The New York Rangers had what must be considered a successful weekend, taking three points from two road games to maintain their hold on fourth place in the Eastern Conference. And what if the one victory came at the expense of the Ottawa Senators, a team that is essentially in free fall and should, if there were any justice in this world, be forced to play next season in the American Hockey League as punishment for their woeful performance? (Joining them should be a certain team from Long Island, but that’s another topic for another day). The Rangers’ performance was by all accounts pretty decent, even if they probably should have won Friday’s game in Buffalo. But what stood out most from the weekend wasn’t so much what the team did as what it did not do:

• It did not commit any penalties at all in the Buffalo game or in the first period of the Ottawa game
• The Rangers defense did not give up any goals in the Ottawa game or in the final 28 minutes and 34 seconds of the Buffalo game (including five minutes of overtime). That’s a stretch of 88:34 going into Tuesday night’s game at Nassau.

What do these two points tell us? They tell us this team played with discipline. And that, in turn, tells us they are well-coached.

Say what you will about Renney’s four year (and counting) reign behind the bench at Madison Square Garden, he has always preached defense and discipline as vital parts of any winning team’s makeup. If his team is true to that, he has to be doing something right as a coach.

Granted, “something right” is not enough to guarantee a coach’s success in this town. And we have plenty to fault him on scouting and player development, a system that in four years has produced few bonafide stars (that list starts and ends with Henrik Lundqvist, pretty much). And of course this team has at times also failed at the very principles Renney has said to preach, such as in the embarrassing 5-4 loss to Washington and more recent 6-3 drubbing at home to the Canadiens. But this weekend, at least, it took a step in the right direction.

Finally, consider just how short this team is on real talent: no Jaromir Jagr, no Sean Avery, a first line offense that has a combined age of 96 and a nucleus of largely untested players. Sorry folks, but this is not a team you can realistically expect to challenge for the Eastern Conference top seed. If they make the playoffs as one of the top four teams I’d consider it quite an achievement. If they do so by incorporating Renney’s system and demonstrating that it is jelling into a cohesive unit that gives us reason to hope for the future, then the coaching staff will deserve even more credit. We’re not there yet, and there is a lot that can still go wrong, but firing Renney should be the last thing on anybody’s mind after this weekend.

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Some All-Star News:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski and Norfolk Admirals forward Justin Keller have been added to the rosters for the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok, to take place this Sunday and Monday in Binghamton, N.Y.  

The AHL also announced that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Jeff Taffe (Pittsburgh), Norfolk’s Kyle Wanvig (Tampa Bay), Syracuse’s Derick Brassard (Columbus), Hartford’s Nigel Dawes (N.Y. Rangers) and Toronto’s Anton Stralman (Toronto) will all miss the event due to recall to their respective National Hockey League affiliates, and Philadelphia’s Jared Ross will miss the event due to injury.

Goligoski, a 22-year-old rookie from Grand Rapids, Minn., will join the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team. In 38 games for the Penguins this season, Goligoski has recorded six goals and eight assists for 14 points along with a plus-4 rating. Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Goligoski played three seasons at the University of Minnesota and was an NCAA West First Team All-American and a WCHA First Team All-Star in 2006-07.

Keller, 21, is in his second professional season after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. He has compiled nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 39 games for Norfolk and is tied for the team lead with seven power-play goals. He led the Western Hockey League with 51 goals in 2005-06, and scored the winning goal in the Memorial Cup Final for Kelowna in 2004. A native of Nelson, B.C., Keller will play for the Canadian AHL All-Star team.

The 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in the 2008 CCM AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 27 (7:00 ET), and the 2008 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 28 (7:00 ET). The event will be televised live on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and on a network of regional broadcast partners in the United States. It will also be offered at no charge on B2 Networks’ broadband video webcast at theahl.com.

Of the 427 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Brad Boyes, Daniel Briere, Zdeno Chara, Jonathan Cheechoo, Pavol Demitra, Rick DiPietro, Patrik Elias, Ray Emery, Jiri Hudler, Miikka Kiprusoff, Kari Lehtonen, Ryan Miller, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal and Steve Sullivan.  

 

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The American Hockey League today named Hartford Wolf Pack left-wing Nigel Dawes the Rbk AHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 9th. Dawes totaled three goals and five assists for eight points in the Wolf Pack’s three games on the week, as the Pack ran their streak of games with at least a standings point to eight straight (7-0-0-1).

On that note, here’s the rest of WPW

The Wolf Pack have now recorded at least a standings point in eight straight games (7-0-0-1), 12 of their last 13 outings (11-1-0-1) and 14 of their last 16 (13-2-0-1), after a 2-0-0-1 week this past week.  The Pack saw their season-high five-game winning streak come to an end in a 4-3 shootout loss Wednesday night in Providence, but rebounded to post victories against Lowell, 3-1 at home, Friday and Worcester, 7-1 on the road, Saturday.  The win in Worcester represented the Wolf Pack’s biggest offensive output thus far on the year, and their largest margin of victory.  Nigel Dawes set a franchise regular-season record with six points (2-4-6) in Saturday’s game and notched a total of 3-5-8 in the three games.  That performance earned him Rbk AHL Player of the Week honors.  Al Montoya was in net for all three contests and is now 5-0-1 in his last six decisions and 6-1-1 in his last eight.
This week:
The Wolf Pack start a four-game homestand by hosting the Houston Aeros on Wednesday (7:00).  The Manchester Monarchs then make their first visit of the season to the Hartford Civic Center Saturday night (7:00).

Tuesday, December 11^th – Wolf Pack Holiday Party at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 4:00 –

            6:00 PM

The entire Wolf Pack team will join more than 100 cancer patients and their families for their 11^th annual Holiday party at CT Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington St. in Hartford.  The party has become an annual tradition and a perennial favorite of players during the holiday season.  The team will be signing autographs and doing crafts with, and distributing goodies to, children undergoing treatment for, and recovering from, cancer.

Tuesday, December 11^th – “Wolf Pack Confidential”, at the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, on

            ESPN Radio 1410

This week’s edition of the Wolf Pack’s weekly Tuesday-night talk show, hosted by Bob Crawford, features Wolf Pack defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and goaltender Miika Wiikman as scheduled guests.  The show airs live from the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, located at 315 Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford, from 7:00-8:00 PM.  Fans are welcome to be on hand at M&M for an exclusive opportunity to ask questions and speak one-on-one with the players.  Wolf Pack Confidential can be heard live on the radio home of the Wolf Pack, ESPN Radio 1410.

Wednesday, December 12^th vs. Houston at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         This is the only visit to Hartford on the season by the Aeros, top affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, and the first meeting between them and the Wolf Pack on the year.  The Pack swept a pair of games from the Aeros last year, including a 4-3 overtime triumph at the Hartford Civic Center January 27^th.
·         The Aeros, coached by former San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils head man Kevin Constantine, are 12-10-1-1 for 26 points on the year.  That puts them seventh in the West Division.
·         The top point-producer on the Aeros’ squad is defenseman Erik Reitz, who has recorded 5-9-14 in 16 GP.
·         For all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Friday and Sunday home games, college students and members of the military showing ID at the Hartford Civic Center box office can purchase tickets at the special discount rate of $10 each (limit four tickets per ID).
·         Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network!  Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Saturday, December 15^th vs. Manchester at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         The Monarchs and Wolf Pack have already tangled three times in Manchester, with the Wolf Pack going 1-1-0-1, but this is the defending Atlantic Division champions’ first visit to Hartford.
·         Manchester forward Teddy Purcell, the Rbk Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for November, leads the AHL in points and assists with 8-25-33 in 24 GP.
·         The Monarchs have won back-to-back games to climb to 10-11-2-1 for 23 points and into fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
·         This night will include a “Teddy Bear Toss” when the Wolf Pack scores its first goal of the game.  Fans are asked to bring soft toys, which will be donated to local charitable organizations. 
·         The first 5,000 fans into this game will receive a free Wolf Pack ski cap.
·         Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks!  Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Sunday, December 16^th – Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon at AMF Silver Lanes, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’s annual Bowl-a-Thon benefits Special Olympics Connecticut Eastern Region and takes place at AMF Silver Lanes, 748 Silver Lane in East Hartford (860-569-2990), from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Teams of four bowlers raise pledges to bowl alongside a Wolf Pack player.  For more information, contact Marc at Special Olympics Connecticut by calling (860) 887-1555.
Recent Transactions:
Ryan Constant – returned on loan by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
Mark Lee – returned on loan by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
Matt Zaba – Reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 before attending a practice.
Tue., December 11         11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
Wed., December 12       10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Houston)
Thurs., December 13      11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., December 14          11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
Sat., December 15         10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Manchester)
Sun., December 16        No practice
Mon., December 17        11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
 

Pack Tracks:

96.5 TIC’s Acoustic Café Volume 7, the proceeds from which benefit the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation, is on sale now at the Wolf Pack store at Hartford 21, Strawberries and FYE stores and on-line at www.965tic.com.  Acoustic Café Volume 7 features exclusive performances by Daughtry, KT Tunstall, Lifehouse, Avril Lavigne, Mat Kearney, Bowling for Soup, The Fray, Collective Soul and Mandy Moore.  The CD costs only $9.65, and each CD also includes a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to a Wednesday or Sunday Wolf Pack home game.

Posted under Blog

No the Rangers didn’t get anyone big, but it’s still a trade. Here’s the release:

New York, October 11, 2007 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired right wing Pierre Parenteau from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional seventh round draft pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Parenteau, 24, skated in 68 matches with the Portland Pirates and Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, registering 30 goals and 49 assists for 79 points, along with 47 penalty minutes. His 79 points tied for ninth overall in the AHL last season. He also appeared in five games for the Chicago Blackhawks, tallying one assist, along with two penalty minutes.

A native of Hull, Quebec, Parenteau has appeared in 266 career matches with Cincinnati, Portland and Norfolk (AHL), registering 83 goals and 116 assists for 199 points, along with 167 penalty minutes. He also skated in 41 post-season matches with Cincinnati, Portland and Norfolk (AHL), registering 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points, along with 40 penalty minutes.

The 5-11, 195-pound winger was originally Anaheim’s ninth round choice, 264th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

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And you want to watch practice, it’s open to the public. Starts at 10 A.M. and ends at 12:45 p.m.

Here’s the official release:

HARTFORD, September 22, 2007: Northland AEG LLC announced today that the Hartford Wolf Pack’s practice this Monday, September 24th at the Hartford Civic Center will be open to the public. Wolf Pack fans will have a chance to observe as new head coach Ken Gernander puts the team through its paces, getting an inside look at how players and coaches prepare themselves for the challenge that is an American Hockey League season.

The practice begins at 10:00 and will last until approximately 12:45. Fans wishing to watch the practice can enter the Civic Center beginning at 9:45 AM. Entry will only be permitted through the Civic Center’s main entrance, adjacent to the box office in The Atrium at Hartford 21. Seating will be restricted to one lower-bowl section. There is no charge to attend.

The Wolf Pack open their 2007-08 AHL season at the Civic Center Saturday, October 6th at 7:00 PM, with a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers that has been designated “Everyone’s a Kid Night”. ALL fans can purchase seats for opening night at the kids’ price of $10 each. Throughout the 2007-08 Wolf Pack season, Kids are always $10. Any seat. Any game.

Wolf Pack single-game tickets are on sale at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Filene’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Wolf Pack season tickets are also on sale now. For information on all of the Wolf Pack’s ticketing options, including full-season, five, 10 and 20-game packages, coupon books and group discounts, contact the Wolf Pack Ticket Office at (860) 548-2000.

The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack is newly operated by Northland AEG LLC, a joint partnership between Northland Investment Corporation and AEG Facilities. The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

So if you want to take a look at the Pack, please stop by.

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So that means only Sean Avery left:

Here’s the release:

New York, July 31, 2007 — New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Marcel Hossa.

 

Hossa, 25, appeared in 64 games with the Rangers this past season, recording 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points, along with 26 penalty minutes. He tallied eight goals and five assists for 13 points in his last 15 regular season games. While establishing career-highs in assists (eight) and points (18), Hossa led the Rangers and tied for seventh in the NHL with three shootout game-deciding goals. In the postseason, Hossa recorded four points (two goals and two assists), along with a plus-five rating and four penalty minutes in 10 games.

 

The 6-3, 220-pound forward has skated in 187 career NHL contests with the Rangers and Montreal Canadiens, registering 30 goals and 23 assists for 53 points, along with 78 penalty minutes. In 2005-06, Hossa appeared in 64 games with the Rangers, recording 10 goals and six assists for 16 points, along with 28 penalty minutes.  As a second-year forward for Montreal in 2002-03, he collected 13 points (six goals and seven assists) in 34 games and played in the 2003 YoungStars Game at All-Star Weekend in Florida, recording two assists.  Hossa has also skated in 144 career games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Quebec Citadelles, registering 54 goals and 50 assists for 104 points, along with a plus-26 rating and 87 penalty minutes.

 

Internationally, Hossa has represented his native Slovakia in several tournaments, including the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and the 2006 World Championships in Riga, Latvia. In seven games at the 2006 World Championships, he picked up one goal and three assists, along with a plus-three rating. Aside from his experience in the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2006 World Championships, Hossa also participated in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 World Junior Championships and the 2005 World Championships in Austria.

 

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Hossa appeared in 188 games with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL), registering 65 goals and 99 assists for 164 points, along with 182 penalty minutes.  He led the Winter Hawks in scoring in 2000-01, collecting 34 goals and 56 assists for 90 points and was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team at the conclusion of the season. 

 

The native of Ilava, Slovakia was originally drafted by Montreal in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.  On September 30, 2005, Hossa was acquired by the Rangers from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for left wing Garth Murray.

 

Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

 

 

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