#barriecolts

[newsdurham]

Oshawa Generals' Kyle MacLean fired a shot on net against the Barrie Colts during the first period of their Ontario Hockey League game at the Tribute Communities Centre Feb. 10. February 10, 2019. Ryan Pfeiffer/Metroland @pfeif #photography #photojournalism #nikon #nikond750 #durhamregion #ohl #oshawagenerals #gens #barriecolts #colts #oshawa (at Tribute Communities Centre) https://www.instagram.com/newsdurham/p/Btwd7LkgZoA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gwaow5xhn0ct

[newfashion01]

Barrie Colts OHL 30th Anniversary Hockey Hoodie

Product link:https://inspirdg.com/product/barrie-colts-ohl-30th-anniversary-hockey-hoodie/

Store link:https://inspirdg.com/

Barrie Colts OHL 30th Anniversary Hockey Hoodie: A Timeless Celebration of Legacy and Excellence

A Tribute to 30 Years of Barrie Colts Hockey Excellence

When it comes to hockey heritage and fan loyalty, few teams can rival the passion and energy of the Barrie Colts. With three decades of unwavering dedication, thrilling victories, and a fanbase that bleeds blue, red, and gold, the Barrie Colts remain a cornerstone of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). To honor this incredible milestone, the Barrie Colts OHL 30th Anniversary Hockey Hoodie has arrived—a stunning tribute that seamlessly blends history, style, and performance.

This isn’t just any hockey hoodie; it’s a collector’s masterpiece, a symbol of pride, and a must-have for die-hard Colts supporters. Designed with precision, creativity, and an eye for detail, this hoodie captures the essence of what it means to be a Barrie Colts fan. Whether you’re celebrating rinkside, watching from home, or simply wanting to show off your Colts pride, this hoodie is the ultimate fan gear to own in 2024.

Aesthetic Excellence: A Design That Embodies the Colts Spirit

The first thing that catches your eye about this 30th Anniversary hoodie is its bold, crisp white base, which radiates class and tradition. White, in the world of hockey, represents legacy, resilience, and a commitment to greatness, and this hoodie embraces all of those elements with striking precision. The Barrie Colts logo takes center stage on the chest, featuring the iconic bucking horse gripping a hockey stick, symbolizing the team’s relentless fighting spirit on the ice.

The sleeves and torso are adorned with bold red, blue, and gold stripes, echoing the classic Colts jersey aesthetic that fans have cherished for decades. These dynamic accents make the hoodie pop with energy, creating a look that is both vintage and modern, timeless and fresh. The hood itself is lined in deep navy blue with golden yellow accents, reinforcing the team’s signature colors and adding an extra layer of visual contrast that makes the hoodie truly stand out.

And let’s not forget the majestic "COLTS" lettering on the back—a striking, oversized design that commands attention wherever you go. Accompanied by another Barrie Colts logo underneath, this back print ensures that your support for the team is visible from every angle. Whether you’re heading to the rink or walking down the street, this hoodie shouts team pride with style and authority.

Built for Comfort and Durability: A Hoodie That Performs On and Off the Ice

While aesthetics are crucial, true fan apparel must deliver on comfort and quality—and this Barrie Colts 30th Anniversary hoodie doesn’t disappoint. Crafted from a premium cotton-polyester blend, it offers unparalleled softness while ensuring durability that can withstand the wear and tear of game-day excitement, outdoor adventures, or just everyday lounging.

The double-stitched seams reinforce the hoodie’s longevity, making it a perfect companion for years to come. The adjustable drawstring hood provides a cozy fit, keeping you warm whether you’re watching a game in the stands or braving the chilly Canadian winters. The spacious kangaroo pocket is both stylish and practical, offering a convenient place to keep your hands warm or store essentials.

Another major highlight is the breathable fabric composition, allowing for temperature regulation whether you’re cheering from the arena or layering up during the colder months. It’s a versatile, all-season hoodie, designed with both style and function in mind—just the way true hockey fans love it.

A Collector’s Must-Have: Limited Edition Anniversary Gear

What makes this hoodie even more special is its exclusive 30th-anniversary status. Limited-edition sportswear like this isn’t just clothing—it’s a piece of history. This hoodie serves as a commemorative piece, celebrating 30 years of unforgettable moments, legendary players, and unwavering fan loyalty.

For long-time Barrie Colts supporters, this hoodie represents decades of cherished memories—from the team’s early years to their OHL triumphs and beyond. For newer fans, it’s a statement of allegiance and a testament to the bright future ahead.

Wearing this hoodie means you’re part of something bigger—a community, a legacy, and a championship-driven culture. As the Colts continue to carve their path in the OHL, this hoodie cements your place in that journey, ensuring that you carry the team’s spirit wherever you go.

Final Verdict: A Championship-Caliber Hoodie for True Fans

The Barrie Colts OHL 30th Anniversary Hockey Hoodie is more than just a piece of fan gear—it’s a symbol of pride, passion, and hockey greatness. With its stunning design, premium craftsmanship, and limited-edition prestige, it stands as one of the most exciting sportswear releases of the year.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter, a new fan, or simply someone who appreciates high-quality hockey apparel, this hoodie is an absolute must-have. It embodies everything that makes the Barrie Colts an OHL powerhouse—tenacity, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of Colts history—this hoodie is destined to become a collector’s gem, a fan-favorite, and an essential wardrobe staple for years to come.

[mitchbeck]

REED: VICTOR HADFIELD RESIGNS WITH JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN

BY: Alex Reed, Jacksonville Icemen JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen have resigned Victor Hadfield for the 2022-2023 season. The Icemen are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers, and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack announced they had agreed to terms with the 21-year-old defenseman. Hadfield returned for another season in Jacksonville after logging six assists in 16 outings with the Icemen last season.  In addition, Hadfield added another assist in five playoff appearances. Hadfield was acquired by the Icemen in a trade with the South Carolina Stingrays this past March.  The 6-0, 179-pound defenseman registered four points (2g, 2a) in 16 appearances with South Carolina to bring his rookie point total to ten points in 32 games. Hadfield made four AHL appearances with the Manitoba Moose during the 2020-21 season.   The Oakville, Ontario resident registered 26 points (8g, 18a) in 46 games during his final season with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Barrie Colts in 2019-20. Hadfield is the grandson of former NHL standout Vic Hadfield, who amassed 712 career points in 1002 NHL games split between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Hadfield joins fellow blue liners Jacob Panetta and Tim Theocharidis, forwards Jake Hamacher, Luke Keenan, Mike Szmatula, Matt Salhany, and Brendan Harris, as well as goaltender Charles Williams as players who have agreed to terms with the Icemen for the 2022-2023 season. The Icemen open the 2022-2023 season at home on October 22 against the Orlando Solar Bears.  Full and partial season ticket packages are currently available!   Contact the Icemen office at 904-602-7825, or visit jacksonvilleicemen.com for more information. JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

RANGERS RECALL JOEY KEANE FROM HARTFORD

NEW YORK, February 14, 2020 – The New York Rangers announced today that the team has recalled defenseman Joey Keane from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). Keane, 20, has skated in 48 games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points, along with 30 penalty minutes. He played in the 2020 AHL All-Star Challenge. Keane is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen in goals and is tied for 13th among AHL defensemen in points this season. In addition, he leads AHL rookie defensemen in goals and ranks fourth among AHL rookie defensemen in points in 2019-20. Keane has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in the last six games with the Wolf Pack. The 6-0, 187-pounder played three seasons of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) prior to beginning his professional career this season. Keane skated in 195 career OHL games from 2016-17 – 2018-19 with the Barrie Colts and London Knights, recording 21 goals and 81 assists for 102 points, along with a plus-28 rating and 216 penalty minutes. He was selected to the OHL’s Third All-Star Team in 2017-18, as he established OHL career-highs in goals (12), assists (32), points (44), and plus/minus rating (plus-45). The Chicago, Illinois native was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The pick the Blueshirts used to select Keane was acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Feb. 20, 2018; the Rangers acquired the pick and Rob O’Gara in exchange for Nick Holden. Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: PACK WIN AGAIN IN OVERTIME

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings BRIDGEPORT, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack remains unbeaten after a Darren Raddysh goal in overtime gave the home team a 2-1 road victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Sunday afternoon. It was the third Wolf Pack OT victory in their last four games and completed a sweep of the home-and-home series. It was the Wolf Pack’s fifth overtime game of the young season and a timely player change led to the goal. Ryan Lindgren sent a pass for Danny O’Regan in the left-wing corner and went to the bench for a change. With the Pack bench on the Sound Tigers side of the ice making it easier to change, it allowed Raddysh to jump on the ice and take a perfect tape-to-tape pass from Matt Beleskey, and in one motion hit the short-side to turn on the red light and give the Pack the victory. Raddysh was all smiles and fist-pumping on his game-winning goal, his first of the season, as he was mobbed by his teammates. “I was getting closer the last couple of games (to scoring), but  (Beleskey) put the perfect pass back door for me to shoot it. We try to keep short shifts in three-on-three and it paid off.” Pack Head Coach, Chuck Knoblauch, was happy with the efforts of all of his players on the game-winning play. “He (Lindgren) wasn’t tired, but when you look at it, as a left-handed shot, he would have received it likely on his backhand, where Rad as a righty was able to get it and made the shot in one motion.” Knoblauch was thrilled as the Pack swept their first three-in-three weekend which hasn’t happened in some time. The work of Beleskey and O’Regan was critical for Knoblauch. “They both won their battles to get the puck. The third game in 36 hours and you're tired and that extra effort, that pays off for us.” The Wolf Pack is now one win shy of equaling the team record for the best season start at 8-0-0-1. They're in first place in the AHL Atlantic Division, something that hasn’t been associated with a Wolf Pack team in almost five years. The record of nine straight to start the regular season was set in 2003-04. They were all regulation wins. Conversely, the Sound Tigers are off to their worst start in franchise history at 1-6-1-1. The Wolf Pack have reversed their fortune from the end of last season. “It's the first time I can remember sweeping a three-in-three since I’ve been here,“ said Pack captain, Steven Fogarty. King od amazing that it comes in his fourth year in Hartford “It was a greasy game and again, we found a way to win. Shesty (goaltender, Igor Shestyorkin) played another great game in net, and he and Adam (Huska) give us a chance to win every night.” Just before the game-winner, the Sound Tigers nearly scored themselves as Kieffer Bellows was a recipient of an ill-advised cross-ice pass from Sean Day, but Shestyorkin (29 saves) was equal to the task and kept the puck out of the net. Earlier, the Sound Tigers broke a scoreless duel off a faceoff win. The Sound Tigers' John Stevens won the faceoff cleanly from O’Regan and sent it back to Carter Hutton at the left point. With hordes of traffic in front of the net and a broken stick on the ice, he slipped a 25-foot wrist shot to the far-side past Shestyorkin, who never saw the shot at 14:40. The Wolf Pack struck back quickly and just seconds later. Boo Nieves was in the top of the Sound Tigers' zone and corralled a loose puck while being knocked down by David Quenneville. Nieves shifted the puck over to Vinni Lettieri on the left-wing side. In turn, he slipped a pass over to Fogarty, who made no mistake on the shot burying it for his first goal of the season. “Anytime you can score and help your team to win feels good. I’ve had my chances lately, and finally, it went in. Nice play by Boo and Vinni. All I had to was make sure it went in." As expected in the third game of a three-in-three weekend, in the first period the Wolf Pack had a tough time coming out of the chute and with the Sound Tigers seeking to avenge last night’s loss, they had the extra step. The Wolf Pack had the right antidote, Shestyorkin. Playing in his first AHL road game, he seemed as unflappable as he's been at home, stopping all 12 Sound Tigers shots including the first from Jeff Kubiak. Then at 4:55, Parker Wotherspoon came from the left point with a bang-bang play. Shestyorkin got some big help from Day, back in the lineup after being a defensive healthy scratch the last two games. Off a turnover, the Sound Tigers had a blossoming three-on-one with Travis St. Denis, the Quinnipiac University product, feeding Matt Lorito a pass for a shot, but Day got back and lifted his stick, and the puck as well. Shestyorkin stopped Steve Bernier on the Sound Tigers' first powerplay and then Colin MacDonald (Wethersfield) twice from the left-wing. In between those two chances, the Wolf Pack had their first quality chance shorthanded. O’Regan had a shorthanded breakaway, but as he got to the net and was about to make his move, he lost control of the puck and never got his shot off. The Wolf Pack had two other solid chances. First, it was Nick Jones on a backhander, and then it was Gabriel Fontaine off a two-on-one bid from the right-wing faceoff circle. NOTES: Vitali Kravtsov's return to Russia is official. He signed a one-year, two-way deal as a loan to Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL). This allows the Rangers to recall him anytime should such a situation arise. He is still eligible to return to Hartford when the regular season or the Gagarin Cup playoffs for Traktor end since his original entry-level deal was signed before December 1st. He will wear his number 74 shedding the 91 he wore in Hartford. The Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins 7-4 on Sunday night. It's safe to assume that it's likely a few Pack players will not be in Canada this weekend with the team. LINES: Chytil-Beleskey-DiGiuseppe Nieves-Lettieri-Fogarty O’Regan-Fontaine-Newell Jones-Gettinger-Meskanen Lindgren-Raddysh LoVerde-Day Geersten-Keane SCRATCHES: Nick Ebert Ty Ronning The Wolf Pack hit the road next week with two games in Laval Rocket at the Place Bell Centre to play on Wednesday and Friday before heading to Belleville and the CAA Arena on Saturday. The next home game is November 8 against Hershey. Ex-Sound Tiger defenseman, Jessie Graham, has signed with HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL). He played in Utica last season and that makes him the 77th AHL player from last season to sign in Europe and Asia. He was in Charlotte’s training camp and was among the last cuts. Ex-Sound Tiger goalie, David Leggio, is playing Canadian senior league hockey with the Brantford Blast (ACH) and another Blaine Down is with the Whitby Dunlops (ACH). Chris Willkie, the son of ex-Wolf Pack, David Wilkie, had his NHL rights traded from Florida to Ottawa. Wilkie is currently a senior at Colorado College (NCHC) where he transferred from North Dakota. Dalton Duhart, the son of ex-Danbury Trasher, Jim Duhart, was traded from Barrie Colts (OHL) to the Saginaw Spirit (OHL). Devante Smith-Pelly, who split last year with Washington and Hershey, signs with Kunlun (China-KHL). That makes 78 AHL players from last season to sign in Europe or Asia. Read the full article

[muskokapaul]

Early morning workout, a pleasure to meet @christiaanwalford 👊🏻🇨🇦 #flexoff 🤣 #BarrieColts #hockey 👍🏻 (at Muskoka, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz02T13l6X8/?igshid=wpasrr3th8ur

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: NHL DRAFT REVIEW

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers got the player some say they were hoping for, Kaapo Kakko, who cames from TPS Turku (Finland-FEL) with the second overall selection bringing his 6'2, 200-pound stature, speed, and scoring to Broadway at just age 18. A remote possibility exists that Kakko could start the season in Hartford as a part of his adjustment to playing on the smaller North American ice surfaces. Kakko had a strong year in the Finnish Elite League with 22 goals, tops for rookies, and 38 points in 45 games. He was also named FEL Rookie of the Year. He was also superb at the World Junior Championships tallying five points in seven games for the Finns who won the gold medal. Kakko capped off his year with another gold medal with the Finnish National Team at the World Championships where he was playing against many players who were ten years or more, older than he scoring six goals in 10 games including one of the gold medal clinching-game. Connecticut prep school hockey was well represented at the NHL Draft in Vancouver. Two former Avon Old Farm products were drafted in the first round. The first was forward, Trevor Zegras, who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks ninth overall. He played for the US National Development team in the USHL this past season. The second Winged Beaver that was taken went 13th overall. He's a goaltender from Darien Connecticut, the 6'2 goalie, Spencer Knight, was taken by the Florida Panthers, whose new head coach is former Hartford Whaler, Joel Quenneville, who was all smiles. As kids, Knight played with Zegras with the Mid-Fairfield program, the USNDTP (USHL) and at Avon Old Farms. The two will be playing against one another in the fall as part of one of college hockey's strongest rivalries. Knight will be matriculating at Boston College (HE) while Zegras will be part of the Boston University Terriers (HE). The other first-round CT connection is Samuel Poulin. He's the son of former Whaler, Patrick Poulin, and was taken 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL). Poulin wasn’t the only son of an NHL’er taken in the first. The first overall pick in the draft was Jack Hughes. His father Jim Hughes played for the Springfield Indians. He was Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs for six years. Hughes' older brother, Quinn, was drafted last year in the first round, seventh overall, by Vancouver and signed in March out of Michigan (Big 10). The 4th overall pick went to the Colorado Avalanche who took Bowen Byram from Vancouver (WHL). His father Shawn Byram played for the Springfield Indians and got in four of his five NHL games with the Islanders. The first player with CT DNA was Shane Pinto by Ottawa with the first pick in the second round 32nd overall. Pinto played with the Selects Academy at South Kent (USPHL) for three years and split last season with Lincoln and Tri-City (USHL) and is expected to be at the University North Dakota (NCHC) in the fall. Another of the eight total players taken from the USNDTP was Alex Turcotte. He is bound for the University of Wisconsin (Big 10) in the fall was taken fifth overall by the Los Angeles Kings. He joins his father Alfie, a first-round pick of Montreal (17th overall) in the 1983 Draft. His father played just 112 NHL games had a strong 395 game AHL career with Baltimore, Moncton, Sherbrooke, and Nova Scotia. The hockey connections don’t end there, as his uncle and cousins are located in the LA area. His uncle Jeff was one of the first head coaches of youth hockey in LA, first with the Los Angeles Selects and the first LA Jr. Kings teams. His cousins play hockey collegiately, Tanner plays junior hockey with the Ontario Avalanche (WSHL) and Tara Turcotte plays college hockey at New England College (Henniker, NH) (NEHC-W). The last connection is his grandfather Real played college hockey at Michigan State in the early 1960s and coached his father Alfie when he played with the Nanaimo Islanders (WHL) where he was the owner and GM and traded his son to Portland (WHL) mid-season. The 27th overall was defenseman Nolan Foote from Kelowna Rockets (WHL) who was selected by Tampa Bay following his father Adam’s footsteps who had a 1,154 game NHL career and his brother selected by Tampa Bay two years ago in the first round 14th overall. The elder Foote played with the Quebec Nordiques who selected him in the second round in 1989 moved with the team to Colorado won a Stanley Cup and also played three years with Columbus before he being traded back to Colorado to finish his career. He was his son’s head coach in Kelowna and now he and his older brother Cal became just the fourth brother combination in NHL history to be drafted by the same team. Dave and Mark Hunter (Montreal), Duane and Brent Sutter (N.Y. Islanders) and the host city this year Vancouver selected twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin who helped open the draft with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and it was announced their jerseys will be retired next season by the Canucks. Ryan Suzuki was taken 29th overall by Carolina who played with the Barrie Colts (OHL). His brother Nick was taken in the first round 13th overall in 2017 by the Las Vegas Golden Knights and his rights were traded to Montreal in the Max Pacioretty deal and will play in Laval in the fall. The last player with NHL family connections was the last pick of the first round 31st overall as Ryan Johnson was taken by the Buffalo Sabres, who's bound for the University of Minnesota (Big 10) in the fall. He played California parochial school hockey and with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks program. Father Craig is presently a development coach with Los Angeles and played 557 NHL games and played at the University of Minnesota as well. RANGERS DRAFT DAY 2 The Rangers set about filling in the hockey cabinets with some better products of players that will start out in Hartford in the next few years and try to build an NHL team that compete for the Stanley Cup. In the second round 49th overall, the team went for some backline size with 6’4, 210lb. Matt Robertson from the Edmonton Ice (WHL). He played in 52 games with seven goals and 25 assists. With their second pick in the second round, they took center Karl Henniker from Frolunda HC J-20 squad (Super Elite). He had solid numbers with 13 goals and 36 assists (49 points) in 45 games and was a plus-35. He's a left-handed shooting 18-year-old. In the third round (68th overall), the Rangers showed they were looking beyond goals and assists in drafting a player. They took defenseman Zachary Jones from the Tri-City Storm (USHL). Jones played for the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep (USPHL) program prior to that. Jones was captain in 2017-18, the team was the USPHL champions in two of his three years there in 2015-16, and 2017-18. At Tri-City, he was named the USHL Rookie of the Year and made the All-Rookie team and played on the US Gold medal WJAC U-19 team. The Rangers are looking for players who have done some winning and collecting some hardware and been a team leader. He will be at UMASS-Amherst (HE) in the fall. In the fourth round, (112th overall) the Rangers selected Hunter Skinner, who split last season between the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Lincoln Stars (USHL) where the righty shooting defenseman had five goals and 22 points in 52 games. The only blemish on his record was a plus-one in 24 games in Muskegon through 24 games and was a minus-13 in 28 games in Lincoln following the trade. The 6’3, 175-pound rearguard has some growing to do and the Michigan native is a commit to Western Michigan (NCHC) in 2020-21. In the 5th round, (130th overall) they went back to Finland for a forward in Leevi Aaltonen, who played for the KalPa J-20 team (Super Elite) with 12 goals and 36 points in 29 games for the 5’9, 170lb forward. He had a strong WJC tournament contributing five points in five games and played for the Gold Medal winning Finnish team and on KalPa in 2017-18 where he won the Finnish Super Elite junior championship. He is slated to play for the KalPa Finnish Elite League team in the fall. In the sixth round, (161st overall) the Rangers picked a 6’6’, 210lb. center from Mora IK (Sweden), Adam Edstrom. He had a split-season playing for the J-20 team. He played 20 games and had 11 goals and 16 points. He played with the big boys, age-wise, on the Swedish Elite squad of Mora IK for 15 games with just one assist. He also was loaned to Malungs IF a Division I team for two games scoring twice. He is slated to play for Rogler BK team J-20 and SHL next season. The Rangers final pick came in the seventh round (205th overall) was Eric Ciccolini from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) who led his Junior-A squad in scoring 27 goals, 35 assists (62 points) which was 19 points ahead of his next teammate and had 58 PIM. The right-handed shooting right-wing is a University of Michigan (Big 10) commit for 2020-21. The Rangers announced their Chelsea Piers Stamford Development camp squad that brings primarily the last two draft classes for an early peak for coaches, fans and media. Only five of the 37 players invited are from the Wolf Pack all from the end of the season lineup in Ryan Dmowski, Jake Elmer, Adam Huska, Nick Jones, Patrick Newell, and Lewis Zerter-Gossage. Seven players were given free agent invites and two of them are Ty Amonte, son of former Ranger, Tony Amonte, and Alex Whelan from Quinnipiac University (ECACHL). UCONN DRAFTEES The other big winner at the NHL Draft was the UCONN Huskies Hockey East squad which saw three its incoming freshmen selected in the draft. The first to be selected was in the second round 42nd overall by the Minnesota Wild was center Alexander Firstov from Yaroslavl, Russia played for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) where he tallied 26 goals and 58 points in 62 games and was named to the USHL All-Rookie team. Then in the fourth round, (100th overall) the Edmonton Oilers picked Czech native, Matej Blumel, and Firtotv’s Waterloo teammate who had 30 goals and 30 assists in 58 games. Blumel was Waterloo’s second-leading point getter and Firstov finished third. The last UCONN player taken was defenseman Carter Berger. He went six picks later by the Florida Panthers from the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) where he had an outstanding season. In 54 games he led all BCHL rearguards in goals with 27 and points 63 and made the league’s first All-Star team. Combined with a solid returning class of freshmen and sophomores with a year of college play under their sweaters there is a reason for optimism in Storrs that this year’s edition of the hockey Huskies might make the postseason, win a playoff round and might crack the Top Four in Hockey East this year. PLAYER MOVEMENT Classy move at the draft as Winnipeg GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff, allowing retiring Chief Amateur Scout former New Haven Nighthawk head coach, Marcel Comeau to make the announcement of the Jets first round selection. There were some family affairs and CT connections as well to celebrate as well. The first was the selection of 6’1, 185lbs right-handed shooting Matt Steinburg, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Trevor Steinburg, was the first pick of the third round and 63rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche. He played last season for St. Andrews College (CISAA/CAHS) had 33 goals 42 assists and 75 points and was their team captain. He played three games for Sioux City (USHL) picking up and assist and 15 PIM pushing over the century mark at 113 for the year. He will be attending Cornell University (ECACHL) in the fall in starting his college career. A happy Dad texted from Vancouver that he was there and had the chance to go to the team table and don the Colorado jersey, good for him! Dad Trevor was a first round 15th overall pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1984. Then Tyce Thompson (Orange/Salisbury Prep) was taken in the 4th round 96th overall by the New Jersey Devils. The Providence College (HE) right winger is the son of ex-Pack defenseman and current Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach Brent Thompson. His older brother of course is former UCONN Husky Tage Thompson who was selected in the 1st round 26th overall in 2016 by the St. Louis Blues and now plays for the Buffalo Sabres. Father Brent was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round 39th overall in 1989 and played 121 NHL games and 635 in the AHL. In the 4th round (141st overall) Mason Primeau, the nephew of former Whaler, Keith Primeau, was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights and split last season with Guelph and North Bay (OHL). In the 5th round (125th overall), the Ottawa Senators selected Mark Kastelic from the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) where was the team captain and he is the son of former Whaler, Ed Kastelic. Father was selected in the 6th round 110th overall by Washington in 1983. In the 5th round, (129th overall) defenseman Cooper Moore (Cos Cob/Brunswick Prep) was selected by the Detroit Red Wings. This season with Brunswick Prep he had 13 goals, 18 assists, and 31 points in 28 games. Next year he will play for the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) and in 2020-21 will be enrolled at University North Dakota (NCHC). The last family tree selection was Harrison Blaisdell by the Winnipeg Jets in the 5th round (134th overall) from the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) and is set to head to the University of North Dakota (NCHC) in 2020-21. He had 33 goals to lead his team much like his father Mike who is an ex-New Haven Nighthawk who was a first round (11th overall) pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 1980. Several trades yesterday had ex-Pack ties to them. J.T. Miller was moved by the Tampa Bay Lightning for cap reasons to the Vancouver Canucks goalie, Marek Mazanec, another ex-Pack. Mazanec has already signed a contract with HK Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic-CEL), but a deal could be coming and he could playing for Syracuse next year. The Canucks dealt ex-Pack and former Ranger, Tom Pyatt, to San Jose along with a sixth-round pick for the Sharks seventh-round pick and AHL All-Star, Francis Perron, who with Utica will be playing for his fourth different AHL team in the last four years. The Chicago Blackhawks traded former Yale Bulldog, John Hayden, to New Jersey for John Quenneville. Hayden gets to reunite with former Yale teammate, Ken Agostino. Nolan Stevens, the son of former Whaler, John Stevens, signs a one year two-way deal ($700K-NHL/$70K-AHL) with the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. Adam Musil, the nephew of former Whaler and Ranger, Robert (Bobby) Holik, was released from his contract as is a UFA. In other hockey moves, Adam Plant Milwaukee/Laval departs the AHL for Vasteras IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) making it 44 AHL players off to Europe or Asia next season. Ex-Pack, Mike Pelech, re-signs with Greenville (ECHL) for his eleventh pro season. Ex-Pack, Corey Locke, goes from EHC Linz (Austria-EBEL) HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic-CEL). Ex-Sound Tiger, Kurtis Mclean, moves from HC Devta (Slovakia-SLEL) to SC Csikszereda (Romania-EBEL) and another former Sound Tiger RW Robin Figren leaves HV 71 (Sweden-SHL) to EHC Kloten (Switzerland-LNA). Closer to home, Thomas Richter, the son of Ranger great, Mike Richter, and a one-time Yale (ECACHL) assistant coach, will head out west to Prince George (BCHL) from Salisbury Prep before the Greenwich resident plays collegiately in two years Union College (ECACHL). Cantlon's Corner wrote earlier that former Providence College (HE) forward Jay O’Brien, will play for Penticton (BCHL) next season. He announced he is transferring to Boston University (HE) and can play in 2020-21 and maintains his NCAA eligibility by playing in the BCHL. Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: ISLANDERS DOWN RANGERS IN BRIDGEPORT, 5-2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings BRIDGEPORT, CT - The New York Islanders built a lead in the second period and maintained it en route to a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers in an NHL exhibition contest before 7,033 at the Webster Bank Arena. “I thought we played well in the first period with a good pace, a more North-South game. We made the five-foot passes and sustained the forecheck. They got opportunistic on their powerplay. We did well five-on-five, but we got away from that with 40 and 50-foot passes (in the second) instead of five-foot passes. Things got hairy when we get down three, and four to one. We got away from the way we're playing and we can’t let the score dictate how we're gonna play. We've got to play the same way,” new Rangers head coach David Quinn said. With two powerplay goals in the second period, the Islanders controlled a vast majority of the play. The first of the two powerplay goals came at 46 seconds when Josh Bailey, who was open on the right wing made it 2-1 Islanders from last years Calder Trophy winner, Matthew Barzal. The Islanders extended their lead to 3-1 as one-time Sound Tiger, Anders Lee, was on the doorstep with solid positioning, and took a short pass from Bailey (three assists) and easily deposited into an open net at 12:46. The goal ended the evening for Alexandre Georgiev and in came Dustin Tokarski. Georgiev played well in stopping 17 of the 21 shots he faced. “He (Georgiev) is a good goalie. I didn’t know much about him. I was able to watch film of him last year. I was really impressed with him in development camp and he has picked it up right from there. He’s been a very good goalie in camp,” Quinn said of the second-year pro from Russia. A nice Rangers-Islanders dust-up followed, but not like in years gone by. Cal Clutterbuck cut to the right wing side and went airborne after Peter Holland knocked him down. Cody McLeod was nearby and dropped down on top of him with a crosscheck. Then the Islanders' Casey Czikas and the Wolf Pack's Brandon Crawley squared off. A few punches were thrown, but nobody in the melee received fighting majors. All involved did receive minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. “We saw some of that the other night with the (Devils). Listen, we have to protect each other. We've got to stand up for each other. We've got to support one another and stick together. We got to do that from now until the day the season ends,” said Quinn of his revamped team that came at the end of the season last April. Quinn was also clearly referencing Wednesday’s exhibition game at the Garden where big Eric Gryba’s hit on Boo Nieves that knocked him out of the lineup with the third concussion of his young pro career. The hit went unanswered. The Islanders kept control and made it a three-goal lead when Anthony Beauvallier tallied his second of the game by splitting the Ranger defense tandem of Greenwich-native, Kevin Shattenkirk, and John Gilmour. He then slipped a forehand shot over Tokarski's glove at 18:26, one Tokarski would likely want back. Shattenkirk is coming off a serious injury from last season. Quinn was pleased with where he is in his recovery. “I think Shatty did well. He had his moments for sure. It’s gonna take time (to get his game back) after missing as much hockey as he did. It's gonna take time. You can’t just pick up where you left off. The good news is we have time to prepare (for the season) opener,” Quinn stated. Shattenkirk was equitable in self-assessment. “Certaintly, my decision-making could have been better in spots, but as far as the physical, I felt good. I was able to keep up with the play. I wasn’t behind. I'm just trying to find my place. It’s a little different. I’m one of the older guys now, and I really enjoy the role of working with the younger players." The Rangers got a last-second goal to narrow the deficit to just two goals with seven-tenths of a second left before the green light came on. On the powerplay, Ryan Spooner was open in the right wing faceoff circle. Spooner shot the puck into an open net off a nice cross-ice pass from Mats Zuccarello. The entire Islanders roster froze including goalie Thomas Greiss, as Spooner’s shot went just inside the right post. Shattenkirk picked up his second assist if the preseason on what was also his second of the contest. The first period featured a lot of ex-Pack and CT Whale in the thick of the action. Lias Andersson, the second-year pro and first-round pick who played in Hartford last year, with Zuccarello, a former CT Whale, were on the puck and creating offensive zone pressure. Zuccarello, clearly a Rangers' fan favorite, was denied at 3:49 in about 15-20 feet out. One of the Rangers prized prodigy’s for this season, defenseman Libor Hajek, came off the left point on a sharp angle and had his bid squashed by Greiss. The Rangers tallied the game's first goal. Ex-Pack, Peter Holland, followed up on an earlier chance off the right wing, but couldn’t pull the trigger. He got the puck back about 35 feet out and whistled a wrist shot through an effective screen in front by McLeod that shot past Greiss to the stickside at 6:41. Georgiev started the game between the pipes and stopped defenseman Johnny Boychuk who had come off the right point for a solid save shortly after the goal. McLeod got into a solid scrap with Islander defenseman and ex-Spund Tiger Scott Mayfield. Andersson got a solid setup from Zuccarello deep in the right wing corner, but his goal bid was stopped. “Lias has had a very good camp. He did well in New Jersey the other night (two goals), and I think he had a good night tonight. You can’t have a great night every night, but what I love about him is he gives a great effort every night. To be a good pro, how bad is your bad? "You're not going have a great night every night, but minimize your bad nights, and at the end of those nights, people don’t notice, but you found a way to survive. He’s a smart kid. I think he had a pretty good night tonight,” Quinn said about the Rangers' first-round pick (7th overall) from two years ago. Vinni Lettieri had a strong late period shift with strong forechecking and forced a turnover while creating offensive zone pressure for the Rangers. On the Islanders first powerplay, Georgiev stopped Czikas, who was wide-open in the right faceoff circle. On the ensuing draw, from 35-feet out, Beauvallier cranked one that sailed past Georgiev at 17:55. It knotted the game at one. The Rangers were kept in the game in early in the third with Tokarski stopping Czikas on a clean, shorthanded breakaway. Tokarski closed his five-hole. He didn’t get a solid cycle shift going till about about seven minutes left. Former Sound Tiger, Ryan Pulock, closed the scoring with his second of the preseason at 8:05 of the third period for the Islanders. NOTES: -Chris Bigras and Hajak were a defensive pair with Hajak playing his offside. Bigras had a strong night and nearly got the Rangers to within two late with a wicked slapshot off the crossbar. The pair has caught Quinn’s eye. “Hajak has been getting better every day. Bigras has been a surprise to me. David Oliver (one of the new assistant coaches) had him in Colorado and spoke very highly of him and he's had a good camp." The Wolf Pack's first on ice practice is tomorrow. It could include a few names from tonight’s lineup after they've been assigned to Hartford. Few other transactions to report on. The Rangers reassigned draft pick, Joey Keane, is back to the Barrie Colts (OHL). Ex-Pack, Brandon Troock, is in Milwaukee’s camp. The Islanders have made assignments to the Sound Tigers that include, the ex-Pack brothers Chris and Ryan Bourque, Mitchell Vandel Sompel, Mike Cornell, Matt Gaudreau, former Yale Bulldog, Ryan Hitchcock, former QU Bobcat, Jacob Rathgeb, Otto Koivula, Evan Buitenhuis, Scott Eansor, Kyle Burroughs, Mitch Gilliam, Ivan Kosorenko, Jeff Kubiak, Ryan MacKinnon Tyler Mueller and Yanick Turcotte and David Quenneville brother of ex-QU Bobcat Peter and second cousin to former Whaler current Black Hawks head coach Joel Quenneville. Five players were assigned to their major junior teams. Emanuel Vella went to Flint-OHL, Kyle MacLean to Oshawa-OHL, while Arnaud Durandeau to Halifax-QMJHL, and Bode Wild and Blade Jenkins both head to Saginaw-OHL. One player to Europe this week is Swiss native Pius Suter to ZSC Zurich (Switzerland-LNA). Ex-Sound Tiger goalie, C.J. Motte. was part of a contingent sent by Minnesota to Iowa. The list included Landon Ferraro, the son of former Whalers' great, Ray Ferraro, and former AHL All-Star. Cal O’Reilly. Brian Flynn (South Kent Prep) and Jordan Nolan, the son of ex-Whaler Ted Nolan, and the brother of ex-Sound Tiger, Brandon, were both reassigned to San Antonio. Josh Wesley, the son of former Whaler, Glen Wesley, was assigned from Carolina to Charlotte. Drake Rymsha, the son of former Nighthawk, Andy is sent to Ontario by the LA Kings. Joseph Masonius UCONN (HE) was assigned to Wilkes Barre-Scranton by Pittsburgh. Nick Pitsikoulis (Westminster Prep) goes from EC Harzer Falken (Germany Division-3) to the Ratinger Ice Aliens (Germany Division-4). Read the full article