Falcons Host Wolf Pack Tonight

Published on March 17, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Hartford Wolf Pack will meet for the ninth time this season when they go head-to-head on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center presented by Rocky's Ace Hardware. The Falcons are 3-5 against the Wolf Pack this season, including 2-2 at the MassMutual Center. These two teams recently met this past Sunday with the Falcons losing to the Pack 5-0 at the Hartford Civic Center. Following tonight's game, these two Atlantic Division rivals will get together only one more time this season when the Birds visit Hartford on Saturday, April 7.

Falcons captain Norm Milley and left wing David Spina lead Springfield in scoring against Hartford this year with six points each, Milley with three goals and three assists and Spina with one goal and five assists. Forward Kyle Wanvig has produced three goals and one assist for four points in two games against the Pack this season, including a hat trick back on February 10. Goaltender Karri Ramo has been outstanding against Hartford this year posting a 1.76 goals against average and .960 save percentage in four games played.

Rookie Ryan Callahan, forwards Nigel Dawes and Jarkko Immonen and defenseman Marvin Degon share the Hartford team lead in scoring against Springfield this season with five points each. Goaltender Al Montoya has been steady posting a mark of 2-1 with a 1.34 goals against average and .944 save percentage in three appearances against Springfield this season.

The Falcons return to action tonight after having their game Friday night against the Manchester Monarchs postponed due to inclement weather. The two teams will make up the game on Sunday, March 25 at the MassMutual Center starting at 4:05 PM. Springfield did play on Wednesday evening losing to the Lowell Devils 3-1 at the Paul Tsongas Arena. Norm Milley scored the Falcons' lone goal, while goaltender Karri Ramo was once again steady between the pipes making 37 saves. Following tonight's game, the Falcons will hit the road for a pair of road games next week when they head to Hershey on Wednesday, March 21 and Philadelphia on Friday, March 23.

The Wolf Pack head into Springfield having won their last three consecutive games, including a 3-2 victory over the Providence Bruins on Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Nigel Dawes scored the eventual game-winner at 4:43 of the third period snapping a 2-2 deadlock. With the win on Friday night, Hartford improved their record to 39-23-3-0 on the season and increased their lead over third-place Providence to three points. The Pack remains in second-place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind first-place Manchester.

FALCONS PLAYER TRANSACTIONS: The Falcons announced Thursday they have signed center Dusty Collins to a standard Amateur Tryout Agreement contract. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Collins recently finished his four-year collegiate career with Northern Michigan University collecting 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 137 games played. The Gilbert, Arizona native was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fifth round (163rd overall) in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Also on Thursday, the Falcons announced that defenseman Matt Smaby was recalled by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Smaby joined the Bolts in Tampa on Friday for their game against the Buffalo Sabres. In return, the Lightning reassigned forward Kyle Wanvig back to the Falcons after Wanvig played in four games for Tampa Bay this season. In 11 games with Springfield, Wanvig has three goals and two assists for five points.

To complete a busy Thursday full of transactions, the Falcons also announced that goaltender Ryan Munce has been recalled from their ECHL affiliate, the Johnstown Chiefs. Munce started the season with the Los Angeles Kings organization before being acquired by Tampa Bay on January 20, 2007 in exchange for a fourth round selection at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Munce was originally selected by the L.A. Kings in the 3rd round (82nd overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

WOLF PACK TRANSACTIONS: The Wolf Pack announced Friday that they signed center Darin Olver and defenseman Dylan Reese to Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreements.

Olver, a second-round draft pick (36th overall) by the parent New York Rangers in 2004, recently completed a four-year college career at Northern Michigan University (CCHA). In 41 games this season with the Wildcats, the 5-11, 175-pound native of Burnaby, British Columbia notched 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points, along with 47 penalty minutes. That was good for tops on the team in assists and second in points and goals. Prior to this season, Olver had led the Northern Michigan squad in points for three consecutive years. He registered the top assist total in the CCHA his Sophomore season, 2004-05, when he totaled 9-34-43 in 40 games.

Reese, 22, comes to the Wolf Pack from Harvard University, where he served as Captain of the Crimson squad this year, his Senior season. The 5-11, 201-pound Pittsburgh, PA native led Harvard blueliners in points for the third straight year, registering nine goals and nine assists for 18 points, along with 26 penalty minutes, in 33 games. That was good for Reese's second straight First-Team All-Ivy nod. A seventh-round pick by the parent New York Rangers in the 2003 NHL Draft, Reese was a Second-Team ECACHL All-Star last season, during which he posted stats of 4-15-19 and 36 PIM in 33 games.

Also on Friday, Hartford announced that they added a pair of players to their roster from Charlotte of the ECHL. The Wolf Pack recalled forward Zdenek Bahensky from loan to the Checkers and signed defenseman Kenny Smith to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.

Bahensky, a rookie out of the Western Hockey League, has played 10 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this year, contributing one assist and picking up two penalty minutes. In 48 games with Charlotte, the third-round (73rd overall) 2004 New York Ranger draftee has amassed eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points, along with 96 minutes in penalties, the second-highest total on the Checkers.

Smith, 25, is in his third season of pro hockey. A 6-2, 210-pound native of Stoneham, MA, he has suited up for 53 ECHL contests with the Checkers this year and has posted eight assists and 79 penalty minutes. Smith spent most of last season with the Portland Pirates (48 GP, 0-8-8, 29 PIM), and also logged time with Greenville of the ECHL (11 GP, 1-3-4, 15 PIM). After a four-year career at Harvard University, Smith split his rookie campaign of 2004-05 between Edmonton of the AHL and Greenville. The Edmonton Oilers drafted Smith in the third round (84th overall) in 2001.

Wolf Pack leading scorer Ryan Callahan is currently on recall to the New York Rangers and was in the Rangers lineup Friday night against the Atlanta Thrashers.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2007


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