#GreenBayGamblers

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Convivencia con los fan!... Go go @packers #fan1 #packers #greenpower #chez #queso #queseros #greenbay #greenbaypackers #greenbaygamblers #greenbayeats #greenbaypackersnation #fannumerouno #footballamericano🏈 #footballamericano #football #eslodehoy👌 #360yosoy #mexico🇲🇽 #estadosunidos🇺🇸 https://www.instagram.com/p/BzylwG0lIe-/?igshid=1s3bqbwixcf4o

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God I missed this! 🏒 #hockey #greenbaygamblers #ushl (at Resch Center / Shopko Hall / Brown County Arena)

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CANTLON: NHL DRAFT DAY 2 SUMMARY AND NEWS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The bulk of the selections in the NHL Draft come on day two. Due to the pandemic, the sample size for current video and seeing players in-person is much smaller. Therefore, there were far fewer than normal games played. In some cases, no games were played at all. College players had a much shorter-than-usual schedule. Most schools had conference-only matchups, except for a few schools that managed to get in a few non-conference meetings. In Canadian junior hockey, only the QMJHL was able to play a division-only schedule, albeit an interrupted one. The WHL played just 25 divisional games while over in the OHL. They didn't play at all. Meanwhile, in the United States, the highest junior league, the tier-1 USHL, played a 54-game schedule, with many players that weren't selected, but that should have been. The breakdown of the final draft numbers is a bit surprising. In the major junior category, the WHL had 31 players selected. The QMJHL saw 24 drafted. The inactive OHL saw 22 of its players chosen, the same for the USHL. Finally, the tier-2 NAHL had one picked. Outside of the three studs from Michigan taken in the first five picks, two (2) other collegiate players were taken in the remainder of the draft. There were 91 players selected from Europe. ASSESSING WHO TO SELECT In terms of the ever-critical development picture, so many scouts were making assessments on year-old games or based their opinions on an incomplete '20-'21 season, with video as their only guide. Players have grown physically and mentally, but their in-game reps and in-person scouting assessments were critically lacking. Like New York Rangers first-round pick Brennan Othermann, who holds dual citizenship in Europe (Switzerland), and Chase Stillman, the grandson of former New Haven Nighthawk and Ranger, ninth round (154th overall) 1975 draft choice, Bud Stefanski, took a chance. Instead, they played in Denmark as they sought a less affected COVID country and giving themselves a heightened chance of being scouted. Scouts were put to the test this draft to fill organizational needs with hidden gems that nobody else had found. As a result, the dice were tossed all over NHL Draft rooms. MORROW GOES IN ROUND TWO The town of Darien is becoming a CT hockey hotbed of late. First, goalie Spencer Knight was drafted. He now skates for the Florida Panthers. Then, when the Carolina Hurricanes made their second pick (40th overall), they chose the right-handed shooting defenseman, Scott Morrow. Steve Morrow, his father, was drafted by the Flyers as a tenth-round pick in the 1987 Draft (209th overall). He had a brief minor-league pro career with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and the Ft. Worth Texans (CHL). Recently, he coached in the Mid-Fairfield Rangers youth hockey program. He is named after his uncle, Scott, drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the fifth round (95th overall) in the 1988 NHL Draft. He never made it to Hartford but did play for their AHL farm team, the Springfield Indians. He had a ten-year minor league pro career. The younger Morrow has skated the last five years in the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s Sabres program (MNPREP), bypassing public and prep school hockey in the Nutmeg State. Instead, he's heading to play for the defending national champion UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE) program coached by Greg Carvel after de-committing from traditional hockey powerhouse, North Dakota (NCHC). Morrow sent a PowerPoint presentation to Shattuck’s-the modern-day version of the handwritten letter, which speaks about his commitment, use of modern technology, and maturity shown at a young age. Morrow was one of four Shattuck’s players drafted this weekend. He played with UCONN’s Artem Schlaine and will be his opponent this upcoming college season. He played two regular season USHL games with the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms, and he was traded twice. First, from Youngstown to the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers and had his rights dealt to the Fargo (ND) Force, he played six playoff games. He was also a 2018 QMJHL draftee of the Val d‘Or Foreurs. MORE SECOND ROUND The last pick of the second round, 64th overall, was Oliver Kapanen, nephew of Whaler favorite, Sami Kapanen, and the cousin of the Penguins' Kasperi. He played for the KalPa U-20 team and is slated to play for KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL) this season and is WJC eligible and played for Finland’s U-18 this spring. Sami, a fourth-round Whalers' draftee in 1988, is currently the head coach with HC Lugano (Switzerland-LNA). He played 831 NHL games with Hartford, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Philadelphia Flyers. His grandfather Hannu played for the 1976 Finnish Olympic team and their World Championship squad. Other notables included the Arizona Coyotes, who were penalized by the NHL for their indiscretion in the NHL Combine process under former GM Jeff Chayka. They lost their first-round pick as a penalty imposed by the NHL took forward Josh Doan from the formidable Chicago Steel (USHL) program. Doan’s father, Shane, is the Coyotes all-time top player in every category for the troubled franchise’s history. He was passed over last year in the 2020 Draft, but a big season paid off. He was a 2017 Kamloops Blazers (WHL) draftee on his father’s team. He will skate for the Arizona St. Sun Devils, an NCAA Division-I independent program with no conference at this time. OTHER PICKS Samuel Helenius, a 6’6 center, was taken by the LA Kings 59th overall. He played for JYP (Finland-FEL) and is WJC eligible and played in the tourney last year. His father Sami was a 6’5 defenseman with 155 NHL games with the Calgary Flames, the Dallas Stars, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also played 296 AHL games with Saint John's, Utah, and Hershey, plus 56 IHL games with Las Vegas and Chicago. ROUND THREE With the first pick in the third-round (65th overall), the Rangers chose 6'3, 190-pound center Jayden Grubbe. Last year, he played only five games and was captain of the Red Deer Rebels (WHL), coached by NHL’er Brent Sutter of the famous hockey-playing Sutter family. In his rookie WHL season, he played 59 games with six goals and 23 assists. He has a younger 15-year brother Jordan playing in Alberta bantam hockey. The Rangers' second pick in the third round was another center, Ryder Korczak of the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL). He played 17 games with three goals and 13 assists but was a minus-11. In 62 games in the 2019-20 season for the Warriors, Korczak had 18 goals and 67 points but was a startling minus-40. His older Kaedan is a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, a second-round draftee who split last year with Kelowna Rockets (WHL) and the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL). His father, Chad, is the general manager of their hometown Yorkton Maulers (SMAAAHL) team. With the 71st pick, the St. Louis Blues took Simon Robertsson, former Wolf Pack/Ranger Bert Robertsson's son. He played with three teams last year Skellefteå AIK (Sweden-SHL), Skellefteå AIK J-20 and Piteå HC (Hockey Ettan). He was sent home from the WJC Finland with a positive COVID test but did play for the WJC U-18 team. He is expected to play for the Skellefteå AIK (SHL and J-20) squads in the fall and remains WJC eligible. ROUND FOUR In the fourth round, the Rangers had three selections. Brody Lamb, taken 104th overall, is a University Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big 10) commit in the fall. He skated for three teams last season.  The Dodge County High School team in Kasson, MN, where, in 24 games, he had 52 goals and 87 points. The second team was a travel team TDS Construction (USSEHL). In 19 games, Lamb had 12 goals and 23 points. He also had ten games with the USHL Green Bay Gamblers, where he had two assists playing for former Beast of New Haven's Pat Miskesch, who is the head coach and GM of the Gamblers. In 53 games total, he had 64 goals and 111 points. He played three playoff games between TDS and Green Bay with one assist. His father, Jeff, played collegiately for the University of Denver Pioneers then in the WCHA and had a brief three-year minor pro career two with the original Maine Mariners (AHL) and his last season with the Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL). FINAL FOURTH-ROUNDER Then three picks later, at 107th, they selected their first European pick of this draft, 6’4 185 lb. 18-year-old LW Kalle Väisänen from TPS Turku U-20 team where he skated in 27 games with nine goals, 21 assists for 30 points and played one game with the U-18 team. He is slated to play for TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) this year and is WJC eligible. His father Markku played in the Finnish league professionally for eight years and coached at various times in four years in the lower levels of Finnish hockey. Then five slots later, at 112th overall, the Rangers' third pick in the round, the team went for a tall goalie and the biggest player in the draft. At 6’8, they chose Talyn Boyko from the Tri-City (WA) Americans (WHL). In his third season, he played 14 games with a 3.02 GAA, .901 save percentage, and had a record of 7-7-0. He turns 19 in October, so he will likely return for the fourth season of junior hockey. Then forward, Ethan Cardwell was taken 121st overall by the San Jose Sharks. He is the nephew of former New Haven Knights (UHL) player Matt Cardwell. He plays with the Barrie Colts (OHL),  but last year laced them up for Surahammers IF (Sweden HockeyEtttan Division-1 third tier) and had 27 points in 18 games and had a team-best plus-10. ROUND FIVE With the 144th overall pick, the Rangers chose forward Jaroslav Chmelar, an 18-year native of the Czech Republic. He played in Finland for the Jokerit U-18/U-20 teams and played for the Czech national J-18 team in the J-18 tournament held in Canada. He stands at 6’4 and weighs 198-pounds. He shoots right-handed. Detroit took Oscar Plandowski, a Selects Academy at South Kent team member, in 2018-19. He played last season for the Charlottetown (PEI) Islanders. His father, Darryl, is the Director of Amateur Scouting for Arizona. From the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), Cameron MacDonald was selected with the last pick in the round (160th) by the  Standley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He also played for the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep program in 2018-19 and out in a game with the CT Jr, Rangers (NCDC) that season. Other interesting players of note who were taken in the round include the Carolina Hurricanes selection of Robert Orr, no relation to the great Robert Gordon Orr, aka Bobby Orr. This Orr playing for former Hartford Wolf Pack assistant coach J.J. Daigneault with the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). The Hurricanes also took Justin Robidas, born in Plano, Texas, and is the son of former NHL’er Stéphane Robidas (937 games). Arizona took Manix Landry, the son of long-time AHL and European player Éric Landry, who had a brief NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens. ROUND SIX Selecting 186th overall, the Edmonton Oilers took Shane LaChance, the son of Bristol-born Scott LaChance. His father was drafted out of BU in the 1st round (4th overall) by the New York Islanders in the 1991 Draft. His uncle Bob LaChance skated for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) and Danbury Trashers (UHL). His grandfather is legendary long-time Boston University head coach Jack Parker. LaChance played last year for the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC) and is enrolled and has played for Tabor Academy (MAPREP). He is a 2022-23 commit to the Boston University Terriers (HE), to no one's surprise. ROUND SEVEN The Rangers' last draft selection was a defenseman—Hank Kempf from the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL), who was taken 208th overall. In 26 games, the 6’2 190-pound rearguard had four goals and 10 points and was a plus-5. He is a Cornell Big Red (ECACHL) commit in the fall. Early in the last round Ryan McCleary, the son of former New Haven Senators and NHL’er Trent McCLeary, was selected 194th by Pittsburgh. McLeary was the fifth-youngest taken at age 17 and the fifth lightest at 154 lbs. TRADES After nine seasons in Columbus with the Blue Jackets, right-wing Cam Arkinson (Riverside/Avon Old Farms) was moved to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Jakub Voracek. NOTES The Rangers announced that defenseman Tony DeAngelo had cleared waivers. His buyout is now complete and his turbulent Rangers career is finished. He is now a free agent. The 6’8 240-pound goalie, Hugo Ollas, a draft pick last year from Sweden, commits to Merrimack College (HE) in the fall. He is WJC eligible. The AHL Henderson Silver Knights will have 61 games next season at their present temporary home of Orleans Arena. They will play their final home games and post-season hockey in their brand-new Dollar Loan Center starting April 2, 2022. The Springfield Thunderbirds had two big signings from the parent St. Louis Blues. First, Australian veteran winger Nathan Walker signed a two-year two-way deal at $750K-NHL/$300K-AHL. The other is a one-year, two-way for winger Nolan Stevens. The deal pays him $700K for play in the NHL and $100K in the AHL. Stevens comes to Springfield, where his AHL Hall of Fame father, John Walker, played for the Springfield Indians. He won a Cader Cup in 1990-91 and is currently an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. The parent clubs of the Ontario Reign and Tucson Roadrunners conducted an AHL trade. Los Angeles (Reign) sent Cole Hults and Bokondji Imama to the Arizona Coyotes (Roadrunners) for Brayden Burke and Tyler Steenbergen. The Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning signed Gemel Smith to a two-way, two-year deal paying $750K-NHL/$250K-AHL. NHL HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: MUCH TO DISCUSS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -  The Hartford Wolf Pack went to Pennsylvania in search of a couple of wins, but despite some strong play, they returned to Insurance City with two losses which ran their current losing streak to five games. The team started off the season with a nine-game winning streak. It wasn't going to last forever. This is an expected bump in the road for a team whose fans who have suffered through a long five years where a long losing streak has been the signal that a season was about to unravel. The Pack has fallen from the top spot in the AHL during their quick start, but have since fallen into the eighth spot overall in the last two weeks. They now trail the Milwaukee Admirals, Toronto Marlies, Providence Bruins, Tucson Roadrunners, Rochester Americans, Stockton Heat, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Pack is now third in the Atlantic Division behind both Providence and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It is not a good development. This crew seems to possess both the design and the mental toughness differently than teams past and should be able to weather this storm. At the same time, however, some hard truths have surfaced. The Pack's two goalies, Igor Shesterkimn, and rookie Adam Huska have provided a lot of cover with their exceptional play and have allowed Hartford to jump through the escape hatch too many times for this early in the season. Their over-reliance on these two top-notch goalies that they will always bail them out often leads to taking shortcuts. The team's offense has been all over the place. They're living on the ledge in so many one-goal games. There seems to be a brief period of popping 4, 5, or 6 to the overall offensive shortage that has been lost in the wins. Now, with the inevitable injury and lineup changes, the veneer has sustained a few chips. Captain Steven Fogarty has been consistent and leading by example. He's scored late goals twice that forced overtime, but other veterans have had struggles. The team’s leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, has been all over the map in this early part of the season. He's either shown a vintage windup cannon of a slapshot or he's not as involved in the flow of the game as the coaches would like. Finding a way to increase his consistency would be a huge help to this team. After a strong start, Phil DiGiuseppe has cooled off. Though in his case, it's not from lack of trying. It's just that his stick has gotten frosty. Matt Beleskey has had his issues too. He's had great chances, but too many are missing the net. Those three are not alone. To no one's surprise, rookie, Patrick Newell, making the move up from college and playing his first pro season has seen him go very quiet. Meanwhile, Lias Andersson continues to be an enigma. He seems to have come to Connecticut's capital city with the right temperament. He wants to use the time in Hartford wisely, but he has just contributed two chippy goals in five games, on just eleven shots on goal. He's also sporting a minus-five, which is just not good enough for the third-year pro. Add in that he is playing at center, where the Rangers have a logjam of talent. The 21-year-old has another year to go on his Entry-Level-Contract. Should the Rangers brass decide to trade him,  hopefully, they get someone back that will fit in better with the scheme of things and add production? Maybe they consider shifting Andersson to the left-wing or they find a spot for him in Europe like the Swedish Hockey League for him to get more time to develop? The team has also had its share of injuries. The Pack has lost Gabriel Fontaine for the season. They are now hurting for his leadership and his helping with line consistency. Lewis Zerter-Gossage now finds the Pack testing the outer range of their depth chart entering the third month of the season. The Pack must get more goal production, and spend more time in their opponent's end of the ice to alleviate the pressure on their goalies and defense. COACHING CHANGE IN TORONTO  On Monday morning, Ex-Wolf Pack captain, and former Sound Tiger, Greg Moore, was surprisingly named the new head coach of the Toronto Marlies. He replaces the departed Sheldon Keefe, who was promoted to the Maple Leafs last week after Mike Babcock was given his walking papers. Moore was a "guest coach" in training camp for the Marlies, and was hired away from the USHL Chicago Steel, where his team led the East Division and tied for the overall league lead with Waterloo at 15-4-1. He inherits the AHL’s second-best team, who sit atop the North Division with a record of 15-3-2. There are far worse ways to start. The hire was an out-of-the-box move by Leafs GM, Kyle Dubas, who went outside the Marlies' structure. The team's three assistants, Rob Davison, Jack Han, and AJ Mclean must be feeling left out. Moore's first game is Wednesday night in Rochester. He then returns home for a pair of weekend 4 pm games with the San Antonio Rampage, who are also coached by a former Wolf Pack, Drew Bannister. Moore will now miss the USHL outdoor game as part of the Bridgestone NHL Classic Series between Chicago and the Green Bay Gamblers scheduled for January 3rd. UP AND DOWN The Montreal Canadiens have made two recalls from Laval. They are former QU Bobcat, Matt Peca, and goaltender, Cayden Primeau, who is the son of ex-Hartford Whaler and NHL’er, Keith Primeau, and he's considered a very promising prospect. Two generations ago, another big, young goalie was recalled to Montreal. Ken Dryden came up from the Montreal Voyageurs and had a spectacular, but just nine-season career winning the Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) before winning the Calder Trophy the following season. Over those nine seasons, Dryden won five Stanley Cups. Dryden's last AHL game on March 15, 1971. It was a 9-3 stinker against Hershey. His first NHL game was against the Buffalo Sabres. The opposing goalie… his older brother Dave. It would be the only time a pair of goalie brothers faced each other in an NHL game. Ex-Pack and Sound Tiger, Joe Combs, leaves Wichita (ECHL) for EC Bad Nauheim (Germany-DEL-2). Ex-Pack Shawn O’Donnell’s five-game tryout EV Ravensburg (Germany-DEL-2) with five points has been extended for the remainder of the season. Former UCONN Husky, Evan Richardson, leaves from HC Briancon (France-FREL) to HC Amiens (France-FREL). After seven games, Ryan Horvat of Charlotte opts to sign with Nottingham (England-EIHL) for the rest of the season. USA vs. CANADA In a little over two weeks, the women’s hockey world will be spotlighted in Hartford for the first of a five-game Rivalry Series between the US and Canadian programs. It kicks off at the XL Center on Saturday, December 14. Simply put, these two are indisputably the best national women’s programs. It would make sense to turn the Olympics into a Best-of-Seven series between the two countries. That would be a winner in the ratings. They will have to settle for a Best-of-Five tournament. Their meetings in the Olympics have been among hockey’s most classic games. The second game between the North American neighbors will be on Tuesday, December 17th in Moncton, New Brunswick Canada at 7:30 PM AST at the Avenir Centre, which is home to the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. The other three games will be played out West. Two will be in Canada. One will be on Monday, February 3rd at 7 PM PST in Victoria at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the home of the WHL's Victoria Royals. The second will be held in Vancouver on February 5th at the Rogers Arena, the home of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. The series concludes in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center, the home of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, February 8th at 7 PM PST. The US will also be holding its camp from December 9-13 at the XL Center in preparation for the big game. The US squad has a lot of young ladies whose fathers and brothers had NHL careers. They are led by Alex Carpenter, one of the top female college hockey players who hales from Boston College. Her father, Bobby Carpenter, was a first-round pick (3rd overall) in the NHL Entry Draft. Carpenter was picked right out of high school by Washington in 1981. Her brother, Robert, is presently injured, otherwise, he likely be playing in Bridgeport for the AHL Sound Tigers. Hilary Knight is scheduled to skate. The three-time US Olympian, where she's picked up two silvers and a gold medal, played at Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) and on the CT Polar Bears (Northford), the first all-girls program started in the Nutmeg state in 1985. Melissa Samoskevich of Sandy Hook, a former Quinnipiac University Lady Bobcat, is playing professionally with Brynas IF (Sweden-SDHL). Her brother, Mackie Samoskevich, is currently playing with the Chicago Steele (USHL) and is University Michigan (Big 10) commit for next year. His twin sister Madison plays prep hockey for Shattuck’s St. Mary’s in Minnesota. Other notables include; Jesse Compher, who's brother, J.T., skates with the Colorado Avalanche, Amanda Kessel, the sister of Phil Kessel, is with Arizona and Blake is with Orlando (ECHL). Hayley Scamurra, who's father Peter Scamurra played with the Washington Capitals. Two players are coming over from playing in China with KRS Vaske Rays in Shenzhen, China in Megan Bozek and Carpenter, who has played in China for the last three years. Read the full article

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CANTLON: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON - VOLUME 12

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The life of a hockey executive never ends... Oh sure it slows down, but all the coaches and management in professional hockey are all working to construct and hopefully improve their rosters for the 2019-20 season. PLAYERS AND COACHING MOVEMENT The New York Rangers inked their first-round (Second overall) draft pick, Kaapo Kakko, to the standard max Entry-Level Contract of three years at $925K-NHL/$70K-AHL. Last Wednesday, the Rangers signed two more players destined for Hartford. Philippe Di Guiseppe played with four teams last year, two of them in the NHL (Carolina, Nashville) and two of them in the AHL (Charlotte, Milwaukee). He was signed to a one-year/one-way $700K contract. He was originally drafted by Carolina in 2012 in the second round, 38th overall. Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery Prep) was given a one-year, AHL deal. He played ten games and earned a goal and four points at the end of last season with the Wolf Pack after completing his four-year collegiate career at UMASS-Lowell (HE). While playing in college, he registered 67 points in 132 games with the River Hawks. The Detroit Red Wings have released the details of the annual Traverse City Prospects Tournament. The tourney will be held September 6th -10th. The Rangers will play in the Ted Lindsay Division with the prospects for Columbus, Dallas, and Minnesota. The Gordie Howe Division will feature Chicago, St. Louis, Toronto, and host Detroit. The round-robin tournament will be the first look at team prospects playing in actual game action. Ex-Pack/Ranger, Artem Anisimov, was traded on Tuesday to Ottawa for forward, Zack Smith. Former CT Whale / Ranger, Michael Del Zotto signs with one of his three teams from last season, the Anaheim Ducks. His deal is for one-year very cap friendly $750K one Sway deal. He ended last season the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues but played no games in the Finals. Ryan Donato, the son of ex-Pack and Sound Tiger, Ted Donato, signs a two-year, one-way deal paying him $1.9 million per year with Minnesota. Ex-Pack, Michael Joly, signed a one-year AHL deal with the Colorado Eagles. Ex-Pack goalie, Charles Williams signs with Indy (ECHL). One-time New Haven Nighthawk, Willie O’Ree, will likely add his last major award of the last few years as he is expected to receive a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his being the first black player in NHL history. O’Ree, a long-time San Diego resident was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Former CT Whale VP of Marketing, Bob Ohrablo, remains as team President of the Jacksonville IceMen (ECHL) who were sold to a new management team last week. Hartford Whaler legend, Ron Francis, was hired to be the first GM for the brand spanky new Seattle NHL franchise. He was interviewed by his one-time teammate, and now former Seattle Hockey Advisor, Dave Tippett, who took the head coaching job in Edmonton. Francis drafted a large portion of the AHL Calder Cup championship Charlotte Checkers squad and constructed the Carolina Hurricanes team that went to the NHL Eastern Conference Final. He was unceremoniously demoted and eventually relieved of his duties in Carolina which ended Francis' long association with the franchise. The first thing he will do is hire a small pro scouting staff to observe the NHL and AHL over the next two years to prepare for the expansion draft. Expect former Hartford Whalers teammate, Sean Burke, to be among that select group. Burke is presently a scout for Montreal and works for Team Canada where the duo designed the Canadian Spengler Cup championship team last December. Read the Seattle Times piece HERE The Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins continue their strong off-season reloading campaign. They signed Myles Powell, who had a strong rookie year in Rochester, to an AHL contract. Goalie, Cam Johnson, switches teams. He leaves Binghamton to Milwaukee on an AHL contract. Forward, Chris Connor departs Lehigh Valley to Binghamton. Ryan Obuchowski (Yale University), who played for Kelly Cup finalist Toledo (ECHL), signs with SV Ritten/Renon (Italy-AlpsHL) for next season. Six more AHL’ers sign Euro deals in their native countries. The latest pair is Mitch Callahan of Bakersfield who goes to Augsburger (Germany-DEL) and Chase Balisy leaves Belleville for EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL). Adam Musil, the nephew of former Whaler and New York Ranger, Robert (Bobby) Holik, exits San Antonio to sign with HK Dukla Jihlava (Czech Republic-CEL). Juho Lammikko departs Springfield and signs back home with Karpat Oulu (Finland-FEL). Colton Hargrove from Texas signs with HC Bolzano (Italy-EBEL) while Brady Brassart of Syracuse inks a deal with Stavanger (Norway-NEL). 59 AHL players have signed overseas. 25 of the 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player so far to a European signing. Ex-Sound Tiger, John Persson, leaves Mora IK (Sweden-SHL) for SaiPa (Finland-FEL). The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have signed seven players for next season. The signings start with veteran forward and powerplay net-front pest, Steve Bernier, and defenseman Mike Cornell, in his third AHL season, and John Stevens Jr., who's coming off an injury-riddled sophomore campaign, is the son of ex-Whaler, John Stevens Sr. Nick Schillkey from the Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers, Nic Pierog (Canterbury Prep) from now-defunct Manchester Monarchs (ECHL), goalie Ryan MacKinnon, and Kyle MacLean from Oshawa (OHL), who just completed his junior career with 110 points in 227 games and is the son of former NHL’er John MacLean, are the rest of the signings. Former UCONN Husky, Maxim Letunov, had his AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda extended by one-year by the San Jose Sharks. Ex-Sound Tiger, Cole Markison, goes from Texas to Charlotte. Joining him on the reigning Calder Cup champion is Hunter Shinkarul from Laval. Tariq Hammond leaves Binghamton for Hershey. Michael Kapla, who split last season between Iowa and Binghamton, signs with the Toronto Marlies. Goalie Hunter Miska leaves the Tucson Roadrunners and signs with the Colorado Eagles for next year Ex-Sound Tiger, Lukas Sutter, is hired as an amateur scout by Columbus. Nine more college players sign North American pro deals. They include Luke Shiplo of Quinnipiac University and Michael Ederer of St Lawrence University from the ECACHL. Both of them sign with Wichita (ECHL). A player with another great hockey name, Tanner Jago, goes from Bentley University (AHA) to sign with the Texas Stars. Vincent Desharnais of Providence College (HE) signs with Bakersfield. Eric Israel of Robert Morris University (AHA) goes to Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) while Brett Boeing of UMASS-Amherst (HE), hooks up with Toledo (ECHL) and Dakota Joshua of Ohio State (Big 10) was traded by Toronto to St. Louis. The Blues signed him to a two-year, two-way deal and will likely start next year in San Antonio. Austin Plevy of Northeastern (HE) and Scott Davidson of Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) both sign with Adirondack (ECHL). Three have signed In Europe. Dylan Malmquist of Notre Dame (Big 10) signs with Nottingham (England-EIHL). Jeremiah Luedtke goes from University Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) to Krefelder EV 1981 (Germany Division-3), and Jalen Schulz of University Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) to EV Fussen (Germany Division-3). 185 Division I players have signed North American pro deals. 49 go to Europe while 233 players overall have signed deals. Paul Selleck of Cowichan Valley (BCHL) commits to Trinity College (NESCAC). Jared DeMichiel (Harwinton) gets a promotion to associate head coach with UMASS-Amherst (HE). Another school takes the first steps toward becoming an NCAA Division I varsity hockey team from a club program in Penn after 42 years of being a club program. Read it HERE. Luke Curadi (Cheshire/ND-WH/Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack) was named the USHL Director of Player Development. He had been the Eastern USA Scout for the USHL Green Bay Gamblers the last three years. IN MEMORIAM The Wolf Pack family lost another of its original pieces and a man who served pro hockey in Hartford for 45 years as the Chief of Off-Ice Officials, Robert (Bob) Henry Guarente, 77, lost a second battle with throat cancer. Only Frank Camera of Bridgeport (who started in New Haven) has served longer in an off-ice role in Connecticut minor-league hockey history. Guarente started in 1975 with the New England Whalers for the first four years, then all 21 years of the Hartford Whalers and all 22 seasons with the Wolf Pack before stepped aside in February because he could no longer speak. Sadly, he is the third off-ice official to pass in the past 18 months and fourth in the 22-year history of the franchise. He would always greet me in a poor impression of an Irish accent, “What’s up with the leprechaun today?” After the pre-game meal and before we left one of us, he had a tell an off-color joke, One of his favorite oft-repeated jokes was this one; Mary and Tom O’ Brien were walking in the town center and run into Father O’Malley. Father O’Malley chats with them and inquires why they have no children. Mrs. O’Brien replied, “We’ve tried and tried Father with no success.” Father O’Malley says, “I’m going to the Vatican next week and I will light a candle for you.” Five years go by and he runs into Mrs. O’Brien and she has four kids in tow and she is pregnant with number five. Father O’Malley with a big smile says, “Oh, I’m so happy for you. Your prayers were answered, but where is Tom?” Mrs. O’Brien replied, “He’s at the Vatican Father trying to blow out that candle you lit!” It would always bring a smile to his face and he would let loose with his trademark cackle laugh. There should be a new AHL Award created with his name. It should be started for the best off-ice crew in the AHL every year. He will be greatly missed at the XL Center come September, a dedicated loyal husband, friend, soldier and Off-Ice Director. RIP you have earned your wings. Read the full article

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CANTLON: HUSKIES WIN HOME AND SEASON FINALE 4-3 OVER UMASS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - For the UCONN Huskies it was like a “playoff game” as their hockey ended their season with a wild 4-3 win over the number two nationally ranked UMASS Minuteman before a boisterous and exceptionally loud crowd of 5,035 that rocked the XL Center Friday night. UCONN finishes with an overall record of 12-20-2 and 7-15-2 in Hockey East. The Minutemen, the regular season conference champion, finishes their regular season record of 26-8-0 and 18-6-0 in Hockey East. They will host the ninth-ranked University of New Hampshire in the first round of the playoffs next weekend. “Sometimes it takes a bit longer to finds your rhythm and competitiveness. I was reading about that with (coach) Brad Stevens of the Celtics. I feel if the season was a month longer, we would be playing in the Hockey East playoffs for sure.  Overall, I was so happy for our seniors, Miles (Gendron), Max (Kalter), AND Karl (El-Mir) for everything we stand for, to have them graduate, make them better men, and we wanted to compete for trophies. "I was impressed by how they brought this group along very easy. When you have 12 younger guys it can go sideways and be a train wreck. What they did to keep this group competitive the last month of the season, we finished 5-3. I can’t say enough about their leadership. They got a well-deserved win tonight,” remarked head coach Mike Cavanaugh. Beating UMASS, who eliminated them from playoff contention two weeks ago, was icing on the cake for UCONN in a season that saw some successes and some failures. “That was very special for all us seniors. We love it. They're a great team over there. To beat the number two team in the nation was unimaginable two months ago. I’m so proud of everybody how we held together.” senior Max Kalter said with an enormous smile. The game-winning tally came against the third Minuteman goalie of the night for UMASS, Brad Avanaitas. UMASS pulled Avanaitas for the sixth attacker with 1:38 left, but UCONN's team defense held the fort allowing the team to end their season on a winning note. In the final five minutes, the UCONN team defense had two key shot blocks. The first was by Ruslan Iskharov on the goal line and Miles Gendron. Then add in Kale Howarth’s tight checking of the ever-dangerous, Cale Makar, that forced him to dish off the puck. Tomas Vomacka made an amazing lateral save on Brett Boeing’s bid to tie the game kept UMASS at bay and secured a win. “Ruslan made a block. Adam (Karaschik) had a block. Kale's check on Makar forced him to chip it out to the neutral zone. We also did a good job clearing out any rebounds. It was a very good defensive effort,” remarked Cavanaugh. One of the seniors he referenced, Kalter, was pumped about that sequence of play by his team. “That what it takes to win,” Kalter said. “We have gotten better each year here, and over the last month the program has been stepping up every year, and I think this group (2019-20 edition) is going to go far, so there will be more great things for this program.” Kalter hopes to continue to go forward to pro hockey and could likely see him debut in the ECHL in the very near future. For Gendron, taking off his UCONN white home jersey was not going to be easy. His sweater has a "C" stitched on in the upper left corner. It meant more than people could realize on the surface. “It’s really special the guys voted me for this,” said an emotional Gendron. “It just wasn’t handed to me and that means everything. I’m so very proud of these guys. We wanted to be the first group to win a playoff game. We fell short, but tonight this was our playoff game and we won it. "I have faith in this group. They are going to do it next year, and the crowd, that was amazing. To come here and cheer for us when we have nothing to play for…. It makes me realize even more I made the right choice to come here.” The win, coming through a very emotional and entertaining game, showed how UMASS will be such a post-season force. They picked up right where they left off in the second period scoring at 45 seconds in. Mitchell Chaffee took the pass from Mario Ferraro in the left wing corner. He was able to curl away from Ben Freeman, zip across the crease and stuffed his second straight goal (17th) into the net. UMASS head coach Greg Carvel didn’t let his team off the hook. “Congratulations to the UCONN seniors in winning their last game. For my team, it was a very uneven game. We didn’t come out to play in the first, and we finally wanted to play (late in the second). I sat down a few kids who didn’t want to play. We tied it up in the third, but that next shot right after that was a backbreaker. We couldn’t find a way to win the rest of the third. It was very disconcerting to me as a coach that on March 8th we can’t find a way to be excited to play a game.” UCONN answered back 36 seconds after UMASS tallied as Freeman came across the Minuteman blue line. He sent a high wrist shot that went off Filip Lundeberg’s glove and into the net to give the Huskies back. It would be a 4-3 lead that they never relinquished. “They score late in the second with point two seconds to go and score on the first shift in the third, everything was going their way, but we were able to flip the script and get the momentum back and got the victory,” said Cavanaugh. UMASS tried to switch their fortunes by putting Filip Lundberg in the net to start the second period. It didn’t faze the Huskies. UMASS put on strong pressure with three solid scoring chances in the first two minutes as Boening, Maker, and Chaffe was each denied. The Huskies struck for their third goal and a highly unlikely 3-0 lead. Again all three forwards were in on the goal like the Huskies second goal. Kalter sent the puck to an open Jonny Evans on the left wing. He made a gorgeous, blind pitchfork backhanded pass to Iskharov who then fired his sixth goal over Lundberg's glove hand at 8:08. They seemingly had UMASS in a vise grip. UMASS is not number two in the nation by accident. In the final two minutes of the period, the team tallied twice narrowing the gap to one goal. After a ticky-tacky holding call from the ref who was at center ice, Thomas Fryer, the Minutemen’s Hobey Baker candidate, and Makar, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick, displayed why he is so highly regarded. He had a discussion prior to a face-off with Bobby Trivigno. UMASS won the draw and began a perfect cycle. Makar got the puck at the left point and fed Trivigno at the right point. They then switched positions and as he was transitioning, Makar passed the puck to Jacob Pritchard at the right side of the net. The left-handed shooter was left unchecked and wired a pass to Trivigno who came in through the back door on the left side and made a perfect open-blade redirect at 18:48 for his ninth goal and got UMASS on the scoreboard but trailing 3-1. UMASS kept the pressure on UCONN and scored in the waning seconds with Makar again involved, Makar sent a pass to Marc Del Gaizo at the left. With a perfect screen by Chaffee in front on starter Tomas Vomacka, deflected the 55-foot shot past Vomacka with just .02 seconds left in the period to make it a 3-2 game with what could have been a dagger to UCONN’s valiant game long effort. “That is the mark of a good program. No matter what score the score is, and what period it is, we stuck to the game plan and kept competing,” said Cavanaugh. The Huskies struck first against the second best team in the nation as all three forwards on the line touched the puck in the red zone. Brian Rigali made a strong move on the left wing and got around his check. He swung to the right wing side and his shot was stopped by Matt Murray. The puck hit the back of his skate, and the Huskies' Kale Howarth had a crack at it. Then Brian Freeman was able to chip the puck into the net for his sixth goal at 8:24. The Huskies kept pace with the swift-skating Minutemen getting back pressure support and not allowing for second and third chances. “It was a point of emphasis this week that we were back pressuring them and we didn’t give up many odd-man rushes and not slowing them to enter the (offensive) zone uncontested,” Cavanaugh said in speaking of their game plan of trying to lasso the high-end and fast skating UMASS squad that operates so effectively as five-man units. When UMASS broke Vomacka, a Czech freshman who was making his seventh start in the last nine UCONN games, was there to make the save. For Vomacka it was his 14th UCONN game of the season. The Huskies were able to extend their lead to 2-0 before the end of the period. Rigali scored with Iskharov on a shorthanded two-on-one. He was able to settle down a bouncing puck and got around a sliding Del Gaizo and zipped his fifth goal through the five-hole at 17:51. NOTES: Huska's leaving UCONN made him the sixth netminder this year for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Huska was the New York Rangers' 7th round pick (184th overall) in the 2015 NHL draft. He played junior hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). Huska played just two games for UCONN over the final six weeks of the season because of Vomacka's hot play. He last played against Providence College on February 26th. His stats for the season are deceiving. Huska posted a 5-13-2 record with a 3.34 GAA and .896 save percentage in 1,202:44 minutes of action. He was playing behind a very young team composed of 12 freshmen. One his highlight starts came against Yale on New Year’s Eve Day where he made 39 saves including a spectacular skate blade save with pads stacked on a two-on-one on the Bulldogs' Mitchell Smith. Huska career includes 69 career games, a 2.90 GAA, a career record 20-38-8 and just under 4,000 minutes played. He also had two career shutouts. A Nashville organizational source told Cantlon’s Corner that neither pair of freshmen Predators draftees, goalie Tomas Vomacka, or center Jacym Kondelik will not be offered pro contracts this spring. “While we like their progress, they have room for a lot of growth,“ remarked the source. They requested anonymity, “Vomack, we like his play very much, however, a goalie always need playing time and Kondelik has to work on his skating and has to get more physical despite being a 6’6 forward. Neither is ready for the AHL right now.” Now that they have Brian Boyle in Nashville, he's the prototype for what they want out of Kondelik. Gendron said he will take a few days to rest and talk with his agent as to what the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him, might want to do. Most likely, the Sens might sign him to an ATO with Belleville  (AHL), “I know the team is in a playoff push, and even if it's just to go to learn and practice with the team, I’m open to what they have to offer.” Since firing head coach Guy Boucher last week, they're still in organizational transition. A note for the new Governor, and his Chief of Staff... When UCONN hockey is home in their regular season and home finale, you should be there not at a Yale-RPI game. The Bulldogs are in the ECACHL playoffs that they could see next week. They should have been at the XL Center with this great crowd. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK SIGN GOALTENDER ADAM HUSKA TO ATO

Three-year UConn Regular was Seventh-round NY Ranger Draft Pick in 2015 BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack  HARTFORD, March 9, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has signed goaltender Adam Huska to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement. Huska, 21, appeared in 69 collegiate games over three seasons with the University of Connecticut (2016-17 – 2018-19), posting a 20-38-8 record, along with a 2.90 goals-against average, a 90.8% save percentage and two shutouts. Huska made 30 or more saves in 27 of his 69 collegiate appearances (39.1% of his appearances), including 13 of his 21 appearances during his freshman year in 2016-17. He established NCAA career-bests in appearances (27) and GAA (2.59) during his sophomore year in 2017-18, as he allowed two goals or fewer in 17 of his 27 appearances during the season. In addition, Huska posted an NCAA career-best, 91.6% save percentage during his freshman year with UConn in 2016-17, and he ranked ninth among NCAA freshmen goaltenders in save percentage during the season. The 6-4, 227-pounder played parts of two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16) with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) prior to beginning his collegiate career. In his only full season in the USHL in 2015-16, Huska posted a 26-9-2 record, along with a 1.82 GAA, a 93.1% save percentage, and four shutouts in 37 appearances. He was named the USHL Goaltender of the Year in 2015-16, as he led the league in both GAA and save percentage. Internationally, the Zvolen, Slovakia native has represented his country in several tournaments. Huska represented Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championship in both 2016 and 2017, as well as the IIHF U18 World Championship in both 2014 and 2015. In each of the last three international tournaments which he appeared (2015 IIHF U18 World Championship, 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship), Huska was named one of the Top Three Players on Slovakia. The 6-4, 220-pound Huska was selected by the Rangers in the seventh round (184th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

The Wolf Pack are back in action tonight, visiting the Springfield Thunderbirds for a 7:05 PM game.  All of the action of that battle can be heard live on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, and online at newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The next home game for the Wolf Pack is tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, vs. the Hershey Bears at 3:00 PM.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”, which includes two tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found online at hartfordwolfpack.com.  To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 17

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The summer months are winding down and teams are finalizing their rosters for their respective training camps in North America. Around the world, however, some seasons have already begun. It was another busy week in the hockey world. PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT Ex-CT Whale/Wolf Pack Kris Newbury signs with the Brampton Beast (ECHL), the ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens after a year in Europe. Ex-Pack, Alexandre Giroux, 37, signs with the Thetford Mines (LNAH) for next season as he winds down his playing career. Ex-Pack, Devin DiDiomete, has gone from SHC Fassa (Italy-AlpsHL) to SG Cortina (Italy-AlpsHL) for next season. Ex-Pack goalie, Miika Wiikman, stays in England, shifting from Milton Keynes Lightning to the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL). Now an ex-Pack defenseman, Brendan Kotyk, who played seven games last year in Hartford, has signed a deal with Toledo (ECHL). Hershey signed ex-CT Whale defenseman, Logan Pyett to a one-year AHL deal. Pyett was out of hockey for a year batting sarcoma cancer, a bone cancer in his upper thigh. Pyett beat that strain of cancer and has been working his himself back into game shape. The 30-year-old defenseman played last year with the Tokohu Free Blades in Japan in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) as part of his game training. In 26 games, Pyett scored four goals and 15 points and 49 PIM. Pyett borrowed some playbooks from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach, Scott Gordon, to aid his rehab training. He was supposed to play with the Phantoms two years ago when the cancer was discovered. Should Pyett have a full and successful AHL season next year, he would certainly be a frontrunner for the AHL Hunt Trophy. AHL’ers moving to Europe continues. Zach Sill of the Hershey Bears heads over to play with HC Sparta Prague (Czech Republic-CEL). Paul Postma of the Providence Bruins heads to AK Bars Kazan (Russia-KHL) and Lance Bouma Rockford goes to HC-Geneva Servette (Switzerland-LNA). Yaroslav Dyblenko has already switched teams after leaving Binghamton his contract was traded from St. Petersburg to Spartak Moscow (Russia-KHL) in training camp. The AHL to Euro list stands at 72 players from 26 teams. Three AHL free agent signings. Wayne Simpson goes from Hershey to the Rochester Americans while Chase Balisy, who bedeviled the Wolf Pack the last two years in Springfield with the Thunderbirds signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Ottawa/Belleville Senators for $650K-NHL/$135K–AHL. Six more collegians sign North American pro deals. Brady Tkachuk leaves BU after just one year and signs an NHL entry-level with Ottawa. He can be assigned to Belleville (AHL). He was drafted fourth overall in June’s NHL Draft. Former Terrier teammate, Nikolas Olsson, signs with Adirondack Thunder (ECHL). Jordan Klimek goes from Northern Michigan University (NCHC) to Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL). Joining him in Kansas City will be Brett Beauvais from Robert Morris (AHC), Tim Shoup heads from Dartmouth College (ECACHL) to Orlando (ECHL) and Dexter Dancs goes from the University Michigan (Big 10) to Idaho Steelheads (ECHL). Three more college players are off to Europe in Tanner Jaillet who had the nation’s best GAA at 1.89 with Denver University (NCHC) signs with EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL), Dan Kelly goes from Tufts University (NESCAC) in Boston to Toulouse BHC (France Division-2) and Kevin Loppatto Manhattanville College (UCHC) to Vannas HC (Sweden Division-1) . That makes 30 college players from all divisions to sign in Europe, 178 Division I players have signed North American deals and 235 total who have signed North American and European pro deals. Former Nighthawk, Bud Stefanski, is stepping back behind the bench. Stefanski joins the OHL Sudbury Wolves with his son-in-law, former NHL’er Riley Stillman, as an assistant coach. Stefanski’s grandson, and Stillman’s son, Riley, will be with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the fall. After 12 years in Peterborough, the last six as head coach, ex-Hartford Whaler and New York Ranger, Jody Hull, was named the new associate head coach of the Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL) for next season. Hul played in 831 NHL games over a 16 season career, including 118 with the Whalers and 50 with the Rangers. Former Whaler, Mark Hunter, left the Toronto Maple Leafs to return as the GM of the London Knights (OHL) coached by his brother, Dale. In a very surprising move, Austin Mikesch, the eldest child of former Beast of New Haven forward Pat Mikesch, played with the Nipawin Hawks (SJHL), the team the Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) were heading to play on that fateful day last April. Mikesch has decided to join the Broncos this season. Pat Mikesch is the head coach/GM of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). Hlinka-Gretzky Cup results The Canadians captured gold in the five-day Hlinka-Gretzky Cup tournament held in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta this year. The Canadian team defeated Sweden 6-2 in Edmonton last Sunday. The tourney was held in Canada for the first time since 1986. Former Wolf Pack goaltending great, Jason LaBarbera, was part of the gold medal squad as a goaltending consultant. Alexis Lafreniere from Rimouski (QMJHL) scored twice. He will clearly be a top five draft pick next summer. Canada has secured gold 22 times in 28 years in this summer hockey tourney honoring the memory of great Czech great, Ivan Hlinka. The US lost to Russia in the bronze medal game 5-4. Vasili Podkolzin had a hat-trick with two-of-the-three-goals coming on spectacular shots. He led the tournament with eight goals and clearly increased his draft stock for next year. The US's Connor Hughes was a standout and earned a top five-star rating toward the draft as well. Russia's Ilya Nikolayev may have scored an even better goal then Podkozin and Hughes. He first went with a backhand spin-a-rama and the shot got blocked, then he got the puck back and scored to the short-side displaying tremendous agility. ECHL AFFILIATIONS MAP Lots of movements in the Double AA affiliate map for the AHL as the leagues try to sync up with a 31-NHL, 31-AHL, and 31-ECHL pyramid structure being the desired goal. The ECHL is always will be difficult because they fall outside of the current CBA agreement with the NHL and the AHL CBA agreement. The ECHL has its own player agreement. The switches have been numerous with Toronto leaving Orlando and going to St. John’s (Newfoundland Growlers). Orlando then hooks up with Syracuse (Tampa Bay). Meanwhile, the Rangers departed from Greenville to go to Maine (Portland). The Minnesota Wild makes a change too after the Quad City Mallards dropped to the SPHL. They now have a new agreement with the  Allen Americans in Allen, TX. The St. Louis Blues, now in San Antonio, hooks up with the Tulsa Oilers after the Winnipeg Jets left there. The Jets, in turn, hooked up with Jacksonville, FL while Arizona/Tucson is now in Norfolk. Then there's the Colorado Avalanche who have a new AHL affiliate in the Colorado Eagles (Loveland) who now have Utah, who split from Anaheim. Three ECHL teams are without NHL/AHL affiliates. That makes five NHL organizations without a Double AA affiliate. The ECHL cities are Ft. Wayne, Greenville, and Rapid City. The NHL teams without an ECHL affiliation are San Jose, Columbus, Florida, Las Vegas and Anaheim. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HOCKEY In Australia, the nation’s capital city team, the Canberra (CBR) Brave, sit atop the short, thirty-game season AIHL as their season comes toward the end. They will then start their Goodall Cup playoffs. Canberra is 20-4-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) for 60 points. The team's leading scorer also tops the AIHL. He is former UCONN Husky, Trevor Gerling. His 18 goals and a league-best 38 assists (56 points), is one better than Perth Thunder’s, Pierre-Luc Grandmaison, as of the start of the weekend action starts. Cheshire native, Rob Malloy, and his Newcastle Northstars teammates are batting his former team, the Sydney Ice Dogs for the fourth and last playoff spot. Newcastle and Sydney ice Dogs are tied at 35 points as the Northstars have a record of 8-9-0-3-4. Malloy in his sixth AIHL season has 21 points in 21 games played with five goals and 16 assists. In New Zealand, the Southern (Queenstown) Stampede, the defending Birgel Cup champions, will seek their fourth straight title next Friday against the winner of this Friday’s semifinal meeting between the West Auckland Admirals and the Dunedin Thunder. The Stampede still has its player-assistant coach in Adam Blanchette (Berlin/Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack). The Stampede topped the Admirals in the short season regular season finishing first with one more win with a 13-0-0-3 record and topped the five-team league with 110 goals for and the best defense surrendering just 44 goals. Read the full article