CANTLON’S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 4 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT: In addition to news on the Hartford Wolf Pack, it’s been a busy week for hockey news in general.

WOLF PACK RELEASE SEVERAL DATES AND 2018-19 OPPONENTS

The Wolf Pack have released six certified Saturday home dates including their home opener. The Pack season will begin on October 5.

The Saturday dates revealed are December 1st, January 19th, and 26th, February 2, and March 2.

They also released their opponent’s matrix which will be the same as last season.

Once again, the Wolf Pack’s most familiar adversaries will be their New England rivals. That list starts with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Providence Bruins, who the Pack will play ten times each (five home, five away) in 2018-19.  The Wolf Pack will be challenged by the Charlotte Checkers eight times (four home, four away), and will see the rest of their divisional foes, the Hershey Bears, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, six teams each (three home, three away).

In game action outside of their division, they will have four battles (two home, two away), with the Binghamton Devils, the Rochester Americans, and the Utica Comets. They will face-off against the Belleville Senators, the Laval Rocket, the Syracuse Crunch, and the Toronto Marlies twice each (one home, one away).

The team will not see the Syracuse Crunch or the Cleveland Barons despite their just being added to the North Division.

The Wolf Pack’s entire 2018-19 game schedule will be announced as soon as the league’s entire schedule is finalized.

PLAYERS AND COACHES MOVEMENT

Three more AHL’ers are heading off to Europe. Jan Mandat heads from Binghamton to HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic-CEL). Adam Payerl goes from Providence to Augsburgur (Germany-DEL), and Corey Elkins leaves Grand Rapids to play for EHC Wolfsburg (Germany-DEL). The number of AHL players to head to Europe now stands at ten.

Coming back to North America from overseas includes ex-Sound Tiger, David Ullstrom, who returns from HV71 (Sweden-SHL) to the Arizona Coyotes/Tucson Roadrunners on a one-year, one-way deal paying him $650K.

Meanwhile, Ex-Pack/CT Whale/NY Ranger, Matt Gilroy, departs Jokerit Helsinki (Finland-FEL) to head to Rapperswill-Jona (Switzerland-LNA).

Ex-Pack Allan McPherson goes from HC La-Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland-LNB) to Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic-AEHL).

Former CT Whale D-man, Tomas Kundratek, leaves Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL) to go to the Far East and play for Kunlun (China-KHL).

Ex-Pack, Jakub Petruzalek, has switched teams in the Czech Elite League (CEL) for next year going from HC Trinec to HC Litvinov.

Another ex-CT Whale is on the move.  Casey Wellman leaves HK Sochi (Russia-KHL) for HC Rapperswill-Jona (Switzerland-LNA).

Holden Anderson (US Selects via the Academy at South Kent Prep) goes from IC Herlev (Denmark-DHL) to HC Amiens (France-FREL).

The Whistle Brothers, whose Uncle Rob Whistle played with the New Haven Nighthawks in the mid-1980’s, will play together next year with Sheffield (England-EIHL). The older brother, Jackson, played with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland-EIHL) this year. His brother, Brandon, played for three teams this year. They included Bonnyville (AJHL-Alberta Junior Hockey League), Vernon, and Salmon Arm, who both play in the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League)

A quartet of NCAA’ers are heading to Europe. Jace Hennig of Merrimack College (HE) is going to EC Kassel (Germany DEL-2). Blake Young from the University Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC) relocates to HC Briancon (France-FREL), while Ryan Gouleva of Babson College (NESCAC) packs the U-Haul for Neuilly-sur-Marne (France-FREL). Jack Musil of Endicott College (CCC) moves to Braehead (Scotland-EIHL).

A rare college transfer has happened. A player has moved from US college hockey to Canadian college hockey. Jordan Larson departs from the University of Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA) to play for Lakehead University (OUAA) in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

WHALERS FUTURE ?

One time Hartford Whalers GM, Brian Burke, stated that he doesn’t see a spot for Hartford on the NHL map. The recently departed President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames is doing playoff commentary for TSN and was fairly direct in his assessment of Hartford’s NHL chances.

Appearing on Rogers “Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup” last Wednesday, Burke was asked whether the NHL’s return to the Connecticut capital is a possibility. Burke replied, “You’ll see Jesus before you see a team back in Hartford.” Not much confusion in that statement, wouldn’t you say?

Burke ran the Whalers from 1992 to 1993 and described what he saw as a desolate market during the “Roaring ’80’s.” He stated that during his tenure he noted that many big employers and high-paying jobs uprooted for nearby Manhattan.

The resulting loss of industry and jobs eventually stripped away at the local economy and contributed to the 1997 relocation of the Whalers to Raleigh, N.C. where the club was re-branded and became the Carolina Hurricanes.

Despite the economic loss in Hartford, the AHL Wolf Pack will begin their 22^nd year in the city in the fall as the New York Rangers top farm team.

In recent years, the soon to be ex-Connecticut Governor, Dannel Malloy, has floated the idea of an NHL return. He has yet to provide any substance and has been working to renovate the XL Center. So far, he’s had moderate success but there’s no sign of an NHL return.

Malloy invited the nearby New York Islanders, who were in search of a new arena, to make their digs in the old barn. He did it without consulting the NHL before sending, and then publicly releasing the invitation.

STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS

It’s amazing to watch the Las Vegas Golden Knights as the advance in the NHL playoffs. The expansion team is now within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Final as they attempt to get past the Winnipeg Jets. Even more rewarding is watching Jonathan Marchessault’s performance in the playoffs. The Rangers certainly gave up on him too soon as they stereotyped him. He never took kindly to it.  If Vegas makes the NHL final, he will certainly be a clear Conn Smythe  (playoff MVP) candidate.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a plethora of ex-Wolf Pack on the roster.  Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonaugh, Dan Girardi, and J.T. Miller are all battling the Washington Capitals for every inch in their series. If Tampa Bay makes it to the Stanley Cup Finals and manages to win, it will be another first round pick for the Rangers as part of the McDonaugh-Miller trade at the deadline.

AHL CALDER CUP SEMIFINALS

The Final Four in the AHL title is ready to rock and roll.

The top two teams of the regular season are in the Eastern conference final. It will be played in a 2-3-2 format between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) visit the Toronto Marlies (Maple Leafs). The series starts with games starting at 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Phantoms have Alex Lyon, the former Yale goalie, an ex-Pack in Alex Krushelnyski, who were the big heroes in the fifth and deciding game. The series finale was also the AHL’s longest-ever playoff game going five OTs before the Phantoms knocked off Charlotte. Colin McDonald of Wethersfield, CT and coach, Scott Gordon, a former Nighthawk, were the Connecticut connections.

Toronto features Ben Smith (Avon/Westminster Prep), ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, and Mason Marchment, the son of former Whaler, Bryan Marchment.

The Western Conference Final pits the Texas Stars (Dallas) against the Rockford Ice Hogs (Chicago), who are yet to lose a game in this post season.

Another Yale Bulldog, John Hayden, is with Rockford. He joins Henrik Samuelsson, the son of Ulf Samuelsson, and an ex-Pack training camp invitee. The team is coached by former Sound Tiger, Jeremy Colliton.

Ex-Pack, Mike Paliotta (Westport), is a defenseman who was acquired in a mid-season deal. He skates for Texas. The team GM is former New Haven Senator ,Scott White.

ECHL KELLY CUP SEMIFINALS

The semifinals are underway and Ft. Wayne has taken a two-games-to-one lead over the defending champion, Colorado Eagles. This is the Eagles last season in the ECHL. They head up to the AHL next season and will become the Colorado Avalanche affiliate.

Former UConn goalie from their AHA year, Garrett Bartus, stepped into game two after Michael Houser was injured and backstopped the Komets to a win.

It’s been a chippy series which featured a rare pregame brawl. It featured two fights between Ft. Wayne’s Dennis Kavchenko, and Colorado’s Gabriel Verpaelst The two participants received five games while the Komets’ Daniel Maggio, an ex-Sound Tiger and former Ranger draft pick, and Joey Ratelle (no relation to the Ranger great, Jean) both were handed three games in the stands.

Colorado features ex-Pack, Michael Joly. Their assistant coach is also an ex-Pack  in Ryan Tobler.

The other semifinal pits the Florida Everblades against the Adirondack Thunder. The Everblades hold a 2-1 game lead over the Thunder.

Florida sports former Yale defenseman, Gus Young, and features a Kent Prep school teammate of Boo Nieves, Logan Roe. Adirondack has an ex-Pack Desmond Bergin.

MEMORIAL CUP TOURNAMENT

The 100^th major Canadian junior hockey championship will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan. It is all set for May 17-27.

The QMJHL representative is the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Former New haven Nighthawk player, Sylvain Couturier, is the Titan GM. They knocked of the Joel Bouchard coached Blaineville-Boisbrand Armada by the score of 2-1 in Game 6 of their series.

The kings of the OHL are the Hamilton Bulldogs. They defeated the Saute Ste. Marie Greyhounds in six games. The series win included a come from behind 5-4 victory off a three goal period against the Greyhounds. The record prior to the game was 6. The record was 49-1-1 with the lead after two periods of play.

The WHL playoff champion is the Swift Current Broncos. They also won in six games. The last was a 3-0 shutout over the Everett Silvertips. It was their first league title in 25 years. The host team is the Regina Pats who are coached by ex-Wolf Pack Calder Cup winning coach, John Paddock.

All the action can be seen on The NHL Network.

The QJMHL Draft is in Shawinigan on June 2^nd.

NAHL ROBERTSON CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

The Shreveport (LA) Mudbugs captured the Robertson Cup title in beating the Minot (ND) Minotaurs in two games in Blaine, Minnesota last weekend.

RBC JUNIOR A TOURNAMENT

Five teams are still in action competing to be the top dog in Canadian Junior A hockey in Chilliwack, BC.

The Chilliwack (BC) Chiefs have Anthony Vincent (Wilton/Salisbury Prep), who’s a Holy Cross (AHA) commit, along with Jake Gresh (Avon/Avon Old Farms), a University Alaska-Fairbanks commit, and their assistant coach is ex-Pack, Cam Keith.

The Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) have ex-CT Whale, Ryan Garlock, as their assistant coach. The Wellington Dukes (OJHL) have a pair of former NHL’ers in coach John Druce, and Derek Smith behind the bench as an assistant coach.   

WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The huge tournament in Denmark is winding down with the final eight countries in action all on Thursday.

The quarterfinals saw the US eliminate the Czech Republic with a 3-2 win.

The US squad features Greenwich native, Cam Atkinson, who’s having a great tournament (8 GP-7-4-10), and ex-CT Whale, and current Ranger, Chris Krieder (8-2-5-8). The team also features ex-Sound Tiger, Anders Lee (7-3-0-3), Farmington’s, Nick Bonino (4-0-3-3), Tage Thompson (Orange/UCONN) (7-1-2-3), and ex-Pack and current Ranger, Neal Pionk (8-2-1-3) as well as ex-Pack, Brian Gibbons (8-0-0-0).

The Czech Republic has current Wolf Pack forward Filip Chytil (7-0-1-1) on the roster.

Russia and Canada hooked up in another classic battle. In this one, the Canadians won 5-4 on an overtime powerplay goal.

Russia features current Ranger, and ex-Pack, Pavel Buchnevich (7-1-3-4). They also have ex-Pack/Ranger, Artem Anisimov (8-3-5-8), and Rangers goalie draft pick, Igor Shestyorkin (3 GP 1.46 GAA). The Canadian team has ex-Sound Tiger, Ryan Pulock (6-01-1) and Anthony Beauvillier (6-1-1-2).

Sweden and Latvia battled at the tournament. Sweden pulled away in the third period for a 4-2 win. Sweden lists Rangers first round pick and top prospect, Lias Andersson (7-1-1-2) as well as former Wolf Pack goalie, Magnus Hellberg (1.63 GAA in 3 GP) and ex-Sound Tiger, Anders Nilsson (1.25 GAA in 4 GP).

Finland and Switzerland were the last of the teams to play. The Swiss upended the Finns with all three goals coming in the second period giving them a 3-2 win, beating them for the first time in the World Championships since 1972. Finland has Kasperi Kapanen, the son of former Whaler, Sami Kapanen (7-2-0-2) while Switzerland has ex-Pack, Raphael Diaz (7-1-4-5), and former Sound Tiger Nino Niederreter (8-3-4-7).

The semifinals this weekend will be on the NHL Network Saturday at 1:00 pm  with Canada playing the Swiss. On Saturday night at 8:00 pm the US plays Sweden.