CANTLON’S CORNER: WOLF PACK OFF SEASON VOLUME 17 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – With Labor Day coming this weekend signaling the traditional end of summer, hockey fans, especially Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Rangers fans, are gearing up for what should be an exciting season.

PLAYER & COACHING MOVEMENT

The Wolf Pack have added a ninth and tenth defenseman for the Pack roster with the inking of Jeff Taylor to a one-year AHL deal. Taylor, a left-handed shot out of Union College (ECACHL), played the last two years splitting time between the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).

Zach Tolkinen, a six-year pro who played his collegiate career at Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) was on the Wolf Pack roster for nine games on a recall assignment from the Maine Mariners. Tolkinen signed a one-year AHL deal.

Both Taylor and Tolkinen were signed as part of AHL organizational depth for the Wolf Pack.

Ex-Pack defenseman and assistant captain last year, Rob O’Gara, signed a one-year AHL deal at $75K with the San Antonio Rampage. He missed the final third of the regular season with a herniated disc injury that required surgery. He joins ex-Pack Josh Wesley who signed with the Rampage last week.

Ex-Pack, TJ Hensick, signs up for another season with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). He also spent the second half of the season with the San Jose Barracuda last year.

Two Bridgeport Sound Tigers from last season signed contracts.  Michael Del Colle put his name on a two-year, one-way deal paying him $700K. Josh Ho-Sang sees just $11K in his NHL salary increase and gets none at the AHL level ($70K) on a one-year, two-way deal with the New York Islanders.

Following a buyout from the Philadelphia Flyers, an ex-Sound Tiger, Andrew MacDonald, will attend the Calgary Flames training camp on a tryout deal.

Another ex-Sound Tiger, Eamon McAdam, a goaltender who split last year with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL) signs with the Binghamton Devils (AHL) for this upcoming season.

Tanner Pond leaves the Providence Bruins to sign a one-year, two-way deal with the Sound Tigers and Islanders.

A new signee with the Stockton Heat is another ex-Sound Tiger, Matt Gaudreau, the brother of Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau.

Columbus renewed its affiliation with the Cleveland Monsters for five years.

In what is becoming more of a trend in the AHL, not only do the NHL teams own their AHL affiliate, (currently, 18) they are also taking over the management of their respective arenas as well. The latest is the Anaheim Management Group being selected by the San Diego City Council to become the new arena operator at Pachanga Arena effective on July 1, 2020. They are replacing the building’s current operator, AEG. The Anaheim Ducks’ top farm team, the San Diego Gulls, are the primary tenant of the arena.

One time Wolf Pack, Justin Salvaggio, who split last year with the Pack’s ECHL affiliates, the Maine Mariners and the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL signs with the Allen (TX) Americans.

Two more AHL’ers sign and head for Europe. Eric Tangradi of Binghamton signs with Barys Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan-KHL), while Austin Fyten, who was traded to the Belleville Senators at the trade deadline by Providence, signs with ETC Crimmitschau (Germany DEL-2).

That makes 67 AHL’ers who have signed for Europe.

New names have popped up as possibilities for the yet to be approved AHL 32nd team in Palm Springs, CA to be the affiliate for new 32nd NHL team the yet named Seattle franchise. Read about that HERE.

Several NCAA transfers. After two years at Boston College (HE) Chris Grando is heading to Arizona St. (Division I-Independent). He is sitting out this year. Another senior grad transfer as Thomas Berretta, 24, heads from Michigan Tech (WCHA) to the University of Vermont (HE) to play this year.

After spending a year with Penticton (BCHL) following two years with Michigan (Big 10), goalie, Jack LaFontaine (no relation to Islander great, Pat LaFontaine) is on the move again, this time enrolling with another Big 10 school, the University of Minnesota.

Two players head to the Niagara University Purple Eagles (AHA). They are Croix Evingson UMASS-Lowell (HE) and Walker Simmer of Air Force (NCAA Division I Independent). They also get 24-year-old Ryan Cook on a transfer from Merrimack College (HE). Then Will Scherer transfers from Brown University (ECACHL) to Canisius College (AHA).

Goalie Conner Ryckman takes the leap going from Division III at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WIAC) to Division I at Northern Michigan University (WCHA).

Goalie Dylan Schoen leaves Division III SUNY-Geneseo (SUNYAC) and goes to Stevenson University (WIAC). He played for the Connecticut Nighthawks for two years.

A nice story makes its way to the public as Penn State adds senior William Holzforster. He will be the Nittany Lions third goalie after playing three years on the Penn State ACHA club team.

The Post University Eagles (NE-10-W) of Waterbury has tabbed Lauren Wash, a four-year varsity player from RPI and 2018 Isobel Cup winner for the NWHL New York Riveters, as their new assistant coach.

Ted Hart of Yale University (ECACHL) leads a list of eight more college players to sign pro deals. Hart signs with Maine (ECHL) while Chase Priskie of Quinnipiac University signs a two-year, two-way deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. Priskie gets $832,500-NHL/$70K-AHL. He will likely start in Charlotte with the AHL Checkers next year.

Stephen Baylis Bowling Green (WCHA) signs with Ontario and Alec Marsh of Penn State signs with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL).

The University of New Hampshire’s (HE) Ara Nazarian signs with Binghamton. Brendan Smith leaves Cornell University (ECACHL) to head to Wichita (ECHL). John Wiitala leaves Ohio State (Big 10) for Rochester and Beau Starrett of Cornell University (ECACHL) is off to Bakersfield (AHL) to join his brother Shane, a goaltender for the Condors.

These signings make it 202 Division I players to sign pro deals and 272 collegians overall to sign deals in both North America and Europe.

Jacques Bouquot (South Windsor/Salisbury Prep) rescinds his commitment from Boston College very late and will attend the University of Vermont (HE) in the fall. He had an injury-laden season last year primarily playing a bit with the Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) but played most of the year with the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) contributing 28 points in 31 games.

Mike Posma from Kent School (CTPREP) will play for Cedar Rapids (USHL) this season and has committed to Boston College (HE) for 2020-21.

Yale University’s Ingalls Rink is going with new NHL high tech boards for this season. Read about it HERE.

North Dakota (NCHC) announces a new ten-year lease running until 2030 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Kris Mayotte, leaves Providence College (HE) quite late to take the opening for the Assistant Coach’s job at Michigan (Big 10).

St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) is inducting five new players into their Hockey Hall of Fame. The group is led by former New Haven Knights (UHL) goalie Eric Heffler. Three of the five are all former AHL’ers in T.J. Trevelyan (Providence/Worcester), Drew Bagnall (Manchester, Houston, and Rochester), Erik Anderson (Milwaukee) and Ron Waske.

Luke Loheit, the grandson of late New Haven Nighthawk and former Ranger, Bill Goldsworthy, will be a freshman for the two-time defending national champion, University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (NCHC).

Nolan Volcan, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Mickey (Mike) Volcan, finished his major junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). He is heading to Canadian college hockey with the University of Alberta Golden Bears (CWUAA).

Hunter Fargey of Sacred Heart University (AHA) becomes the third US collegian to transfer to a Canadian college as he heads to the University of Toronto (OUAA).

After the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) folded, ex-Sound Tiger/Danbury Trasher, Doug Christiansen, lands on his feet as the new GM/Head coach of Indy (ECHL).

Ryan Verbeek, the nephew of former Whaler great, Pat Verbeek, goes from HC Lyon (France-FREL) to Toledo (ECHL), the Red Wings Double AA affiliate. The Red Wings new assistant GM is his uncle, the aforementioned Pat Verbeek. His other uncle is Tim Verbeek who played in Toledo (ECHL) when they were called the Storm from 2000-2003.

Former New Haven Senator Jason Firth is an assistant coach with Lakehead University (OUAA) in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Under the headline your never too old.

Former New Haven Senators head coach, Don MacAdam, who just celebrated birthday number 69 will return to Europe this year with UTE (Hungary-ELH) as a coaching mentor.

At age 61, former center Rob McClanahan, of the Miracle on Ice 1980 US Olympic Hockey team, and who played 17 games with the Whalers, as well as several years with the Rangers, was named interim head coach at the Blake School in Minnesota. Good for him and the kids.

Jake Taylor, the ex-Wolf Pack, after spending six years as an assistant coach will be the head coach of Lakeville North (MNPUB) this year.

Ex-Nighthawk, Mark Vichorek, will be doing double duty as Director of Player Development for the Wisconsin Lumberjacks (SIJHL), a Junior A team, and will also be the head coach for Duluth Marshall HS (MNPUB).

Former Wolf Pack and Nighthawk goalie, Robb Stauber, has new coaches in his family. Brother Dan and niece Emma will be coaching Proctor HS (MNPUB) this winter, boys, and girls respectively.

Ex-Sound Tiger Ryan Kraft was named head coach for Moorhead HS (MNPUB).

Former Yale Bulldog, Andy Weidenbach, won his 500th game as a head coach for Cranbrook Kingswood (MIPUB) this past season.

Congrats to Nolan Schaefer, now a Milford resident, on his induction to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Hall of Fame.

Schaefer had a distinguished collegiate career at Providence College (HE), as well as an AHL career with stops in Cleveland, Hershey, Houston, Worcester, and Providence. He had the leagues best GAA with the defunct Houston Aeros at 2.08 in 2007-08. He played in seven NHL games with a record 5-1 and a 1.88 GAA before he went to Europe and had a standout career in Switzerland with HC Ambri-Piotta and SC Bern.

He earned his SJHL honors having played with the Nipawin Hawks.

Schaefer now works with former Ranger, Wolf Pack, and Sound Tigers goalie and present MSG-TV Analyst, Steve Valiquette on a hockey goalie development camp called Clear Sight Development.

Pro hockey in the Southern Hemisphere is coming to a close and the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) with the CBR (Canberra) Brave the best of the short season with 79 points within an astonishing 28 games with 26 wins, one regulation loss, and one overtime loss.

They will play in the fourth place team, the Sydney Bears next week in one of Goodall Cup semifinals in Meilbourne next weekend the winners will meet for the title on Sunday August 31st.

The second place AIHL team will be the Newcastle NorthStars finished 16-9-0-3 for 54 points and second place a mere 25 points behind CBR will be playing the Perth Thunder in the other semifinal.

Cheshire’s Rob Malloy helped the NorthStars in their final weekend of play as he scored a third-period goal 54 seconds in to lead a rally and assisted on the overtime game-winner by leading scorer Sammy Banga for a 3-2 win.

Malloy ends the season with 10 goals and 19 assists in 25 regular season games

Newcastle ended their season on Sunday with a lopsided 14-2 win over Adelaide. Francis Drolet (Salisbury Prep) who finished 6th in AIHL scoring in 28 games with 20 goals 34 assists and 54 points, scored a goal and three assists in the last game.

The league’s leading scorer was the Sydney Ice Dogs Tim Crowder, the brother of current teammate, and ex-Pack, Paul Crowder. He had 33 goals and 41 assists for 74 points in 24 games. Paul Crowder played in just 14 games with 15 goals and 49 points

Other players with CT connections include; ex-Pack Jordan Owens Melbourne Mustangs (22-9-16-25, former UCONN goalie Garrett Bartus with the Sydney Ice Dogs went 9-14-0 in 23 games with a 4.34 GAA. Then the Melbourne Ice second-leading scorer is ex-Yale Bulldog, John Piotrowski who had 12 goals and 26 points in 20 games and former UCONN Husky Jesse Schwartz played just 10 games with 10 assists and 14 points in 10 games.

In New Zealand, the Birgel Cup playoffs are getting set to begin with the West Auckland Admirals looking to capture a second straight title.

There is also a big hockey clash when the New Zealand Blacks will take on the Australian National Team the Mighty Roos in the 10th edition New Zealand Winter Games in a three-match for the Trans-Tasman Cup on September 5th, 6th, and 7th.