#anthonybitetto

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The annual NHL free agency shopping spree has begun for the New York Rangers; with serious salary cap issues, they're shopping for deals in the clearance bins. On Friday, the Rangers announced who they made qualifying offers to and who they didn't. The Rangers qualified their two most important restricted free agents, Alexis Lafreniere and K'Andre Miller. The Hartford Wolf Pack had three players qualified. After a solid second half, Ty Emberson is in the unique CBA Group 6 category. Also qualified after his original two-year deal ended was fellow rearguard, and one of the few on the roster with significant size, at 6'4 ", was Brandon Scanlin. Lastly, and a bit of a surprise, was right-wing Lauri Pajuniemi. At times Pajuniemi was an unhappy camper. He saw no recalls in his two years in Hartford and had already signed with his Swedish team Malmö IF (Sweden-SHL). He likely has a window before training camp in Sweden begins next month, where he'll be allowed to sign an NHL deal without penalty. Winger Anton Blidh signed a new two-year deal paying $775K for play in the NHL and $350K for play in the AHL two weeks after the playoffs ended. UFA's Ryan Carpenter, Tim Gettinger, and Wyatt Kalynuk got new deals with other teams on the same terms. Carpenter re-signed with the San Jose Sharks, who he broke in with his first year. He signed a one-way, one-year deal at $775K. Kalynuk signed with the St. Louis Blues. He also signed a $775K one-way contract and could wind up playing up the road at the Blues' affiliate in Springfield. Gettinger signed with the Detroit Red Wings for $775K. He will likely play for the Grands Rapids Griffins in the AHL, moving closer to his friends and family in Ohio. Will Lockwood, Adam Clendening, Patrick Khordorenko, who played in just four games before separating his shoulder and ending his season, and Libor Hajek, all remained unsigned as of the end of business on Saturday. RANGERS SIGNINGS The Rangers signed veterans Jonathan Quick, Blake Wheeler, Alex Belzile, Riley Nash, a Pack killer in Charlotte with the Checkers last year, and Connecticut product and resident Nick Bonino. Quick is from Hamden and received a one-year $825K deal from the Blueshirts. The three-time Stanley Cup Champion started last year in LA and was traded twice on Trade Deadline Day in March. He spent half a day with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he earned that third Stanley Cup ring. Quick went to and played for Hamden High School Green Dragons under Todd Hall, the ex-Pack assistant coach. Hall was then a recently retired player and retired as Hamden's head coach a year ago. Quick also went on to play prep school hockey at the Avon Old Farms (AOF), the acclaimed program coached by John Gardner, who also had Cheshire's Brian Leetch there at one time too. At the time, AOF's assistant coach was former Hartford Whaler, Ranger, and Wolf Pack assistant coach, Ulf Samuelsson. AOF has produced several Stanley Cup champions starting with Leetch (the first to go to the NHL), Quick, Bonino, and 12 others who have gone on to play in the NHL, including the retired Matt Martin (Hamden), ex-Bridgport Sound Tiger/Wolf Pack and Yalie, Jeff Hamilton, another former Yale Bulldog, Chris Higgins, and presently Anaheim's Trevor Zegras. Wheeler comes to New York after spending over a decade with the Winnipeg Jets on a super cap friendly $800K deal for one year. Belzile was with the Montreal Canadiens last year. He gets a two-year cap complaint deal at $775K per season. He is a depth addition and will likely play in Hartford. He split last year between Laval and injury-riddled Montreal and was Laval's captain. He has been in the Montreal system for the previous five years. He's been in Laval for the last three years and the team's last two years in St. John's. He is an 11-year minor pro veteran who played in San Antonio for his first three years. Riley Nash gets two years at $775K on a one-way ticket. Bonino is from Unionville, near the RI border. He grew up in Farmington. He signed a one-year deal at $800K and played for the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins last year. The Rangers added depth at defense for Hartford in signing Connor Mackey to a one-year, two-way deal at $775K for NHL play and $400K in the AHL. He split thirty games last season between the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes and played ten more for the USA WC Team, where he replaced Nikko Mikkola on the depth chart, who left for the Florida Panthers. More relief was brought for the Wolf Pack blueline, which began the day with just four players. Signed was Nikolas Brouillard, to a one-year, $775K one-way money. He played in San Diego Gulls for the last three years. In Juniors, he played for five years in the QMJHL for Drummondville, Quebec, and Rouyn-Noranda and was an All-Star three times. He spent three years in Montreal at McGill University (OUAA) in Canadian college hockey under the guidance of head coach and ex-Pack, David Urquhart before heading to San Diego. NOTES: Ex-Pack Jesper Fast re-signs a two-year deal in Carolina with the Hurricanes for $2.4M. Two ex-Wolf Pack goalies sign deals as Cam Talbot departs Ottawa for the LA Kings signing a one-year $1M contract, and Dustin Tokarski signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Buffalo Sabres for $775K. New Canaan's Max Pacioretty (Taft) moves up the East Coast and signs a one-year $2M contract in Washington with the Capitals. Former Sound Tiger Kyle Burroughs heads down the West Coast from the Vancouver Canucks to the San Jose Sharks for three years at $1.1M annually. Ryan MacKinnon leaves Bridgeport for Belleville Senators, whose contract has not yet been posted. Nick Bjugstad, the nephew of ex-New Haven Nighthawk Scott Bjugstad, leaves the Edmonton Oilers and signs in Arizona for two years at $2.1M. Vladimir Namestnikov, a former Ranger and son of ex-Pack Evgeny "John" Namestnikov, re-ups with Winnipeg, who Tampa Bay traded for two more years at $2M. Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac University), who faded at the end of the season in Boston, incredibly gets three years at $3.3M per in Buffalo. Another former Bobcat, Brogan Rafferty, leaves Coachella Valley and the Seattle organization and signs a two-year, one-way deal for $775K with Detroit. The Red Wings sign former Yale Bulldog Alex Lyon, who was largely responsible for the Florida Panthers getting in the playoffs. The goalie signs for two years at $900K per one-way with a Calder Cup title in his back pocket. The Seattle Kraken signed ex-Yale Bulldog John Hayden to a one-year extension at $775K. Ex-Pack Vinni Lettieri returns home to Minnesota and signs a two-year, two-way deal $775K-NHL/$550K-AHL with the Wild. Former CT Whale Jayson Megna departs San Jose to replace him in Providence. The Bruins signed him to a one-year deal at $775K. Ex-Pack Ryan Graves leaves the New Jersy Devils for Pittsburgh and signs a six-year deal for $4.5M per season. He led the NHL plus/minus the last two years. Justin Richards, who couldn't throw the puck in the net two years ago, leaves Columbus for Buffalo for a one-year, one-way $775K deal. Leaving St. Louis for Tampa Bay is Logan Brown, the son of former Whaler Jeff Brown, signs a one-year, two-way deal for $775K-NHL/$250K-AHL. Noel Acciari (Kent School), who split last year between St. Louis and the Toronto Maple Leafs, signs a three-year deal in Pittsburgh for $2M per. And still searching for new deals in the NHL, AHL, or Europe are; Michael Del Zotto (Anaheim ex-Pack/Ranger) Jack McBain (Arizona, son of former New Haven Senator Andrew) Malte Stromwall (Carolina ex-Pack) Andy Welinski (Chicago via Rockford ex-Pack) Keith Kinkaid (Colorado with ex-Pack) Ross Colton (Taft) (just acquired this week by Colorado, and before he could even put on an Avalanche jersey) Jon Gillies (Columbus, Salisbury School, played with three teams last year) Magnus Hellberg and Danny O’Regan (Detroit, ex-Pack) J.F. Berube (Florida, ex-Sound Tiger/Wolf Pack) Anthony Bitetto (ex-Pack) Oliver Wahlstrom (Islanders/ex-Sound Tiger) Kieffer Bellows (Philadelphia ex-Sound Tiger) Peter Diliberatore (Pittsburgh, via Scranton/Wilkes Barre - was acquired at the trade deadline, Quinnipiac) Strauss Mann (San Jose, Greenwich/Brunswick School) Vitali Kravtsov (Vancouver, but already bolted back to Russia to Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL) Morgan Barron (Winnipeg ex-Pack) The Bridgeport Islanders did not qualify Collin Adams, Blade Jenkins, and the already-in-Europe, Bode Wild. Ivan Nikolishin, the son of former Whaler Andrei Nikolishin, has left Amur Khaborvsk (Russia-KHL) with no new destination yet. NEW YORK RANGERS HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CHARLOTTE, NC - In his first AHL game, Anton Levtchi scored two goals, with the second coming 35 seconds into overtime to lead the Charlotte Checkers to a 4-3 OT win over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack in the first game of the 2022-23 season. Levtchi came motoring off the left wing side, cut to the middle of the ice and slid the puck past a poke-check attempt of the Wolf Pack's new starter, Louie Domingue. Levtchi then flipped a backhander past Domingue to end the season opener. Domingue made 40 saves for the Pack in a sterling effort and was the primary reason the game went to the extra session. Henry Bowlby had five quality chances, all denied by Domingue with ten seconds left in regulation and Lucas Carlsson with under a minute left from the left point. Another on Gerry Mayhew as they were outshot by a two-to-one margin of 44-22. Chris Tierney was robbed on the right wing with an open cage as Domingue slid over left to right with 8:08 left. He would tally their third goal two minutes to tie the score. Julien Gauthier had given the Pack the lead at 8:07 with the night's best goal. He took a pass from newcomer Turner Elson, turned on the left wing speed, and got inside position on ex-Pack Anthony Bitetto. He went backhand-to-forehand and put it past ex-Pack/Sound Tiger, J.F. Berube. Alexi Heponiem had five shots in the game. He was stopped after getting the puck off the shinpad of the just-signed Ben Harpur with 5:41 remaining. Harpur drove out on Tierney and took away the bottom of the net. His shot went high and over the Wolf Pack cage. Just before, Tim Gettinger saw his wraparound attempt come up empty. Lauri Pajuniemi had given the Pack the lead in the second period. Pajuniemi took a cross-ice feed on his off-wing from Matt Robertson and wired one past Berube at 3:42 of the second period. Levitch was on the power play two minutes earlier in the lower right-wing circle and scored his first. Heponiemi, who also had five shots in the game, opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first. He is from the same hometown as Pajuniemi. Will Cullye, on the strength of Jonny Brodzinski slipping thru and making it an odd-man rush, dished ot back and saw Cullye, who buried the backhand pass at 13:52. The duo had a strong game as Brodzinski shuffled another lead pass to Cullye, who made a wonderful attempt with just one hand on his stick. NOTES: Cullye led the Pack with four shots. Carter Sandlak, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler, Jim Sandlak, was one of the referees. One of the linesmen was from the female trainee group, Kirsten Welsh. Making his debut as the Checkers assistant coach was ex-Pack Bobby Sanguinetti. Signed to his AHL deal by San Jose was an ex-Pack defenseman, Patrick Sieloff. Ex-CT Whale Michael Del Zotto and former Yale Bulldog Alex Lyon were assigned to Charlotte and scratched. Adam Samuelsson, youngest son of Whaler great, former Wolf Pack assistant coach, ex-Avon Old Farms assistant, and ex-Ranger Ulf Samuelsson on the eve of ECHL training camp, goes from Idaho Steelheads to the Tulsa (OK) Oilers. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK DROP THE PUCK ON NEW SEASON IN CHARLOTTE By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are on the road to kick off a season for the first time in eight years. Tonight, the Wolf Pack begin their 26th season of American Hockey League plays in Charlotte against the division rival Checkers. It's the first time since the 2014-15 season that the Wolf Pack have opened on the road, and their first time opening a season in Charlotte. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Tale of The Tape: This is the first of eight meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Checkers during the 2022-23 season. It is the first of two games between the teams at the Bojangles Coliseum this weekend and the first of four in North Carolina this season. The Wolf Pack will be back in Charlotte for games on January 10th and 11th. The Checkers will make four visits to Hartford this season, with the first coming on Saturday, October 29th. The Wolf Pack are 1-15-0-1 all-time against the Checkers in Charlotte. Hartford's lone victory at the Coliseum came on their last visit on April 10th, 2022. The Wolf Pack won that game 4-3 in overtime thanks to a goal from Maxim Letunov. The Checkers won the most recent meeting, 2-1, at the XL Center on April 22nd, 2022. Tanner Fritz opened the scoring for Hartford at 18:15 of the first, but Chase Priskie would even the game 9:30 into the middle stanza. Finally, Scott Wilson fired home his 24th goal of the season at 9:32 of the third frame, clinching the victory for the Checkers and eliminating the Wolf Pack from the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Checkers went 5-0-1-0 in the series last season. Hartford, on the other hand, posted a record of 1-4-1-0. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack open their season after a busy summer of transactions. The club features three new goaltenders on the roster, Louis Domingue, Dylan Garand, and Olof Lindbom. Up front, veteran forwards C.J. Smith and Turner Elson join the club, while captain Jonny Brodzinski returns from a stint with the New York Rangers. Also joining the Pack from New York are forwards Gustav Rydahl and Julien Gauthier. Defensively, veteran Andy Welinski signed with the Rangers as a free agent and joined the Wolf Pack after spending last season with the Stockton Heat. In addition, Blake Hillman signed an AHL contract with the club after a successful stint with the Providence Bruins, while Ty Emberson is in the mix after the Rangers acquired him via trade from the Arizona Coyotes. Behind the bench, Jamie Tardif joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach. Checkers Outlook: The Checkers finished the 2021-22 season with a 42-24-5-1 record, good for 90 points and a .625 points percentage that clinched them the Atlantic Division title. The Checkers eliminated the Bridgeport Islanders in four games in the Atlantic Division Semifinals before falling to the Springfield Thunderbirds in three games in the Atlantic Division Finals. After having a split affiliation a season ago with the Seattle Kraken and Florida Panthers, the Checkers will only be affiliated with the Panthers this season. The Kraken is now affiliated with the new Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Checkers added veteran firepower this offseason, signing veteran forward Riley Nash. The Panthers, meanwhile, added forwards Gerry Mayhew and Chris Tierney for the Checkers. Defensively, former Hartford rearguards Anthony Bitetto and Michael Del Zotto are among the newest Checkers. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Be sure to tune in to AHLTV for a 'Freeview' all weekend long! You can watch every AHL game live and free from October 14th – 16th. Unable to watch it? Listen to the audio call for free on Mixlr! Hartford Wolf Pack home and away games are free all season long only on Mixlr. The Wolf Pack return to Hartford following tomorrow night's game to prepare for their home opener. Join us next Saturday, October 22nd, at the XL Center when the Wolf Pack hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The first 1,500 fans through the door on opening night will also receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Pepsi Zero Sugar! Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com. About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health, public safety, and more. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The free-agent frenzy has led to completing the 2022-23 Hartford Wolf Pack roster as the usual free agency carnival has come and gone. Incredibly, over 150 players changed addresses, and close to a billion dollars in compensation was doled out. Up in New York, the Rangers lost Andrew Copp, who returned home to Michigan to join the Detroit Red Wings. He will line his pockets with $5.65M per season. Kevin Rooney, the cousin of former New Haven Nighthawk Steve  Rooney, headed West to Calgary to join the Flames and will receive $1.4M per season for the next four years. The Rangers paid dearly to upgrade Hartford. Zach Jordan, whose contract has not yet been posted, comes to Hartford via the Cleveland Monsters. Turner Elson from Grand Rapids (GM Ryan Martin's old stomping grounds) at $750K-NHL/$225K-AHL for two years, a 6'0 195 center. Ty Emberson comes from Tucson (contract yet posted), making it now 12 D going into training camp in the fall. Andy Welinski comes over from Stockton (Calgary) on a one-year $400K-AHL deal. The Rangers made their qualifying offers by Mondaefore the 5 pm deadline as per the CBA, and two were very curious. Defenseman Hájek, who played a grand total of 17 games in New York and five in Hartford on a conditioning stint, was amazingly signed for another year at a cap helpful $800K and shockingly big 6'7 forward Austin Rueschoff (contract not yet posted), who signed as a collegiate free agent two years ago from Western Michigan (NCHC) who spent all last year in Hartford. His season could be broken into three parts; a physical start, showed flashes of a hot stick in the middle of the season, and like the rest of his teammates, a disappearing act in the last third of the season as they had a meteoric meltdown of 8-20-2 and out of the AHL playoffs after being in first at the AHL All-Star break. Tim Gettinger was given an offer who played well in all situations in Hartford in four years and was among the taxi squad call-ups got a one-year extension at amazingly as the lanky 6'6 forward got a one-year deal not yet posted. Not to anyone's surprise, the following were not qualified, thus allowing them to go to free agency. They included goalie Keith Kinkaid, who signed in primary for $750K. He was a main culprit in the late-season collapse with many rough performances. Also departing is goalie, Adam Huska (UCONN-HE). In three years in Hartford performed well but was not consistent enough. Tyler Wall played just 15 games in his two years, despite gaudy Hockey East numbers at UMASS-Lowell where he broke long-standing freshman winning record and career wins, but he never replicated those efforts and never gained the trust of his head coach or fellow teammates. His season ended six weeks early with knee surgery from a freak pre-game injury he suffered in Jacksonville. As of now, Zac Jones and Matt Robertson will be on defense. Robertson is a year from his RFA status. On an AHL deal comes Zach Guittari (Loomis Chaffe). That's half the defense. Hunter Skinner, Brandon Scanlin, and Nils Lundkvist are scheduled to return and could be the other half. Up front, the ever polite, pleasant, and gregarious Ty Ronning never built off his surge in performances in 2020-21 or early last season and sputtered at the end. Reports are Ronning, who lives in Vancouver in the off-season, where his father Cliff played with the Canucks and may sign there and head to nearby Abbotsford. Nick Merkley and Maxim Letunov, acquired at the trade deadline, were not re-signed. Merkley was injured in the next to last game in Bridgeport. Letunov was not a match and may be headed back home to Russia to play in the KHL with Torpedo Novgorod, who has his KHL rights. Despite an 81-point year in juniors, Jake Elmer was buried in the ECHL and never got a call-up. Anthony Greco has already left for Sweden. Mike O'Leary, who had minimal offensive output and was a late-season scratch, is gone to Iowa (AHL). Tanner Fritz, Alex Whelan, and Cristiano Di Giacinto are defensemen who all signed AHL  deals. Fritz will be in Hartford and could push the other two to Jacksonville because of the lack of lineup space. D-man Blake Hillman did well in Providence/ Toledo (ECHL) and was last year's training camp invitee is now under contract, Tim Theocaridis and goalie Parker Gahagan (Florida-ECHL/Milwaukee-AHL) have all been signed to AHL deals; four of the five will be in Hart City or likely the ECHL with the teams' affiliate there, the Jacksonville Icemen. Underperforming Justin Richards was given every chance to succeed on all four lines and special teams. However, he will find a new address, likely in the ECHL, after not being qualified. What the team does with the unhappy Lauri Pajuniemi, a year from his RFA, is yet to be determined. Will Jarred Tinordi return to reprise the mentor role or find a new address with his young family? Three part-time players are heading to separate teams in the Slovak Extra league. Abbott Girduckis (HC Presov), Liam Pecararo (HC Slovan Bratislava), and the second Hamden-born player in team history, Mike Lee (the Gunn School), as he heads to (HC Nove Zamsky). A fourth, James Sanchez, is available for other teams. Defenseman Jeff Taylor scratched more than he played in four years as an insurance policy, just 38 games in that time, signed with Adirondack (ECHL), and has new twins just born. Greg McKegg, who played one game in Hartford and 43 games and five points in New York, was cut loose and headed to Edmonton for a lucrative two-way deal of $750K-NHL/$350K-AHL. Billy Thompson, a one-game emergency from Adirondack, heads to play with defending champions Cardiff (Wales-EIHL) next year. Coming in from Europe draftees are; Karl Henriksson  Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL), Adam Edström (Sweden-Rögle BK). Veteran Gustav Rydahl (Sweden-Farjestad BK) comes on a free agent $750K deal and goalie Olof Lindbom of Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Captain Jonny Brodzinski, with his youngest sibling, Easton, is on an AHL deal and scheduled to return. Then four junior-age players, Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL), and Roger Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), are coming to camp. Othmann has to spend a half-season in juniors after training camp with Flint (OHL) because of the CHL and NHL agreement that prohibits 19-year-olds from being in the AHL full-time unless a team's junior season has ended. He will be WJC eligible, which will be when he turns 20 NEXT January 5th. The last day of next year's WJC when it ends in Halifax and Moncton. Bobby Trivigino, signed at the end of the season from UMASS (HE), will be back. Patrick Khordorenko will be in the house in the last year of his deal. PLENTY OF MOVES The number of AHL'ers off to Europe is 42 as ex-Sound Tiger Josh Ho-Sang departs to Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia-KHL). Despite the Ukraine war, Russia amazingly leads the Euro race with ten signings. Sweden has nine, with Finland inking seven, Germany six and Austria four. NEWS AND NOTES The Wolf Pack 2022-23 schedule with three new opponents expected out in two weeks. The home opener is October 22nd. The Rangers lost Frank Vatrano to Anaheim. They got the backup goalie they sought in ex-Sound Tiger Jaroslav Halak from Vancouver at $1.5M. They also signed forward Vincent (Vinnie) Trochek from Carolina. To battle for the backup spot with a two-year contract, the Rangers signed Louis Domingue of Pittsburgh. He played with four teams last year (two NHL, two AHL). He hurt the Wolf Pack at the end of the year and nearly stole the Ranger series in an emergency relief situation in Pittsburgh. Instead, he got one-way money at $775K. Former CT Whale Cam Talbot was moved from Minnesota to Ottawa for goalie Filip Gustavsson. Ex-Pack Lias Andersson signs a one-year extension $750K deal with LA. Ex-Pack Malte Strömwall has decided to give North America another try and has  signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina/Chicago (AHL) for $750K-NHL/$150K-AHL leaving Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL) Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University) leaves for Anaheim-NHL/San Diego-AHL for Seattle-NHL/ Coachella Valley-AHL at $750K/$250K. --Fellow former Bobcat Chase Priskie leaves Florida-NHL/Charlotte-AHL to Buffalo-NHL/Rochester-AHL on a one-year $800K deal. Goalie Alex Lyon (Yale) from the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves/ Carolina (NHL) leaves to head off to Florida-NHL/Charlotte-AHL for one year at $750K. Another ex-Pack goalie, Dustin Tokarski, goes from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for a $775K package. Ex-Pack defenseman Anthony Bitetto goes from San Jose to Florida on a one-year, one-way deal at $750K. Max Pacioretty (New Canaan/Taft) was traded from Vegas to Carolina. Calle Järnkrok, the cousin of former Nighthawk Mikael Lindholm, signs a four-year deal with Toronto for $2.1M leaving Calgary. Rangers signed Adam Sýkora, 17, their first pick in last week's draft to a standard three-year ELC deal at $925K-NHL/$80K-AHL and because of his age, he will more than likely be with Medicine Hat (WHL) next year. They took him first overall in the CHL Import draft two weeks ago. SOMMER IN CALI Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joël Bouchard and his staff were sacked in early May. Now San Diego has hired the AHL's winningest coach, 65-year-old Roy Sommer (808 wins), ending a 24-year relationship running San Jose's minor league teams to replace Bouchard after just one year. Sommer also had two years as an assistant in San Jose and half a season as an interim head coach. He started coaching in Cali with the Roller Hockey International San Jose Rhinos (formerly Connecticut (New Haven) Coasters). As a young man, he started his minor pro playing career in the old Pacific Hockey League (PHL) with the Spokane (WA) Flyers. Sommer's hockey coaching journey started in Richmond/Roanoke in the ECHL and has taken him to Cleveland, Worcester, Kentucky, and the Bay Area for the last eight years. Cody MacLeod retires from playing in Iowa to become a skills development coach for Minnesota. The brand-new Coachella Valley (CA) Firebirds (Seattle) signed their first two players, Samuel Bucek from MHC Nitra of the Slovak Extra League, who has been in Slovakia. About six years ago, Bucek had three junior years with the Chicago Steel (USHL) twice and the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL). Then to take care of the heavy lifting, they inked the capable Ian MacKinnon, who had 145 PM between Providence and Maine (ECHL) and Jacksonville (ECHL) last year, totaling 31 games and remembered for his battles with ex-Pack Mason Geersten two years ago. The team hired the first female assistant coach at the pro level, with Jessica Campbell going to the Firebirds. They got from Detroit ex-Pack goalie Magnus Hellberg ticketed initially for Grand Rapids now has been re-routed to the California desert, Jon Gillies (Salisbury Prep) goes from New Jersey to Arizona. After six years in Cleveland, Justin Scott signs with the Colorado Eagles. Andrew Sorenson of Rockford has the interim tag as head coach at Rockford taken off. Daniel Brickley, the cousin of ex-Pack Connor Brickley, after splitting the year between Chicago (AHL)/Norfolk (ECHL), signs with Västerviks IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). -Nick Sczerbinski, a QU grad, was named as associate commissioner of the ECACHL after six years in Hamden as the associate athletic director for athletic communications since 2018. The Bobcats had another reason to celebrate as Boston hired Danielle Marmer (2017) to work in Player Development and as a Scouting assistant and became the first female bench hire in team history. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The New York Rangers have just four picks in this year's NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers’ highest pick this year is in the second round at No. 63 and is the only pick the Rangers have through the first three rounds. The draft was held in Montreal following a two-year absence because of the pandemic. The Rangers also have a fourth-round pick (#111), which was initially a Winnipeg Jets’ pick but made its way to New York via the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Brett Howden trade. The Rangers also have pick No. 159 in the fifth round and lastly at number 191 in the sixth round. The Rangers lost their 2022 first-round pick due to the conditions of the trade for Andrew Copp, whom President/GM Chris Drury acquired from the Jets at this year’s trade deadline in exchange for three draft picks and prospect Morgan Barron. The three draft picks were two conditional second-rounders and a 2023 fifth-round selection. The 2022 second-round pick the Rangers sent to Winnipeg became a first-round (number 30) since they reached the conference final, and Copp played in at least half of their playoff games. SECOND PICK For the other conditional second-round pick, the Jets had the option of taking the Blues’ original 2022 pick or the Rangers' in 2023. Instead, Winnipeg decided on this year’s second-rounder (number 55), which the Rangers acquired from St. Louis as part of the Pavel Buchnevich trade that also brought in the recently re-signed Sammy Blais. The Rangers' first selection in the second round (59th overall) was Adam Sykora, no relation to former NHL’er Petr. The young Slovak center showed a lot of little things in all departments, and the Rangers hope he grows into his body. Last week he was the first overall selection by the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) in the CHL Import Draft. The second pick in the third round (97th overall) of the draft, the Rangers selected LW Byrce McConnell-Barker. He's a solid 6’1 and 195-pounds with Sault Ste Marie (OHL) and had 23 goals in 68 games in the first season. FOURTH ROUND In the fourth round (111th overall), a center Noah Laba from Lincoln (USHL), a Colgate (ECACHL) commit next year, had 15 goals, 24 assists, and 39 points in 50 games. In the fifth round (159th overall), the Rangers selected a defenseman, Victor Mancini. He didn’t take the usual route. He's 6’3, 215-pounds, and was at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC). Laba played junior in Sweden for Frolunda HC and was named the team captain in his last season. His father, Bob, was all over the hockey map here and in Europe, from Michigan Tech as a head coach for four years as an assistant at Lake Superior State and Ferris State. He helped develop the fledgling hockey program nationally in South Africa. FIFTH ROUND In the fifth round (161st overall), they took Russian Maxim Barbashav, the younger brother of St. Louis Blue Ivan Barbashav from Moncton (QMJHL). At 6’1, 185-pounds, he has good size, and his first year's numbers include 15 goals and 42 points in 59 games. He was taken as the last pick of the round. The last Rangers pick has a familiar last name, defenseman Zakary Karpa. the son of former Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Ranger David Karpa from Harvard (ECACHL). Karpa was taken in the sixth round (191st overall). In 33 games in his freshmen year, he had six goals and 12 points. He has a twin brother Jakob. None of these picks will be in Hartford/New York for some time. GEORGIEV FINALLY DEPARTS After five seasons, the Rangers finally traded goalie Alexander Georgiev. The former Wolf Pack was sent to the Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche. Georgiev heads west for a third and fifth-draft pick and a third-round selection next year. The strategy increases their draft picks from four to six for Friday’s draft, rounds two through seven. The move came just hours before a CBA imposed the deadline of giving him a qualifying offer of $2.65M. He last played in Hartford for eleven games for the Pack in 2018-19. NHL DRAFT CONTINUED Nick Malik, the goalie son ex-Hartford Whaler, Ranger, Beast of New Haven, and Springfield Falcon, Marek Malik, was taken by Tampa Bay in the fifth round. David Spacek, the son of former Beast of New Haven's Jaroslav Spacek, was called by Minnesota in the fifth round. Landon Sim of London (OHL), the son ex-Sound Tiger Jon Sim, was taken in the sixth round. The youngest son of a former Whaler and the new scout with the Philadelphia Flyers, Sami Kapanen, Konsta Kapanen, was NOT selected. IN MEMORIAM Life intrudes at the worst times. On the eve of the draft, a sad development as former Whaler, a San Jose scout and skills development coach for their AHL team, Bryan Marchment, died suddenly in Montreal at the Sheraton Hotel next door to the Bell Centre at age 53. His son Mason is a member of the Florida Panthers. He also leaves behind his wife Kim, and daughter, Logan. Marchment played for nine NHL teams and was known as an abrasive player in his day, compiling over 2,307 PIM in 926 games and had a long-running feud with Mark Messier and Mike Gartner. QMJHL DRAFT The last of the amateur drafts took place on Monday and Tuesday before the NHL Draft by the QMJHL. The US portion of the league draft took place Tuesday after the main draft saw six members from Connecticut of the 36 players selected. The first one, taken second overall in the US portion, was Lucas St. Louis, the youngest son of current Montreal head coach, Hockey Hall of Famer, and former Ranger, Marty St. Louis. St. Louis, the youngest son of the former Ranger, is regarded as a very talented player from the Greenwich-based Brunswick School and was taken by the Victoriaville Tigres. The following selection was 13th in Stamford’s Matej Teply from the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep by the Acadie-Bathhurst Titan. CT CHIEFS U15 STUD TAKEN Then 17th overall, from Westport, was the Charlottetown (PEI) Islanders took Aryx Siefker of the CT Chiefs U-15 squad (AYHL). He is a Winchendon Prep School (MAPREP) commit next year. Then the following three selections came back-to-back. Taken 22nd was Ryan Lucarelli, from the New Milford-basedthe Val D’Or Foreurs took Canterbury Prep Saints teams. Then Spencer Morrow (Darien), one of the four hockey-playing nephews and nieces of former Whaler and Springfield Indians player Scott Morrow, was selected by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Older brother Scott (a Carolina NHL draftee) is at UMASS, and younger sister Sydney is heading to Ohio State (Big 10) in the fall. The youngest Sophie keeps the family tradition alive by playing with the Shattuck’s St Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP). The last Connecticut player was Blake Burke of Trumbull, who went 24th to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. MORE DRAFT NEWS The first round of the general regional draft featuring selections from the Canadian territories of Quebec in the Canadian provinces that comprise the Maritimes of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland/Labrador area. Tomas Lavoie, a defenseman, was taken first overall by the Cape Breton (NS) Eagles. He is no relation to former New Haven Senator Domenic Lavoie. Four US players were selected in the first round. First went Bill Zannon, who was taken sixth by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from Northwood Prep (NYPREP). Owen Phillips was taken by his hometown Halifax Mooseheads from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U-15 (T1EHL) in Pennsylvania. Then Williams Shields of Nova Scotia was taken by Cape Breton at number 11, From upstate NY near Rochester, Bishop Kearney HS (NYPREP). Then the next pick from the Selects Academy program at RI’s Mt. Charles Academy program was Sacha Boisvert by Chicoutimi. The first of four taken from the team. In the later rounds Tyler Wood, a PEI native was drafted from the Selects Academy program at South Kent Prep in the sixth round and 96th overall by Rouyn-Noranda. WOLF PACK 2022-23 Twenty-six players are either under a contract to return on their current contracts for the 2022-23 edition of the Wolf Pack. Even though the team needs an overhaul, there are few roster spots. A particularly vexing issue that has plagued them the past few years is the surplus of defensemen. Zac Jones and Matt Robertson are back under the second year of their contracts for another year. Also, Zach Guittari (Loomis Chaffee) returns on a one-year AHL deal for the Rhode Island native. Another is Nils Lundkvist, who has two years to RFA status and had a less than stellar first year in NY and Hartford, both players are from Sweden. Others who played secondary roles are Brandon Scanlin, Zach Berzolla and Hunter Skinner. Louka Henault was added to the mix. The newcomer just signed from Windsor (OHL). They also just added last year’s training camp invitee among the last cuts Blake Hillman, who split last year with Toledo (ECHL) and s spell with Grand Rapids and most of the second half with Providence to an AHL contract. A question is Jarred Tinordi, a year away from UFA status will he be back reprising the mentor role after being traded at last season’s trade deadline? Up front will see the most significant number of new players. BRODZINSKI BROTHERS Captain Jonny Brodzinski is likely to start the year in Hart City as well as his younger sibling Easton on a new one-year AHL deal. Expected newcomers are Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL). From Europe draftee Karl Henrickson, free agent signees Gustav Rydahl (Farjestad BK) and Carl Berglund (who was given a training camp invite), all are from Sweden. Returning on one-year AHL deals are; Tanner Fritz, Alex Whelan and Cristiano Di Giacinto, the last two players were walk-on’s the last two seasons. Patrick Khordorenko comes back on the last year of his contract, and Bobby Trivigno from UMASS will have an entire season to marinate Add one more name to the list, Ryan Lohin, who split last year between Charlotte and Allen (ECHL). Gone is forward Anthony Greco, off to Frölunda HC (Sweden-SHL, whoo was a Group 6 UFA. On the bubble as Group 6 (have reached age 25 and not playing enough NHL games under the CBA) is Kris Merkley and Maxim Letunov (UCONN-HE) both were acquired at the trade deadline. Likely neither will be back. RONNING Reports are that Ronning may sign with the hometown Canucks and be sent to Abbottsford (AHL) nearby. The other returning question marks are forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who has one year left before RFA status and had a rocky relationship with the team in the second half while being injury-riddled. Likely gone are underperforming Justin Richards, Mike O’Leary, and fill-in James Sanchez. Three players who had minor roles have gone to three different teams in Slovakia Abbott Girduckis (HC Presov), Liam Pecararo (HC Slovan Bratislava), and defenseman Hamden’s Mike Lee (HC Nove Zamsky). In goal, expect a whole new cast of characters. Already under contract on a three-year ELC coming in Dylan Garand (Kamloops-WHL) and Olof Lindbom (Kristianstads IK Sweden-Allsvenskan) and a new veteran goalie will more than likely be acquired to shepherd them the. through their pro baptism. Likely to be gone will be Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska (UCONN-HE), and Tyler Wall. LUKE MARTIN On Friday, defenseman Luke Martin was signed. He played a half-dozen games last year with Colorado (AHL) and most of the year with Utah (ECHL) and earned all ECHL Rookie team status. He has an interesting connection to current and past Wolf Pack and Rangers. He played under the stewardship of current Wolf Pack GM Ryan Martin at the US National Development program. Among his teammates then and is a new teammate are Patrick Khordorenko and current Rangers Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren were USNDTP teammates. He follows a long line of Michigan hockey players to suit up in Hartford from Chris Summers, Chris Brown, Steven Kampfer, Al Montoya and Director of Player Development, Jed Ortmeyer. His older brother Kenny is retired from hockey by nine years was a four-year player and senior captain at Yale. MORE CHANGES Coming in at goal under a three-year ELC deal is Dylan Grand (Kamloops (WHL) and Olof Lindbom, with a two-year ELC from Kristianstads IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan). Add to the training camp net menagerie now is Parker Gaghan who spent part of the year with Florida (ECHL) who went to the Kelly Cup final in a backup role and some time with Milwaukee. Then CT's own Charlie Leddy of Fairfield who spent one year at Avon Old Farms (CTPREP) from the US National Developmental Team (USHL) and played for the US WJC Team was taken by the Devils in the fourth round. He is BC (HE) bound in the fall. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With approximately 17 of the 20 roster spots set, the Hartford Wolf Pack roster assembly for the 2022-23 season is close to completion. All that is left for management to do is tinkering on the edges with free agent signings and eventual trade acquisitions. The likelihood of trades by the New York Rangers between now and NHL Draft time could change the look of the Pack lineup. In goal, expect to see a whole new cast of characters. Dylan Garand and Olof Lindbom are signed and ready for training camp. Keith Kinkaid, Adam Huska, and Tyler Wall are no longer with the organization. Kinkaid's age and falling from his playing perch is why he was let go. After six years in the building between his years with UCONN and the Wolf Pack, Huska is a gamer but never had an extended winning streak in either college or the pros. Wall was a premium college goalie, but after just 15 games here and nine in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen, he had never had the coaches' or the players' confidence. A late-season injury requiring season-ending knee surgery after suffering a freak pre-game injury in Jacksonville sealed his fate. FREE AGENTS Huska, Tim Gettinger, Anthony Greco, and Nick Merkley are Group 6 free agents, players who have not played enough games by age 25. Therefore, they are UFA (unrestricted free agents). The Rangers signed two of these players in the past, one retired, who never played again (Boo Nieves), and Steven Fogarty, who lasted for a year. Fogarty is now with the Providence Bruins. Joining Garand and Lindbom on the last year of their respective deals is Patrick Khordorenko, who was among the few players to flourish in the dreadful final third of the season. The team will have newcomers, including Will Cullye (Windsor-OHL), Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw-WHL), Brennan Othmann (Flint-OHL), and Matt Rempe (Seattle-WHL) from Canadian juniors. From Europe, along with Lindbom is Gustave Rydahl, a free agent from Fajestad BK-(Sweden-SHL) and draftee Karl Henriksson (Frölunda HC). Bobby Trivino (UMASS-HE) starts a full season. On the backline, the Pack already has Zac Jones, Matt Robertson, and Zach Guittari under contract. MOVES UNDER QUESTION Ty Ronning, while affable, gregarious, and a standup voice for the organization who has done so at times under the worst circumstances, is a question mark to return. He's played well, in spurts, but like his other teammates sputtered at the end. The other question mark is forward Lauri Pajuniemi, who had a rocky relationship in the second half with the team and missed significant time because of injuries. The question with Pajuniemi is will he return from Finland? Will his North Atlantic neighbor from Sweden, Nils Lundkvist, who struggled in Hart City, be back in the organization? Lundkvist was frozen out in New York and discovered, as it relates to Top-Six forwards and Bottom-Four defenseman, that time is contractually blocked-in both cap space and ice time. Another question surrounds whether Jarred Tinordi, on defense with a burgeoning young family, will return to reprise the Anthony Bitetto mentor role. Bitetto did very well until he checked out and was eventually dealt out. AND YET MORE QUESTIONS Captain Jonny Brodzinski will likely be back in Hartford unless the Rangers offer him a bottom-six role in New York. Should he be in Hartford, he will get the bonus of playing with just signed younger brother next year. All of these are unknowns. Anthony Greco is gone and will likely take his speed to Europe. Matt Lorito, who struggled with high in the zone defensive zone turnovers, will likely return overseas. The underperforming Justin Richards and the inconsistent Austin Rueschoff will likely land elsewhere. Jeff Taylor, the designated scratch-ee, for the last four years, will likely head overseas. Jake Elmer will probably be in the ECHL. NAHL In the NAHL Robertson Cup Finals, the New Jersey (Middletown) Titans won the title with a 3-0 win over the Anchorage (AK) Wolverines. The Wolverines advanced, winning over the St. Cloud (MN) Norsemen coached by ex-Ranger Corey Millen, and the Titans advanced to the finals beating the New Mexico (Albuquerque) ice Wolves. NAHL DRAFT The league's annual draft saw a few Connecticut-related names selected. Richard (DJ.) Hart from Stamford, who played in the USHL Clark Cup Final with the Madison Capitols, is listed as an Ohio State (Big 10) commit next year. He was taken by the Janesville (PA) Jets in the first round (11th overall). He also had five games with NAHL's Odessa (TX) Jackalopes. Jakob Karpa, the youngest son of ex-Sound Tiger/Wolf Pack and Ranger David Karpa, was taken by in the third round (65th overall) by the Lone Star (Ft. Worth, TX) Brahamas. He played for the Wenatchee (WA) Wild (BCHL) last year. Riley Bassen, the son of former Springfield Indian/Whaler Bob Bassen, was taken by the Corpus Christi (TX) Ice Rays from the Dallas Jr, Stars U-16 Elite (T1EHL) team. Lone Star took Stamford's Jakub Teply in the fourth round (116th overall) from the South Shore (MA) Kings (NCDC). Wolcott's Oliver Flynn, a former Connecticut Chief (EHL), who played for the Loomis Chaffe Pelicans, and was with the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC), was taken in the fifth round (137th overall) by the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears. He is a UCONN (HE) commit next year. In 2019 the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) selected him, as did the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) three years ago. Connor Welsh of Greenwich, a BC (HE) commit for next year, went in the eighth round (219th overall). Welsh played for the Sioux City (IA) Musketeers. After that, he went to (USHL) the Maryland Black Bears. In the ninth round (250th overall), Jason Siedem, formerly of Avon Old Farms, who played last year for the Cowichan Valley (BC) Capitals (BCHL) and the Blackfalds (AB) Bulldogs (AJHL), was taken by the Minnesota Wilderness. Springfield (MO) Jr.Blues took him last year. The Danbury Hat Tricks had four selections on the day. They had the first overall pick and took Jacob Lavallée from Cote-de-Sud Everest (QJHL). He played two games for the Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and was a 2019 draft selection of the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL). The team didn't select again until the fourth round (88th overall). They took Wyatt Stefan, the son of former NHL'er Patrik Stefan, who played last year for New Jersey Rockets and Ridge (NJ) HS from the Detroit Little Caesars program. In the fifth round (117th overall), they selected a Belarussian player, Denis  Radchenko. He is from the Yunost Minsk junior team. The forward checks in at 6'5 and 200lbs. With their final selection in the sixth round (146th overall), they went in-house and selected Reece Tamburo from the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL). The team also announced the formal completion of the purchase of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights franchise that became the Hat Tricks. MORE PLAYER MOVEMENT Calle Själin, a 2017 fifth-round Rangers draft pick, has elected to sign with the Florida Panthers. He has played with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL) and comes from a long line of Swedish league players. Currently, brother Pontus is playing Division 2. His father, Jörgen, played Divison-1. His uncle, Jens, played as high as Swedish junior. His grandfather, Kent, also played. Själin's Entry Level Contract (ELC) is for two years and pays $925K in the NHL and $80K in the AHL. As per the new CBA, he is the first hockey-playing member of the family to come to North America. Ex-Pack Patrick Newell departs Sterjen (Norway-NEL) for Fehérvár AV19 (Hungary-IceHL) next season. Ex-Pack Shawn “Odie” O’Donnell heads from Dornbirner EC (Austria-IceHL) to EHC Freiburg (Germany DEL-2). Another ex-Pack, Simon Denis, comes back to North America from the Tokohu Free Blades (Japan-ALIH) and signs with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). Another ex-Pack, Sean Day, gets a one-year extension from the Syracuse Crunch, which includes a pay raise to a two-way $750K-NHL/$200K-AHL deal. Then ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Joe Whitney, who had the shortest reign as a Pack team captain (two days faster than Cole Schneider) for half a season, hangs them up after a four-year career in Europe with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany-DEL). Ex-Sound Tiger Matt Donovan leaves for Europe again after departing the Milwaukee Admirals for Adler Mannheim (Germany-DEL) next year. Now 22 AHL players have signed overseas. MORE MOVES Former UCONN forward Kale Howarth signs a one-year AHL deal in Rockford. Greenwich's Luke Esposito, the nephew of Mark Messier, signs with the Bakersfield Condors. Former Ranger head coach and New Haven Nighthawk's assistant coach, John Tortorella, finds his way to the Philadelphia Flyers as their new head coach. Former New Haven Knights (UHL) player Alexsei Lazarenko was an assistant coach this year for Rilat Kharkiv (Ukraine-UHL). Due to the invasion by Russia, their season ended early and had no playoffs. GORDIE CLARK Rangers former Pro Scout Gordie Clark, 70, who worked for the Rangers for 19 years in several capacities in Player Development and Scouting and with the Sound Tigers as Director of Hockey Operations earlier this century and was with the Islanders for eight years, was let go by the Rangers. Gordie's son, Brendon Clark, was an American scout of college and junior hockey; after twelve years was terminated. The senior Clark had a very distinguished playing career in the 1970s, first with the UNH Wildcats (ECACHL), then the Rochester Americans, then with the Springfield Indians, and 21 games in the WHA with the Cincinnati Stingers and with the first edition of the Maine Mariners before finishing his playing career in Germany. His only NHL time was with the Boston Bruins for eight games, where he posted an assist. His brother, Gary Clark, played at UNH, mainly in the Canadian Maritimes senior league. No word on whether Gordie will continue with another organization or retire to his native Nova Scotia and if Brendon will catch on with another team. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced several transactions yesterday afternoon. The Rangers completed two trades before the NHL’s annual trade deadline involving the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and have assigned a pair of players to Hartford. First, the Rangers acquired forward Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward Morgan Barron, two conditional second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers also traded defenseman Anthony Bitetto to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Nick Merkley. In addition, the Rangers have assigned Merkley and defenseman Brandon Scanlin to the Wolf Pack. Merkley, selected in the first round (30th overall) by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, has skated in 43 games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda this season. Merkley has scored 36 points (11 g, 25 a) and collected 28 PIMs. Merkley’s career-high in points is 39 (18 g, 21 a), set during his rookie season with the Tucson Roadrunners during the 2017-18 campaign. In addition to his 43 games with the Barracuda, Merkley has appeared in nine games with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks this season, scoring three points (1 g, 2 a). The native of Calgary, Alberta, has skated in 185 career AHL games, scoring 147 points (51 g, 96 a). In addition, Merkley has appeared in 41 NHL games with the Coyotes, Sharks, and New Jersey Devils, scoring 15 points (4 g, 11 a). Scanlin, an undrafted free agent from Hamilton, Ontario, played the last three seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In 38 games this season with the Mavericks, Scanlin set new career-highs in goals (six), assists (25), and points (31). Before his time in the NCAA, Scanlin played two seasons of junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Brooks Bandits. Scanlin skated in 98 games with the Bandits, scoring 84 points (24 g, 60 a). Scanlin was named the AJHL’s Playoff MVP after the 2018-19 season after guiding his team to an Enerflex Cup Championship. Scanlin signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Sunday. The Pack is back at the XL Center for a four-game homestand starting on Wednesday, March 23rd. The Wolf Pack will host the Springfield Thunderbirds in the first of two meetings between the rivals in three days. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. For tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com. NEW YORK RANGERS HOME Read the full article