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

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

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

THATS RIGHT!! It's raining FREE VAPORIZERS: For anyone on ODSP [be in contact) #free #freestyle #freeshit #freebies #vape #vaps #barrie #barriebythebay #barrieontario #ontario #ont #on #ontariodisability #disabled #barriecolts #barriearea #barriedisability #barrieodsp #barriebraininjured #tbiontario #bary

Colts are in London to face the Knights tonight! Head over to the blog to check out our preview for tonights game. . . . . #OHL #barriecolts #londonknights

THATS RIGHT!! It's raining FREE VAPORIZERS: For anyone on ODSP [be in contact) #free #freestyle #freeshit #freebies #vape #vaps #barrie #barriebythebay #barrieontario #ontario #ont #on #ontariodisability #disabled #barriecolts #barriearea #barriedisability #barrieodsp #barriebraininjured #tbiontario #bary (at The City of Barrie)

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

CANTLON: PACK PREPARE FOR BUSY WEEKEND

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack will entertain the Charlotte Checkers Friday night before departing for four games on the road over the next two weeks. They will not return home until January 24th against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Wolf Pack winning streak grew to five-games and in the process, tying their season-best mark after a 2-1 win over the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center before 10,240 on a Wednesday night. Hartford's leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, has six points in his last five games. He also has scored a goal three straight scored the game-winning goal, his 14th, with 53.9 seconds left in the game. Goalie Adam Huska stopped 26 of 27 shots. The Wolf Pack was held to just 15 shots but made the two that scored led them to victory. Boo Nieves continues his strong play and has garnered seven points in his last six gamers. The Wolf Pack holds the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a record of 22-8-2-5 (51 points) and now are four points ahead of Hershey and six ahead of the Providence Bruins. For Hershey, this was just their second loss in their last 15 games. The team has undergone some serious roster changes in the past month and with the exception of a small blip of a five-game losing streak, they have maintained a strong level of consistency at home, late in games, and against key divisional rivals. The Wolf Pack are 15-1-2-5 at home and are unbeaten with taking a lead after two periods at 14-0-1-2. They've won all five games thus far against Providence who they were battling for first place before being supplanted by Hershey. LIFE WITHOUT IGOR Goaltender Igor Shesterkin is on recall by the New York Rangers and made his NHL debut with a 5-3 victory against the Colorado Avalanche. Shesterkin got off to a tough start giving up goals on his first two shots. To be fair, all three goals he surrendered he wasn't totally responsible for. One was a tip-in, another a breakaway from Nathan MacKinnon and a wide-open goal on the right-wing. Shesterkin followed that up with a superb showing stopping 46 of 49 shots in a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils as ex-Wolf Pack, Tony D’Angelo piled up five points, including the first hat-trick since the Hall of Fame Brian Leetch (Cheshire) had in a playoff game in 1995. It was only the third in team history and the first two were Reijo Ruotsolainen (1982) and Dave Maloney (1980). Shesterkin was very sharp in the third period stopping a pair of scoring chances from Avalanche defensemen Samuel Girard and Calder Trophy candidate, Cale Makar. No doubt Shesterkin will have a long NHL career, but the Rangers also have two competent, capable NHL goalies in future Hall-of-Famer, Henrik Lundquist, and ex-Pack, Alexander Georgiev. Carrying three goalies is difficult at any level of hockey, with one netminder always on the outside looking in, and likely unhappy. The Rangers have been anticipating their fifth-round draft choice in 2012. He had superb KHL numbers and has finally arrived in North America. Shesterkin’s deal to come to North America was struck in the spring when the Rangers negotiated a European (KHL) clause in his deal that kicked in at halfway mark of the AHL season. It was eclipsed by several games, and the NHL season clause has been met, and he could return to Russia without penalty. The NHL trade deadline is February 24th, just seven weeks away. Lundqvist’s age, salary, and no-movement clause make it HIGHLY unlikely he's going anywhere, and the market for Georgiev isn’t clear at this point. Shesterkin is likely to see more action at the NHL level. It is possible but perhaps unlikely, that Shesterkin, who does not need to pass through waivers, will get sent to Hartford to playing time when Lundqvist and Georgiev are in the net. There will be a lot of rumors and a lot of news coming out of New York that will effect Hartford as the deadline approaches and the Rangers decide if they should be a buyer or a seller at the deadline and how to supplement the success currently going on in the Connecticut capital. MESSAGE FROM SWEDEN Lias Andersson was last seen departing on a plane from Bradley International Airport after the Wolf Pack's two-game road trip to Charlotte. He hasn’t been seen since until the next day after he'd left the team that through his agent it became public that Andersson had requested a trade. He was suspended by the Rangers and there has been radio silence until Wednesday. Andersson gave an interview with the Swedish sports news service, SVTP Sports (their version of ESPN/TSN). Uffe Bodin, the Editor-In-Chief of newsme.com, tweeted this translated information. The troubling tweet raises some serious questions and cast some serious aspersions and insinuations that could have profound impacts going forward for Andersson having any hope of returning to the Rangers or to any organization contemplating acquiring him. Was Andersson injured toward the end of his self-imposed departure from Hartford? What was this alleged incident that occurred that made things untenable for him to stay in Hartford? His assertion about "feeling safe" depicts some untoward work environment in Hartford, was there any? Is he using the team-issued suspension after leaving the team as some faux reasoning for sitting in Sweden and not practicing in Hartford or Cromwell with the Wolf Pack? Was he handling or coping with the rigors of pro hockey and being a number seven overall draft pick very well? Based on his play and this move the answer would be no. Andersson could be making a fatal career mistake here. The NHL is a very closed society. While the teams are on ice rivals and there's a union as a league and when one seeks to overturn the order of things, they don’t like it very much. Especially from a player in his first three years of an NHL deal that he and his agent signed off on and approved by both the NHL and the NHLPLA. Teams are not likely to take on a player who jumps ship when he's under-performing at the NHL and AHL level on an entry-level contract. There is hockey graveyard littered with first-round busts and players whose ego’s got the better of them. Andy, as he was known, was not a malcontent by several accounts, but self-imposed pressure to live up to his number seven overall status is a part of the equation that has him in Sweden and not Hartford. One veteran NHL scout said on the condition that they not be named, about Andersson. “I spoke to our GM about him, and he said, ‘It’s not his fault he was drafted seventh when maybe 27 or 37 was more appropriate. He has to understand that he isn’t a top-six forward, but a bottom-six forward. I think he’s a salvageable player at age 20, but he has to change his self-appraisal of his skill set.” On what could be likely his last ever Wolf Pack goal, he was contemplating a Filip Forsberg (Nashville) move on a breakaway coming off the right-wing. For Andersson, if he's to have an NHL career, this walkout needs to end immediately. NOTES: The Bridgeport Sound Tigers made an AHL deal with the Utica Comets where they sent oft-injured forward, John Stevens Jr. to the Comets for future considerations. Stevens is the son of ex-Hartford Whaler, AHL Hall of Famer, and current Dallas Stars, Assistant Coach, John Stevens Sr. Drake Rymsha, the son of ex-New Haven Nighthawk, Andy Rynsha, was sent from Ontario (AHL) to Ft. Wayne (ECHL). How about trading your nephew? All-time Wolf Pack great, and head coach, John Paddock, who's the current GM and VP of Hockey Ops for the Regina Pats (WHL) sent his nephew, Max, to the Prince Albert Raiders yesterday. That won't be awkward at the Christmas Table Goalie Nick Malik, the son of ex-Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven defenseman, Marek Malik, is leaving home for North America. He played primarily with HC Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2) where his father is the assistant coach this season. His Czech Elite League (CEL) rights are with HC Ocelari Trinec where he played two games. The younger Malik got in some time for the Czech Republic WJC team in the just-completed tournament but has decided to head to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) for the rest of the year. The Greyhounds drafted him in the CHL Import last June in the first-round (50th overall). All CHL teams are involved in the draft. He was eleventh pick (168th overall) in the NAHL Draft by the Muskegon Lumberjacks as well last year Ethan Cardwell, the nephew of former New Haven Knights, Matt Cardwell, was traded from the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) to the Barrie Colts (OHL) as part of a five-player trade at the junior trade deadline. Logan Stephenson, the son of former Whaler, Bob Stephenson, goes from ASC Corona Brasov (Romania-EBEL) to HKM Zloven (Slovakia-SLEL) for the rest of the season. Read the full article

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

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

CANTLON: HOCKEY NEWS AND NOTES VOLUME 4 PART 2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings   HARTFORD, CT - The news from the AHL, amid a global pandemic, is stunned sadness on this Easter weekend. Early Saturday morning came the grim, devastating news that 25-year-old, Colby Cave, a forward for the Bakersfield Condors, passed away in Sunnyside Hospital in Toronto. He died as a result of complications from a brain bleed due to a colloid cyst (tumor). The developed tumor put pressure on his brain and requiring it to be removed surgically on Tuesday. After being admitted on Monday to a hospital in Barrie, Ontario, following his being found unresponsive in bed that morning, he was taken by airlift to Toronto. The family released a statement, first announcing the terrible news. Cave was five years into his pro career. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins by the Edmonton Oilers on January 15 of last year. In his all too brief life, Cave was diligent and a hard-worker. He made it to the NHL despite not being drafted, making his NHL debut with Boston on December 21, 2017, against the Winnipeg Jets. He played 44 games this year in Bakersfield with 11 goals and 12 assists and in 11 games with Edmonton, where he posted one goal with four penalty minutes. A majority of his AHL career came in Providence. In 239 games with the P-Bruins tallied 43 goals and 72 assists for 115 points and was a solid performer against the Wolf Pack. He had a standout junior career in the WHL for five seasons, all with the Swift Current Broncos in 285 games, where he garnered 95 goals and 202 points. He was voted team MVP and was a team captain. He would play just 34 NHL games with two goals and four assists. AHL President/CEO Dave Andrews released a statement following the shocking announcement. “Colby Cave was beloved as a teammate and friend, as a husband and son. The entire American Hockey League extends our deepest condolences to Colby's wife, Emily, and his entire family, as well as to those whose lives he touched in the Oilers and Bruins organizations and throughout hockey.”  Likewise, Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, similarly released a warm, heartfelt letter of condolences. “The National Hockey League family mourns the heartbreaking passing of Colby Cave, whose life and hockey career, though too short, were inspiringly emblematic of the best of our game. Undrafted but undaunted, Colby was relentless in the pursuit of his hockey dream with both the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins organizations. An earnest and hardworking player, he was admired by his teammates and coaches. More important, he was a warm and generous person who was well-liked by all those fortunate enough to know him. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Emily, their families and Colby’s countless friends throughout the hockey world.” AHL SEASON The season is still in suspension mode, but news from the Quebec Provincial government, where they banned all outdoor public events, including sporting events, concerts, and festivals, and all large public gatherings until August 31, made it pretty clear that the cancelation of the regular and post-season for the NHL and AHL would be announced likely around May 1.   HOCKEY TRANSACTIONS Former Sacred Heart University Pioneer (AHA), Connor Doherty, of the Worcester Railers HC won the ECHL Community Services Award. The Worcester head coach is former Wolf Pack assistant coach, David Cunniff, the son of late New England and Hartford Whaler player and coach, John Cunniff. The ECHL also announced their All-Star teams. One of the two First-team defensemen is Logan Roe (Kent Prep) of the Florida Everblades. He was a high school teammate of Boo Nieves and finished the year with Manitoba. On the second team, now an ECHL vet, and ex-Sound Tiger goalie, Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms). There is some hockey business going-on. The first junior draft, held last Saturday - the OHL Priority Draft - and there were a few unusual names that selected. In the first round, the third overall pick was Max Namestnikov, the youngest son of former Wolf Pack, Evgeni "John" Namestnikov, by the Sarnia Sting. He played last year for the Detroit Honeybaked U-15 team, and he is a commit to Michigan State (Big 10) in 2023-24. David Goyette of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 team went in the first round 11th overall to the Sudbury Wolves. Connor Toms, son of former Wolf Pack Jeff Toms was a 3rd pick and 44th overall, but he didn't have to go far, Toms was selected by his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He played last year for Sault Ste. Marie Bantam AAA (NOBHL) for his father, who was the team's head coach. Two spots later. Landon Sim, son of ex-Sound Tiger Jon, was selected from Weeks (NSMMHL) by the London Knights. Vinny Borgesi, from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep U-15, was taken by Guelph in the 9th round 170th overall. He recently made a commitment to Northeastern (HE) for 2023-23 and has signed a USHL tender contract with Tri-City for the fall start of the season. Andrew DellaDonna from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-15 went in the 10th round 186th overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs. He is an Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10) commit for 2022-23. The announcement of the WHL All-Star teams was released. The Eastern conference goalie was Prince Albert Raiders goalie Max Paddock, the nephew of former Wolf Pack coach, John Paddock. Ironically, the elder Paddock, the VP /Director of Hockey Ops with the Regina Pats, traded his nephew back on January 7 to the Raiders. In one of the defensive spots is a New York Rangers draft pick, and a possible member of the Wolf Pack 2020-21 roster, Matt Robertson of the Edmonton Oil Kings. The second-round pick from last summer in 60 games had 13 goals, 34 assists, and 47 points. His WHL career totals al with Edmonton is 186 games 27 goals, 78 assists for 105 points for 6'4 205 lb. Rearguard. Upfront Mark Kastelic, son of former Whaler Ed Kastelic had a strong final junior year in 68 games had a team-high 38 goals and 68 points and was a plus 30 for the Calgary Hitmen. The Ottawa Senators draft pick career numbers were 321 major junior games with 126 goals, 109 assists and 235 points signed a three-year two-way entry-level deal with the Senators on Thursday.   AHL EURO SIGNINGS Three AHL players are going to Europe so far as the AHL season, which is still in suspended status, but just one player has confirmed their pending departure. Nikolai Golobdin has said he is leaving Utica for CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL). In contrast, Charles Hudon in Laval, rumored to be talking to several teams in Switzerland's top league, the NLA, and Cory Conacher, the ex-Sound Tiger, is being paired with HC Lausanne of the NLA. HOBEY BAKER AWARD Mike Perunovich of the University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (NCHC) was named the 2020 Hobey Baker Award winner becoming the sixth person from the school to capture the coveted top individual award in college hockey. The junior defenseman from Hibbing, MN beat out North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi and Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman for the award in a weirdly timed late-night announced on ESPN. "I'm extremely honored and humbled," Perunovich said in a public statement. "Five other Bulldogs have won this prestigious award, so it is just a privilege to join them." The other five were Tom Kurvers (1984), Bill Watson (1985), Chris Marinucci (1994), ex-Sound Tiger Junior Lessard (2004), and Jack Connolly (2012) as Bulldogs' Hobey Baker winners. Perunovich was second in the nation with 34 assists and had six goals in 34 games, becoming the first defenseman to lead the NCAA in scoring. Perunovich, a second-round draft choice in 2018, signed an NHL entry-level deal last month with the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. The award was an anti-climatic event. In it would have been awarded at the NCAA Frozen Four slated to be in Detroit this weekend, where Perunovich and his Bulldogs teammates hoped to play for a three-peat national title. The undrafted Kawaguchi had 15 goals and 30 assists in 33 games. He's returning to North Dakota  (NCHC) for his senior season. Swayman was 18-11-5 with a 2.07 goals-against average, and .939 save percentage for the University Maine Black Bears (HE), and he, like Perunovich, signed an NHL entry-level deal last month his with the Boston Bruins. The award, named in honor of Baker, the former Princeton hockey and football star, was World War I fighter pilot. He was killed in a plane crash in France after scheduled to return home. COLLEGE PRO SIGNINGS The UCONN Huskies Wyatt Newpower who had a strong senior season making the Hockey East Second Team All-Star with 25 points and was a plus 23 signed a one-year AHL deal with the Cleveland Monsters top farm team for the Columbus Blue Jackets. -Cam Crotty departs BU and signs with Arizona (NHL). -Goalie Tom Aubrun (Chamonix, France) from Norwich University (VT) Division II/III Player of the year signs a two year, two way deal with AHL Rockford Ice Hogs. -A few more European collegian signings Jesper Mattila graduates Boston College (HE) and joins teammate and fellow Finnish countrymen Aapeli Rasanen, who leaves school a year early, to sign separate deals with KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL). Jake Grade of Division III St. Anselm (NE-10), making it five collegians to sign in Europe inking a deal with HC Cholet (France Division-2). That makes 74 Division I players have signed prop contracts, and 84 college players in total have signed AHL and ECHL deals. The breakdown by conference Hockey East-18, Big 10-17, NCHC-14, WCHA-11, ECACHL-8, AHA-6, and NCAA Independent Division HAS just one. From Division II/III-10 and signing in Europe five. -Eight more grad school transfers happened this past week; three were goalies. First, Robbie Beydoun departs Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) for the University Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10). The other is Anton Martinson travels 3,000 miles from the University Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks (WCHA) to Providence College Friars (HE) and Henry Johnson heads from Bemidji St (WCHA) to Mercyhurst (AHA). The forwards were Jared Cockrell heads from Colgate (ECACHL), Seamus Donohue Michigan Tech (WCHA) heads to St. Cloud St. (WCHA), Carson Gicewicz goes from St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) to UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE). The latest two are Jordan Timmons of the UCONN Huskies (HE) and Charlie Combs of Bemidji State (WCHA) heads to Michigan State (Big 10). He is the younger brother by nine years of former Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger, Jack Combs. Grad transfers are permitted if a student/player either completes his undergraduate degree in under four years after being redshirted due to injury. In either case, one year of NCAA eligibility remains, and a student/player can transfer without the usual one year wait required when a student/player transfers among schools during a regular four-year undergraduate schedule. There is just one regular transfer so far as Jack Olmstead leaves  Michigan (Big 10) to Miami (OH) (NCHC) and can skate for them in 2021-22 after sitting out a year. There are presently ten grad school transfers. NHL DRAFT The final NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) draft list is out, and some exciting names are on the list. At number four is defenseman Jake Sanderson, eldest son of former Whaler Geoff Sanderson. He played for the USA U-18 Team and the US National Development Team (USHL) this year and is a North Dakota (NCHC) commit for 2021-22. He is a dual citizen, so he is eligible for either the US and Canada WJC Team. Ridley Greig, son of ex-Whaler Mark, is the14th ranked player who played this season with Brandon (WHL). Defenseman Jack Finley, son of ex-Wolf Pack and Ranger Jeff Finley, currently the Director of Scouting for Winnipeg. The younger Finley skated for Spokane (WHL) was marked at the 38th spot. In the 70th spot is Ethan Cardwell form the Barrie Colts (OHL) nephew former New Haven Knight, Matt Cardwell. Senna Peters from the Selects Academy U-16 program played this year with Halifax (QMJHL) posting 33 points in 57 games, and a minus 43 is slotted 101st. -Ryan McGuire (New Canaan), son of the NHL announcer on NBCSN and former Hartford Whalers coach Pierre McGuire, is listed as the 105th best prospect in the CSB final rankings The younger McGuire is a Colgate University Red Raiders (ECACHL) commit for 2021-22. He's going to play for the Penticton Panthers (BCHL) next season. He played the last two years for Belmont Hill (MAPREP). McGuire was select him last year in the 12th round 216th overall by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL). Previously, he went in the 8th round 115th overall by the USHL Madison Capitols, and he did get in four games last season with the Capitols with no points after his prep school season ended, He attended Blaineville training camp last fall; however, he didn't play in any games to preserve his college eligibility. -Sophomore UCONN defenseman Jacob Flynn is 122nd. Incoming UCONN freshmen Nick Capone (East Haven/Salisbury Prep) played with Tri-City Storm (USHL) this season is 126th. Paul Dore, son of current Ranger scout Daniel Dore, a former NHL'er is slotted at 182nd. He played at Kimball Union Academy (NYPREP) and is scheduled to perform with Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) in the fall and has no current college commit. The last one on the list is Zakary Karpa, son of ex-Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger, David Karpa. The younger Karpa plays for USA National U-18 Team, and USNDTP (USHL) finished at 194th in the rankings. He is a Princeton Tigers (ECACHL) commit in the fall. Among 31 top-rated North American goalies in the 10th spot in Czech Republic native Nick Malik, the youngest son of ex-Whaler, Ranger, and Beast of New Haven defenseman Marek Malik, who played half the season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). Before heading to Canada, he played for his father at Fydek-Mistek (Czech Republic Division-2), where he is the assistant coach, then HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Elite League-CEL) and the Czech Republic WJC Team. Then among the European goaltenders, there is Oliver Tarnstrom, son of ex-Sound Tiger, Dick Tarnstrom. He played mostly for the AIK program in Sweden playing with their Super Elite, J-18, and Allsvenskan teams. He played internationally for the Swedish U-18 team. In total, Central Scouting has 217 North American players rated, 31 goalies plus 50 European players, and 10 Euro goalies. The Central Scouting Senior Director is former Beast of New Haven GM, David Gregory. This summer's NHL Draft event scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal sadly, has been canceled and will be held remotely at place and date to be determined. HOCKEY SIGNINGS After playing with Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL), Ryan Doolin (Westminster Prep), heads to Sacred Heart University Pioneers (AHA) in the fall. UCONN landed two commits from the CT prep school ranks both forwards. Gavin Puskar, from the Hotchkiss Bearcats (Lakeville, CT), who had 18 goals and 36 points in 26 games, will be at Storrs for the upcoming season. Hotchkiss lost in the opening round of the NEPSAC Open division playoffs 7-2 to eventual champion, Salisbury Prep. Mark D' Agostino (North Branford) from the Gunnery Highlanders (Washington, CT) posting 23 goals and 55 points in 35 games for NEPSAC Small Division champion, a 5-3 win over Pomfret. D' Agostino will be on campus for the 2021-22 season but will spend next season with the Langley Rivermen (BCHL). -One other prep school NCAA commit for 2021-22 is Kennedy O' Connor (Springfield, MA) of Loomis Chaffe school (Windsor, CT) will play 2020-21 for the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) before heading to the Mullins Center to skate for the UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE) in 2021-22. He was drafted last year by both the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) and Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL). -Former Sound Tiger Rob Collins is the head coach of Canadian Jr. B Elmira Sugar Kings (GOJHL). -Remember Rangers one time goaltender of the future Dan Blackburn who played four games for the Wolf Pack in his brief pro career that was cut short by injury is a scout for the London Nationals (GOJHL). -Some moves in Europe Brent Raedeke, nephew of former New Haven Nighthawk Mark, goes from Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) to Cologne (Germany-DEL) for 2020-21. -By the end of the month, most likely former Wolf Pack Oscar Lindberg will sign a one-year extension deal with EV Zug (Switzerland-LNA), according to a Swiss hockey website. Read the full article

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

CANTLON: NHL DRAFT DAY DAY TWO

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers took an extremely active stance in building their future in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft on Saturday. The only surprise came in who they took with their first pick of the second round. They took a goalie. Who the Rangers chose was 17-year-old, Olaf Lindbom, who is of no relation to former Wolf Pack player, Johan Lindbom. The goaltender pick last played with the Djurgarden IF program in Sweden on the J-18 and J-20 teams where he played in both regular season and post season games. In twenty regular season games, Lindbom posted a 3.10 GAA. In his three post season matches that number escalated to a 5.61 GAA. He played five playoff games with the J-18 team where he logged a 1.20 GAA. In the third round, the Rangers had two picks. With the first, the team selected Swedish defenseman Jacob Ragnarsson from Almtuna IS (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Ragnarsson is a left-handed shot and played in 47 games where he had four goals and 13 points playing on a team coached by his father, a former NHL’er, Magnus Ragnarsson (San Jose). Ragnarsson also played one game for the J-20 Elite team. The Rangers second selection in the third round (88th overall) was also a defenseman. The Rangers selected 18-year-old, Joey Keane, no relation to former Ranger, Mike Keane. The draft pick is a much-needed right-handed shooting defenseman. He played with the Barrie Colts (OHL) where he posted solid numbers 62-12-32-44 and a solid plus-45. Keane was a leader on the team and was an assistant captain. With the fourth round, the 101st pick overall, the Rangers went with a Swiss defenseman in Nico Gross, who played for the Oshawa Generals (OHL). In his second season of major junior and playing in 58 games, Gross had 14 points with 10 of them coming on assists. Gross has international experience as well. On the U-18 Switzerland Team at the IIHF U-18 championships, Gross was the team captain. Physically, he stands 6’1 and weights 195 lbs. In the fifth round, the Rangers continued their year's preference for the international by taking a Finnish player in 18-year-old right winger, Lauri Pajuniemi, who plays for the TPS Turlu (Finland-FEL). He posted two goals and seven points in 32 games. He played 14 games for their TPS Turku junior league team where he tallied three goals and 10 points in 14 games. The Rangers selection in the sixth round, (163rd overall) went to another player from Sweden to draft another 18-year-old defenseman in Simon Kjellberg. He's the son of former NHL’er, Patrick Kjellberg (Nashville). The younger Kjellberg skated for Rogle BK J-20 team in 43 games the left handed shot has four goals and nine points.He has a younger brother Joel  who is playing BK system. The Rangers last selection was the next to last player drafted overall. They took Riley Hughes from St. Sebastian’s Prep school (MAPREP) who also played two games with Sioux City (USHL). He is a 2019-20 commit to Northeastern (HE). His father Kent was a Division III player at Middlebury (VT) College. In summation, the Rangers 2018 picks include six defenseman, three forwards and a goalie . SELECTIONS BEYOND THE RANGERS A few other noteworthy draft selections. In Dallas, the first English born and trained player was taken by the Arizona Coyotes. He is Liam Kirk an 18-year-old left handed shot that went in the seventh round (189th overall). He played last season in a pro league with his hometown team. The team wears an orange jersey and is known as the Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL). He was the captain of Great Britain's U-18 national team. The U-20 team is ranked in the IIHF Division II, Group A and was part of the squad that produced an upset at the IIHF Group A Division II level. They defeated Hungary 3-2 in the gold medal game earning a promotion to Division I, Group A. Kirk could conceivably play, depending on his training camp, in either Tucson, for an ECHL team -though Arizona is presently without an ECHL affiliate - or hook up with a USHL junior team to develop among his peer group. One Connecticut-based player got the call at the draft table. Rearguard Peter Dilaberatore of Salisbury Prep (CT-PREP) was taken by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the sixth round (180th overall). A left-handed shot. Dilaberatore is 18-years-old and is a Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) commit for 2019-20. Family relations day was on hand during the draft as well. Twelve sons of former players and coaches were drafted in Dallas. The first to go was in the second round when Matthias Samuelsson, the son of former Nighthawk and NHL’er, Kjell Samuelsson. He  is certainly genetically like his father weighing in at 218 pounds on a 6’4 frame. Samuelsson is going to join his older brother, Lukas, at Western Michigan (NCHC) next fall. The assistant coach at Western Michigan is former Whaler/Nighthawk/UCONN player, Todd Krygier. This year, Samuelsson played with the US Development program in the USHL. In 23 games, he had four goals and 14 points. Samuelsson played another 58 games with the U-18 national team where he contributed 11 goals and 20 points and 113 PIM. Then it was Jack Drury’s turn. The son of ex-Whaler, Ted Drury, and the nephew to current Hartford Wolf Pack GM and Rangers Assistant GM, Chris Drury, who was sitting nearby at the Rangers table when the selection was made, was taken by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round (42nd overall). Father and Uncle both played at Fairfield Prep in their youth where their number 18 is retired. The younger Drury played with Waterloo (USHL). This in his second season there and improved dramatically. He wore the C and scored 24 goals, had 41 assists for 65 points. That was good for fourth best in the league. He also achieved the second longest consecutive game-scoring streak of 23 games in USHL history. The 18-year-old is following in his Dad’s footsteps and heading to Harvard University (ECACHL) in the fall. In the third round, the first pick (63rd overall) saw Jack McBain, the son of former New Haven Senator and NHL’er Andrew McBain, selected by the Minnesota Wild. The BC bound McBain was drafted by two junior leagues in 2016, the Barrie Colts (OHL) in the first round (20th overall) and Lincoln (USHL) in the seventh round (107th overall). Tyler Madden, who played at Avon Old Farms several years ago, was next getting chosen in the third round (68th overall) by the Vancouver Canucks. His father John, known for his play in New Jersey, is the head coach of Cleveland (AHL). The younger Madden split last year with the Central Illinois Flying Aces and Tri-City Storm (USHL) and is heading to Northeastern (HE) in the fall. Riley Sutter went in the third round (93rd overall) to the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. He is the son of former NHL’er, Ron Sutter. That makes it a complete six pack of the NHL-playing Sutters. They have had at least one son drafted in the NHL for a grand total of 12 Sutters drafted in the NHL. The newest Sutter draftee is also the 11th to play junior hockey in the WHL. In the final round, the seventh, Krygier, the aforementioned ex-Whaler/Nighthawk/UCONN player, saw his twin sons get selected by two different NHL teams. Christian Krygier,18 years-of-age, is a left-handed shooting rearguard. Krygier was taken 196th overall by the N.Y. Islanders from the Lincoln Stars (USHL). In 48 games, his team had just had eight assists and 137 PM. He and his brother Cole were drafted by London (OHL) in 2016,but both are University Wisconsin (Big 10) commit for next season. Cole was taken five spots later 201st overall by the Florida Panthers. He too played with Lincoln. In 58 games he had three goals and 17 points and 107 PIM. NOTES: The only player trade of the day came when former Nighthawk, Don Waddell, the President/GM of the Carolina Hurricanes, got Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland from Calgary for Elias Lindholm (son of former Nighthawk, Mikael), Noah Hanifin and prospect, Adam Fox. Premature media reports stated that New Canaan native, and current Montreal captain, Max Pacioretty, was going to San Jose, but he will be filling out of change address card before the NHL free agency opens on July 1st with one year left on his deal. Two more AHL players have signed for Europe. Austin Ortega, who split the season equally between San Diego and Utah (ECHL), skates to HC Vaxjo (Sweden-SHL). Meanwhile, Bryce Gervais departs the Chicago Wolves (AHL) to EHC Olten (Switzerland-LNA). That makes 35 players and 18 teams in the AHL have lost one player so far. Samuel Morin, who played a lot of the season in Lehigh Valley, signed a three year extension deal with the Flyers for $700K per year one way money, The Canadiens dealt goalie prospect, Hayden Hawkey, to the Edmonton Oilers for a sixth round pick in the 2019 Draft. Hawkey just graduated from Providence College (HE) where he helped the Friars reach the NCAA East Regional Final before losing to Boston University. Congrats to the NHL for handling with great humility and care, the honoring of the Humboldt Broncos. In case you missed it, a little over two months after the awful bus crash in Saskatchewan. On Friday, before the draft NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presented the EJ McGuire Award to the team. McGuire, who was the Wolf Pack’s first head coach, passed from an extremely rare form of bone cancer in 2013. TSN announced the very first home to their 2018-19 SJHL season will be broadcast live September 12th in Humboldt against the Nipawin Hawks the team they were traveling to play in their SJHL playoff series that fateful day. The game will be carried on The NHL Network at 6:30 Eastern time. Read the full article