[truebluefan]

Rangers Reassign Two Players From Training Camp

New York, September 29, 2006 -- New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has reassigned defenseman Daniel Girardi and forward Greg Moore to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, forward Francis Lessard has been recalled from Hartford (AHL). The Rangers now have 30 players remaining in training camp, including three goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 17 forwards. The Blueshirts return to action tomorrow, September 29, in a pre-season match-up with the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum (7:00 p.m.). Prior to the game, the team will hold a 10:15 AM morning skate at the MSG Training Center.

The NHL's New York Rangers hockey club, currently in its 81st year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns MSG L.P., which also includes the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Liberty (WNBA), the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League), MSG Network, FSN New York, MSG Entertainment and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

###

PLAYERS REASSIGNED TO HARTFORD ON 9/28/06:

Defense: Daniel Girardi

Forward: Greg Moore

 

[truebluefan]

Fritz, Delmore and Smaby Reassigned to Falcons

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning reassigned defensemen Andy Delmore and Matt Smaby and left wing Mitch Fritz to Springfield of the American Hockey League today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced. The moves reduce the Lightning's camp roster to 23.

Delmore, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Windsor, Ontario, played in four preseason games with Tampa Bay and recorded one assist and three shots on goal. He was signed by the Lightning as a free agent on July 1, 2006.

Fritz, a 6-8, 258-pound native of Osoyoos, British Columbia, played in three preseason games, recording two shots on goal. He scored three goals and adding an assist during training camp scrimmages.

Smaby, 6-5 and 202-pounds, played in three preseason games in his first NHL training camp and recorded two shots and four penalty minutes. Smaby, 21, was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round, 41st overall, at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The Springfield Falcons open their preseason schedule Friday night at the MassMutual Center when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7:35 PM. The Falcons will also host the Providence Bruins on Saturday starting at 6:00 PM.

The game can be seen live on the B-2 Network

http://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/schedule/masterschedule.asp

 

[truebluefan]

Admirals Saturday Preseason Game versus Hershey Cancelled

HERSHEY - The 2006 Calder Cup Champion HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the preseason game scheduled for Saturday, September 30 at GIANT Center against the Norfolk Admirals has been canceled due to a power failure that shut down the arena's ice compressor. The announcement was made today by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

Refunds are available at point-of-purchase, as the game will not be made up. Saturday's tickets will also be honored at Sunday's game against Wilkes-Barre. For more information, call the GIANT Center box office at (717) 534-3911.

HERSHEY will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Sunday as scheduled with a 5:00 p.m. face-off at GIANT Center. Tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, or by calling (717) 508-BEAR. HERSHEY will play its regular season home opener on Saturday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Pre-game ceremonies that night will honor the 2006 Calder Cup Champions prior to face-off.

 

[truebluefan]

Rivermen "Overpowered" by Iowa 4-2 on the Road in Preseason Action

Des Moines, Iowa - The final power play goal won the game, as the Iowa Stars outscored the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 with a man advantage, en-route to a 4-2 victory in front of 3,968 on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. It was Peoria's final preseason game prior to beginning its regular season opener at home against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.

The Rivermen (2-2) opened the scoring at 12:50 in the second stanza while on a man advantage. After controlling the puck in their zone, David Backes, from the left face-off dot, fired a pass cross-ice to the right face-off circle for Cam Keith, who snapped a shot on net that was stopped by Iowa goaltender Dan Ellis. The Rivermen center followed his own rebound and slammed the rebound between the legs of Ellis.

Iowa (1-1) answered with a goal on a power play of its own at 16:38 of the second. After the Stars won the face-off in Peoria's zone, forward John Lammers took the puck to the left-wing corner, where he dished it off to Vadim Khomitskiy in the slot. The defenseman one-timed a shot over the right shoulder of Rivermen goaltender Marek Schwarz and just under the crossbar.

The Stars notched another power play goal at 1:19 of the third session. Khomitskiy set a pass to Marty Sertich below the goal line. Sertich skated up the wall to the right face-off circle, where he whipped the puck cross-ice to Junior Lessard, who controlled the puck and wristed a shot between the right arm of Schwarz and the left post.

Peoria responded with their second power play goal of the game at 11:46 of the third. Peter Sejna took a pass while in the deep slot, moved in on net and rifled a shot that beat Ellis stick side. Charles Linglet and Tomas Mojzis were credited with assists.

Iowa scored the fifth and final power play goal of the game when Ellis set an outlet pass to Lessard in the neutral zone. Lessard skated along the left wing boards, into the Peoria zone, to the left face-off circle, where he dropped a pass to Sertich who fired a shot that grazed off of Jeff Woywitka's right leg and in between the five-hole of the Rivermen goaltender for his first tally of the preseason. The eventual game-winning tally came with 3:41 left in regulation.

The Stars sealed the win at 19:43. After they won a draw in their own zone, Joel Lundqvist sent the puck to the neutral zone for Marius Holtet, who raced down the middle of the ice and deposited it into the empty net.

The Rivermen kick off their 2006-07 regular season at home on Friday, October 6 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena.

 

[truebluefan]

Howard and Langfeld Return to Griffins

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings on Friday assigned goaltender Jimmy Howard and right wing Josh Langfeld to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Howard, 22, became the first Griffin to be named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team last season, compiling a sparkling 27-6-2 record to go with a 2.58 goals against average and a 0.910 save percentage. A former All-American at Maine and Detroit's first selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he set franchise records with a 12-game winning streak and a 10-game road point streak, while his nine-game winning streak at Van Andel Arena tied a team mark. Howard, the AHL's Goaltender of the Month for March and its Player of the Week for March 20, also appeared in four games with the Red Wings last season, going 1-2 with a 2.99 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage.

Langfeld, 29, begins his second tour of duty with the Griffins. As a rookie on Grand Rapids' first AHL squad in 2001-02, the University of Michigan product scored 21 goals and tied for third on the team with 37 points in 68 contests. Signed as a free agent by the Red Wings this summer, Langfeld played the entire 2005-06 season in the NHL, totaling 12 points (2-10-12) in 57 games for San Jose and Boston. He has scored 30 points (9-21-30) in 108 career NHL contests, and he posted 32 goals and 57 points during his most recent AHL campaign with Binghamton in 2004-05.

 

[truebluefan]

Admirals, Griffins do Battle Tonight

Milwaukee, WI- After dropping a 3-1 decision to Chicago on Wednesday in their exhibition opener, the Milwaukee Admirals look to get into the pre-season win column when they hit the ice tonight versus Grand Rapids at 7:00 pm at the Kern Center on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Tickets for the game are just $10 and can be purchased at the door.

The game is the second of three exhibition contests that the Admirals will play before opening the regular season on Saturday, October 7th. Their final game of the pre-season for the Ads will be tomorrow night versus the Wolves in Chicago.

Brandon Segal scored the lone goal for the Ads on Wednesday night on a five-on-three power-play mid-way through the first period. The tally actually gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the game, but the Wolves scored three unanswered goals in the first 6:09 of the second stanza to pull out the victory.

Grand Rapids suffered a similar fate when they opened their pre-season with a 3-2 loss to Chicago last night in the Windy City. The game tonight is their final pre-season tune-up before they travel to Texas for games with San Antonio and Houston next weekend to open the regular season AHL calendar.

Log on to www.milwaukeeadmirals.com to view the rosters for tonight's contest.

The Admirals open the regular season on the the 7th at 7:30 pm versus the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Fans can purchase tickets by calling Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Season tickets for the 2006-07 season are on sale now starting at just $135. For more information or to order season tickets fans can call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.

 

[truebluefan]

Montreal sends six players to Hamilton

Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today that the club has assigned forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Mikhail Grabovski, as well as defencemen Dan Jancevski, Ryan O'Byrne, Jean-Philippe Cote and Andre Benoit to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Kostitsyn, 21, appeared in 12 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season, registering three points (2-1-3) and two penalty minutes. The native of Novopolotsk, Belarus also posted 47 points (18-29-47) and 76 penalty minutes in 64 games last year with Hamilton.

Grabovski, a 22 year-old native of Potsdam, Germany, notched 27 points (10-17-27) and 28 penalty minutes in 48 games last season with Dynamo Moscow (RSL).

Jancevski, 25, appeared in two games with the Dallas Stars last year, going scoreless with 0 penalty minutes. The native of Windsor, Ontario also recorded 38 points (9-29-38) and 91 penalty minutes in 77 games with the Iowa Stars (AHL) last season.

O'Byrne, a 22 year-old native of Victoria, British Columbia, registered 13 points (7-6-13) and 69 penalty minutes in 28 games last season with Cornell University (NCAA).

Cote, 24, posted 11 points (3-8-11) and 113 penalty minutes in 61 games with Hamilton last season. The native of Quebec City, Quebec also appeared in 8 games with the Montreal Canadiens last year and was held scoreless with four penalty minutes.

Benoit, 22, tallied 26 points (7-19-26) and 60 penalty minutes in 70 games during his rookie season last year with the Bulldogs.

Hamilton's second pre-season game will take place tonight at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter in Syracuse, New York, when they face the Crunch. The Bulldogs third pre-season contest is set for Saturday, September 30th at 4:00 p.m., when they will meet the Toronto Marlies at the Southwood Arena at the Woodstock Community Complex in Woodstock, Ontario. The 'Dogs fourth, and final pre-season match-up is scheduled for Sunday, October 1st at 4:00 p.m., when they will battle the Syracuse Crunch, at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League is the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Over 80 percent of NHL players are AHL graduates, and more than 350 AHL players were recalled to the NHL during the 2005-2006 season alone.

The Hamilton Bulldogs will open the 2006-2007 season on Friday, October 6th versus their North Division rival, the Manitoba Moose. Tickets for all 'Dogs home games (except home game #32) are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666.

You can see tomorrow's NHL stars develop their skills in the AHL by purchasing 2006-2007 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets today! Prices start at just $11 per game. For more information, please call 905-529-8500, or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

 

[truebluefan]

Hawks 'ultimate reward' for Wiedeman

John Wiedeman knows he has a tough act to follow.

Wiedeman, the Blackhawks' new radio voice, replaces popular Pat Foley, who did play-by-play for the Hawks on radio and television for the last 25 seasons. Foley parted company with the Hawks when the team and Comcast SportsNet wanted separate announcers for radio and TV, and his departure did not go over well with the team's dwindling fan base.

''Blackhawks fans loved him,'' Wiedeman said. ''I heard him and Dale [Tallon, the Hawks' general manager and former color commentator] when I lived in Kansas City and the games were still at the old Stadium. He always had a wit, a sense of humor, that was enjoyable. He was tremendous as a broadcaster.''

Wiedeman, 49, isn't exactly a novice. He was the radio voice of the New York Islanders the last five seasons and also has called games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Iowa Stars radio show debuts Monday

This season’s “Iowa Stars Weekly” radio show debuts at 6 p.m. Monday on KRNT-AM (1350).

The show will be broadcast live on location at Krieger’s Hometown Sports Grill in West Des Moines.

Stars radio broadcaster Jason Shaver will host the show with Jim Brown. Returning stars players Francis Wathier and Mario Scalzo are scheduled to be the show’s first guests of the season.

STARS RELEASE TWO; Iowa released defensemen Cody Blanshan and Darrell Hay from training camp today. Both players are scheduled to report to the ECHL Idaho Steelheads.

 

[truebluefan]

Stortini all fired up

It wasn't planned or in any way premeditated, but when Zach Stortini pummelled and then body slammed David Cloutier of the Toronto Marlies to the ice on Wednesday night it was his way of saying hello to his new Hamilton Bulldogs' teammates.

"I want the guys on the team to know that I'm going to be there for them," said the 6-foot-3, 216-pound right winger from Elliot Lake. "I want to establish myself, especially against a team like that, a divisional rival that we're going to be playing quite a bit this season.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

The Dunk aiming for suite success in renovation

The "luxe" life is coming to the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The marketing team at the Providence arena is putting together an "aggressive" plan to sell 20 luxury suites that will be constructed at the Dunk during its massive $62-million renovation, according to Cheryl Schadone, director of marketing for the center.

Schadone yesterday unveiled some of the details of the high-end suites during a meeting of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which oversees the Dunk and the convention center next door.

Once the state-financed, 2 1/2-year renovation is complete, the newly refreshed Dunk will feature 18 individual suites and two additional boxes that can be combined into one "party-suite," Schadone said. The boxes are expected to feature two rows of six fixed stadium seats covered in faux leather. In addition, the boxes will include barstools, drink rails and unobstructed views of the events in the main arena.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Newcomer expected to energize

Should newcomer Chanse Fitzpatrick need a reminder of what's expected of him this season, he needs only to glance three locker stalls to his right.

"He's got to play like Bobby Robins," Binghamton Senators head coach Dave Cameron said, referring to the rookie right wing.

"He's got to generate. He's got to be physical. He's got to bring energy. He's got to make space for other guys on the team, and he has to stick up for his teammates."

After spending last season with Columbia in the ECHL, Fitzpatrick, 22, came to Ottawa's training camp this month and played himself into a contract with the B-Sens.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Camping Out Column

Manitoba Moose 2006-07 training camp: Day 5

The skinny: The Moose removed nine players from the training camp roster, then hit the ice for a 90-minute practice.

- The schedule: The team hopped on a bus for Thunder Bay and arrived late last night. Today marks the first of two pre-season games against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves, who lost to Alberta in the CIS championship game last season. Game time is 6:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday and Saturday's game can be heard on CJOB.

- The injuries: There was no real update on the injury front. D Joe Rullier (concussion), C Brad Moran (groin), RW Adam Keefe (knee) and D Shaun Heshka (concussion) won't play this weekend. D Prestin Ryan won't make the trip either but is expected to be back in Winnipeg for practice Sunday after collecting his belongings from his off-season home.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Local winger on his way

For guys like Steve Crampton, this weekend could mark the beginning or the end of the road.

Crampton, a bruising winger from Winnipeg, survived the first round of cuts and is among the 15 forwards who will suit up for the Manitoba Moose this weekend in a pair of American Hockey League pre-season games with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.

"I'm definitely excited to get these games underway," said Crampton. "I don't think I've done enough in camp here that's for sure. I'm looking forward to the structure of the game and hoping to do some things to get myself noticed.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

OHL's Greyhounds have a new arena and high hopes for 18-year-old Czech

Craig Hartsburg hears it on the streets and in the malls.

Is he coming? Is he coming?

They have built it, after all, in Sault Ste. Marie, a brand new hockey area for the junior Greyhounds to call home.

Now, they are hoping he — Maple Leaf prospect Jiri Tlusty, that is — will come.

All indications are that the shifty Tlusty, the Leafs' first-round draft pick from last June and the 13th player selected, will ultimately end up with the Hounds this season playing under the guidance of Hartsburg, a former standout NHL defenceman who will also be the head coach of the Canadian national junior program this season.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Moose monitoring Canucks' moves

With the number crunching shifting into overdrive, the battle for jobs is intensifying.

The Manitoba Moose trimmed nine players from the training camp roster yesterday, leaving them with 26 active players to suit up in a pair of pre-season games with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves tonight and tomorrow at the Fort William Gardens.

But the big news came down several hours later as the parent Vancouver Canucks reduced their roster by 10 players, leaving 25 guys competing for 22 or 23 spots on the opening-day roster.

Goalie Drew MacIntyre, forwards Lee Goren, Jesse Schultz, Brandon Reid, Tyler Bouck, Mike Brown and defencemen Alexander Edler, Nathan McIver and Yannick Tremblay are scheduled to join the Moose, though MacIntyre is the only player who will join the club in Thunder Bay and should see action in tomorrow's game.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Canuck cuts improve Moose lineup

Starting goalie, check.

Pure goal scorer with something to prove, check.

Consummate power forward who won’t hang his head while playing in his hometown, check.

Dynamic centre coming back from Europe who has been dominant at this level and longs to return to the NHL, check.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

O'Neill on the bubble

Jeff O'Neill's future with the Maple Leafs is suddenly uncertain thanks to the winger's indifferent play, a coach who says his spot is not guaranteed and his agent-father who basically dared the team to put his son on waivers.

Head coach Paul Maurice flatly answered, "No" when asked yesterday at practice if Jeff O'Neill's spot was secure.

"I really don't want to talk about it right now," said O'Neill when told about Maurice's statement.

complete article

 

[truebluefan]

Admirals Top Griffins 8-5

Milwaukee, WI- Now who says that exhibition hockey is boring?

With each team playing just their second pre-season game of the year, the Milwaukee Admirals and Grand Rapids Griffins combined for 13 goals, 87 shots, and 28 penalties as the Ads posted a come-from-behind 8-5 win over the Griffins on Friday night at the Kern Center on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The Admirals actually trailed for the majority of the game and it didn't look like their night when Jeff Campbell gave Grand Rapids a 5-3 lead at the 14:00 mark of the second. However the Admirals responded with five unanswered tallies, the first coming just 11 seconds after Campbell's goal when Steve Yetmen scored an unassisted marker.

Ville Koistinen tied the score for Milwaukee 6:21 into the third with a power-play goal on assists from Kim Staal and Shane Endicott. Koistinen fired a slapper from the left point that snuck through the legs of Griffin's goaltender Dominic Vicari and into the back of the Grand Rapids net.

Just over three minutes later the Ads would grab the lead at 6-5 when Bracken Kerns lit the lamp with assists to Koistinen and Sheldon Brookbank. Only 54 seconds later it was 7-5, on Koistinen's second goal of the game. Rich Peverley added an empty netter at 18:51 of the third to finish the scoring.

Coming on in relief of starter Karl Goehring, Milwaukee backstop Frederic Cloutier stopped all 24 shots that the Griffins threw his way in the third to pick up the victory. Four separate Admirals had at least two points on the night, led by Peverley's impressive five-point (2g-3a) outing, while Koistinen posted a pair of assists to go along with his two goals.

Matt Ellis led Grand Rapids with two goals, while Campbell notched a goal and an assist.

Milwaukee will finish out the regular season tomorrow night when they travel to Chicago to take on the Wolves at 7:00 pm, before preparing for the season opener next Saturday, October 7th at 7:30 pm versus the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Fans can purchase tickets by calling Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Season tickets for the 2006-07 season are on sale now starting at just $135. For more information or to order season tickets fans can call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.

 

[truebluefan]

Sound Tigers coming together

Unity might not be the most important thing to a team, but it can't hurt. It can only help.

Two nights in a row, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers played exhibition games and felt some kind of coming-together, even though many players both nights were tryouts who might never get back here in the regular season. "We showed a lot of intensity and character," said third-year winger Steve Regier, who was credited with two goals in two periods of work Wednesday night in a win over Providence. "You don't really see teams come together like that until a couple of months into the season."

Coach Dan Marshall said similar things Tuesday after an overtime win over Hartford. His team has three more preseason games this weekend to keep up the good feelings before they come together for real for the Oct. 8 regular-season opener at Binghamton, N.Y. Tonight at 7:30, the Sound Tigers play Albany, now a Carolina/Colorado affiliate, at The Rinks at Shelton.

complete article