The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are continuing to work to fill their roster. Since the Edmonton Oilers' split affiliation deal has ended, there will be several depth signings needed.
The latest one is D Ben Lovejoy (6'2", 212 lbs) from Dartmouth. Lovejoy started his college career at Boston College for one year and then transferred to play 3 years at Dartmouth. He was the leading scorer among defensemen for the Big Green with 7 goals and 16 assists.
This now gives the WBS Penguins 4 defensemen on their roster. That list includes Paul Bissonnette, Jonathan D'Aversa, Lovejoy, and Kris Letang (competing for a job in the NHL). When you combine their experience, the 4 of them have combined for 4 AHL games this past year. That would indicate that the next signing(s) by Wilkes-Barre will be a veteran, whether it is re-signing Micki DuPont, Matt Carkner, or Wade Skolney, or looking to another AHL vet (only after July 1). Ryan Lannon is a restricted free-agent, so he will most likely be offered a contract before July 1 and given the chance to become the leader of the blue-line corps.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
WBS Penguins sign F Kyle Rank
In signing news, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed forward Kyle Rank. Rank is 6'1" 190 lbs. and spent the last 4 years playing for the St. Lawrence Saints in the NCAA.
Rank also played ten games on a tryout with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists to go along with 5 penalty minutes.
Rank also played ten games on a tryout with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists to go along with 5 penalty minutes.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Hamilton wins the Calder Cup in 5 games!
The Hamilton Bulldogs took the Calder Cup from the defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears in 5 games.
Game 5 was last night and Ajay Baines scored a short-handed game-winning goal midway through the third period to win the game 2-1 for the home team.
The star of the series was Hamilton G Carey Price. At 19 years old, he was a pleasant surprise for the Bulldogs this year and stepped it up when it counted in the playoffs, getting stronger in each round. He became the first teenage goalie to win the Calder Cup since someone named Patrick Roy pulled it off at age 19. If he only has half the career that Roy had, the Montreal Canadiens will be very happy.
Game 5 was last night and Ajay Baines scored a short-handed game-winning goal midway through the third period to win the game 2-1 for the home team.
The star of the series was Hamilton G Carey Price. At 19 years old, he was a pleasant surprise for the Bulldogs this year and stepped it up when it counted in the playoffs, getting stronger in each round. He became the first teenage goalie to win the Calder Cup since someone named Patrick Roy pulled it off at age 19. If he only has half the career that Roy had, the Montreal Canadiens will be very happy.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Calder Cup Finals Game 3 Recap
The Hershey Bears have continued their trend of outshooting the Hamilton Bulldogs, but not putting the shots into the net. Thanks to their victory tonight, the Hamilton Bulldogs hold a 2-1 series lead.
Tonight, the Hamilton Bulldogs scored four unanswered goals in the second period to open up a 5-1 lead. Hamilton G Carey Price saved 38 of 40 and held the Hershey Bears to only one goal in the final frame, thus preserving a 5-2 victory. Hershey G Frederic Cassivi has been displaying the poor rebound control that has been his Achilles Heel.
Besides the stellar play of Price, the other story of the game was the 1-for-11 power play conversion rate for the Hershey Bears. It was a very physical game and Hershey had more power play opportunities, but simply did not convert.
Tonight, the Hamilton Bulldogs scored four unanswered goals in the second period to open up a 5-1 lead. Hamilton G Carey Price saved 38 of 40 and held the Hershey Bears to only one goal in the final frame, thus preserving a 5-2 victory. Hershey G Frederic Cassivi has been displaying the poor rebound control that has been his Achilles Heel.
Besides the stellar play of Price, the other story of the game was the 1-for-11 power play conversion rate for the Hershey Bears. It was a very physical game and Hershey had more power play opportunities, but simply did not convert.
Calder Cup Finals Games 1 & 2 Recap
Games 1 and 2 of the AHL's Calder Cup Finals were played in Hershey on back-to-back nights.
After outshooting the Hamilton Bulldogs by nearly 2-to-1 in both games, the Hershey Bears were shut out 4-0 in Game 1 and won 4-2 in Game 2.
This leaves the series tied at 1-1 with Hamilton now holding home-ice advantage. Hamilton G Carey Price has stopped 94 of 96 shots for an unbelievable .979 save percentage and has been the story of the series.
After outshooting the Hamilton Bulldogs by nearly 2-to-1 in both games, the Hershey Bears were shut out 4-0 in Game 1 and won 4-2 in Game 2.
This leaves the series tied at 1-1 with Hamilton now holding home-ice advantage. Hamilton G Carey Price has stopped 94 of 96 shots for an unbelievable .979 save percentage and has been the story of the series.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Significant Deadline for 2 Penguins Draftees
Tonight, May 31st at midnight, will be the deadline for the Pittsburgh Penguins to offer contracts to two of their 2005 NHL Draftees, or they will be available in the 2007 NHL Draft to any team. Both prospects are defensemen.
D Jean-Philippe Paquet is a 6'0", 202 lb. left handed shot who was drafted in the 6th round (194th overall). He has attended the last two Pittsburgh Penguins training camps with good reviews. His career QMJHL stats (including playoffs) are now completed and stand at 190 games played, 66 pts (13G+53A), +4 rating, and 255 penalty minutes. With the lack of true defensive prospects under contract, the Penguins would be well served to get him under contract and send him to the AHL for the upcoming season. He may improve his draft status (and contract) if he re-enters the draft.
D Tommi Leinonen is also a left handed shot who stands at 6'2", 191 lbs. He has been playing in Finland since being drafted in the 4th round (125th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft. In 37 games in the Finnish Juniors League, Leinonen scored 20 points (9G+11A) and earned 16 penalty minutes. It will be interesting to see how his game would translate to the NHL's smaller ice surface due to how light he is for a 6'2" defenseman. It would be worth the effort to give him a contract to see how he could adjust to the AHL level. If he is able to add some size and adjust to the more physical game, it's possible that he could be an NHL prospect at some point.
D Jean-Philippe Paquet is a 6'0", 202 lb. left handed shot who was drafted in the 6th round (194th overall). He has attended the last two Pittsburgh Penguins training camps with good reviews. His career QMJHL stats (including playoffs) are now completed and stand at 190 games played, 66 pts (13G+53A), +4 rating, and 255 penalty minutes. With the lack of true defensive prospects under contract, the Penguins would be well served to get him under contract and send him to the AHL for the upcoming season. He may improve his draft status (and contract) if he re-enters the draft.
D Tommi Leinonen is also a left handed shot who stands at 6'2", 191 lbs. He has been playing in Finland since being drafted in the 4th round (125th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft. In 37 games in the Finnish Juniors League, Leinonen scored 20 points (9G+11A) and earned 16 penalty minutes. It will be interesting to see how his game would translate to the NHL's smaller ice surface due to how light he is for a 6'2" defenseman. It would be worth the effort to give him a contract to see how he could adjust to the AHL level. If he is able to add some size and adjust to the more physical game, it's possible that he could be an NHL prospect at some point.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Penguins sign RW Tim Wallace
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced today that they have signed RW Tim Wallace to a two-year entry-level NHL contract. Wallace played last year for the Wheeling Nailers(ECHL) and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins(AHL) on an AHL contract.
Wallace (6'0", 205 lbs.) plays as an "energy" or "checking" player. He is the Notre Dame consecutive-games-played record holder. In 32 games last year, Wallace was a +5 and scored 5 goals and 9 assists. He also scored a goal and an assist in the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring.
Wallace (6'0", 205 lbs.) plays as an "energy" or "checking" player. He is the Notre Dame consecutive-games-played record holder. In 32 games last year, Wallace was a +5 and scored 5 goals and 9 assists. He also scored a goal and an assist in the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring.
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