Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Rake Leaves; Burn Leaves

Comments Off on Rake Leaves; Burn Leaves Posted by on June 21, 2012

I have found that summer hockey blogging is like a leaf in your yard. You don’t burn one leaf every time you see one. You rake them all into a pile and then burn them (at least in my neighborhood) Much like summer hockey blogging, every tidbit of information seen isn’t worth its own blog post.

Never fear, NHL Draft is this weekend then the following weekend is the start of NHL Free Agency. I will do my best to stay on top of how each move directly / indirectly affects WBS from both inside (players signed, traded by PIT) and outside (players signed, traded by other East Division teams)

Here are some of the leaves I’ve gathered to fire off (or burn) another blog post:

–> In collaboration with the January 20, 2013 Outdoor Game in Hershey, the Bears announced an Alumni Game to be held the day before, much like the Alumni Game the Penguins held in their tenth anniversary. The only problem I see in this game is who will play goal. In the Penguins Alumni game, Scott Stuccio and David Weninger tended the nets for the Penguins Alumni. Not surprisingly, the Penguins didn’t announce any goaltenders in their own release. I have virtually no idea who the Penguins can call in for this Outdoor Alumni Game. If you do, comments are open.

–> Meet the new Wheeling Nailers coach, same as the old Wheeling Nailers coach.

–> Calder Cup Champions Mike Angelidis and J.P. Cote are heading to Syracuse. If I am reading the articles correctly, Cote signed an AHL deal while Angelidis re-signed an NHL deal with Tampa Bay.

–> Not officially announced, so no link here but Pittsburgh is expected to make qualifying offers to Robert Bortuzzo, Alex Grant, Carl Sneep, Brian Strait and Keven Veilleux. They aren’t going to offer Alex Picard or Cal O’Reilly and forgotten souls Boris Valabik, Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Mattias Modig.

–> Here is your WBS Penguins Season in Review for April.

–> Wilkes-Barre officially announces details on the October 13 college game between Penn State and American International College on Saturday October 13. If you are a full-share season ticket holder, you get a ticket to the game included with your season tickets which is pretty cool.

–> Jacob Micflikier, who terrorized the Penguins as a member of the Hershey Bears, Charlotte Checkers and Albany River Rats, is taking his talents overseas to Switzerland. The link is in German, untranslated, you are on your own playing “Fun with Babelfish.”

So that’s all I have compiled in the last six or so days. I will have a draft recap and any news on trades or whatever probably Sunday, or if it is something major possibly sooner than that. Penguins color commentator Mike O’Brien will actually be on the ground in Pittsburgh this weekend covering the Draft. Follow him for official updates @MikeOBrienWBS or at facebook.com/mikeobrienwbs

Stay cool.

Not AHL, Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

East Division Musical Chairs

2 Comments Posted by on June 14, 2012

What has been known for months was finally made official today as the Tampa Bay Lightning announced an affiliation agreement with the Syracuse Crunch.

It’s kind of a kick in the pants to a Norfolk Admirals fan because instead of trying to defend the Calder Cup with the same NHL partner, you have to essentially start over with a yet to be named NHL partner. But, these plans that were unveiled today were in the works well before the playoffs started and probably well before the Admirals went on there 28 game winning streak. But it still hurts if you are an Admirals fan.

I have been asked on Twitter what this means for both sides. If a player was under contract to Norfolk (on an AHL contract) they could return to Norfolk. If the player was under contract to Tampa Bay (on an NHL contract) they will end up in Syracuse if they don’t stick in Tampa Bay. The coaches will shift from Norfolk to Syracuse.

It is anticipated that Anaheim’s affiliation will end up in Norfolk, but that has not been announced yet.

My blog pals at Chairman How’s Glorious Army have reaction on their new affiliation partners.

Elsewhere:

–> Not all is lost for Norfolk fans, as the AHL PR department chimed in with this:

–> Mattias Modig, who was under contract with Pittsburgh as a restricted free agent and never played a single game for Wilkes-Barre, signed with Växjö in a Swedish league. I updated the 2012 Offseason Moves list and have the link taking you to the team website in Swedish over there.

–> Penguins Season in Review is up for March.

But for news on Friday, have a great weekend!

The AHL, WBS

A Six Pack Will Tide You Over*

1 Comment Posted by on June 13, 2012

Finally some material for the blog! Oh, the joy!

A good majority AHL teams have announced six guaranteed home dates for the 2012-2013 upcoming season. The Penguins joined the party today. Here they are:

Saturday, October 20, 2012 (home opener)
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013

These dates will probably be forgotten in August when the AHL schedule is announced, but it is quality fodder for bloggers like me with nothing to blog about.

Looking at the late date for the home opener, it’s probably safe to say that the Penguins open the season on the road. I have seen a majority of teams announce guaranteed dates around October 12, October 13 so it may be safe to say that the AHL will kick it’s 77th season off that weekend. Of note the AHL started last year on October 7.

Elsewhere around the League:

–> The Norfolk Admirals know how to party hard. They also like Coors Light apparently.

–> Bravo to all 30 AHL clubs who have raised more that $3,000,000 for charity this year.

–> My buddy Eric P, late of the Wilkes-Blog, started his own Penguins website. Go have a see. I put a link up at the bottom left under “Other WBS / PIT blogs”

That’s all the well has this go around. I’m always around on Twitter and now on Facebook if you haven’t heard. Friend me if you haven’t already just to see how bad I am at it.

Enjoy the warm weather!

* – 21 means 21

The AHL, WBS

Admire the Admirals

Comments Off on Admire the Admirals Posted by on June 9, 2012

The Norfolk Admirals capped off probably one of the best seasons in the 76 year history of the AHL by sweeping the Toronto Marlies today 6-1.

Aggregate goal total was 14-4 for Norfolk. Completely dominating the Marlies. Just like they did to the IceCaps, Whale and Monarchs before them in playoffs, and the entire American Hockey League in regular season.

Really can’t say anything else but congratulations to the Norfolk Admirals!

–

So in trying to integrate my / the blog’s Facebook page, I decided to ask a poll question over there: Who wins a seven game series? This year’s Norfolk Admirals team, a team which won 28 straight games and ended this season on a 10 game winning streak? Or, the 2009-2010 Hershey Bears, a team which won 60 regular season games, outscored opponents 342-198 in the regular season and was unbeatable at home? Have your say here, and friend me there if you haven’t already.

Hopefully one day, there is a blogger out there blogging up congratulations for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. Still firmly believe that it can and will happen.

The AHL

Where is the Beef?

Comments Off on Where is the Beef? Posted by on June 8, 2012

Nothing to blog about regarding WBS. So if you only visit here for this type of news, read the January Season in Review on the Pens website and have a nice day.

For the rest of you, let’s be friends on Facebook. I knew all along that there were a ton of people there who didn’t use Twitter at all. What I didn’t realize were how many there were of you. The main reason I joined was to try something new and to get those who Facebook redirected to the blog to read about my favorite sports team and league.

Elsewhere, controversy in the Calder Cup Finals:

–

Video Credit: MarliesTV

The play should have never counted on account of a delayed offsides. Pause it at the :09 mark. See the Admirals player offsides by a footstep? The AHL admitted its mistake. Admirals can win it Saturday night.

One more thing, Hershey re-signed Boyd Kane. He will return as Hershey’s Captain.

Have a great weekend.

The AHL

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Comments Off on Baby, It’s Cold Outside Posted by on June 5, 2012

Penguins topics keep rolling in so for your reading enjoyment, I tender the following:

–> A few details revealed today regarding the January 20, 2013 outdoor game between the Hershey Bears and the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins at Hersheypark Stadium as far as tickets go. The Bears season ticket holders will get first crack on June 18 then Penguins season ticket holders will get their pre-sale June 26. It’s a Ticketmaster only event.

–> The Bears released the logo for the event:

—

–> The AHL announced today that you can watch the rest of the Calder Cup Finals between Norfolk and Toronto on television on the CBS Sports Network. It’s channel 613 on DirectTV. Game 3 is Thursday night.

–> Take a trip down memory lane with October, November and December WBS “Season in Review” recaps from this past season.

–> Announced today that ex-WBS, ex-PIT head coach Michel Therrien was named head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Best remembered for this rant.

–> If you haven’t heard, I caved and joined Facebook. I don’t think I will ever completely figure it out over there. Read about why here.

–> Putting a bow on the poll I ran regarding the who will be in WBS crease come the fall, it looks like it is pretty split over who you think could or should be in the WBS come the fall. Thanks, as always, for your participation.

Latest always on Twitter, so if you have been redirected here from Facebook and aren’t following yet, do yourself a favor and follow me please!

Let’s Go Pens!

The AHL, WBS

Facebook

Comments Off on Facebook Posted by on June 4, 2012

Blogger note: This wasn’t supposed to happen tonight. I pulled the trigger too early. Read this first.

I’ve caved.

Ever since my inception on Twitter, and later on this blog. I have been anti-Facebook. Never saw the point in it. Never saw the reason for it. Thought it was stupid. Thought it was a total waste of time. I’d play dumb with you when you mentioned Facebook and lambasted teams who ran “Facebook only” contests or posted “Facebook exclusive” content.

I’ve privately researched the social media site for a few weeks now. I have found that it is an enormous juggernaut of information when used properly. Much like Twitter, but in its own way. Seems that teams are more invested in the Facebook vehicle because of it’s functionality of being able to post short messages and information like Twitter, and run discussions in comments like blogs.

It would appear that there is an untapped audience of people who simply rely on Facebook to get their information and not really Twitter or blogs. I decided that I am simply doing the information I share a disservice by reaching out to half an audience.

So today, I am announcing my decision to jump in the pool with the rest of you and start a Facebook page for the blog. It will be a slow process while I get my sea legs under me building the page to my liking tailoring the information I gather much like on Twitter and getting it all to work with Twitter and WordPress. One of the things that I decided to do on the page was to follow, er, “like” all 30 NHL teams, all 23 ECHL teams and of course all 30 AHL teams. I want to try and stay on top of all three leagues this summer and upcoming season.

In closing no, this is not a joke. Check the page out here.

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