#bakersfieldcondors

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Um. Luke Prokop skated with the Oilers last night and no one seems to be talking about it…? I know he’s officially with their AHL team AND it’s preseason but he’s got a 2 way contract so this feels hopeful to me.

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, HowlingsHARTFORD, CT - Hartford Wolf Pack news is everywhere in this early part of the season.The Pack recalled defenseman Seth Barton and forward Drew Worrad from their ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. It's the first recall of the season as the Pack prepares for a busy weekend by adding some insurance depth.Both are just paper transactions. The team will shortly announce the termination of Barton's contract; he signed a European deal.Worrad's situation is more complex but is not a contract termination situation.The Pack hosts the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday at 7 p.m. at the XL Center.On Saturday, the Wolf Pack will start their weekend by hitting the road to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania, for a matchup with the Penguins at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the Pack will make their way to Allentown, where they will face off with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 5 p.m.The Pack has had to change the starting times for two games. November 11th, 7 p.m. start against the Providence Bruins moves to 7:30 p.m. because of a doubleheader with UCONN men's basketball and the changeover required from the hard court to ice. The second is a December 30th holiday period date with the Bridgeport Islanders, which moves back an hour to 6:00 p.m.Ex-Pack Vinni Lettieri was recalled from the Iowa Wild by the Minnesota Wild.Easton Brodzinski, younger brother of Pack captain Jonny Brodzinski, was the last cut of the Jacksonville Ice Men (ECHL). He signed with the Allen (TX) Americans.Two ex-Pack sign early season deals in Europe after the first month of their regular season. Anthony Greco, a Pack player two years ago, switches Swedish teams and signs with Linköping HC (Sweden-SHL). Adam Clendening, from last year's team who was without a deal in North America or Europe and attended Ranger's training camp on a Professional Try Out (PTO) deal, has signed with Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL), where he joins ex-Pack Ville Mekanen.Mike Dalhuisen (Quinnipiac University ECACHL) departs HC Bolzano (Italy-IceHL) and heads to Gyergyói HK (Romania-MOL), where he joins ex-Pack Devin DiDiomete as a teammate.Sam Gagner, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk/Ranger Dave Gagner, after attending the Edmonton Oilers' training camp on a PTO, was cut and signed with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL).Rob Schremp, the ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger of one game and Springfield Falcon finds himself in Hong Kong. He lands as the head coach, Director of Hockey Ops, and Youth Hockey Supervisor for the RBC Jr. Tigers, teaching the game to a new market and generation of young players. He is also the European scout for the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms (USHL).Among the coaches and instructors are all-time Wolf Pack leading scorer and AHL Hall of Famer Brad "Shooter" Smyth. Smyth's older brother has lived and worked in Hong Kong for ten years.Jakob Karpa, the son of ex-Wolf Pack/Sound Tiger and former Ranger David Karpa, is skating with the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) and committed to Trinity College (NESCAC). His twin brother Zakary is entering his third year at Harvard (ECACHL). He was a Rangers' draftee last year.He could be in Hart City this spring when the college season ends if he's offered a short-term and long-term deal to leave Harvard.HARTFORD WOLF PACKHOME

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Hartford Wolf Pack news is starting to trickle out as New York Rangers training camp has officially opened, with a few tidbits still to come. The Rangers dropped their first pre-season game in Boston 3-0 to the Bruins as young netminder Brandon Bussi put up a 29-save shutout. Likely Pac-bound forward Will Cullye had a strong game for the Rangers. Adam Sýkora rang one off the crossbar late in the second for NY. The game featured several Wolf Pack players, including goalie Louie Domingue. Domingue played the second half of the game and lost a skateblade on one save. After the game, the Rangers assigned six players to the Wolf Pack. They include goaltender Olof Lindbom, defensemen Seth Barton, Zach Berzolla, and Ryan McCleary, the son of former New Haven Senator Trent McCleary, who is signed for an overage year with his hometown Swift Current Broncos (WHL). He was traded to them by the Portland Winterhawks about a month ago. Forwards, Maxim Barbashev, the younger brother of Las Vegas Golden Knight Ivan Barbashev, was moved in a QMJHL trade last month from Moncton Wildcats to the Shawnigan Cataractes. Barbshev, at 19, will be headed there as per the NHL-CHL agreement once the Wolf Pack training camp ends or whenever the organization ends his PTO deal. Barbashev turns 20 on December 18th. Sahil Panwar is a summer free agent signee by the Wolf Pack. Ex-Pack/Ranger bust, despite five points in five games, Vitali Kravtsov was injured early in his KHL season with Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury and is out a week to ten days into it. Kenny Agostino, a former Yale Bulldog, following his deal being scuttled in Sweden after being in Russia the last two years, signs in Germany with Düsseldorfer EG (DEL). MATT GILROY Ex-CT Whale/Ranger Matt Gilroy is now an assistant coach with the USNDTP U-18 team (USHL), replacing current Ranger assistant coach and former Yale/Sacred Heart assistant coach Dan Muse. A great Gilroy story. The Wolf Pack once put up a game-time trivia question on the scoreboard asking what college Gilroy attended. On the scoreboard, they put up Boston College. Except Gilroy spent four years at BC's rival Boston University. A staff member had to go to the locker room between periods to grab him for a radio interview. Gilroy was NOT pleased. "How stupid are you people? I spent four (expletive) years at BU!" In the post-game, Howlings jokingly asked Glroy at the end of the interview what school he attended. He responded bitterly, then ripped the organization for screwing it up. Matt Barnaby Jr. (Avon Old Farms-AOF), the son of the former Ranger, stays in the Sunshine State and heads over from the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) to the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Nicolas Sykora, the son of NHL'er Petr Sykora, commits to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) in 2026-27. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By; Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers training camp has officially opened, and their first game against the Boston Bruins, a 3-0 loss, has been played. There are still lots of Hartford Wolf Pack notes coming out of camp. Pack defenseman Adam Clendening re-signs with the Rangers on a PTO. Nothing was indicated about his potential for a return to Hartford. He adds depth to an already crowded defense corps. It was thought that the Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals, Grand Rapids Griffins, or Cleveland Monsters, all AHL teams, would be his next destination. The Wolf Pack moved their game with Cleveland from Saturday, February 24, 2024, to Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. There is an unspecified building availability issue. It will lead to a rare midweek three-games-in-three-days running Wednesday through Friday (Bridgeport Islanders, Cleveland, and Springfield) and an even rarer mid-season weekend off. EX-PLAYERS MOVEMENT Ex-Pack Danny O'Regan signs with MODO (Sweden-SHL). Ninety players from the AHL last year have now signed overseas. Ex-Pack Andy Welinski signs with the St. Louis Blues. There is a good chance he will play for the Springfield Thunderbirds this season. Ex-Pack goalie Brandon Halverson returns to North American hockey. He departs Germany DEL-2 for one more chance with the Dallas Stars on a Professional Try-Out (PTO) training camp deal. He's aiming for a spot with the Texas Stars (AHL) or the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL). Ex-Pack/Ranger Artem Anisimov signs a PTO training camp deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Angela Ruggiero (Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford) is now the Rangers Hockey Operations Advisor and is one of three new female organizational hires. Former New Haven Senator (19 games) Andy Schneider is the Rangers' new Director of Amateur Scouting for North America. He moves organizationally from across the Hudson River from the New Jersey Devils, where he was the Director of Canadian major junior hockey scouting for them last year. YOUNG ARMY The youngest son of Wolf Pack great Derek Armstrong, Easton Armstrong, is off to the Los Angeles Kings training camp on an invite basis. The Kings are one of the NHL teams his father played for. Easton will likely return to the Wenatchee Wild (WHL) for his last junior year as an overager. The Wenatchee Wild ownership purchased his Winnipeg Ice team from last season this past summer. The franchise was upgraded from the Junior A BCHL to the WHL. Reports that Armstrong signed with the Fargo Force (USHL) are false. That organization had pursued him when he was 16 but has had no contact with him since. Three WHL teams had been looking to add him. AUSTRALIA GAME The first NHL game in Australia was a hit. Nick Bjugstad, the nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Scott Bjugstad, had a strong game and set up the second Arizona Coyotes goal in the 5-3 win over the Kings. Teammate Barrett Hayton, the son of Nighthawk Brian Hayton, recorded the empty net insurance goal. A third son of a former Nighthawk played as well. Pierre-Luc Dubois is the son of Eric Dubois. Jason Spence, the second Australian by birth presently playing in the NHL, had the primary assist on the Kings' first goal. The goal by Logan Cooley will be the most significant conversation piece, his right-wing rush spin-a-rama tally. OTTAWA Michael Andlauer's purchase of the Ottawa and Belleville Senators was unanimously granted and approved by the NHL and AHL's respective Boards of Governors on Friday. Now that it's done, next is getting a downtown arena, and eventually, Belleville might be relocated down the road. Whispers have been circulating that Ottawa might want to move its AHL team into the Western Quebec region to extend its brand and capture the 25% French-speaking market of Ottawa, the Canadian national capital city. Gatineau across the river would be likely, but the QMJHL Olympiques will have a big say if it ever happens. Eastern Quebec has been ceded to the Canadiens. MORE TRANSACTIONS Alexandre Fortin, the nephew of ex-Hartford Whaler Jean-Sébastien Giguère, a former Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP) trophy winner, signs with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), leaving the Hershey Bears organization. Nolan Volcan, the nephew of another former Whaler, Mickey Volcan, signed with the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL). He came from Canadian college hockey, where he played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears program. He heads to training camp with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). His grandfather, Mike Volcan, played in the CFL. BRIDGEPORT NEWS The Bridgeport Islanders saw the parent New York Islanders bring back from the Swedish Hockey League Dmytro Timashov, who was born in Ukraine. Timashov played in Bridgeport during the 2020-21 season. He joins Samuel Asselin from the Providence Bruins. He's been a "Pack pest" the last few years and likely will be in Bridgeport this season. Former Sound Tiger Goalie Christopher Gibson leaves the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken) and is headed to the Texas Stars (Dallas Stars). The Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) have Alec Nasredinne, the son of former Sound Tiger player and current Dallas assistant coach Alain Nasredinne. They also have Brady Schultz (Monroe), the grandson of former Whaler Norm Barnes, and Liam Kilfoil, formerly of the Selects Academy at South Kent Pre,p on their lineup as the junior season gets underway. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK LOOK TO SPLIT WITH HERSHEY BEARS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HERSHEY, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack will look to earn a split on the road tonight as they visit the Hershey Bears for Game Two of the 2023 Atlantic Division Finals at the Giant Center in Hershey. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bears met six times during the 2022-23 regular season, with the Bears taking four of the six meetings. Hershey posted a record of 4-2-0-0, while the Wolf Pack managed points in three games, going 2-3-0-1. The Wolf Pack posted a 1-2-0-0 record at the Giant Center, with their lone victory coming on November 20th by a final score of 4-2. The Bears won each of the final three meetings between the sides in the regular season. Hershey took a 2-1 regulation decision on November 25th, and a 1-0 shootout verdict on November 26th. Both of those games were in Hartford. They also claimed a 2-1 victory in Hershey on February 11th. The Bears extended their winning streak against Hartford to four games with a 3-2 overtime decision in Game One of this playoff series. The Wolf Pack opened the scoring with a powerplay goal 6:55 into the game, as Lauri Pajuniemi chipped home a rebound for his fourth goal of the postseason. Just 2:33 into the second period, Jonny Brodzinski fired his first goal of the playoffs by Hunter Shepard. Brodzinski was set up for a one-timer in the left-wing circle by Tanner Fritz, who collected his team-leading seventh assist. The goal was Hartford’s second powerplay tally of the night. They went 2-for-4 in the contest. The Bears responded just 2:52 into the third period, however, as Logan Day scored a powerplay goal of his own. Day blasted a shot from the point that evaded the glove of Dylan Garand and gave the Bears the push they needed. Late in the frame, with Shepard making his way to the bench, Jake Massie sent a shot toward the goal from the blue line. The puck clipped Connor McMichael and beat Garand at 17:51 to tie the affair and send it to overtime. Hershey made quick work in the extra session, the first for both teams in these playoffs. Henrik Borgstrom sniped a puck from the right-wing circle just 4:41 in, potting his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal in his Playoff debut. Wolf Pack Outlook: Last night’s overtime result was Hartford’s first trip to sudden death during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. It was the club’s first trip to playoff overtime since May 13th, 2015, against the Bears in Hershey. On that night, Chris Mueller scored a shorthanded goal to stun the crowd and give the Wolf Pack a 5-4 victory. The Wolf Pack’s powerplay converted on just two of 21 opportunities in six games against the Bears during the regular season. Through two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs, Hartford was 2-for-16 on the powerplay. In Game One, the Wolf Pack went 2-for-4, with both powerplay units finding the back of the net. With an assist on Pajuniemi’s powerplay goal at 6:55 of the first period, Tim Gettinger became the first Wolf Pack player this postseason to score points at five-on-five on the powerplay (1 a), and the penalty kill (1 g, 1 a). Gettinger (2 g, 6 a) and Fritz (1 g, 7 a) lead the Wolf Pack in points with eight each through seven Calder Cup Playoff games. Pajuniemi leads the team in goals with four through seven games. He has scored at least one goal in all three series thus far. Bears Outlook: The Bears completed their second consecutive multi-goal comeback on Thursday night. In Game Four of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series, the Bears trailed 2-0 after one period of play but rattled off six unanswered goals to win the game 6-2 and the series 3-1. Day’s powerplay goal 2:52 into the third period was the second goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career and his first goal as a member of the Bears. Day appeared in 36 games with the Bears in his first season with the club, collecting 12 assists in the regular season. His other Calder Cup Playoff goal came as a member of the Bakersfield Condors in 2019. Sam Anas leads the Bears in points with seven (2 g, 5 a) through five games. McMichael and Aliaksei Protas lead the Bears in goals with three each. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The series shifts back to Hartford for Game Three on Wednesday, May 17th, at 7:00 p.m. For playoff ticket information, please visit HERE. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE (AHL) CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First Round and the best-of-five Division Semifinals. Atlantic Division First Round (best-of-3) A3-Charlotte Checkers vs. A6-Lehigh Valley Phantoms Game 1 - Tue., Apr. 18 - Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00 Game 2 - Thu., Apr. 20 - Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00 *Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00 *if necessary… All times Eastern lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change Atlantic Division First Round (best-of-3) A4-Springfield Thunderbirds vs. A5-Hartford Wolf Pack Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Hartford at Springfield, 7:05 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Springfield at Hartford, 7:00 Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 22 - Hartford at Springfield, 7:05 if necessary… All times Eastern North Division First Round (best-of-3) N4-Utica Comets vs. N5-Laval Rocket Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Utica at Laval, 7:00 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Laval at Utica, 7:00 Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 22 - Laval at Utica, 7:00 if necessary… All times Eastern Central Division First Round (best-of-3) C4-Iowa Wild vs. C5-Rockford IceHogs Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Iowa at Rockford, 8:00 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Rockford at Iowa, 8:00 Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 23 - Rockford at Iowa, 4:00 if necessary… All times Eastern Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3) P2-Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. P7-Tucson Roadrunners Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Tucson at Coachella Valley, 10:00 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Tucson at Coachella Valley, 10:00 Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 23 - Tucson at Coachella Valley, 6:00 if necessary… All times Eastern lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3) P3-Colorado Eagles vs. P6-Ontario Reign Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Ontario at Colorado, 9:05 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Ontario at Colorado, 9:05 Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 22 - Ontario at Colorado, 9:05 if necessary… All times Eastern lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change Pacific Division First Round (best-of-3) P4-Abbotsford Canucks vs. P5-Bakersfield Condors Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 19 - Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00 Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00 Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 23 - Bakersfield at Abbotsford, 10:00 if necessary… All times Eastern lower seed designated as the “home” team for the last change Atlantic Division Semifinals (best-of-5) A1-Providence Bruins vs. SPR/HFD/LV Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 28 at Providence, 7:05 Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 29 at Providence, 7:05 Game 3 – TBD at SPR/HFD/LV *Game 4 – TBD at SPR/HFD/LV *Game 5 – Sun., May 7 at Providence, 7:05 *if necessary… All times Eastern Atlantic Division Semifinals (best-of-5) A2-Hershey Bears vs. CLT/SPR/HFD Game 1 - TBD Game 2 - TBD Game 3 - TBD *Game 4 - TBD *Game 5 - TBD *if necessary North Division Semifinals (best-of-5) N1-Toronto Marlies vs. UTC/LAV winner Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 27 at Toronto, 7:00 Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 29 at Toronto, 4:00 Game 3 – TBD at UTC/LAV Game 4 – TBD at UTC/LAV *Game 5 – Sun., May 7 at Toronto, 4:00 if necessary… All times Eastern North Division Semifinals (best-of-5) N2-Syracuse Crunch vs. N3-Rochester Americans Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 21 - Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00 Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 22 - Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00 Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 28 - Syracuse at Rochester, 7:05 Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 30 - Syracuse at Rochester, 3:05 *Game 5 - Sat., May 6 - Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00 if necessary… All times Eastern Central Division Semifinals (best-of-5) C1-Texas Stars vs. IA/RFD winner Game 1 – TBD at IA/RFD winner Game 2 – TBD at IA/RFD winner Game 3 – Wed., May 3 at Texas, 8:00 Game 4 – Fri., May 5 at Texas, 8:00 *Game 5 – Sat., May 6 at Texas, 8:00 if necessary… All times Eastern Central Division Semifinals (best-of-5) C2-Milwaukee Admirals vs. C3-Manitoba Moose Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 28 - Milwaukee at Manitoba, 8:00 Game 2 - Sun., Apr. 30 - Milwaukee at Manitoba, 3:00 Game 3 - Wed., May 3 - Manitoba at Milwaukee, 8:00 Game 4 - Fri., May 5 - Manitoba at Milwaukee, 8:00 *Game 5 - Sat., May 6 - Manitoba at Milwaukee, 7:00 if necessary… All times Eastern Pacific Division Semifinals (best-of-5) P1-Calgary Wranglers vs. ABB/BAK/ONT/TUC Game 1 - TBD Game 2 - TBD Game 3 - TBD Game 4 - TBD *Game 5 - TBD if necessary Pacific Division Semifinals (best-of-5) CV/COL/ABB/BAK vs. COL/ABB/BAK/ONT Game 1 - TBD Game 2 - TBD Game 3 - TBD Game 4 - TBD *Game 5 - TBD if necessary Twenty-three teams qualified for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. The first-round series are best-of-three, the division semifinals and division finals are best-of-five, and the conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven. All Calder Cup Playoff games will stream live on AHLTV. Since 1936, the American Hockey League has continued to serve as the top development league for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years, the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK OPEN TRAINING CAMP

HARTFORD WOLF PACK OPEN TRAINING CAMP By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack opened training camp as the cool brisk feel of a cold rink filled the air as the 26th edition of the New York Rangers AHL affiliate kicked off at the XL Center on Monday. The organization thoroughly revamped the roster to cleanse the hockey palate after leaving such a sour taste at the end of last season. Therefore there will be a new generation of Pack players with a new style. Despite the complete overhaul, roster positions will be hard to come by. A surprising number of those at training camp will head to Jacksonville to play for the team's ECHL affiliate, the IceMen. The few tryouts at each position are varied. The smattering includes a former Arizona State defenseman who transferred from Bowling Green (CCHA) in Tim Theocharidaris. He played a few games at the end of last season with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) and Utica Comets. In addition, the team granted ex-UCONN Husky Joe Masonius a tryout. He hooked up with another Adirondack/Utica connection who spent some time in Ft. Wayne with the Komets last year and is signed with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) for this season. Up front, the former BC Eagle Sam Sternschein, who is already signed with Jacksonville, where he had already played eleven games and got the third tryout. Next, Brendan Harris,  who played collegiately with Bemidji St. (NCHC), was granted one. He played for the Icemen (ECHL), the Double AA team of Hartford, and Wheeling. Finally, Jake Ryczek, a Springfield, MA native, is already signed by Adirondack (ECHL). Big goalie Talyn Boyko is here under an ATO (amateur) tryout and will be going back to Kelowna (WHL) when camp ends. The lineup is as follows; Forwards (19): Easton Brodzinski, Will Cuylle, Cristiano DiGiacinto, Turner Elson, Tanner Fritz, Tim Gettinger, Brendan Harris, Karl Henriksson, Zach Jordan, Patrick Khodorenko, Ryder Korczak, Ryan Lohin, Lauri Pajuniemi, Matt Rempe, Austin Rueschhoff, C.J. Smith, Sam Sternschein, Bobby Trivigno, and Alex Whelan. Defensemen (12): Ty Emberson, Zach Giuttari, Louka Henault, Blake Hillman, Luke Martin, Joe Masonius, Matthew Robertson, Jake Ryczek, Brandon Scanlin, Hunter Skinner, Tim Theocharidis, Goaltenders (5): Talyn Boyko, Louis Domingue, Parker Gahagen, Dylan Garand, and Olof Lindbom. The Wolf Pack open the 2022-23 season on Friday, October 14th, when they visit the Charlotte Checkers at 7:00 PM with ex-Pack Anthony Bitetto just sent down by the parent club, the Florida Panthers. Then, the Wolf Pack hosts its home opener on Saturday, October 22nd, at 7 PM when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and their goaltender, the recently sent down ex-Pack, Dustin Tokarski, provide the opposition. NOTES: Patrick Sieloff was a Pack defenseman two years ago. Then, he signed a tryout deal with the all-new San Jose Barracuda and their brand-new arena, The Tech CU Center. Ex-Pack Magnus Hellberg has gotten himself back to the NHL. He was picked off waivers from the Seattle Krakken from Ottawa after the Senators lost ex-CT Whale/Wolf Pack Cam Talbot for five to seven weeks to a broken rib, according to the Ottawa Sun, in a freak pre-game injury. Hellberg has had an incredible hockey journey over the past year. First, he was in the KHL in the Olympic city of HC Sochi in his fifth year (one in China, four in Russia). Then, with the outbreak of the Ukrainian War, he left after representing Sweden in last year's Olympics and again at the World Championships. Hellberg signed with the Detroit Red Wings and played a late-season game. He is likely ticketed for the Grands Rapids Griffins this year. He wound up with the Seattle Krakken in mid-July with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Palm Springs), his likely new residence, and here he winds up in Ottawa, the Canadian capital city. Ex-Pack Greg McKegg was sent to the Bakersfield Condors. UCONN traveled and swept their first Hockey East series of the season. They won 3-1 over the Vermont Catamounts as Matt Wood posted another goal and two points. Vermont post-grad Andrew Lucas added another two points. Arsenii Sergeev got his first win, and Chase Bradley got his first goal. Former Husky Jonny Evans is in camp with the Hershey Bears. Fellow former teammates were assigned to their AHL teams. Jáchym Kondelík and goalie Tomáš Vomáčka, both from Czechia (Czech Republic), were sent to the Milwaukee Admirals. Luke Evangelista is the second cousin of former Hartford Whaler and now Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: SEATTLE GETS KRAKEN IN SELECTING A TEAM

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings  HARTFORD, CT - Former Hartford Whaler great and now Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis has designed the first team, and they will skate at the Climate Pledge Arena in October. The NHL put on a show as they announced the draft selection process for the new franchise. On the banks of the Seattle, with Puget Sound as the backdrop, a beautiful summer day saw special guests and Francis announce each selection as to who the first 31 players will be to don both the home and away Seattle jersey. THE PICKS Veteran Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames was chosen, and there is already talk he will wear the first C in team history. The only major surprise was that Montreal Canadiens' future Hall-of-Famer, goaltender Carey Price, didn’t occur. However, former Hershey Bears standout goalie Vitek Vanecek of the Washington Capitals was taken. The Kraken also selected Yanni Gourde from the two-time and current Stanley Cup champion, Tampa Bay Lightning. The New York Islanders lost forward Jordan Eberle, and the New York Rangers saw the reliable, hard-working Colin Blackwell head out west. CONNECTICUT CONNECTIONS The selections with Connecticut connections include Kurtis MacDermid, who was picked from the Los Angeles Kings. The 6’5, 238lb left-winger will provide the necessary team muscle. MacDermid is the son of former Hartford Whaler, Paul MacDermid. Two-way winger, Calle Jarnkrock, the cousin of former New Haven Nighthawk, Mikael Lindholm, was taken. The Fleury brothers, Cale (Montreal) and Haydn (Anaheim Ducks), were the first brothers taken in the same expansion draft and by the same team in NHL history. They’re just the second set of brothers taken in the 54-year history of the NHL expansion draft. The first pair was West Haven resident Gord Smith and his brother, four-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender with the Islanders, Billy Smith. FIRST GAME ANNOUNCED The Kraken also announced their first home game on October 23rd against the Vancouver Canucks, creating an instant rival given that Vancouver is a two-and-a-half-hour drive up I-5. The Canadian border remains closed until August 9th. While the event was beautifully staged and the weather cooperated, ESPN2's national broadcast was very flawed. FLAWED BROADCAST There was signal interference that was not corrected during the entire 90-minute show. Host Chris Fowler was poorly prepared, and his lack of hockey knowledge was on display. It would have been a better broadcast had the TV voice of the Kraken, former Hartford Whaler/Carolina Hurricane, and Springfield Indians announcer John Forslund would have been a far better choice to be on the stage with ex-Hartford Wolf Pack/New York Ranger Dominic Moore. Many of the pieces aired during the show's selections, especially the one shot at the Seattle Aquarium, were greatly overproduced.  The pronunciation of many of the names were brutalized by several presenters. Lastly, one of the team's owners, Jerry Bruckheimer, came out without wearing any Kraken gear. Not a good look. Up next for the NHL is the Amateur Draft on Friday at 8 PM. The show will air Round 1 on ESPN2. It will also air on the NHL Network on Saturday starting at 11 AM. OTHER NEWS AND MOVEMENTS Ex-New Haven Nighthawk Mark Morrison, released from the Anaheim Ducks, was named the new head coach for the AHL Manitoba Moose. The Canadiens named their new AHL head coach keeping it in the Canadiens family with the hire of Jean-François Houle, the son of ex-Habs player and GM in the mid-1990s, Réjean Houle, was named the new Laval Rocket head coach. He was an assistant with the Bakersfield Condors for the last three years. The Canadiens named former Springfield Falcon Trevor Letowski, a long-time coach with the Windsor Spitfires (OHL), as their new assistant coach. Former Laval assistant coach, Daniel Jacob, follows former Laval head coach ex-Wolf Pack/Bridgeport Sound Tiger Joël Bouchard to the San Diego Gulls. He also worked for Bouchard at Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL). MORE MOVES Several more AHL players sign in Europe. Defenseman Janis Jaks, who played for Houle in Bakersfield, signs with HK Sochi (Russia-KHL). Meanwhile, Nick Baptiste leaves the Texas Stars and signs with Ilves Tampere (Finland-FEL), making 47 AHL’ers who signed contracts to play in Europe. As a result, 22 of the 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player. The Reading Royals (ECHL) are back in action this year. They announced two signings. Former UCONN defenseman David Drake and former Yale Bulldog Frank DiChiara played with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) last season. Drake sat out last year. Grant Jozefek departs Northeastern (HE) and signs with the Worcester Railers (ECHL). That signing makes 24 players from Hockey East to sign pro deals. In addition, 77 Division-I players and 110 total college players from D-I and D-III have signed contracts in North America and Europe. TRANSFERS Junior Aidan Spellacy leaves the canceled Robert Morris University Colonials (AHA) program and heads to the St. Cloud St. Huskies (NCHC). He is the 63rd player to transfer from one school to another. The new Division-III college program, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton King’s College (UCHC), got two commits, Jimmy Drevage (Danbury-NA3HL) and Michael Carducci (CT Jr. Rangers USPHL-Premier). SEATTLE KRAKEN HOME Read the full article