CANTLON: HOCKEY OFF-SEASON NEWS & NOTES VOL 36 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – Covid-19 continues to be the top story worldwide. Its effects are almost too wide to document, and it’s had a profound effect on the hockey world as well.

UCONN-MAINE POSTPONED

Because of positive cases on its Orono Campus the University of Maine has paused all winter athletics for two weeks. That decision has led to the postponing of this weekend’s Hockey East matches at Freitas Ice Forum between the UCONN Huskies and the Black Bears.

A preliminary return-to-play date of December 8th has been issued by Maine to restart athletics.

A rescheduled date has not been set and UCONN will not play this weekend. The COVID-19 positive tests for the UCONN women’s team had no bearing on the hockey team.

In addition to the UCONN-Maine game, there were other Hockey East changes in this weekend’s college hockey on-ice action.

UMASS-Lowell will host Providence College for just one game on Saturday after a scheduled series with Northeastern was postponed.

Boston College edged out UMASS-Amherst 4-3 on Friday evening as freshmen, Jack McBain, the son of former New Haven Senator, Andrew McBain, scored two goals. His second was a gorgeous 35-foot wrist shot from the right-wing side. The shot was a rising wrister over the shoulder of Minutemen goalie, Marty Murray.

In the WCHA, Lake Superior State was set to play Ferris State, but that game was postponed. Instead, they will play Division-III’s Adrian College (NCHA).

The R.I.T. Purple Knights (AHA) who had canceled their season, is back on. They will, however, play with no spectators and take on Clarkson University (ECACHL).

RANGERS/PACK CONNECTION UPDATE

After three years in Colorado (one in the ECHL and two in the AHL), ex-Hartford Wolf Pack, Michael Joly, has signed a deal with the Wheeling (ECHL).

Two ex-Wolf Pack players were released by the Kunlun Red Star Dragons (China-KHL) who are playing in the Russian city of Mystichi this season. The players are forwards Danny Kristo, who, after 14 games, had just four goals, and Josh Nicholls, who was scoreless in four games. On that same Beijing team, ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger goalie, Jeremy Smith, received a one-year contract extension.

Former Wolf Pack captain, albeit ever so briefly, and Sound Tiger, Joe Whitney, heads from Linkopings HC (Sweden-SHL) to Iserlohn (Germany-DEL).

Goalie, Olof Lindbom, the New York Rangers second-round pick (39th overall) in the 2018 draft, is an injury recall to Malmo IF (Sweden-SHL). He is expected to play on Friday against Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL). He played nine games with five wins (5-3-0) for Mora IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) with a 2.98 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Libor Hájek, currently playing in Europe, in six games with HC Brno (Czech Republic-CEL) has two assists and is an even on his plus/minus.

Pack goalie, and former UCONN Husky, Adam Huska, is playing next door with HKM Zloven (Slovakia-SLEL) and has played in just one game.

In Russia, Vitali Kravtsov, playing with Traktor Chelyabinsk, in 23 games has eight goals and 12 points. He’s been locked at eight points for several weeks. He is a plus-nine presently.

Yegor Rykov, a Pack d-man, who’s with CSKA Moscow has seven assists in 27 games and is plus-three.

Ex-Pack goalie, Brandon Halverson, after the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) shut down for the season, has signed with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). Halverson had two AHL recalls last year to Providence and the Tucson Roadrunners.

Ex-Pack. Malte Stromwall was involved in a big trade as he went from HK Sochi (Russia-KHL) to St. Petersburg for three other players.

Ex-Pack, Brenden Kotyk, who just retired from playing, was hired as the new Assistant Coach and Assistant of Hockey Operations for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) announced its roster. It includes defenseman, Adam Samuelsson, the youngest son of former Hartford Whalers great players and Rangers player and assistant coach, Wolf Pack, and Avon Old Farm assistant coach, Ulf Samuelsson. Adam has played for the Boston College Eagles (HE), Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), and Sudbury Wolves (OHL) in the last two years.

Jake DeBrusk, the son of former Wolf Pack and Ranger, Louie DeBrusk, signs a two-year, $7 million extension with the Boston Bruins.

Cam Knuble, the oldest son of former Ranger, Mike Knuble, commits to Western Michigan University (NCHC). He currently plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) and his younger brother Cole skates for Fox Motor Sports U-16 (T1EHL).

After seven years as the Director of Amateur Scouting with the Montreal Canadiens, former Whaler, Ranger, and NHL tough guy, Shane Churla, is hired in the same capacity by the Florida Panthers.

UCONN CONNECTION

Because the Newfound (St. John’s) Growlers (ECHL) have taken the year off, former UCONN Husky defenseman and captain, Miles Gendron, has signed with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) for this year.

Greenville released two former UCONN Huskies, Karl El-Mir, and Joe Masonius. They added from the Ontario Reign (AHL), Jack Sadek, a free agent signee from Iowa, and a recent college signee, Nick Poehling.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Two new AHL assistant coaches have been hired. Joel Ward is added to the Henderson Silver Knights staff and Erik Condra is hired by the Rockford Ice Hogs.

William Lagesson, of the Bakersfield Condors, had his loan switched from HC Vita Hasten (Sweden-Allsvenskan) to Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan).

The expected Yale captain this year, Phil Kemp, has signed a standard three-year, entry-level deal paying $925K (NHL) and $80K (AHL) has turned pro with the NHL Edmonton Oilers. Kemp (Greenwich/Brunswick School) is a 6’3 and 210 lbs, right-handed shot and was a seventh-round pick (208th overall) in 2017, played 88 games for the Bulldogs. He scored nine goals, had 18 assists, and was an Academic All-American in his three years.  Kemp 21, will likely be assigned to a European team shortly and will be in Bakersfield, if the AHL season starts as scheduled on February 5th. He is the 39th college underclassmen to turn pro.

Yale canceled its winter sports on November 12th.

Brady Tomlak, the son of former Whaler, Mike Tomlak, graduated from the Air Force Academy (AHA). He signs a deal with Wheeling (ECHL).

Jacob Panetta, of Colgate University (ECACHL), and Derek Lodermeier of the University of Vermont (HE), both sign with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL). Lodermeier had signed with the Manitoba in the spring but never played for the Moose.

Ben Finkelstein, Boston College (HE), and Karch Bachman from Miami (OH) University (NCHC) both sign in Greenville (ECHL).

Nick Rivera of Minnesota State University-Mankato (NCJHC) signs with Wheeling (ECHL).

Rivera’s signing makes 197 Division-I college players having signed North American professional deals and 330 players between Division-I and Division-III to have signed pro deals in North America and Europe. The conference breakdown is; Hockey East and NCHC each have 36, the Big 10 and ECACHL both have 33, WCHA has 32, AHA has 25, and Division-I independent, Arizona State, has four.

Jason Marsella (Greenwich/Avon Old Farms) will skate for the expansion Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL) when their season starts. The Bucks head coach/GM is former Yale player and assistant coach, Ryan Donald. He had originally committed to the Penticton Vees (BCHL) and has been drafted by the three different teams and leagues. The Chicago Steel (USHL) in 2018, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 2018, and the Kansas City Scouts (NAHL) 2020. Marsella is a 2021-22 Yale University (ECACHL) commit.

Among the owners of the Cranbrook Bucks is former Wolf Pack, Adam Cracknell, who is still playing in Norway and has a two-way contract with Edmonton for this season whenever it does start.

Next month’s WJC tournament in Edmonton will be using Canadian-based officials only. One of the referees is Carter Sandlak, the son of former Whaler and NHL’er, Jim Sandlak.

The Providence Bruins (AHL) have loaned out three players to European squads. Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen Is sent to SaiPa (Finland-FEL) and Cooper Zech is loaned to HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL). Goalie Dan Vladar is heading to play with HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic-CEL).

Eric Cornel heads from the Rochester Americans to Nuremberg (Germany-DEL) making 192 AHL’ers to be loaned or to sign in Europe from last year’s AHL season.