despite 11 points in nine games. to  the Penticton Vees as a part of a three team deal with the Nanaimo Clippers, whose President, Co-Owner and goalie coach is ex-Pack, David LeNeveau. UCONN gets another commit for next season from Carter Berger from the Victoria Royals (BCHL). Read the full article

[gregmikaels]

Aaaand... another one! Can't deny Carey Price is the world's best goaltender. Best season start in Canadiens History! Go Habs Go!!!🔵⚪🔴 #GoHabsGo #habsfan #habsnation #HabsFanTilIDie #habscountry #habsempire #mtlhabs #allhabs #Habs #CareyPrice #almontoya @allcanadiens @allhabs @hockeycanada @insta.canadiens @canadiens_mtl @hockeycanada @ch.nation @rabidhabs