Niemi and Whale Set to Open Season Tonight

Niemi and Whale Set to Open Season Tonight

12 Oct 2012 | By Gerry Cantlon
 

HARTFORD, CT-After another strong training camp Finnish defenseman Jyri Niemi hopes to stick permanently with the Connecticut Whale.

 
 
 
 
The Whales set to open their 16th season as a franchise (previously known as the Hartford Wolf Pack) and the AHL's 77th season amid the NHL lockout the AHL will be the center of the hockey universe in North America.

For Niemi he had a strong amp last fall and was one of the last cuts sent to their Double AA affiliate in Greenville (ECHL) he didn't hide it-it clearly hurt.

"It's not the best thing in the world and I was down for awhile. Last year thought I got to play a lot and got my confidence (back) played in a lot of situations and hope to carry over to this year ," remarked Niemi.

He was truly a victim of numbers with only six spots and contracts that that were needed to be serviced he despite getting to play with his childhood idol Wade Redden found himself taking the long bus routes throughout the American Southeast enough to dampen anyone's enthusiasm.

He came to camp with a new attitude and took a different training approach.

"I didn't train everyday, I trained hard, but I worked at a  different level."

With defense corps in great flux with five of the six players on the blueline from the playoffs gone for various reasons like Redden (contract related to NHL lockout), Pavel Valentenko (return to Russia), Jared Nightingale (signing with Syracuse) and Brendan bell (off season hip surgery) there would be chances.

Niemi made a change to his game.

 "I'm more relaxed, not running around as much, I know there is lot to go and I have to take it day by day," remarked Niemi.

Niemi seems stronger and more assured with the puck in his own zone working with greater efficiency in the short passing game and engaging well with the forwards using his size  6'3 to his advantage.

"I wanted to be one of those guys they can rely on in the last minute of play or on the powerplay ," remarked Niemi.

The roster has had a higher than usual turnover even for the AHL where it is the norm year to year.

"To be honest, I didn't know a lot of the guys here so it was tough" to be honest the media had to keep looking at the lineup cards often.

Head coach Ken Gernander said all the changes were a grand design.

"It's not that we were dissatisfied with our defense last season and wanted to blow it, but there were certain things that happened with Redden affected by the lockout and Valentenko waiting to go back to Russia. I think we should be pretty sound defensively," said Gernander.

They also added two quick skating right handed rearguards in Logan Pyett and Sean Collins and surprise gift in Matt Gilroy for a second tour of duty in Hartford. Gilroy, free agent who was looking to stay in North America as opposed to Europe to let NHL scouts see him living in Long Island and would also have family and friends come see him play.

"We felt good after bringing in three pretty experienced veterans. Collins and Pyett have a pretty good proven record at the AHL and have played in the NHL, and, of course, Gilroy is a high-calibre defenseman to help shore things up.".    

Niemi augmented his off season workouts with travel to France, Thailand and Norway that will help him with the United Nations locker room feel.

The new players are an obstacle for Niemi in the last year of his contract, but the topsy-turvy world of hockey this season those who ride it well can make a big impact for their future.

For Slovak left wing Marek Hrvik after a splendid spring in Hartford where he excelled in the playoffs earning himself a contract with the Rangers training camp has been a slow go for him.

After suffering a concussion last week, on Thursday he skated for the first time (non-contact) after being symptom free in off ice workouts.

"Were gonna follow our protocol and he is ready, but we monitor everything," remarked Gernander.

Hrivik, naturally is more optimistic and hopeful "I hope I can play Sunday (against the St. John's ice Caps)."

He had a good off season back home finishing his academic requirements for high school.

"I missed some stuff for three years in Canada (playing in the QMJHL),but I finished everything now. Hope I don't have to worry about school again ! " Hrvik remarked laughing.

NOTES: Forward Scott Tanski released this week by the Whale after making the teams as free agent walk on last year signed with the expansion Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)…Former CT Whale/Wolf Pack Dale Weise now with Vancouver signed a lockout deal with the Tillburg Trappers of the Dutch Erdervise League…Former CT Whale/Wolf Pack defenseman Ryan McDonagh signed with Barys Astana of Kazakhstan where he will see plenty of Hartford Wolf Pack alumni from forward Nigel Dawes, defenseman Andrew Hutchison and goalie Vitali Yeremeyev…101 AHL'ers in the off season signed with European teams…Original Sound Tiger Ben Guite, a solid AHL veteran center looking for work this season signed over with HC Val Pusteria in the Italian A League after playing in Worcester last year….Bridgeport will have a slew of Swedes in the opening night lineup with David Ullstrom, John Persson, Anders Nilsson, a Swiss player Nino Neideretter and Russian Kirill Kabanov. The two teams met in the playoffs last April a three game sweep by the Whale which ended on a controversial powerplay goal in overtime that earned former head coach Brent Thompson a three game suspension….The Whale will have two rookies for goalies to start the season for the first time in team history with the injury to incumbent Cam Talbot. Whether it's Jason Missian, the 6'8 second year pro or rookie Scott Stajcer who will start in net Gernander wryly noted, "I've narrowed it down to two !"
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