#carterberger

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings STORRS, CT - As if on cue, the first-morning dew on campus heralded a new hockey season for the UCONN Huskies and their head coach, Mike Cavanaugh. “I’m excited to be with the team and to make a deep push in Hockey East and maybe the NCAA tournament (both at the Boston Garden this year). We’ll have our fifth practice today, and I hope we’ll have 16 before next weekend’s first game with Sacred Heart (University) at the XL Center.” SHU is the Division I level team UCONN has had trouble with and has not beaten them at the D1 strata. “Not only have our freshmen, but none of our sophomores have played there, so we want to get them acclimated to the building,” remarked Cavanaugh. LAST YEAR The team, which posted a 10-11 record last year and lost to Providence College in the playoffs’ opening round, hasn’t advanced in Hockey East post-season action. They have a slew of grad transfers, and it’s different but not unique to future opponents. “It was like they were recruiting us in (goalie) Darion Hanson (Union College), Kevin O’Neil (Yale), and (Jarrod) Gourley (Arizona State). They didn’t play last year. They spoke to us, and I have spoken to their coaches, who would love to have had them back for a fifth year, and they spoke highly of them. “Boston University, our second opponent, has seven (transfers). We just have three, and they have been committed to us for a long time. They give us a different perspective and are a great for me and a great resource for our players,” remarked Cavanaugh. IN NET In net, Hanson will share duties with Logan Terness, who’s a highly touted freshman from Trail (BCHL). They will also have one goalie coming off labrum (hip) surgery, Matt Pasquale. They will also have one having it, Ryan Keane (Coppell, Texas), who both had zero time behind the off to the NHL, Tomáš Vomáčka, who played every second last year. “It’s wide open; not a lot of them played last year. Darion has the most experience of the three goalies, so I expect he’ll get the most work early, but we have five or six practices to go before that decision is made.” Upfront, the Huskies have a solid returning cast led by last year’s Hockey East top scorer, senior Jonny Evans. They’ll also have senior Carter Turnbill, and after not being offered a contract, 6’6 center from the Czech Republic, Jachym Kondelik (Nashville). FIRSTOV Vladislav Firstov (Minnesota) is giving Cavanaugh a rare luxury they haven’t had. "This is the best depth we’ve had since I’ve been here. We really don’t have a fourth line. I can spread Jonny on one line, Vladdy Firstov on another, Carter Turnbull on one, Jachym (Kondelik) on another. This could be the strength of our team this year.” On defense, Yan Kuznetsov and Tomas Vomáčka went pro, Kuznetsov, though, was a surprise. “Tomas, a goalie, they offered him a contract, and they give out only five or six goalies. One, you gotta take it, and it shows they think he can play. So, you have to take the contract. Yan, by the same token, was a surprise. It wouldn’t have hurt him to come back,” remarked his now-former head coach. SOPHMORES His younger sophomore class with Hudson Schandor, Artem Schlaine, Cassidy Bowes, and Nick Capone (East Haven/Salisbury School) (Tampa Bay 6th round #157) got to know Hockey East last year, introduced themselves, and got quality minutes. He has high hopes for Capone. “He is really a good player. He can do a lot of things (well) that can translate to getting to the next level. I want him to be more of a factor night in and night out. I want him to play a power forward game like Tom Wilson without the suspensions, antics, and penalties. I want him averaging three or four shots a game, and he’s capable of that, and can bring that intimidation factor to the game too.” On the backline, Jake Flynn and Carter Berger, are a pair that have made early good impressions. CAPTAIN KINAL On his team’s new captain, Roman Kinal, Cavanaugh was philosophical. “He’s on a trajectory like (former defenseman) Wyatt Newpower was (now with Cleveland-AHL). He struggled on-and-off the ice in the classroom the first year and struggled with his play and injuries in his second year.” His freshmen class is a more traditional mix in net with a high-end goalie prospect in Terness, who’s in the mold like Adam Huska and Tomas Vomacka, who both came before him. There’s also a late defenseman to commit, Aidan Metcalfe, and in-state kid Jake Veilleux (South Windsor/Selects Academy at South Kent Prep), another BCHL grad from the Victoria Grizzlies, and Sasha Telguine. “Aidan was a surprise. He is a big kid, strong, skates well; Veilleux can play forward or defense. He’s pretty versatile, and Sasha has a lot of skill. We’re not going to have to rely on them because we’re a veteran team. Injuries in a season will happen, so it’s good to have some players to slide into those positions, on a veteran-laden team.” POSTSEASON HOPES The change in the post-season conference playoff system to the one-and-done structure from the three-game series that Cavanaugh has advocated for over the past several years. “I think you’ll see more conferences going toward it. It mirrors our national tournament. Shooting for Boston is a team goal.” The new captain Kinal replaces Adm Karascik (Ridgefield/Avon Old Farms) will play a post-grad year at ND. “The (Boston) Garden has been talking about all (offseason and all year) Hockey East is there, the Finals (Frozen Four) are there. We’ve been talking about it all year to get to the Garden; that’s our goal. That’s our long-term goal. We also, of course, have individual goals. That starts with winning October 2nd against Sacred Heart and goes from there.” DRAFT PICKS That some of his players and just five nationally (three in the first six picks) with more incoming players selected surprised Cavanaugh. “When you’re drafted, that means the work has just begun. When you’re drafted, you sign a million-dollar deal; you’re taking home $400,000 after taxes, escrow, and paying your agent, and we’re bringing in business people to educate the kids about the business inside and outside of hockey. It’s sticker-shock when you go to places like Seattle and California,” said Cavanaugh. The brand new yet unnamed rink is taking shape. “It’s great,” said Cavanaugh. The new (UCONN) rink will be the second smallest rink in the conference to Matthews Arena (home to Northeastern built over 100 years ago and occupied in 1910.) We’re already getting benefits on the recruiting trail with inquiries from kids we wouldn’t have heard from before, say, three or four years ago. It’s exciting; once a week at the top of the hill, I can look in, and you can see the foundation of the building now.” CAPTAIN PUMPED His captain is equally enthused. “I pass it every day going to class. It’s awesome. You definitely see progress being made. Every year they would talk about. Now you see the stones being set in place. Now you see the work being done. It’s pretty cool were excited for sure,” said Kinal. The season looks to be a bright one for UCONN. COLLEGE NEWS Heading pro is Wisconsin-River Falls (WIAC) player from Division III in Christian Hausinger, with Wichita (ECHL) as the seventh D3 player. The Division-1 breakdown is: Hockey East 29, Big 10 has 23, NCHC 17, AHA 11, ECACHL with eight, CCHA, formerly the WCHA with four, and independent Arizona State with two. Division-I pro signees are 94, underclassmen who have left school early 36, and ALL college players signed from Division I and III in North America are now up to 132. Grad school transfers are at 51, and school transfers are 81 for 132 players who switched schools. In addition, 36 Division I and III have headed to Europe, including the latest Jaako Heikkinen (Denver University). Three went to Canadian college and university, and one went to Canadian major junior. COACHES A whole slew of volunteer coaches and assistant coaches were named. Jordy Murray at ND, Jack Riley heads to Division III independent Albertus Magnus College (New Haven), Ryan Zapolski, former Team USA goalie in the 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea Games at Mercyhurst (AHA). Peter Ward is the new is senior advisor for coaches at MSU with Dylan Strom, the Spartans volunteer, Matthew Vanden Berg at Maine (HE). Minnesota State in the new CCHA and Colgate ECACHL are the preseason favorites to win their conferences. The brand new Ed Robson Arena at Colorado College ribbon is cutting is coming up shortly. UCONN HOCKEY HOME Read the full article

Several college players have signed pro deals. The latest to sign is Josh Dunne of Clarkson University (ECACHL). He puts his name to a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) and was sent on loan to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). Bryce Misley of the University Vermont (HE) signs with the Iowa Wild (AHL). Division-III's Adam Parsells of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WIAC) signs with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL). Two Connecticut players make college commitments.  Max Phillips of the CT Chiefs (EHL) will head to Division III's Southern New Hampshire University (Northeast-10) which was formerly known as New Hampshire College. Alex Mosian (Greenwich/Hotchkiss Prep) makes a commitment to Division III's Trinity College (Hartford) Bantams (NESCAC). Micah Gernander, the Connecticut-born (Newington) son of former Hartford Wolf Pack head coach and player, Ken Gernander, has made a commitment to Gustavus Adolphus (St. Peter, MN) for 2021-22. He currently is skating with the Rochester (MN) Grizzlies (NA3HL). UCONN HOCKEY HOME Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - For UCONN hockey, COVID-19 has been a major headache. In shortening its 2019-20 season, COVID-19 took away UCONN's post season aspirations. Now in 2020-21, the invisible menace is continuing to wreck havoc and cause major structural changes to their schedule and consequently their potential lineup. The latest COVID curveball came in a late day NCAA announcement on Saturday for the upcoming season that will allow players in the fall to play Junior-A hockey and still preserve their NCAA eligibility, but only if they are enrolled in school. The players will be able to play again for their respective school once the conference season commences, which looks more likely to be in the second semester in January 2021. The ruling is stated as such: Current student-athletes whose institutions will not be playing hockey during the fall semester will be permitted to participate in non-collegiate, amateur competition i.e. junior hockey on an outside team during the fall 2020 term (subject to school and conference approval). These student-athletes may compete on an outside team while remaining enrolled in their NCAA institution, which typically would not be allowed. An institution or conference may not provide expenses for such competition and the student-athlete must be in good academic standing. A student-athlete who remains enrolled at the institution may not miss class to participate in outside competition. Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - In about as dramatic fashion as you could imagine, the UCONN Huskies (15-13-4 overall, 12-8-2 HEA) pulled off a stunning, two-goal, late-in-the-game comeback getting the game-winner with 8.9 seconds left to upend the UMASS-Minutemen, 3-2. The Huskies knocked off the #8 ranked team in the country and officially clinched a playoff spot. The win put them in second-place a point ahead of UMASS-Amherst. For the second week in a row, while at home and looking like a defeat was in front of them, the Huskies pulled it from the cliff and turned the XL Center into Mardi Gras and New Year's Eve all rolled into one. With the Huskies buzzing, the rowdy XL Center crowd of 6,666 urged them on with defenseman Wyatt Newpower zipping a pass across to Carter Berger at the left point. Berger launched a shot that went off of several bodies in front likely UMASS defenseman, Colin Felix, who was battling the Huskies Jachym Kondelik in front of the net. UMASS goalie Filip Lundberg was down in his butterfly position not anticipating the shot. Kale Howarth, a big body in front, got a swat at the puck on the backhand and put it in the net for his fourth goal of the season with 8.9 seconds which originally said 7.8 was on the clock. The XL Center exploded in a furious celebration at the turn of events. “We got a great group. We thrive under pressure. We’re showing people we're not a mediocre Hockey East team. We know it,” said Howarth. "Everybody knows over the last three weekends UCONN hockey is for real. The moment was a blur. I blacked out for a few seconds, I was so fired up. The energy was great (the crowd). Everybody brought that energy. That’s what’s been helping us play a full 60.” Improbable as a word doesn't aptly describe it. “Everybody was relaxed, taking (a few) deep breaths. Let’s make our next shift the best shift it can be. Our bench was calm. There wasn’t any panic. Let’s stick to the game plan. It paid off,” said Mike Cavanaugh, UCONN's head coach of those wild few moments leading up to the momentous conclusion. At this point, the team has no fear and there's no wavering under pressure. They EXPECT to win. Doubt doesn’t exist “There is no quit and we play to the buzzer. We had no doubts we're going to win,” said Freeman. The game-tying goal was equally heart-stopping and a thing of beauty. Berger, at center ice and falling down, reached and pushed the puck forward. Marc Gatcomb got the puck from Howarth who lifted the stick of Minutemen defenseman Nik Hildenbrand to maintain possession along the lower right-wing boards. He sent it back to Gatcomb in the faceoff circle and he weaved his magic to the net and tied the game with a perfect far-post backhander that nestled just inside the post at 19:04 for his ninth of the season. For UMASS (19-11-2 overall, 12-8-2 HEA) head coach Greg Carvel the game boiled down to a simple strategy. “Our five guys tried to prevent their five from getting to the net and we failed to execute that over the last two minutes (1:31 of play) and credit UCONN, they earned and deserved it.” The ending seemed to be heading the other way as UMASS scored a powerplay goal midway through the third period to take a 2-1 lead. Replay showed that a questionable call was made on Berger as UMASS’s Reed Lebster lost his edge on his forechecking attempt. UMASS' powerhouse, John Leonard, the nation’s leading scorer, picked off a clearing attempt and used his body to shield the puck and tap dance along the blue line. He accelerated away from Kondelik, who was checking on him. He then went against then grain on the right side, saw he had a screen and fired on net. The puck went in for his second of the night to the stick-side of Tomas Vomacka at 9:03. It was his 26th goal of the season In the second period, the Huskies grabbed the lead. Berger, who has gone 15 games without a goal. He last scored on December 7th against Vermont and has gone exactly two months without a point (since December 28th against St. Lawrence), Kondelik picked up a puck in center ice and circled back into the UCONN zone. He snapped a pass to Berger at center ice. Berger had an open lane to skate into and jumped up the left-wing side as he waited for Minuteman defenseman Matt Kessel to commit going down to the ice. Gatcomb arrived to provide a last-second decoy and Berger fired what became his second goal of the season into the top shelf at 8:32. “(It's) been a while since I chipped in offensively in that sense. (It's) nice to get that one and get the win,” said Berger. UCONN's Brian Rigali was going off for a shift change, but wheeled and fired a chance on net. Lindberg was surprised by the shot but made the save. Alexander Payusov was bearing down on him at the blue line, but John Leonard fired a seemingly harmless shot, but Bobby Trivigno arrived at the net with the Huskies Wyatt Newpower to form a screen and the puck sailed over Vomacka’s glove and at 13:56 It seemed to have been deflected, but Leonard was credited with his 25th of the season. Then Berger made a play that made all the late-game pyrotechnics possible. First, Berger coughed up the biscuit to Trivigno about 35 feet from the net. He fired a quick shot and it was seemed to have been stopped by Vomacka, and Trivigno started to skate away from the play. The puck however was still loose and was skittering from his pads and heading toward the goal. Berger lept back diving ahead of UMASS’S Eric Faith and tucked it back under Vomacka, who still had Kolby Vegara trying whack at it until Newpower neutralized him and Vomacka retained control of the puck. The Huskies were outshot 7-4 and went on a 8-1 run over the final nine minutes. NOTES: Cavanaugh praised the crowds first in his opening comments, “They said there were 6.700 people here. It felt like more. The building was as loud as its been since I’ve been here, when we tied it.” Then two teams meet tomorrow night at the Mullins Center at 8 PM (NESN PLUS) UCONN closes out the regular a season next week against UMASS-Lowell at the Tsongas Arena, Nice request from UCONN Payusov to have the Canadian national anthem played before the game. Former Husky, Spencer Nass, was traded from the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) to the Kalamazoo K-Wings. Somewhere in Florida after his latest team this year the Newfoundland (St. John’s) Growlers after their game with the Florida Everblades, former Husky captain Miles Gendron could raise a glass to his former teammates for fulfilling on something he said a year ago at the final regular season home game also against UMASS a 4-3 win. “I’m so very proud of these guys. We wanted to be the first group to win a playoff game. We fell short of being the first group to win a playoff game, but tonight was our playoff game and we won it. I have faith in this group they are gonna do it next year.” The Huskies are knocking on the doorstep of doing just that. Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - A timely goal midway through the second period along with strong goaltending from junior Trevin Kozlowski and a strong defense allowed Army to upend UCONN 2-1 Friday in their home opener. The loss leaves the Huskies without a win while Army remains undefeated before 2,029, the lowest home-opening crowd since UCONN began playing home games at the XL Center. UCONN drops to (0-1-1 overall, 0-0-0 HEA) and Army goes to (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 AHA). The Huskies play Saturday afternoon in another non-conference game beginning at 3:30 pm against RPI (ECACHL). The Army hockey team is off until next weekend when they host Robert Morris in their home and conference opening game. The early part of the third period belonged to Kozlowski who stoned Ruslan Ishkarov on a break in taking Kyle Howarth’s pass before going forehand-to-backhand, but the 6’4 netminder stretched his left leg out as far as it could go and kept he puck from crossing the goal line at 1:45. “I thought we played a decent game for two periods. We didn’t bury our chances. You gotta bury them,” remarked UCONN head coach, Mike Cavanaugh. “Their goaltender played well. I give him credit. They played hard and it was a good hockey game. I thought in the third period we tilted the ice, but I think in this game when you get the chances, you have to bury them.” At 3:52, Russian freshmen, Alexander Firstov, made a great move in the left-wing circle to get around a defenseman, and fired a shot to the short-side, but the goal post was in the way. The Huskies bad puck-luck continued midway through the third period. The Huskies, Marc Gatcomb, took a long shot into the zone that came off the backboards and came back right through Kozlowski’s legs. Gatcomb then managed to get between two Army defensemen while falling down to fire the puck that went off the inside of the post to the Huskies dismay. The subsequent review confirmed it. Firstov put his team-high fourth shot on net, but Kozlowski denied him. On the other side, UCONN sophomore Tomas Vomacka stopped Tucker DeYoung’s fifth shot on net with 7:31 left that Vomacka kept from going to the back of the net on a sharp angle shot from the right-wing boards. The Huskies had their chances late with Jachym Kondelik getting two of them. The first was in the right-wing circle. He missed the net. The second one on the left-wing and was stopped by Kozlowski. The third came off a clean win off the draw to Kale Howarth with 2.4 seconds left. It was blocked by the Army defense to end the game. “We were trying to be cute, make that extra move. When you're going to the net, you gotta not be so concerned about (how you shoot it), but get it off quick and shoot it hard, rather than being concerned about being cute and putting it in a certain spot and we hit a couple of posts. That will happen in this game, but if you put performances like we did in the third period, those will eventually go your way,” Cavanaugh said while speaking philosophically on his team’s offense game posture. The first period had a dearth of quality scoring chances while the second period saw two goals scored in a 31-second span. The Army Black Knights Dominic Franco won a draw from Ben Freeman and got the puck back to John Zimmerman (Arlington, TX). The right-handed shot at the left point launched a shot that found its way past Vomacka at 3:17. “It was a knuckleball that kinda fooled Tomas,” said Cavanaugh. UCONN wasted little time in answering back. This time the shot from the left point and came from the Huskies highly-regarded freshmen rearguard, Carter Berger. He sent a hard, low shot on net. It redirected by Brian Rigali in front of the net to tie the game at one. “We got a good entry into the zone on that. I actually fell down and worked my way back to the front of the net. I got lucky it was a nice shot (by Berger),” said Rigali. Army operated like a platoon getting territorial shots on net, spaced apart. Puck possession allowed the Black Knights to take the lead at 2-1. Defenseman Marshall Plunkett zipped down the left-wing boards and went around the back of the UCONN net. He put a pass in front sending it to the hard-charging, Mason Krueger. Husky, Carter Turnbull, had his back turned and didn’t know where the puck, or Krueger, was. So, Krueger pushed it over to a wide-open Daniel Haider on the left-wing and he put it in at 15:50 for a 2-1 Army lead that sustained them the rest of the game. The first period looked like it was being coached by Jacques Lemaire. UCONN and Army combined for just 12 shots between them, and the quality chances few and far between. The lone solo rush by either school came as Konedlik, a 6’6, Czech, drove wide on the left got to the front of the net, but Kozlowski shut the open five-hole and rejected the bid with 2.3 seconds left in the period. Army had just had its best quality at the other end as Vomackarejected senior Dominic Franco (Portsmouth, RI) as he tried to nail the shot far side. Kozlowski had two other quality stopping Firstov on a redirect in front at 10:12 and then at 12:38 he stopped Turnbull. NOTES: UCONN won last year’s meeting with Army 5-2 at West Point. Army won its opening game 2-1 over Union College Kozlowski played three seasons of prep school hockey at Gunnery Prep (Washington, CT) and was the team captain his senior season. Senior Bryan Gerstenfeld (Fairfield, CT) did not play public or prep school hockey in Connecticut. Alex Wilkinson of the Black Knights played his junior hockey with the CT (Norwalk) Oilers (EHL). First major Hockey East injury, Ty Amonte, the son former NHL’er Tony Amonte, was announced by Boston University that he would miss the entire season with an upper-body injury. The Hockey East portion of the Huskies schedule starts November 3rd against Merrimack at 2:05 pm Saturday's game will be a dedication to the 2000 MAAC championship UCONN team which was their first foray in Division I hockey. The trophy will be on display on the concourse and other celebratory displays are planned. Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The sun is close to setting on the Hartford Wolf Pack's 2019-20 season. The Wolf Pack have their last midweek contest in Springfield in a building that has haunted THEM the past two seasons and presently the Thunderbirds lead the series five games to four. Both teams are looking at some serious roster makeovers in the offseason and maybe changes in coaching staffs. On Saturday, the Pack host the sliding Utica Comets who have gone 1-8-1 in their last 10, and on Sunday afternoon, the Binghamton Devils come to town at 3 pm. The Devils are tied for the worst goals against in the AHL with Ontario at 253, the Pack is third with 243. The Pack at 28-32-7-3 and 66 points and the eighth and last spot in Atlantic Division are six points behind Springfield with each having six games left and Hartford is four wins from the .500 mark. The Rangers end their regular season on Saturday against Pittsburgh and it's very unlikely Vinni Lettieri and/or John Gilmour will be assigned back to the Wolf Pack for the last four games of the season. PACK SIGNINGS & MOVEMENTS The direction for the 2019-20 edition of the Wolf Pack can be seen in the signing of Patrick Newell of St. Cloud St. (NCHC) to an ATO deal. Despite being upset by the Springfield-based American Internation College (AIC) 3-1, the biggest NCCA post-season upset since R.I.T. (Rochester Institute of Technology) knocked off Minnesota in 2012 Newell has an impressive resume. He was on three consecutive championship teams in three separate leagues. In 2013-14, he was a Clark Cup champion with the Indiana Ice (USHL), 2014-15 BCHL Fred Page Cup champion with the Penticton Vees and won an NCAA championship with St. Cloud St. in his freshmen season. At St. Cloud St., they also won three Penrose Cup NCHC conference titles. He was on the First All-Star team and a Hobey Baker nominee this season for the 23-year-old from Thousand Oaks, CA. The Wolf Pack released Greg Chase from his PTO deal. Defenseman Josh Wesley, still in the Carolina organization, was reassigned to the Maine Mariners (ECHL) for a day and then reassigned back by Carolina in what was clearly a paper transaction by the Hurricanes who still have Wesley as a part of their organization. NOTES: The first two AHL’ers to sign for Europe next year has occurred. Axel Holmstrom of the Grand Rapids Griffins returns to his native Sweden to play for HV 71 (Sweden-SHL). Linus Bystrom of Springfield will play for Karpat Oulu (Finland-FEL). Read that HERE.  However, the teams have not made an official announcement which will likely come next week when the AHL regular season concludes. Former Yale Bulldog, Joe Snively, had his first pro goal with Hershey, a game-winner against Providence. Dominic Turgeon, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Sylvain Turgeon, was recalled by Detroit from Grand Rapids. He joins ex-Pack Dylan McIlrath, who was recalled last week. Andrew Peeke Notre Dame (Big 10) signs with Cleveland (AHL). Laval gets two prized underclassmen, Ryan Poehling St.Cloud St. and goalie Cayden Primeau of Northeastern (HE), the son of ex-Whaler Keith Primeau. The college player signings continue on pace as Shane Bowers BU goes to Colorado (AHL). Daniel Perez Maine (HE) heads to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL). Joe Daccord of Arizona State and an NCAA Division I independent signs with Ottawa after the Sun Devils were eliminated by Quinnipiac over the weekend. The Bobcats Brogan Rafferty signed a one-year deal two-way deal with Vancouver and could play for  Utica when the Comets take on the Pack this coming weekend. Teammate Craig Martin signed with Springfield while Northeastern’s Liam Pecararo could be in the lineup for the Thunderbirds tomorrow when they host the Pack for the last time this season. The total number of Division I players who have signed is 123. The total number of signings, including Division II, who have signed pro deals in the US and Europe is 140. Congrats to ex-Wolf Pack assistant coach JJ Daigneault, who has been in the same position with San Antonio, will head to Quebec City this weekend where he will be inducted into the QMJHL Hall-of-Fame joining a pretty distinguished class along with goalie coach, Francois Allaire, the brother of Rangers' goaltending guru, Benoit Allaire, former NHL’ers goalie, Stephane Fiset, defenseman Bob Murray, and Mario Tremblay one of the Montreal Canadiens all-time greats. The QMJHL one of Canada’s three major junior leagues is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season. In Daigneault’s first junior season, he played with the Laval Voisins with a player named Mario Lemieux, and he was on the Montreal Canadiens last Stanley Cup winner, which ironically is the last NHL team to capture Lord Stanley in 1993. The Canadian Junior A BCHL Final Four is set with the Vernon Vipers featuring Ben Sanderson, son of ex-Whaler Geoff and is coached by former New Haven Nighthawk Mark Ferner. The Victoria Grizzlies feature UCONN recruit offensive defenseman standout Carter Berger and Wenatchee (WA) Wild with Wilton native Matt Gosiewski and the Prince George Spruce Kings will play for Page Cup trophy. The BCHL Surrey Eagles hired ex-Pack, Cam Keith, as their new head coach and associate GM. Ex-Pack, Ahti Oksanen, stays in Finland, but signs with the KHL team for next year in Jokerit Helsinki. Ex-Pack, Malte Stromwall, is moving from KooKoo (Finland-FEL) to HK Sochi (Russia-KHL) next season. Former Springfield Falcon, Mike Blunden, goes from HC Bolzano (Italy-EBEL)  goes to ERC Schwenniger (Germany-DEL) next season. HK Mogo Riga won the Latvia Hockey title in six games over HK Kurbads who feature ex-Pack Juris Stals in six games. Some bad news for women's pro hockey with the sudden and unexpected folding of the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) a week after the Calgary Inferno won what is the last Isobel Cup title in league history. The only other women’s pro hockey league now is the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League) already announced it will expand to Toronto and Montreal. Merger talks have been off and an on between the two leagues and the players were in support of a merger, but an agreement was never reached. The 40th anniversary of the NHL-WHA merger is coming up. It radically changed the salary structure of professional hockey at that time. It ushered in a new era for the game in new markets. One of the architects of the merger was the owner of the New England Whalers and eventually the Hartford Whalers, Howard Baldwin, Sr. who was rhapsodic about the process that eventually led to the eventual union of the two leagues. Only the Edmonton Oilers remain from the original merger. The current Winnipeg Jets came from Atlanta and have a totally new logo of course. Only Quebec City has a slim, and outside chance of returning to the NHL with its brand new Videotron Centre. Read about it HERE. Read the full article