 Sports writer, Mike Fornabaio, keeps us posted about the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. July 24, 2008 Stuff keeps coming, fast and furious... The dean of the AHL's coaches is gone: Randy Cunneyworth joined John Anderson's staff in Atlanta. In a blockbuster at this level, Pascal Pelletier for Martin St. Pierre. Hershey picked up Bryan Helmer and Greg Amadio. Roger Ebert: "The balcony is closed".
(Worth now pointing out again that this doesn't include affiliation-shufflers Portland or Iowa) Posted by mike on 5:25 PM | Comments (2) July 23, 2008 Big day in G.R., potentially: The Griffins just announced that Detroit has signed Darren Haydar. Edit: It's just popped up that Matthew Spiller is a Devil. Posted by mike on 7:30 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0) All kinds of coaching movement the past few days... the latest is Mike Haviland, promoted from Rockford to the big club.
Meanwhile, Niko Dimitrakos is off to Sweden, Skelleftea. Hurray for more Robot Chicken Star Wars. ("What the (bleep) is an 'Aluminum Falcon'?") Posted by mike on 2:53 PM | Comments (1) Hugh Jessiman re-signed with the Rangers. Erstwhile W-Sharks Dan Spang and Jonathan Tremblay are now QC Flames. Curt Fraser is going to be the new coach in Grand Rapids, Michael Zuidema reports. He was an assistant on Steve Stirling's first Islanders staff. (Fraser, not Zuidema. That'd be cool.) The Whalercanes are retiring No. 2 for Glen Wesley. Which is good, because nobody should have been wearing 2, anyway. Found this fascinating, on Language Log: that place up north, "arctic," or "artic"? It's more complicated than you might think. (I've been trying them out, and I'm all over the figurative map: "the arctic," "artic circle," "Antartica," "the antarctic." I'm a mess.) Posted by mike on 3:49 AM | Comments (0) July 22, 2008 Doing some Pilot Pen stuff, so maybe more later, but... Jonathan reports that Todd Richards is going to San Jose as an assistant, and that Danny Bylsma is the favorite to take over. It is all about New Haven in Norfolk: In addition to Rumble and May, Mike Butters is the Ads' new GM. He played two games for the Nighthawks in 1991-92. I tend to think of Lauri Korpikoski, Lauri Tukonen and Petteri Nokelainen as a group; that Finnish junior national line that was going to send its members -- taken within nine picks in 2004 -- off to stardom. Well, Korpikoski's the only one left in his original organization after L.A. traded Tukonen to Dallas. Mathieu Darche tells Lindsay it's Buffalo for him. Eurohockey points out Mark Hartigan to Dinamo Riga. And RIP, Jerome Holtzman and Estelle Getty.
Posted by mike on 4:03 PM | Comments (1) July 19, 2008 Sorry for the delayed blogging, but no sooner had I arrived home from the Brakettes-Seahawks tilts last night than I got a call from The Little Punk in Shelton that he had an extra ticket to see the 12:30 showing of "The Dark Knight." Well, yeah, I'm out the door. And then I got all busy with the Brakettes advance... Sorry. Anyway. Good on Frans Nielsen for getting four years of one-way contract. He has possibly let the Islanders off easily, though. If there's still a salary cap in four years, he'll count $525,000 against it? That's mind-boggling. (It's also the 2011-12 minimum, BTW, as the CBA is currently constructed.) But ultimately, yes, good on Nielsen, who we hope always finds that happy medium between motivating himself and being too hard on himself. Remember, too: Tambellini always says Nielsen's the best centerman he's ever played with. One of the message boards found Eric Boguniecki to the Ducks; sorry for forgetting which. Here's a double New Haven reference: Damian Cristodero reports that Darren Rumble will be Norfolk's new head coach. OK, that part had been floating for a few weeks. Rumble played all of two games for the New Haven Senators. But wait, there's more: Alan May, part of that '89 Nighthawks team that went to the Calder Cup Final, is reported to be the assistant. The Rangers signed Brian Fahey from the Wolves. Former Packer Garth Murray rejoins Don Maloney in Phoenix. The IIHF is trying to play referee between the Continental League and the NHL. Comedy. Michel Therrien gets a contract extension. Haven't had any luck getting the template changed. If you need a link that's dead, or if you're looking for the latest in beat-writer blogs, hop over to the Lifeboat and use the right column over there. Graham Hays of ESPN.com spent a lot of time with the Brakettes the past couple of weeks and did a nice overview of their situation and their history. BTW, the Brakettes put those 300 tickets for Sunday's game on sale Friday night? They sold in 14 minutes. --- And the movie (I should probably link ya our Joe Meyers' review)? I really liked the first two hours or so. The opening frames set the mood and set the action right in motion. We deal with notions of heroism, honor, villainy, how they all intersect, where one ends and the others begin. The excitement keeps pumping (and the body count keeps rising). And then the ending... I dunno. I can't pinpoint anything; it just fell a little flat for me. All that heroism vs. villainy stuff starts to roll around on each other and leaves you tongue-tied. Heath Ledger, though, is excellent. There were times I remembered clearly that that poor guy was dead -- a few lines take on some added poignancy -- but most of the time, I was lost in the moment of the character. And as Joe mentions, you can never get enough Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Posted by mike on 7:00 PM | Comments (7) July 18, 2008 I was sitting here watching a very rare Everybody Loves Raymond as I started this post. Ray was actually at work. Well, if you haven't seen tomorrow's story yet, Bernie Cassell won't be back as the Tigers' second assistant coach, for personal reasons. We'll miss the guy, though he said he'd be stopping by every so often. A replacement, who'll be focused on video and skills work, is to come. It is oddly appropriate that yesterday's header was a Tragically Hip reference*. Cassell's the guy who finally convinced me to get on the bandwagon. Good call, Bernie. Our buddy Michael Sharp in Binghamton found this Ottawa Sun story from the weekend that said the Islanders made a better offer for Zenon Konopka -- but he had already given his word to Barry Melrose. We didn't exactly confirm this... but we have no reason to disbelieve it, either. Olivier Labelle signed with Manitoba. The Globe says the Islanders had not asked permission to talk to Scott Gordon. That obviously doesn't mean it won't happen eventually. Blog favorite Danny Richmond was traded to Pittsburgh for Tim Brent. New Canaan's Max Pacioretty left school to sign with Montreal. Jersey finally got around to announcing Jay Leach, along with Jon DiSalvatore and Chad Wiseman. Thanks to some guy for posting the NHL schedule. A couple of more weeks, and we can plan our October-through-April. The Rangers have answered the NHL's countersuit in the Web-site mess, Dellapina reports. Darn -- I was thinking of doing this. (The recapping-ancient-games stuff, not the recapping-ancient-Avs-games part -- or the colonoscopy part. However, colonoscopies at the right time=good, folks. Do 'em. Saved the life of someone near 'n' dear.) Because Stratford Public Works moved an extra set of bleachers to DeLuca Field, about 300 seats are now available for the Brakettes-Olympic team game Sunday. You've got to show up at DeLuca tonight (Friday), when they'll go on sale at 6. (And it sounds like you'll have to get into Friday's doubleheader to buy into Sunday.) I'm interested to see what happens Sunday. The national team annihilated the Brakettes four years ago. Should be closer this time. Interesting sidenote: John Stratton confirmed tonight that all five pitchers are going to throw. That includes Masuk junior-going-senior phenom Rachele Fico, who was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association high school first-team All-American on Thursday. And finally, 10 in a row? What planet is this? *-All the more surprising for how oblique and esoteric a reference it was... Posted by mike on 3:03 AM | Comments (3) July 16, 2008 Two good days at the Borck Junior Tournament. Nice kids. Good golf. Always embarrassing to watch, 'cause, yeah, sure, I can play like that, sure. (And I'm twice-to-thrice their age. My time has passed.) But a fun time. Update: Greg Logan says to add Joel Quenneville's and -- wait for it -- Scott Gordon's names to the NYI coaching hopper. In addition to Jeff Tambellini, Sean Bergenheim is locked up for a couple of years. Planning to get down to L.I. again Thursday. Nigel Dawes re-upped in the Big Town. Jamie Lundmark is a Flame. And didn't catch this yesterday: Jeff Hoggan and Ryan Lannon to Phoenix. Here's a great bit from England, where the Bridgeport Sound Tigers are the common thread for two members of the Sheffield Steelers. Here's the best part: The two players are Ian Manzano and Nathan Gillies. Combined games for Bridgeport: 11 (eight Nathan's). And finally, RIP, Jay Miller, who gets a nice tribute there from Hartford's Shawn Courchesne. *-Great tune. Posted by mike on 11:30 PM | Comments (3) July 15, 2008 Greg Logan reports a two-year deal for Jeff Tambellini, and QO's accepted for Jeremy Colliton and Ben Walter. This is indeed the last year of the Spectrum. Nothing final on the intermediate step yet (Atlantic City was the early rumor; John Walton leans toward the earlier rumor, Glens Falls), but the Allentown Phantoms may still have Eric Desjardins as their player development coach. Jaime Sifers re-upped with Toronto. Carl Corazzini went to Edmonton. San Jose signed Cory Larose and (earlier noted) Brendan Buckley. Wanna see islands in satellite view? Oceandots.com. (Tip: Catholicgauze.) Joss Whedon. Neil Patrick Harris. Nathan Fillion. Felicia Day. With singing. Dr. Horrible. Oh, the comedy. Posted by mike on 9:23 PM | Comments (7) My first reaction was simple: Is this our story, or not? Ira Podell thinks maybe. Greg Logan, in an earlier version of his story, didn't think so. The mood at Syosset seemed more toward Logan's view. Jack Capuano didn't seem to expect to be going anywhere. If this was next year, someone said, maybe. But the odds seem to be elsewhere, whether outside (NHN AC Tortorella?) or inside (Gallant?) the organization. Could something different happen? Hey, crazier things have happened. In this organization. Recently. (Relatedly, Wally Matthews wonders if all those esteemed gentlemen will still report to Charles Wang.) Anyway. Hockey! John Sullo on no sleep. Joe Franke bustin' on his roomie, Kimber Auerbach, in midseason form. Shakey catching a glimpse of Islanders TV in the lobby and getting excited, because it was the one with him in the limo. (I still like "one-on-one with Silly" best.) The separate arrivals of Kevin Colley and Jason Christie, who I hope have found a hotel room by now. (Colley, by the way, said Andrew MacDonald was the best player on the ice throughout the Grizzlies' playoff run.) Had a nice, brief chat with Brett Skinner... which I left in the car. Sorry. The gist was that I was wondering how come he showed up, and he basically said he just wanted to get in, get a feel for the surroundings, meet people and have that done before training camp. He looked at this as a situation where he could fit in with what they want to do, and have a shot at the next level. He'll only be here the first few days. Joensuu's a nice kid. Saw me fighting my computer in the hallway and came over to commiserate. (And to wonder, if I'm from a Connecticut paper, what I was doing on the Island. While fighting my computer, I wondered that myself.) Was trying to get a handle on Marcinko, and kept missing him when he skated. Tough to get the full impression from drills, but he seemed willing to go to the net. (At least toward the net.) In the couple of times I saw him skate, Rechlicz looked a little more mobile than the couple of shifts I remember. (Small samples in all directions.) Haskins looks stronger than he was and continues to draw raves. To answer one comment, McLean and Lee are signed, MacArthur is not as far as I know, but that's who I forgot to ask about. And to answer another, wondering why they didn't sign Konopka instead of McLean: You're asking the wrong question. And you can't go high-end on every spot, especially when you and I are the only ones there on a given Wednesday in December. Excuse me: Josh Hamilton just broke my window. Nighthawks alert: on eBay... Branislav Mezei is reported to have signed with this team in Kazakhstan. Ryan Hollweg's a Leaf. Paul Fixter went from Rio Grande Valley to Kitchener as an assistant. Tuesday would have been Andrew Rogers' 56th birthday. The most appropriate tribute we can think of: cranking up the volume and playing Louie Louie... Posted by mike on 3:08 AM | Comments (2) |
| Mike covers the Sound Tigers for the Post.
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