#edmontonoilkings

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GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS RESIGN ETHAN CAP

By: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL affiliate of the LA Kings, announced today that the club had re-signed defenseman Ethan Cap to an ECHL contract for the 2023-24 season. Cap, 23, returns to the Swamp Rabbits after posting a career-high 21 points (2g, 19a) in 70 games for the Navy and Orange during the 2022-23 campaign. In two seasons as a professional, both with Greenville, the North Vancouver, British Columbia native made 123 appearances for the Swamp Rabbits and tallied 32 points (3g, 29a). During the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Cap skated in six (6) games and tabbed four (4) assists during Greenville's opening-round series. Before turning pro as a Swamp Rabbit, Cap appeared in the second most games (287) in Edmonton Oil Kings franchise history while competing in the Western Hockey League. The Swamp Rabbits will open the 2023-24 Season presented by Bon Secours on Saturday, October 21, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Swamp Rabbits Full and Half Season Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now at SwampRabbits.com or by calling (864) 674-7825. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's LA Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Greenville is a member of the ECHL Premier AA Hockey League. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

[useless-lesbian-canadian]

Year 4 of Pink at the Rink. Lost the game but always a cause I will support. #oilkings #edmontonoilkings #rogersplace #yeg #pinkattherink #pinkhair #breastcancerawareness #alwayssupport (at Rogers Place)

[n79792738-blog]

Liam Keeler autographed Edmonton Oil Kings dual signed postcard #liamkeeler #autographed #eok #edmontonoilkings #dualsigned #signedpostcard #dagr010 #dagr1010 #dagrcollectibles #yeg #yegsale #youtubedagr #youtubedagrsportscardsandcollectibles #forsale (at DAGR Sportscards and Collectibles)

[ericaperreaux]

• Tough loss in OT tonight but such a good, solid, team effort game! I love action shots, so here's one of the birthday guy - Carter Folk - battling with Blake Orban of the #EdmontonOilKings. @whlhurricanes #yql #HurricanesHockey #happybirthday

[mrandmrslehman]

We brought a hobo along with us to the game tonight. #communityservice #edmontonoilkings

[avrysports]

Oil Kings go streaking

1, 2, 3, 4, 5. A fifth win in a row for the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday has them one point back of the division lead in the WHL’s Central division (Eastern Conference).

The Oil Kings knocked off the Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 in overtime on the strength of goals from Reid Petryk and Dyson Mayo.

Petryk, for the Oil Kings was the story of the game as he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick on the night. (A goal, assist and a fight).

Tristan Jarry was solid in net for the Oil Kings making 38 saves for his 18th win of the season.

Jarry’s biggest save of the game came with less than 45 seconds in the game, robbing the Tigers’ Cole Sanford to preserve the Edmonton win.

Even with his club getting a fifth win in a row to get on top of the Central division, head coach Derek Laxdal was not entirely pleased with his club’s effort for most of the game.

“I thought that we played a great 10 minutes for the first period and from that point on Medicine Hat took the play to us for the whole game. I thought Tristan Jarry gave us a great chance to win tonight, but when we got that second goal I thought we stepped back a bit, and were back on our heels…at the end of the day there’s certain games you shouldn’t win but we got the win and I’ll leave it at that”

For Medicine Hat dropping two points to Edmonton was not easy with the Central division being so tight.

Tigers forward Miles Koules said that with the loss in Edmonton being huge their upcoming next two games with the Calgary Hitmen become very important.

“They are definitely important, we’ve had some good battles with Calgary already this year, we play them a lot, so it’s a familiar enemy in a way. Hopefully we can get the two wins against them and get back on track.”

Edmonton’s next two games are both on the road where they will take on the Saskatoon Blades and the Prince Albert Raiders.

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GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS ADD CARTER SOUCH

GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS ADD CARTER SOUCH By: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC -  The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced today that the club had signed forward Carter Souch to an ECHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season. Souch, 20, enters the professional ranks on the back of a WHL Championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings. In his final junior campaign, the Edmonton, AB native posted 71 points (22g, 49a) in 68 games for his hometown club. The 5'10", 165-pound forward joined the Oil Kings for the 2017-18 season after being drafted by the team 75th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft the year prior. In his WHL career, the left-handed Souch appeared in 260 games for Edmonton and tallied 191 points (60g, 131a). The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the 2022-23 season are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's LA Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Additionally, Greenville is an ECHL, Premier 'AA' Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

[useless-lesbian-canadian]

"I wear pink for my mom". Pink at the Rink tonight with my mom. 😁✌🏼 #edmontonoilkings #oilkings #pinkattherink #rogersplace #yeg #pinkhair #breastcancerawareness #momdaughterday

[n79792738-blog]

Tyler Santos autographed Edmonton Oil Kings photo #tylersantos #autographed #edmontonoilkings #signedphoto #dagr010 #dagr1010 #dagrcollectibles #yeg #yegsale #youtubedagr #youtubedagrsportscardsandcollectibles #forsale (at DAGR Sportscards and Collectibles)

[notpeytonmanning]

Good win, boys! #oilkings #edmonton #edmontonoilkings #oil #oilers #yeg #hockey #canada #whl #west #westernhockeyleague #medicinehat #tigers #medicinehattigers #juniors #win #champions #puck #ice #winter #season #memorialcup (Taken with Instagram)

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PAVEL VOROBEI AND ROSHEN JASWAL SIGN WITH JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN

PAVEL VOROBEI AND ROSHEN JASWAL SIGN WITH JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN By: Alex Reed, Jacksonville Icemen JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defensemen Pavel Vorobei (pictured) and Roshen Jaswal. In addition, the Icemen have also signed forwards Jake Pappalardo and Adam Berg and goaltender Austin Lotz to professional tryout contracts (PTO). Vorobei, 25, returns to the Icemen, where he posted 11 points (7g, 4a) in 22 games played last season. Vorobei added two assists in ten other ECHL games last season, split between the Orlando Solar Bears and Indy Fuel. In addition, the 6-3 194-pound blue liner registered 23 points (7g, 16a) in 118 games played with the KHL with the Podolsk Vityaz, Kunlun Red Star, and Novosibirsk Sibir. The Minsk, Belarus resident also played one season in Finland with the Lahti Pelicans (SM-Liiga) in 2019-20. Jaswal, 27, registered a goal in eight outings with the Icemen last season. Jaswal also appeared in an additional 21 games in the ECHL in stints with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Maine Mariners, adding three points. The 6-3, 209-pound defenseman played collegiately at St. Olaf College from 2016-2020, totaling 42 career points (13g, 29a) Pappalardo, 25, joins the Icemen after logging a goal and an assist in 16 games played last season with the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL).   In addition, the 5-10 180-pound forward also recorded 25 points in 25 games with the SPHL’s Birmingham Bulls. Before his professional career, the Salem, New Hampshire, resident played two seasons at Holy Cross College and the University of Maine. Berg, 25, joins the Icemen after playing at Brock University (OUAA) for the past three seasons, where he totaled 39 points (20g, 19a).   The 6-1, 190-pound winger compiled 46 points during his major junior career with the WHL’s Regina Pats and Edmonton Oil Kings from 2014-2017. The following is a list of players that have agreed to terms with the Icemen for the 2022-2023 season: Goaltender Austin Lotz Charles Williams Defensemen Garret Cockerill Victor Hadfield Bo Hanson Brandon Fortunato Roshen Jaswal Brendan Less Jacob Panetta Tim Theocharidis Pavel Vorobei Forwards Adam Berg Christopher Brown Jake Hamacher Brendan Harris Travis Howe Luke Keenan Derek Lodermeier Luke Lynch Ara Nazarian Jake Pappalardo Matt Salhany Sam Sternschien Mike Szmatula Jake Witkowski The Icemen open the 2022-2023 season at home on October 22 against the Orlando Solar Bears. Full and partial season ticket packages are currently available!   Contact the Icemen office at 904-602-7825, or visit jacksonvilleicemen.com for more information. #LitesOut JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN HOME Read the full article

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SHELLEY: GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS RE-SIGN ETHAN CAP

BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC -  The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced today that the club had re-signed defenseman Ethan Cap to an ECHL contract ahead of the 2022-23 season. Cap, 22, returns to the Swamp Rabbits after a rookie campaign that saw the North Vancouver, BC native appear in 53 games for Greenville, posting 11 points (1g, 10a) over that span. The 6'2", 207-pound blue-liner was seventh among Swamp Rabbits and fifth among team defensemen in appearances during the 2021-22 campaign. During his debut campaign, Cap found scoring consistency from inside the blue line, recording five points (1g, 4a) over a six-game stretch from January 15 to February 5. Before his professional debut, Cap spent the previous five seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL) after being drafted by the team with the 11th overall pick in 2015. During his tenure with the Oil Kings, Cap totaled 85 points in 287 career games for the Alberta-based club. The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the select "Big 5" promotional games are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Additionally, Greenville is an ECHL, Premier 'AA' Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

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SHELLEY: LA KINGS ANNOUNCE ECHL AFFILIATION WITH GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS

Greenville Swamp Rabbits becomes the first Kings ECHL affiliate since 2019 BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits EL SEGUNDO, CA -  The LA Kings announced a new two-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits today. The Kings have been members of the NHL since 1967, capturing two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. Currently calling Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, CA home, the Kings most recently earned a Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance following a third-place finish in the league's Pacific Division in 2021-22. “On behalf of the entire LA Kings organization, we are excited to announce our new affiliation with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL," said Kings Director of Player Development, Glen Murray. "We are very happy to have this development route for our future Kings under the leadership of Spire Sports + Entertainment and direction of Head Coach & General Manager Andrew Lord. We know that our prospects will have a first-class experience in Greenville while developing as players and people.” Lord has led the Swamp Rabbits to a combined record of 71-48-25 over the last two seasons in his current role. LORD REACTS "The Swamp Rabbits organization is excited to be affiliated with the Kings organization and with their development model," said Lord. "The Kings and Reign are first-class organizations that share the same values and drive for excellence that we do as the Swamp Rabbits organization. We look forward to developing the future Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup champions within the Kings organization." Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick also spent time in the ECHL after turning pro with the Reading Royals during 2007-08. The Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, has also announced five two-way player contracts for the upcoming 2022-23 season, including defenseman Joe Gatenby and forwards Alex Ierullo, Brett Kemp, Justin Nachbaur, and Nikita Pavlychev. GATENBY SIGNS WITH GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS Gatenby, 25, signed a PTO with the Reign last season after completing his collegiate campaign at the University of New Brunswick, where he appeared in 83 games while scoring 41 points on eight goals and 33 assists an alternate captain. He recorded 10 points on two goals and eight assists in 23 games last year and joined the Swamp Rabbits for six Kelly Cup Playoff games, where he netted a goal and an assist. The Kelowna, B.C. native also played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for five seasons with the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers, suiting up in 317 games from 2013-18. IERULLO BACKGROUND Ierullo (eye-ROO-low), 25, turned pro with the Reign last season by signing an ATO on March 25. He appeared in three games with Ontario before posting six points in seven ECHL regular season games (1-5=6) with the Swamp Rabbits. The Woodbridge, Ont. native also tasted the postseason with Greenville, scoring four points (1-3=4) in six playoff contests. The attacker spent four seasons in the NCAA at Bemidji State University, appearing in 136 games while scoring 96 points on 36 goals and 60 assists. While serving as an alternate captain with the Beavers last season, Ierullo recorded 42 points on 16 goals and 26 assists in 39 games. Kemp, 22, posted an assist for Ontario in two appearances with the Reign during his rookie professional season in 2021-22. The Yorkton, Saskatchewan. native also scored 37 points with Greenville on 17 goals and 20 assists while earning a +15 rating. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-shot forward turned pro after appearing in 255 career WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Everett Silvertips, posting 218 points (96-122=218). Kemp also played six contests with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers in 2020-21, tallying 10 points (3-7=10). GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS SIGN NACHBAUR Nachbaur, 22, is entering his second pro season after beginning his career on an AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers. The Cross Lake, Manitoba native made six appearances for Charlotte as a rookie while also suiting up for 24 ECHL contests with the Swamp Rabbits, where he registered 15 points (10-5=15). Nachbaur also played in all six Greenville’s playoff contests a year ago. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound attacker played junior hockey in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders for four seasons from 2017-21, totaling 89 points in 216 games (45-44=89), and helped the team to a WHL Championship in 2019. Pavlychev, 25, returns to the Reign for his third professional campaign after playing 13 contests for Ontario a season ago and scoring three points with two goals, an assist, and a +4 rating. He also suited up for 38 games with Greenville and posted 33 points on 14 goals and 19 helpers. The Yaroslavl, Russia, native appeared in the first six postseason games of his career with the Swamp Rabbits and scored four points (3-1=4). PAVLYCHEV INFO The 6-foot-7, 225-pound left-shot attacker made his AHL debut with the Syracuse Crunch during 2020-21, posting three points (0-3=3) and a +2 rating in eight games. Pavlychev also played in 28 games with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, recording 11 points (5-6=11). Before turning pro, he played four seasons at Penn State, appearing in 137 games with the Nittany Lions, where he registered 70 points (36-34=70) and helped the school to the 2017 Big-10 Championship and the 2020 Big-10 Regular Season Championship. The Swamp Rabbits open the 2022-23 season, presented by Bon Secours, on Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the newest team in the ECHL, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Single Game Tickets for the select "Big 5" promotional games are now on sale by calling (864)-674-7825 or visiting SwampRabbits.com. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFFSEASON NOTES 10

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The world of professional hockey never sleeps. Being past the NHL Draft and initial free agent frenzy means the fine-tuning is underway. Meanwhile, in Hartford, the reunion of Hartford Whalers at the annual event at Dunkin Donuts Park by the Yard Goats drew a multitude of ex-players and plenty of fans. From his home in Florida, Dave Keon sent a thoughtful, heartfelt video message to his former teammates and fans. The Yard Goats hope to add more names next year as Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson couldn't attend this year because Francis's daughter was getting married. 70-year-old Nick Fotiu, who played for both the New England and Hartford Whalers, the Rangers, and at three separate times played and was an assistant coach in New Haven, and was also an assistant coach for the Hartford Wolf Pack, was unable to come. However, his grandson was graduating from the NYC police academy. He hopes to return to attending next year. The Staten Island-born Fotiu still maintains his home in Cape Cod. Mark Howe, now retired as the head of scouting for Detroit, may join his brother Marty next year, a resident who has been an attendee for the annual event. Sean Burke was to attend. He now is in a scouting role after leaving Montreal for Las Vegas, where he joins old Whaler teammate Jim McKenzie,  who couldn't make it. SCHEDULING The unified 72-game AHL schedule for 2022-23 was unveiled last week. Hartford opens on the road with a two-game set in Charlotte on October 14 and 15 and will play in the eight-team Atlantic Division. They open up at home a week later with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The day after Thanksgiving, they are in Bridgeport and play host to Springfield on New Year's Eve at 5:30. The schedule features three new Central Division teams Grand Rapids, Rockford, and Milwaukee. Milwaukee arrives on December 9th and marks its first appearance since February 14th, 2003. They now play in a new arena, the Panther Arena, as the Bradley Center is gone. Grand Rapids travels in the next night and haven't seen the XL Center since January 2nd, 2009, and they play Rockford a week before, on December 2nd, for the first time. Laval and Belleville have been dropped from their schedule. Tim Gettinger's new deal of one year was announced as a one-year two-way at $750K-NHL/$125K-AHL. Rangers added depth and experience in signing C.J. Smith from the defending Calder Cup champs, Chicago Wolves, at one year and one-way money of $750K. Ex-Pack Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/The Gunn School) signs with Texas (AHL). Kasperi Kapanen, son of former Whaler Sami Kapanen, signs a two-year extension with Pittsburgh for $3.2M per released terms. Wolf Pack spare goalie the last two years, François Brassard, heads to Providence, getting a two-way (AHL-ECHL) deal and likely end up in Maine (Portland). Joining him is the recently re-signed ex-Pack of one game, the last game before the pandemic hit three years ago, Connor Bleackley. Ex-Pack Terrance Wallin (The Gunn School) was named the Mariners' new coach replacing ex-Sound Tiger Ben Guite, who took the job at D3 small Ivy at Bowdoin College (NESCAC). Tyce Thompson, the youngest son of ex-Pack and current Bridgeport head coach Brent Thompson, signed a two-year extension. The deal is split $750K -NHL /$125K-AHL his first year and one-way money at $775K his second year. The Bridgeport Islanders have joined the big goalie craze signing 6'8 Finnish Islanders, a 7th-round draft choice last year. Henrik Tikkanen (MODO Sweden-SHL). They did sign from Saint John (QMJHL) undrafted Vincent Sévigny, son ex-Pack Pierre Sévigny, and re-signed an old defenseman from two years ago, Ryan MacKinnon, who split last year between Lehigh Valley/ Reading (ECHL). AHL CALGARY GETS A NAME The Calgary AHL franchise has a name, the Wranglers. It adopted the name of the WHL team of yesteryear (1977-1985) when the franchise was a junior team and moved to Billings, MT, becoming the Bighorns. That lasted five years before being sold and moved again. The logo is a sharp red W with a flame at the bottom. It honors their western cowboy roots early days of the franchise in Atlanta. The team was in Stockton as the Heat for five years, and its eighth version of an AHL team started in Maine in the early 1990s. Among the first signees was Alberta native Brett Sutter, the son of Darryl Sutter, the Calgary Flames head coach. He is the tenth Sutter to play pro hockey. The original junior team name was the Centennials from 1967-1977, the last year of the WCHL before it became the WHL. Junior hockey returned to Calgary when professional wrestler Brett "The Hitman" Hart, a Calgary native, lent his money and his Hitman moniker to the franchise in 1995, which it still is. The first year of junior hockey, then the WCMHL, was 1966. The team, for one year, was called the Buffaloes. The WHA team lasted two years (1975-77) and was the Cowboys. The new Springfield GM and St. Louis scout is Connecticut resident and former Rangers Director of Pro Scouting for the last 12 years, Kevin Maxwell, 62. Maxwell played in NHL for three teams Minnesota, the Colorado Rockies, and New Jersey, and worked as a scout, Director of Pro Scouting, and assistant coach for the Whalers for four years, North Stars, Devils, Flyers, Dallas, and the Islanders. His son Chase (Xavier HS) plays for the CT Junior Rangers (NCDC). His eldest son, Jackson, played club hockey for Springfield College (ACHA Division-III), followed in his footsteps, and is a scout for Toronto. Former Nighthawk Sylvain Couturier is hired as the new GM by the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL). After twenty years, he leaves Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) from the other side of the province. Former New Haven Senator Jake Grimes has left Cape Breton as head coach for the University of Waterloo (OUAA) next season as their new bench boss. Former UCONN player Ben Freeman signs with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. In addition, ex-Sound Tiger Robert "Bobo" Carpenter signs a one-year deal with Florida (ECHL). Defenseman Zack Malik split last season in the Czech Republic (Czechia) Division-2 with his former Whaler, Springfield Indians, Ranger, and Beast New Haven father Marek, an assistant coach with HC Frydek-Mistek and HK Dukla Jihlava, heads to FPS (Finland Mestis Divison-2). Nick Bochen of Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) transfers to Bentley University (AHA). UCONN gets another transfer from Vermont (HE) in Andrew Lucas. In addition, the team's first-ever Finnish commit, they get Samu Salminen from the Jokerit U-20 team, who is eligible for the Finnish 2023 WJC team to take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick. That makes for 102 school transfers that we know of and 103 grad transfers for a total of 205 this off-season. Over 100 players remain in the transfer portal. Hockey East has seen 50 players sign pro deals, and NCHC and CCHA have had 32 each. The Big 10 has 28, ECACHL 23, the AHA 17, and NCAA Independents with 12. 71 AHL'ers have signed overseas, with Russia leading the way with 16, Sweden with 13, Germany with nine, and Switzerland and Finland with eight each. 26 of 31 teams have lost at least one player. Ex-Pack Nick Merkley departs Hartford, and John Gilmour leaves CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL), both head for Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL). Chase Harwell (Southbury/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) finished his Canadian college hockey career at Concordia University (OUAA) in Montreal after five years of major junior in Quebec. He signed with Norfolk (ECHL) at the end of last season signs with Como (Italy Division-2) for next season. The WJC camp resumed from the postponed December tournament to be held next week in Edmonton rostershaves been finalized. The Canadian team will feature Ranger draftees Will Cullye and Brennan Othmann, but Chase Stillman, the grandson of former Nighthawk and Springfield Indian Bud Stefanski, was cut. Ridley Greig, the son of former Hartford Whaler Mark Greig, made the final cut. Future Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand was named to the team. Future possible Bridgeport Islander William Dufour was also selected. One of the camp coaches is ex-Springfield Indian Brad Lauer from last year's WHL champion, the Edmonton Oil Kings, who was just hired as an assistant coach by Winnipeg (NHL). Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Ted Donato has bowed out of the US WJC team as one of its assistants, and Grant Potulny, former Springfield Falcon and brother of ex-Pack Ryan and head coach of Northern Michigan (CCHA), will take his place. Rangers draftee Brett Berard (Providence College-HE) is the lone Ranger team rep. Matt "Mackie" Samokevich (Newtown) from Michigan (Big 10) program is also on the team. The Czechia (Czech Republic) squad has David Spacek, the son of former Beast of New Haven Jaroslav Spacek. The Rangers' first draft pick from last month's draft in Montreal, Adam Sýkorais, on the Slovakian team along with Rayen Petrovický, son of former Whaler/Ranger Róbert Petrovický. Finland has Bridgeport's Aatu Raty and Oliver Kapanen, nephew of former Whaler Sami Kapanen. Austria has Senna Peters in his last junior level tournament. He is a former player from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep and will be with HC Innsbruck (IceHL) in the fall. Former Whaler Brad Shaw has left Vancouver and been named the new assistant coach in Philadelphia. While embroiled in international controversy and intrigue lately, Taiwan, known as Chinese Taipei to appease mainland Chinese sentiment, had a big hockey win to celebrate. The U-20 squad team had an exciting 5-4 overtime win over host Mexico in the central Mexican town of Queretaro at the Lakeside Ice Rink and won the IIHF U-20 Division III title, earning a promotion to Division II Group B Division in 2023. This is after establishing the program just 12 years ago in a country with just three rinks on the island nation. The game-winner came off the stick Hung-Li Chou on a two-on-one with his tourney-leading tenth goal. He scored early after host Mexico had tied the score late with an extra attacker with a minute left in regulation on the powerplay. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) was the tournament Cindrella's. They beat Mexico in the preliminary round in OT and Israel in OT in the semi-final by the count of 6-5 on a Chou goal. Australia won bronze by beating Israel 1-0 as Ethan Hawes had the only goal. Israeli Mike Levin (16 points) was the tourney's leading scorer. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOL 7

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With approximately 17 of the 20 roster spots set, the Hartford Wolf Pack roster assembly for the 2022-23 season is close to completion. All that is left for management to do is tinkering on the edges with free agent signings and eventual trade acquisitions. The likelihood of trades by the New York Rangers between now and NHL Draft time could change the look of the Pack lineup. In goal, expect to see a whole new cast of characters. Dylan Garand and Olof Lindbom are signed and ready for training camp. Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska, and Tyler Wall are no longer with the organization. Kinkaid's age and falling from his playing perch is why he was let go. After six years in the building between his years with UCONN and the Wolf Pack, Huska is a gamer but never had an extended winning streak in either college or the pros. Wall was a premium college goalie, but after just 15 games here and nine in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen, he had never had the coaches' or the players' confidence. A late-season injury requiring season-ending knee surgery after suffering a freak pre-game injury in Jacksonville sealed his fate. FREE AGENTS Huska, Tim Gettinger, Anthony Greco, and Nick Merkley are Group 6 free agents, players who have not played enough games by age 25. Therefore, they are UFA (unrestricted free agents). The Rangers signed two of these players in the past, one retired, who never played again (Boo Nieves), and Steven Fogarty, who lasted for a year. Fogarty is now with the Providence Bruins. Joining Garand and Lindbom on the last year of their respective deals is Patrick Khordorenko, who was among the few players to flourish in the dreadful final third of the season. The team will have newcomers, including Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL) from Canadian juniors. From Europe, along with Lindbom is Gustave Rydahl, a free agent from Fajestad BK-(Sweden-SHL) and draftee Karl Henriksson (Frölunda HC). Bobby Trivino (UMASS-HE) starts a full season. On the backline, the Pack already has Zac Jones, Matt Robertson, and Zach Guittari under contract. MOVES UNDER QUESTION Ty Ronning, while affable, gregarious, and a standup voice for the organization who has done so at times under the worst circumstances, is a question mark to return. He's played well, in spurts, but like his other teammates sputtered at the end. The other question mark is forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who had a rocky relationship in the second half with the team and missed significant time because of injuries. The question with Pajuniemi is will he return from Finland? Will his North Atlantic neighbor from Sweden, Nils Lundkvist, who struggled in Hart City, be back in the organization? Lundkvist was frozen out in New York and discovered, as it relates to Top-Six forwards and Bottom-Four defenseman, that time is contractually blocked-in both cap space and ice time. Another question surrounds whether Jarred Tinordi, on defense with a burgeoning young family, will return to reprise the Anthony Bitetto mentor role. Bitetto did very well until he checked out and was eventually dealt out. AND YET MORE QUESTIONS Captain Jonny Brodzinski will likely be back in Hartford unless the Rangers offer him a bottom-six role in New York. Should he be in Hartford, he will get the bonus of playing with just signed younger brother next year. All of these are unknowns. Anthony Greco is gone and will likely take his speed to Europe. Matt Lorito, who struggled with high in the zone defensive zone turnovers, will likely return overseas. The underperforming Justin Richards and the inconsistent Austin Rueschoff will likely land elsewhere. Jeff Taylor, the designated scratch-ee, for the last four years, will likely head overseas. Jake Elmer will probably be in the ECHL. NAHL In the NAHL Robertson Cup Finals, the New Jersey (Middletown) Titans won the title with a 3-0 win over the Anchorage (AK) Wolverines. The Wolverines advanced, winning over the St. Cloud (MN) Norsemen coached by ex-Ranger Corey Millen, and the Titans advanced to the finals beating the New Mexico (Albuquerque) ice Wolves. NAHL DRAFT The league's annual draft saw a few Connecticut-related names selected. Richard (DJ.) Hart from Stamford, who played in the USHL Clark Cup Final with the Madison Capitols, is listed as an Ohio State (Big 10) commit next year. He was taken by the Janesville (PA) Jets in the first round (11th overall). He also had five games with NAHL's Odessa (TX) Jackalopes. Jakob Karpa, the youngest son of ex-Sound Tiger/Wolf Pack and Ranger David Karpa, was taken by in the third round (65th overall) by the Lone Star (Ft. Worth, TX) Brahamas. He played for the Wenatchee (WA) Wild (BCHL) last year. Riley Bassen, the son of former Springfield Indian/Whaler Bob Bassen, was taken by the Corpus Christi (TX) Ice Rays from the Dallas Jr, Stars U-16 Elite (T1EHL) team. Lone Star took Stamford's Jakub Teply in the fourth round (116th overall) from the South Shore (MA) Kings (NCDC). Wolcott's Oliver Flynn, a former Connecticut Chief (EHL), who played for the Loomis Chaffe Pelicans, and was with the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC), was taken in the fifth round (137th overall) by the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears. He is a UCONN (HE) commit next year. In 2019 the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) selected him, as did the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) three years ago. Connor Welsh of Greenwich, a BC (HE) commit for next year, went in the eighth round (219th overall). Welsh played for the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers. After that, he went to (USHL) the Maryland Black Bears. In the ninth round (250th overall), Jason Siedem, formerly of Avon Old Farms, who played last year for the Cowichan Valley (BC) Capitals (BCHL) and the Blackfalds (AB) Bulldogs (AJHL), was taken by the Minnesota Wilderness. Springfield (MO) Jr.Blues took him last year. The Danbury Hat Tricks had four selections on the day. They had the first overall pick and took Jacob Lavallée from Cote-de-Sud Everest (QJHL). He played two games for the Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and was a 2019 draft selection of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL). The team didn't select again until the fourth round (88th overall). They took Wyatt Stefan, the son of former NHL'er Patrik Stefan, who played last year for New Jersey Rockets and Ridge (NJ) HS from the Detroit Little Caesars program. In the fifth round (117th overall), they selected a Belarussian player, Denis  Radchenko. He is from the Yunost Minsk junior team. The forward checks in at 6'5 and 200lbs. With their final selection in the sixth round (146th overall), they went in-house and selected Reece Tamburo from the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL). The team also announced the formal completion of the purchase of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights franchise that became the Hat Tricks. MORE PLAYER MOVEMENT Calle Själin, a 2017 fifth-round Rangers draft pick, has elected to sign with the Florida Panthers. He has played with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) and comes from a long line of Swedish league players. Currently, brother Pontus is playing Division 2. His father, Jörgen, played Divison-1. His uncle, Jens, played as high as Swedish junior. His grandfather, Kent, also played. Själin's Entry Level Contract (ELC) is for two years and pays $925K in the NHL and $80K in the AHL. As per the new CBA, he is the first hockey-playing member of the family to come to North America. Ex-Pack Patrick Newell departs Sterjen (Norway-NEL) for Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL) next season. Ex-Pack Shawn “Odie” O’Donnell heads from Dornbirner EC (Austria-IceHL) to EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2). Another ex-Pack, Simon Denis, comes back to North America from the Tokohu Free Blades (Japan-ALIH) and signs with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). Another ex-Pack, Sean Day, gets a one-year extension from the Syracuse Crunch, which includes a pay raise to a two-way $750K-NHL/$200K-AHL deal. Then ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joe Whitney, who had the shortest reign as a Pack team captain (two days faster than Cole Schneider) for half a season, hangs them up after a four-year career in Europe with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany-DEL). Ex-Sound Tiger Matt Donovan leaves for Europe again after departing the Milwaukee Admirals for Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) next year. Now 22 AHL players have signed overseas. MORE MOVES Former UCONN forward Kale Howarth signs a one-year AHL deal in Rockford. Greenwich's Luke Esposito, the nephew of Mark Messier, signs with the Bakersfield Condors. Former Ranger head coach and New Haven Nighthawk's assistant coach, John Tortorella, finds his way to the Philadelphia Flyers as their new head coach. Former New Haven Knights (UHL) player Alexsei Lazarenko was an assistant coach this year for Rilat Kharkiv (Ukraine-UHL). Due to the invasion by Russia, their season ended early and had no playoffs. GORDIE CLARK Rangers former Pro Scout Gordie Clark, 70, who worked for the Rangers for 19 years in several capacities in Player Development and Scouting and with the Sound Tigers as Director of Hockey Operations earlier this century and was with the Islanders for eight years, was let go by the Rangers. Gordie's son, Brendon Clark, was an American scout of college and junior hockey; after twelve years was terminated. The senior Clark had a very distinguished playing career in the 1970s, first with the UNH Wildcats (ECACHL), then the Rochester Americans, then with the Springfield Indians, and 21 games in the WHA with the Cincinnati Stingers and with the first edition of the Maine Mariners before finishing his playing career in Germany. His only NHL time was with the Boston Bruins for eight games, where he posted an assist. His brother, Gary Clark, played at UNH, mainly in the Canadian Maritimes senior league. No word on whether Gordie will continue with another organization or retire to his native Nova Scotia and if Brendon will catch on with another team. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OFFSEASON VOL 4

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in a dramatic first-round playoff series and now face an elimination game with the Carolina Hurricanes (nee Hartford Whalers) who lead the series three games to two in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Meanwhile, back in the American Hockey League (AHL), the two teams in the Atlantic Division, the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Charlotte Checkers, are meeting in a 2-3-2 format. Springfield dominated from start to finish in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon at the Mass Mutual Center, crushing the Checkers 6-0. Sam Anas had two goals and an assist, while Joel Hofer, the game's First Star, had a 35-shot shutout. (GAME SHEET) EX- HARTFORD WOLF PACK PLAYERS MOVING Ex-Hartford Wolf Pack forward Brodie Dupont has officially retired and becomes the full-time head coach for the Cardiff Devils (Wales-EIHL). Under Dupont's leadership behind the bench, Cardiff won the EIHL championship. He is the 96th ex-Wolf Pack/CT Whale player to enter coaching. Dupont played as a Wolf Pack and CT Whale member and was weighing an offer to return to Connecticut. Ex-Wolf Pack, Ryan Gropp departs IF Björklöven (Sweden Allvenskan). Another ex-Pack, Nick Ebert, leaves Örebro HK (Sweden-SHL) for HV 71 (Sweden-SHL) next year. In his tenth year of Polish hockey, New Britain's Mike Cichy leaves GKS Tychy (Poland-PZIHL) and signs with Unia Oswiecim. Rayen Petrovicky, the son of former Hartford Whaler Róbert Petrovicky, moves from TUTO (Finland-Mestis) home to HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia-SLEL). Brooklyn Kalmikov, the son of former Sound Tiger Konstantin Kalmikov, saw his Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) eliminated. So he's now heading from "The Q" and signs with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for next season. MORE MOVES Closer to home, following his sophomore year, Ryan Doolin (Westminster Prep) left Sacred Heart University (AHA) and transferred to D3 Colby College (ME) (NESCAC). Travis Turnbull, the younger cousin of former New Haven Nighthawk Randy Turnbull, heads from Schwenniger (Germany-DEL) to EHC Straubing (German-DEL). Jack Marottollo (North Haven), the son of Sacred Heart University (AHA) head coach C.J. Marottollo, goes from South Shore (NCDC) and enrolls at Wesleyan University (Middletown) (NESCAC) in the fall. THOSE STILL PLAYING MEANINGFUL HOCKEY... In June, the major junior playoffs continue in Canada, leading to a later-than-planned Memorial Cup in an old AHL city, Saint John, New Brunswick. In the WHL, current Ranger's prospect Matt Rempe, who's playing with the Seattle Thunderbirds, has four goals and five points in ten games, won their Game 7 finale against the Portland Winterhawks to advance to the next round. Goalie Dylan Garand, heading to Hartford on his Entry-Level Contract (ELC) in the fall, moves on. Garland's Kamloops Blazers (48-17-3-0) will play against Rempe's Thunderbirds (44-18-4-2) in the WHL Western Conference championship beginning Friday. Garand's 1.51 Goals-Against-Average (GAA) is the WHL's second-best in the post-season. The Red Wing's 6'6 prospect, Sebastian Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings, is slightly better at 1.48. Both have three shutouts. OTHER HARTFORD WOLF PACK PROSPECTS Another fall training camp player is winger Ryder Korczak of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Korczak was last week's WHL Player of the Week with ten points in ten games. Unfortunately, the Winnipeg Ice eliminated the Warriors. In the WHL Bantam Draft, Lochlan Tetarenko, the son of Joey Tetarenko (Beast of New Haven), was selected in the third round (62nd overall) by the Saskatoon Blades. In the US Priority portion of the draft, the son of Whaler Grant Jennings, forward Gordon Jennings, was taken in the second round (35th overall) by the Prince Albert Raiders. The Alaskan native played last season for the U-14 Alaska Oilers AA team. California had the most players taken, with 44 drafted at 17, followed by Minnesota with 13 and Texas with nine. WESTERN CONFERENCE Over in the OHL, two top Rangers prospects will compete against one another in the Western Conference Championship. Will Cullye of the Windsor Spitfires has eight points in eleven games. That's good for second-best on the team. Their opponent, Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds, has a team-best 17 points on eight goals in 12 games. Othmann had three assists in a series-clinching Game 5 with a big 7-1 clincher over Sault Ste. Marie. Each of these players is the captain of their respective team. They met in February in a wild 7-6 overtime game, with each recording a hat trick. Cullye wears #13 and Othmann #78. The Spitfires won seven of the eight games in the regular season, and they will play for the Wayne Gretzky Conference trophy. The series started on Saturday in Windsor. Cullye had an assist and game-high eight shots while Othmann went pointless and had one shot. Game two is on Monday. WINDSOR SERIES Listen to the Windsor series on old school over-the-air radio on CKLW-AM 800 (Windsor-Detroit) and online. The Eastern Conference series begins on Friday between Hamilton and North Bay. The game can also be heard on CHML-AM 900 (Hamilton). There were no Ranger prospects in the QMJHL, but former Wolf Pack, Ranger, and Springfield Falcon, and now a head coach, Gordie Dwyer, saw his Saint John Sea Dogs eliminated in the first round of the President Cup playoffs. However, the team does get an automatic Memorial Cup cup berth as the host city. ANOTHER RANGERS SIGNEE Centerman Gustav Ryhahl signed a one-year, one-way, free-agent deal with the Rangers paying him $750K in the NHL and AHL. Rydahl, 27, is a 6'3 and 201-pounds physical player from the LeMat Trophy Swedish Hockey League champs Färjestad BK (Sweden-SHL), where he amassed 30 points in 44 games. In the Clark Cup (USHL) best-of-five series final, the Sioux City Musketeers are tied at one game apiece with the Madison (WI) Capitols. A few CT names dot the rosters of both teams. Jake Percival (Avon) plays for Sioux City and is a UCONN recruit for the fall. Madison has Ohio State (Big 10), Richard (DJ) Hart (Stamford), and Westport's and QU-bound in the fall Matt McGroarty (Brunswick School). Hart, who played at UCONN in Hartford twice this year, is a fall commit. COLLEGE HOCKEY The changes at Storrs keep coming. According to sources heading to Boston University will be UCONN's associate head coach West Haven's Joe Pereira, an ex-Sound Tiger, also formerly of South Kent Prep. He played as an undergraduate for 139 games. He was a  captain his senior season, as one of the new assistant coaches for Jay Pandolfo's staff after his nine-year run as an assistant to the Huskies Mike Cavanaugh. He began his college coaching career at Sacred Heart University (ACHA Division-2) as the head coach of their D2 club team, winning the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League championship in 2012-13. As a player, he spent two years as a minor league professional. Augustana (SD) University Vikings, the 62nd and newest NCAA D1 program, has been accepted as a new conference member for the CCHA, bringing the league to eight teams. TRANSFERS ACCEPTED One way for a team to improve its roster is to dip into the transfer portal. NCAA D1 Independent, the Long Island University Sharks, announced seven transfers on Thursday. The transfers are of all types, undergraduate, grad, inter-conference, non-conference, several Division-3s to Division-1, and even several cross-continent moves. As of this week, the total jumps to a staggering 157, comprised of 88 grad transfers and 69 school transfers. The Sacred Heart Pioneers (AHA) gets Julian Kislin from Northeastern (HE). The Quinnipiac Bobcats lose sophomore winger Ty Smilanic to Wisconsin (Big 10). Smilanic's NHL rights were traded from Minnesota to Arizona. Meanwhile, the Bobcats received three grad transfers. Over at Yale, they saw a grad transfer in goalie Justin Pearson who heads to UCONN (HE) next year. UCONN's Cassidy Bowes has yet to declare his next destination. Still, according to several sources, he's likely to play Canadian college hockey out in Western Canada, which is closer to his home in either the CWUAA, ACAC, or the BCIHL. MORE MOVES Rangers prospect Simon Kjellberg has left RPI (ECACHL) for the greener pastures of Northern Michigan (CCHA). A laundry list of players remains uncommitted, including Kyle Johnson of Yale and John Fusco of Harvard. Eric Gotz, the nephew of former Hartford Wolf Pack player and Head Coach Ken Gernander, heads from Michigan Tech (CCHA) to Vermont (HE), where his twin uncles matriculated as young men, Jim and Jerry Gernander. John Emmons Jr. commits to Miami (OH) (NCHC) from the Oakland (MI) Grizzlies (HPHL). IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS US had a close call winning 3-2 in OT over defensive-minded Austria. Ex-Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows scored in the game. Unfortunately, the US dropped their second game 4-1 to Finland. Next was a battle with Great Britain, which had Jackson Whistle in the net. He is the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Rob Whistle. Bellows scored twice in a 3-0 win. The US knocked off Sweden on Adam Gaudette's hat trick as ex-Springfield Falcon TJ Tynan, the two-time reigning AHL MVP, set him up with his second helper of the game. Canada saw Pierre-Luc Dubois score twice in an opening 5-1 win. In other games, the Czechs fell to Sweden 4-3 as ex-Pack Tomáš Kundrátek, and ex-UCONN recruit Matej Blümel scored in a comeback bid, but a 5-3 loss and then lost to Austria in their second game. Michael Spacek scored in a 5-1 win over Latvia. HUSKA Current Wolf Pack Adam Húska was in net for Slovakia's 5-1 loss to Canada and 5-3 loss to Switzerland. Huska gave up a goal to ex-Springfield Falcon Denis Malgin (one of five ex-Falcons playing in the tourney). Even though he made some acrobatic diving saves, the lack of goal support followed him to Finland from Hartford. The Slovaks did make the quarterfinals with a 4-3 win over Kazakhstan. Húska faced little work (11 shots), and all three goals resulted from direct rebounds. Huska picked up a secondary assist on the third goal. The Slovak team capitalized with three power play goals on Pavel Akolzin's ill-advised major for charging in center ice right in front of the Kazakhstan bench. The Slovaks secured their chance to continue to play by beating Italy 5-2, with Húska manning the cage. Surefire top draft pick in July, Jaroslav Slafkovky, scored again. Ex-Pack Andres Ambühl was the hero setting up the game-winning goal with 4:21 left for Switzerland in a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan. Sweden has played ex-Pack Magnus Hellberg in the net for three of their four games. One of them was winning a championship-level-like final, a 3-2 shootout win over Finland. Former QU Bobcat Latvian Kārlis Čukste earned the secondary assist on the game-winner with 6:19 left to play as Latvia rallied for a late 4-3 win over the British. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article