-Congratulations to the Grand Rapids Griffins, your 2013 Calder Cup Champions. They finally finished off the Crunch last night in front of a packed house in Syracuse 5-2 to take the series in 6 games. Forward Tomas Tatar took home Calder Cup MVP honors after leading all scorers in the postseason with 16 goals. Our friends at Chairman How’s Glorious Army have a gracious sendoff here for one of the best seasons in Crunch history.
-In actual Devils signing news (yes, finally!), earlier today it was announced forward Mattias Tedenby signed a one year, one way contract. After starting the season in Albany during the lockout, he appeared in 4 games for New Jersey once the NHL resumed, notching one assist before returning to Albany on January 28th. In 37 games with the A-Devils, he notched 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists). He missed six weeks after taking an accidental skate to the face in mid-February in Adirondack, in his first game back since suffering what was termed as “soreness” after returning from New Jersey. Many think this is likely the last real chance for Tedenby, a 2008 first round draft choice of the Devils, to crack the lineup and stay there.
Before I head out to the ballpark and let these guys basically take over my Twitter feed till Labor Day (you’ve been warned), a couple of AHL related notes, just to get caught up:
-Remember when I said it wouldn’t surprise me if the Crunch would be hoisting the Calder Cup Friday evening? Well, yeah, about that…I kind of underestimated what Grand Rapids could do. After taking the first two at the War Memorial (with Game 2 slightly aided by a few referee, shall we say, mishaps?), the Griffins took Game 3 on home ice Wednesday evening, setting up what could become an improbable sweep. But the Crunch aren’t done just yet, taking Games 4 and 5 over the weekend to send the Finals back to the War Memorial for Game 6 tomorrow evening and a possible Game 7 on Thursday. There has already been a 0-3 to 4-3 comeback in these playoffs (Wilkes-Barre over Providence in the conference semifinals), what are the chances it could happen again?
-Friday the newest member of the AHL made its debut, the Utica Comets. After months of speculation, the Vancouver Canucks made it official, moving the former Peoria Rivermen and signing a 6 year lease (according to one source) to play at the 3800 seat Utica Memorial Auditorium, or The Aud. The website is in the works, but they are on Twitter (follow them at @UticaComets) and already at least 500 season tickets have been sold. With the new team just 83 miles west of Albany, I’m expecting to make a few trips out there during the season. No word on any realignment of divisions with this move, but one would think it would have to happen with a Western Conference team moving this far east.
-The only Devils note? Per the New Jersey PR Twitter, this year’s prospect camp is scheduled for July 15-19th at the AmeriHealth Pavilion. Once the list becomes available I’ll post it here.
Taking a break from checking the MLB Draft (only reason I pay attention is some of those players may be coming here for the summer next week…you’ll be hearing plenty about the Valleycats during the next 2+ months, trust me) and watching Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals to get an update out there…
-Tomorrow the Calder Cup Finals begin in Syracuse, as the Crunch take on the Grand Rapids Griffins for AHL bragging rights. I actually had the opportunity last Saturday to travel west to check out Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Crunch and the Penguins, just as a casual observer. And the fact I’ve never been to a hockey game in June before. I had noted in my last post not to count out the Pens just yet despite being down 3-1 in the series, considering their comeback against Providence in the previous round. Well…that theory was pretty much out the window by the middle of the second period, as Syracuse jumped all over Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff (a surprise starter considering how well his teammate Brad Thiessen had been in net during the comeback against the Bruins) and never looked back, winning 7-0. The Griffins survived a tornado scare and a 3-2 series rally by Oklahoma City to win the Western Conference finals in 7 games. Having not seen Grand Rapids play (since the only Western team I see is Rochester), it’s hard for me to really give a prediction as to how well they’ll fare against Syracuse. But it wouldn’t surprise me, at the rate this team is going, if by next Friday evening former River Rat Mike Angelidis will be participating in another post game center ice ceremony. My counterparts from the Power Play Post Show and Chairman How’s Glorious Army will have it covered as the Finals play out.
If you are so inclined, AHL Live will actually be showing video free of charge for the duration of the Finals, just use the code CALDER2013. Hopefully the video will be functioning well.
-According to multiple sources in the Mohawk Valley and in Vancouver, the league will approve the move of the Canucks AHL franchise to Utica by the end of next week, putting an end to a months long rumor. We’ll have to wait and see on a team name and how it will affect the divisional alignment since the move is from the Western Conference to an Eastern location (Utica sits roughly 50 miles east of Syracuse and 80 miles west of Albany).
-The only piece of Devils news? Nothing official out of New Jersey, but it appears that Andrei Loktionov, a restricted free agent, will return to the Devils on a one year contract. He did appear in 3 games for Albany after coming over from Los Angeles/Manchester in early February, but spent the rest of the season with New Jersey, scoring 8 goals in 28 games.
It’s June! I think it’s time to update this thing…
-Fire and Ice had a free agent update earlier in the week. It appears that all players who are restricted free agents will indeed be qualified by the July 2nd deadline. It appears that former River Rat Steve Sullivan, acquired at the trade deadline in April, will not continue his second stint with the Devils. The report also stated that goaltender Jeff Frazee may be returning despite an offer to sign in Sweden, again creating a 4 goalie tandem in Albany and whichever ECHL affiliate will be used next season.
-Now for sale via Mei Gray for those interested in jerseys: the 2012-13 Albany game worns. Prices range from $295 (for J.S. Berube) to $995 (for Adam Henrique’s home jersey with an A). As of press time, Adam Larsson’s home and away jerseys are still available (for the bargain basement price of $750 each!), along with Cam Janssen’s road red and both of Jacob Josefson’s.
-Now for a Calder Cup update:
The Crunch (featuring former Devil Matt Taormina and former River Rat Mike Angelidis as the fearless captain) can close out the Penguins and earn a trip to their first ever Calder Cup final with a win at home tonight at the War Memorial. I wouldn’t necessarily count out the Penguins just yet, as they had to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and became just the third ever team to pull it off by eliminating the #1 seed Providence Bruins (and in dominating fashion, as they outscored the Bruins 14-2 over those four games). They are also the only team in the last two Norfolk/Syracuse playoff runs the last two seasons to manage a victory against this group. The series has been fairly close scoring wise, with a two goal deficit being the largest victory.
In the Western Conference, the series between Grand Rapids and Oklahoma City was put on the backburner last night as a strong series of tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. While everyone in the Cox Convention Center stayed safe in an underground parking garage the arena was hit with flooding due to torrential downpours. The series will resume tonight with Game 4 and the Barons holding a 2-1 series lead.
-The first North American hockey champions were crowned earlier this week in the ECHL, as the Reading Royals hoisted the Kelly Cup with a 5 game series win over Stockton. Congrats to two former River Rats from the Carolina days, Yannick Tifu (who was the captain of the Royals) and Kirk Macdonald (also an RPI alum) for becoming the latest Rats alumni to hoist a Cup of some nature.
Such is life during the offseason. It’s been almost two weeks since I wrote something up. Most of this is likely old news, but there’s a couple new notes to pass on as well.
-The AHL conference finals are almost set, as both Oklahoma City in the West and Syracuse (continuing the run they started last season in Norfolk) in the East have clinched spots. Grand Rapids (in the West) and Providence (in the East) are both up 3-2 in their respective series, but it’s getting quite interesting in the Bruins-WBS series, especially after a Game 5 win for the Penguins last night. Here’s the first hand account via our friends at Chirps From Center Ice.
-The Utica AHL rumors refuse to go away. It appears that Vancouver, who purchased the Peoria Rivermen from St. Louis back in April, may be in talks to bring the franchise to the old Aud for 2013-14 after talks broke down with the city of Peoria. According to an article from the Utica Observer-Dispatch, it may happen, but there is much work to be done to get the arena up to AHL standards (i.e. new video board, rebuilt locker rooms, etc.), much like what Glens Falls had to do when the Phantoms first arrived back in 2009. If this move were to happen, this would make for some switching around of the divisions, I would think. How about reuniting the old Empire State Division from the mid-late 90s? Just a suggestion.
-A few members from this year’s Devils squad also had a chance to help their respective countries in the World Championships. Earlier today the U.S. team, featuring Stephen Gionta and Bobby Butler (and former River Rat Jamie McBain) clinched a bronze medal by beating Finland in a 3-2 shootout (they do shootouts for medals? Make them play till it’s over like everyone else!), after blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period. Also making appearances during the tournament were Raman Hrabarenka for Belarus (or Roman Graborenko…must be a translation of his name?) and Andrei Loktionov for Russia.
It’s week 2 of the offseason for me…taking some time out of enjoying the sun and getting this thing updated.
-Earlier today, something long overdue: per CapGeek and Fire and Ice, the Devils have signed Joe Whitney to a two year, two way contract. After being invited to the Devils 2011 rookie camp and signing as an AHL free agent at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Whitney has proceeded to lead the A-Devils in scoring the last two seasons.
-Catching up on some old news:
On Monday the NHL revealed the 2013 draft order via the lottery…New Jersey will be picking 9th in the first round. Due to various trades, they have a total of 4 draft picks this year: 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th round. The Devils are holding a drawing to win tickets to the draft, held at The Rock on June 30th (yes I entered…do I expect to win? Nope).
Add another original River Rat to the retired list, as Brian Rolston officially announced his retirement on Tuesday. He was originally drafted 11th by New Jersey in 1991, and made his pro debut with the River Rats during Albany’s inaugural 1993-94 season. He was a member of New Jersey’s first Stanley Cup championship in 1995 (after starting the lockout shortened season in Albany), spending the next 4 seasons with the Devils before being dealt to Colorado for Claude Lemieux early in the 1999-2000 season. He also played in Boston and Minnesota before returning to New Jersey prior to the 2008-09 season. He spent another 3 seasons in Jersey, before spending what would become his final season with Boston and the Islanders in 2011-12.
Welcome to my 3rd annual Devils year in review. As I have done the last two seasons, I will be presenting the season in review in three parts: stats, some fun with numbers, and what I learned on and off the ice.
Here we go, the final part: What I Learned. For me, it’s more that just covering the games and recapping. There’s so much more that goes on that makes this fun and actually worthwhile. Now for a few memories of the season:
-Normally, I can handle myself no problem when I’m around any of the Devils (or even some of the opponents, for that matter). But the first night I saw Adam Henrique postgame during the third week of the season…I actually found myself literally starstruck. After all, all he did last season was score two playoff series clinching goals and almost win the Calder Trophy. But yes, I got myself together before he said hello. Sadly his hand injury in late November cut his visit short…and a week before all the fun Booster Club events too!
-Remember last season and #FreeBurlon? This year it went to a whole another level, due to the lockout and the abundance of players on the roster. I have lost count of how many players we requested to be freed on both Twitter and on a number of signs. It got to the point where Harry Young actually wanted us to put up the signs! And yes, that actually made him crack a smile (baby steps!).
-I created a new penalty just for Tim Sestito (know to my Jersey followers as the #ENERGY guy), the Sestito Penalty. Regardless of whether he was guilty or not of whatever infraction he committed, he always had to get the last word in with the referee. Next thing you know…extra 2 minutes, extra 10 minutes on the board.
-Now on to the Yes, That Actually Happened Department:
The douche otherwise known as Zac Rinaldo scored on a penalty shot? Yes, that actually happened. And I think everyone had the same reaction as Jeff Frazee.
Cam and Jay Leach providing a majority of the offense in one game? Yes, that actually happened. I’m still looking outside for those flying pigs.
-I made quite a few road trips during the course of the year. Some interesting events from a few of those stops:
If you’re bored while in Adirondack, you can always watch Marc-Andre Bourdon charm his date (or a random teammate) for the evening. This actually started last season when a friend witnessed the entire date (from introduction, to number exchange, to eventually leaving before the game was over), but with him still on the shelf from post concussion symptoms, seemed like every time I went up he was in the next section over from me charming a new girl.
The other memory from up there was a scary one…being on hand when Mattias Tedenby took the skate cut to his jaw. I don’t think I had ever seen that much blood on the ice in all the years I’ve gone to games. Luckily he recovered and was back out there (and I even got my first good look at his cut last weekend) before the season was out. And thanks to Mike Testuwide (one of the Phantom scratches that night) for giving me the initial update.
Tribute to Sandy Hook in Bridgeport.
The main memory of my lone trip to Hartford was that it was the same day as the Sandy Hook shootings. Every radio station in the Springfield/Hartford area carried the press conferences and news updates. The drive down there was a little numbing, but once I got in the building and got into game mode, it got better.
On a lighter note, after hearing the news that the Whale are going back to being the Wolfpack, I’m kicking myself for not buying those cool Whale socks I saw at one of the souvenir stands…
Wilkes-Barre has a pretty cool scoreboard…quite similar to the TU Center.
Ah Wilkes-Barre. Where I always get booed by the same random tall guy and there’s a Tim Hortons booth (always a plus). While the game I saw wasn’t the greatest, there was another story that came out of this trip. On the way back up Interstate 81 towards New York, our bus was treated to the tail end of a fireworks show at PNC Field, where the Triple-A Yankees play. Then I find out the next morning more than fireworks happened. Um, oops?
But the most memorable trips of the year involved two words, one hashtag: #fullcar. Two trips to Binghamton in February and April involved a full car of 5 heading west on Interstate 88 for a pair of games in Binghamton. Whether it was helping out with the B-Sens Power to the Purple cause or hanging out at a pregame party with this guy:
Yep, this guy. Shorts not pictured.
Or racing the team bus down the highway…or late night Tim Hortons runs…the list goes on and on.
With another season in the books, I just want to thank everyone for following along and reading. It’s amazing all the new friends I have found just via Twitter alone and meeting people at games, events, etc. Looking forward to an interesting summer and ahead to the fall to start Year #4!
