With the New York Rangers struggling, is there any help available in the AHL? They now have a farm team that they can look to for reinforcement or to add to the taxi squad. The Hartford Wolf Pack opened their training camp on Monday and will begin their season on February 5.
In what promises to make for a bizarre season, Hartford will only play teams in their own Atlantic Division meaning that they will be playing games this season against the Providence Bruins and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Yes, you heard that right, they will only be playing two other teams this season. There will be no fans in the arenas.
The season will last 24 games, ending on May 6 and they will play Bridgeport and Providence 12 times each. If these teams develop a dislike for each other, it could make for an interesting season.
Training camp roster
34 players are on the training camp roster and it includes many draft picks who are waiting for their Canadian Juniors teams to get back into action.
There is no limit on the size of an AHL team roster, with most teams carrying as many as 25 players. With the CHL still waiting to get underway and the Maine Mariners (ECHL) not playing this season, the Wolf Pack could carry more players than usual.
Here is the list of training camp players. Skaters who were in the Rangers minor league system last year are in bold.
Goalies:
- Francois Brassard
- Dylan Garand
- Adam Huska
- Tyler Wall
Defense:
- Brandon Crawley, LD
- Mason Geertsen, LD
- Zach Giuttari, RD
- Vincent LoVerde, RD
- Darren Raddysh – RD
- Tarmo Reunanen – LD
- Matthew Robertson – LD
- Steve Ruggiero, LD
- Jordan Sambrook, RD
- Braden Schneider, RD
- Jeff Taylor, LD
Forwards:
Morgan Barron, LW-C
Jonny Brodzinski, RW
Will Cuylle, LW
Anthony Greco, RW-LW
Patrick Khodorenko, C
Mike O’Leary, C
Justin Richards, C
Hugo Roy, C
Austin Reuschhoff, C
Paul Thompson, RW
Nolan Vesey, LW-C
Alex Whelan, RW