#could take pto half day or full day wednesday and then full day monday ?!

[day-mark]

sometimes i wonder how much money ive dropped on dream/dream related things

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON'S CORNER: VINNI LETTIERI PLAYS BIG PIECE OF WOLF PACK PLAYOFF RUN

Vinni Lettieri BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - Prior to his departure for the AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, California Vinni Lettieri was in a good spot as the final 22 games of the regular season. The last stretch commences in a home and home divisional pair of games with Springfield starting Friday at 7:15 pm at the XL Center. Lettieri returns along with teammate Joey Keane and head coach Kris Knoblauch as part of Atlantic Division winners of the 2020 AHL All-Star Classics. Lettieri popped in two goals the first came on a breakaway 2:13 into the first period for the Atlantic Division squad. The second was vintage Vinni off wing slapshot on a cross-ice feed from Providence’s Jack Studnicka 26 seconds into the action against the North Division. Then Joey Keane scored the next goal a little over two minutes later en route to a 5-2 win. He would also add an assist on the night. Now that all festivities are over Lettieri gets back to the task at hand. Practice is the key to his growth and progress. A few weeks ago in Cromwell, he and Keane spent a half hour or so taking extra shots and in one sequence hit the post three times in a row and he tossed his stick up in the air in baton tossing fashion. “That was one day because it's every day. To get better you have to do it every day. Joey and I do it a half-hour or so and it's important because it helps me to know where I am now and where I wanna go, work every day. It's always good to work with someone on those one-timers and Joey has been really good at it. Our powerplay has to improve, so we put in the extra time.” He has admitted his season was a slower start than he would have liked, but on and off-ice work has helped his game improve. “I have watched videos that have given me of Artemi Panarin (Rangers), ex-CT Whale Jonathan Marchessault (Las Vegas) and David Pasternak, (Boston the NHL’s leading goals scorer). It's learning how to hold onto the puck to make a better shot just not shooting randomly. So it's just one thing that changes everything it’s a combination of things. It's not a pattern that I see its learning each game is different. Using the coaches and all the other resources plus my teammates have helped make me a better all-around player,” remarked Lettieri. Panarin, the Rangers leading scorer and who has a high-end skill set is not a bad guy to pattern some of your game after. “Watching how he holds the puck in preparing for a shot is something, it's one of the little things of the game you learn. Pasternak’s shoots so well from any area he’s at its amazing. Marchessault, he seems to be everywhere and he is really dynamic and has great acceleration,” said Lettieri showing his keen scouting skills. Over the roller coaster past few weeks haven’t left Lettieri having seen the valley of the last two seasons. “For the better part of the year we have played the same way and stuck to our game plan and it’s a long season nothing is perfect. Yes, we could have played better in some ways, but overall I like this group and think more often than not will come out on top,” As they prepare for a weekend with Springfield a year ago same building he was adamant about making the playoffs three days the captain was traded and the team never recovered. This is obviously a very different group. “We certainly want it, but that is always important that we have to focus and continue to grow and get better and those things will take care of themselves.” AHL NEWS -Two pieces of new AHL arena news coming out of the AHL All-Star Classic. The San Jose City Council Tuesday night approved the expansion of the Solar4 American Ice Center that will become the new home of the AHL San Jose Barracuda. The arena located in central San Jose 3.6 miles about from the SAP Center aka Shark Tank where the Sharks and their AHL affiliate have shared the building for the past five years since the creation of the AHL Pacific Division. The upgrade slated to start this April that will see the complex go from four to six sheets of ice including a 4,200 seat competition arena that is to be completed by April 2022. The arena sits on a 21.2-acre site that also includes Excite Ballpark, home to the high, Class A eight-team California League San Jose Giants. The building has been the only secondary off-site training facility for the Sharks and Barracuda. The facility is also home to the collegiate varsity club hockey squad, the San Jose State Spartans (ACHA Division-2) and local high school hockey. This new facility combined with the AHL coming 32nd team, the expansion Palm Springs, CA team the affiliate for the expansion NHL Seattle team further solidifies the western growth of hockey both NHL, AHL and soon collegiately. -The West will also be solidified by the announcement from outgoing AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews that the Vegas Golden Knights are actively seeking to buy a current AHL team and move them to the Las Vegas area. The arena would be in nearby Paradise called, the Orleans Arena that was home to the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers from 2003-20014. The building is 7,773 seats- a perfect AHL size building but would have to undergo a serious overhaul of its operating systems to be ready by the fall of 2020. Now, which team would they purchase? The most likely candidate could be Rockford whose arrangement with the Chicago Black Hawks ends after this season. In that scenario, the Golden Knights would purchase Rockford and then move the team to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have the Chicago Wolves as their farm team would vacate that arrangement. That could allow the Black Hawks to skate into an arrangement as the Wolves' new parent team. The Wolves are one of the few independently owned teams left in the league in which 19 of the 32 teams are NHL O & O (owned and operated) and is one of the best attended and promoted teams in the league. When Wolves were firstborn in the old IHL under its present owner Don Levin the two were arch enemies. 20 plus years have passed. Rocky Wirtz, not his father Bill is running the team I can see a marriage being formed with the Black Hawks. There are some other possibilities, but Andrews's comments at the State of the AHL press conference made it clear it was more of a matter of when--not if--the AHL would be in the Las Vegas area. “I think that at some point there will be an (AHL) team in Vegas, or (the Golden Knights) will own a team, but would have to happen pretty soon.”  Andrews remarked who is as cautious as NHL President Gary Bettman is regarding announcements or speculations about team transfers, relocations or disbanding. NOTES: -Wolf Pack GM and Trumbull native, Chris Drury added another piece to his executive resume as he was named to the GM post of Team USA that will play in early May at the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. -Now that the NHL and AHL All-Star breaks have concluded temporary roster moves for that time period have ended and movement has begun once again. Goalie Adam Huska who went 1-1 with a 1.53 GAA win and Lewis Zerter-Gossage who scored his first ECHL in his two games were returned from Portland officially Monday. Maine’s goalie Francois Brassard in a paper transaction was released from his PTO with the Wolf Pack. Conversely, officially recalled on Wednesday by the Rangers was goalie Igor Shesterkin, but I don’t think this is the last time we will see him. If Alexander Georgiev is not traded by the NHL Trade deadline (February 24th) he would likely be returned by then. The Rangers could keep him in New York till their officially eliminated from playoff contention presently the Rangers are in the seventh spot for the wild card 10 points back. Expect Shesterkin to be here when the Wolf Pack start the Calder Cup playoffs and with Igor, the Wolf Pack’s chances for a long run are significantly improved. -Other notables from the AHL All-Star Classic were two former Quinnipiac Bobcats Sam Anas (Iowa) with two goals and Brogan Rafferty (Utica) with a goal and an assist. Ex-Pack and Sound Tiger Matt Ford (Grand Rapids) scored twice. -Lias Andersson’s suspension was officially lifted and was formally reassigned to HV 71 (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the season. -Ex-Wolf Pack Dale Weise was recalled back to Montreal from Laval, Jarred Tinordi son ex-New Haven Nighthawk Mark Tinordi was recalled by Nashville from Milwaukee, Jansen Harkins, son of former Whaler Todd Harkins was recalled to Winnipeg from Manitoba and Max Jones, son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Senators Brad Jones goes from San Diego to Anaheim. -Goalie Callum Booth (Salisbury Prep) was assigned to Atlanta (ECHL) by Charlotte. -Former UCONN Husky, Karl El-Mir was sent from Indy (ECHL) as the future consideration of a trade made last week with Greenville (ECHL). -Ex-Sound Tiger John Persson signs a deal with Brynas IF (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the season and for 2020-21 leaving SaiPa (Finland-FEL) who were having a poor season. -Ex-Sound Tiger assistant coach Matt Bertani is an assistant coach with Team South Korea at the IIHF U-20 Division II Group B tournament being held in Gangnueng South Korea till February 3rd. -We'll be seeing a goalie named Stauber a few times over the next few years. Jaxon Stauber, son of the former Wolf Pack and Nighthawk netminder, Robb Stauber has made a commitment to Providence College (HE) next year 2020-21. The 6’3 undrafted netminder played one game with Minnesota- State Mankato Mavericks (WCHA) before suddenly returning to Sioux Falls (USHL) for this season who are the defending USHL Clark Cup champions, where he was the playoff MVP last season. Father Robb just completed his AHL honorary captain duties at the AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, California at the Toyota Center, Sunday and Monday. -Easton Armstrong, son ex-Pack great Derek Armstrong played his first two WHL with Regina picking up a one shot on goal. Read the full article

[madstoner704]

Tales of the Angry Stoner: This Marathon Weekend, Was Lit

For 4 hours, 24 minutes and 13 seconds, I was on a journey around the city, through my neck-of-the-woods and back again. That was actually considered the easy part.  This is one of those events where punctuality and efficiency were paramount for the seamless running of the Charlotte Marathon. So, let me take you to the week leading up to the Marathon.

Monday 6 November: “I need to keep my legs on fleek, so this Marathon will be on fleek... or damn near close to it.” Furthermore, I reiterated to my manager that I have filled out for PTO for the Eve and the Monday after. The workday was quite placid. A normal amount of asininity and the only noticeable hazards were tires heading to Tire Kingdom and National Tire and Battery.  The Pawtuckett Hyena was hollering and shit, talking shit about why I only wear race shirts (I was wearing the Charlotte Marathon shirt from last year, in which I will continue to don with pride) and why marathon runners are soft. For fuck’s sake, the stupid ass cunt thinks that a marathon is a 5K. He hates anything that isn’t loud, angry, bango, light-skinned or straight. Since I’m a bisexual, quiet, angry, low-key bango, caramel complexed, he hates my gut. And I honestly don’t give a fuck. The only reason I come to Pawtuckett is to go to WORK. I don’t even go to Mountain Island Lake for Red Bowl anymore.

Tuesday 7 November: “I’ll be in Charlotte for the Weekend”. Whilst on the bus heading to work, my running coach sent me a message saying to make an overnight bag for the weekend. I screamed “Hell yeah!” on the CATS bus, because I don’t have to worry about CATS getting to the race. That news came with some backdrafts, as I found out that I was rooming with... the bango. I didn’t have an issue with it, because as long as I have enough reefer and beer money, I’m fucking Gucci le flare.  In addition, I had to keep him as calm as possible during the week, whilst keeping my motherfucking arse calm. I was getting angrier by the minute by the antics of everybody whilst he was so damn calm. Work was, again placid. 

Wednesday 8 November: ”You got me fucked up; you have shit all strewn about and I’m about to fall and bust my Goddamn arse in this truck with this poxy ass bedding from the Wal-Mart trying to throw my ass out this fucking truck. I hope that shit’s all the way fucking broke.” Despite that issue where I almost had been ejected from my truck I was unloading by a 125lb bed railing set, it was again, placid. But, after that occurred, I felt that the entire night has been fucked and it was furthermore a write-off, because if my manager wasn’t gonna call out for assistance in (at the very least), clearing the floor, there was no way I could continue to go at full-wick safely, because I was very angry at that moment.

Thursday 9 November: “Mr Brown, you know this route. You drove this route the day you snitched on me for vaping on your Goddamn bus. The route for the week hasn’t changed a fucking bit, so why the fuck are you bullshitting about? I know you’re bullshitting about because you see my fucking employee ID and you’re one of the devilish cunts who want to see a nigga fail in life. You are a fucking weak ass cunt. Get back on track and get me to Charlotte. I’m fucking sick of your shit. I was shaking and sweating profusely at that time. I was about to call my manager to let him know to manager override the system to mark this absence as Paid Time Off. It’s a good thing I didn’t, because I was able to calm down enough to function at work and I didn’t have to deal with my manager and his bullshit.

Friday 10 November: “Marathon Eve!” So, I woke up at 5:45am, drove to Harris Teeter to pick up some Eve shit so I can get fully carb-loaded before the marathon. My goal was “Charley horses are for the birds.” Drove back home. Went to the running group, that went placidly. Went to the shops, picked out a pair of going-out jeans, went back home, packed up, rolled up, rolled out... to end up at the Convention Centre, for the marathon expo. For those who don’t know what expo is, it is the packet pick-up and pop-up shops for all of your last minute needs, like tights, titty salve (Body Glide), nutrition and shit. After expo, I went to the Courtyard by Marriott where I had to meet with the bango and my running coach. I was super early and I stood outside to wait. We got the room, dropped the bags and went to supper at the Midwood Smokehouse. After supper, I needed to smoke a blunt, so the bango and I sat outside of Panera Bread (the one I worked at) and smoked. We sat and talked. He was scared about the race. I told him that it is perfectly fine to be afraid of the race, as it’s his first HALF-marathon and I have the best experiences with half-marathons. I also told him that this will be my second FULL marathon and I was scared at the fact that it was gonna be cold the morning of. He didn’t have anything to worry about and that he just needed to trail me and the running coach.

Saturday 11 November: “Don’t bother, he’s a show stopper in a big world where everybody’s watching”.  I was interviewed by Fox 46 Carolinas with regards to the marathon and how my running group helped me reach my weight loss goals. I started within my pace time, but not with my running coach. She started in the 3:45:00 pace, whilst I started in the 4:15:00 pace. But, 45 seconds into the race, we reconnected and the race was on from there. The first half of the marathon was great. Miles 13.2 to mile 16.75 was great until I turned onto 35th Street and Davidson Street. That’s when things started to go dinkum. I had a Charley horse. After I reached mile 17, the Charley horse weaned down and I soldiered on. Mile 17 to 19.90 was normal. Mile 19.90 was the corner of Central Avenue and Hawthorne Lane, I was trying to get up the hill when I hit the wall. Both legs were spasming at the same time and I was still walking. Someone told me “Six more miles to go”, I screamed to him “Fuck off, you cunt!” I walked from mile 19.90 to mile 20.35, where the Charley horses stopped, and soldiered on. From therein, I was fucking home-free. My legs were back to normal and I went in. I finished the marathon in 4 hours 24 minutes, 13 seconds. My aunt came through (for the first time ever, I’ve had family see me cross the finish line)!  After the marathon, bango and I went back to the hotel room where we had a 2 hour catnap.  After we woke up, I went to get supper and quietly turned up.  

This marathon weekend was above and beyond, lit as fuck!

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: THOMPSON'S FOUR GOALS HELP T-BIRDS CRUISE PAST WOLF PACK, 7-4

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Paul Thompson’s four goals helped to propel the Springfield Thunderbirds to a 7-4 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center before 1,876 fans Wednesday night. The two teams combined for 74 shots on goal for the game and as the Wolf Pack lost their third in a row and got into their third run and gun hockey game in three weeks second with Springfield in the last two weeks. “Third period with 12 minutes left in the game, 4-4 game against a divisional opponent here, those are games you’ve got to find a way to make sure that you’re taking care of pucks and finding ways to score goals.” said head coach Keith McCambridge. Springfield (20-19-6-4) for 50 points hopped into third place and the Wolf Pack remain in 8th place slip under .500 at (19-20-2-2). ”This a game we had to win. It’s a team we're chasing in the standings. We’ve got to make a decision here as a group at this point of the year or it's going to be another disappointing year,” remarked a tight-lipped, clearly upset, Steven Fogarty one of the three assistant captains. The Pack out of a possible eight points in this current stretch managed just two-not enough in a playoff push with 33 games to go. There are only 10 points separating second place Bridgeport and last place Hartford in the Atlantic Division, but it seems like Mt. Everest at this point. In the third period, the Wolf Pack had a critical early five on three power play for a 1:09 span and couldn’t connect on either penalty. The Thunderbirds scored the all-important fifth goal Thompson on the second flip pass against the same player (Ryan Lindgren) by Harry Zolniercyzk (one goal and two assists) that went over his head and landed on Thompson’s stick went in on a breakaway and went upstairs on Alex Georgiev. Springfield then got a five on three shortly thereafter and didn’t miss their chance. Thompson at the left side of the net took Zolniercyzk cross-ice pass from the right wing circle for his 21st of the season at 10:17. The Wolf Pack Lias Ande5rsson who had a team-high seven shots missed a breakaway that could have shut the gap, but he wasn’t alone in missing on quality chances. Thompson off a defensive zone faceoff win launched a 180-foot shot that went into the net for his fourth tally and 22nd goal of the season at 18:33 to seal the Thunderbirds victory. In the second period, both teams very arm weary from the first-period frenzy had just seven shots in the first half of the period. Then the second half finally connected on the net, but the Wolf Pack were the only team to score in the period. The Wolf Pack scored late on the powerplay as Peter Holland took Vinni Lettieri’s pass along the left wing boards and sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Steven Fogarty standing at the right side of the net and he made a perfect tip-in for his ninth of the season at 18:33 to even the score at four and hopefully give the Pack the momentum swing going into the third. “Credit Peter he told me when we out there to get there (at the net) he made a good play with the puck all I had to do was put my stick out,” Both goalies were superb last Saturday hung out to dry in the first period had a chance to make some key saves with a semblance of defense being played. Among Alex Georgiev’s better saves was on the Thunderbirds Jonathan Ang with 3:20 left in the period and he kept Matt Marcinew, Harry Zolniercyzk, Riley Stillman and Bobby Farnham at bay and the red light off. At the other end, Chris Driedger turned away Rob O’ Gara twice. The first period it was the shootout at the XL Corral featured seven goals and 32 shots between the two teams and barely enough time to breathe. The Wolf Pack and the Thunderbirds combined had four goals in the first seven minutes. The Thunderbirds struck first at the 50-second mark as Anthony Greco wide open easily deposited the rebound of a Juho Lammikko shot that came via a turnover by the Wolf Pack’s Chris Bigras from the right wing corner. Hartford’s quick response team went into action and scored 52 seconds later. This time Sean Day at the right circle spotted his new defense partner Rob O’ Gara coming in off the left point and all the rangy defenseman had to do was redirect the puck in the open side for his third goal of the year and first since December 1st against Charlotte. The Pack took the lead at 2-1 at 5:16. Ryan Gropp with a solid chip in along the wall behind the Springfield net and Steven Fogarty got to the puck first and gorgeous blind backhanded pass to Lias Andersson in front and he was stopped on his first shot, but got the rebound and chopped in his ninth goal of the season. “I knew he was there I just didn’t know how open he was and it was a good goal for us,” said Fogarty. Right back came the Thunderbirds as Ludwig Bystrom at the left point let a wrist shot go and veteran Thompson, an offseason free-agent signing was 10 feet out with an inside position on Pack defenseman redirected his 19th past Alex Georgiev with no chance on that play at 6:21. The Thunderbirds would take a 3-2 lead on a set play as Dryden Hunt’s center ice flip pass-the hockey ally-oop, went up in the air over Ryan Lindgren and Harry Zolniercyzk was right there to sweep in off the right and slip his ninth of the season on a breakaway behind Georgiev at 13:52. “I’d have to look at it again on the replay whether he might have been offside. The Wolf Pack didn’t wilt as John Gilmour took Shawn St. Amant’s pass zoomed in off the right wing and with a rolling puck slipped his 13th goal short-side over the outstretched goal of Thunderbirds Chris Driedger a 16:22. Gilmour has 13 points over a span of 13 games. The Thunderbirds 48 seconds later on the powerplay scored again to take the lead back at 4-3 and Tomas Jurco scored his third goal in three games since being reassigned by Florida at the side of the net on a short feed from Anthony Greco on the right wing. “We weren’t good enough tonight. Turnovers, this team is too good to take shifts off on. A good team like you can’t give those type of chances. It’s unfair to him (Georgiev) when he comes here and we play like that. He has given us a chance every night. He shouldn’t hang his head, it's on the players to play better in front of him,” remarked Fogarty. SCRATCHES: Shawn O'Donnell (upper body) Brandon Crawley (healthy) Bobby Butler (healthy) Dawson Leedahlt (healthy) LINES: Holland-Beleskey-Meskanen Nieves-Lettieri-Brickley Fogarty-Gropp-Andersson Fontaine-Gettinger-St. Amant Gilmour-Lindgren Bigras-Hajak Day-O’Gara NOTES: Thompson was one goal short of the record for most goals scored against the Wolf Pack when Brendan Morrison then with Albany River Rats scored five in the last game of the regular season of the Wolf Pack’s first season in 1997-98. The Thunderbirds Driedger’s shutout on Saturday was the 100th against the Wolf Pack in their 22-year history. The Rangers off for 10 days for the NHL All-Star break made a paper transaction flip-flopping Dustin Tokarski and Marek Mazanec on recall. Maz was the backup for Georgiev. The Pack defense is tied for fourth-most goals against in the AHL with 148. The Thunderbirds like the Wolf Pack got players back from the parent Florida Panthers for the NHL All-Star break in defenseman’s Josh Brown and Ian McCoshen plus Pack killer, forward Jace Hawryluk. The Wolf Pack, of course, got back defenseman Ryan Lindgren and center Boo Nieves. The team released from PTO deals and returned to Maine (ECHL) center Terrence Wallin and defenseman Zach Tolkinen, a former QU Bobcat. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford) another former QU Bobcat and Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack were recalled by Hershey after one game where he was a minus three at South Carolina (ECHL). Another ex-Bobcat Alex Barron leaves EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2) and signs with HK Propad (Slovakia-SLEL) the rest of the season. In an AHL game, Sunday former Wolf Pack captain Cole Schneider paced a 4-0 shutout by Milwaukee In Chicago against the Wolves. Schneider earned the second star with two primary assists on their opening goal, but, Nicolas Baptiste with a nice short backhand pass off a rebound to an open Baptiste who put it in an open net. He then made a perfect diagonal pass from the left wing side to Anthony Richard coming in as the trailer on the right wing scored from 30 feet out on their second goal. The Admirals third goal was scored by ex-Wolf defenseman Pack Vince Pedrie on a slapshot from the left point for his first goal of the year. The Admirals Mathieu Olivier, son of ex-New Haven Knights defenseman Simon Olivier scored the last goal an empty netter and had a solid toe-to-toe no buckets battle, the best one thus far this season with Alex Gallant of Chicago, younger brother of ex-Sound Tiger and current Cleveland Monsters winger Brett Gallant. The Bruins Paul Carey (Salisbury Prep) who notched his second hat trick of his career against the Wolf Pack to help the Providence Bruins pull away from the Wolf Pack 5-2 on Monday in a previously unscheduled MLK Holiday matinee in Providence. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday but was moved to Sunday because of Sunday’s ice/snow storm. Carey had a four-goal effort when he was with Hershey and was robbed of a 5th goal near the end of the game when two fights broke out and the refs never noticed his wraparound tally! Brian Flynn (Pomfret Prep) leaves San Antonio and signs with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA) for the rest of the season. Earlier this afternoon in a first at the XL Center ACHA (American College Hockey Association) Division-2 club hockey meeting between the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (New Britain) and the Westfield State Owls (MA) with the Blue Devils pulling away in the third period for a 4-1 victory. Read the full article