CANTLON: BRUINS BEAT PACK 6-3 WIN DIVISION TITLE 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

MARLBOROUGH, MA – Providence scored six goals over the second half of the hockey game and defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-3, and captured their second consecutive Atlantic Division title Thursday afternoon

The Wolf Pack closed out the abbreviated AHL 24 game regular season with a record of 16-9-1-0 for 29 points, and Providence concluded the year with a 15-6-2-2 record for 34 points.

Just before the game the Wolf Pack lost two-thirds of their top line in Justin Richards and Tim Gettinger and top forward Jonny Brodzinski because of injuries and suspensions.

So, head coach Kris Knoblauch had to creates several new line combinations for their all-important regular season finale.

The Wolf had built a 2-0 lead nearly halfway through the second period before the Bruins rallied on Hartford.

The Wolf Pack in the first period as defenseman Zach Giuttari took a pass from Anthony Greco launched a shot at the net that was blocked in front. Still, the puck went right to Patrick Khordorenko, who whistled a hard wrist shot from 30 feet out that sailed over Bruin’s goalie Dan Vladar blocker pad and into the back of the net at 13:49 for his fourth goal of the season.

The Wolf Pack had solid chances in the first period Mason Geersten early in the period and Ty Ronning had three quality chances early, a powerplay bid midway through the period and late in the period that Dan Vladar denied each one.

Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery prep) is playing just his fifth game of the year, and first, since his birthday was denied with 2:55 left in the first.

Adam Huska did his best in stopping all shots he faced, including Robert Lantosi twice, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jack Studnicka.

In the second period, the Pack went up 2-0 as captain Vincent LoVerde too raced in from the right point, took Patrick Khordorenko’s backhand pass off Paul Thompson’s rebound, and caught Loverde perfectly in stride as he fired his first of the season into the net at 6:17

The Bruins rallied as first Pavel Shen at the right point sent a tape-to-tape pass to Ian MacKinnon, the Bruins heavyweight who zipped a hard wrister short side past Adam Huska at 12:36 for his first goal of the year.

Providence struck 60 seconds later and tied the game at two.

The Pack’s Zach Giuttari wraparound clearing attempt on the right-wing boards went past Auston Rueschhoff, and rookie Edwards Tralmaks stopped it at the left point sent a low, accurate shot toward the net Huska made the save.

The puck was at Huska’s feet, and the Bruins Oscar Steen had inside position on and jammed home his s goal of the season.

The momentum had shifted like the wind of a Texas-sized thunderstorm. The wind carried Providence the rest of the game.

The Wolf Pack had a chance to take the lead late and deflate the Bruns balloon, but Ty Ronning hit the post with 2:44 to go on the right-wing from 10 feet out, falling backward.

A goal there might have made a difference.

The ensuing play back up ice the Bruins scored the dagger shorthanded goal.

Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) made perfect outlet to Samuel Asselin who dished a pass to Jack Studnicka who then maneuvered through center ice entered the Wolf Pack zone.

Then fed Vaakanainen the puck and he fired a low wrister stick side past Huska at 18:02 for his first of the year and a 3-2 Bruins lead they never lost.

In the third period, the Bruins scored three more and pulled away from the Wolf Pack.

James Sanchez made an early clear of a puck in the blue paint area, but persistent Providence Edwards Tralmarks worked the puck off the apron of the back of the net to keep the play alive.

The Bruins expanded the lead to a two-goal margin just 2:03 into the period as Tralmarks put a solid shot on net Huska made the first save Oskar Steen skating by tap the loose puck underneath Huska for his fifth goal at 2:03.

Then Curtis Hall Yale Bulldog was the recipient of a pass by Pavel Shen, who had stripped the puck from rookie Will Cullye and Hall used Patrick Sieloff as screen and fired his first pro goal by Huska at 9:47 for a 5-2 lead and the Wolf Pack could start warming up the bus.

Then Samuel Asselin completed the second half of the game Bruins power surge smacking in a rebound of a Jack Studnicka shot in front and for his eighth goal at 14:38.

The Wolf Pack last goal of the season came off the stick of Quinnipiac grad Alex Whalen with his second of the season shorthanded at 18:48 as Paul Thompson forced a turnover and Whalen had an empty net to shoot at as Vladar was stuck behind his net.

NOTES:

–Due to injuries suffered last night in the Rangers brawl filled loss to Washington and the Rangers playing in Boston tonight 40 minutes from Marlborough Tim Gettinger, Justin Richards and Jonny Brodzinski were recalled by the Rangers.

Sadly, no Wolf Pack player day/night doubleheader.

-Tyce Thompson (Milford/Salisbury School), after a two-point game against Wilkes Barre/Scranton, is recalled by New Jersey.

LINES:

Newell-Sanchez-Ronning
Thompson-Khordorenko-Greco
Rueschhoff-O’Leary-Geersten
Dmowski-Whalen-Cullye

Raddysh-Taylor
LoVerde-Skinner
Giutarri-Sieloff

Huska
Wall

THREE STARS
Jack Studnicka Providence
Dan Vladar Providence
Samuel Asselin Providence

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Patrick Khordorenko Hartford
Pavel Shen Providence
Urho Vaakanainen Providence

SCRATCHES:

Francois Brassard was the lone scratch for the game
Gabriel Fontaine (upper-body injury season-over)

NOTES:

-The Wolf Pack scoring race the recalled Morgan Barron, who scored his first NHL goal last night against Washington, finishes top with 21 points as the 8th best in AHL rookie scoring, tops among rookies in powerplay goals with six, which is second-most in the AHL, where he is tied with multiple players.

Tim Gettinger with 19 (9-10) and Ty Ronning with 10 goals and 18 points in 18 games were the Wolf Pack’s top three scorers.

Tarmo Reunanen also on recall finished with 17 points currently sixth among AHL rearguards and was just outside the Top 20 field among overall rookie scorers.

Goalie Adam Huska dropped out of the top 10 goalies list, He played 13 games with 734:38 in net with a record of 9-4-0-1 a 2.70 GAA and a .890 save percentage.

Ex-Pack in the Top 10 of AHL scoring Danny O’ Rega is sixth and has 30 points in 33 games leading the expansion Henderson Silver Knights in scoring,

Adam Cracknell of Bakersfield is in a five-way tie at 29 points.

Trevor Zegras (Avon Old Farms) is 7th with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists and is on recall to Anaheim.

Former Ranger Cody MacLeod of the Iowa Wild leads the AHL with 91 PM in 28 games and is currently serving a two-game suspension.

Ex-Pack Vinni Lettieri of the San Diego Gulls second in game-winning goals in the AHL with five.

Lias Andersson of the Ontario Reign is tops with three shorthanded goals.

NOTES:

-As expected, the AHL Board of Governors (BOG) in a conference Zoom call approved Vancouver’s relocation of its AHL team to Abbotsford, BC starting in the fall, and New Jersey relocates Binghamton to Utica and will play as the Utica Comets in October at the Adirondack Bank Center not as the Devils as expected.

Utica announced a new 10-year agreement with New Jersey and planned to open their season on October 17th, marking the 34-year anniversary of the first time AHL hockey was played in Utica.

According to Abby News, the Vancouver Canucks have entered into an agreement in principle on a five-year agreement to run the Abbotsford Centre. They will be paid a $750K-C to run the building, with the city be responsible for capital maintenance and repair costs.

The first AHL Abbotsford team, the Heat affiliated with Calgary, had a supply fee deal and, after five years, was paid by the city $5.5. million to exit the deal halfway through.

Expect Binghamton to play in either the ECHL, FPHL or go dormant in the fall.

-The league did not deal with the potential of the name and logo change in Bridgeport to become the Bridgeport Islanders. They may drop the Sound Tigers name and logo as their original 20-year lease and marketing setup expires; that was done by the late owner Roy Boe.

Boe purchased the dormant Beast of New Haven franchise 30 days after it was mothballed, paying the Carolina Hurricanes the 2 million dollar franchise fee they required. He also signed a 20- year 20 million dollar lease in which he reneged on.

Then was forced to turn the franchise over to the late Islanders owner Charles Wang instead of the non-compliance with non-payment of his required affiliation fee and numerous commercial debts with local vendors and sponsors plus employees that had accumulated in the first three years of ownership.

The franchise values are now between $10-$12 million dollars.

No news on a new lease arrangement at the Webster Bank Arena now run by OVG, but the team will likely stay there and a new deal will more than likely be announced sometime later this summer.

-UCONN men’s hockey head coach Mike Cavanaugh announced the team captains for the 2021-22 season.

Seniors Carter Turnbull (Nanaimo, British Columbia) and Jachym Kondelik (Budejovice, Czech Republic) have been elected the team’s captains for the upcoming season. At the same time, classmates Marc Gatcomb (Woburn, Mass.) and junior Roman Kinal (Waterford, Mich.) will be alternate captains.

“I am so honored to have been chosen as Captain this year by my teammates. I believe this is the best group of talented guys we have had yet, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead this team to a championship this year,” said Turnbull in a press release.

This will be the second consecutive season the Turnbull will wear a letter on his jersey for the Huskies.  The senior served as an alternate captain in 2020-21.  Turnbull played in all 23 games last season and was second on the team with nine goals.  He finished the season with 13 points (9g/4a) and generated a team-best 95 shots.  During his three seasons in Storrs, he appeared in 86 games with 23 goals and 21 assists on the ledger.

Jachym Kondelik expressed his gratitude for the announcement.

“I think being named a captain is a huge responsibility and an honor, especially because it is something that is being chosen by my teammates and coaches.  I think we have a great group and that everyone on this team will be a leader in certain ways.”

Kondelik, the big 6-5 forward, is UConn’s top-returning career scoring leader, having piled up 71 points in 91 career games as a Husky.  He has scored 16 career goals with 55 assists and is a +7 over his three seasons.  This past year Kondelik was second on the team in scoring with 22 points coming on four goals and a team-best 18 assists in 23 games, and after the season, he was named to a Hockey East Third Team All-Star.

Marc Gatcomb, a versatile big forward, will be a big part of the leadership quartet for a full college hockey season next season.

“I am honored my coaches and teammates have given me the opportunity to represent the University of Connecticut at this high standard. I’m grateful to be alongside three great leaders and excited to get things started this fall.”

Gatcomb, like Turnbull, took the ice for all 23 games this past season, finishing the year fifth on the team in scoring with 12 points, posting six goals and six assists.  Over his three seasons, Gatcomb has played 88 games and has 25 points on 14 goals and 11 assists.

Roman Kinal, who has battled through injuries twice in his collegiate career at UCONN, seems a perfect fit to have a letter on the left side of his jersey.

“It’s a huge honor to be chosen as one of the captains by the coaching staff and my teammates. With a team full of leaders, we have something extremely special here at UConn. I’m looking forward to getting back on campus to compete for a national championship.”

After being forced to miss all of the 2019-20 season due to an injury, Kinal made his return to the Huskies defensive unit this year and finished with six points (1g/5a) in 16 games and was a +6 for the season.  His lone goal on the season provided the game-winner in a 2-1 win on the road at New Hampshire.  He has played in 50 games in two seasons with 13 career points (2g/11a) and 49 blocked shots.

-In other state college hockey news, long-time Quinnipiac assistant coach for the last 13 years Bill Riga was named the new head coach of the Holy Cross Crusaders (AHA).

Former head coach David Berard stepped down in April and was named the associate athletic director for men’s and women’s hockey at Providence College (HE) on Monday.

Berard, a Rhode Island native, is a PC alum academically and athletically was a UCONN assistant in 2012-13 during their AHA years under the late. A year before, Mike Cavanaugh was hired.

Berard’s son Brett plays at Providence College and is a NY Rangers draft pick. His other son Brady plays for the US National U-17 Team is a PC commit for 2022-23.

-Quinnipiac will play host to a long-time national collegiate powerhouse, North Dakota, on October 22-23 at the People United Center.

-Junior goalie Strauss Mann (Greenwich/Brunswick School) is forgoing his last year at Michigan (Big 10) and going pro to a yet unnamed team.

That makes 69 players from Division I to sign North American pro deals and a total of 74 players Division I and III to sign.

-Scott Morrow (Darien) de-commits from North Dakota (NCHC) and graduates from the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP) and will be at the newly crowned national champions UMASS-Amherst (HE) in the fall.

The right-handed shot is expecting to go in the first two rounds of this summer’s NHL Draft.

-Three more college transfers, two school transfers in Griffin Loughran from Northern Michigan (WCHA) to Michigan St. (Big 10) and Trevor Zins from St. Cloud St. (NCHC) to the brand-new Division I program, St. Thomas (MN) University (CCHA).

Then a grad transfer Sam Sternschein heads from Penn State (Big 10) to Boston College (HE).  He is the fourth grad transfer for the Eagles.

That makes 56 school transfers and 45 grad transfers.

-Bad news for the University Alabama-Huntsville, who fought off program elimination last year with the help of its most famous graduate, ex-Pack/CT Whale, goalie Cam Talbot had their conference application to the new CCHA conference turned down. So, now they are waiting to hear about their AHA conference application. In the meantime, the program is shutting down till they find out their conference status.

-Ex-Pack Marek Mazanec makes it official and switches Czech Republic teams leaving HK Hradec Kralove heads to HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic-CEL).

-Former Sound Tiger David Ullstrom, who played for three Swiss League teams this year, EHC Biel/Bienne (NLA), HC La-Chaux-de-Fonds (LNB), and HC Davos (LNA), is close to returning to his native Sweden and signing with HV71 (Sweden-SHL).

-Another ex-Sound Tiger Jamie Fraser was talked out of retirement and signed another one-year deal with ESV Villacher SV (Austria-IceHL) and will again be the team captain.

-Ex-Sound Tiger Olivier Labelle switches teams in France from GHC Bordeaux in the French Elite Magnus League to HC Mulhouse next season.

-Ben Smith, (Avon/Westminster Prep) is going from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) to EHC Munich (Germany-DEL) next season.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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