There is a sense of uncertainty in the future of the New England Wolfpack. The squad just went through some major changes, although everyone from the 4th line to Ivo Willems agree that the recent changes are best for the team’s future. The uncertainty comes into which path the new management squad will take. Storied Platoon goaltender Fernando Garcia has had something come up in his personal life and resigned from the position of General Manager of the Wolfpack. Erik Chisling, retired Hall of Fame defenseman was recently selected to fill the void. Chisling served the Manhattan Rage in S7-S8 as a co-GM and the Wolfpack unanimously elected to bring him on board to serve as the GM.


Chisling scoring a goal against Germany in the S9 IHF tournament.

With these changes the team is in a 3rd city in 3 seasons. The team started off in Buffalo as the Thunder, and before the regular season even started they had decided to move to Tampa. When financing fell apart, they quickly secured a lease at an arena in Hartford, Connecticut. In retrospect that wasn’t the best choice of locale for the team and the on-ice product as well as the financials struggled as a result of this. Expansions are expecting to struggle for the first few years, but it seems as if the now defunct Hydras brand wasn’t putting anything together or generating any positive momentum.


Money – the Hydras weren’t making it.

The highlight of the Hydra’s tenure was the arrival of dynamic goal scorer and threat all over the ice, Ivo Willems. Garcia did what he could to build a strong core, it just seemed that the team in Hartford couldn’t get anything going. Strong performers like Gooseneck, Willems, Sto Helit and Whisonant could only do so much to keep the team afloat. Knowing that a solid goaltender would be required if our team was to make it big, GM Fernando Garcia made what could be referenced later as one of the most costly trades that the Hydras have ever done. The Hydras traded their S13 1st to the Minnesota Chiefs for goaltender Edwin Ask, who was definitely a solid up-and-comer and if the Hydras finished in the 4-8 range in standings, it would be worth it. But as is life for the Hydras, they finished dead last and yielded the 1st overall pick to the now Challenge Cup Champions Minnesota Chiefs.


This sight was seen far too often in Hartford’s stands.

There have been many hiccups in the last few years, and Chisling has his hands full. Chisling’s first move as GM of the Hydras was to re-appoint Garcia’s assistant GM and on ice extraordinaire, Ivo Willems as his go-to-guy. Willem’s experience with the team and with the Hydra’s managerial experiences will be invaluable to Chisling in his upcoming task. Consulting with Willems and the rest of the Hydras squad, the team decided that a relocation and rebrand would be best for the team in order to attract free-agents, fill the seats and actually make draftees EXCITED to be a part of the team.


One of the sights that are sure to return to the arena that the Wolfpack play.

The Hydras packed their bags and moved north to Beantown, or the historic city of Boston. The Hydras redefined themselves as the New England Wolfpack. Boston is a hockey hotbed with NCAA teams all over the place, 9 AHL teams within a two hour drive and high school hockey for anyone to enjoy. New England is a rich hockey environment. Boston is a blue-collar city and expects toughness and competitiveness out of their hockey team. Chisling will be taking this identity to the squad he is putting together. He will want there to be overall team toughness, and I am not talking about fisticuffs.


The Wolfpack will make it difficult to come into their barn and to take any points out.

Chisling’s first trade as GM didn’t take long to go through. Chisling traded captain and well liked player Frankie Gooseneck back to his old team, the West Kendall Platoon for a S14 1st round pick and winger Christopher Raymond. Christopher is a bit of a lone wolf, he has been traded quite a few teams. Chisling and the Wolfpack management staff saw quite a bit of potential in Mr. Raymond and committed to having him on the team long term. The S14 1st is a big piece in this acquisition as well, as there are some seriously strong prospects coming into the next draft such as Carter O’Callahan, Steven Vitkais, Markus Lokt, Marian Potoczny, Chuck Winnfield and Ammon Tutankamun. These names are just a few of the strong upcoming draft class and the Wolfpack will need to add some big names at the draft and will be looking to lock up some serious core players next year and potentially add some additional picks or youth at the deadline.


It’s no secret which road the Wolfpack are on.

Currently, Chisling plans this year as a development year. He doesn’t expect much for results unless he can land some serious free agents. This season is all about individual development. If every player on the squad can drastically improve themselves this year then it will be a success no matter where the Wolfpack end in the standings. It may take a while, but this team is in transition. Ivo Willems needs to return to his dominant self, Sto Helit and Weird need to have that stalwart performance n the blue line and Kane, Faulkner, Hooper and Raymond need to work on their game to get stronger on and off the puck.

The Wolfpack are in more of a traditional rebuild at this point, it is only a matter of time until they’re competitive and winning far more games than they are losing. Chisling is too competitive of a player and a GM to have it any other way. The Wolfpack players just need to remember to keep their eyes on the prize, a Challenge Cup in the future. Chisling just needs a bit of patience to build a winner. He will build a winner.

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1,033 words

RIP Dangel. See you on the other side, brother

A-Friggan-WOOOOOOOOOO

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

Nicely written Ace

Update Thread - Player Page
Update Scale

Former players:
Ivo Willems (S9 SMJHL) (S10-28 SHL)  
Xander Green  (S33-35 SMJHL) (S36-47 SHL)
Vorian Atreides (S49-51 SMJHL) (S52-61 SHL)

Good stuff.