#ChristianThomas

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK NEWS WEEK 12

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -  Hartford Wolf Pack news this week comes fast and furious as the season approaches. The news starts in New York where the parent Rangers and President and General Manager, Chris Drury, must face two serious roster issues with the upcoming training camp just around the corner. According to New York Post columnist, Larry Brooks, Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist asked to be traded. Despite beating out Zac Jones for the sixth spot on defense, Lundqvist's first North American professional season was sub-par. There could be several explanations for Lundqvist's struggles. First, veteran Tom Nemeth was shuffled off to Arizona after being signed last year to help him with the cultural and hockey hurdles. Secondly, he barely got ice time as Braden Schneider's strong play moved him past Lundqvist on the depth chart. Then, and most glaring, was that he was a part of the Pack collapse in the second half of the season as he struggled in his thirty games in the Connecticut capital. Combine those factors with an overload of defensemen, twelve D on the roster as camp begins in two weeks, nine in New York limited by contract, and Jones getting NHL money, forcing a longer than usual look at training camp. THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS? Second on the list of key decisions, was Friday's signing of journeyman forward and one-time Ranger, Jimmy Vesey to a professional try-out contract (PTO). Brooks writes that happened about two weeks ago. If Vesey makes the team, it puts pressure on the bottom six (Dryden Hunt, and Julien Gauthier in particular), especially Lauri Pajuniemi, who might be moved too. Pajuniemi was an unhappy camper at the end of last season and this certainly won't help that. JAIME TARDIFF JOINS THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK BENCH As expected, there are changes behind the Wolf Pack bench for the 2022-23 season. Drury announced the club hired Jamie Tardif as the new assistant coach. Tardif, 37, was most recently an assistant coach with the Soo (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) Greyhounds (OHL). He started with the club prior to the 2018-19 campaign. During his time with the organization, the Greyhounds won 112 games and advanced to the playoffs in both the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. Prior to his time on the bench with the Greyhounds, Tardif spent the 2017-18 season as a player/assistant coach with the Quad City Mallards (ECHL), where he finished his playing career. Tardif played twelve professional seasons. His eight years in the AHL saw him dress in 487 games with the Manitoba Moose, Iowa Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins (where he got to know Hartford GM Ryan Martin), the Providence Bruins, and the Rochester Americans. Tardif registered 267 points (142 goals and 125 assists) in his career and served as captain of the Griffins for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. In 2012-13 while with the BRuins, he was named an AHL All-Star. However, Tardif appeared in only two NHL games in his career, both with the Boston Bruins. Tardif played three seasons overseas for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL. He helped guide the club to a DEL championship during his first year in Europe. He also won an OHL John Ross Robertson Cup championship with the Peterborough Petes and was named an ECHL All-Star in 2006-07 with the Toledo Storm. In another coaching move, Casey Torres, 42, who spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach on the Wolf Pack staff, was relocated within the Rangers organization. Drury moves him out from behind the bench in Hartford and named him the franchise's Player Development Assistant. Prior to joining the organization, Torres was a scout for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Peterborough in the OHL. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART ONE Adam Húska relocates far from Hartford as he signs overseas with Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). He becomes the second current ex-Wolf Pack (Nick Merkley, the other) and sixth ex-player to sign in Russia/Belarus. With Justin Richards signing with the Cleveland Monsters for next year, just three Wolf Pack players from last season have not signed or made their intentions known. Those three are goalie Tyler Wall, forward Matt Lorito, and center Maxim Letunov (UCONN-HE), who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves. The Russian-born, Letunov was traded for defenseman Tarmo Reunanen, who will play in Finland (Lukko Rauma) next season. Lutino’s KHL rights were traded last May from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is looking to stay in North America. Ex-Pack, Josh Nicholls, leaves Storhamer (Norway-NEL) and returns to Kunlun (China-KHL). Former CT Whale, Christian Thomas, goes from SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA) to HC Bolzano Foxes (Italy-IceHL). Former Wolf Pack/Ranger, Stu Bickel, was relieved as an assistant coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds, who in turn hired former AHL player Jordan Smith from Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) where he worked with Tardiff. Smith lost his eyesight in 2005-06 with the defunct Portland Pirates (now Springfield Thunderbirds), contributing to the ushering in the mandatory half-visor rule into the AHL. Former Wolf Pack and Rangers first-round pick, Bobby Sanguinetti, and the youngest member of the Staal family Jared, are named the new assistant coaches for the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). PLAYER MOVEMENT PART TWO After five years in Hershey with the Bears, ex-Pack Alex Westlund (Yale University) is named goaltending coach in Detroit. Out in Colorado, ex-Pack Ryan Tobler has caught on as the associate head coach with the Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL). Former Pack Sam Klassen is the new head coach of Briercrest College (ACAC) in Canadian college hockey. Former New Haven Knights (UHL)/Springfield Falcon (AHL), Simon Olivier, after a year off, is hired as the Head Coach/GM of the Edmundston (NB) Blizzard of the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) Junior A team. Now 95 past members of the Wolf Pack are involved as coaches in some capacity in North America and Europe. Hershey signed Alexandre Fortin, nephew of former Whaler goalie Jean-Sébastien Giguère from the Laval Rocket. Ex-Sound Tiger Alan Quine departs Henderson (AHL) for Ontario (AHL). Ex-Sound Tigers Brett Gallant and Steve Olesky have re-signed with Cleveland (AHL) and Orlando (ECHL) respectively for another year. Former Sound Tiger Yannick Turcotte signs with Adirondack (ECHL) for next season. Ex-Sound Tiger captain Josh Holmstrom becomes the Director of Hockey of Operations for the Air Force (AHA). Bridgeport head coach and ex-Pack, Brent Thompson, saw his eldest son, Tage (Milford/UCONN-HE), who comes off his best season to date with 38 goals, sign a whopping seven-year $50 million-dollar deal to stay with Buffalo. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART THREE Odeen Tufto (Quinnipiac University) heads from Orlando (ECHL) to Tucson. The list of AHL'ers headed to Europe has grown to 92. That list now includes Chad Krys (Ridgefield/CT Oilers-EJEPL) who began the year in Rockford and departs Toronto for Vienna (Austria-IceHL). Also, ex-Pack Kodie Curran heads from Providence/San Diego to Mettallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia-KHL). Russia has added 19 players. Sweden adds 17, while Finland signs 12. Those three nations lead the Pack. Collegiate North American pro signees have seen Hockey East contribute 54, NCHC-38, CCHA, and the Big Ten-32, ECACHL-26, AHA-23 and NCAA Division I Independents-13. Jake Witkowski, a graduate of Avon Old Farms, signed with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) out of Canisius College (AHA) where ex-Pack, Daniel Paille is the Associate Head Coach. Among three players who signed with the Worcester Railers (ECHL) is a former UCONN Husky, Brian Rigali, of nearby AIC-American International College (AHA). He finished his NCAA career at the Springfield, MA school. Michael Brodzinski, who played three games with the Pack, re-signs with Orlando (ECHL). Division-III has just 17 players gone pro in North America. Three others are going to Canadian colleges and two are going to Canadian major junior and Junior A. Jack St. Ivany, formerly of Yale, goes the free agent route and signs with Pittsburgh out of BC. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART FOUR The newest additions to the transfer list include the Fusco brothers, John and Matt, the sons of ex-Hartford Whaler Scott Fusco, who have both transferred from Harvard University (ECACHL) to Dartmouth College (ECACHL), a true rarity to have an intra-Ivy school transfer. Before even skating a single game at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Yale University freshmen Phillip Tresca, transfers from the Bulldogs to rival Harvard University. 222 college transfers in total with 113 undergrad and grad transfers at 109. The total number of North American signees is 250. Therefore, North America plus Europe is at 289. UCONN has quietly shipped Sasha Teleguine back to Junior A, even with one year of eligibility. He played in just 20 games last year. Teleguine heads back to the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL). However, they did gain a new commitment for 2024-25 in Ethan Gardula. He heads to the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) next year from Cushing Academy. According to several sources, expect the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHA), who are moving into a beautiful brand-new 4,000-plus seat arena, to announce shortly a new multi-year agreement to broadcast their games on a regional tri-state TV network to coincide with their new digs. Former Quinnipiac Bobcat goalie Michael Garteig has had the Goaltender of the Year award in the BCHL named after him. He is still playing with ERC Ingolstadt (Germany-DEL) this year. Ex-Whaler Kelly Chase was inducted into the SJHL Hall of Fame. RILEY AT ARMY The Albertus Magnus Falcons (NCAA Division-III independent) sends its first coach up the ladder. Last year's Assistant Coach, Jack Riley, becomes the Director of Hockey Operations at Army (AHA). The Riley name at Army is legendary and is familiar to hockey. His grandfather John P. "Jack," his namesake, started the program and coached in 1951. He was followed by his son Rob in 1983 who also coached the Springfield Falcons for two years. He coached for 18 years there and in 2003 Brian came in, his great-uncle. The coaching bug is in the Riley DNA and extends to Brett an assistant at LIU-Post and Brendan at AIC. AHL NEWS The AHL is leaping into the 21st century as they open two brand new state-of-the-art arenas this year. The first just had its grand opening. The new Tech CU Arena is in San Jose and is part of a multi-faceted ice complex. The arena will serve as the home to the Barracuda and their brand-new San Jose Shark color schemed home and away jerseys. The building has been ten years in the making and was built on time, and on budget even with the pandemic. It is an environmentally friendly, 21st-century building. It's like a modern version of the Glen Falls Civic Center, including an electric Zamboni. It is the new permanent home of the Barracuda and will host the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, USA hockey U-16, and U-18 events next month. In addition, it will be available for future NCAA events and could be a likely home for a West Coast NCAA team for a myriad of colleges in the area such as current ACHA Division 2 San Jose State. An NCAA West Coast-based conference is coming. It's not a matter anymore of if it is going to happen. It's now more a matter of when. The complex will help figure skating and local youth hockey. Had it been there, it could have saved current Wolf Pack Patrick Khordorenko, who grew up in the area, from having to travel to Southern Cali for ice years ago. The facility abuts the home of the California League Single A, San Jose Giants. In December, the $300 million palace in the California desert, the Acrisure Arena (9,918), will be unveiled. The building, on the outskirts of Palm Springs, will be the home for the top farm team of the Seattle Kraken, the expansion Coachella Valley Firebirds. The two buildings cement the AHL Pacific Division's presence even though Tucson, with new coach Steve Potvin, will play in a larger building (6,791) this year than their parent team, the Arizona Coyotes (and will likely outdraw them). This hopscotch into ultra-modern facilities highlights the ineptitude surrounding the XL Center. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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When bae plays for the enemy... #christianthomas #bruinsvshabs #imsupposedtohatethehabs #missyouinct #gettradedtothebruins #loveyou

[spydersports-blog]

Congrats to #ChristianThomas of the #MontrealCanadiens on scoring his 1st #NHL goal on February 12, 2015. #Thomas #Canadiens #habs #habsnation #habshockey #canadiensnation #canadienshockey #hockey #hockeygram #SpyderSports (at http://SpyderSportsLounge.com)

[focusandspeed]

#bulldogs #ChristianThomas #hockey #favourite #goalie #smiles #happy #love #foc #copps #amazing #19 #ahl #ahlhockey #hamiltonbulldogs #thankyou #sweethearts (at Hamilton Bulldogs Game At Copps Coliseum)

[krys220]

#batman #boys #brothers #DanielTitus #ChristianThomas #nephews 💙💙💙💙

[torialynnbby-blog-blog]

#picstitch #tbt #family I even miss this little #booger :( #nephew #christianthomas

[kosharekart]

today's TBT!! pick up your free copy! its #gretchen and the #devil! #evenodd #crisliparcade #alley #mural #tbt #stpete #streetart #kosharek #christianthomas @wornsoles

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best friend 

[50-shades-of-unimpressed]

Just meetin the hubby. Ya know

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: (FEB 8) SYRACUSE SPANKS PACK - HARD, 6-0

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With three goals in the second period, the Syracuse Crunch took control and never looked back en route to a 6-0 whitewashing of the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Crunch is chasing the Rochester Americans for the top spot in the North Division and increased their record to 29-13-2-1 (61 points) and hold on to second place. The Pack is now two games short of matching the franchise record of an eleven game losing streak. It was set in 2012 and ran from January 1-28 when they were 0-6-3-2. The Pack record falls to 19-24-3-3 and they have now gone nine games (0-7-1-1) and find themselves eleven points behind the fourth-place Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who they will face twice this weekend in Pennsylvania at the PPL Center and then Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. At this point, it's quite clear that the ship is taking on water and sinking. The hope for a post-season invite slipped further under the shadow of the horizon. The performance, with the exception of the third period, was another non-sixty-minute effort. The outcome was never in doubt. “Syracuse carried a majority of the game," Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said. "You recognize they’re a really explosive team. They are number one in the league for goals (172) and when you turn the puck over, there is a good possibility it will be in the back of the net. Many of the chances we gave them were mismanagement of the puck and the momentum swung completely in their favor.” Following his comment, McCambridge fielded a call from Pack GM, Chris Drury. One can only imagine that it was a pleasant chat. There is no escape for things in the locker room, and the silence was deafening. “Today is the epitome of what has been going on here the last two weeks,” intoned a very somber assistant captain, Steven Fogarty. “All facets of the game were bad. We didn’t do anything to make it hard for them.” Two weeks ago, the Wolf Pack were three points out of fourth place. Since the trade of captain Cole Schneider, they've won just twice was traded. The did fine in the first two after the trade, but since that time, it's been all downhill. “He was a big part of the room," Fogarty said. "(He was) a big voice and everybody has to step up and lead by example on the ice. We have been doing a whole lot of talking and not too much on the ice.” The head coach was in agreement with one of his assistants. “Cole Schneider was a big part of our team, our dressing room. However, this is the American Hockey League, and trades will happen. You have to find a way to get over it. The team added some depth to the organization (Connor Brickley) and that’s a part of pro sports.” Syracuse closed out the scoring with two shorthanded empty-net goals late off a double minor to Brady Brassart. Mitchell Stephens got his second of the game and Dominik Masin got his second of the season. The second period the Wolf Pack got crunched for three goals and with that, the party was over. Right off the bat Ross Colton, a one time Taft Prep (Watertown, CT) player, zoomed down the right wing. The left-handed shot snapped a wrister far to the glove side for his eighth of the season at 2:02. The goal made it a 2-0 Syracuse lead. “The first two minutes of a period are as critical as the last two, and they were able to get momentum early and kept it." After killing a penalty, the Crunch made it 3-0. Ben Thomas was at the right point and gathered a loose puck that had gotten away from the Pack's Shawn O’Donnell. The Pack forward gave chase, but Thomas, a defenseman, was able to veer away unchecked off the right wing to the front of the net and slipped a backhander past Pack netminder, Marak Mazanec. For Thomas, it was his first of the season. “We were too light in our own zone tonight. We didn’t win battles for loose pucks and you have to limit the time you're defending in your own zone and we were generating only one or two good shifts." The Crunch got their fourth goal as the passive Pack defense, again, was willing to give Syracuse as much time and space as they wanted. Mazanec made a splendid left pad save on a redirect from Cory Conacher in front of Cameron Gaunce’s point shot, but the rebound went right to the stick of Taylor Raddysh who easily deposited his eleventh goal of the campaign into the open right side of the net 10:13. The only battle, as the frustration was beginning to show, came from the Wolf Pack in the form of two scraps. The first by Ryan Lindgren with Andy Andreoff. The second involved Matt Beleskey, who fared better against Dominik Masin. The Wolf Pack had three breakaways. Fogarty was shorthanded on a nice steal at the Wolf Pack blue line and was stopped. Ryan Gropp on his bid was denied by Eddie Pasquale (21 saves) and Sean Day missed the net entirely. “I would have been nice to get a goal, get some energy in the building from the crowd. Their goalie had a good game and he had a nice save on Ryan Gropp’s breakaway. The chances are few and far between against a team like Syracuse. We need to finish them,” said McCambridge. The Crunch was able to gain the first goal of the game when Libor Hajek's backhanded clearing attempt went around the boards from left to right wing. Ville Meskanen went to clear it out, but ex-Pack Hubert Labrie came down the right wing wall and blocked it. The puck came to Alex Barre-Boutet. He gained steam quickly and headed to the net. Barre-Boutet sent a perfect pass to Mitchell Stephens in the left circle. He snapped his third of the season by going high to the stick-side on Mazanec at 11:01. It was Stephens' first game back after missing 23 due to injury. SCRATCHES: Rob O’ Gara (Week-To-Week, lower body) Brandon Crawley (Healthy) Matt Petgrave (Healthy) Shawn St. Amant (Healthy) LINES: Anderson-Brickley-Meskanen Holland-Beleskey-Butler Fontaine-Leedahl-O’Donnell Fogarty-Gettinger-Gropp Gilmour-Lindgren Hajak-Bigras Day-Tolkinen NOTES: The Pack weekly roster merry-go-round continues with Vinni Lettieri recalled after Cody McLeod was traded by the New York Rangers to the Nashville Predators which opened a roster spot. Goalie, Brandon Halverson, was recalled again from the Maine Mariners (ECHL). He will likely see action in one of the games in against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. With the trade deadline coming, he may be being showcased as a part of a larger deal that could possibly be in the works. The Pack signed defenseman Matt Petgrave from the Brampton Beast (ECHL). In 41 games, Petgrave had six goals and 30 points. He also has 44 PIM in his third season with the team. Last season Petgrave had three AHL recalls. His longest was twelve games with the Laval Rocket. He also had a game with the Belleville Sens and two with tonight’s opponent, Syracuse. After a four-year OHL career with Niagara, Owen Sound, and Oshawa with one Memorial Cup tournament appearance. Petgrave had a four-year Canadian college career with the University of New Brunswick (AUS). They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs every year. Tuesday’s announced crowd of 1,274 was the lowest in Wolf Pack history. Now, 22 of the 35 lowest crowds in the team's history have come during the Global Spectrum/Spectra management era. Five of the 22 have come this season thus far. Goalie, Connor LaCouvee, who was in Wolf Pack training camp, was signed to an AHL deal with Laval and reassigned to the Pack's ECHL affiliate in Maine strictly for post-season roster purposes. Trevor Yates, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler, Ross Yates, was traded from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) to the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was then reassigned to the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). Former CT Whale, Christian Thomas, signs a new two year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia-KHL). Ex-Pack, Josef Balej, was released by MsHK Zilina (Slovakia-SLEL) and signed with EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2). Ex-Pack, Akim Aliu, has signed a deal with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). Jonas Johanssen of the Rochester Americans, after being named the first star against the Wolf Pack in a 4-1 win, was reassigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). Seems like that would have earned him at least another game, no? Former UCONN goalie, Garrett Bartus, is currently with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL). He has signed to play this spring/summer with the Sydney Ice Dogs (Australia-AIHL) when their season kicks off at the end of April. Last summer, former UCONN Husky, Trevor Gerling, who was also a former Wolf Pack training camp invitee, scored the overtime game-winner to help his CBR (Canberra) Brave team win their first Australian Goodall Cup championship. Wolf Pack fan jersey of the night: #49 Ilkka Heikkinen, and a Sean Day #4 jersey with the Mississauga Steelheads (OHL). Read the full article

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When you have more jerseys in your closet than anything else... #cantstopwontstop #christianthomas #tylertoffoli #ryanbourque #drewdoughty #jaredknight #davidkrejci #tylerseguin #zachparise #teamusa #bruins #kings #bulldogs #pbruins #ctwhale #minnesotawild #manchestermonarchs #sorrynotsorry

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@shanderson11 did my nails. All my faves #christianthomas #tylertoffoli #reillysmith #ryanbourque #drewdoughty #zachparise #davidkrejci #tylerseguin

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Amanda meets hockey players part 3: AHL 2 #christianthomas #ryanbourque #jaredknight #justinflorek #tylerrandell #ithinkthatsit

[toffle-fries]

I think I have a problem part 2. No end in sight for this problem I have. #bruins #kings #wild #pbruins #ctwhale #davidkrejci #tylerseguin #jaredknight #ryanbourque #andrewference #toreykrug #dougiehamilton #drewdoughty #tylertoffoli #dustinbrown #christianthomas #chrisbourque #zachparise #sendhelp

[kosharekart]

today's TBT!! pick up your free copy! its #gretchen and the #devil! #evenodd #crisliparcade #alley #mural #tbt #stpete #streetart #kosharek #christianthomas @wornsoles