THEY'RE BAAAAAACCCKKK

With Charlotte's season over, having been swept by Qwinnett in three-games, our faithful reader Elsie asked what players, if any, would be able to join the Pack and participate if they weren't on the Clear Day list . Well Elsie, Here's your answer.

The list of players itself is not surprising. All of these players have been in Hartford this season and played well. There is however, one notable omission from the list...

Here is the official announcement:

FIVE PLAYERS JOIN WOLF PACK FROM ECHL CHARLOTTE

* * * *

Three Forwards, One Defenseman and One Goaltender Add Depth for Playoffs

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack have added five players to their roster from their ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, whose season ended Saturday in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. The parent New York Rangers reassigned goaltender Chris Holt and forward Tom Pyatt from Charlotte to the Wolf Pack, and the Pack recalled forwards Mark Lee and Jordan Owens, along with defenseman Ryan Constant, from loan to the Checkers.

Holt, a third-year pro, played nine games for the Wolf Pack this season, compiling a record of 5-3-0 with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. In 32 regular-season games with Charlotte, Holt was 15-14-1, with a 2.72 GAA, a .915 save percentage and three shutouts. Holt played all three of the Checkers’ postseason games, finishing 0-3 with a 3.35 GAA and a .895 save percentage. Pyatt, a rookie centerman, skated in 41 Wolf Pack games this year and posted totals of 4-7-11. In 16 regular-season ECHL games with Charlotte, the 2005 New York Ranger fourth-round draftee notched 6-9-15. In playoff action, Pyatt was scoreless in three outings.

Lee suited up for 17 games with the Wolf Pack this year, contributing 1-5-6, and he rolled up 18-21-39 for Charlotte in 34 regular-season contests. The fourth-year veteran was held scoreless in three ECHL playoff games. Owens, in his rookie pro season, logged 41 games in the Wolf Pack lineup and posted 7-7-14, and chipped in 3-10-13 in 20 regular-season games with the Checkers. Owens played in two of Charlotte’s three playoff games and was held without a point. Constant, a second-year pro, was in uniform for 12 games for the Wolf Pack this year, scoring one goal. He finished the ECHL regular season tied for second among Charlotte defensemen in points, with 3-15-18 in 54 games, and was scoreless in the Checkers’ three postseason contests.

The Wolf Pack start their 11th straight trip to the Calder Cup playoffs this Wednesday night, April 16th at the XL Center, with Game One of their best-of-seven Atlantic-Division Semifinal series against Kevin Dineen and the Portland Pirates. Faceoff is 7:00, and Game Two of the series is this Thursday, April 17th, also at the XL Center and also facing off at 7:00.

Tickets for those first two home playoff games are on sale at the XL Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

The notable omission... Center, Bruce Graham..."

(All photos courtesy of hartfordwolfpack.com)

Comments

[Craig]

Do you think Graham will be be back with the Pack next year? In the games that I saw him play this year I didn't feel he made much of a contribution other than being a big guy.

[laurie]

Buh bye Bruce!

[Mitch Beck]

Craig,

If I were guessing I would say that in all likelihood that Bruce Graham is a career ECHL player who will get an occasional call-up to Hartford when the need arises. It's a shame too because he's a very nice young man.

Interesting note though on Bruce Graham...Do you know who the Rangers selected in the draft just before and then after him?

This was the 2004 Draft After the purge when the Rangers had 13 draft picks over 9 rounds.

Round/Pick #
1 / 6 Al Montoya (Bust - Traded)
1/ 19 Lauri Korpikoski (High prospect)
2 / 36 Darin Olver (Bust)
2 / 48 Dane Byers (High prospect)
2 / 51 Bruce Graham (Bust)
2 / 60 Brandon Dubinsky (Do I really need to give an opinion here?)
3 / 73 Zdenek Bahensky (Bust)
3 / 80 Billy Ryan (Just completed college...too soon to tell)
4 /127 Ryan Callahan (See Dubinsky comment)
5 /135 Roman Psurny (Most likely a bust...still playing in CR)
6 /169 Jordan Foote (Just completed college...too soon to tell)
8 /247 Jonathan Paiment (Bust...bouncing back and fourth with the ECHL and AHL)
9 / 266 Jakub Petruzalek (Bust, Traded to Carolina and has been in the AHL with Albany)

Laurie,

N-I-C-E! :)