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Thursday, July 17, 2014
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 17
Happy birthday to ...
Hank Therrien: Chiefs forward from 1959-62. He split the 1959-60 season between the Chiefs and Milwaukee, and the 1960-61 season between Milwaukee, Toledo and the Chiefs -- tallying 28 goals that season. He had 16 goals in 1961-62, the Chiefs' final season. He went from the Chiefs to play in the semi-pro USHL and tallied 33 goals in Green Bay the following year. He played for the United States at the 1966 World Championships. He retired after the 1967 season and coached small college hockey in Wisconsin. A native of Chapleau, Ont., he was born in 1934. He passed away in 2010 at age 76.
Hank Therrien: Chiefs forward from 1959-62. He split the 1959-60 season between the Chiefs and Milwaukee, and the 1960-61 season between Milwaukee, Toledo and the Chiefs -- tallying 28 goals that season. He had 16 goals in 1961-62, the Chiefs' final season. He went from the Chiefs to play in the semi-pro USHL and tallied 33 goals in Green Bay the following year. He played for the United States at the 1966 World Championships. He retired after the 1967 season and coached small college hockey in Wisconsin. A native of Chapleau, Ont., he was born in 1934. He passed away in 2010 at age 76.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Fuel roster starts with energy, character
When Scott Hillman became the Indy Fuel's head coach, he said he wanted a hard-working team that would be fun to watch.
So far, the five players signed to the team seem to fill exactly what he's looking for.
The Fuel have five players signed as part of a roster that will eventually number at least 20 by the start of camp in October (with 6-8 of those being from the Chicago Blackhawks' roster), and there's no secret they're following that personality.
So far, the five players signed to the team seem to fill exactly what he's looking for.
The Fuel have five players signed as part of a roster that will eventually number at least 20 by the start of camp in October (with 6-8 of those being from the Chicago Blackhawks' roster), and there's no secret they're following that personality.
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 16
Happy birthday to ...
Bob Whitlock: Racers left wing from 1974-76. In 103 games with the team, he had 38 goals and 41 assists, as well as 72 PIM. He was claimed by the team in the 1974 Expansion Draft and had a 31-goal season in 1974-75, and played half the following year with the Racers and the other half with their NAHL affiliate in Mohawk Valley. He finished out his eight-year pro career in the NAHL in 1977, and played senior hockey thereafter. He played one NHL game with the North Stars in 1969-70, and 244 NHL games from 1972-76, playing for the Chicago Cougars and Los Angeles Sharks in addition to the Racers. He had 81 goals and 98 assists in his major pro career. He is a member of the Prince Edward Island Hall of Fame. A native of Charlottetown, PEI, he is 65.
Bob Whitlock: Racers left wing from 1974-76. In 103 games with the team, he had 38 goals and 41 assists, as well as 72 PIM. He was claimed by the team in the 1974 Expansion Draft and had a 31-goal season in 1974-75, and played half the following year with the Racers and the other half with their NAHL affiliate in Mohawk Valley. He finished out his eight-year pro career in the NAHL in 1977, and played senior hockey thereafter. He played one NHL game with the North Stars in 1969-70, and 244 NHL games from 1972-76, playing for the Chicago Cougars and Los Angeles Sharks in addition to the Racers. He had 81 goals and 98 assists in his major pro career. He is a member of the Prince Edward Island Hall of Fame. A native of Charlottetown, PEI, he is 65.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 15
Four birthdays today: former Racer Ralph Hopiavuori and former USHL Ice Glen Ylitalo, Anthony Bitetto and Tim Smith.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Fuel to play two preseason games in Alaska
The Indy Fuel will play two preseason games in Alaska against the defending ECHL Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces.
The games will be played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Oct. 7-8 -- a two-game tuneup for the Fuel's Oct. 17 season opener against the Fort Wayne Komets.
This will mark the only meeting between the teams this year. The Fuel and Aces are not scheduled to play during the regular season, although they could meet in the Western Conference Final during the playoffs. The Aces won their third Kelly Cup title since 2006 last spring, beating the Cincinnati Cyclones -- whom they faced in the preseason doubleheader in Anchorage last year.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to take on the Aces in the preseason,” Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a team release. “It will be a great test to play the defending champions and the trip will provide our team a good chance to bond before the season gets underway.”
Fuel release
Aces release
The games will be played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Oct. 7-8 -- a two-game tuneup for the Fuel's Oct. 17 season opener against the Fort Wayne Komets.
This will mark the only meeting between the teams this year. The Fuel and Aces are not scheduled to play during the regular season, although they could meet in the Western Conference Final during the playoffs. The Aces won their third Kelly Cup title since 2006 last spring, beating the Cincinnati Cyclones -- whom they faced in the preseason doubleheader in Anchorage last year.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to take on the Aces in the preseason,” Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a team release. “It will be a great test to play the defending champions and the trip will provide our team a good chance to bond before the season gets underway.”
Fuel release
Aces release
Indy's title teams: The 1942 Capitals
This is the 8th in a nine-part series looking at Indianapolis' championship-winning hockey teams. Previously: the 2009 Indiana Ice (USHL), the 2000 Indianapolis Ice (CHL), 1990 Indianapolis Ice (IHL), 1983 & 1982 Indianapolis Checkers (CHL), the 1958 Indianapolis Chiefs (IHL) and the 1950 Indianapolis Capitals (AHL). Next week: the 2014 Indiana Ice.
Much was changing around the world as the 1941-42 hockey season approached. Pearl Harbor was a few days away, and many players would be called to military duty, causing great turnover in rosters and shortages of professional hockey players in North America - and claiming some lives.
And for the Indianapolis Capitals, there was a bit of an overhaul, too, as the team tried to rebound from a disastrous 1940-41 season in which the team went 17-28-11 and finished last in the AHL West.
The most obvious new face when the Caps convened in Detroit for training camp was that of goaltender Joe Turner, a teenager out of Windsor, Ont. with a stellar amateur record. He replaced Jimmy Franks, who had been the Caps' netminder for most of their first two seasons.
Franks was available, but Turner quickly proved his services wouldn't be needed.
Another Cap defensive mainstay - Archie Wilder - was called into the army before the season. More would follow as the United States entered the war in December.
Those that stuck around would put something special together. With Turner leading the way, the Capitals rolled to the AHL West title, survived a hair-raising first-round series with Springfield - which the Caps won in OT of the deciding game - and then brought home the Calder Cup, giving Indianapolis its first-ever postseason hockey championship.
Much was changing around the world as the 1941-42 hockey season approached. Pearl Harbor was a few days away, and many players would be called to military duty, causing great turnover in rosters and shortages of professional hockey players in North America - and claiming some lives.
And for the Indianapolis Capitals, there was a bit of an overhaul, too, as the team tried to rebound from a disastrous 1940-41 season in which the team went 17-28-11 and finished last in the AHL West.
The most obvious new face when the Caps convened in Detroit for training camp was that of goaltender Joe Turner, a teenager out of Windsor, Ont. with a stellar amateur record. He replaced Jimmy Franks, who had been the Caps' netminder for most of their first two seasons.
Franks was available, but Turner quickly proved his services wouldn't be needed.
Another Cap defensive mainstay - Archie Wilder - was called into the army before the season. More would follow as the United States entered the war in December.
Those that stuck around would put something special together. With Turner leading the way, the Capitals rolled to the AHL West title, survived a hair-raising first-round series with Springfield - which the Caps won in OT of the deciding game - and then brought home the Calder Cup, giving Indianapolis its first-ever postseason hockey championship.
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 14
Three birthdays today: former Capitol Dennis Kassian & late former Capitals Bill Hudson and Don Morrison. Also, the Checkers roll out an ill-fated attempt to get into the NHL.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 13
One birthday today ...
Kevin Conway: Right wing who played 29 games for the Checkers in 1986-87. He had 11 goals and eight assists. Conway played a bit in North America after finishing his junior career in 1984 -- playing for Toledo and Salt Lake in the IHL -- but in the interim, went to Britain and put up a 129-goal, 227-point season in 1985-86 (in 35 games!). He came back to Indianapolis the following year, and then headed back to Britain and put up video game-like numbers -- 148 goals in 1987-88, 107 two years later, 100 two years after that, followed with 87 and 64 goals. Conway also played for the British national team. Conway played in the UK through 2008, and is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. His son, Scott Conway, was the Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice's leading scorer in 2013-14. A native of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, he is 51.
Kevin Conway: Right wing who played 29 games for the Checkers in 1986-87. He had 11 goals and eight assists. Conway played a bit in North America after finishing his junior career in 1984 -- playing for Toledo and Salt Lake in the IHL -- but in the interim, went to Britain and put up a 129-goal, 227-point season in 1985-86 (in 35 games!). He came back to Indianapolis the following year, and then headed back to Britain and put up video game-like numbers -- 148 goals in 1987-88, 107 two years later, 100 two years after that, followed with 87 and 64 goals. Conway also played for the British national team. Conway played in the UK through 2008, and is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. His son, Scott Conway, was the Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice's leading scorer in 2013-14. A native of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, he is 51.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
The Blackhawks' system, an update
The Chicago Blackhawks are set at the NHL level -- as of now, 23 players are on NHL contracts, the max. They'll have to make a couple of moves, as they're currently a couple million dollars over the NHL's hard salary cap, but it's worth taking another look at what's in the Blackhawks' system signed for this year.
The Blackhawks currently have 46 players signed for next season -- 23 on NHL contracts, 23 currently "non-roster players" or on minor-league deals (the maximum number allowed under contract to an NHL team is 50, but most teams start the season a few players under that amount to be able to sign players who age out of junior/graduate from college/college free agents at the end of the season). The Indy Fuel can expect to get about 6-to-8 players out of that group of 23. The CapGeek depth chart.
Take note, this is fluid. Trades often involve prospects going both directions, and the Blackhawks will likely sign players who have aged out of junior or college hockey at the end of the season, some of which we'll be likely to see in Indy.
Several of these players will be headed to the Blackhawks prospect camp this week. This post is focusing on the signed players. A post next week will update the unsigned prospects in the system whose rights the Blackhawks control -- the players still in junior, college or European hockey.
The Blackhawks currently have 46 players signed for next season -- 23 on NHL contracts, 23 currently "non-roster players" or on minor-league deals (the maximum number allowed under contract to an NHL team is 50, but most teams start the season a few players under that amount to be able to sign players who age out of junior/graduate from college/college free agents at the end of the season). The Indy Fuel can expect to get about 6-to-8 players out of that group of 23. The CapGeek depth chart.
Take note, this is fluid. Trades often involve prospects going both directions, and the Blackhawks will likely sign players who have aged out of junior or college hockey at the end of the season, some of which we'll be likely to see in Indy.
Several of these players will be headed to the Blackhawks prospect camp this week. This post is focusing on the signed players. A post next week will update the unsigned prospects in the system whose rights the Blackhawks control -- the players still in junior, college or European hockey.
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 12
On July 12, we celebrate two birthdays:
Happy birthday to:
Pete Leswick: Right wing for the Capitals from 1944-46, with a pair of 29-goal seasons. He played 114 games for the Caps, with 58 goals and 91 assists. He was a Second-Team All-Star in 1945, and a First-Teamer in 1946 with the Caps. He also had three points in eight playoff games those two seasons. He came to the Caps after playing six years before the war in various minor leagues -- and one game for the NHL's New York Rangers. After he returned from the service, he played two games for the Boston Bruins, and went from Indy to a high-scoring career with the AHL Cleveland Barons, where he posted four straight 30-goal seasons. He was a six-time AHL All-Star. He retired after the 1952-53 season. His brother Tony would later make a mark in Indianapolis, coaching the short-lived Capitols team in 1963. A native of Saskatoon, Sask., Pete was born in 1917. He passed away in 2005 at age 88.
Chris Snell: Ice defenseman in 1996-97. He had a strong season from the blueline, with 22 goals and 45 assists in 73 games. He also had 130 PIM in helping lead the Ice to a division championship. He was named an IHL Second Team All-Star for his efforts that season. The Sabres' seventh-round pick in 1991, Snell played six pro seasons in North America, mostly in the AHL/IHL. He played 34 NHL games for the Maple Leafs and Kings, tallying nine points -- both of his goals were scored shorthanded. He played his last six seasons in Germany, retiring in 2003. A native of Regina, Sask., he is 43.
Happy birthday to:
Pete Leswick: Right wing for the Capitals from 1944-46, with a pair of 29-goal seasons. He played 114 games for the Caps, with 58 goals and 91 assists. He was a Second-Team All-Star in 1945, and a First-Teamer in 1946 with the Caps. He also had three points in eight playoff games those two seasons. He came to the Caps after playing six years before the war in various minor leagues -- and one game for the NHL's New York Rangers. After he returned from the service, he played two games for the Boston Bruins, and went from Indy to a high-scoring career with the AHL Cleveland Barons, where he posted four straight 30-goal seasons. He was a six-time AHL All-Star. He retired after the 1952-53 season. His brother Tony would later make a mark in Indianapolis, coaching the short-lived Capitols team in 1963. A native of Saskatoon, Sask., Pete was born in 1917. He passed away in 2005 at age 88.
Chris Snell: Ice defenseman in 1996-97. He had a strong season from the blueline, with 22 goals and 45 assists in 73 games. He also had 130 PIM in helping lead the Ice to a division championship. He was named an IHL Second Team All-Star for his efforts that season. The Sabres' seventh-round pick in 1991, Snell played six pro seasons in North America, mostly in the AHL/IHL. He played 34 NHL games for the Maple Leafs and Kings, tallying nine points -- both of his goals were scored shorthanded. He played his last six seasons in Germany, retiring in 2003. A native of Regina, Sask., he is 43.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Commentary: Impact of new rules?
Like a lot of sports followers worldwide, I've been enjoying soccer's World Cup over the last month. The artistry, the high drama, the back-and-forth play, it's all been great. But there's one thing that's notable about soccer -- it never changes. Tactics might change, and a few tweaks might be thrown in here or there (like the yellow/red card system instead of verbal warnings), but change comes slowly.
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 11
Six birthdays today: former Capital Bill Folk (87), Racer Rick Fraser (60), IHL Ice Travis Thiessen (42) & Dave Chyzowski (43) and CHL Ice Duncan Paterson (40), as well as the late former Capital Eddie Bush.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Defenseman Anders Franzon joins Fuel
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| Anders Franzon (Photo provided by Indy Fuel) |
Franzon is the fifth player, and the first defenseman signed by the Fuel. He is a big puck-moving defenseman who stands 6-3 and a shade under 200 pounds. He played his rookie season for Fuel coach Scott Hillman last year, with 10 goals and 21 assists in 66 games for the CHL's Missouri Mavericks. He was the team's second-highest scoring defenseman.
"Andres is a steady defenseman that has a great ability to move the puck," Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a release on Thursday. "He's coming off a strong rookie season, and given his steady, reliable play, we believe he has a bright future in professional hockey."
Franzon is a 25-year-old right-shot blueliner who hails from Plattsburgh, New York.
Franzon also played four years collegiately at Vermont -- where he was a teammate of the Fuel's first signing, Pete Massar. He had four goals and 20 assists in 124 games and played a top-four defense role for the Catamounts. He was also a member of the Hockey East All-Academic team as a senior in 2013.
He's the third player who played for Coach Hillman with the Missouri Mavericks, joining Massar and center Kenton Miller.
"It was a great experience playing for Coach Hillman last season," Franzon said. "He's a determined, passionate coach that puts everything on the line to win every night."
Fuel release
Franzon's HockeyDB page
Franzon's University of Vermont profile
A "Getting to Know You" from the Lee's Summit Tribune
Today in Indianapolis hockey history: July 10
Five birthdays today: former Chief Monty Reynolds, IHL Ice Alain Nasreddine and USHL Ice Jay Cascalenda, Kyle Lundey and John Mitchell.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Commentary: Blackhawks' move stresses developmental system
The Chicago Blackhawks handed out a lot of money Wednesday afternoon -- $168 million, to be exact. That's just $7 million less than the United Center cost to build in 1994.
What it means is the two franchise's centerpieces -- Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- will be wearing Blackhawk sweaters through 2023. The two signed eight-year, $84 million extensions. Those will carry a $10.5 million annual cap hit -- an increase of $4.2 million each from the pair's current contracts.
What it means is the two franchise's centerpieces -- Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- will be wearing Blackhawk sweaters through 2023. The two signed eight-year, $84 million extensions. Those will carry a $10.5 million annual cap hit -- an increase of $4.2 million each from the pair's current contracts.
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 9
Five birthdays today: IHL Ice Steve Dubinsky and Marc Magliardti and USHL Ice Kyle Page, Christian Hilbrich and Matt Krug.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Fuel add Kenton Miller, Garrett Klotz
The Indy Fuel have added two players to their roster, including their first veteran -- high-scoring center Kenton Miller and big, tough left wing Garrett Klotz.
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