Chirps from Center Ice

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

2-13

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 13, 2011

What does my subject line mean? The first number is the total goals scored for the Penguins in three games at the 2011 Rookie Tournament in Oshawa, Ontario and the second number is goals scored against the Penguins in thee games at the 2011 Rookie Tournament in Oshawa, Ontario.

2-13. One goal scored by Brandon DeFazio on Sunday and another by Keven Veilleux.

Today’s game versus the Chicago Blackhawks was lost in the second period, where the Pens had an extended 5-on-3 power play. Next thing you know it’s 4-on-3 and just like that it’s 2-0. To make matters worse, the Pens give up a goal to a guy on a mini-breakaway and as the guy is getting hauled down he scores. In the third period a “home run stretch pass” beats all Pens defenders and Chicago makes it 4-0. Veilleux scored late and that was that.

Look, I know that a September rookie tournament is diminutive in the scope of things. But, in my opinion, none of these guys playing are ready for the NHL. Maybe Tangradi. There were no scoresheets, and maybe by design because I would love to see what Simon Despres +/- was. I also know it’s a conglomeration of players trying to impress and by trying to impress maybe make mistakes which lead to goals. I don’t know what the thought process is.

I also must state that I did not watch or listen, so take my opinions at face value. Perhaps I am simply disgusted in the anemic 2-13 aggregate score.

Bombulie may or may not have a write-up later at the Penguins Insider.

Training camp opens September 16 and the Rookie Tournament will be a distant memory.

Keep chirpin’. Let’s Go Pens!

Just Rambling, Pittsburgh

Rookie Tourney Wrap – Game 2

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 12, 2011

Pens lost another one last night by the score of 5-1. Brandon DeFazio really shined bright with the lone goal.

Bombulie with a nugget-by-nugget analysis here.

The big news was that Robert Bortuzzo left the game with what the Pens called the ever so specific “undisclosed injury.” He will be re-evaluated today. Also, Paul Thompson left the game and there was no update as to his status.

Take what you want from a rookie tournament, but the Pens have been outscored 1-9 on aggregate in two games.

Final game is Tuesday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

Go Penguins.

Pittsburgh, WBS

Back to Hockey

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 11, 2011

With all this chatter on my Twitter feed about football being back, I figured I would link you through to things brewing on the Pittsburgh hockey front.

I was away yesterday, but kept dibs on the Ottawa / Pittsburgh rookie game yesterday from Oshawa, Ontario yesterday. The Pens lost 4-0. Patrick Killeen was in goal and made 33 saves. Corey Cowick for Ottawa had two goals and an assist. Huge majority of the names listed in these games will be with their AHL affiliates. Brian Strait left the game early with a puck to the face. The Pens tweeted he was stitched up and is fine. Robert Bortuzzo, Simon Despres, Keven Veilleux and Zach Sill were scratched for the Penguins.

The Pens are back in action later from Oshawa taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Hynes spoke about the prospects today. There will be live-blogging on the Pittsburgh site. You can watch the game on a 30 minute tape delay on the Maple Leafs website. I will be following along and retweeting others there on the Twitter side. My buddy Eric P from the Wilkes-Blog will be tweeting and live-blogging the affairs as well. So you are covered.

Let’s Go Penguins!

Pittsburgh, WBS

AHL All-Star Classic Details Announced

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 8, 2011

The League announced today that the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic will be held in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall January 29 and 30, 2012 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

If you were around with me in December, the Pens were supposed to play a game at Boardwalk Hall vs. the Albany Devils but it was postponed due to ice issues. I have seen a bunch of people on the Twitter side voicing concern about the same thing happening again. In December the night before the Pens and Devils were supposed to play there was an ice skating event. The ice was shaved down for the event and thus the ice during warmups sloughed off and the game was postponed. I do not anticipate this happening again.

Tickets go on sale Monday at noon. Details in the link provided above in the first paragraph.

No AHL team wil going to be affiliated with the event, but rather the AHL will work directly with Atlantic City officials.

Tim Leone who covers the Hershey Bears for The Patriot-News, spoke with league President and CEO David Andrews: “We’re really excited about it, partially because of the uniqueness of the venue. The proximity to Philadelphia and New Jersey, the proximity to Hershey and Wilkes-Barre, and the opportunity it provides to fans from around the league to go to what is certainly a destination and a resort for a lot of folks for an all-star event, I think it’s going to be a pretty good experience for everyone.” (credit: Tim’s Twitter feed from this afternoon)

Good stuff.

The other big news is Pittsburgh signing Richard Park whom could assist Wilkes-Barre should he get sent down. Details on this news below or just click here.

Keep chirpin’. Go Penguins!

The AHL

This Park is Flooded

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 8, 2011

There has been rumblings all summer about the possibility of ex-NHLer and Pittsburgh Penguin Richard Park signing with the organization. If you believe the comment sections of other Penguin blogs people who know people have said that Richard Park was headed his way to Pittsburgh.

Well today, amongst potentially the worst flooding in Wilkes-Barre since 1972, the Pens have their man.

More on where Park projects between Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh later, I have to get to high ground because of the constant rain which has pummeled the I-81 watershed and from Binghamton to Hershey with Wilkes-Barre in between.

Keep chirpin’. Go Penguins!

Pittsburgh, WBS

Two Quick Things…

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 6, 2011

Just enough fodder in the cannon to fire off another blog post. Here goes…

– The fourth preseason game is set. It’s the Adirondack Phantoms in Saratoga Springs on September 28. The venue is actually a high school and proceeds will go to the Saratoga Youth Hockey Association. The buzz on Twitter is that it is a small venue.

So the full preseason schedule is as follows:

September 28 @ Adirondack in Saratoga Springs at 7 p.m.
September 30 vs. Hershey at 7:05 p.m.
October 1 @ Hershey at 7 p.m.
October 2 vs. Adirondack at 5:05 p.m.

– The other half of this blog post is the Penguins unveiling on Twitter this morning what the Breast Cancer Awareness Jersey will look like when the Pens take on the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday January 7 at 7:05 p.m:

Sharp!

Keep Chirpin’. Go Penguins.

WBS

Stuccio to Hershey

Comments Off Posted by nafsnep on September 1, 2011

The Hershey Bears announced today that Scott Stuccio has been named the new broadcaster and media relations coordinator for the team. Stuccio replaces John Walton, who took the same position for the Bears parent team, the Washington Capitals a few weeks ago.

Scott had served as the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins Director of Communications and provided color commentary in the Penguins radio booth with the teams play by play voice, Tom Grace.

Kind words from former Bears voice John Walton here.

Bears beat writer Tim Leone caught up with both John and Scott for a story this afternoon.

I hate to say it, but I saw this developing all summer. When it was speculated that Steve Kolbe may not be back as the voice of the Capitals in early July, I knew that John Walton was the man for the job. When the Walton news became official, I knew Stuccio would be perfect for the job in Hershey. Walton and Stuccio are friends away from the rink. I have never heard a bad word muttered from a Bears fan regarding Stuccio so he was the perfect fit for the position.

The Penguins organization loses a huge, huge asset to the Hershey Bears organization. I would like to wish Scott the absolute best in his new endeavor with the rival Bears.

The AHL, WBS

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