#ManchesterMonarchs(ECHL)

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Manchester Monarchs @ Adirondack Thunder (April 6, 2018)

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Last regular game of the season and the Monarchs come through with a win and seal a spot in the ECHL Playoffs! #manchester #manchesternh #newhampshire #newengland #manchestermonarchs #monarchshockey #hockey #echl #echlhockey #echlgameday #sports #sportingevents #win #goal #beard #hockeyplayers #goalie #snhuarena #365photochallenge #365 #365project #picoftheday (at SNHU Arena)

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK SINGLE-GAME TICKETS FOR SALE SEPTEMBER 18TH

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack  HARTFORD, CT – Hartford Wolf Pack single-game tickets for 35 of the 36 regular season home games at the XL Center in downtown Hartford, Connecticut, will go on sale this Monday, September 18th, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for the Wolf Pack's 2,000th regular season game on Friday, February 9th, 2024, will go on sale later. The Wolf Pack begin their 2023-24 home schedule on Friday, October 20th, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town for the annual home opener. Fans in attendance that night will receive a Wolf Pack rally towel courtesy of Carvel and CM Concessions. Home Opener weekend concludes on Saturday, October 21st, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Fans in attendance that night will receive a 2023-24 Wolf Pack magnet schedule courtesy of Pepsi. In addition, fans will skate on the XL Center ice following the contest during our first postgame skate of the season. The complete regular season schedule and promotional schedule for the 2023-24 season can be found at hartfordwolfpack.com. In addition to single-game tickets, specialty packs are currently on sale for the 2023-24 Wolf Pack season. Fans can purchase packages like the Young Professionals Pack and CT-DOT Family Value Packs online now. Fans can also buy the Pucks' N Paws and Hockey' N Hops starting this Monday. For more ticket information, please visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets. About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK ANNOUNCE PROMO NIGHTS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack unveiled the promotional schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season, the club's 27th in Connecticut. The home schedule kicks off with the club’s annual Home Opener on Friday, October 20th, at 7:00 p.m. against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The night will feature the first giveaway of the season, as fans will receive a Wolf Pack rally towel courtesy of Carvel and CM Concessions. Home Opener weekend concludes on Saturday, October 21st, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Fans in attendance that night will receive a 2023-24 Wolf Pack magnet schedule courtesy of Pepsi. Once again, the Wolf Pack will don a pair of specialty jerseys during the 2023-24 season. The first jersey will be worn on both December 1st and 2nd, when the Pack hosts the Phantoms for a back-to-back weekend set. The second specialty jersey will make its debut on February 3rd when the Springfield Thunderbirds come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. In addition to the Home Opener weekend rally towel and magnetic schedule giveaways, the Wolf Pack will have numerous giveaway nights during the 2023-24 season. This season’s giveaways include a 2024 Wolf Pack branded calendar on December 30th, youth jerseys on February 3rd, a bobblehead on March 8th, and a 2023-24 team photo on April 14th. Returning in 2023-24 are recurring promotions, including $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs every Friday night. The CT-DOT Family Value Pack is once again available for select dates, allowing fans to purchase three tickets, three hot dogs, and three fountain drinks in the red or blue sections. This package will be available on October 21st, November 25th, December 17th, December 30th, and April 14th. The Pack will also host four postgame events featuring players from the team. Fans will get a chance to once again skate with some of their favorite Wolf Pack players following the games on November 18th and March 30th. Fans will get a chance to take photos with available players following the game on December 17th, while postgame autographs will occur on February 24th. The Wolf Pack will celebrate a special milestone this season on Friday, February 9th. The club will play the 2,000th game in Wolf Pack history when the Bridgeport Islanders come to town. Details regarding this special celebration will be announced at a later date. The full 2023-24 Hartford Wolf Pack promotional schedule is below. The full 2023-24 regular season schedule can be seen here.  Friday, October 20th, 2023 – Home Opener (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) *Rally Towel Giveaway, Presented by Carvel & CM Concessions *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, October 21st, 2023 – Postgame Skate (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *Magnet Schedule Giveaway, Presented by Pepsi  Friday, October 27th, 2023 – Costume Parade (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, November 11th, 2023 – Hockey Fights Cancer (7:00 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins)  Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 – School Day Game (11:00 a.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Saturday, November 18th, 2023 – Military Appreciation Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Syracuse Crunch) *Presented by General Dynamic Electric Boat *Postgame Skate with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, December 1st, 2023 – Specialty Jerseys (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 – Teddy Bear Toss (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *Specialty Jerseys  Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 – College Media Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Cleveland Monsters)  Friday, December 15th, 2023 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Rochester Americans)  Sunday, December 17th, 2023 – Sonar’s Birthday & Mascot Mania (3:00 p.m. vs. Toronto Marlies) *Postgame Photos with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, December 22nd, 2023 – Pucks ‘N Paws (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, December 30th, 2023 – Hockey ‘N Hops (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *2024 Calendar Giveaway  Saturday, January 13th, 2024 – Pride Night (7:30 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins) *Presented by Nissan  Friday, January 19th, 2024 – New York Rangers Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Hershey Bears) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Friday, February 2nd, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)  Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 – Women in Sports Night & Specialty Jerseys (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds) *Presented by Nissan *Youth Jersey Giveaway  Friday, February 9th, 2024 – 2,000th Game Celebration (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Friday, February 16th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Laval Rocket)  Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 – Pucks ‘N Paws (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders)  Saturday, February 24th, 2024 – Star Wars Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Cleveland Monsters) *Postgame Autographs  Friday, March 1st, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Laval Rocket)  Friday, March 8th, 2024 – Bobblehead Giveaway (7:00 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, March 16th, 2024 – Hartford Hockey Heritage Night (6:00 p.m. vs. Utica Comets)  Friday, March 29th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Saturday, March 30th, 2024 – Guns ‘N Hoses (7:00 p.m. vs. Hershey Bears) *Postgame Skate with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, April 12th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Sunday, April 14th, 2024 – Miracle League Night (3:00 p.m. vs. Charlotte Checkers) *Team Photo Giveaway  Friday, April 19th, 2024 – Fan Appreciation Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) *Chance to win $100,000 *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs Full-season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, and flex plans for the 2023-24 season are on sale now! Visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets or call860-722-9425 for more details! Single-game tickets will go on sale on a to-be-announced date later this summer. Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK ANNOUNCE PROMO NIGHTS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack unveiled the promotional schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season, the club's 27th in Connecticut. The home schedule kicks off with the club’s annual Home Opener on Friday, October 20th, at 7:00 p.m. against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The night will feature the first giveaway of the season, as fans will receive a Wolf Pack rally towel courtesy of Carvel and CM Concessions. Home Opener weekend concludes on Saturday, October 21st, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Fans in attendance that night will receive a 2023-24 Wolf Pack magnet schedule courtesy of Pepsi. Once again, the Wolf Pack will don a pair of specialty jerseys during the 2023-24 season. The first jersey will be worn on both December 1st and 2nd, when the Pack hosts the Phantoms for a back-to-back weekend set. The second specialty jersey will make its debut on February 3rd when the Springfield Thunderbirds come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. In addition to the Home Opener weekend rally towel and magnetic schedule giveaways, the Wolf Pack will have numerous giveaway nights during the 2023-24 season. This season’s giveaways include a 2024 Wolf Pack branded calendar on December 30th, youth jerseys on February 3rd, a bobblehead on March 8th, and a 2023-24 team photo on April 14th. Returning in 2023-24 are recurring promotions, including $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs every Friday night. The CT-DOT Family Value Pack is once again available for select dates, allowing fans to purchase three tickets, three hot dogs, and three fountain drinks in the red or blue sections. This package will be available on October 21st, November 25th, December 17th, December 30th, and April 14th. The Pack will also host four postgame events featuring players from the team. Fans will get a chance to once again skate with some of their favorite Wolf Pack players following the games on November 18th and March 30th. Fans will get a chance to take photos with available players following the game on December 17th, while postgame autographs will occur on February 24th. The Wolf Pack will celebrate a special milestone this season on Friday, February 9th. The club will play the 2,000th game in Wolf Pack history when the Bridgeport Islanders come to town. Details regarding this special celebration will be announced at a later date. The full 2023-24 Hartford Wolf Pack promotional schedule is below. The full 2023-24 regular season schedule can be seen here.  Friday, October 20th, 2023 – Home Opener (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) *Rally Towel Giveaway, Presented by Carvel & CM Concessions *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, October 21st, 2023 – Postgame Skate (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *Magnet Schedule Giveaway, Presented by Pepsi  Friday, October 27th, 2023 – Costume Parade (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, November 11th, 2023 – Hockey Fights Cancer (7:00 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins)  Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 – School Day Game (11:00 a.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Saturday, November 18th, 2023 – Military Appreciation Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Syracuse Crunch) *Presented by General Dynamic Electric Boat *Postgame Skate with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, December 1st, 2023 – Specialty Jerseys (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 – Teddy Bear Toss (7:00 p.m. vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms) *Specialty Jerseys  Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 – College Media Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Cleveland Monsters)  Friday, December 15th, 2023 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Rochester Americans)  Sunday, December 17th, 2023 – Sonar’s Birthday & Mascot Mania (3:00 p.m. vs. Toronto Marlies) *Postgame Photos with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, December 22nd, 2023 – Pucks ‘N Paws (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, December 30th, 2023 – Hockey ‘N Hops (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *2024 Calendar Giveaway  Saturday, January 13th, 2024 – Pride Night (7:30 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins) *Presented by Nissan  Friday, January 19th, 2024 – New York Rangers Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Hershey Bears) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Friday, February 2nd, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)  Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 – Women in Sports Night & Specialty Jerseys (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds) *Presented by Nissan *Youth Jersey Giveaway  Friday, February 9th, 2024 – 2,000th Game Celebration (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Friday, February 16th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Laval Rocket)  Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 – Pucks ‘N Paws (7:00 p.m. vs. Bridgeport Islanders)  Saturday, February 24th, 2024 – Star Wars Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Cleveland Monsters) *Postgame Autographs  Friday, March 1st, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Laval Rocket)  Friday, March 8th, 2024 – Bobblehead Giveaway (7:00 p.m. vs. Providence Bruins) *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs  Saturday, March 16th, 2024 – Hartford Hockey Heritage Night (6:00 p.m. vs. Utica Comets)  Friday, March 29th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Saturday, March 30th, 2024 – Guns ‘N Hoses (7:00 p.m. vs. Hershey Bears) *Postgame Skate with Wolf Pack Players  Friday, April 12th, 2024 – $2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs (7:00 p.m. vs. Springfield Thunderbirds)  Sunday, April 14th, 2024 – Miracle League Night (3:00 p.m. vs. Charlotte Checkers) *Team Photo Giveaway  Friday, April 19th, 2024 – Fan Appreciation Night (7:00 p.m. vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) *Chance to win $100,000 *$2 Drafts & $2 Hot Dogs Full-season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, and flex plans for the 2023-24 season are on sale now! Visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets or call 860-722-9425 for more details! Single-game tickets will go on sale on a to-be-announced date later this summer. Read the full article

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CANTLON: BIG WEEKEND FOR THE WOLF PACK

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -  Six months of hard work with all the peaks-and-valleys a season can bring, all boils down to one weekend and a four-game stretch. The Hartford Wolf Pack sporting a 31-16-6-5 record (73 points) sit in third place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division have their third straight three-in-three weekend as well as next Wednesday's meeting with the Providence Bruins, are all division games. This set of games starts with a pair of XL Center home games on Friday and Saturday night against the Hershey Bears, who the Pack trail by three points. “Every game we play is important and we'll say the same thing next weekend and the weekend after that,” Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said while trying to lower the pre-game temperature. “Unless you’re out of the playoffs, as the season wears on, all games are important.” At 3 PM on Sunday afternoon the Pack play the Springfield Thunderbirds before the meeting on Wednesday with the Bruins. “We want to finish as high as possible. First place in the division gets home-ice advantage. We are going to have to play against Hershey in back-to-back games and then Springfield. That’s our immediate task,” said Knoblauch. Playing three-of-the-four games at home, and then a short 20-mile drive to Springfield takes some of the physical edge off and works in their favor. Knoblauch, as the captain of the ship, is keeping his eyes on his troops and not much on Hershey. The Bears, however, are a quick counter-attack team and present a real tough test for the Wolf Pack. “We're not focusing as much on Hershey, but on our game. Getting a little more structure in our offensive structure. We just have had as much as we should. We need to get back to that.” Having the puck more than the other team sounds trite and simplistic, but was a key to the Pack’s early-season success as well as getting off to fast starts and not playing from behind. “It’s a big part of our identity, getting that first goal is important to get the other team to open up and take advantage of that. Being prepared goes a long way, especially as this time of year rolls around. “This time of the year, every game is big, but against those guys all points are big. We’ve spent the week preparing for this, now it's just time to get out there,” the first-year pro, Patrick Newell, said. Getting good starts in the first period was also a point of emphasis. “We addressed getting off to better starts, not be on our heels so much,” veteran defenseman Vincent LoVerde said. "Something the group is looking to this coming weekend.” Special teams will be a critical role in the weekend's fortunes. “It gets more critical as your season wears on, but so does five-on-five hockey. The teams are so close; special teams can make the difference and will likely factor this weekend,” Knoblauch said while keeping everything close to the vest. For Newell, it's some small adjustments that will help. “We’ve been fine-tuning things. We have some success lately. You're going to have those stretches. The good work will pay off for us.” The goaltending, a source of strength all season while Igor Shesterkin was with the Wolf Pack, will be tested as the Wolf Pack go with veteran J.F. Berube who gets the nod for the next game. “We solidified our goaltending in acquiring him. We have every confidence (in him) as we do in Adam (Huska). We don’t need for him to steal a game with a 58 save shutout. We need solid goaltending, and conversely, we need goal-scoring support from the team for the goaltending,” remarked the coach. The goalscoring issue is not secondary, rather it’s the Wolf Pack’s primary scorers. “We have gotten goals from our third and fourth lines. We need them (the other two lines) to contribute more to the mix. We don’t have any top-leading scorers of the league here, a top gun guy. It's not where it should be or where we expect it to be. We need scoring from all of our forwards,” said Knoblauch. A player with a keen understanding of Berube and what he can do is LoVerde, who won a Calder Cup with him during the Manchester Monarchs last season in the AHL before departing for Ontario. That spring the Monarchs swept the Wolf Pack in the conference finals, the last time Hartford tasted playoff hockey. “I’m very familiar with him having won a championship in Manchester and played with him in Ontario. (He's a) very solid goalie. He knows how to play in crunch time. He’s a winner and he wants to win. He has solidified us back there. He’s a talker like Tom (McCollum) was, and we appreciate him and wish him the best, and Adam has been super all year. We have full confidence in our goaltending,” remarked LoVerde. One element of surprise this weekend could be the return of Boo Nieves, who's missed 13 games since January 31st. Knoblauch hopes to fill a gap that's been occupied in his absence by a variety of players. “We hope so (to have him play). We have missed him. We have filled the gap with Fogs (team captain Steven Fogarty), Newell and Gettinger. He has so many valuable minutes from five on five, penalty kill and the power play. We would love to add to our lineup,” Knoblauch said. The coach was clearly hoping his practice time and contact will allow Nieves to return. NOTES: One worry Knoblauch has and has no control over is what happens with the Rangers who have two emergency recalls left while they are doing a roster high-wire act. “We’ve been fortunate so far this year with the Rangers (on the injury front), but right now they have no extra forwards or extra defenseman. So as soon as they get an injury, somebody has to go. They have no spares,” Knoblauch said. The AHL Trade deadline on Monday only produced one trade, but it might have an impact on the Wolf Pack as the defending Calder Cup champions, the Charlotte Checkers, solidified their lineup by picking up the former captain of the Wolf Pack, Ryan Bourque, from the struggling Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The trade sent Cedric Lacroix and Terry Broadburst to Bridgeport. The first time he was traded was at the NHL Trade deadline five years ago to the Hershey Bears for Chris Brown. Ironically, Brown just signed a contract extension for another year with Nuremberg (Germany-DEL). As they did last season, a few days ago, the Checkers also picked up a veteran goalie for the playoff run. Keith Kinkaid was loaned out from the Laval Rocket after spending most of the year as the number two man in Montreal behind Carey Price. Hershey reassigned ex-Wolf Pack, Chris McCarthy, to the South Carolina Stingray (ECHL). The Springfield Thunderbirds recalled goalie Ryan Bednard from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits whose first AHL win was against the Wolf Pack. The Sound Tigers also made some roster moves calling up Arnaud Durandeau and goalie Jakub Sharek from Worcester. The Utica Comets received from the Vancouver Canucks, ex-Sound Tiger, Justin Bailey and from Kalamazoo, Mitch Eliot, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Daren Eliot. The first Division I college signees have started signing ATO deals. Sami Tavernier Merrimack (HE) signs with Syracuse and his teammate Griff Jesks. They head down the road on I-90 to 290 to Worcester (ECHL). There are five Division I players and six Division III players that have signed so far. Read the full article

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KEELEY / CRAWFORD: (WED) GROPP, RACINE HEADED TO AHL

Gropp recalled to Hartford, Racine loaned to Stockton BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – December 11, 2019 – Two Mariners players are AHL bound, the team announced on Wednesday. Forward Ryan Gropp has been recalled to the Hartford Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers and defenseman Jonathan Racine has been loaned to the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Both players already have significant AHL experience Gropp, 23, is a second-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2015 and was reassigned to the Mariners in early November. In 10 games for Maine, Gropp has scored three goals with four assists. He spent nearly all of the prior two seasons in Hartford, playing 59 games there in 2017-18 and 61 last season – with a brief eight-game stint in Maine. Gropp has registered 47 career points (25 goals, 22 assists) in 121 career AHL games. Racine, a 26-year-old defenseman is in his first season with the Mariners but has played 268 career games in the AHL since turning pro in 2013, including a full season with the Portland Pirates in 2015-16. A native of Montreal, QC, Racine signed a standard player contract with the Mariners in the offseason after spending the 2018-19 season with the Brampton Beast. Racine has also seen ECHL time with the Manchester Monarchs, but played the rest of his pro career at the AHL level, in San Antonio, Portland, St. John’s, Syracuse, Ontario, and Belleville. Racine was drafted in 2011 by the Florida Panthers in the third round. In 15 games for the Mariners this season, Racine has six assists and a team-leading 35 penalty minutes. The Mariners have a four-game road trip leading up to the holidays but return to the Cross Insurance Arena for home games on December 26th and 27th. On the 26th, they host the Adirondack Thunder at 7:00 PM for “Nickelodeon Takeover Night,” featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles specialty jerseys. It’s also Jewish Heritage Night, in celebration of Hanukkah. December 27th is a 7:15 PM faceoff against the Reading Royals. It’s STEM Night, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Four tiers of holiday packs for all gift-giving budgets are also available at MarinersOfMaine.com _________________________________________ CRAWFORD: FORWARD RYAN GROPP RETURNS TO WOLF PACK Has Seven Points in Ten Games with Maine Mariners BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack  HARTFORD, December 11, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward Ryan Gropp to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. Gropp, who has played one game with the Wolf Pack this season, has three goals and four assists for seven points in ten games with the Mariners.  The third-year pro also has posted a +4 and served six minutes in penalties. A second-round selection (41st overall) by the Rangers in the 2015 NHL Draft, Gropp has suited up for 121 career AHL games with the Wolf Pack, notching 25 goals and 22 assists for 47 points, along with 34 penalty minutes.  In 18 career ECHL contests with the Mariners, the 23-year-old 6-3, 187-pounder has totaled eight goals and seven assists for 15 points, plus six PIM. The Wolf Pack are back in action on home ice tonight, with a 7:00 PM contest vs. the Binghamton Devils.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: SECOND ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS IS DECEMBER 7TH

Stuffed animal donations will benefit local fire departments BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – November 27, 2019 – The fur will fly at the Cross Insurance Arena on Saturday, December 7th in the second annual “Teddy Bear Toss,” presented by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. Fans are invited to bring stuffed animal donations to toss onto the ice following the first Mariners goal. All collected stuffed animals will be donated to local fire departments. The Teddy Bear Toss is a famous holiday tradition that is held throughout all levels of hockey, collecting teddy bears and other stuffed animals for people in need. The spectacle of stuffed toys flying onto the ice after the home team’s first goal has been well documented in places like Calgary, Alberta (WHL’s Calgary Hitmen), and Hersey, Pennsylvania (AHL’s Hershey Bears). Mariners forward Greg Chase played in Calgary from 2011-15, where the Hitmen averaged over 20,000 stuffed animals in each year’s toss, and previously held the world record of 28,815 before being bested by the Hershey Bears in 2018. “It was a crazy sight to be a part of,” said Chase. “Bears literally raining from the sky. The anticipation is different than any other game, you know it’s the first goal that sets off the chaos. The energy is different. I think it’s almost an advantage for the home team. You come out with that extra jump.” Chase also gave his thoughts on the charitable component of the toss – which is at the core of the event. “There’s no better feeling than seeing those kids' faces when you hand them a bear,” he said. “This is a really special event for a lot of people. To be able to give back especially around the holidays is awesome. We get to do it in such a fun and cool way for the fans, that’s what makes our game unique.” The Mariners held their first Teddy Bear Toss last November, with Riley Bourbonnais scoring the sacred goal midway through the second period. He was later overshadowed by Ty Ronning’s third-period hat trick, leading the Mariners to a 6-4 comeback win over the Manchester Monarchs. The Mariners collected 1,153 stuffed animals last season, and are hoping to top that mark this year. “Donated teddy bears are used by local fire and rescue services to comfort children during difficult times and stressful situations,” said Captain Robb Couture of the South Portland Fire Department. “Many of these bears will find their way onto our fire trucks and ambulances for just that reason.  We will also be using the bears to supplement the South Portland Christmas Toy Drive for local children in need of a special gift this holiday season.  Special thanks to the Mariners organization for supporting us and our local communities!” The South Portland fire department will also have staff and a vehicle on hand at the game to help clean up the toss. The Mariners will take on the Adirondack Thunder at 6:00 PM. The game also features a mini-stick giveaway for the first 2,000 fans through the door, courtesy of Jobs In ME. Families of four can take advantage of the “Family Four Pack,” which includes four tickets, four food, and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies for as low as $80. Family Four Packs are available for all Saturday and Sunday home games but must be purchased in advance. After Thanksgiving, the Mariners are home on Friday and Saturday, hosting the Indy Fuel and Newfoundland Growlers. Friday features Black Friday discounts at the Mariners merchandise stand: 20% off all Mariners pucks during the first intermission and 15% off all Mariners hats during the second intermission. Both promotions are limited to five items per customer and must be purchased with a credit or debit card. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday with $1 Aquafina water, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light drafts through the start of the second period. The puck drops at 7:15 PM. Saturday night will feature specialty Aquaman jerseys as part of the league’s partnership with DC Comics. Jerseys will be up for auction through the ECHL. A balloon artist will also be on hand on the concourse. Groups of 10 or more can call 833-GO-MAINE to get tickets at a discounted price. Individual game tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, in person at the Trusted Choice Box Office at the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling the box office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK ANNOUNCE PLAYER MOVES

Defenseman Nick Ebert Assigned by NY Rangers, Blueliner Brandon Crawley Reassigned to Maine  HARTFORD, October 8, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the parent New York Rangers have loaned defenseman Nick Ebert to the Wolf Pack and have reassigned defenseman Brandon Crawley to its ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. Ebert, who was acquired by the Rangers Monday from the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov and a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, has skated in one game with the Belleville Senators of the AHL this season. He played 49 games with Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) last year, registering 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points, along with 46 penalty minutes. Ebert ranked third among SHL defensemen in goals, ranked fourth among defensemen in points, and fifth among defensemen in assists. He led all players on Orebro in assists, points, average ice time, shots on goal (144), and power play goals (six), tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (three), and ranked third on the team in goals. The 6-1, 205-pounder played in the SHL for parts of the last two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19), as well as in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with HC Slovan Bratislava in 2017-18. Ebert also played three seasons in the AHL (2014-15 through 2016-17) before playing in Europe. He has skated in 158 career AHL games, registering 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points, along with a plus-23 rating and 86 penalty minutes. Ebert helped the Manchester Monarchs win the Calder Cup as AHL Champions in 2014-15, and he also helped the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) win an OHL championship during his final season of junior hockey in 2013-14. The Livingston, New Jersey native was originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the final pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft (seventh round, 211th overall).

Crawley, a third-year pro and a fourth-round (123rd overall) draft pick by the Rangers in 2017, appeared in 50 games for the Wolf Pack last season, scoring three goals and adding 12 assists for 15 points and serving 111 minutes in penalties, leading the team in that category for a second straight season.  In 114 career games with the Wolf Pack over the last two seasons, he has totaled five goals and 15 assists for 20 points, plus 210 PIM. The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Saturday night, October 12, when they are back on home ice at the XL Center, taking on the Springfield Thunderbirds in a 7:30 PM game.  That is “Carnival Night”, including a giveaway of Wolf Pack travel mugs to the first 2,000 fans, courtesy of 97.9 ESPN. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: FORMER PORTLAND PIRATE RACINE SIGNS WITH MARINERS

Mariners add a veteran presence to the blue line BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – October 1st, 2019 – The Mariners added a key piece to their blue line on Tuesday, announcing the signing of veteran defenseman Jonathan Racine. The signing marks a return to Portland for Racine, who was a member of the 2015-16 Portland Pirates. Although Racine is just 26 years old, he’s been a pro since the end of the 2012-13 season when he debuted with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage.  Racine was a third-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers in 2011, going 87th overall. In 2013-14, he made his NHL debut, appearing in one game for the Panthers. He would spend the next five years in the AHL, playing for San Antonio, Portland, the St. John’s IceCaps, Syracuse Crunch, and Ontario Reign from 2013-2018. For the past two seasons, Racine has played primarily in the ECHL – with the Manchester Monarchs in 2017-18 and the Brampton Beast last season. In his 44 games with the Beast, Racine enjoyed a career year in all three major offensive categories (goals, assists, and points), scoring seven goals with 13 assists. He had never registered more than one goal or eight assists in any of his prior five full professional seasons, although his previous best career season was during his time in Portland (one goal, eight assists in 69 games). Racine also led Brampton’s squad in penalty minutes last season, with 103. In six postseason games, he had three points and 39 penalty minutes. The 6’2, 194-pound defenseman is a native of Montreal, Quebec. He played four seasons in the QMJHL, with the Shawinigan Cataractes and Moncton Wildcats. He won a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan in 2011-12. Mariners training camp kicks off Wednesday with the first of three sessions this week at Troubh Arena beginning at 10:00 AM. The Mariners will hold an evening practice from 6-7 PM on Tuesday, October 8th at the Cross Insurance Arena that will also include player introductions and a private meet and greet for full season ticket holders following a practice. All sessions are free and open to the public. The full training camp roster will be released later today. The second season of Maine Mariners ECHL hockey kicks off October 11th at home when the Adirondack Thunder visit the Cross Insurance Arena for a 7:15 PM faceoff. Tickets to all 36 home games are available at MarinersOfMaine.com. Full and half-season plans along with 12-game mini-plans, flex packs and group tickets are also available. For more information, go to MarinersOfMaine.com, call 833-GO-MAINE to visit the Mariners front office at 94 Free St. in Portland. Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS RECEIVE REINFORCEMENTS FROM AHL

New faces abound in training camp, heating up competition BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — 11 players have been sent as reinforcements to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits' training camp roster from the Charlotte Checkers and Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League. The Charlotte Checkers have released forwards Zach Franko, Lincoln Griffin and Mason Baptista, as well as defenseman Brien Diffley, from their professional tryouts (PTOs) and have been re-assigned to the Swamp Rabbits' training camp. Additionally, the Springfield Thunderbirds have released defenseman Adam Larkin and forward Shaquille Merasty from their PTOs and are now in Swamp Rabbits camp. The T-Birds also re-assigned defensemen Dylan MacPherson and Will Lochead, as well as forwards Patrick Bajkov, Cliff Pu and Liam Pecararo to the Swamp Rabbits, effective immediately. MacPherson, 21, is entering his first full season as a professional after a three-year junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. The young defenseman was never drafted into the WHL and carved out 181 games of junior hockey experience, 43 points and a +15 mark. He was also only ever dinged for 18 minor penalties in his career. Lochead, 21, served as an alternate captain on the London Knights of the OHL last season and enters his first professional season out of his junior career. He brings 210 games of junior hockey experience, and a +40 mark, to the blue line for Greenville. Bajkov, 21, spent last season with the Thunderbirds, the Manchester Monarchs and the Florida Everblades. The former 100-point scorer with the Everett Silvertips joins the Swamp Rabbits as a strong playmaker. 10 of his 14 points on the 'Blades were assists in 31 games. His production got him the attention of NHL scouts during the 2016 NHL Draft but went undrafted. The BC native scored his first ECHL goal at the expense of Greenville on January 9, 2019. Pu, 21, is a 2016 third-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Draft. Last season, he spent most of his season with the Charlotte Checkers (44 games), but also played nine games for the T-Birds and five games for the Florida Everblades, where he was a point-per-game player. Pu played 232 games in the OHL, was nearly a point-per-game player, and spent most of his time with the London Knights. His production was part of an OHL championship and a Memorial Cup championship with the Knights in 2016. Pecararo, 23, enters his first full professional season out of Northeastern University, where he was part of the Huskies' resurgence. His steady production at Northeastern helped them to a Hockey East title in 2019. He comes from a strong junior hockey program in Waterloo, where, under head coach P.K. O'Handley, helped the Black Hawks to within a game of the Clark Cup Final in 2016, a Clark Cup Final berth in 2014, and a third playoff berth in 2013. He was a consistent performer in clutch games, with 19 points in 22 career USHL playoff games. Catch the Swamp Rabbits in preseason action this Saturday, October 5 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena against the South Carolina Stingrays. Tickets are just $10, or FREE for full and half-season ticket holders. For tickets, call or stop by the Bon Secours Wellness Arena box office. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHN: GREENVILLE SIGNS DEFENSEMAN BRIAN DIFFLEY

Late-season acquisition returns to Swamp Rabbits BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have agreed to terms with defenseman Brien Diffley on a Standard Player Contract for the 2019–20 season. Diffley split time between two ECHL teams in his debut season and will look to come back strong in his second season. Half of Diffley's first pro year was spent with the Wheeling Nailers before being dealt to the Manchester Monarchs. He posted a goal and eight assists in 43 games and finished with a +7 rating. Diffley was a mainstay on the Boston University blue line. He appeared in 97 games in four seasons with the Terriers, finished with a +24 rating, and 22 points. He helped a powerhouse BU club to two Hockey East championships (2015, 2018). The psychology major's championship pedigree stretched all the way back to 2012, where he was part of a state champion Burlington High School squad. He becomes the fifth defenseman to ink a contract with the Swamp Rabbits for the 2019–20 season. The following players are now under contract for the 2019–20 season: F - Michael Pelech (29) F - Johno May (25) F - Travis Howe (25) F - Kamerin Nault (23) F - Mason Baptista (29) F - Roman Ammirato (26) F - Daniel Perez (25) F - Nathan Perkovich (33) F - Cédric Lacroix (24) F - Zach Franko (26) F - Shaquille Merasty (28) D - J.C. Brassard (23) D - Luke Ripley (25) D - Adam Larkin (24) D - Jake Bolton (27) D - Brien Diffley (24) More signings will take place throughout the offseason, so stay tuned to the Swamp Rabbits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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CANTLON: WOLF PACK OFF-SEASON VOLUME 13

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - There has been much activity in the world of the NHL and AHL, especially for the heart of the summer. PLAYER AND COACHING MOVEMENT Former Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Ranger, Marc Savard, who has been doing work as a skills development coach with Petersborough (OHL) was hired as an Assistant Coach by the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. Ex-Sound Tiger, Richard Seeley, after the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL), folded following the season, is now the GM of the Ontario Reign. The AHL roster shuffle continues at a slower pace than at the beginning of the month but remains chugging along. Eric Condra heads from Texas to Colorado. Ian McCoshen gets a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield/Florida of $250K-AHL/$700K-NHL and defenseman Julien Melchiori leaves Springfield for Binghamton. Melchiori, is a much younger cousin to former Nighthawk, Daryl Evans, and former Springfield Indian, Vic Venasky. Tyler Gaudet leaves Milwaukee for Toronto Marlies for a one-year, one-way, $700K deal. Cavan Fitzgerald moves from San Jose to Charlotte. Matt Moulson, with almost a 1,000 NHL games, signs an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears. Max McCormick gets a one-year, two-way deal with Charlotte/Carolina paying $100K-AHL/$700K-NHL after splitting last season with Belleville/Colorado. Four more AHL’ers head off to Europe. Ex-Pack Tom Pyatt, who split last season with Utica/Ottawa, signs with Skelleftea AIK (Sweden-SHL). Ex-Pack defenseman, Chris Summers, departs the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to join his good friend, and ex-Pack, Chris Brown with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers (Germany-DEL) on a two-year contract. He will still be wearing number 55 on his jersey. Kerby Rychel goes from Stockton to Orebro HK (Sweden-SHL). Shane Hanna of Texas heads off to Rungsted IK (Denmark-DHL). Those make 61 AHL’ers who have signed off to Europe or Asia for next season. Hampus Gustafsson of Hershey is on a tryout with Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL). Ex-Pack, Paul Crowder, re-signs with the Fife Flyers (Scotland-EIHL) for the fall and winter hockey season while he is presently playing with the Sydney Ice Dogs (Australia-AIHL). Crowder is their third-leading scorer after playing 12 games (11g-29a-40pts) as the team heads into the final month of the regular season. Crowder's brother Tim is tied for the team lead at 50 points and is third in AIHL scoring of the short season league. Goalie, Jackson Whistle, the nephew of ex-Nighthawk, Rob Whisle, leaves Sheffield (England-EIHL) for Nottingham (England-EIHL) Defenseman Joesph Masonius, a former UCONN Husky signs with Reading (ECHL). He played one game in Wheeling (ECHL) and 12 with now-defunct Manchester (ECHL) last year. Philippe Hudon (Choate Prep) signs an ECHL one-year deal with the Florida Everblades. After finishing his Canadian collegiate career with Concordia University (OUAA) in Montreal, the Hudson, Quebec native played 14 games with Florida and three games with Laval. Karl El-Mir, also from Montreal area, the former UCONN Husky (HE), signs with Indy (ECHL) for next year. Jake Cliffords of Arizona St. (Division 1-Independent) signs with Tulsa (ECHL) and a pair of Division III players sign. Zach Borsoi of Utica College (UCHC) signs with Adirondack (ECHL) while Matt Lippa of Manhattanville College (UCHC) puts his name on a contract with Idaho (ECHL). Three more collegians sign pro deals. Freddy Gerard from Ohio State (Big 10) signs with Idaho (ECHL). Timo Kocer departs Division 3 Finlandia University (NCHA) for his native Slovenia to play for HDD Jesenice (AlpsHL). Peter Crinella of Holy Cross (AHA) signs a deal with Wichita (ECHL) making 184 players from Division I to sign North American pro deals, 22 from Division III, 49 sign European deals, making an overall count of 247 collegians to sign pro deals. Former Quinnipiac Bobcat, and briefly a Sound Tiger defenseman, Mike Dalhuisen, a Dutch-native, leaves EC Bad Nauheim (Germany DEL-2) and signs with HK Dukla Michalovce (Slovakia-SLEL). Travis Culhane, the son of ex-Whaler, Jim Culhane, moves from Western Michigan (NCHC) to Colorado College (NCHC) in the same capacity as Director of Hockey Operations. Besides AHL President Dave Andrews, another hockey honcho will step down following the 2019-20 season. Joe Bertagna, the commissioner of Hockey East after 23 years at the helm will leave the scene, not by his own choice, but the conference directors elected not to renew his contract. He also spent 13 years as the head man for the ECAC before heading up Hockey East in 1997. Bertagna’s name is all over college hockey in the Northeast. Beside commissioning two college conferences, he is an accomplished author of five books on goaltending and was twice the goalie coach for the Boston Bruins (1985-1991 & 1994-95) as well as the 1991 Canada Cup US entry, and the 1994 US Olympic team, that played in Lillehammer, Norway. He was the pioneer in making women’s hockey a Division I sport when he became Harvard’s first head coach of women’s hockey (1977-1979) and actively promoted and developed that side of the college hockey equation. He is already in the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame and the ECAC Hall of Fame. He played from 1970-1973 at Harvard under three big names of collegiate history in Ralph “Cooney” Weiland, Billy Cleary, and the late, Tim Taylor of Yale, who was an assistant at Harvard. Bertagna, being a starter his last two years, was in an era where freshmen were not allowed to play varsity sports. He played professionally for two years with SG Cortina (Italy-IHL) and Milwaukee (USHL) then a senior hockey league not in its present junior format. UCONN adds another recruit for this fall’s campaign. Forward Jonny Mulera from the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC) commits after playing 49 games and scoring 27 goals, getting 27 assists (54 points). The team’s Director of Player Development is ex-Pack, Bobby Butler. The Yale University Bulldogs (ECACHL) snagged another son of a former NHL’er, Will Dineen, the son of Hartford Whaler great, Kevin Dineen, has made a commitment to Yale for 2020-21. He played this past season for the Chicago Mission U-16 (HPHL) and was drafted by two different US junior leagues this spring. He was taken first taken by Omaha Lancers (USHL) 7th round 98th overall then taken by the Odessa (TX) Jackalopes (NAHL).in the 7th round 162nd overall. Now with the commit to Yale looks more than likely he will be in the USHL come the fall. His father Kevin, as previously mentioned, just signed to be the head coach in San Diego (AHL). He is the younger of the Dineens. Two of his uncles, Peter and Shawn, played for the New Haven Nighthawks, and his other uncle, Jerry Dineen, is the Rangers video coach. Two college graduate transfers are heading to Boston University (HE) in the fall. Wilton CT native, goaltender Sam Tucker, who played his prep school hockey at Choate, takes his Yale degree and four years of collegiate hockey to the Terriers. Also joining him from the ECACHL conference is Alex Brink of Brown University taking the 50-minute trip up I-95  to BU’s campus. Ex-Pack, Jeff Finley, is changing scouting addresses. He leaves Detroit, where he was the Chief of Amateur scouting, to go Winnipeg to replace the retiring Marcel Comeau, a one time New Haven Nighthawks head coach. Need some cool thoughts during the hot days of summer? Here is a superb hockey story to keep you cool and get to read about hockey at the southernmost point in the world; HERE The NHL and college hockey should help in the development of hockey here. Dominic Turgeon, nephew of ex-Whaler Sylvain signed a new one year two-way deal with Grand Rapids for a slight AHL increase from $67,500K to $80K and the NHL money is up from $650K to $750K-NHL). Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS BRING BACK MASTER

UMass-Lowell product had seven points in eight games PORTLAND, ME – June 26, 2019 – Forward Nick Master has re-signed with the Mariners for 2019-20, the team announced Wednesday. The former UMass-Lowell River Hawk had a strong showing in Maine at the end of the 2018-19 season, registering seven points in eight games. The 24-year-old Master is a native of Broomall, PA and played for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers program for parts of three seasons, where he was a teammate of Dwyer Tschantz. After a 50 point season (in 40 games) with the U18 squad in 2012-13, Master moved onto to the United States Hockey League and played for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders and Tri-City Storm. With the Storm in 2014-15, Master finished 2nd on the team in goals with 23 and later averaged a point-per-game in Tri City’s playoff run. He began his collegiate career at UMass-Lowell the following season. Master enjoyed the best offensive season of his college career as a freshman in 2015-16, when he posted 24 points (8 goals and 16 assists) in 39 games, finishing in the top 10 of all Hockey East freshmen. He was also named the team’s Rookie of the Year. Over his final three seasons at Lowell, Master remained a mainstay in the lineup, playing a total of 150 career college games. The River Hawks won a Hockey East Championship in his sophomore season. On March 21st, 2019 after finishing his senior year, Master signed with the Mariners. On March 24th, 2019, Master made his professional debut and had an assist in a 6-2 home loss to the Manchester Monarchs. It was the first of a four-game point streak to kick of Master’s pro career. On March 31st at Adirondack, Master opened the scoring with his first goal, coming on the power play. He would score another the following afternoon at home against Adirondack, also adding an assist for his first multi-point game. In eight games with the Mariners, Master scored three goals, with four assists. “I’d like to thank the Mariners for giving me the opportunity to play during their playoff push last season,” Master said. “It’s a great organization with a great atmosphere and I can only imagine it’s going to be better this year.” Master is the fifth forward and the seventh player re-signed to an SPC for 2019-20. View the current roster here. The second season of Maine Mariners ECHL hockey kicks off October 11th at home when the Adirondack Thunder visit the Cross Insurance Arena for a 7:15 PM faceoff. Full and half season plans along with 12-game mini-plans and group tickets are on sale now by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the Mariners front office at 94 Free St. in Portland. Single game tickets will go on sale on September 16th. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS ANNOUNCE FULL 2019-20 SCHEDULE

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