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Published on June 20, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


It didn't take long for AHL and East Division coaching news to make it's way into the public eye after the Phantoms won the Calder Cup just about a week and a half ago. Philly's management responded quickly (and why not) to renew the contracts of all three guys on the coaching staff. Bench boss John Stevens along with assistants Kjell Samuelsson and Craig Berube were all officially brought back last week after their run to a championship. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also made the headlines last week when Pittsburgh elected to re-up the contract of head coach Michel Therrien. That leaves two coaching vacancies in the East, one of which is here in Chocolatetown, and the other is in Bridgeport where Greg Cronin left to become the head coach of Northeastern University back in April.

Speaking of AHL coaches going back to school, congratulations to Tim Army this week in the column. The former coach of the Portland Pirates is going home to a place he starred as a player, accepting the head coaching job at Providence College late last week. Army becomes the 11th head coach in Friars history, and steps behind the bench where he was a Hobey Baker finalist as a player in 1985. He's also the first PC alum to coach the team since New Jersey Devils boss Lou Lamoriello coached the Friars from 1968-1983.

The Peoria Rivermen, who will join the AHL this fall, named Steve Pleau their associate head coach for the upcoming campaign. You may remember late this past season that Pleau stepped in to finish the season in Worcester when coach Don Granato was diagnosed with cancer. Pleau will guide the Rivermen until Granato can return behind the bench. The Rivermen also unveiled their new AHL uniforms for 2005-06 last week (which are VERY cool, by the way) and they feature a very strong "St. Louis" look. The biggest color change from Peoria's ECHL uniforms is that the color Red has been removed to match the Blues' color scheme. Peoria also announced last week that Blues Director of Professional scouting Kevin McDonald will also serve as the Rivermen's General Manager.

Maybe the most encouraging sign so far from the NHL that a season will begin on time this fall was a report from TSN in Canada that a "very" tentative date has been set for a 2005 NHL draft. A report Friday cited a source that said the league could hold the amateur draft August 6 either as a scaled back event in Ottawa (where it was supposed to be held this coming weekend) or at a hotel in New York. It certainly won't be the usual dramatic event held by the league, but at least the news that it could happen in early August is encouraging. Now if they can just figure out who gets the top pick in the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes, we'll really be getting somewhere! If you can believe the various news reports, the new agreement is reported to be six years in length with a team-by-team salary cap based on team revenues. ESPN.com and the Toronto Globe and Mail also report that a punitive dollar-for-dollar salary cap falling at the midpoint somewhere between $22 and $36 million. Hopefully the next big hockey story in the next two weeks will be the announcement that a deal will (finally) be in place.

As we head to the mailbag this week, we welcome back our friend Drew the Phantoms fan. (Never let it be said I don't give equal time). Gee, I wonder what this might be about....

Hey John:

AWESOME!!! Well, unfortunately I saw ABSOLUTELY none of the Phantoms playoff games. But, here's how desperate one was during the playoffs. The phantoms have their game watch on the site I stuck around there for an HOUR during the first OT. Of, course by the time I fell asleep Patrick Sharp had deposited that GW goal.

But, I'm not writing to gloat. However I was curious which Phantoms may surprisingly be w/ the Flyers since all reports point to a CBA very soon. I'm thinking that obviously, Pitkanen, Sharp, Seidenberg, Niitymaki, Carter, and Richards. However, I think Ben Stafford should get a good look He's definitely a good player. Riley Cote may even have an outside shot as an enforcer. Then again Fedoruk seems to have improved offensively over the year. Let me know what you think.

So, w/ Bourque, assuming he's not in DC out of Camp: do you expect to get a chance to meet Ray this season?

Alright, I'm done, God Bless,

Drew Annville, PA

Drew, to quote boxer turned freak of nature Mike Tyson, the Flyers are going to gut the Phantoms like a fish if the NHL is a go this fall. Pitkanen, Sharp, Seidenberg, Nitty, Carter, Richards and the Fridge are locks for the Wachovia Center I would think. Even guys like Kane, Cote and Gratton might be plugged in as fourth liners for the Flyers. There's no question the Phantoms put together a terrific team this year, and knowing Flyers management, they'll sign some other guys for the Phantoms as well, but I don't think they're going to assemble the kind of talent they had this past season. Forget that a minute, YOU FELL ASLEEP watching your team in the finals?!? Drew, Drew, Drew, I can't believe that. BEARS nation would not tolerate such nonsense. By the way, Sharp's OT game-winner that you speak of was as much Carter's pass as it was Sharp's shot. One of these days Drew, we will assimilate you into our collective. Really, it's much better over here. Best building, best fans, and best of all SpongeBob SquarePants isn't our mascot. We're very happy with CoCo and Puckhead, thank you very much.

To answer your other question, Bourque isn't a lock for Hershey, but he could be here. I would think at some point if he were here that his father would stop by to see him, but I wouldn't assume to know the nature of his travel plans. Have a great summer, Drew.

Hey John.

With the recent firings of Boudreau in Manchester and McGill in Hartford, coupled with the recent hiring of former Pirates head coach Tim Army as coach, what are you hearing about the possibility that either Boudreau or McGill (a former Bear) coach the chocolate and white next season? Is it even a possibility? Any news on an assistant coach either, since Jerrard left for the I-Stars? Thanks for the update!

Sincerely,

Erik M. Harrisburg, PA

Erik, I think they are both great candidates, especially Ryan McGill. You'd have to go a long way to find a coach that's won more games in the professional and junior ranks in the last six years than McGill. The BEARS are in the enviable position of being able to take the time to find the best candidates available and make a decision without rushing to make something happen quick. We'll see what happens. I'm sure the assistant's position will fall in line not long after a head man is decided upon.

Hi John:

Checking in with you from sunny Ft. Myers, where I read your article every week. I used to live in Hanover and was transferred here some time back, and it's great to hear about my favorite hockey team every week with your notes about the league. My question is, if the NHL finally gets their act together and plays this season, how will that affect the players that Hershey gets from Washington? It would seem to me that if the Caps are back in business that the Bears will have to ensure a lot of other signings to be competitive. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for the news every week, and I hope Penn Live carries all the games again this season. We listen all the time here in Florida.

Danny K. Ft. Myers, FL

Danny, thanks for the kind words. I'll put a stickpin in our BEARS nation map for Fort Myers. I think you're probably right that having a few more veteran players in the arsenal would be a good thing if the NHL gets going. Figuring what players are available is a little murkier than usual this summer given that no one wants to do much until the NHL has solved their labor issues. An ideal situation (and I use that word loosely given that a really ideal situation would have been the NHL playing last season) would be having a new collective bargaining agreement in place by July 1 so that there July, August and part of September for player movement. I think things will be quiet for a while, but will really heat up as we get into early to mid July in any event.

That will do it for this week. E-mail your comments, thoughts, and whatever messages you may have for Drew the Phantoms fan to jwalton@HersheyPa.com. Have a great week, we'll see you back here next Monday.

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American Hockey League Stories from June 20, 2005


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