Tagged: Hartford Wolf Pack

04Dec

Dylan Reese(2) New York Islanders

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dylan-reese-2

5th year defenseman (his 3rd in the Islanders‘ system) Dylan Reese(2) is making the most of his 1st NHL call up of the 2011/2012 season.

He potted a flutterer from the point in his 2nd game with the team, which also turned out to be a win for the team.

Originally a 7th round pick by  New York Rangers in 2003 (#209 overall), the Isles is the only team he’s played in the NHL with. He has just under 300 games of AHL experience with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (his current team), Syracuse Crunch, San Antonio Rampage and Hartford Wolf Pack.

He does have the ability to be an offensive threat from the point.

02Dec

Chad Johnson(30) / Cameron Talbot(33) Connecticut Whale

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Having a hot backstop heading into the playoffs is always a recipe for success. Having two is flat out insane.

This could very well be the scenario for Connecticut Whale as they march through the 2011/2012 season.

The goaltender tandem of 2006 Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick (#125 overall), traded to the Rangers in 2009, Chad Johnson(30) and undrafted free agent signing in 2010, Cameron Talbot(33) looks to make the Whale favorites for the 2012 AHL Calder Cup.

Johnson already picked up AHL Goaltender Of The Month honors for October.

The pair played the majority of last season with the team but something for this team feels a lot different this year.

26Nov

Dov Grumet-Morris(1) San Antonio Rampage

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It’s a bit of a wonder that 7th year pro goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris(1) didn’t sign with at least an AHL team in the offseason after posting solid numbers for Connecticut Whale in 22 games last season (13 wins against 5 losses, 2.12 GAA and .923 SV%).

But seemingly no one bit, until recently when the first team he tended net for in the league along his journeyman career would come calling once again.

San Antonio Rampage signed him to a standard player contract, a scenario he’s a bit unfamiliar with in his time spent with 10 different teams in North American hockey. Only his two seasons overseas had him on one team for the duration, but otherwise it’s been mostly pto’s for the former star goalie at Harvard University.

The Whale did eventually sign him to a contract last year but he was third wheel as soon as their starters were healthy. The Rampage are in a similar pickle.

He posted a 5-0 shutout in his first game. It’s a wonder that he has yet to appear in the NHL.

08Nov

Jordan Owens (46)

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5th year undrafted wing Jordan Owens(46) signed a pto to rejoin the team he’d played most of his professional career with, Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale and was bumped up to standard players contract for 2011/2012.

In 12 games this season he’s shown himself to be a reliable veteran that no doubt provides strong leadership for the newer players on the squad.

He’s also put in a couple of goals.

He played for the last year and a half in the Detroit system with their AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins after he was traded for Whale fan-favorite, now teammate Kris Newbury.

 

05Nov

Matt Schepke(45) Reading Royals

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3rd year wing Matt Schepke(45) has skated mostly in the ECHL in his pro career and this year is not much different than the last two as he signed a deal in the offseason to join Reading Royals‘ stacked squad in hopes of capturing the Kelly Cup Championship that’s eluded the team, especially in 2010 and 2011 playoffs.

On call up he’s played in 6 AHL games with 3 different teams but has yet to put up any points on the scoresheet.

He scored the first goal in Greenville Road Warriors history and was a part of the Michigan State University Spartans‘ team that won the NCAA Championship in 2007.

Last year he played a career high 4 games at the end of the regular season with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

04Nov

Ryan McDonagh(17) New York Rangers

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2nd year defenseman Ryan McDonagh(17) is stepping it up big time with the only NHL team he has ever played for, New York Rangers.

He was originally picked by Montreal Canadiens in the 1st round of the 2007 draft (#12 overall).

Last season in 40 games with the Rangers he put up 1 goal and 8 assists but most impressively was a +16 for the team. In the first 11 games of the 2011/2012 season he already has 3 goals to go along with a pair of assists.

Very doubtful that he’ll be back in Connecticut anytime soon, unless he gets injured and it’s on a conditioning stint.

30Oct

Sean Avery(16) Connecticut Whale

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13 year veteran Sean Avery(16) was waived by New York Rangers and reassigned to their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale, where he suited up for just his second game on Saturday night vs. Worcester Sharks. It’s his second stint with the Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack. He played there briefly in 2008 under the assumption the Rangers would sign him after Dallas parted ways.

He is the final year of his 4-year contract that is split between the two teams at $4. million per season.

In his first game he scored the empty-netter insurance goal and last night he got the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout to give his team the 3-2 victory. All well and good and although it might be unlikely that he’ll get called up, he could potentially sign on with another team that has some salary cap room to play the agitator role that he’s one of the league’s best in the business at providing.

27Oct

Devin DiDiomete(24) Chicago Express

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After being released only a couple of games into the 2011/2012 season on a pto with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4th year pro winger Devin DiDiomete(24) was given the option of being reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers. He took them up on that offer signing a deal to return to the E for the first time since ’09/’10, when he was with Charlotte Checkers as reassigned by Hartford Wolf Pack for 15 games of seasoning.

Last season he had 303 pims in 63 games and even put up 6 goals and 4 assists. Turns out that after his entry level contract expired and three years in the system, New York Rangers were done with him.

Originally drafted by Calgary Flames in 2006, 5th round (#187 overall), he was scooped up by the Rangers to groom.

Follow him on Twitter @deeds2424. He’s quite the comic.

Wheeling waived him a few days ago but on 11/8 he signed with Chicago Express.

21Oct

Ryan Garlock(22) Springfield Falcons

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2004 2nd round draft pick (#45 overall) center Ryan Garlock(22) signed a pto to start the season out of camp with Springfield Falcons and 5 games into the season and 5 assists later, he’s up it to an spc for 2011/2012.

He might be starting the argument that there was a good reason Chicago picked him so high but he never played in their system. At age 25, he’s already a veteran of just under 200 games played. Columbus could be watching.

For the last couple of seasons he’s been with Hartford Wolf Pack / Connecticut Whale.