Board of Governor's Meetings Conclude

No surprises here really, save for the new shootout rule.
Personally, I was hoping the AHL would adopt the NHL policy of a best of three shootout.

Instead they choose to let guys like Paul Albers get a crack before letting Benoit fire multiple breakaway shots into the crest of the opposing goalie during the extra round.

From the AHL release:

• The format for the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs has been approved. The playoffs will feature the top four teams in each of the AHL’s four divisions, with one possible exception: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the East Division, it would cross over and compete in the East Division playoffs. The 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs will again feature a divisional playoff format, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup Finals. All rounds will comprise best-of-seven series.

• A change has been made to the shootout procedures so that no player may shoot twice until all eligible players have gone once. Previously, only five shooters per team were selected to participate in the entire shootout.

• One-minute minor penalties during overtime, instituted at the request of NHL general managers in 2008-09, have been eliminated. Penalties in overtime will be served in full.

Kiwi won't help Wolves win another AHL title

Why?
Because he found out this week that you can't honor two contracts at the same time for leagues on opposite sides of the world.

There are a lot of people that will tell you never to sign more than a one-year deal in the KHL because they simply hate playing there. They find out the money actually isn't worth it.

But, Joel Kwiatkowski will play in Russia this year instead of dressing for the Thrasher's AHL affiliate in Chicago.

Luke Strand departs for USHL

Sioux City's USHL team has a new coach, former Aeros assistant Luke Strand.
Here is the article ... and here is a nice quote from Luke about his new gig:

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back in the USHL and especially with the Sioux City Musketeers. I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by the Musketeers management and look forward to leading them to success both on and off the ice. The USHL is undoubtedly the best junior hockey league in the country and I am thrilled to be a part of it; but even more excited about the chance to lead the ‘tradition rich’ Musketeers organization."

Best of luck up there, Luke!

I know I can speak on behalf of everyone at T3I.info when I say it certainly has been a pleasure working with you the last two years.

Again, all the best.

Another video

Aeros Off-Season Status Report At The Houston Press

I've got kind of an off-season status report on the Aeros posted over at the Houston Press today. It's mainly a summary of what you've been reading over here, but give it a try and remind them that you like the hockey stuff.

Sifers and Fraser signed to the Wild/Aeros (updated)

Appears that the Wild have signed two defensemen who seem likely headed to Houston to fill out the blue line. Both are one year, two-way deals.

Jamie Fraser, who played for Bridgeport last season, and Jamie Sifers, who played 23 games for the Maple Leafs last season (and was with the Marlies prior to that).

Don't know much about them but as far as Sifers, I'm told by a friend who follows the Marlies, "Oooooo, you'll like him." Sounds like he's got some grit and is a stay-at-home type. I asked why he hasn't managed to stick with the Leafs, and my friend says the old regime was set on using veterans (how'd that work for ya, Leafs?) but he was solid in his NHL call-ups.

Also, he was voted into the AHL All-Stars for Planet USA last season. Here's a blog post he did about that for the Leafs site (seriously, NHL, you need to do better at handling blogs on the team web sites). And here's a post about his first NHL call-up.



For Fraser, it sounds like he's got some offensive talent, which is great. Here's a quote from an Islander's blogger who I'm assuming is surprised the Isles didn't qualify Fraser:

Jamie Fraser- I think he’s another no-brainer. He’s got the same great hair as his relative Kerry, who is one of the best officials in the league and is a good leader. On the ice, he’s got a big heart and that’s one of the reasons why he’s a fan favorite in Bridgeport. A good player on both sides of the puck, Fraser, in my mind, should be one of the first players called up if the Isles get hot by the injury bug again.

The well-coiffed Fraser with a nice little stick-lift:


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Here's the Wild's official press release:

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defensemen Jamie Fraser and Jaime Sifers to one-year contracts.

Fraser, 23 (11/17/85), played one game with the New York Islanders in 2008-09, making his NHL debut April 4 versus Tampa Bay. Fraser posted 21 points (7-14=21) and 30 penalty minutes (PIM) in 66 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL). The 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Sarnia, Ont., played junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Brampton Battalion and Sarnia Sting. He was originally signed by the Islanders on Feb. 22, 2007.

Sifers, 26 (1/18/83), recorded two assists and 18 PIM in 23 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008-09 season. He also posted 20 points (4-16=20) and 47 PIM in 43 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound native of Stratford, Conn., played collegiately at the University of Vermont, where he was an ECAC Second All-Star Team selection in 2005. Sifers was signed as a free agent by Toronto on July 20, 2006.

Remember these?

So... I tweet. I'm not totally proud of it but I have to admit, it's been fun, especially lately with the many busy front offices around the NHL.

Anyway, I have a few searches saved to see if anybody's tweeting about subjects of interest, including the Aeros, and today someone tweeted these YouTube videos of Aeros commercials from "back in the day." Thought you guys might enjoy them.

Veilleux signs with Tampa Bay

Stephane Veilleux signs with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He's reunited with Wes Walz (Asst Coach).

Lightning Sign Veilleux Tampa, FL -- (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Stephane Veilleux on Tuesday. Per club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Welcome back to the South and good luck Steph!

(Update from Ms.C via Russo: Contract is a 1 year, $750k deal.)

Aeros Schedule Grid

The AHL gave the team's PR reps a nugget to release for themselves today.
Scott Henninger with the Aeros says the team's schedule grid is as follows.

Per Aeros.com:

The 2009-10 regular season will begin on Oct. 2. The Aeros complete schedule will be announced later this summer. Houston is slated to host 28 games within the West Division, 11 against the North Division and one versus the East Division. The Aeros opponents and number of home games are as follows (Houston plays each team an equal number of times on the road):

West Division
Texas Stars – six games
San Antonio Rampage – six games
Chicago Wolves – four games
Milwaukee Admirals – four games
Peoria Rivermen – four games
Rockford IceHogs – four games

North Division
Grand Rapids Griffins – three games
Abbotsford Heat – two games
Lake Erie Monsters – two games
Manitoba Moose – two games
Hamilton Bulldogs – one game
Toronto Marlies – one game

East Division
Syracuse Crunch – one game

Division Alignment Released

No real surprises here; Syracuse moves to the East, Abbotsford, as expected, joins the Canadian teams in the North, and Iowa is suspended for the year.

I think due to the economy and other factors, you won't see the Aeros playing a ton of games east of Cleveland. Could be wrong, but this division fits well and I anticipate the Aeros playing 24 of their games against San Antonio and Austin this year.

The schedule grid will be announced later this week, I am sure. (UPDATE - Well check that ... some teams are already announcing which teams they will be playing and how many times, so I guess we'll get that grid sooner ... )

(from the AHL)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2009

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AHL ANNOUNCES DIVISION ALIGNMENT FOR 2009-10
29 teams set to compete in league’s 74th season

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the league’s Board of Governors has approved the following conference and division alignment for the AHL’s 2009-10 season (NHL affiliates in parentheses):

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Lowell Devils (NJ)
Manchester Monarchs (LA)
Portland Pirates (BUF)
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Springfield Falcons (EDM)
Worcester Sharks (SJ)

East Division
Adirondack Phantoms (PHI)
Albany River Rats (CAR)
Binghamton Senators (OTT)
Hershey Bears (WSH)
Norfolk Admirals (TB)
Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

Western Conference
North Division
Abbotsford Heat (CGY)
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
Lake Erie Monsters (COL)
Manitoba Moose (VAN)
Rochester Americans (FLA)
Toronto Marlies (TOR)

West Division
Chicago Wolves (ATL)
Houston Aeros (MIN)
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
Peoria Rivermen (STL)
Rockford IceHogs (CHI)
San Antonio Rampage (PHX)
Texas Stars (DAL)

The 2009-10 regular season will begin on Oct. 2. The complete schedule will be announced later this summer.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 84 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the eighth year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2008-09.