Bears update
Published on July 12, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
There are some weeks during the off-season where I really have to do my homework to find the latest rumors and stories around the American Hockey League. This is not one of those weeks. In the wake of rule changes, coaching changes, player movement and even a new team to the AHL mix, there are countless stories to get to on this Monday.
First of all, lets get to the coaches. Former HERSHEY bench boss John Paddock is heading back to the National Hockey League. Paddock, who guided the Binghamton Senators the last two seasons, becomes an assistant coach under ex-BEARS coach Bryan Murray in Ottawa. Paddock, who has 495 American League victories, will leave the southern tier with two playoff appearances and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003. The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin reported Friday that Senators player/assistant coach Jody Hull and current Cincinnati Mighty Ducks head coach Brad Shaw are candidates to replace Paddock. Shaw is a member of the Binghamton Hockey Hall-of-Fame after playing four seasons with the Binghamton Whalers in the 1980's. With a lockout looming however, don't be surprised if the B-Sens and Ottawa do the classy thing and send Paddock back to Bingo for a chance at 500 wins. Ottawa GM John Muckler told Scott Lauber of the Press & Sun Bulletin "We're going to begin a search possibly later this month or in early August. We're certainly in no hurry to make a decision."
Other coaching news for your Monday now: Hartford Wolfpack head coach Ryan McGill could be heading out of central Connecticut to the big stage in New York. The Hartford Courant reported last week that the former BEARS defenseman will get an interview with Rangers head coach Tom Renney this week to determine if McGill will stay in Hartford as the head coach or become an assistant at Madison Square Garden. McGill, who has never been an assistant coach, was the head coach of the 2000 Memorial Cup champion Kootenay Ice before he replaced John Paddock in Hartford the next season.
Finally among the coaches this week, congratulations to Norfolk head man Trent Yawney. After missing out to Milwaukee's Claude Noel for AHL Coach of the Year, Yawney was named last week by The Hockey News as their Minor Pro Coach of the Year. The only AHL coach to work without an assistant, Yawney guided the Admirals to a fifth place finish followed by a two game sweep of the Binghamton Senators in the East Division qualifying series. To most outsiders, a fifth place finish doesn't sound all that great, but given the team Trent had to work with, he is most deserving of the honor.
An update now on the new team that will take to the ice in Des Moines, Iowa in 2005-06: The Des Moines Register and Dallas Morning News are both reporting that a deal is imminent for the Dallas Stars to be the primary affiliate for the new franchise. Dallas, who will have a partial affiliate with Houston for 2004-05 after leaving Utah after last season, would take up residence in the AHL's 29th city. Stars President Jim Lites told the Register "You never want to say something will happen until it does, but we are very interested in being in Des Moines. These are serious negotiations, and we hope to have the completed very soon." By the way, it sure looks like after Friday that the Minnesota Wild are in Houston for some time to come. The Aeros announced new team colors, logo and uniforms Friday that are all consistent with their NHL parent club in the Twin Cities.
Back here in Pennsylvania, the governor's pursuit of up to 65,000 slot machines in the commonwealth will possibly help two of PA's hockey teams. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported last week that the Penguins plan to pursue the license for Pittsburgh's standalone slots parlor, with the aim of using the profits to fully fund their desired new arena. The standalone parlor could even be part of the new arena that the Penguins hope to have by 2007. The NHL and commissioner Gary Bettman has already given blessing to the Pens to pursue the slots license in western PA. It probably goes without saying that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are owned by Pittsburgh, would also reap financial benefit if the bill is signed into law. Decisions on who will get the valuable casino licenses are not expected until mid-2005, and it's probably fair to say that it's the last chance for the Pens to remain in Pittsburgh after 2007.
Hey, while we're on the subject of Michel Therrien and his band of followers, Wilkes-Barre lost a big part of their offense late last week. Tom Kostopoulos, who played 60 games in Pittsburgh last season along with 21 for the Baby Pens, signed a contract with Los Angeles Thursday. Kostopoulos had 23 points in 24 playoff games last season, and will in all likelihood play in Manchester this season.
One AHL coach has gone public with his support of the new league shootout rule. Grand Rapids coach Danton Cole told the Grand Rapids Press last week that he likes the change. "The way I've always looked at shootouts is you have your best players on the ice with the game on the line," Cole said. "It's an exciting time for fans and a shootout can give your team momentum." There certainly figure to be a number of great shootouts in that West Division, with the last three Calder Cup winners and former IHL teams all competing together. The IHL featured the shootout, so the fans in those cities know what to expect already. In the same article, Griffins goaltender Joey MacDonald added his voice to the disgruntled goalie list with the rule changes keeping the goalies from playing the puck outside of a specific area. "I don't like the idea that we won't be able to play the puck when we want. Why are they picking on goalies?"
Quite the national flavor to the mailbag this week, as we hear from Des Moines, San Antonio, and even Enola today...
John,
I just wanted to make a few comments about the AHL coming to Iowa. I actually grew up just miles from Hershey for 18 yrs, had season tickets to the Bears, and played for the Jr. Bears...I am very excited about being able to see AHL hockey come to Iowa
Currently, Des Moines is building a state of the art facility to house this team. It is probably around the same scale as the Giant Center, but it is just tucked in downtown Des Moines. Here is the website for the Wells Fargo Arena-http://www.iowaeventscenter.com:8080/ It is going to seat over 15,000 for hockey games!
I do have a couple of questions for you:
1. Do you think we can get the Bears out here for a game?
2. How long has the Louisville franchise been dormant? I don't remember them ever playing the Bears...
Hopefully, this AHL team will do as well as the Triple A baseball Iowa Cubs franchise here in town!! It will just take time to determine.
Let me know if you would like any other information about Des Moines or hockey out here!
Thanks,
Steve
Des Moines, IA
Steve, thanks for including the website for the arena. I'm sure everyone will appreciate seeing that, and it sounds like it will be a very nice facility. To answer your questions, I'm sure the BEARS will get out there at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later. To your Louisville question, HERSHEY played a total of 12 games against the Panthers from 1999-2001. The BEARS won all six at HERSHEYPARK Arena between the two teams and were 2-3-1 at Freedom Hall. Louisville is a great town, but Freedom Hall was a tough place to watch a game from. Des Moines will be a great addition to the league, we look forward to having you guys on board.
John:
Just a comment about the shootout. Living here in San Antonio, watching a team that was undefeated in overtime last season and probably wouldn't have been with the shootout I'm not for it. For team lower in the standings to tie a first place team can be very satisfying. Also defensive minded teams will also be penalized by the shootout.
I also read the UHL is going to eliminate the red line and is going to no touch icing. Can the AHL be far behind? I hope not!
Andy Hastings
San Antonio, TX
Andy, I think to a point you're correct when you say that a defensive minded team will be penalized by the shootout, but I also think that the league wants to reward offense since there has been so little of it lately league-wide. Like I said last week, I'm not a big shootout guy but I want to give it a chance to see how it goes. I'm sure our Peter Budaj and Tom Lawson would disagree with me, but I like more offense in a game. We have gone to no-touch icing as well, but that's more of a safety thing than anything else. I wouldn't even be opposed to eliminating the red line, although that has been fought more by traditionalists than other items. Even if a defensive team loses in a shootout, they will still get a point for their efforts and those add up over the course of a season. I would go into the season with an open mind and give it a chance.
Hi John,
I just wanted to first begin by congratulating you on winning the Ellery Award. My question is regarding the current roster status for this upcoming season. It appears that there is a hole in the forward spot. Is this the case, and if so, who should/can be signed to fill the void? Thanks...keep up the great work!
Eric Mundis
Enola, Pa
Thank you very much, Eric. You bring up an excellent point as far as forwards go. Goaltending is pretty much set with some combination of Budaj/Lawson/Sauve, and the defense has Brett Clark and hopefully a D.J. Smith or someone similar. Johnny Boychuk led Moose Jaw in scoring during the playoffs this past season, he could be a big help. Replacing the goal scoring of the forwards will be perhaps the biggest key of the free agency period. Here at GIANT Center, I occasionally peer out of my office door to look down the hall to see if any fireworks are coming out of the General Manager's office. I can tell you this: Doug has worked the phones tirelessly both working with Colorado and looking at other player options. Of this I am certain: One way or another, the holes will get filled.
John:
In response to the league's test rule for goalies & the shootout rule.
As a former goalie myself, I can testify that many goalies go to great painstaking lengths to develop and perfect their abilities to handle the puck in all situations. Goalies like Ron Hextall and Rick DiPietro are 2 examples that have displayed their talents well and have made such a difference in the games we watch. I feel that restricting their talent would be a disservice both to the game itself and to the fans who pay to see them perform to the best of their abilities.
As far as the shootout goes. Doesn't it seem that it will take away (in part) the thrill of the penalty shot? Because at the end of the tie games we will have shots (like the penalty shot) on the goalies!
I'm also concerned that in the final seconds of overtime, a team would get one of their bruisers to plow into your goalie and try to hurt him as to gain an advantage in the shootout or force your team to bring a cold goalie in off the bench. How will the officials call a penalty on that with only a few seconds left in OT? Or how about the other team trying to hurt your best breakaway players for the same reason? I would imagine that this would become a very serious situation especially near the playoffs when certain teams need to win at all costs.
Thank you,
Joe Orie
Dillsburg Pa.
Joe, while I like anything that helps create offense, I can see where the goalies are coming from. To your point, guys like Hextall and DiPietro have a developed skill that not all goaltenders have. You're not going to hear too many goaltenders complain that have trouble handling the puck. In fact, some goalies will be thrilled by the change because it evens the playing field among all backstops as far as stickhandling. I'm not too worried about a bruiser taking out a goalie late in OT. Most enforcers won't even be out there at that time, and I'm sure the league would take strong action in the way of a suspension if it did happen.
American Hockey League Stories from July 12, 2004
- Phoenix Signs Right Wing Sheldon Keefe - Utah Grizzlies
- Falcons to play Charity Softball in Windsor Locks, CT - Springfield Falcons
- Moose sign Minard for second go-around - Manitoba Moose
- Moose Re-sign Burrows - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Announce Staff Addition - Syracuse Crunch
- Bears update - Hershey Bears
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