is there a reason why Carolina is losing all their affiliates???

Other than being assholes to Erik Haula?

Okay, but in all seriousness, there's a short answer and a long one.

The short answer is two words long: Pyotr Kochetkov.

The long answer? Meet me under the cut.

Alright, hi there. So to answer this question fully, we need to talk about the AHL in depth. The AHL, or American Hockey League, is the second-highest league of North American pro hockey, under the NHL. Most people tend to believe it's just "where prospects play before they hit the NHL". This is... only a part of the story.

There are 32 teams in the AHL to match 32 NHL teams. The idea there is that every NHL team would have an AHL affiliate - the most recent expansion, for example, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, is the AHL affiliate for the newest NHL team, the Seattle Kraken. Many of these teams are owned by the same group as owns the NHL team - Harris Blitzer, for example, owns both the New Jersey Devils and the Utica Comets. Others don't - the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, for instance, are owned by Michael Kahn, whereas their NHL affiliate, the Florida Panthers, is owned by Sunrise Sports (aka Vincent Viola).

Why is this important? Well, if you're an NHL team that owns your AHL team, you can let that AHL team leak money. You're turning a good profit on the NHL team, so you don't have to make your AHL team economically viable on its own - you just put it in as a massive tax write-off and go on with your day. Thus, you can put all of your AHL team's resources into developing your AHL players to get ready to play at the NHL level. Of course you sign some vets and such of your own, maybe get a few undrafted guys for the AHL team too, but generally, an NHL-owned AHL team's sole purpose is to develop NHL players. Winning the Calder Cup (the AHL equivalent to the Stanley Cup, not to be confused with the Calder Memorial Trophy given to the best NHL rookie) is just gravy on top.

Contrast this to independently-owned AHL teams, where this is not the case. For these teams, making money is paramount. How do you make money? When you win. Fun fact - the Chicago Wolves, incidentally, used to be televised on main channels partially as a fuck you to Bill Wirtz, who didn't let the Chicago Blackhawks' home games be televised, presumably to drive ticket sales. The Wolves saw that and pounced on the opportunity to make some cash. So if nothing else, love them for sticking it to the Hawks. You can still watch Wolves games on My50, it seems, if you've got that channel, as well as AHL streaming options.

But back to independently-owned AHL teams before I go on my daily anti-Hawks crusade. You want to make money. You do that when you win. When you make the postseason. When you win in the postseason. Independently-owned AHL teams want to win, not necessarily develop for the NHL. So when your NHL team keeps taking your best player away for weeks and then giving him back... you get annoyed.

Let's now talk about the ECHL and the Norfolk Admirals. Thankfully, this is going to be a lot simpler. The ECHL, unlike the AHL, has only 28 teams. This means 4 NHL teams don't have an ECHL team. In addition, very few, if any, ECHL teams are owned by their NHL affiliates. This further incentivizes them to play for profit (winning the Kelly Cup, the ECHL version of the Stanley Cup) instead of development. On top of this, relatively few ECHL players actually make it to the NHL. ECHL affiliates change fairly frequently, especially due to many of the teams folding because of financial issues (most recently the Brampton Beast, Manchester Monarchs, and Quad City Mallards). So if an ECHL team decides to drop its NHL affiliate, or vice versa, there are four other suitors, all of whom would probably want to pay the ECHL team decent money to be their associate. For the Admirals, it's easy - they see the Canes lose their AHL affiliate and decide they'd rather take the Jets' offer instead, whether it be for the money (Carolina's supposedly notoriously stingy) or for the security. It's just really fucking funny that it happens at the same time Carolina loses their AHL team. Get fucked lol.

Now let's play Chicago Wolves Simulator. You are Don Levin and Buddy Meyers, the Wolves' owners. Your goal is to win the Calder Cup or at least come pretty damn close so you can pay the bills. You have a good team - hell, you won the Calder last year! - but your best asset is this star goaltender named Pyotr Kochetkov. When Koochie's in net, you usually win because he bails out your team. When he isn't there to help you win, you kind of don't. Now, Carolina's going through its own issues in net, so they keep calling Koochie up and down. And, as previously mentioned, you kind of suck without Koochie. To be fair, you're not all that great with him, but you suck without him. And you have no control over when he goes up to Carolina, even just to sit on the bench.

You miss the playoffs by one point. One. And your three-year contract with the Canes is up. What do you do?

Waddell Young, GM of the Wolves, says their philosophy and the Canes' fundamentally differed. The Wolves develop and win. Winning develops, to them. The Canes wanted the Wolves to focus solely on development. Not winning. So, when their deal with the Canes was up, the Wolves said "no thanks, we're not going to continue this, we're going independent". This decision makes them the first non-NHL affiliated team in almost 30 years. Now, this isn't to say all independently-owned AHL teams are doomed to fail in partnerships because of divergent philosophies. Look at the Hershey Bears and the Washington Capitals for a prime example of that - the Bears are one of the best teams in the AHL and have won four Calder Cups with the Caps as their affiliates since their affiliation began in 2005. But the Wolves were quite unhappy with the Canes, and so the two split. Also notable is that the Canes have also poisoned the waters with who should be their local AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to the point where the Checkers affiliated with the Panthers instead. So... there's that.

So what can the Canes now do with non-roster players? They can affiliate with another AHL team (co-affiliation); one instance of this was when the Seattle Kraken affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers in 21-22 because the Coachella Valley Firebirds weren't yet ready. Supposedly the plan is to get an affiliate for 24-25. But what do they do this year? Especially if they can't find an affiliate to share, which seems more and more likely as the summer drags on? Well, you can't sign players to two-way deals with the Wolves anymore, so you can't really keep veterans around in the AHL to call up if needed. So you... sign nine defensemen to NHL contracts and carry them on the roster at all times. Yep. Don Waddell, Canes GM, has basically stated outright that his roster is probably going to have to carry 22 or 23 players at all times to be sure to have replacements in case of injury. And your prospects? They either go to Europe, where they're basically inaccessible for the whole year, or you loan them to other AHL clubs. Waddell has said plans are in place with several teams to send 2 or 3 players each to several different AHL clubs. For your youngest, they go back to major junior in the CHL and related leagues. Same for your veterans - if you want to keep them, you'll have to sign them one-way (I believe) and then loan them down to scattered AHL teams across the league. Prospects who you could have signed to play in the AHL and develop? You're probably going to have to let them go to free agency (see: Kevin Wall, leading player for Penn State and Carolina draft pick, who just inked a deal with the Milwaukee Admirals, AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators). And then you can send your worse prospects to your ECHL tea- wait. Oops. They just lost that too. Can't do that either. Well, shit.

And remember, one of the Canes' biggest assets is their system of play (with strong defense) that they execute well. The Wolves needed to teach their players the Canes' system and prepare them so the jump from AHL to NHL wouldn't be that tough. The Canes put their coaches on the Wolves for that purpose (the Wolves have since cleaned house and instated their own). Loaning your players to another AHL team? Why would that team be incentivized to teach your player(s) the system? So now even when you're calling up someone to play for the Canes, you have no idea how well they know the system and no idea how well they can play in it.

This now begs the other question - how will the Wolves fill their roster? Well, they've got options. Generally, an AHL team takes the prospects of its NHL affiliate and then fills the rest of the roster with AHL veteran free agents that the AHL team signs to AHL-only deals. But without an NHL team, it's a smidge more complicated, or perhaps easier. Firstly, other NHL teams can loan their prospects to the Wolves instead of their own AHL teams if they consider the Wolves better at developing them, for instance. The Wolves can now also sign whatever free agent players they find roaming around that could be a good fit for their team - undrafted college players, good ECHL players that can't seem to get called up enough, AHL veterans, players on European teams (especially Russians who might want the chance to get the fuck out of Russia) and so on. These free agent players could see the Wolves as a stable AHL team that can pay solid money (the AHL doesn't have a cap) with a strong chance at contending for the Calder as well as a possible stepping stone to an NHL contract. The Wolves also don't have to worry about these free agents taking ice time away from the Canes' prospects, who would need to be prioritized under an affiliation, which would also be a strong incentive for AHL free agent veterans to sign with them - they'd be able to get a truly fair chance, unlike under an affiliate system where prospects are the priority and free agents are generally playing fewer (and worse) minutes.

And remember - Chicago just drafted Bedard. The city's getting back into hockey and Hawks tickets are expensive. Want to watch some quality hockey on the cheap? Why not come to Wolves games! They're only 18 miles away from the Hawks, too!

TL;DR stan the Wolves for rejecting the system. Canes Suck.

2023-24 Providence Bruins Famous Relations

#26 John Farinacci: Nephew of Harvard University men's hockey head coach Ted Donato and cousin of Chicago Blackhawks C Ryan Donato. #20 Curtis Hall: Son of former bruins C Mike Hall. #8 Trevor Kuntar: Son of former Utah Grizzlies G Les Kuntar. #16 Luke Toporowski: Son of former Quad City Mallards D Kerry Toporowski, nephew of former Bakersfield Condors D Brad Toporowski & Worcester State University men's hockey head coach Shayne Toporowski and brother of Des Moines Buccaneers assistant coach Jake Toporowski. #9 Jesper Boqvist: Brother of Columbus Blue Jackets D Adam Boqvist. #38 Patrick Brown: Great-grandson of New York Giants founder the late Tim Mara, grandson of former New York Giants co-owner the late Wellington Mara & businesswoman Ann Mara, son of former Detroit Red Wings RW Doug Brown, nephew of New York Giants president/co-owner John Mara, New York Giants vice president of player personnel Tim Mara II & Boston College men's hockey head coach Greg Brown, brother of Jacksonville Icemen C Chris Brown and cousin of actress Tricia Mara & actress Kate Mara. #12 Jayson Megna: Son of former New Orleans Saints DB Jay Megna, son-in-law of former Salt Lake Golden Eagles G Jim Craig and brother of Seattle Kraken D Jaycob Megna. #27 Parker Wotherspoon: Brother of Utica Comets D Tyler Wotherspoon.

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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

The Quad City Mallards have re-signed forward Kyle Novak and have also signed forward Joe Kalisz for the 2017-18 season, the Mallards announced today.

i got bored so i decided to count/list my TTTE groups

Trios:

Gold Dust (Thomas,James,Percy)

Gold Dust before Gold Dust (Lady,Theodore,Proteus)

Strike Trio (Gordon,James,Henry)

Three Railway Engines (Gordon,Edward,Henry)

Ffarquhar engines (Thomas,Toby,and Percy)

Gresley trio V1 (Gordon,River,Henry)

Gresley trio V2 (Gordon,Scotsman,Henry)

Three Mainland Engines (Tornado,Scotsman,City of Truro)

R (Rebecca,River,Rosie)

We really hate Spencer gang (Mallard,Sir Nigel Gresley,Bittern)

GWR Forever!!! (Duck,Oliver,City of Truro) *begrudging on Truro’s part*

Confused reborn Great Western Engines (Olton Hall,Lady of Legend,Hinderton Hall)

Quads:

Four Mainland Engines (Bahamas,Thyme,Tangmere,Davina)

Split up 60s Band (River,Rook,Bishop,Nick)

Quad City Mallards Showcased Vegas Golden Knights Inspired Sweaters Vs. Tulsa Oilers

Post Update: Quad City Mallards Showcased Vegas Golden Knights Inspired Sweaters Vs. Tulsa Oilers

Las Vegas–Tonight the ECHL partner of the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Wolves showcased special sweaters honoring the NHL franchise as they took on the Tulsa Oilers at TsxSlayer Center.

https://twitter.com/myqcmallards/status/931692359418511360

Back on November 15, the Quad City Mallards organization provided a tease to their hockey fans in what the sweaters would look like.

https://twitter.c…

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Rush Acquire Monfredo in Trade

Let's welcome Mike Monfredo to the Black Hills. We wish Josh MacDonald all the best. Thank you for everything from #RushNation

RAPID CITY, SD — The Rapid City Rush announced today that they have acquired veteran defenseman Mike Monfredo as well as future considerations from the Quad City Mallards for forward Josh MacDonald. “It was a tough decision to part with Josh, but I felt we needed to shore up some holes on our back-end going forward. We wish Josh all the best on his new team,” said Rush Head Coach, Mark DeSantis.…

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ECHL Line Brawl Culminates In Goalie TKO At Center Ice [VIDEO]

ECHL Line Brawl Culminates In Goalie TKO At Center Ice [VIDEO]

By: Will Burchfield@burchie_kid If fighting is being phased out of hockey, it enjoyed a brief comeback on Wednesday night in the ECHL. In a game between the Cincinnati Cyclones (Nashville Predators affiliate) and the Quad City Mallards (Minnesota Wild), a line brawl broke out in the third period culminating in a goalie fight at center ice. The final bout didn’t last long, as Mallards’ netminder…

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Remembering the CHL: five years later

10/7/2014: On this date, the Central Hockey League formally dissolved, and all remaining teams were transferred to the ECHL. 

The league was established in 1992, as a spiritual successor to the league of the same name that died eight years prior. It was the hockey equivalent of a single-A league, a level below the ECHL, and two below the AHL.

Few teams had NHL affiliations, but most had ECHL/AHL partnerships, and most played in cities without any other pro hockey presence (Tulsa, Kansas City, Indianapolis, etc). Others played in markets with NHL teams, but in more out-of-the-way, suburban areas, ideal for fans who live too far away from their favourite NHL teams’ arenas (St. Charles, Youngstown, Allen, etc.)

The league played during what many fans consider the “golden age” of minor league hockey. Though playing at a lower level, attendance and general fan interest was competitive with those of the AHL and ECHL. 

Throughout the league’s life, it competed with several other lower-level leagues, ultimately absorbing the remaining teams in the Western Pro League and International League. 

However, at the dawn of the 2010′s, the CHL and several of its teams began experiencing financial difficulties. Many ended up folding or joining other, more low-level leagues. And despite recent expansion in proven markets like Denver, Brampton, and St. Louis, the CHL simply couldn’t stay afloat. They lost their strongest market teams in St. Louis, Prescott Valley, Denver, and Ft. Wayne, to suspension or outright folding, mostly for financial reasons. Others, like Dayton, were in cities which had historically been notorious for large crowds and on-ice success, but struggled to draw enough fans, or played in sub-par arenas. 

After the transfer or contraction of enough teams, the ECHL announced on October 7, 2014, that they would be accepting the last seven remaining CHL teams (Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Kansas City Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers, and Wichita Thunder), in addition to an unrelated expansion team (Indy Fuel). 

Below are the top ten all-time stat leaders at the time of the league’s contraction: 

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THOMAS: JAMIE TARDIF NEW HARTFORD WOLF PACK ASSISTANT COACH

NEW YORK RANGERS TAB JAMIE TARDIF AS HARTFORD WOLF PACK ASSISTANT COACH BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club had named Jamie Tardif as an Assistant Coach with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. In addition, Casey Torres has been named as Player Development Assistant with the organization. Tardif, 37, was most recently an Assistant Coach with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, starting with the club before the 2018-19 campaign. During his time with the organization, the Greyhounds won 112 games and advanced to the playoffs in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. Before joining the Greyhounds, Tardif spent the 2017-18 season as a Player/Assistant Coach with the Quad City Mallards of the ECHL, where he completed his lengthy playing career. As a player, Tardif played 12 professional seasons, including eight in the American Hockey League. Throughout 487 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose, Iowa Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins, Providence Bruins, and Rochester Americans, Tardif scored 267 career points (142 g, 125 a). He served as the captain of the Griffins during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons and was named an AHL All-Star during the 2012-13 season as a member of the Bruins. Tardif appeared in two career NHL games, coming with the Boston Bruins during the 2012-13 campaign. In addition to his time in the AHL, Tardif played for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL for three seasons. He helped guide the club to a Championship during the 2014-15 season, his first year overseas. Tardif also won an OHL Championship during the 2005-06 season as a player with the Peterborough Petes and was named an ECHL All-Star in 2006-07 as a member of the Toledo Storm. Torres, 42, spent the 2021-22 season as an Assistant Coach on the Wolf Pack’s staff. Before joining the organization, Torres was a scout for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. The Wolf Pack kick-off the 2022-23 AHL regular season on Friday, October 14th, at 7:00 p.m. against the Charlotte Checkers in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club will host its annual home opener on Saturday, October 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. when they take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the XL Center. To run with the Pack during the 2022-23 season, visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets for information on ticket packages and more. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

The Quad City Mallards have signed forwards Kenny Brooks and Michael Pontarelli for the 2017-18 season, the Mallards announced today.

2018 IIHF Worlds Belarus Roster

Wingers

#13 Sergei Drozd (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Minsk)

#15 Artem Demkov (Shakhtyor Soligorsk/Minsk)

#17 Yegor Sharangovich (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Minsk)

#68 Artyom Kisly (H.K. Neman Grodno/Grodno)

#70 Charles Linglet (Eisbaren Berlin/Montreal, Quebec)

#74 Artyom Levsha (H.K. Neman Grodno/Grodno)

#77 Alexander Kitarov (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Navapolotsk)

#91 Artur Gavrus (Dinamo-Molodechno/Raubichi)

#94 Maxim Sushko (Owen Sound Attack/Brest)

Centers

#10 Pavel Razvadovsky (H.C. Yunost-Minsk/Minsk)

#16 Geoff Platt (H.C. C.S.K.A. Moscow/Toronto, Ontario)

#28 Alexander Materukhin (Shakhtyor Soligorsk/Soligorsk)

#71 Alexander Pavlovich (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Grodno)

#88 Evgeni Kovryshin (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Elektrostal, Russia)

Defensemen

#7 Vladimir Denisov (Saimaan Pallo/Chashniki)

#9 Roman Dyukov (H.C. Saryarka/Minsk)

#14 Yevgeni Lisovets (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Grodno)

#18 Kristian Khenkel (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Minsk)

#33 Stepan Falkovsky (Ontario Reign/Minsk)

#46 Nikita Ustinenko (Dinamo-Molodechno/Gomel)

#55 Pavel Vorobey (K.R.S. Heilongjiang/Minsk)

#89 Dmitri Korobov (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Navapolatsk)

Goalies

#35 Ivan Kulbakov (Quad City Mallards/Minsk)

#69 Mikhail Karnaukhov (H.C. Dinamo Minsk/Minsk)

#79 Vitali Trus (H.K. Neman Grodno/Navapolatsk)

Greatest Moments In Quad City Mallards History

Greatest Moments In Quad City Mallards History

Now that the Vegas Golden Knights have finally made it official with their affiliation with the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards, Vegas Knights of The Roundtable takes a look back at some of defining moments in their history.

  (Photo by hockeypocket.blogspot.com)

  In the 1996-97 season Quad City finished their regular season campaign with an impressive 51-20-3 record at 105 points. Their goal…

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