Hartford Wolf Pack Show Grit, Goals, and Glory in AHL Ascent
By Marvin Azrak
Dive into the relentless spirit of the New York Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. With a 10-4-2 record, they’re making waves in the AHL.
The Hartford Wolf Pack are proving they have the grit to handle the challenges, dealing with injuries from the New York Rangers and their roster. Switching coaches from Kris Knoblauch, now with the Edmonton Oilers, to interim boss Steve Smith hasn’t thrown them off their game.
They’ve responded with a solid 4-2 record, and it’s been a mix of young blood like Brett Berard, Adam Sykora, Karl Henriksson, and Adam Edstrom, along with AHL veterans like Jonny Brodzinski and Riley Nash, that have kept the Pack on track.
With a 10-4-2 record and 22 points, they’re second in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference and fourth in the 32-team AHL. They’re eyeing that showdown with the reigning Calder Cup Champions and Washington Capitals affiliate, the first-place Hershey Bears (13-4), on January 19th at the XL Center. It’ll be a playoff rematch, too, as the Bears swept the Wolf Pack 3-0 in the Conference semifinals.
Hartford’s Dynamic Mix Powers AHL Surge:
Although Hartford took a 5-3 hit from the Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate) on Friday, they didn’t back down. They bounced back with a vengeance, smashing the Crunch 5-2 in a rematch on Saturday at the XL Center. Anton Blidh and Rempe drew several penalties, and the powerplay worked like a charm with three goals in the second period.
The big moment was on Wednesday, as Hartford rallied past the Providence Bruins with a four-goal third period in a 6-4 win at the XL Center. Alex Belzile was the hero, with two crucial goals in the final frame and the penalty kill. It was on fire, going six-for-six.
Let’s not forget the individuals making waves. Brett Berard, the 21-year-old rookie, showed off his speed and shot, grabbing his second goal of the year. With three goals and 10 points in 16 games, he’s looking like a solid contender for a big-league call-up.
Adam Edstrom, the 23-year-old forward, had a standout week, putting one in the net and getting physical on Saturday. He’s a force to be reckoned with.
Young gun Adam Sykora, the 19-year-old rookie forward, had a stellar weekend, scoring his first AHL goal and notching his fourth assist. Fans loved him, and he snagged the first star of last week’s 5-1 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds (ST Louis Blues affiliate).
Unfortunately, there’s a bump in the road with veteran defenseman Ben Harpur out for the season due to an injury sustained on November 3rd. It’s a tough break, but the Wolf Pack is rolling with the punches.