By Bruce Berlet

A lot of players might not be enamored with having to travel 12-15 hours round-trip to play their first few games with a new team.

Not right wing Francois Bouchard, whom the New York Rangers acquired from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday for Connecticut Whale defenseman Tomas Kundratek.

Bouchard arrived from Hershey, Pa., around 1 p.m. Wednesday, and met his new teammates and practiced with the Whale for the first time Thursday, before the team bussed to Boston for a flight to Toronto and then on to St. John’s, Newfoundland, for games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

“It’ll be fun to play at St. John’s, where I can go eat with the guys and meet them more,” Bouchard said after his first workout. “This is great timing just to get to know the guys and spend time with them so I can introduce myself.”

It’s not surprising that Bouchard had some mixed emotions about the deal, especially after being a key contributor as the Bears, the top affiliate of the Washington Capitals, won the Calder Cup in 2009 and 2010.

“It was a little surprising because you never really expect to be traded, but I think I needed a fresh start,” Bouchard said. “I left so many friends behind. There are guys there who I played with in my first (pro) game four years ago. We won the (Calder) Cup together twice, so there were really great memories and I’ll keep texting and communicating with them for sure. But I played three years in Hershey and Washington, so I think it was just time for me to get another opportunity somewhere else and get my confidence back. I think the change will be good for me.”

Bouchard’s confidence had declined with his playing time after he signed a one-year deal on July 15 with the Capitals, who selected him in the second round (35^th overall) in 2006. For most of his time in Hershey, Bouchard played a regular shift and was on the power play, but not this season. After getting 48 goals and 63 assists in 215 games in three full seasons in Hershey, he was scoreless with eight penalty minutes and minus-4 in nine games this season while playing mostly on the fourth line.

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“They always have a great team in Hershey,” the 23-year-old Bouchard said. “They always sign so many players in the summer, so they have older guys that need ice time so mine was pretty limited. I wasn’t playing the power play, which I played in juniors and some in my first two years in Hershey. It was kind of hard to play six or seven minutes a night on the fourth line, but I think they’re going to give me a great opportunity here. They talked to me like they were really high on me and expect a lot from me, so I’m just going to try to do my best and work hard every day at practice. It’s a young team, too, so it’s always exciting with those guys.”

Kundratek, the Rangers’ third-round pick in 2008, also had seen his playing time decline this season as he was a victim of an overload on the Whale defense, including being a healthy scratch the last five games.

“We were a little bit long on defense and short on forwards, and you can’t have people not playing and not developing,” Whale coach Ken Gernander said. “Hopefully it works out well for Tomas and he gets a little more opportunity in Hershey. And it should work out to our advantage to get a skilled forward that can help us offensively.”

Kundratek was upbeat when he arrived in Hershey.

“I was asking for a trade because it was kind of a tough position in New York and Hartford,” Kundratek told Tim Leone of The Patriot-News in Hershey. “I was so excited when I heard I got traded to Washington, and I’m looking forward to being here. It was tough to get in to play in the top six defense (in Hartford).”

Bears assistant coach Troy Mann said, “(Kundratek) has got good size and looks like he moves pretty well. We’ll just have to see over the next few games if we can get him in there to get a true evaluation. I don’t think you can 100 percent evaluate him after one or two games. You have to give him a body of work of four or five or six games and then assess what you’ve got.”

Bouchard’s adjustment to his new surroundings was made easier, as he knew several Whale players, notably rookie left wing Ryan Bourque, whose older brother Chris plays with the Bears and was MVP of the playoffs in 2010.

“I went to Boston a few times to see the Bourques, and Chris was my best friend in Hershey,” Bouchard said.

But Chris will be his foe on Nov. 29, when the Bears visit the XL Center and the Bourque brothers play against each other for the first time.

“I got a little X on my calendar for that one,” Bouchard said with a smile. “For sure I’ll be excited to play against my old team, but right now I’m focusing on this team.”

Bouchard also knows center Kelsey Tessier and rookie wing Jonathan Audy-Marchessault from youth hockey in the Quebec province. Bouchard grew up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where he learned to play hockey with his father, Denis, and 27-year-old brother Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who is in his ninth season with the Minnesota Wild.

“He’s an idol and role model for me,” Bouchard said. “We’re really close and talk to each other every day. He has always been a big help to me since we grew up playing hockey in the street with my dad. And he was pretty happy for me to get another opportunity. He knows the Rangers are a great organization for young guys, so I was pretty excited about that.”

Rangers assistant general manager Jeff Gorton told Jim Cerny of BlueshirtsUnited.com that Bouchard is “a skilled guy that can play all positions and just needed a change of scenery. We like his sense and playmaking ability.”

Gernander feels Bouchard should be “a pretty good offensive player.”

“He’s pretty creative and showed some pretty good passing and hand skills (in practice),” Gernander said. “Now we’ll see how he does in games.”

Bouchard twice exceeded 100 points in four seasons with Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, with his best being 2006-07 when he led the league in scoring with 125 points (45 goals, 80 assists) in 68 games. Two seasons ago, he had career highs as a pro in goals (21), assists (31) and points (52) as the Bears won their first of two straight Calder Cup titles.

Bouchard had several productive outings against the former Hartford Wolf Pack, most notably when he had one goal and three assists in Hershey’s 6-0 victory at the XL Center on Oct. 30, 2009 while playing with Mathieu Perreault (one goal, one assist) and former Wolf Pack left wing Alexandre Giroux (two goals, two assists).

“I remember some great games both here and back home (in Hershey),” Bouchard said with a smile.

Now the Whale hopes Bouchard can play as well for them as he did against them.

CHALLENGING WEEKEND FOR WHALE

Bouchard joined the Whale as they look for some revenge in another battle of two of the Eastern Conference’s three division leaders.

The Whale (7-2-1-2) was in first place in the Northeast Division as they headed to Newfoundland on Thursday to play the Atlantic Division-leading St. John’s IceCaps on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Last Friday night the Whale allowed four third-period goals in a 6-3 loss to the IceCaps (9-2-3-0), who had the AHL’s best record when they completed a nine-day, six-game trip through New England with a 4-0-2-0 record, capped by a 4-3 victory at Bridgeport on Sunday.

Veteran defenseman Wade Redden was impressed with a team that was minus five call-ups, including half of the Winnipeg Jets’ defensive corps in a 3-0 loss to the Rangers on Sunday night – Brett Festerling, Mark Flood and Paul Postma, an AHL All-Star last season.

“I think we have to be happy with where we’re sitting right now with our record, but realizing, too, that we obviously can’t be content and there are things that we need to improve,” Redden said. “St. John’s was kind of the benchmark for us as the top team in the conference, and they played real hard and kind of took it to us for some important parts of the game, so we have to learn from that because it’s a big weekend coming up against them.”

The IceCaps’ comeback was especially impressive, after Kris Newbury and Ryan Bourque scored in less than 20 seconds in the final minute of the second period to give the Whale a 3-2 lead. The Whale did a good job of protecting the lead the first five minutes of the third period with smart dump-ins, and then lost their way with a series of ill-advised plays and a few rare soft goals allowed by Chad Johnson, the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month in October.

“They obviously played hard for most of the game,” Redden said. “They put together a pretty solid 60 minutes, and all their guys were skating and checking and forcing plays, so if you’re up against that, you have to be doing the same. We weren’t doing that enough that game and we have a tendency to panic a little bit, which we can’t do. Obviously we have to feel confident in ourselves with what we can do because we’ve got a great group of guys, so we just have to stick to the game plan. Sometimes we face adversity, and the first thing guys do is try to do a bit too much instead of keeping it simple and relying on each other.”

The IceCaps, formerly the Manitoba Moose, are the top affiliate of the new Jets, the former Atlanta Thrashers, after St. John’s was the home of the feeder system for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1991 to 2005, before that team was relocated to Toronto and became the Marlies. This is the Wolf Pack/Whale’s first visit to The Rock since a 3-1 victory on Dec. 1, 2002. Prior to last Friday, the Wolf Pack/Whale last played a St. John’s team on March 26, 2003, a 7-4 loss in Hartford.

“They’re obviously a strong team, being at the top of their division,” Gernander said. “They’re playing winning hockey, finding ways to win games, and if we’re going to be successful, we have to play our best hockey. Obviously if you’re going to make mistakes or give them opportunities, they’re going to hurt you. They’re a little more experienced team and played a very patient, fairly tight defensive game and worked hard on their forecheck. They have a good, complete game and the wherewithal or savvy where if you deviate from your plan or try to take a shortcut and make a mistake, they’re going to cash in on those too, because they have the guys to pay it off on the other end.”

The St. John’s trip is part of the Whale opening the season with 10 of their first 14 games and 15 of 22 on the road, much like the Rangers started with a team-record seven straight away from Madison Square Garden, which is undergoing a $850 million facelift over three years. The Rangers ended a six-game home stand on a high Sunday night behind Martin Biron’s 23 saves in his 27^th career shutout, first with the Rangers. The Whale plays eight of its last 11 in 2011 on Asylum Street.

Audy-Marchessault leads the Whale’s balanced attack with five goals and six assists in the last seven games, after going scoreless in the first five. Kris and John Mitchell, both former St. John’s Maple Leafs, are tied for second with nine points, one ahead of rookie Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello, who has three goals and five assists in seven games since being reassigned by the Rangers.

The Moose were based in Winnipeg, and played in the International Hockey League in 1996-2001, and the AHL in 2001-2011, after the departure of the original Jets to Phoenix. As the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, they won the North Division in 2006-07 and 2008-09, when they reached the Calder Cup finals, losing to Hershey in six games.

The IceCaps lost the five players to call-ups because of numerous Jets injuries, including to defenseman Ron Hainsey, a Bolton native who has been sidelined for three weeks with a separated shoulder. But IceCaps rookie head coach Keith McCambridge’s team has hardly missed a beat, showing plenty of perseverance and grit while rallying to beat the Whale, who return home Nov. 18 to play nemesis Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers have twice overcome two-goal deficits to beat the Whale, 5-4 in a shootout on Oct. 15 in Hartford and 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday in Bridgeport.

FORMER WHALERS DEFENSEMAN AMONG FOUR TO BE INDUCTED INTO AHL HALL OF FAME

Former Hartford Whalers defenseman John Stevens was among four selected for induction into AHL Hall of Fame as the Class of 2012. Others to be recognized Jan. 30 at the AHL Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony at the Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey are Joe Crozier, Jack Gordon and Zellio Toppazzini.

Stevens, 45, is a former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers who is now an assistant coach with the Los Angeles. His 14-year playing career, which was cut short by an eye injury, included eight assists in 44 games with the Whalers spanning three seasons. He was a member of the undefeated 1987-88 Hershey Bear Calder Cup championship team coached by former Wolf Pack coach John Paddock. Stevens also won a Calder Cup in 1990-91 with the Springfield Indians, but the defenseman is best known for his days with the Philadelphia Phantoms, where he was the team’s first captain in 1996-97, won a Calder Cup in 1997-98 and coached the club for six seasons in 2000-07. He then took over as Flyers coach for 31/2 seasons before being fired.

“These four individuals enjoyed significant careers and are legendary figures in the rich history of the American Hockey League,” AHL president and CEO David Andrews said in a statement. “The AHL Board of Governors is pleased to support the selection committee’s recommendation for their induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.”

The quartet will be honored as part of the festivities at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City, N.Y. Formed in 2006 to recognize, honor and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the AHL, the AHL Hall of Fame is housed on-line at www.ahlhalloffame.com. … South Windsor native and Houston Aeros captain Jon DiSalvatore had a nine-game points streak (four goals, nine assists) end in a 5-3 loss to the visiting Abbotsford Heat on Thursday night.

BALDWIN TO BE HONORED SATURDAY NIGHT

Whalers Sports and Entertainment chairman and CEO Howard Baldwin will receive the Community Leader of the Year Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at its Sportscasters’ Super Ball on Saturday at The Club at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The black-tie optional gala from 7 p.m. to midnight honors Connecticut sports stars and community leaders while raising fund and awareness of cystic fibrosis.

Baldwin is the former owner and managing general partner of the Hartford Whalers and then founded Whalers Sports and Entertainment two years ago. WSE assumed business control of the former Hartford Wolf Pack 14 months ago and rebranded the team the Connecticut Whale last Nov. 27.

Former Kolbe Cathedral High-Bridgeport and University of Connecticut basketball star Chris Smith and Plainville’s Abby Negro will receive the Native Son Award and Rookie of the Year Award at the dinner.

Smith, UConn’s leader in career (2,145 points) and Big East (1,140) scoring and three-point field goals (242), is one of only two Huskies to score at least 500 points in three different seasons and a member of the UConn basketball All-Century Team. He graduated from Kolbe Cathedral, where he became a high school All-American and played on the U.S. national team. He was Connecticut Player of the Year before playing at UConn and then three seasons with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. He is now the Kolbe boys’ basketball coach.

Negro, 16, is an honor student and basketball player at Plainville High and will be making her debut as an ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. Thick mucus blocks the airways, leading to life-threatening infections. The median life expectancy is 37 years.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is consistently rated one of the most efficient health charities in the country and is devoted to controlling the disease. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the foundation has more than 80 chapters and supports and accredits a nationwide network of 115 care centers. To advance research for a cure, the foundation has invested nearly $300 million in promising drug research in the biotech industry since 1998. For more information, visit www.cff.org.

The Sportscasters’ gala was established in 2002 by ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Chris Berman to celebrate Connecticut’s rich sports history. Since its inception, the gala has raised more than $1 million in much needed research funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Dinner, dancing and a unique live auction will highlight the event. For tickets ($200) or to get involved, contact CFF director of special projects Paul Drury at 860-632-7300 or pdrury@cff.org.

MARK HOWE SET TO ENTER NHL HALL OF FAME

Mark Howe, the best defenseman in Hartford Whalers history, heads to Toronto on Sunday for a celebratory dinner as a prelude to being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. Howe, who had been eligible since 1998, will be inducted with Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour and Doug Gilmour.

“It’s hard to believe this is happening,” Howe, 56, the director of pro scouting for the Detroit Red Wings, said while watching the Rangers-Winnipeg Jets game Sunday night. “There’ll be about 40 friends and family coming in, and I’m so happy dad will be able to be there.”

“Dad” is legendary 83-year-old Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe, who ended his 32-year pro career at 52 playing with sons Mark and Marty with the Whalers after six seasons with the World Hockey Association’s Houston Aeros and New England Whalers. Marty and his family still live in Glastonbury.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, November 9, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned defenseman Jyri Niemi from the Whale to its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Niemi, a Finnish-born second-year pro, has skated in eight games for the Whale this season, registering one assist, four penalty minutes and a +1 rating.  Last season with the Whale, Niemi chalked up three goals and six assists for nine points, along with 22 PIM, in 46 games.  A third-round draft pick (72^nd overall) by the New York Islanders in 2008 out of the Western Hockey League, Niemi was acquired by the Rangers from the Islanders May 25, 2010, in exchange for a sixth-round 2010 draft pick.

The Whale return to action this Saturday, November 12, in the first of back-to-back games in St. John’s, Newfoundland against the St. John’s IceCaps.  Faceoff is 6:00 PM, and all the CT Whale Rockin’ Hockey action can be heard live on “The Rock”, 106.9 FM, WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  The Whale’s next home game is coming up Friday, November 18, a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center at 7:00.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

By Bruce Berlet

Jordan Owens’ style and demeanor has hardly changed since his first stint in Hartford, but he has seen one major improvement in his second go-around.

“I like the new uniforms,” Owens said with a smile. “There’s no specific reason. I like the colors, I guess.”

Yes, many of his teammates are different as Owens is into the green, blue and white of the Connecticut Whale, who were the Hartford Wolf Pack when he first signed with the New York

Rangers organization on June 12, 2007.

In a strange twist of fate, Owens’ stay in Hartford ended on March 3, 2010, when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for center Kris Newbury, one of Owens’ favorite players while growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario after being born in Toronto. Owens had seven goals and 18 assists in 77 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins before his 2010-11 season ended because of an injury sustained with 20 games left.

“It’s weird because I used to watch the Maple Leafs, and (Newbury) was one of my favorites,” Owens said. “When I got traded for him, it was kind of cool and weird at the same time. I didn’t know him, but I liked the way he played a lot.”

It’s a lot like the way Owens plays.

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“He plays a pretty straightforward game, so the consistent effort and hustle are kind of a constant in his game,” said Whale coach Ken Gernander, who displayed similar qualities in his distinguished 14-year pro career. “So if he plays a simple, straightforward game and is giving the energy and the work, it’s not going to deviate much. He creates pretty good forechecking pressure and finishes his hits. And when it gets a little nasty, he can scrap a bit. He brings a lot.”

Owens brought enough in the Whale’s first 12 games that he was given an AHL contract on Monday to replace the professional tryout deal he signed on Oct. 6, two days before the season started.

“There was a general consensus that everybody appreciates what he does, what he brings, his versatility,” Gernander said. “We’re not extremely deep up front right now, and Jordan is doing well in his role.”

Owens has been on a checking/defensive line with Scott Tanski and either Andre Deveaux, Chris McKelvie or Jyri Niemi. He has played center and wing, is one of the Whale’s key penalty killers and rather adept at face-offs.

“There are all kinds of ways to get it done,” Gernander said. “I think if someone were to watch Jordan, if you’re maybe bringing up a young kid and don’t know what their skill set is going to be, but if you want someone who is going to be doing the right things and a good role model as far as work ethic and things like that, he’d be a pretty good example.”

And Owens is appreciated by more than just his coaches and teammates, as fans still drape a banner saying “Jordan’s Corner” over the railing of the upper deck of the XL Center. He remained in touch with many of them during his hiatus to Grand Rapids.

“I have a good supporting cast, especially my friends in Jordan’s Corner,” Owens said.

Owens also gets to see his relatives in Ludlow again, which made his return that much more enjoyable.

“I’m happy to be here,” Owens said. “It feels like my home away from home. I spent a lot of time in the area when I was younger, and I came to camp this year not being on a high, so I’m pretty happy about that.”

Though he wasn’t with the Wolf Pack/Whale for nearly 18 months, Owens said he feels like he never left Connecticut after arriving from the Mississauga IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

“It’s been a blur, it’s been five years since I’ve been a pro, but it feels like yesterday that I was coming here out of juniors,” Owens said. “It’s a good feeling to be familiar. I was really excited to come back, not only because it was familiar but I love the new uniforms, so I was pretty happy to wear those.”

Owens first visited the area when he vacationed and went fishing with his grandparents in Springfield. He also has family in Hartford but didn’t meet them until he first arrived in 2006. So Owens never crossed the state line and went to Hartford, settling for rooting for the Maple Leafs and AHL Toronto Marlies, where Newbury also played.

After last season ended on a downer, Owens got only a few contacts from other teams, some of which were in Europe, but nothing concrete.

“I was pretty desperate,” he said. “My back was against the wall, so I was going to do whatever it took to stick because I didn’t have anywhere else to go. By the time I heard from Europe, it was late summer and they had already started (the season), which made it even tougher to get in. This was my only option, so I had to make sure I stuck here.”

Owens and Tanski weren’t assured of roster spots until late in training camp, and while Tanski was signed to an AHL contract, Owens was relegated to a PTO. But Owens was comfortable in Hartford after having been with the organization and knowing Gernander. He also was helped by right wing Chad Kolarik sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee in training camp and Dale Weise being claimed off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks.

“It definitely is one of the reasons I’m here is because they knew who I was already,” Owens said. “The numbers weren’t really in my favor when I came here, but there were injuries and Weisie got picked up off waivers, so I pretty much got lucky.”

And, as usual, he worked and played hard, too.

“Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time,” Owens said.

Now if only he can put a few more biscuits in the basket. In the OHL, Owens’ goals, assists and points increased in each of his three seasons, capped by 32-42—74 and plus-17 in 60 games in 2006-07. He joined the Wolf Pack for the end of the season and playoffs, then played in Hartford and with Charlotte of the ECHL in 2007-08 before becoming a Wolf Pack regular the following season, when he had pro career highs in goals (12), assists (25) and points (37) and tied his career high in plus-minus (plus-17).

Then after getting six goals and 13 assists in 50 games with the Wolf Pack in 2009-10, he was traded for Newbury. At the time, the Wolf Pack were looking for some veteran leadership and grit up front and gave up a hustling, hard-working young wing who was a fan favorite for playing bigger than his 6-foot, 180-pound frame, often rattling the plexiglass when he finished a check. Newbury provided immediate dividends, getting four goals and 14 assists in 18 games, though the Wolf Pack missed the playoffs for the only time in the franchise’s 14-year history. 

Newbury continued his production last season, when he led the Wolf Pack/Whale in assists (44) and points (61) in 69 games, and earned kudos from Rangers coach John Tortorella while getting one assist and showing plenty of spunk in 11 games during several call-ups to Broadway. He had four goals, including his second AHL hat trick in the opener, and four assists in four games this season before being called up again. He is currently tied for second on the Whale team in scoring with John Mitchell with nine points, two behind rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.

Owens has two goals, 12 penalty minutes and is minus-1 in 12 games this season, with both goals, including the winner, coming in a 4-2 victory at Adirondack on Oct. 28. He said he still plays the same as he did in juniors but hasn’t found the back of the net as often, though he was usually in more offensive situations, including on the power play, while with Mississauga.

“I don’t know what happened. I used to score more goals,” Owens said with a smile. “When I came here, I knew I had to find a way to contribute night in and night out if I wasn’t going to be scoring. So I turned to being good defensively and blocking shots and hitting and defending teammates if need be.”

And learning what it takes to score at a higher level.

“At this level, and even in the NHL, you get maybe one (scoring) chance per game, and that’s the difference between a goal scorer and a guy that’s not,” Owens said. “A guy who is a goal scorer will capitalize on the opportunity given them. Someone like me needs a couple of chances before I can score a goal. I noticed that after the first couple of games. If you’re playing well, you’ll get a good chance and really have to bear down on it.”

Even if Owens doesn’t do anything resembling Audy-Marchessault’s 35-foot laser from the top of the right circle in the Whale’s 3-2 overtime victory at Albany on Saturday night, he’s the kind of guy who can have a positive influence on a team. Just the kind of guy who resembles his coach – on and off the ice.

FORMER WOLF PACK FORWARD REJOINS FALCONS

The Columbus Blue Jackets have reassigned former Wolf Pack wing and 2009 AHL MVP Alexandre Giroux to the Springfield Falcons. In a reversal of three weeks ago, Giroux changed places with Greenwich native and former Avon Old Farms and Boston College standout wing Cam Atkinson, who had four goals and two assists in 10 games with the Falcons after scoring one goal in five games with the Blue Jackets.

Giroux, 30, had one goal in nine games with Columbus after getting one goal and one assist in two games with Springfield. In 48 NHL games with Columbus, Edmonton, Washington and the Rangers, Giroux has six goals and six assist in 10 years. A seventh-round pick of Ottawa in 1999, he has 340 goals and 310 assists and is plus-143 in 706 AHL games. He led the Hershey Bears to the back-to-back Calder Cup titles in 2009-10, when he had 110 goals and 90 assists in 138 games. He has scored 30 or more goals in seven straight AHL seasons and appeared in several AHL All-Star Games, including each of the past three years.

The Falcons also signed veteran defenseman Brett Lebda to a professional tryout contract. Lebda has 19 goals and 53 assists in 367 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup ring with the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. … Former Rangers and Wolf Pack wing Jed Ortmeyer was suspended one game as a result of an illegal check to the head in a game at Hamilton on Friday night. He missed Sunday’s game against Toronto.

FORMER UCONN STAR, PLAINVILLE TEEN TO BE SALUTED WITH BALDWIN

Former Kolbe Cathedral High-Bridgeport and University of Connecticut basketball star Chris Smith and Plainville’s Abby Negro will be honored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with Whalers Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Howard Baldwin at its Sportscasters’ Super Ball on Saturday at The Club at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The black-tie optional gala from 7 p.m. to midnight honors Connecticut sports stars and community leaders while raising fund and awareness of cystic fibrosis.

Smith, UConn’s leader in career (2,145 points) and Big East (1,140) scoring and three-point field goals (242), will receive the Native Son Award. Smith is one of only two Huskies to score at least 500 points in three different seasons and a member of the UConn basketball All-Century Team. He graduated from Kolbe Cathedral, where he became a high school All-American and played on the U.S. national team. He was Connecticut Player of the Year before playing at UConn and then three seasons with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. He is now the Kolbe boys’ basketball coach.

Negro, 16, will receive the Rookie of the Year Award. She is an honor student and basketball player at Plainville High and will be making her debut as an ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Baldwin was previously named the Community Leader of the Year Award. Baldwin was the former owner and managing general partner of the Hartford Whalers and then founded Whalers Sports and Entertainment two years ago. WSE assumed business control of the former Hartford Wolf Pack 14 months ago and rebranded the team the Connecticut Whale last Nov. 27.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. Thick mucus blocks the airways, leading to life-threatening infections. The median life expectancy is 37 years.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is consistently rated one of the most efficient health charities in the country and is devoted to controlling the disease. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the foundation has more than 80 chapters and supports and accredits a nationwide network of 115 care centers. To advance research for a cure, the foundation has invested nearly $300 million in promising drug research in the biotech industry since 1998. For more information, visit www.cff.org.

The Sportscasters’ gala was established in 2002 by ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Chris Berman to celebrate Connecticut’s rich sports history. Since its inception, the gala has raised more than $1 million in much needed research funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Dinner, dancing and a unique live auction will highlight the event. For tickets ($200) or to get involved, contact CFF director of special projects Paul Drury at 860-632-7300 or pdrury@cff.org.

WHALE BOWL-A-THON NOV. 27

The Whale’s annual Bowl-a-Thon to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut is Nov. 27 at the AMF Silver Lanes in East Hartford.

There will be shifts at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with a team of four paired with one Whale player for a minimum donation of $200 for two games. There also will be chances to win prizes, including hockey memorabilia, restaurant gift cards, apparel and more.

To register, call 877-660-6667 or visit www.soctbowlathon.com or www.ctwhale.com.

WHALE FANS LOOK TO EVEN SERIES

Whale fans will look to get even in their seven-game series with Falcons fans in Game 2 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Dec. 3. Falcons fans rolled to a 10-6 victory Oct. 23 at the XL Center in Hartford in the inaugural game of the historic series originated by Seth Dussault of Easthampton, Mass. Matt Marychuk of Glastonbury created a Facebook page to see if there were any interested players, and he and Dussault managed the social media page as interest grew. They used the page to sign up fans to play and communicate between the players and managed to fill rosters for each fan team. The idea caught the attention of the Falcons’ and then Whale front office, leading to players of all ages and skill levels participating in the series.

For tickets to Game 2 at 4:30 p.m., email Damon Markiewicz at dmarkiewicz@falconsahl.com. For tickets to Game 3 at the XL Center on Dec. 4 at noon, contact Dussault at whalefalconsfangame@gmail.com. Information on all the games and the series is available at www.facebook.com/WhaleFalconsFanGame.

Tickets are $10 in Springfield and $16 in Hartford, with a portion of the sales benefitting Defending the Blue Line, an organization that helps children of military families play hockey. Other games are Jan. 7 in Hartford at 4 p.m., Jan. 8 in Springfield at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 10 in Springfield at 5 p.m. and March 17 in Hartford at 4 p.m. Tickets for those games will available in the near future.

And mark Jan. 22, 2012 on your calendar. That’s when the Whale’s annual Tip-A-Player Dinner will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the XL Center. More information will be coming in the near future.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

New York, November 8, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward Francois Bouchard from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Tomas Kundratek.

Bouchard, 23, has skated in 227 career games for the Hershey Bears (AHL), compiling 49 goals and 63 assists for 112 points along with 129 penalty minutes.  In 2009-10, Bouchard notched career highs in games played (77), goals (21), assists (31), points (52), plus/minus (21), and penalty minutes (55).  Last season, he finished seventh on the Bears in goals (12) and recorded four multi-point games.

The 6-1, 198-pounder has competed in 39 career playoff games for Hershey, registering seven goals and seven assists for 14 points, along with 38 penalty minutes, helping lead the team to back to back Calder Cup Championships in 2008-09 and 2009-10.  In 2009-10, Bouchard played in 21 playoff contests, registering 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points, along with 28 penalty minutes.  He tied for second among team forwards in plus/minus (9) and tied for seventh in playoff scoring.

The Sherbrook, Quebec native was originally selected as Washington’s second round choice, 35^th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Kundratek, 21, has played in 77 career games for the Connecticut Whale (AHL), registering two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, along with 44 penalty minutes.  The Trinec, Czech Republic native was originally New York’s third round choice, 90^th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

By Bruce Berlet

It’s almost something out of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Then again, even Ripley’s might not believe this tale.

Two decades ago, Dan Girardi and Andre Deveaux lived five minutes apart in Welland, Ontario, Canada, and spent many a day shooting at targets in a net that Girardi’s father had set up at the end of the driveway.

“We played games for candy or chocolate bars,” a smiling Girardi said after the New York Rangers’ 3-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night. “When my parents sold their house, the shed about 50 yards behind it was covered in holes, absolutely mangled, from us missing the net after keeping the fence open where we placed the net. They didn’t fix the shed, just sold it as is. There were a lot of good memories there for sure.”

When Deveaux didn’t have a ride to his youth hockey game because his parents had successful but quite time-consuming careers, he’d hitch one with the Girardis or the parents of Daniel Paille, who helped the Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup in 39 years this spring.

“I wouldn’t have been able to play organized hockey if it wasn’t for families like the Girardis and Pailles taking me,” said Deveaux, 27, who was born two months before Girardi. “If my dad couldn’t join me, I went with one of the two families. Dan’s parents, Carol and Marc, are like second parents to me. I grew up with Girardi’s wife, Pam. I have pictures of him at my 7-8 year-old birthday party. That’s how we grew up.”

Girardi has especially fond memories of the trips to and from the rink.

“It was great car rides getting on my parents’ nerves,” he said with another smile. “We always tried to push the buttons when we could.”

And try to earn a special reward.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

“There was always a promise of McDonald’s if we had a good game,” Girardi said. “My dad was a McDonald’s guy himself, so it was always, ‘Have a good game and we’ll do McDonald’s.’ I was very picky. I only liked cheeseburgers with only cheese on them, and (Deveaux) was a Big Mac guy. He liked everything, so we were pretty different that way.”

But they often ended up in the same place, as Andre did sleepovers at Dan’s house because he had three brothers and one sister and there wasn’t much extra room at the Deveaux Inn.

“He had all the cool toys, so we’d all want to go to his house,” a beaming Deveaux said. “There was Super Nintendo, going bowling with his dad, shooting pucks in his driveway, that’s how we all grew up.”

And they usually shot with the same kind of stick. When Girardi, then a forward and big-time goal scorer with a big shot, bought new red Titan sticks, Deveaux would get his father to follow suit. If Girardi switched to blue Titan sticks, Deveaux altered his color, too.

“That’s just the way it was growing up,” Deveaux said. “Danny was my best friend. Paille, too.”

Starting at age 6, the three played together for more than a decade before heading their separate ways to the Ontario Hockey League and the minors. But it felt like old times again this summer when Paille brought the Stanley Cup to Welland and the trio ended up in hotel room late that night with the wives of Paille and Girardi sipping champagne from hockey’s most prized trophy.

“It was pretty cool because that’s the way we grew up,” Deveaux said. “I was so happy for Danny, but it didn’t hit me that he had won it until we were in the (hotel) room and just all hanging out like we did all through high school, drinking out of the Stanley Cup. I always say to my brothers and sisters that it gives me hope. It’s pretty good for a couple kids from Welland: Paille was the captain of the (Canadian) junior national team, was drafted in the first round by Buffalo (in 2002) and just won a Stanley Cup, and Girardi is now doing great as one of the top defensemen with the Rangers.”

After bouncing around the minors for most of his first seven pro seasons and playing 22 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Deveaux experienced one of the highlights of his hockey career a week ago. He signed a one-year, free-agent contract with the Rangers on Aug. 16, largely because of his longtime friendship with Girardi and having originally signed with Tampa Bay in the summer after current Rangers coach John Tortorella led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup, though he played his rookie pro season with the Springfield Falcons during the 2004-05 lockout year.

“My agent said the Rangers would give me a chance, and Girardi was there, too,” Deveaux said. “And I knew Torts and how his training camp was going to be tough. That was my wakeup call back then. I thought I was in shape, but I found out I wasn’t after going to his camp. It was good for me to find out what it really takes to be a professional hockey player. So that was enough for me to want to come to the Rangers to play.”

On Oct. 30, Deveaux got that chance when he was called up from the Connecticut Whale after getting four goals and two assists and handing out plenty of solid hits in seven games. Now, he sits four locker stalls from Girardi.

“It’s great to be on the same team with him,” Deveaux said. “He gives me a little advice here and there, but he kind of leaves me alone and I kind of leave him alone. We have our jobs to do, and we know what that is. But it’s nice that whenever it gets a little intimidating that I can look down the bench and see an old friend and know we’re in the trenches together.”

Now that they have a son, 17-month-old Landon, Girardi and his wife don’t see Deveaux as much as in their days in Welland. Deveaux now lives in Toronto and Girardi has a home an hour away in Niagara Falls, N.Y., though they occasionally see each other in the summer.

“Off the ice, I’ve got a family, and he’s just kind of getting a feel for enjoying his life,” Girardi said. “But we worked out and power-skated together until last year, and when it comes to at the rink, we’re helping each other here and there.”

Yes, Deveaux can peer down the bench and see the guy for whom he was co-best man with Paille when Girardi got married. And when Paille said his wedding vows, Deveaux and Girardi served as his best men.

“In 2050, they’ll probably be the best men in my wedding,” Deveaux said with another wide smile.

“We always give him grief that maybe one day he’ll be there,” a grinning Girardi offered.

But for now, Girardi said “it’s pretty surreal to be out there with him.”

“We started together in tykes, played 10 years together and now to be on the Madison Square Garden ice playing with him is a good story,” Girardi said. “I’m really happy that he’s here and hope he stays for a bit.”

That’s likely, with wings Wojtek Wolski (sports hernia) and Mike Rupp (knee) scheduled to be out four weeks after having surgery on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Rangers called up feisty wing Sean Avery last Tuesday as a fill-in for Rupp and considered recalling Mats Zuccarello but opted for Deveaux because Tortorella still didn’t think he could get enough ice time for “The Norwegian Hobbit” on one of the team’s top offensive lines.

Though Girardi and Deveaux are on the same team, there’s a major difference in their ice time. With his All-Star defensive partner Marc Staal on injured reserve and out indefinitely with post-concussion symptoms, Girardi has been asked to take on even more responsibility, is averaging an NHL-high 27:58 of ice time and already has played more than 30 minutes four times in the Rangers’ first 13 games. And he’s now paired with Ryan McDonagh, who started last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack before switching places with Michael Del Zotto on Jan. 3 and is becoming one of the league’s most reliable defensemen while expanding his offensive game.

Deveaux has averaged only 6:03 on the Rangers’ fourth line with Avery and Erik Christensen, who gets time on the power play. But Deveaux has earned plaudits for continuing the gritty, grinding style that got him to the NHL for the second time with his fifth organization since being the Montreal Canadiens’ sixth-round pick in 2002. Last season with the Chicago Wolves, he had a career-high 23 goals, 14 on the power play, and tied his career best of 46 points while racking up 194 penalty minutes.

Deveaux had four goals, two assists, 24 penalty minutes and plenty of hits in nine games with the Whale before being called up. In four games with the Rangers, he is plus-3 and has one fight and one assist, on Brad Richards’ winning goal in a 5-3 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday night after digging out the puck along the boards. It was Tortorella’s 100^th win as Rangers coach.

“I’d been putting up more (offensive) numbers and fighting a little less the last few years,” said Deveaux, who has quickly become one of the more popular players on the Rangers. “I really worked on the offensive side of things and tried to become a more complete player. The year before, I led the (Toronto) Marlies in goals (16) and assists (25).

“I’m pretty simple with what I do and think I’m making a difference. Sure I’d like to play more, but right now I’m happy with the time they’re giving me and just trying to take it one shift at a time and do my best every shift. But that’s what I’m here for, to be reliable and do my job. If Torts gives me more ice time, I’ll look forward to it. If not, the team is winning, and I’m happy just being a part of things.”

Meanwhile, the Rangers are delighted Girardi has been able to handle even more responsibility. He has continued to be effective despite needing six stitches to close a cut on his forehead Saturday night and then twice leaving the ice Sunday after blocking shots, one of his fortes and something that injured a pinky finger but didn’t knock him from the game.

“That’s just part of our game,” said Girardi, one of the last players to leave the locker room Sunday night. “That’s pretty much any sport, you’ll see guys after a game icing this, icing that, everyone’s hurting after a game, that means you’re playing the game the right way, you’re getting your body on the line, hitting and blocking shots, and that’s just part of my game.”

With Staal out, Girardi is the player the Rangers can least afford to lose beside standout goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The man known as “Block Ness” must lead the league in ice bags, bruises and stitches.

“He has been great for us, a stud back there,” said Rangers right wing/captain Ryan Callahan, another close friend of Girardi who was in his wedding, after sharing an apartment with him in Manchester when they were Wolf Pack teammates. “We knew he could do it all along after playing a lot of minutes for us last season. He’s going to have to continue to do it for us to have success with Marc out, and he has risen to the challenge. That’s what we expect from a guy like that. He’s not too flashy, and I don’t think he gets the recognition he should or deserves for what he does back there.”

Or as McDonagh succinctly put it: “He’s incredible. He’s a machine. It gives you such a confidence boost because 99 percent of the time he’s going to make the right play and a strong play.”

Yes, Girardi, who steadily and efficiently worked his way from an undrafted free agent to Charlotte of the ECHL to Hartford of the AHL to the World’s Most Famous Arena to one of the NHL’s premier defensemen, is a major reason that the Rangers have overcome a sluggish start. Part of that can be attributed to having to travel 20,000 miles to Europe and Western Canada for their last four preseason games and first seven games regular-season games as Madison Square Garden underwent the start of a three-year, $850 million renovation. The grind-it-out victory over Winnipeg was the Rangers’ fourth in a row, gave them a five-game points streak and improved their record to 7-3-3, good for third place in the Atlantic Division with games in hand on Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

“We’ve had some good games when we got home,” Girardi said. “We lost the first two (to Toronto and to Ottawa in a shootout), but now we’ve won four in a row, and that’s how we have to play at home: Sound defensively and a simple game.”

Sure sounded a lot like those two longtime buddies from Welland who have somehow found their way to the same locker room on Broadway.

Yes, even Ripley might have a hard time believing that one.

HAINSEY HURTING

Bolton native Ron Hainsey was a frustrated onlooker – again – in the press box Sunday night.

The Jets’ top defenseman missed his 10^th game since separating his shoulder when he missed a check and fell awkwardly in a game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 17. He is one of five Jets on injured reserve, along with goalie Chris Mason, forward Eric Fehr and defensemen Derek Meech and Tobias Enstrom. He also was one of five defensemen sidelined before Mark Stuart returned Sunday night, when the Jets had to go without leading scorer and former Rangers center Nik Antropov (three goals, eight assists), who was injured in a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

“It’s been tough,” Hainsey said. “We’re down to our 11^th defenseman, and I hate being up here. I thought I might be able to make it back for (Sunday’s) game, but it’s going to be a little longer.”

The Jets complete a six-game road trip Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres in what will be their 11^th game away from home in 15 starts. But after a three-game trip to Washington, Carolina and Boston around Thanksgiving, the Jets play 12 of 13 games at home and will be away from Winnipeg for one day from Nov. 27 to Dec. 26.

“It’s been difficult being away so much, but being home that too much isn’t always that good, either,” Hainsey said.

But Hainsey hopes to feel good enough to return for the Jets’ next home game Thursday against the Florida Panthers, coached by former Hartford Whalers right wing and captain Kevin Dineen, who must still be seething after his team blew a 3-0 lead and lost a shootout to Tampa Bay on Sunday.

MARATHON MAN

Hockey Hall of Famer and former Rangers captain Mark Messier received a rousing ovation from the fans Sunday night as a picture of him running in his first New York Marathon earlier in the day was flashed on the jumbo screen. A camera then showed him sitting in a MSG skybox a few hours after completing the 26.2-mile race in 4:14.27.

Like his 25 years in the World Hockey Association and NHL, Messier left it all on the course. As he finished, he was so exhausted and dizzy he was put in a wheelchair and taken to a medical tent. He leaned on a railing near the finish line and asked to sit down, said Mary Wittenberg, the CEO of the New York Road Runners, the marathon organizer. He was then escorted to a TV studio and rested for five minutes before going to a medical tent, where his vital signs were taken. He was kept briefly for observation before quickly recovering with the help of fluids.

Running through five boroughs of New York City for more than four hours was obviously tougher than 60 minutes of hockey, though less dangerous.

“He was so classic, so tough,” Wittenberg said. “I knew he’d cross that line with nothing left, and that’s how he crossed the line.”

In a statement released Sunday night, Messier said, “I just got filled with inspiration. I feel great now.”

Part of that likely had to do with the Rangers’ 3-0 victory, especially after achieving his race goal of finishing in under 4:30, validating the hundreds of miles he ran over seven months near his home in Greenwich and the Rangers’ training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y.

Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion, participated in the race to help raise money and awareness for his two charities, Tomorrows Children’s Fund and The New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund.

Other former Rangers greats to run the race have been goalie Mike Richter and left wing Adam Graves, who played with Messier on the 1993-94 team that ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought on Broadway. Messier beat Graves’ time in 2006 by 13 minutes but fell short of besting Richter’s time of 3:54:34 in 2007.

Messier was among 15 celebrities from sports, film, music and food to participate in the event’s charity program. The goal is to raise more than $26.2 million for 200 charities from the record 47,107 runner who started the race.

They also included Olympic speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno, who was running in the race to raise money for the Special Olympics and finished in 3:25:14.

“This being my first marathon, I didn’t know what to expect,” Ohno told the New York Times. “My body is simply not designed to work like that. It’s so long. I probably hit the wall many times.” … Syracuse Crunch right wing Dan Sexton was named Reebok/AHL Player of the Year after getting two goals and seven assists to record points on nine of his team’s 10 goals in a home-and-home series with Rochester, a 5-2 win and 6-5 overtime loss. His five-point performance (one goal, four assists) on Saturday was a career best and tied a season high in the AHL this season. His nine points in 25 hours came after he had four points in his first nine games.

Photo credit: Getty Images

HARTFORD, November 7, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Whale has signed forward Jordan Owens to an American Hockey League contract.

Owens, a fifth-year pro who is in his second tour of duty with the Whale franchise, had been playing this season on a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement with the Whale.  The 6-0, 193-pound Toronto native has scored two goals and has 11 penalty minutes in 12 games on the year.

Owens, 25, played 160 games in a Hartford Wolf Pack uniform starting in the 2006-07 season, registering 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points, plus 163 PIM, before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings for current Whale teammate Kris Newbury March 3, 2010.  After the trade, Owens skated with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate, to which he contributed six goals and 14 assists for 20 points, while serving 101 minutes in penalties, in 60 games last season.

In 249 career AHL games with the Whale/Wolf Pack and Griffins, Owens has totaled 34 goals and 63 assists for 97 points, along with 297 PIM.  Prior to turning pro with the Wolf Pack late in the 2006-07 campaign, he spent three seasons in the OHL with the Mississauga IceDogs.

The Whale return to action this Saturday, November 12, in the first of back-to-back games in St. John’s, Newfoundland against the St. John’s IceCaps.  Faceoff is 6:00 PM, and all the CT Whale Rockin’ Hockey action can be heard live on “The Rock”, 106.9 FM, WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  The Whale’s next home game is coming up Friday, November 18, a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center at 7:00.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

By Brian Ring

Albany, NY, November 5, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Albany Devils, 3-2, in a shootout Saturday night at the Times-Union Center in Albany. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault netted a goal and an assist for Connecticut, and Brendan Bell recorded the shootout winner.

Audy-Marchessault opened the scoring for the Whale at 2:11 of the first, taking a pass from defenseman Wade Redden before putting his fifth goal of the season past Devils’ goaltender Jeff Frazee (26 saves) on the power-play. Andreas Thuresson also assisted on the play.

The Whale penalty-kill was a perfect two-for-two in the first, killing-off an important stretch that saw the Devils receive a brief five-on-three advantage.

Albany tied the score at 6:45 of the second, as a dump-in bounced off the Whale end boards as Connecticut goaltender Cam Talbot (18 saves) was attempting to play the bounce. A bizarre carom put the puck in front of the net for Mike Sislo, who easily scored his fourth goal of the season. Alexander Urbom and Jay Leach were each awarded assists on the play.

Connecticut regained the lead at 13:17 of the second, as Carl Hagelin’s goal put the Whale ahead 2-1. Redden earned his second of the assist of the night on the play, with Audy-Marchessault tallying his second point of the night with the secondary helper.

The Devils tied the game on the power-play at 12:16 of the third period, as a deflection off a Whale defender found its way to the stick of Joe Whitney. Whitney’s shot went up and over Talbot for the equalizer, forcing the overtime period.

“Nighty [Jared Nightingale] blocked the shot, it went off his skate and right to Whitney. He walked right into that one,” said Talbot.

Despite a few close chances in overtime, neither team could convert, and for the second time this season, the Whale and Devils went to a shootout in Albany.

Mats Zuccarello and Bell both scored in the shootout for Connecticut, and the Devils’ Matt Taormina hit the post in Albany’s last attempt to seal the tie-breaker for the Whale.

“I would have liked to have won it in regulation without that [second period] goal,” said Talbot. “Two bad bounces tonight, sometimes that’s the way it goes. But the guys battled back and we got the two points.”

The Whale will be off for a week now before heading to St. John’s, Newfoundland for a pair of games with the Atlantic Division-leading IceCaps. Connecticut and St. John’s will meet on Saturday at 6:00PM EST, and then again Sunday at 2:30PM EST.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Connecticut Whale 3 (SO) at Albany Devils 2
Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Times Union Center

Connecticut 1 1 0 0 – 3
Albany 0 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 5 (Redden, Thuresson), 2:11 (PP). Penalties-Zalewski Alb (high-sticking), 0:19; Bickel Ct (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 8:25; Corrente Alb (fighting), 8:25; Erixon Ct (hooking), 10:05.

2nd Period-2, Albany, Sislo 4 (Whitney, Urbom), 6:45. 3, Connecticut, Hagelin 4 (Redden, Audy-Marchessault), 13:17. Penalties-Corrente Alb (roughing), 8:45; Taormina Alb (delay of game), 10:57.

3rd Period-4, Albany, Whitney 5 (Harrold), 12:16 (PP). Penalties-Owens Ct (roughing), 3:10; Kelly Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct, cross-checking, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:10; Nagy Alb (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:10; Erixon Ct (interference), 4:10; Valentenko Ct (roughing), 9:05; Newbury Ct (high-sticking, fighting), 11:13; Zajac Alb (fighting), 11:13.

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Connecticut 2 (Zuccarello G, Thuresson NG, Mitchell NG, Bell G, Audy-Marchessault NG), Albany 1 (Sislo NG, Whitney NG, Wiseman NG, Anderson G, Taormina NG).
Shots on Goal-Connecticut 9-8-9-2-1-29. Albany 6-7-6-1-0-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 4; Albany 1 / 5.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 4-2-0 (20 shots-18 saves). Albany, Frazee 2-4-1 (28 shots-26 saves).
A-3,006
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Frank Murphy (29).

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, November 4, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale fell to the St. John’s IceCaps, 6-3, Friday night before 4,028 at the XL Center in Hartford.

St. John’s scored twice in 38 seconds midway through the third period, as part of a four-goal frame which erased a 3-2 deficit en route to a 6-3 win over the Whale.

“Sometimes it comes down to second effort, recognition, desperation, things like that,” said Whale coach Ken Gernander. “We got some big goals at the end of the second period and then we really didn’t force the issue and played first-effort for the last 20 minutes.”

Connecticut had gotten on the board early, as John Mitchell scored his fourth of the season on a backhander just 4:03 into the first period. His shot found its way past sprawled-out St. John’s goaltender Edward Pasquale, as Mats Zuccarello’s bid was kicked out to the Whale center.  Jonathan Audy-Marchessault also received an assist on the goal.

Carl Klingberg tied it for St. John’s at 13:58 with his seventh goal of the season, his wrist shot from the wide-open slot beating Whale goaltender Chad Johnson to his glove side. Aaron Gagnon and Marco Rosa each assisted on the score.

The IceCaps took a 2-1 lead on the power-play with just 42 seconds left the opening period, as Shawn Weller scored from the slot on a deflection of a Jason DeSantis shot.  Rosa picked up his second helper of the night on the play.

The Whale struck back with two goals in 19 seconds in the waning moments of the second period, taking a 3-2 lead into the third period.

Kris Newbury’s goal tied the game for Connecticut, as his shot went up and over Pasquale with 41 seconds left in the period. Kelsey Tessier and Carl Hagelin each assisted on the equalizer.

Connecticut then took the lead on the strength of Ryan Bourque’s first professional goal. Bourque’s shot from the right circle appeared to be swallowed up by Pasquale, but the shot trickled past his left pad and over the goal line for the 3-2 advantage. Tessier notched his second assist of the night on the goal, with Pavel Valentenko netting his second helper of the year.

The IceCaps responded in the third period, when Spencer Machacek netted his second goal of the season at 6:02. The Whale were unable to clear the puck from in front of Johnson, leading to the scoring chance created by Jason Jaffray and Riley Holzapfel, both tallying their third assists of the season.

St. John’s took a 4-3 lead on Eric O’Dell’s eventual game-winner, a turn-around shot from the right circle off a feed from Kevin Clark, O’Dell’s bid fooling Johnson to his short side. The goal was O’Dell’s first in the professional ranks. The IceCaps’ lead was increased to 5-3 just 38 seconds later, when Arturs Kulda blasted a shot from the point which beat Johnson low, for Kulda’s first goal of the season.

An empty-net goal from Kulda with 1:28 remaining in the third sealed the 6-3 win for the IceCaps.

“We come out strong and we get the first goal,” said Tessier. “We try to keep the lead and it’s always when we get to the third period that we can’t finish. But we’ve got to stay positive here though, we’ve been winning. We’ve got to climb back and get that goal, I think everyone hates losing.”

The Whale will return to action Saturday night, when they head to Albany to face the Devils at the Times-Union Center (7:00).

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

St. John’s IceCaps 6 at Connecticut Whale 3
Friday, November 4, 2011 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

St. John’s 2 0 4 – 6
Connecticut 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Mitchell 4 (Zuccarello, Audy-Marchessault), 4:03. 2, St. John’s, Klingberg 7 (Gagnon, Rosa), 13:58. 3, St. John’s, Weller 2 (DeSantis, Rosa), 19:18 (PP). Penalties-Audy-Marchessault Ct (hooking), 17:46; Zuccarello Ct (tripping), 20:00.

2nd Period-4, Connecticut, Newbury 5 (Tessier, Hagelin), 19:19. 5, Connecticut, Bourque 1 (Tessier, Valentenko), 19:38. Penalties-Chiarot Stj (hooking), 7:40; Pasquale Stj (diving), 14:50; Thuresson Ct (goaltender interference), 14:50; Cormier Stj (boarding), 16:35.

3rd Period-6, St. John’s, Machacek 2 (Jaffray, Holzapfel), 6:02. 7, St. John’s, O’Dell 1 (Clark, Albert), 9:40. 8, St. John’s, Kulda 1 (Weller, Chiarot), 10:18. 9, St. John’s, Kulda 2 18:32 (EN). Penalties-O’Dell Stj (interference), 12:08.

Shots on Goal-St. John’s 12-7-9-28. Connecticut 8-6-5-19.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 1 / 2; Connecticut 0 / 3.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 3-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves). Connecticut, Johnson 3-1-2 (27 shots-22 saves).
A-4,028
Referees-Geno Binda (22), Ryan Hersey (46).
Linesmen-Derek Wahl (46), Luke Galvin (2).

HARTFORD, November 3, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned defenseman Lee Baldwin from the Whale to its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Baldwin, a second-year pro, was scoreless and +2, with six shots on goal, in three games this year with the Whale, after missing the first four games of the season due to injury.  He was signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 22, 2010, out of the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

The Whale return to action at the XL Center tomorrow night, Friday, November 4, hosting the new St. John’s IceCaps in a 7:00 game.  That will be a special “Power Ghouls” Night, complete with an on-ice costume parade and a special buy-one-get-one-free ticket with costume.

Friday night’s game will feature a Halloween costume parade on the ice during the first intermission, and prizes will be awarded for best kid’s costume and best adult’s costume.  Also, fans who come in costume can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday’s game.  That discount is available for both kids’ and adults’ tickets, through the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center only.

CL&P employees who present their company ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will also be extended the buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday night.

Tickets to Friday night’s game, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, November 2, 2011:  The American Hockey League announced today that Connecticut Whale netminder Chad Johnson has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for October.

Johnson made five appearances during October and compiled a 3-0-2 record, tying for the league lead among qualified goalies in both goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.942), while helping the Whale to first place in the Northeast Division.

Johnson made his first start of the season on Oct. 9 and made 41 saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, his sixth career shutout. Following shootout losses to Albany (28 saves) and Bridgeport (23 saves), Johnson turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 4-1 win over Springfield on Oct. 23, and closed out the month with a 28-save effort in a 3-2 shootout win over Worcester on Oct. 29.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2006, Johnson was acquired by the New York Rangers on June 27, 2009, and is in his third professional season after playing collegiately at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The 25-year-old native of Calgary, Alta., has a career record of 43-37-7 in 92 AHL games with Connecticut, and has also appeared in six NHL contests with the Rangers.

In recognition of his achievement, Johnson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Whale home game.

The Whale return to action at the XL Center this Friday night, November 4, hosting the new St. John’s IceCaps in a 7:00 game.  That will be a special “Power Ghouls” Night, complete with an on-ice costume parade and a special buy-one-get-one-free ticket with costume.

Friday night’s game will feature a Halloween costume parade on the ice during the first intermission, and prizes will be awarded for best kid’s costume and best adult’s costume.  Also, fans who come in costume can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday’s game.  That discount is available for both kids’ and adults’ tickets, through the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center only.

CL&P employees who present their company ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will also be extended the buy-one-get-one-free offer on Upper Level tickets for Friday night.

Tickets to Friday night’s game, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.