Hershey (AHL) and Reading (ECHL) 2012-13 Season
 

Hershey AHL (or AHL/ECHL) Contracts for the 2012-13 Season

Coaching Staff: Mark French and Troy Mann
G: Sergei Kostenko
D: Julien Brouillette, Steven Oleksy, Patrick Wellar, Scott Wietecha
F: Barry Almeida, Alex Berry, Mathieu Beaudoin, Joel Champagne, David Civitarese, Jon DiSalvatore, Jon Kalinski, Boyd Kane (Captain), Matt Pope, TJ Syner, Jeff Taffe, David Vallorani

AHL vets per AHL rule, including some players under contract with Washington:

F: DiSalvatore (H/vet), Hamill (W/tw vet), Kane (H/vet), Potulny(W/vet), Taffe (H/vet)
D: Stafford (W/vet), McNeill (W/tw vet)

Reading/ECHL contracts for the 2012-13 season

Head coach: Larry Courville
G:
D: Garrett Clarke, Adam Comrie, Derrick LaPoint, Bryant Molle, Denny Urban, Brad Walch
F: Julien Cayer, Ethan Cox, Tyler Gron, Chris Langkow, Trevor Lewis, Kirk MacDonald, David Marshall, Ian O'Connor, Yannick Tifu, Jesse Todd

Aucoin re-ups.

Yes, they started the season last year with an extra vet and yes, eventually Richmond was traded. That was not the first season in recent years where they have carried an extra vet to start the season, it has happened in other years, too.

I have had this McNeill conversation with a couple of people and posted elsewhere about it this morning. As far as the 2 tweener vets, one can play in a vet slot, but I’ve wondered about Patrick McNeill’s situation given the lack of opportunity in the org. and whether he’d be a candidate for a move either per request or the organization moving on. Just my speculation, no idea what will happen.

With the unknowns of the NHL CBA, injuries, call-ups, etc., it's too early to know what will happen.

As of now:

AHL vets per AHL rule:

F: DiSalvatore (H/vet), Hamill (W/tw vet), Kane (H/vet), Potulny(W/vet), Taffe (H/vet)
D: Stafford (W/vet), McNeill (W/tw vet)

The stacking continues. They can now roll three fairly potent scoring lines I'd think, which is potentially good for a guy like Galiev although there's going to be quite the competition in camp both at F & D.

Hershey roster discussion:

Goalies: Grubauer and Sabourin (with Anderson in Reading)

Defensemen: Brouilette, Flemming, Kundratek, Marshall, McNeill (T), Oleksy, Schilling, Stafford (V), Stevenson, Wellar, Wietecha

Forwards: Almeida, Aucoin (V), Beaudoin, Berry, Carman, Civitarese, Clackson, DiSalvatore (V), Galiev, Hamill (T), Kane (V), Mitchell, Paquette, Pope, Potulny (V), Stoa, Syner, Taffe (V), Vallorani


Obviously, expect some players may start and/or play most, if not all, of the season in Reading. No idea what the organization's intent is for Paquette this season after the loans last season.

I agree with a lot of what you had posted. I could see Patrick McNeill easily leaving. He hasn't gotten an opportunity with Washington and was passed on the call up depth chart by Kundratek last season. Patrick is hitting that point in his career where his NHL window might not last much longer.

As for the veterans, I'm not sure about the attitudes of Taffe, DiSalvatore, and Stafford but I am sure they are more of a team player then Danny Richmond was last year. Rumors were that Richmond constantly would mope and it got bad in the locker room which is why the trade was made. Hopefully they can all get along and French and Yingst have a good plan intact so the same doesn't happen this year

If Aucoin is in Hershey, a Galiev-Aucoin-DiSalvatore line would look pretty nice. Aucoin would be a great playmaker for Galiev and DiSalvatore could create space and be a good net presence

Yes, the rumors were around about the vet situation and about Richmond.

(hey, could you do me a favor and edit your post to not quote everything so this doesn't get so lengthy)

Again, it's early with the unknowns of the NHL CBA and whether the NHL season will start on time, plus perhaps someone is hurt and might not start the season on time. Not surprised that even if it meant a vet issue in the short-term that Yingst/McPhee re-signed Aucoin. (not obviously with the updates, they didn't sign Aucoin)

Ha, and of course, the Aucoin signing information was wrong.

Aucoin signed with Toronto.

Not prospect related, but Bears related. Pictures of my Phantoms and Bears themed goalie mask.


https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...43330500_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...53381458_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...72101464_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...01173829_n.jpg

Very sharp looking mask.

Hockey goalie masks are one of the coolest things in professional sports. Love checking out new ones every year.

Updated Royals roster.

Active
Player Name # Pos HT WT Shoots Born
Cox, Ethan 25 C 5'10 193 L Richmond, BC
Gron, Tyler 17 RW 5'11 201 R Spruce Grove, AB
Langkow, Chris 19 C 6'1 193 R Vegreville, AB
LaPoint, Derrick 26 D 6'2 197 L Eau Clarie, WI
Lewis, Trevor 11 F 5'11 181 L Lititz, PA
Molle, Bryant 23 D 6'3 221 L Anchorage, AK
O'Connor, Ian 16 F 6'0 206 L Londonderry, NH
Tifu, Yannick 10 C 5'11 193 L Brossard, PQ
Urban, Denny 7 D 5'10 177 R Pittsburgh, PA
Walch, Brad 2 D 6'1 211 L Saginaw, MI

I'm hearing the Royals camp will be small. With a significant portion of the roster coming from Hershey/Washington, including both goalies, and a lot of the ECHL contracts getting invited to Hershey's camp, there won't be a lot of players in Reading until Hershey breaks camp. I wouldn't be surprised to see Reading sign some "camp fodder" just to have enough bodies to run workouts for the guys who don't get invited to Hershey.

Bears signed Joel Champagne
http://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=3866

Bears Unveil New logos.

I'm not a big fan of the new logo/jersey. It's not terrible, but I like the older ones better.

I think that would make a fine shoulder patch, but not a fan of that for the main crest on the jersey.

I really like the jerseys and logo, but they don't really scream "Hershey Bears" to me for some reason. I do like the aesthetic of it, just doesn't mesh with the aesthetic I expect from Herhsey. Hopefully that changes as I grow more used to them.

Isn't that kind of the point of changing logos/schemes though?

I don't follow Hershey but I like the logo that was posted above.

Agreed.

http://www.csnwashington.com/hockey-...89&feedID=6357
@RenLavoieRDS: NHL and NHLPA agreed to put a special waiver period in place, starting right now until September 15...
@RenLavoieRDS: That way, veteran players of the AHL, with 2 way contract, are going to have the right to play for their farm team.
@RenLavoieRDS: They won't have to be put on re-entry waivers if they are call back 3 days before the start of the season.

@SWhyno: #Caps on waivers today: Dany Sabourin, Ryan Potulny, Kevin Marshall, Patrick McNeill, Matt Clackson, Garrett Stafford, Ryan Stoa, Zach Hamill.

Everyone that would have been expected. It would seem that Carman remains waiver-exempt.

There's some question whether it will be permissible to sign locked out players to AHL deals after 9/15. Being able to do so would, say, allow Johansson to play in Hershey if preferred.

Line predictions for Hershey anyone??

@Aportzline: Told #AHL to allow NHL clubs to sign current 2-ways to AHL-only contracts after 9/15, but only if they were on AHL "clear" list last spring.

So we can rule Johansson out.

Potulny - Taffe - DiSalvatore
Stoa - Hamill - Galiev/Beaudoin
Kane - Sjogren/Carman - Beaudoin/Galiev
Some combo of Clackson, Almeida, Sjogren, Carman, Champagne, Civitarese, Mitchell, Berry, Pope, Vallorani

Schilling - Orlov
McNeill - Stafford
Brouillette/Marshall - Kundratek
Wellar/Oleksy

Holtby
Sabourin

2/3C looks suspect. It'd be nice if someone like Vallorani could provide an immediate impact and take hold of a scoring-line center spot. It's not clear what the plans are with Orlov. Him being available would seem to impact Kundratek's role the most (and likely ticket Flemming back to the ECHL, if that wasn't already the case).

Thanks, I'm curious to see the plans for Orlov as well.

I'm guessing he's going to play in Hershey.

Too bad about Johansson. A year in Hershey would've been good for him.

Yeah, looks that way: