CANTLON’S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 7 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – Another week goes by since the Hartford Wolf Pack season ended and another busy week of news.

PLAYER AND COACHES MOVEMENT

Former Wolf Pack Simon Denis, who played seven games with the team last season while on recall from the Toledo Walleye (ECHL), has signed for with the Daemyung Killer Whales in South Korea who play in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH).

Evan Jasper, who played three games at the end of the season on recall from the Wolf Pack’s former Double AA home in Greenville, has signed to play for the Frederikshavn White Knights (Denmark-DHL).

Ex-CT Whale Scott Tanski, who has bright red hair, leaves the Reading Royals (ECHL) to play next year for Braehead Clan (Scotland-EIHL).

Former Wolf Pack, Drew Bannister, was named the new head coach of the San Antonio Rampage. They are the primary farm team for the St. Louis Blues. Bannister had a standout season coaching Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) who lost in the OHL finals to Hamilton. Bannister was named the top coach in the OHL and Canadian junior hockey.

Bannister is the son-in-law of former Wolf Pack assistant coach, Mike Busniuk.

Former Whaler, Dean Evason, has left the Milwaukee Admirals and signed with the Minnesota Wild to become one of their assistant coaches. Evason joins former Whaler and Nighthawk, John Anderson, on Bruce Boudreau’s staff. Evason served with Boudreau when he was coaching in Washington.

He is the 15^th former Whaler to serve in the NHL as a head or an assistant coach.

Former Sound Tiger defenseman Matt Donovan signed a one-year free agent deal with the Milwaukee Admirals. Donovan returns to the AHL after playing in Sweden.

A coach gets added to the AHL to Euro list. Gerry Fleming, the former head coach of the Bakersfield Condors signs with Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL) as an assistant coach.

His job at Bakersfield was filled by ex-Pack, and ex-Sound Tiger, Cail MacLean, who was an assistant coach for the Condors.

Maclean’s new assistant coach is Dave Manson, yes the former Blackhawk who was one of the toughest and meanest NHL defenseman in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was assistant coach with his old junior team the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) the last five years.

Iowa goalie Niklas Svedberg signs with Timra IK (Sweden-SHL). Including Fleming, to date, 18 AHL’ers have signed in Europe with 13 AHL teams affected so far. That number will start to pick post-Stanley Cup finals and after the AHL Calder Cup which is nearing its conclusion.

Ben Simon was promoted from assistant coach to head coach for Grand Rapids. As a player he won the last IHL Turner Cup title with Orlando Solar Bears and the next season help the Chicago Wolves capture their first AHL Calder Cup title.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Richard Seeley, after spending three seasons as head coach of the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) has been elevated to GM of the Kings top farm team the Ontario Reign (AHL).

The Kings also named Jaroslav Modry as their new assistant coach for Ontario.

Former Nighthawk great Hubie McDonough has been shifted from Ontario Reign’s Director of Hockey Operations, a position which he has held when they were in Manchester (AHL) and the three years in Ontario to a scouting role for the Kings.

Former Hartford Whaler, Nelson Emerson, has been promoted to Director of Player Personnel from Director of Player Development.

Kansas City (ECHL) has renewed their affiliation agreement with Calgary and Stockton.

Greg Moore, a former Wolf Pack captain and an assistant captain in Bridgeport during his playing days got his first head coaching gig. After spending the last three years with the US National Development Team (NDTP) as an assistant coach that’s also plays in the USHL, Moore lands the top job with the Chicago Steel (USHL).

The USHL named a new commissioner, Tom Garrity, the ninth in league history.

Former Sound Tiger Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms) signed a one year AHL deal with Hershey.

Two more US collegians have signed in Europe. Anthony Paskaruk is leaving Northern Michigan University (NCHC) for Amals SK (Sweden DivisIon-2) and Michael Rudolf from Division III Colby College (NESCAC) to ESV Academy (Switzerland-LNB).

Nolan Vesey, the younger brother of the New York Rangers’ Jimmy Vesey, was traded by Toronto to Edmonton and was then signed to a two-year, two-way entry level deal at ($925K-NHL/$70K-AHL) and will likely been in Bakersfield next season.

146 Division I players have signed North American pro deals. 17 players have signed in Europe making 193 players in total have signed pro contracts since leavings school.

Former Yale Bulldog Antoine Langiere goes from Assat Pori (Finland-FEL) to EHC Straubing (Germany-DEL).

Kristoff Kontos, the son of former Nighthawk and Ranger, Chris Kontos, and a graduate from St. Francis Xavier (AUAA) in Canadian college hockey. heads for HC Gap (France-FREL).

Ex-Pack Chad Wiseman was named the new head coach for the Junior A Burlington Cougars (OJHL).

Ex-Pack goalie Robert Gherson is the goalie and assistant coach for North York Rangers (OJHL).

Former Sound Tiger, Jeff Tambellini, the older brother to present Wolf Pack, Adam Tambellini, has been named head coach/GM to the Junior A team Trail Smoke Eaters of the Junior A British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

Ex-Pack/CT Whale Justin Soryal is now the New England scout for the Merritt Centennials (BCHL).

Former New Haven Knight, Simon Olivier, is the head coach for the expansion Cote-du-Sud Everest (QJAAAHL) this fall.

It was a good spring for Ryan McGuire (New Canaan), the son of NBC NHL announcer, Pierre McGuire. He first got drafted by the Madison Capitols (USHL) in their Futures Phase of their draft going in the 8^th round, 118^th overall by GM/head coach, Garrett Suter.

Suter is part of the famous Wisconsin hockey clan that played at University of Wisconsin. His father, Bob Suter, and Uncle, Gary Suter, a long time NHL’er, plus his brother Ryan Suter who currently plays with the Minnesota Wild.

Then last weekend, his father, a Montreal born native got a call from ex-Pack and Sound Tiger, Joel Bouchard of Blaineville-Boisbrand Armada (QMJHL) before he leaves to coach Laval (AHL) in the fall that the team selected him in the 12^th round 215^th overall.

Father McGuire in an interview on TSN 690 in Montreal Melnick in the Afternoon program on Monday was firm his son will attend Blaineville’s training camp just the required two days only, to preserve his future NCAA eligibility. The younger McGuire at age 15 matriculates at Belmont Hill (MAPREP).

The QMJHL held a separate American amateur draft in the league headquarters in Boucherville, QC on Monday concentrating solely on its draft-elligible territory of the US Northeast. Here are the results;

1^st round, 1^st overall, Jack Williams, Selects Academy at South Kent Prep, by the Saint John Sea Dogs and is a Northeastern (HE) commit 2020-21.

1^st round, 10^th overall Tommy Aitken, Selects Academy at South Kent Prep, by the Charlottetown Islanders

2^nd round, Scott Morrow (Darien) by the Val D’Or Foreurs and who is also a Youngstown (USHL) 2018 Draftee.

2^nd round, 24^th overall Peter Sanger (Lakeville/Westminster Prep-Simsbury) by Baie-Comeau Drakkar

2^ND round, 27^th overall Michael Bencivengo (New Haven/Notre Dame-West Haven CTPUB) by the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

2^nd round, 29^th overall Luke Krys (Ridgefield/Salisbury Prep) by the Quebec Remparts. He is the younger brother of BU’s Chad Krys and is also  a 2017 Madison (USHL) Draftee.

2^nd round, 31^st overall William Rinaldi, Selects Academy at South Kent Prep by the Victoriaville Tigres

2^nd round, 25^th overall Nick Capone (East Haven/Salisbury Prep) by the Memorial Cup champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Capone was also a 2017 Bloomington (USHL) draftee and is a University of Maine (HE) commit 2020-21.

In the first phase, besides McGuir, there were several other CT players.

8^th round, round 130^th overall, Victor Czerneckianair (Southington/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) by the Halifax Mooseheads and is a Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) commit in 2020-21.

8^th round, 142^nd overall Jason Marsella (Greenwich) by Halifax and is a Yale University (ECACHL) commit 2020-21.

Of the 10 total US players selected in the first phase, six had CT connections and the 1^st round, 15^th overall pick, Josh Lawrence, (Selects Academy at South Kent Prep) committed to the Saint John Sea Dogs for next season de-committing from Boston University (HE) on Wednesday.

BU, who also lost their head coach, David Quinn, to the Rangers named Quinn’s assistant coach Albie O’Connell as the new Terrier bench boss on Wednesday. That makes 72 of the 73 years of hockey at BU the head coach has been a former BU Terrier player.

Colby Wotton, 14, the youngest son of former Sound Tiger, Mark Wotton, will be playing with Yellowhead (WMBAAA) after being taken in two drafts in the 7^th round, 136^th overall by the Regina Pats (WHL) whose head coach and GM is former Pack coach John Paddock and in the 6^th round, 59^th overall by the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).

Two more Bantam Drafts in the Junior A ranks for the BCHL this weekend and the QJAAAHL Draft in Gatineau June 16.

Sending best wishes and thoughts to former Springfield Falcon, Wade MacLeod, who’s battling cancer and has undergone a second surgery. He was set to play for ESC Dresden (Germany DEL-2) this year leaving Lowen Frankfurt (DEL-2), but is taking an obvious medical leave from hockey.