Jason Krog Signs with Atlanta!

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I would like t thank my fellow posters at www.wolfkeeper.org for tipping me off to this story on a holiday.

This is good news indeed Jason Krog, linchpin of the 08'Calder Cup Championship season has been signed to a 2 year contract by the Atlanta Thrashers. The bad news for Wolves fans is that don't expect to see him in a Wolves uniform. With John Anderson firmly installed as head coach in Atlanta you can bet he is going to want to keep his American Hockey League MVP close and not send him north to to enrich the Chicago goal stats.
Take heart Wolves fans, any player or move that keeps the parent club winning,healthy and happy bodes well for the farm team. Fewer call ups and a more stable line up dramatically increase chances for a return to the winning Wolves of years past.

Put one tic in the optimistic column for this years Wolves season for moi!

Wolves Host Pig Roast, beat Icehogs 6:1, Who were those masked men?

Wednesday night Wolves fans left the Allstate Arena worried, very worried. Was it the trip to Turple by one of his own team mates? No, The shelling of Gherson? Not quite. The fact that every line change resembled a flock of peewees tumbling out for their big chance? No, it was the general don't seem to care, don't wanna care, you mean I should care attitude that hung over the bench like a cloud. It was like someone had opened a locker sealed from 05' and the bad karma leaked out. Driving to the game, frankly I expected that if the Wolves continued in this pattern it would be a blow out in favor of the Icehogs.

When I arrived at the Allstate the game was already two minutes old and what lovely sight greeted me? Not one but two Wolves in the Rockford crease waving their rumpuses in Antti Niemi's face.By the time I had gotten to my seat opened my bag Spencer Machacek had drilled the net for the first goal of the game. It would prove to be the first of 6 goals for the Wolves. Possibly the most amazing statistic of the game, that for 6 goals, 11 players awarded assists and three fights no Gordie Howe hat tricks were earned. Glory enough for all!

There is an easy explanation for the turnaround of play among the Wolves.It was rumored that Thrashers coach John Anderson basically told players on the parent club that unless improvements were made big changes were coming, and no one was safe. Player movments up and down would be possible, golaies could be coming and going and possible trade announcements would be forthcoming.
Linkage below:
www.ajc.com/thrashers/.../thrashers_anderson_players.html

How much for that nettie in the window? Kerie Lehentoen looks pretty good right now to these jaded eyes. Could the Wolves be looking forward to spending Christmas in warmer climates? Or have they finally woken up and jelled with their coach Granato, possibly after a few brutal practices this week? Well, a girl can dream.





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Chad Denny, Will his third time at TC be the charm?

This will be Chad Denny's third year at the rookie tournament. When Kissane and I first got a look at this forward 2 years ago he knocked our socks off. Denny seemed to have the entire package, he scored, skated well and even stood up for his line mates when necessary. But alas since he was only 18 he went back to the OHL and spent another year in Leiwston Main. Last year he arrived in camp looking very different, he seemed slow and unable to concentrate. In October Chad and his very impressive wrister were sent to Gwinnette to be nurtured by Coach Pyle. Over the course of the o8' season he moved up a few times but spent the majority on the year in Georgia and not with the Wolves.

This year is his third year out of the gate, who is going to carry his gear into Traverse City? The 18 year old who blew the doors off the place or the kid who looked like he was playing with the flu last year? OK, will the real Chad Denny stand up, it takes more than a wicked shot to succeed in the NHL, come show us what ya got !

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Traverse City Michigan, all hockey roads lead north...

The action started last night in Traverse City Michigan, oh, how I wish we were there. To those of you who have followed this blog for the last year you know that only major surgery could have kept me home. This year that is exactly what did. The news is good, pathology negative but it will be a few weeks until I'm up to packing my kit and traveling to away games. But life and hockey is good and the folks at NHL network will be showing the entire weekends games starting 2:00am eastern time Monday morning, finishing late Monday night. Check your local listings for details. Can you say TVo and viewing party?


Courtesy of WK of Wolfkeeper.org the Thrashers roster for TC.
FORWARDS
65 * Carter Bancks LW 5.11 169 — Lethbridge (WHL)
70 * Scott Bartlett F 5.09 165 — Middlebury (NESCAC)
57 Angelo Esposito C 6.00 190 PIT-07 (1-20) Quebec (QMJHL)
43 Riley Holzapfel C 5.11 170 ATL-06 (2-43) Moose Jaw (WHL)
53 Rylan Kaip C 6.01 188 ATL-03 (9-269) North Dakota (NCAA)
67 * Justin Larson C 6.03 195 — Mississauga (OHL)
66 * Matt Lyall C 5.11 155 — Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
46 Spencer Machacek RW 6.00 182 ATL-07 (3-67) Vancouver (WHL)
68 * Robert Mignardi C 6.00 170 — Kingston (OHL)
59 Danick Paquette RW 6.00 210 ATL-08 (3-64) Lewiston (QMJHL)
56 Tomas Pospisil LW 6.00 185 ATL-05 (5-135) Gwinnett (ECHL)
63 Matt Siddall RW 6.01 205 ATL-04 (9-270) Northern Michigan (NCAA)
61 Myles Stoesz LW 6.02 208 ATL-05 (7-207) Gwinnett (ECHL)

DEFENSEMEN
44 Zach Bogosian D 6.02 197 ATL-08 (1-3) Peterborough (OHL)
64 * Patrick Cusack D 6.01 194 — Lewiston (QMJHL)
55 Chad Denny D 6.03 227 ATL-05 (2-49) Gwinnett (ECHL)
62 Arturs Kulda D 6.02 194 ATL-06 (7-200) Peterborough (OHL)
52 Grant Lewis D 6.03 193 ATL-04 (2-40) Chicago (AHL)
58 * Scott Marchesi D 6.01 200 — Sacred Heart (NCAA)
60 Paul Postma D 6.02 173 ATL-07 (7-205) Calgary (WHL)

GOALTENDERS
35 Chris Carrozzi G 6.03 185 ATL-08 (6-154) Mississauga (OHL)
34 * Ryan Daniels G 6.01 194 OTT-06 (5-151) Saginaw (OHL)

* denotes free-agent invitee

What caught my eye on this years list was several names that were returnees from last year, this will be Chad Denny's third appearance in camp. Grant Lewis, Riely Holzapfel, Tomas Popisil and lastly Myles Stoesz if memory serves me correctly all second year men who have seen time in Gwinnett or Chicago. Then there is Arturs Kulda who played his heart out during the Calder Cup run last season. It begs the question is this an Anderson strategy to have more experienced hands at the tournament to bring out the best in the invitees or are these guys being given a shot at the Thrash? Considering the first Wolves "friendly" game is Monday the 15th I suspect the former in most cases. Although Arturs Kulda deserves a look by Anderson and the Thrashers staff after his efforts last spring on Chicago ice.

At last years camp a standout attendee was Myles Stoesz, he was briefly in Chicago then landed for the rest of the season in Gwinnett to mature under the wing of talented coach Jeff Pyle. I had a chance to talk to Myles last October, he seemed a well spoken, polite young man in love with the game and looking forward to whatever the future was going to hand him as long as it meant a life in the game he was so dedicated to. My contacts with Gwinnett assured me he was scoring well, and was sticking up for his teammates when necessary. No goon but a classic enforcer in the making, sounds good to me.


This is what I had to say about Myles last September, a year older,wiser and ready for Chicago, I can't wait. Jr Lessard is not going to be able to take care of the entire team, Stoesz is a welcome addition to the Wolves line up in my book.

"A last possibility is this years "excitable boy", Myles Stoesz. Considering he had a fight in nearly every game he played in at camp, he could be a future enforcer. However, given the fact he also had no goals or assists on this weekend,his value to the team could be limited to protection. In modern hockey is there still a place for the man who stands up for every line change yet doesn't score? I think so, where would Alex the Great have been in Buffalo without Rob Ray? Things haven't changed that much."




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toesz,

Ode To Boris II, He got the call up at last!

I have to say it loud and proud, it's hard to type with little bunny feet!

Yesterday it was announced that the Wolves "Excitable Boy" Boris Valibik got the call from Atlanta Thrashers Don Waddell, about time too. Congratulations Boris, as the Thrash wrap up their season we will see you back in maroon and gold in time for the playoffs. Strut your stuff proudly, you deserve it!


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Return of the King, Kari Lehtonen a Wolf again.....

It may only be for a three day rehab stint, but Kari Lehtonen is wearing a Wolves jersey once more. Last night the familiar name was announced as the goal tender for the home team and the Tuesday night crowd of 3000 faithful fans greeted the returning hero, our Kari. I had forgotten how tall he was, Kari Lehtonen is one tall dude. His performance? This tall one, classic, the quick butterfly remains and the ermine like movements between the pipes are still there. Upon close observation you can observe changes in his stance, a result of conditioning and working with a core muscle coach to correct a nagging groin problem. What you see is what you get here,a more mature version of the boy that left Chicago two years ago for the NHL.Lehtonen wears the NHL goalie mantle well.

The outcome of the game was never in doubt, the Quad City Flames seemed to never leave the locker room their only a goal in the last 30 seconds placed them on the board. Yet another win for the Wolves, the first for the favorite son in his recovery tour.





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Saturday Afternoon, Thrashers -vs-New York Rangers

It is difficult not to have an amazing time at the Red Wings Prospect Tournament. Traverse City is just beginning to blush with fall colours, the tempatures are usually a temperate 60-70 degrees and the skys clear. Best yet hockey action starts at 3:00 allowing time for side trips to the town itself or local attractions including the many fine wineries on the pinsula.

Saturday after a side trip Leelanau Cellars to restock our dwindeling supply of our favorite whites and reds we arrived at Center Ice ready for some hockey action. Todays afternoon game featured Atlanta Thrashers aganist the New York Rangers. It has been years since Atlanta's farm team the Chicago Wolves faced the Bingahamton Senators, New Yorks affiliate. New York also featured prospect Alex Bourret who skated briefly for the Woles during the 06'season. We were interested to see if Bourret would be pouring it on looking to see New York or would he be sent down to gasp! Bingo!







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Red Wings-vs- Thrashers Opening night!

Opening night of the Red Wings Rookie Tournament for the second year featured a matchup against the Atlanta Thrashers. This years Atlanta team had several pre tourney interesting prospects, Chad Denny(a year older and bigger after impressing us at the 06' camp), Spencer Anderson (son of Chocago Wolves coach John Anderson),Bryan Little (after a great year with in Gwinette) and the goalies, Dan Turple(the big guy from Kitchner) and Ondrej Pavelec (The hot Fin of 07'). This years crop of rookies was notiable for size most were over 6' only one, Jonathan Duchesneau stood a diminuitive 5'8". Last year the starting line up for the camp looked like the chorus line Munchkin Land, most were well under 6'. A second difference, all were invited to the camp, none were tryouts. Last year several, like goalie invitee Dave Caruso were there to strut their stuff for a shot at the big time. Lastly none were college boys but this time grads of one of the devlopenent leagues.Proving grounds like MooseJaw,Rigina and Swift Current (WHL) Flint Generals (UHL)and the always tough QMJHL were well represiented. Yes it looks like this years class will be bigger,tougher and more aggressive by a quick look at their backgrounds.

With the same gleam in our eyes usually reserved for four year olds on Christmas morning Patrick Kissane and I found our seats. Grasped our hot drinks and waited for the Thrasher prospects and the Wings babes take the ice. Our first taste of hockey in months, the new boys were about to take the ice...here is a bit of what we saw on opening night!









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Atlanta, the new prospects.

Obviously the main focus of my hockey attention is the Chicago Wolves, which means as their parent club the Atlanta Thrashers holds quite a bit of interest for me at the rookie tournament. It is the invitees to the tournament that often make up the lineup for the Wolves and their AA farm team the Gwinett Gladiators. This year in Traverse City was no exception, there are several prospects that can be expected to make it to Chi town and even more will see time in Gwinnett. Players that this photog IHHO we will be seeing on Chicago ice in October : Bryan Little ,Chad Painchaud,Thoms Popisil,Chad Denny,Tobias Endtrom,Scott Lehman and Grant Lewis. Goalies, tough one, but to be honest Ondrej Pavelec was more impressive than Dan Turple. If only there was room on the Wolves roster for three goalies, it would be a great thing for Freddy Brathwaite to work with both these young men.

A last possibility is this years "excitable boy", Myles Stoesz. Considering he had a fight in nearly every game he played in at camp, he could be a future enforcer. However, given the fact he also had no goals or assists on this weekend,his value to the team could be limited to protection. In modern hockey is there still a place for the man who stands up for every line change yet doesn't score? I think so, where would Alex the Great have been in Buffalo without Rob Ray? Things haven't changed that much.