National Signing Day. Irvington did the thang this year. They was #1 amongst public schools in scholarships for football 🏈 players. 99% of them was full scholarships. #dodgecitycommunitycollege #americaninternationalcollege #monmouthuniversity #wagneruniversity #peddieprep #libertyuniversity #northcarolinachapelhill #northcarolinastateuniversity (at Irvington High School)

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) takes pride in celebrating leaders in the LGBTQ movement. Whether revered for their artistic talents, athletic prowess, political activism and public service, medicine, the sciences, education, or other fields of endeavor, they have all contributed to championing equal rights for the LGBTQ community.

Beginning June 1, AIC will recognize many of the pioneers, activists, and role models who have advanced the LGBTQ movement each day on the college’s official Facebook and Twitter pages. 

The month of June has long been associated with LGBTQ pride celebrations in the U.S. and other parts of the world. In 2009, President Obama issued a proclamation establishing June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and promote equal justice for all. A decade earlier, President Clinton recognized the 30th anniversary of this social uprising.

“A hallmark of American International College is the value we place on diversity. It is one of our greatest strengths,” said President Vince Maniaci. “While a college education includes academic and intellectual growth, it must also foster the development of personal and emotional intelligence. Being culturally diverse leads to deeper discussions and increased awareness. The college is proud of our LGBTQ students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners and commend them for making AIC an integral part of the ever-evolving educational fabric of higher education.”

Visit AIC online at www.aic.edu, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/americaninternationalcollege, or on Twitter @aiconcampus throughout the month of June to celebrate those who have helped to shape the world.

The post AIC to Honor LGBTQ Leaders Via Social Media Throughout June appeared first on BusinessWest.

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CANTLON: HARTFORD WOLF PACK NEWS WEEK 12

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT -  Hartford Wolf Pack news this week comes fast and furious as the season approaches. The news starts in New York where the parent Rangers and President and General Manager, Chris Drury, must face two serious roster issues with the upcoming training camp just around the corner. According to New York Post columnist, Larry Brooks, Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist asked to be traded. Despite beating out Zac Jones for the sixth spot on defense, Lundqvist's first North American professional season was sub-par. There could be several explanations for Lundqvist's struggles. First, veteran Tom Nemeth was shuffled off to Arizona after being signed last year to help him with the cultural and hockey hurdles. Secondly, he barely got ice time as Braden Schneider's strong play moved him past Lundqvist on the depth chart. Then, and most glaring, was that he was a part of the Pack collapse in the second half of the season as he struggled in his thirty games in the Connecticut capital. Combine those factors with an overload of defensemen, twelve D on the roster as camp begins in two weeks, nine in New York limited by contract, and Jones getting NHL money, forcing a longer than usual look at training camp. THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS? Second on the list of key decisions, was Friday's signing of journeyman forward and one-time Ranger, Jimmy Vesey to a professional try-out contract (PTO). Brooks writes that happened about two weeks ago. If Vesey makes the team, it puts pressure on the bottom six (Dryden Hunt, and Julien Gauthier in particular), especially Lauri Pajuniemi, who might be moved too. Pajuniemi was an unhappy camper at the end of last season and this certainly won't help that. JAIME TARDIFF JOINS THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK BENCH As expected, there are changes behind the Wolf Pack bench for the 2022-23 season. Drury announced the club hired Jamie Tardif as the new assistant coach. Tardif, 37, was most recently an assistant coach with the Soo (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) Greyhounds (OHL). He started with the club prior to the 2018-19 campaign. During his time with the organization, the Greyhounds won 112 games and advanced to the playoffs in both the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. Prior to his time on the bench with the Greyhounds, Tardif spent the 2017-18 season as a player/assistant coach with the Quad City Mallards (ECHL), where he finished his playing career. Tardif played twelve professional seasons. His eight years in the AHL saw him dress in 487 games with the Manitoba Moose, Iowa Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins (where he got to know Hartford GM Ryan Martin), the Providence Bruins, and the Rochester Americans. Tardif registered 267 points (142 goals and 125 assists) in his career and served as captain of the Griffins for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. In 2012-13 while with the BRuins, he was named an AHL All-Star. However, Tardif appeared in only two NHL games in his career, both with the Boston Bruins. Tardif played three seasons overseas for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL. He helped guide the club to a DEL championship during his first year in Europe. He also won an OHL John Ross Robertson Cup championship with the Peterborough Petes and was named an ECHL All-Star in 2006-07 with the Toledo Storm. In another coaching move, Casey Torres, 42, who spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach on the Wolf Pack staff, was relocated within the Rangers organization. Drury moves him out from behind the bench in Hartford and named him the franchise's Player Development Assistant. Prior to joining the organization, Torres was a scout for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Peterborough in the OHL. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART ONE Adam Húska relocates far from Hartford as he signs overseas with Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). He becomes the second current ex-Wolf Pack (Nick Merkley, the other) and sixth ex-player to sign in Russia/Belarus. With Justin Richards signing with the Cleveland Monsters for next year, just three Wolf Pack players from last season have not signed or made their intentions known. Those three are goalie Tyler Wall, forward Matt Lorito, and center Maxim Letunov (UCONN-HE), who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves. The Russian-born, Letunov was traded for defenseman Tarmo Reunanen, who will play in Finland (Lukko Rauma) next season. Lutino’s KHL rights were traded last May from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to Traktor Chelyabinsk. He is looking to stay in North America. Ex-Pack, Josh Nicholls, leaves Storhamer (Norway-NEL) and returns to Kunlun (China-KHL). Former CT Whale, Christian Thomas, goes from SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA) to HC Bolzano Foxes (Italy-IceHL). Former Wolf Pack/Ranger, Stu Bickel, was relieved as an assistant coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds, who in turn hired former AHL player Jordan Smith from Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) where he worked with Tardiff. Smith lost his eyesight in 2005-06 with the defunct Portland Pirates (now Springfield Thunderbirds), contributing to the ushering in the mandatory half-visor rule into the AHL. Former Wolf Pack and Rangers first-round pick, Bobby Sanguinetti, and the youngest member of the Staal family Jared, are named the new assistant coaches for the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). PLAYER MOVEMENT PART TWO After five years in Hershey with the Bears, ex-Pack Alex Westlund (Yale University) is named goaltending coach in Detroit. Out in Colorado, ex-Pack Ryan Tobler has caught on as the associate head coach with the Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL). Former Pack Sam Klassen is the new head coach of Briercrest College (ACAC) in Canadian college hockey. Former New Haven Knights (UHL)/Springfield Falcon (AHL), Simon Olivier, after a year off, is hired as the Head Coach/GM of the Edmundston (NB) Blizzard of the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) Junior A team. Now 95 past members of the Wolf Pack are involved as coaches in some capacity in North America and Europe. Hershey signed Alexandre Fortin, nephew of former Whaler goalie Jean-Sébastien Giguère from the Laval Rocket. Ex-Sound Tiger Alan Quine departs Henderson (AHL) for Ontario (AHL). Ex-Sound Tigers Brett Gallant and Steve Olesky have re-signed with Cleveland (AHL) and Orlando (ECHL) respectively for another year. Former Sound Tiger Yannick Turcotte signs with Adirondack (ECHL) for next season. Ex-Sound Tiger captain Josh Holmstrom becomes the Director of Hockey of Operations for the Air Force (AHA). Bridgeport head coach and ex-Pack, Brent Thompson, saw his eldest son, Tage (Milford/UCONN-HE), who comes off his best season to date with 38 goals, sign a whopping seven-year $50 million-dollar deal to stay with Buffalo. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART THREE Odeen Tufto (Quinnipiac University) heads from Orlando (ECHL) to Tucson. The list of AHL'ers headed to Europe has grown to 92. That list now includes Chad Krys (Ridgefield/CT Oilers-EJEPL) who began the year in Rockford and departs Toronto for Vienna (Austria-IceHL). Also, ex-Pack Kodie Curran heads from Providence/San Diego to Mettallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia-KHL). Russia has added 19 players. Sweden adds 17, while Finland signs 12. Those three nations lead the Pack. Collegiate North American pro signees have seen Hockey East contribute 54, NCHC-38, CCHA, and the Big Ten-32, ECACHL-26, AHA-23 and NCAA Division I Independents-13. Jake Witkowski, a graduate of Avon Old Farms, signed with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) out of Canisius College (AHA) where ex-Pack, Daniel Paille is the Associate Head Coach. Among three players who signed with the Worcester Railers (ECHL) is a former UCONN Husky, Brian Rigali, of nearby AIC-American International College (AHA). He finished his NCAA career at the Springfield, MA school. Michael Brodzinski, who played three games with the Pack, re-signs with Orlando (ECHL). Division-III has just 17 players gone pro in North America. Three others are going to Canadian colleges and two are going to Canadian major junior and Junior A. Jack St. Ivany, formerly of Yale, goes the free agent route and signs with Pittsburgh out of BC. PLAYER MOVEMENT PART FOUR The newest additions to the transfer list include the Fusco brothers, John and Matt, the sons of ex-Hartford Whaler Scott Fusco, who have both transferred from Harvard University (ECACHL) to Dartmouth College (ECACHL), a true rarity to have an intra-Ivy school transfer. Before even skating a single game at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Yale University freshmen Phillip Tresca, transfers from the Bulldogs to rival Harvard University. 222 college transfers in total with 113 undergrad and grad transfers at 109. The total number of North American signees is 250. Therefore, North America plus Europe is at 289. UCONN has quietly shipped Sasha Teleguine back to Junior A, even with one year of eligibility. He played in just 20 games last year. Teleguine heads back to the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL). However, they did gain a new commitment for 2024-25 in Ethan Gardula. He heads to the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) next year from Cushing Academy. According to several sources, expect the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHA), who are moving into a beautiful brand-new 4,000-plus seat arena, to announce shortly a new multi-year agreement to broadcast their games on a regional tri-state TV network to coincide with their new digs. Former Quinnipiac Bobcat goalie Michael Garteig has had the Goaltender of the Year award in the BCHL named after him. He is still playing with ERC Ingolstadt (Germany-DEL) this year. Ex-Whaler Kelly Chase was inducted into the SJHL Hall of Fame. RILEY AT ARMY The Albertus Magnus Falcons (NCAA Division-III independent) sends its first coach up the ladder. Last year's Assistant Coach, Jack Riley, becomes the Director of Hockey Operations at Army (AHA). The Riley name at Army is legendary and is familiar to hockey. His grandfather John P. "Jack," his namesake, started the program and coached in 1951. He was followed by his son Rob in 1983 who also coached the Springfield Falcons for two years. He coached for 18 years there and in 2003 Brian came in, his great-uncle. The coaching bug is in the Riley DNA and extends to Brett an assistant at LIU-Post and Brendan at AIC. AHL NEWS The AHL is leaping into the 21st century as they open two brand new state-of-the-art arenas this year. The first just had its grand opening. The new Tech CU Arena is in San Jose and is part of a multi-faceted ice complex. The arena will serve as the home to the Barracuda and their brand-new San Jose Shark color schemed home and away jerseys. The building has been ten years in the making and was built on time, and on budget even with the pandemic. It is an environmentally friendly, 21st-century building. It's like a modern version of the Glen Falls Civic Center, including an electric Zamboni. It is the new permanent home of the Barracuda and will host the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, USA hockey U-16, and U-18 events next month. In addition, it will be available for future NCAA events and could be a likely home for a West Coast NCAA team for a myriad of colleges in the area such as current ACHA Division 2 San Jose State. An NCAA West Coast-based conference is coming. It's not a matter anymore of if it is going to happen. It's now more a matter of when. The complex will help figure skating and local youth hockey. Had it been there, it could have saved current Wolf Pack Patrick Khordorenko, who grew up in the area, from having to travel to Southern Cali for ice years ago. The facility abuts the home of the California League Single A, San Jose Giants. In December, the $300 million palace in the California desert, the Acrisure Arena (9,918), will be unveiled. The building, on the outskirts of Palm Springs, will be the home for the top farm team of the Seattle Kraken, the expansion Coachella Valley Firebirds. The two buildings cement the AHL Pacific Division's presence even though Tucson, with new coach Steve Potvin, will play in a larger building (6,791) this year than their parent team, the Arizona Coyotes (and will likely outdraw them). This hopscotch into ultra-modern facilities highlights the ineptitude surrounding the XL Center. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

CANTLON'S CORNER: HOCKEY NEWS AND NOTES OFF SEASON VOLUME 12

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The world is slowly approaching normalcy. Sports news is becoming more and more prevalent as ALL sports are moving closer and closer towards returning into the daily lives of its fans. AHL AWARDS The American Hockey League announced that forward Gerry Mayhew of the Iowa Wild has been voted the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2019-20 season. Mayhew scored a league-best 39 goals – the most by an AHL skater since 2011-12 – and finished third with 61 points in 49 games, leading Iowa to the team's best regular-season record in franchise history. 10 of Mayhew’s goals were game-winners and logging 11 multiple-goal performances, including a natural hat trick in a 3-0 win over the San Diego Gulls on Feb. 14. Mayhew tied a franchise mark with a ten-game scoring streak from December 12th to January 10th. Mayhew earned CCM/AHL Player-of-the-Month honors for January after he totaled 12 goals and 19 points in 11 contests. Among Mayhew’s 39 tallies were 13 power-play goals and two shorthanded markers. He also led the Wild in plus/minus rating at plus-16. Iowa was 26-7-1-2 in games when Mayhew registered a point. Mayhew represented Iowa at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, CA, and was voted a Second Team Left-Wing AHL All-Star for 2019-20. He also made his National Hockey League debut this season, notching two goals in 13 games with Minnesota – including a goal in his first appearance on October 15th in Toronto. 2020-21 SEASON When it starts, where it starts still remains to be seen at the NHL or AHL level. The NHL has agreed-upon a framework to return to play, but several major details are still being worked out. While questions remain how it will all play out, signs point to a resumption of hockey sometime this summer. The AHL season start will not be in October, with the most likely start being some point in November. The October 9th scheduled date for the home opener for the Hartford Wolf Pack is almost certainly going to be rescheduled. One of the many side issues is the pending expiration of player contracts at the end of June but of the contracts of teams' hockey staff at the end of the month. “They’re running out of runway here and a lot of people are in limbo,” one source said. "It isn’t only players, its all the hockey ops people, GM, Assistant GM, Head Coaches, assistants, equipment managers, trainers, and scouts are all sitting around wondering a lot about this. What I’m hearing is the likelihood is that they will slide contracts forward say 60-90 days, then, announce a Draft Day and then a free agency period. The other big issue is, of course, the salary cap and what we're hearing is a freeze on the cap at this year’s level ($82.1M) for the next two-to-three years until the economy recovers. In principle, both sides are happy. They have areas of interest they want to clarify moving forward, but a ten-year extension for the CBA is being bandied about. It's in discussion but nothing's finalized.” The business of hockey is a large and expansive one with many pieces of the financial puzzle still to be resolved. PLAYER MOVEMENT A big coaching opportunity has opened up after the Los Angeles Kings announced on Saturday that they will not renew the contract of Ontario Reign head coach, Mike Stothers, whose contract is set to expire on June 15th. Stothers has led the Kings’ affiliate for the last six seasons, including five with the Reign (2015-20) where he earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach and won a Calder Cup championship with the Manchester Monarchs in 2014-15. “We appreciate everything Mike has contributed to the organization,” said Rob Blake, Vice President and General Manager of the Kings in a press release. “He has played an important role in helping develop our players and we want to thank him for his years of service and guiding us to a Calder Cup Championship in 2015." San Diego's Chris Wideman heads to the Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL) and Frank Corrado of the Belleville Senators signs with MODO (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Lukáš Radil, who split the year in San Jose between the AHL Barracuda and the NHL Sharks signs with Spartak Moscow (Russia-KHL) while Carter Camper of the Utica Comets has his eyes on Sweden or perhaps Russia for next year. 23 players have now signed in Europe. 16 of the 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player to a European signing. Ex-Pack, Kodie Curran, turned down a KHL deal with Avangard Omsk (Russia) to sign a two-year, one-way deal at a $1M/year with the Anaheim Ducks. He will likely be in San Diego to start the season. He played with Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL) last year earning high marks as the top defenseman in the SHL and the Golden Helmet Award as the regular season MVP. Nice story on Curran in the Calgary Herald. Read it HERE. A pair of ex-Wolf Pack players were swapped for one another in a two-for-one deal in Russia. Defenseman, Alexei Bereglazov, winner of two Gagarin Cup titles, and forward, Ilya Kablukov, depart Mettallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia-KHL) for Avangard Omsk. Going back the other way in the deal is right-wing, Taylor Beck, an ex-Sound Tiger. Ryan Verbeek, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler and New York Ranger, and current Detroit Red Wing Assistant GM, Pat Verbeek, returns to France to play with Elite Magnus League HC Briancon next season. He split this season with Pensacola and Huntsville of the SPHL. Calvon Boots of the American International College (AHA) leaves the Springfield, MA school for the Rochester Institute of Technology (AHA) in the fall. AIC goalie, Zacharias Skog completes his four years and signs a pro deal back home with Vasterviks IK (Sweden-SHL). His movement makes 31 college players signing in Europe. Goalie, Ryan Edquist, after just 21 games in four years with the Boston College Eagles (HE) has grad transferred back home to the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks (NCHC). He will be the backup to next season's likely Hobey Baker finalist, Dryden McKay, who had a 1.31 GAA, tops in the nation in his sophomore year. He is the son of one-time Whaler, Ross McKay. Edquist's transfer makes for 16 Division I grads moving to new schools. Andrew Mancini, (Canterbury Prep-New Milford) drafted as the first-ever draft pick by the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in the NAHL Supplemental Draft has opted to sign with the P.A.L. Islanders (NCDC) which is closer to his Long Island home for next season. Cam MacDonald (Selects Academy of South Kent Prep) who was a Boston College (HE) commit for 2022-23 has elected to head home and signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL). He spent last season with the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). Max Coyle becomes the fourth University of Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA) player to transfer from the program that was slated to be eliminated. He heads to Bowling Green (NCHC). Read that story, next. TALBOT, A SAVE AND A BEAUTY The University Alabama-Huntsville Chargers were on the verge of extinction until a former Wolf Pack goaltender got involved. In just ten days' time, the Chargers' program received an astounding $500K in donations allowing the University to continue to have their team play in the WCHA conference. The conference formally reinstated the program on Wednesday. The conference is losing seven schools after the 2020-21 season as they form the new CCHA conference. UAH may apply so they have a more travel-friendly schedule according to now-former head coach Mike Corbett, who stepped down on Wednesday, along with Assistant Coach, and long time AHL player, Gavin Morgan. The other assistant coach Lance West was named Interim Head Coach. West played at UA-H in the early 1990s, three-of-the-four years at Division II. He was an assistant coach for ten years after graduating before spending the next eleven seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks (WCHA), the first ten of them as an assistant coach. He returned to the program two years ago. A fundraising campaign to support the continuation of the Alabama-Huntsville hockey program was successful in raising the critical monetary gifts from numerous individual donors, according to UA-H Athletic Director, Cade Smith in a story on AL.com. The dollars were matched by two separate gifts of $125,000 each. The gifts came from long-time hockey supporters, Taso Sofikitis, and Sheldon Wolitski, who played on the school’s Division II national championship team. The total amount of more than $750,000 in private dollars will allow the Chargers to continue to compete at the Division I level during the 2020-21 season. This total philanthropic contribution is the largest athletic campaign contribution in the history of UA-H. One of the school's biggest program supporters and who helped spearhead the drive was its most famous former Charger, and current Calgary Flames and ex-Wolf Pack netminder, Cam Talbot. He took to his own Twitter page to express why people should donate to the cause. “This program gave me a chance that nobody else would. Without my time spent @UAHuntsville, I would not have got the opportunity to be where I am today. I want those opportunities to continue for more young players for years to come!” Talbot was named to the advisory board. In addition to the private dollars, UAH president, Darren Dawson, committed money from the university to cover the balance of the hockey team’s operational costs during the upcoming season. “We are thankful from the loyal support that has been demonstrated this week by the fans and alumni of Charger hockey,” said Dawson in a press release statement. “We are hopeful that this support will translate into a sustainable funding model that will allow the UAH hockey program to rise again to high levels of success,” “The university is fully committed to the upcoming season,” Smith added. “The university will work with the supporters of the UAH hockey program and a newly formed hockey advisory board to develop a plan that will allow the Chargers to thrive in the 2020-21 season and beyond. UAH is committed to building a world-class Division I hockey program with a permanent conference home that will allow the Chargers to continue past the 2020-21 season.” The school has already allocated money and cleared space for a brand-new, on-campus arena before the pandemic hit looking to take the Chargers from the larger, off-campus site, the Van Braun Center, which is the home of the local SPHL team, the Huntsville Havoc, to a more manageable facility. The WCHA conference will be strengthened and could become the first fully functioning West-Coast-based Conference as they are likely to add Arizona State, whose brand new on-campus arena is expected to be ready in 2021. The two Alaska schools in Fairbanks and Anchorage are likely to merge in the near future because of state budget cuts. The conference will likely then add other major West Coast Division I colleges and universities such as Los Angeles-based USC, and UCLA, Colorado-based, Air Force, who will likely switch from the AHA conference, and perhaps UNLV, and Utah, who are currently ACHA Division I club programs. Despite the good financial news, the Chargers program lost another player to transfer when Bailey Newton announced he will leave after his sophomore season and head back to Canada and the University of Western Ontario Mustangs (OUAA) QMJHL The last Canadian major junior Draft is this weekend. The QMJHL Draft will be done remotely for the first time with the first round scheduled for Friday on the league’s YouTube channel. Rounds 2-14 will be on Saturday starting at 9 am with selection results on the league website. The QMJHL U.S. Draft will be held on Monday, June 8th with results on the league's website. The states with eligible players in the US Draft are from are; Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. A strong rumor is that the QMJHL will start it's 2020-21 season on October 1st, regardless of what the other two major junior leagues, the OHL and WHL, do. In part, it will be because they have no US-based franchises. The only issue will be European players' participation based on provincial and directives from Ottawa regarding COVID-19 and the US border for American players which of course by mutual consent is still closed. “The feeling is they want to get back to a regular order of business starting a month later is OK, but they want to get back on track,” commented a reliable hockey source with knowledge of the situation. Having fans in the buildings are necessary for franchises to survive, but Health Canada will have the final say on when the puck is dropped. The NAHL has pushed its Draft Day to July 21st. The CHL Import Draft that normally takes place after the NHL Draft and no date has been set for either. COLLEGE HOCKEY The Dartmouth head coaching opening was filled with a familiar name to followers of Connecticut college hockey as Reid Cashman, who spent four years as a defenseman with the Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECACHL) in their rise to national prominence, was named the new head coach for the Dartmouth Big Green (ECACHL) on Monday. He becomes the 22nd coach in school history and replaces the all-time winningest coach, Bob Gaudet, who stepped down after 23 years year in the top spot. “I feel like I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be the head coach of the Dartmouth men’s hockey program,” Cashman said in a press release statement. “For 114 years, Dartmouth has competed at the highest level and has produced Olympians, All-Americans, and NHL players. Along with the great history on the ice, Dartmouth College has been one of the finest institutions in the world for more than 250 years. It is truly an honor to be given this prestigious opportunity.” Cashman has been on a fast track professionally. He was an assistant coach for two years with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, with his portfolio being the Caps powerplay and defense. He also coordinated their development camps and participation in the Traverse City, MI annual prospects tournament. He won’t start this new position until the NHL playoffs for the Capitals concludes, whenever that may be. Cashman played 151 games for the Hamden-based university. In 151 career games, Cashman tallied 23 goals and still holds the school record of 125 assists for 242 total points. He was an NCAA (East First-Team, All-American in his senior year in 2006-07. He was a second-team honoree in his junior in 2003-2004. In Quinnipiac’s last season in the AHA conference, he was named to the First Team and led the conference in scoring. He was named Player of the Year. In addition, Cashman was a Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist before the Bobcats were elevated to the ECACHL conference. Cashman played five years of minor professional hockey with his last year in North America winning an ECHL Kelly Cup championship with the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010. Cashman’s last pro year was spent in Austria skating for EHC Linz in Erste Bank Eishockey League (EBEL). The Red Wing, MN native was undrafted but played in the AHL for Toronto, Wilkes Barre/Scranton, and Milwaukee. In the ECHL, he played for Columbia, Wheeling, and Cincinnati After retiring from active playing, he returned to Quinnipiac and became an assistant coach to Rand Pecknold for five years (2011-2016) and went to two Frozen Four Finals. Quinnipiac lost to first to their conference, and in-state rival, Yale University, in a 4-0 shutout in 2013 and again in 2016 losing 5-1 to North Dakota. Thomas Maia is another Division I player heading to the Canadian Junior A ranks while still retaining his NCAA eligibility. Maia, who suffered a broken fibula without playing a game for R.I.T. (AHA), heads to the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) after he was traded from the Oakville Blades (OJHL). Speaking of Yale University, they announced its 2020 freshmen class of seven which includes head coach Keith Allain's son, Nik (North Branford/Taft Prep) from Boston (NCDC). He was a UCONN commit at one point. Ryan Stevens joins his brother Luke who is already with the Bulldogs. The boys' father is Kevin Stevens, the former NHL'er with the New York Rangers. Stevens, the elder, won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The other announced players include Reilly Connors (Madison/Loomis Chaffe), and goalie Nathan Reid, from Sioux Falls (USHL). LIU named its first head coach last week, and this week their first batch of LIU Sharks recruits with the first-ever recruit signed being Jordan DiCicco of the Brooks Bandits (AJHL). He was followed by nine others including, Connor Szmul, from the Chippewa (WI) Steel (NAHL), Daine Dubois of the Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL), Robert McCollum Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL), no relation to ex-Wolf Pack Tom McCollum. Also, Nolan McElhaney, who missed all of last year with an ACL injury, transfers from the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (HE), and a second Division I transfer, Mitch Meek, from Michigan Tech (WCHA). Madoka Suzuki of the Kemptville 73’s (CCHL), Marty Westhaver of the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), Aaron White of the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL), and Gustav Muller of the Madison Capitols (USHL). TRIVIA What was Wayne Gretzky's last non-99 uniform number? He wore number 26 for three games with the Peterborough Petes. Last month was the 25th anniversary of the Quebec Nordiques' last game. It was at MSG against the Rangers in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Rangers won the series in six games with the last goal in Nordiques history was scored by Peter Forsberg. The Nordiques were the first WHA team that merged with the NHL that was moved. Read the full article

CANTLON'S CORNER: HOCKEY NEWS AND NOTES VOLUME 8

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The suspension of hockey continues though the NHL may resume the regular season or go straight to a playoff format in an attempt to conclude the 2019-20 season. The AHL, meanwhile, is on the verge of announcing the cancelation of the rest of the regular season and Calder Cup playoffs. COLLEGE PLAYER SIGNINGS The New York Rangers' goaltending situation got a bit more interesting with the signing of their sixth-round (174th overall) pick in 2016, Tyler Wall. The former UMass-Lowell senior was signed to a two-year, entry-level deal ($925K-NHL/$70K-AHL). The organization now has six goaltenders under contract starting with Henrik Lundqvist, who is entering the final year of his contract that pays him $8.5 million. Alexander Georgiev will become a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) in 2020-21. He's proven he is more than NHL-ready. Igor Shesterkin enters the second year of his two year deal and would become an RFA in the 2021-22 season. Shesterkin spent half of this season in Hartford where he was superb in net and brought the Wolf Pack to first place for at least three months. The team then struggled mightily after his recall. The team dropped to a .500 record. Add to the list, second-year pro, and former UConn Husky, Adam Huska. He will enter the final year before he hits RFA status. Then there is J.F. Berube. He was acquired in a late-season trade for his fellow goalie, Thomas McCollum, with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He will be a UFA at the end of June. Nobody knows for certain how this entire thing will shake out in the end. The NHL salary cap for next year was originally pegged to land between $84-$88 million, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic and other external factors, that number is now in a complete state of flux with the entire worldwide economic landscape having been dramatically altered. The cap could potentially drop below $80 million. That would force all of the NHL's teams to do some serious refinancing of its payroll structure. On the goalie front, the Rangers would be faced with even tougher choices than they already were going to have. Wall, 22, from Leamington, Ontario, appeared in 32 games with the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks (HE) this season. He posted an 18-8-6 record, along with a 2.10 GAA, a .931 save percentage, and two shutouts. He was named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team this season, which was the conference’s deepest position. Darien’s Spencer Knight (Boston College) and Hobey Baler finalist Jeremy Swayman (Maine) were the two in front of him. Wall appeared/started in 32 of UMass Lowell's 34 games this season. He earned all of his team's wins during the season and established a collegiate career-best in save percentage, Wall was tied for ninth in NCAA Division I in save percentage. In addition, Wall ranked eighth in the NCAA in saves at (924). His 336 saves in either the third period or overtime were the third-most in the country. This past season, Wall's stinginess saw him allow just two goals or fewer in 22 of his 32 appearances, including one goal or fewer in eight different appearances. He was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on six different occasions and served as an alternate captain, becoming the first Riverhawk goaltender to wear either a 'C' or an 'A' on his jersey since Dwayne Roloson did so in 1993-94. Wall stands 6'3" and weighs 214lbs. He covers the lower part of the net very well. Wall appeared in 103 career collegiate games over four seasons and amassed a college career record of 58-34-10, a 2.28 GAA, a .918 save percentage and nine shutouts. Wall's 58 career wins with UMass Lowell are the most by a goaltender since the school began playing in Division 1. He broke Roloson's record of 51 wins. He established a collegiate career-best in appearances (37), wins (26), and GAA (2.06) as a freshman in 2016-17, and he established a UMass-Lowell record for wins by a rookie goaltender, previously held by current Winnipeg Jet, Connor Hellebuyck. Wall also helped UMass-Lowell win the Hockey East Championship in 2016-17, and was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team. He posted a 2.10 GAA or better in three of his four collegiate seasons. IN OTHER SIGNINGS After four years at Penn State (Big 10), Peyton Jones signs a deal with the Colorado Eagles for 2020-21. Yanni Kaldis Cornell University (ECACHL) signs with Bakersfield (ECHL). Along with Wall, that makes 93 Division I players who have signed North American professional contracts. Including European deals, 150 collegiate players in total have turned professional. Hockey East saw 21 players turn pro in North America and the Big 10 has 20. They are followed by the NCHC with 17. The WCHA has 13, while the ECACHL has 12 and the AHA with nine. Penn State has the most signees with seven. They are followed by Western Michigan (NCHC) with six, Ferris State (WCHA) with five, and Hockey East's Boston University and Vermont with four each. Leading the 39 Division III signees is Northland College (NCHA) who've had four players put their names on contracts. Matt Tugnutt of Sacred Heart University becomes the 13th Division I grad transfer and the second one for Providence College Friars (HE) in goal. Jason Herter, Assistant Coach with the two-time defending NCAA champions, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, has stepped down to take another position in hockey but has not declared if it was in pro or college. Scott Morrow (Darien) just finished at Shattuck’s St. Mary in Minnesota, had his USHL rights traded from the Youngstown Phantoms to the Fargo (ND) Force for next season. In 2021-22, Morrow starts playing for North Dakota (NCHC). He was also drafted by the Val D’ Foreurs in the 2nd round 21st overall in the 2018 QMJHL Draft. NHL SEASON The NHL wants to minimize the loss of revenue to the escrow fund which they and the players share as a part of the CBA agreement. The NHL is trying to salvage the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs a massive revenue generator. Presently, they're trying to find COVID-19 light cities to re-start and complete the remaining 14-15 games left in the regular season. There is also talk that they could jump to just a 12-team per conference playoff format. It is unclear which way they are going to go. Also being discussed is the recall of AHL players from each team's affiliates as a taxi squad once the AHL season is officially canceled. However, there are some serious issues regarding contracts that need to be worked out. “It comes down that the NHL is trying to preserve the sponsorships and the TV ad revenue to minimize the losses. It's paramount to the league right now, however, we’re getting close to fish-or-cut-bait time for the NHL and AHL because the clock is ticking to a new fiscal year of business that starts by the end of June,” commented a long-time hockey source. The NHL isn’t alone in trying to complete their seasons. Both Ukraine and Spain have tentative plans to finish their playoffs in September. Ukraine still has the semifinals and finals while Spain has just its championship round. CONGRATULATIONS Former Hartford Whaler and Rangers' defenseman, James Patrick, will be inducted into the University of North Dakota's sports Hall-of-Fame. Patrick was a first-round pick (9th overall) by the Rangers in the 1981 Draft. While with UND, he led the Fighting Sioux, as they were known then, to an NCAA title in his freshmen year and he was an all-tournament selection in the Frozen Four. Patrick was on the WCHA Conference's second-team All-Star. He was the conference Rookie-of-the-Year and won a WJC gold medal with Canada. In his sophomore season, he was a first-team WCHA All-Star, was first-team NCAA All America, and was a Hobey Baker finalist. Patrick played in 1,280 NHL games with the Rangers, Whalers, the Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. Upon retiring, he spent seven years with Buffalo and then three years with the Dallas Stars as an assistant coach. Patrick is currently entering his fourth year as head coach with the Winnipeg Ice (WHL), a franchise moved from Cranbrook, BC (Kootenay) two years ago. His nephew Nolan is a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. IN OTHER COLLEGE NEWS Three weeks ago, The Vermont Catamounts saw long-time coach, Bob Gaudet, announce his retirement after 23 years. Todd Woodcroft becomes just their fifth coach in Vermont school history. This week the University sadly mourns the passing of their first Division I coach, Jim Cross (1965-1984), who shepherded them in from the Division II level.  Cross, 87 passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Cross coached Vermont to three ECAC Division II championships including back-to-back titles in 1973-1974 with a conference record of 37-1. He was named National Division II Coach-of-the-Year in 1974. Cross help the Catamounts transition to Division I hockey in the ECAC in 1974 getting into third place in their first season. His 19-year coaching mark was 280-251-9. A BU grad, Cross was honored by the Terriers in 1975 with its Harry Cleverly award given to alumni who excel in coaching. Cross was inducted into the University of Vermont Athletic Sports Hall-of-Fame in 1996 and just last year, the Hobey Baker Memorial Foundation named him recipient of the “Legend of College Hockey” award. He will posthumously be inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall-of-Fame later this year. Among the players he coached in Division I included, former New Haven Nighthawk, John Glynne (Hamden) and Kirk McCaskill, who had a much better professional baseball career with the California Angels (nee Anaheim Angels) for eleven years as a pitcher, after one season with the Sherbrooke Jets (AHL). He was one of the few hockey players drafted in two sports hockey (Winnipeg) and baseball. USHL DRAFT On Monday and Tuesday, the USHL conducted Phase I and Phase II of its annual draft. In Phase I, in the 2nd round, (26th overall), Connor Welsh (Greenwich/Brunswick Prep) was selected by the Sioux City Musketeers. Andrew DellaDonna from the US Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team was taken by Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the 4th round (55th overall). He is an Ohio State (Big 10) commit for 2022-23. In the fourth round (57th overall), the Fargo (ND) Force took Cam Knuble, the son of former Ranger, Mike Knuble, who played with the Fox Motor Sports U-15 (T1EHL). His older brother, Cam Knuble, just finished his junior career with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The elder Knuble was his head coach and an assistant coach with Grand Rapids this past season. In the fifth round (63rd overall) Cedar Rapids selected John Emmons Jr. from the Oakland (MI) Grizzlies U-15 (HPHL). He is the son of John Emmons Sr. (New Canaan/Yale University) who was an assistant coach of his team this season. Lucas DiChiara (Fairfield), of the nationally renowned Shattuck St. Mary’s program in Minnesota, was taken in the ninth round (131st overall) by Muskegon. He is not currently college committed. In Phase II on Tuesday, Tabor Heaslip of the Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers was taken in the fourth round (56th overall) by Sioux City. He is currently slated to play for the UCONN Huskies (HE) in the fall. Five spots later, Matt Crasa from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep, went in the fourth round (61st overall) was taken by Fargo. He skated for the Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL) this year with 44 points in 51 games and is slated to skate with the Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHA) in the fall. In the ninth round (125th overall), Zach Tonelli of Taft Prep (Watertown) was taken by Cedar Rapids. He is the youngest son of New York Islanders great, John Tonelli. He is Brown University (ECACHL) commit 2021-22 where his older brother Jordan, also a Taft grad, will start in the fall. Ten picks later, David Andreychuk of Gunnery Prep (Washington, CT) went to the Waterloo Black Hawks. He is a St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) 2021-22 commit. The sons ex-Hartford Wolf Pack and Bridgeport Sound Tiger, David Karpa, were selected one round apart. In the 15th round (223rd overall) Zakary Karpa was taken by the Waterloo Black Hawks. He played for the US National Development Team (USNDTP) in the USHL, the US National U-18 Team. He's committed to the Princeton Tigers (ECACHL) in the fall. Younger brother Jakob Karpa went in the 16th round (242nd overall) to the Omaha Lancers from the Victory Honda U-18 (T1EHL/Midget) team. He is slated to skate for the Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) in the fall. Lastly, Ryan Vellluci, the son of ex-Whaler Mike, the current coach of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins, was taken in the 18th round (262nd overall) by Muskegon from the Detroit Little Caesars U-18 (T1EHL) squad. He was taken by Saginaw Spirit in the 2018 OHL Priority Draft in the 13th round 242th overall. The other US junior league, the Tier II NAHL, will have its Supplemental Draft on May 12th.  81 players will be drafted (three per team) and an extra tender contract can be offered to one player per team the next day. The NAHL has pushed its main draft to July 21st. The QMJHL Draft will be conducted remotely and is scheduled for early next month. The first round will be on Friday, June 5th, with rounds 2-14 the following day. The U.S. Draft will be Monday, June 8th. The QMJHL released its CSB’s final list of available players and there are quite a few Connecticut kids listed as possibilities. A slew from the Greenwich-based prep school, Brunswick School. John Burdett, leading scorer, Andon Cerbone (Stamford), and John Gammage are on that list. Jakub Teply (Stamford) is scheduled to play for the Powell River RiverKings (BCHL) in the fall, and Beanie Richter, the youngest son of former Ranger great, Mike Richter. From Greenwich HS's Charlie Zolin and William Richards (Westport) from Staples HS, Peter Ungar (Stamford) of the CT Whalers U-15 (AYHL), Arthur Smith (Farmington) from the US Selects Academy at South Kent Prep and Daniel Lurie (Westminster Prep (Simsbury). Nicholas LeClaire (Colchester), a grad of Xavier HS (Middletown), who is now at Northfield Prep (MAPREP) and Charlie Leddy (Fairfield) of Avon Old Farms, who is slated to be with the USNDTP U-17 team in the fall and a Boston College (HE) commit in 2022-23, Aidan Cobb (Ridgefield) from Kent Prep and a Cornell University (ECACHL) commit for 2020-21, Charles Andriole (Branford) of Loomis Chaffe (Windsor), and incoming Taft Prep (Watertown) player, Isaiah Green (Sandy Hook) are also expected to be selected. The CHL Import Draft usually held a week after the NHL Draft is in a state of suspension because of COVID-19. TRANSACTIONS Alexander D. Tertyshny (Choate Prep), after playing with three teams last season, Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (Russia-MHL), Corpus Christi (NAHL), and Northeast (NAHL), heads to AIC-American International College (AHA) in the fall. Tertyshny is the son of former NHL’er, Dmitri Tertyshny, who played just one season with Philadelphia but died in a tragic boating accident in the off-season in Kelowna, BC on July 23, 1999. Justin Danforth (Sacred Heart University/Sound Tigers), departs Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL) to Vityaz Podolsk (Russia-KHL) for next season. Heading to Europe will be Swedish defenseman Pontus Ahberg from the Toronto Marlies to Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia-KHL) after playing for six years in North America. Anton Wedin leaves Rockford/Chicago (NHL) for HV 71 (Sweden-SHL). According to European media reports, several players are in the last stages of contract negotiations and are waiting on the call of the AHL season to be officially be canceled before making the announcement. Mikhail Vorobyov of Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia Flyers) is said to be heading to Salavat Yalaev (Russia-KHL). Josh Persson Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)/San Diego Gulls, and Gustav Forsling from the Charlotte Checkers are both to be going to EHC Biel/Bienne (Switzerland-LNA). Christian Folin Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens) to Frolunda HC (Sweden-SHL) and Henrik Borgstrom, Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers) to Jokerit Helsinki (Finland-KHL) are all still pending. That would make eleven players in total, with 10 of the 31 AHL teams to have at least one player sign overseas for 2020-21. Ex-Pack goalie, Miika Wiikman, who played last year with the Coventry Blaze (England-EIHL) and with HC Anglet (France-FREL) last year, announced his retirement due to injuries. Anton Sundin, the son of year one ex-Wolf Pack, Ronnie Sundin, after playing with three teams last year, signs with Halmstad HC (Sweden Division-1). Henrik Samuelsson, the son of ex-Whalers great, Rangers player, and an assistant coach with the Wolf Pack and Avon Old Farms, Ulf Samuelsson, leaves Manchester (England-EIHL) and signs a deal with Saryarka Karaganda (Russia-VHL). Ulf is still listed as the head coach for Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) and a pro scout for Seattle (NHL). The youngest brother, Adam Samuelsson, is with Sudbury (OHL), and the eldest brother, Philip, is said to be close to signing with HK Riga (Latvia-KHL). Ex-New Haven Nighthawks and Ranger, Glen Hanlon, leaves DVTK (Hungary-EBEL) for Krefeld (Germany-DEL) as their new head coach. Former Beast of New Haven defenseman, Jaroslav Spacek, is an assistant coach of HC Plzen (Czech Republic-CEL) and an assistant with the Czech National Team program, saw his eldest son, David Spacek, who plays for HC Plzen U-16/U-18 squads and for the Czech Republic U-17 Team last season. Read the full article

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK RECALL SHAWN McBRIDE FROM NORFOLK

Rookie Forward Logged Two Games in Earlier Stint with Hartford BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, December 26, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the Wolf Pack has recalled forward Shawn McBride from the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. McBride, a rookie out of American International College who was signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 1, 2019, skated in two games in a previous stint with the Wolf Pack this year, going scoreless and even, with one shot on goal.  In 20 games with Norfolk, McBride has registered seven assists, four penalty minutes and 18 shots on goal. A 6-2, 200-pound native of Victoria, B.C., McBride, 24, played five games with the Wolf Pack in 2018-19 after he finished his college eligibility, posting one assist. The Wolf Pack’s first post-Christmas action will be a trip to Bridgeport tomorrow night, Friday, December 27, for a 7:00 contest against the Sound Tigers.  All of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com, and video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The Wolf Pack are then back on home ice at the XL Center on Saturday night, December 28.  Faceoff is 7:00, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack pennant flag, courtesy of NBC Connecticut. Tickets for  all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS ACQUIRE D-MAN MONFREDO FROM ORLANDO FOR MAY

Johno May sent to Solar Bears in exchange GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have acquired defenseman Mike Monfredo and future considerations from the Orlando Solar Bears in exchange for forward, Johno May. The 29-year-old blueliner, Orlando's captain this season, brings eight seasons of professional hockey experience, with the past two full seasons in Orlando. A rough-and-tumble, two-way defenseman, Monfredo has posted 198 points (47 goals, 151 assists) in 491 pro games across the ECHL and the CHL. Across his large body of work, he has not been afraid to get his nose dirty in the physical side of the game as well, with 897 career pro penalty minutes, and several scraps against the Swamp Rabbits. The Solar Bears named him team MVP following the conclusion of the 2017–18 season. May, 26, departs the team he started his pro career with after four seasons at American International College. May scored 25 goals and 29 assists in 73 games as a Swamp Rabbit and participated in the 2019 ECHL All-Star Classic as a member of Team East after a 20-goal campaign. He started the season as an invite to the Anaheim Ducks' camp after one game with the San Diego Gulls last season. Additionally, forward Matt Marcinew was returned on loan to the Swamp Rabbits from the Springfield Thunderbirds and was added to the active roster. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK RETURN SHAWN McBRIDE TO NORFOLK

Rookie Center Played Two Games with Wolf Pack During Recall  BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack  HARTFORD, December 10, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the Wolf Pack has returned forward Shawn McBride on loan to the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. McBride, a rookie out of American International College, had been recalled from the Admirals November 26.  He skated in two games with the Wolf Pack, going scoreless and even, with one shot on goal.  In 15 games with Norfolk, McBride, who was signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 1, 2019, has registered four assists, four penalty minutes and 13 shots on goal. The Wolf Pack’s next action is on home ice tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 11, a 7:00 PM battle with the Binghamton Devils.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

KUHN: AIC PRODUCT RYAN POLIN INKS DEAL WITH SWAMP RABBITS

Atlantic Hockey champion, steady defenseman, joins the blue line BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — Defenseman Ryan Polin, who just finished a championship campaign last season, has agreed to terms on a Standard Player Contract with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for the 2019–20 season. Polin joins the club from American International College, who won their league title for the first time in school history last season. Polin ended his college career in style with the Atlantic Hockey championship, a nod on the All-Tournament Team, and a thrilling first berth into the NCAA Tournament and a shocking victory over then-#1 seed St. Cloud State University. Described as a smart, puck-moving defenseman, Polin posted 32 points in his 131-game college career. He took pride in his academics as a student-athlete, as a member of the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team, and salutatorian for the class of 2019. Polin's potential flourished with the Topeka Roadrunners of the NAHL. He served as an alternate captain in 2014–15 and helped lead the team to two successful, back-to-back years. He is part of a successful hockey family, with brother Jason committed to start playing his collegiate hockey career at Western Michigan, and sister Jennifer having played at Michigan State. The following players are now under contract for the 2019–20 season: F - Michael Pelech (29) F - Johno May (25) F - Travis Howe (25) F - Kamerin Nault (23) F - Mason Baptista (29) F - Roman Ammirato (26) F - Daniel Perez (25) F - Nathan Perkovich (33) F - Cédric Lacroix (24) F - Zach Franko (26) F - Lincoln Griffin (22) F - Shaquille Merasty (28) D - J.C. Brassard (23) D - Luke Ripley (25) D - Adam Larkin (24) D - Jake Bolton (27) D - Brien Diffley (24) D - Ryan Polin (24) G - Kyle Hayton (25) More signings will take place throughout the offseason, so stay tuned to the Swamp Rabbits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK SIGN FORWARD SHAWN McBRIDE

Former AIC Yellow Jacket Played Five Games for Hartford in 2018-19 BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, August 28, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the Wolf Pack has signed forward Shawn McBride to an AHL contract. McBride, a 6-2, 200-pound rookie out of American International College, played five games with the Wolf Pack in 2018-19 after he finished his college eligibility, registering one assist.  As a senior at AIC, the 24-year-old Victoria, B.C. native captained AIC to the first-ever AHA championship, and NCAA Tournament berth, in program history, scoring four goals and adding 19 assists for 23 points, and serving ten minutes in penalties, in 41 games.  His 19 assists were third-most on the Yellow Jacket team. In 151 career games over four seasons with AIC, McBride registered 19 goals and 42 assists for 61 points, along with 32 penalty minutes.

The Wolf Pack open their 2019-20 regular season Saturday, October 5, with a home-ice contest vs. the defending Calder Cup-champion Charlotte Checkers.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM.  To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com.   Read the full article

KUHNS: JOHNO MAY RE-SIGNS WITH SWAMP RABBITS

Breakout all-star caliber forward returns to Greenville BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have agreed to terms with forward Johno May to return for the 2019–20 season with the signing of a Standard Player Contract. May, 25, has spent his entire professional career with Greenville and has hit some key milestones along the way. Last season, under the direction of head coach Kevin Kerr, May saw his pro career blossom. In an injury-shortened season, the Minnesotan posted 20 goals and 22 assists in 51 games. That production saw him earn an ECHL All-Star bid on Team East as one of the top performers in the entire conference. May's production also saw him get his first AHL call-up to the San Diego Gulls on December 31, 2018, and he saw action in his first AHL game on January 4, 2019, against the San Jose Barracuda. He received an invite to the Cleveland Monsters' AHL camp during the preseason. His 42 points ranked third on the team, his 20 goals were second-most, and his 22 assists third-most this past season. May was responsible for 18% of the team's power play goals, as he led the team with 7 power play tallies. Among regulars, his 16% shooting percentage trailed only Kamerin Nault's 19.7%. A dynamite freshman season at American International College set the stage for his viability as a pro. He scored 30 points, eighth-best for any player in school history, and 23 assists, which was second-most in a single season. Following the conclusion of his senior season, he signed on with the Swamp Rabbits on March 20, 2018. Just three days later, he would score his first pro goal against the Jacksonville Icemen, on home ice. In total, he scored 6 points in 8 games in his first taste of pro action. May joins Michael Pelech as the two signees during the 2019 offseason. More signings will take place throughout the offseason, so stay tuned to the Swamp Rabbits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

KUHNS: JOHNO MAY RE-SIGNS WITH SWAMP RABBITS

Breakout all-star caliber forward returns to Greenville BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have agreed to terms with forward Johno May to return for the 2019–20 season with the signing of a Standard Player Contract. May, 25, has spent his entire professional career with Greenville and has hit some key milestones along the way. Last season, under the direction of head coach Kevin Kerr, May saw his pro career blossom. In an injury-shortened season, the Minnesotan posted 20 goals and 22 assists in 51 games. That production saw him earn an ECHL All-Star bid on Team East as one of the top performers in the entire conference. May's production also saw him get his first AHL call-up to the San Diego Gulls on December 31, 2018, and he saw action in his first AHL game on January 4, 2019, against the San Jose Barracuda. He received an invite to the Cleveland Monsters' AHL camp during the preseason. His 42 points ranked third on the team, his 20 goals were second-most, and his 22 assists third-most this past season. May was responsible for 18% of the team's power play goals, as he led the team with 7 power play tallies. Among regulars, his 16% shooting percentage trailed only Kamerin Nault's 19.7%. A dynamite freshman season at American International College set the stage for his viability as a pro. He scored 30 points, eighth-best for any player in school history, and 23 assists, which was second-most in a single season. Following the conclusion of his senior season, he signed on with the Swamp Rabbits on March 20, 2018. Just three days later, he would score his first pro goal against the Jacksonville Icemen, on home ice. In total, he scored 6 points in 8 games in his first taste of pro action. May joins Michael Pelech as the two signees during the 2019 offseason. More signings will take place throughout the offseason, so stay tuned to the Swamp Rabbits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

CANTLON: PACK LAST FULL HOME WEEKEND OF PLAY

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack have a pair of weekend games in which they seek to snap a five-game losing streak against the Utica Comets Saturday night and the Binghamton Devils Sunday afternoon. The task got a bit harder on Thursday when defenseman Ryan Lindgren was recalled for a second time likely to play in either one or both of the Rangers last two regular season games against Columbus and Pittsburgh. You can just call them the Hartford Junior Wolf Pack for the final two weekends of play. In addition to Lindgren’s recall, the Rangers announced the signing of two more collegians and recent junior hockey signing to ATO deals and sent two players back to Maine. Pack added collegiate forward in Harvard’s Lewis Zerter-Gossage. A Montreal area native, Gossage completed his four-years at Harvard after playing two years of prep hockey at Kent School. Current New York Rangers head coach David Quinn and player Boo Nieve also attended the western Connecticut private school. Hartford signed a local Springfield college product, Shawn McBride, the captain of American International College (AIC) from the AHA conference. He will likely play this weekend as will Gossage. AIC knocked off St. Cloud State in their first-ever NCAA Division 1 tourney game in one of the biggest upsets in college hockey history. He is the second McBride to play for the Wolf Pack in team history. Brock McBride played eight games in the 2008-09 season but is no relation. He is presently an assistant coach with the Cornwall Colts (CCHL) one of the 10 Junior A leagues in Canada. The junior player is Jake Elmer of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL). He was signed last month and arrives here after Lethbridge dropped a seven-game first round series to the Calgary Hitmen, four games to three. They lost Game 7, 4-2. Elmer had a goal and six points in that first-round matchup. Through 68 regular-season games, Elmer was third in team scoring with 81 points with a team-leading 39 goals. The Hurricanes finished second in the WHL Central Division with a record of 40-18-5-5 and second highest offensive output in the WHL with 268 goals. One of his junior teammates, Jake Lechyshyn, a Las Vegas draftee, is the son of former Hartford Whaler, Curt Lechyshyn, who tallied ten points in the series tops in the WHL. One of his opponents for Calgary the son of Ed Kastelic, another Whaler, in Mark Kastelic. Two players were returned to the Maine Mariners. Ty Ronning had four goals and five points in 23 games, and Terrence Wallin, who was returned for the third time this season, has just one assist in 23 games. The Wolf Pack have an influx of junior and college players. One of them has a Connecticut address, Ryan Dmowski. The East Lyme born forward, a veteran of four games, Dmowski played at UMASS–Lowell, but his hockey GPS has landed in various parts of New England. Dmowski played against UCONN at the XL Center back on November 16th tallying two goals in a 5-2 win over the Huskies. Dmowski garnered the game’s First Star and was on the ice for the opening shift. “I had about 40 friends and family in the stands that night. It was a good game and I liked playing here when I was with UMASS (Lowell). I loved the atmosphere, and so far, the crowd has been awesome to me and I am very happy to be here.” Finding his way to Hartford was something special. “It’s been amazing; a dream come true to go pro, and even more special being here in Hartford. (I'm) just thrilled to get the opportunity. To be honest, I never thought I would be back here to start my career in Connecticut. (It's) kinda crazy how it works.” He talked with Providence and a few other AHL teams, but the best opportunity came from the Rangers. His hockey road map started in Rhode Island at age seven. After school, his grandfather would take him to North Smithfield, Rhode Island. It's an hour away each time to begin his first skate lengths of hockey. “I would get out of school, and my grandfather picked me up or my dad (Dave). All the dedication we both put in was incredible, and all worth it so far,” Dmowski said with a smile. When he finished Bantam-level play, he headed in the opposite direction and played for the Springfield Junior Falcons program when after his freshmen high school year, he put a new address in the GPS for Gunnery prep school in Washington, CT closer to New York state than Connecticut. “To be honest, I had no idea there was a Washington, Connecticut until I went there,” Dmowski said with a laugh, who had a fellow Highlander (Gunnery’s nickname) Terrence Wallin, older by three years, just sent back to Maine on the Wolf Pack roster, “(It's) kinda weird we took about the same hockey path and wound up here.” He went to a few P-Bruins and Wolf Pack games as a kid, but he spent more time honing his craft and schoolwork. His adjustment to the Wolf Pack has been a stretch playing with a new line almost every game. “It's been a bit stressful, but part of being a pro, and I’ve been doing a pretty good job getting to know everybody and a new line this week too.” Pack head coach, Keith McCambridge had Dmowski with Bobby Butler, the vet, and newcomer Shawn McBride. Butler, Dmowski, and McBridge…sounds like a law firm. “It’s so different here. The speed is so much different just getting used to that now. I’m just trying to get the puck in and not rushing myself and taking my time and learning to keep my feet moving and developing that confidence I’m gonna be good to go.” McCambridge likes what he's seen so far. “He carries himself well. He is a big body, has played well with the puck, and he's handled several different situations well.” It's audition time for the 2019-20 Wolf Pack roster for Dmowksi and his GPS will be putting in another address for the summer. ‘My girlfriend is going to graduate school at Sacred Heart University (Bridgeport) so we're looking for a place between Hartford and Bridgeport now.” The pro hockey map Dmowski has just begun. NOTES: A story has been was broken by the Rangers long-time beat writer Larry Brooks of the New York Post on Thursday that Glen Sather’s stepping down as Rangers President. Sather's retirement makes an already complicated offseason going to be a palace of intrigue as to where the deck chairs will fall. With Sather’s departure, expect Jim Schoenfeld, who held the post as Hartford GM for 10 years and was a head coach for one and who has been Sather’s right-hand man, will likely also get a golden parachute by either retirement or might find another new gig. The question now is who will be promoted or hired to take the upper echelon reigns? Jeff Gorton, Sather's hand-picked successor, is the present GM. Will he make the move upstairs or add this role to his portfolio? Chris Drury, the present assistant GM, and Hartford GM, could he be promoted? Will there be an overhaul of the entire Rangers scouting staff, professional North America, Europe, and amateur by a new team President? How will the Wolf Pack be affected? They're on the verge of a potential sub-par, below .500 season. What will happen with its coaching staff? How will a future team President feel about Hartford and the unresolved XL Center business? The Rangers also have serious player-personnel decisions to make in New York and Hartford in relation to next year’s cap space and with a looming potential labor stoppage in two years, and yes, the expansion draft in three years when Seattle enters the NHL family. Many questions to be answered over the next three and half months in preparation for the NHL Draft in Vancouver on the organization direction under a new regime. Read more HERE NEWS & NOTES This next story is without a doubt the best hockey story of the year. Former AHL player and now Pro Scout for the Arizona Coyotes, Craig Cunningham, who nearly died two years before an AHL game in Tucson, and by the true Grace of God is still among us, released a video showing him skating with his prosthetic leg at the San Diego Gulls practice facility. It was simply amazing, spectacular great news for a young man who suffered so much and has triumphed in the most outstanding way. Hope he gets some shifts in a game in a league where there isn’t as much hitting or contact-like in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) or in Australia (AIHL) and New Zealand (NZIHL) to end his career as a player, not as a heart attack victim. Read more HERE Despite having the same last name, the reporter in that story is of no relation. With the arrival of McBride, and Zerter-Gossage, plus Quinnipiac’s Brandon Fortunato signing with Nashville (NHL), the number of Division I players that have signed is up to 150 and that the total number of college players that have signed over the past month is 168. The first college coach signing as Chris Bergeron after nine season leaves the Bowling Green Falcons (WCHA) to take the reigns of his alma mater Miami (OH) RedHawks (NCHC). Bergeron, graduated in 1993 when the school won its first conference title (CCHA at that time) and made their first NCAA tournament appearance. The NCAA announced the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award that will be given out in Buffalo next weekend at the site of the NCAA’s Frozen Four. It's a hat trick of finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. All three finalists are defensemen. Senior Jordan Schuldt, St. Cloud State Huskies (NCHC) who just signed an NHL free agent deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. The second is junior Adam Fox of Harvard who is a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick who is weighing whether to sign or wait another year and go the free agent route. Then there's UMASS-Amherst Minutemen sophomore Cale Makar, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick who is likely to go pro after next weekend. A unique college commit right from a CT prep school in Cooper Moore (Cos Cob) Brunswick School (Greenwich) with North Dakota (NCHC). Overseas we see former Whaler great Sami Kapanen retains his franchise owner and Chairman of the Board title with KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL) but relinquished his head coaching duties to take the job as head coach with HC Lugano (Switzerland-LNA) in the fall. His son Kasperi skated with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ex-Sound Tiger goalie, C.J. Motte, who has played most of the season with Allen (ECHL) and some games with Iowa signs with HC Innsbruck (Austria-EBEL) for next season. Philippe Hudon, who played prep school hockey at Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) after finishing his Canadian collegiate career with the Concordia Stingers (Montreal) (OUAA0 played 14 games with seven points for Florida (ECHL) was loaned to Laval (AHL). Read the full article

CANTLON: (WED) WOLF PACK LOSE IN SPRINGFIELD, 5-2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings SPRINGFIELD, MA - A strong start allowed the Springfield Thunderbirds to stay ahead of and eventually beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 5-2 on Wednesday night at the Mass Mutual Center. The Thunderbirds won the season series six games to four. For the Pack, the loss was their fifth in a row (0-4-1-0) and drops their record to 28-33-7-3 (66 pts) leaving them in 8th place. They will be in action on Saturday night against the Utica Comets at the XL Center. The Springfield record improves to 30-27-9-5 (74 pts), seven behind Providence, in fourth place, but with a game in hand and six games left for the Bruins. “They came out hard on us and while they're not mathematically eliminated, they're still in the (playoff) mix, and they came out with lots of desperation and took a little bit of time to get our feet under us." The Pack’s lack of desperation of any kind both early and for the better part of the second half of the season has been painfully obvious, no more so than in the game’s first ten minutes in which a white flag or towel could be seen. It didn’t take long for the Thunderbirds to score on the Pack. At 1:01, Joel Lowry was on the left side of Adam Huska and left unchecked. He was able to redirect Matt Mangene's right point shot for his ninth goal. Lowry bagged his second goal on the powerplay when he was again, unchecked, but this time on the left side of the net. He took a pass from Vincent Praplans and buried it at 3:24, just 30 seconds into Brandon Crawley’s hooking minor. “It’s not like we haven’t played them before,” said Pack center Gabriel Fontaine. “We know they're a big, fast team, and we weren’t ready to play.” The Pack responded back and cut it down to a one-goal deficit. Ty Ronning got the puck to Josh Wesley who was coming off the right point and he got all of it from 30 feet out for his first Wolf Pack goal at 5:36. The Thunderbirds were able to regain the two-goal advantage when Blaine Byron found a speeding Anthony Greco surging down the left wing. The Pack killer flipped a backhanded pass to a wide-open Jonathan Ang on the right wing, who easily slipped his fifth past Huska at 7:46 as he was getting zero defensive support. At the ten-minute mark, the shots read 10-5 Springfield, and a blowout was hanging ominously over center ice. “They had us on our heels early, and it took us getting that first goal to get ourselves back in the mix, and we got down one and closed the gap again, but that shorthanded goal was a dagger for us,” remarked Pack head coach Keith McCambridge. Pack rookie Nick Jones got his second point of the period & first professional goal when he sped down the right wing and put a wrist shot on net that eluded Chris Driedger at 13:45 and again made it a one-goal deficit. Matt Register also recorded his first Wolf Pack point on the play. Typically a goalie might get pulled in a situation like that. But McCambridge wasn't thinking about doing that to Huska. “The last thing I want is for our goalie to worry about the head coach at that point," McCambridge said. "Adam wasn’t at fault on any of those goals. There are times during the season you utilize that move, it wasn’t the time to do so.” In the third period, the Wolf Pack for the second period in a row, had a power play to start the period but failed to capitalize. Again, midway through the third, another man-advantage and Thunderbirds Driedger was a large part responsible for the power play outage as he shut the door on some strong Wolf Pack chances. “Give their goalie credit, he made saves in tight on us. I don’t have a problem with how we made the plays, we just couldn’t find a way to execute them,” said McCambridge. Byron scored an empty-net goal in the third at 18:36 for Springfield, his 13th of the season to close out the scoring and the game. The Wolf Pack played better defense in the second period and maintained puck possession in the offensive zone better, but one mistake on the power play cost them. “We were getting to loose pucks, we're coming out on some of those battles on top, we were just unable to find lanes to the net or take the eyes away from the goalie,” said McCambridge Wesley had two shots stopped, early in the period. Ronning was denied, and rookie Patrick Newell made a nice play off the half wall to Register who was stopped. On the flip side, Huska was finally getting some team defensive support and made some key stops on Juho Lammikko at 6:56 and a blocker save on Bobby Farnham’s shot from the slot. However, the season-long penchant for giving up the big play reared its ugly head once again. The Pack defensive pair of Sean Day and Darren Raddysh got caught and Greco took the lead pass from Lammikko who intercepted Ryan Gropp’s pass. It allowed Greco to race away after splitting them like a Sunday brunch cantaloupe and beat Huska, high over the right shoulder and popping the water bottle allowing the Thunderbirds to restore their two-goal lead at 12:54. It was Greco’s team-leading 27th goal and his second point of the night. The Pack had a great chance to cut the lead again on two on one and Gabriel Fontaine on the right wing a lefty shot missed the net entirely. SCRATCHES: Dawson Leedahl (upper body, still a week away) Terrence Wallin (healthy) Matt Beleskey (lower body, likely done for the season) Rob O’Gara (lower body flare up, day to day) Julius Bergman (healthy) Chris Bigras (ankle done for the season) LINES: Fontaine - Meskanen - Gettinger Fogarty - Gropp - Patrick Newell Ronning - Ryan Dmowski - Jones O’Donnell - Butler - St. Amant Linden - Raddysh Day - Crawley Wesley - Register NOTES: The Pack is 3-7-0 over their last 10 games. Their winning another game this season seems remote at this point. Newest Pack tryout Patrick Newell wore jersey #29 The Wolf Pack announced John Gilmour was named the team winner of its IOA/American Speciality Man of the Year Award and now joins 31 other team winners to potentially be selected as the AHL Yanick Dupre Award Winner. Some of the other team winners include, Ben Holmstrom (Bridgeport), Bobby Farnham (Springfield), ex-Pack Daniel Walcott (Syracuse) who missed most of the season thus far with offseason knee surgery,  Alex Lyon (Yale University) from Lehigh Valley and Stratford native who played high school hockey at Fairfield Prep and Salisbury Prep defenseman Jamie Sifers with Utica. The first winner of the award was Beast of New Haven and ex-Wolf Pack defenseman John Jakopin, Dupre who played with Hershey passed away after a 16 month battle in 1997 from leukemia, Hartford signed local Springfield product Shawn McBride, the captain of American International College (AIC) late this afternoon to an ATO deal. He is not yet listed on the roster and will likely play this weekend. AIC knocked off St. Cloud State in their first NCAA tourney game one of the biggest upsets in college hockey history. He is the second McBride to play for the Wolf Pack Brock played eight games in the 2008-09 season and is no relation and presently is an assistant coach with the Cornwall Colts (CCHL) one of the 10 Junior A leagues in Canada. The college signings continue as Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) free agent goalie, Andrew Shortridge, has signed with the San Jose Sharks for a one-year, two-way deal and was assigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). Huska’s UCONN teammate, Miles Gendron, was released by Brampton (ECHL) after four games with one assist and 10 PIM. Gendron has a one-year AHL deal to play in Belleville next season. Wolf Pack fan jersey of the night - #23 Tomas Kloucek. Read the full article

KUHNS: JOHNO MAY NAMED TO TEAM EAST IN 2019 CCM/ECHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

Swamp Rabbits' top goal scorer to take part in league showcase BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits PRINCETON, N.J. — Greenville Swamp Rabbits forward Johno May has been named as the team's sole representative to take part in the 2019 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic in Toledo and will compete on Team East. The teams were determined by a vote of ECHL coaches, captains, media relations directors, and media members. May, 25, is in his second season with the Swamp Rabbits and has been a force to be reckoned with since his arrival on March 20, 2018. Since then, in 43 games, he has scored 18 goals and 18 assists. Not only one of the league's most dynamic rookies, but May has also been one of the league's most dynamic players overall. His accomplishments netted him a call-up to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League, the direct affiliate of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks. The Mahtomedi, Minn. native is no stranger to being a standout player. His freshman season at American International College saw him score 30 points, which is eighth-most in a single season in school history, and his 23 assists were second-most in a single season in school history. The 2019 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic features a 3-on-3 tournament. Toledo Walleye players will make up two teams, and the other two teams will be made up of representatives from the Eastern and Western Conference. Also, the Classic will feature a Skills Competition. 67 players that have played in the ECHL All-Star Game have played at the NHL level. For the full ECHL All-Star Game roster, go to ECHL.com.

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Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2018–19 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article