Snowed In Thursday Update

While waiting out the latest snowstorm to hit the area (I’m looking at, oh, at least a foot by tomorrow morning…sigh), time to get everyone up to speed as the season resumes tomorrow night in Atlantic City:

-While his teammates were enjoying a three day vacation, Joe Whitney was up in St. John’s to take part in the AHL All Star festivities, going up against Farjestad BK of the SEL.  Tuesday night the AHL contingent won the Skills Competition 18-17, needing a shootout to clinch the win.  Whitney took part in the second round of the Puck Control Relay, teaming with Cody Goloubef (Springfield) and Brenden Kichton (St. John’s); teamed up again with Goloubef and Frederic St. Denis (Springfield) in the Pass and Score competition; and scored on Farjestad netminder Frederik Pettersson-Wentzel in Round 3 of the Breakaway Relay.

-In the actual game Wednesday night, the AHL All-Stars beat Farjestad BK 7-2.  Rockford’s Brandon Pirri (also a former RPI Engineer for one season) took home MVP honors with two goals and an assist.  Whitney was his linemate for a good portion of the night, he and Binghamton’s Mike Hoffman each notched two assists.  Farjestad’s player of the game?  None other than former Albany River Rat Christian Berglund, despite being held scoreless (he did lead Farjestad with 5 shots on goal).

-Thursday it was back to work for the remaining Devils, and there were two somewhat new faces on ice: Darcy Zajac, who hadn’t been seen since October after getting hurt during the Norfolk trip, was back on ice for the first time since then.  And with Keith Kinkaid out for at least the weekend, another backup goaltender was brought in…and he’s a familiar face to Devils fans.  Johan Hedberg (otherwise known as MOOOOSE), who had been working as a special assignment coach (sitting with goaltending coach Dave Caruso for a handful of games), was signed to a PTO agreement, and there is a chance with the 3 in 3 schedule this weekend that he may get into a game.  His last on ice appearance was back on April 27th, a 4-0 loss to the Rangers.  After that, he was bought out after Cory Schneider’s acquistion, and even had a stint in Rangers training camp before coming back to join the Devils staff.