If you missed the opening night player introductions at the Hartford Civic Center, you wouldn't have had the slightest idea just exactly who the 2005-2006 Wolf Pack are. Hartford's 23 man opening night roster featured only 10 returning regulars from last year's 50-Win team. Alexandre Giroux, Martin Grenier, Dwight Helminen, Bryce Lampman, David Liffiton, Steve MacIntyre, Thomas Pock, Jake Taylor, Craig Weller, and Chad Wiseman all are back this season (more on Chad later.)

Now, as far as the newcomers go, I'm not exactly sure what the best way to describe them is. Four of the players have seen AHL action in a Wolf Pack uniform before, those being Ivan Baranka, Nigel Dawes, Colby Genoway, and Dale Purinton. Baranka and Genoway were here last season, but were not regulars in the lineup. Genoway played 4 games towards the end of the season, and Baranka appeared in only 1 playoff game. Three of the players have played in the AHL before, but were never in a Wolf Pack uniform until last night. Those guys were Fedor Fedorov, Joe Rullier, and Peter Worrell. The other 6 players are AHL rookies, who have never played pro hockey in North America before. Those are Chris Holt, Al Montoya, Bruce Graham, Jarkko Immonen, Hugh Jessiman, and Daniel Sparre. I know, it's confusing.

As far as first impressions go, I'm just going to break it down player by player.

Ivan Baranka - Scored a goal in his first AHL regular season game. Fedorov made a great pass to him which he snapped by Adam Hauser on the powerplay to tie the game. Very physical game, nearly decapitated one of the Monarchs in front of the penalty box. However, nearly decapitating an opponent is grounds for a roughing call, and he was penalized accordingly. I don't really have any complaints on Ivan so far, he played well.

Nigel Dawes - For some reason he was playing with Bruce Graham and Craig Weller. I do not know why. Nigel scored 50 goals last year in the WHL, and isn't exactly the kind of player who throws checks around. He took two penalties, one for interference and one for hooking. He had a real good scoring chance in the third period, but Manchester's goalie got a pad on it and kept it out of the net.

Fedor Fedorov - Jozef Balej 2.0. He's bigger, he's stronger, he still plays with the puck too much. He tried to pull some crazy move on the Monarchs defenseman, and well, he lost the puck. He got off 4 shots on goal, all of which were denied by Adam Hauser. However, he did get two assists in his first game with the Wolf Pack, which has to count for something. Both his points came on the powerplay, so hopefully he keeps it up.

Colby Genoway - I have to look at the boxscore to see what he did. He took 3 shots, and none of them went in. That was pretty much it from him.

Alex Giroux - Had an assist on the game winning goal, other than that not much.

Bruce Graham - Played a very good first game. Threw some hits, used his size, looked very good out there. Got two assists as well, though one of them was on Craig Weller's funky goal which I have no idea how it got in.

Martin Grenier - Solid defense, was one of only 4 Wolf Pack players to end up with a +/- that was not zero. He threw some hits, played the penalty kill, etc. Nothing from an offensive standpoint, but that's not his game.

Dwight Helminen - One shot on goal, was a -1. Didn't see him do much.

Chris Holt - DNP

Jarkko Immonen - By far the best player on the ice for both teams. Highly touted European center, who most of the Rangers fan base had Sharpied in as a starter on Broadway this season. Well, he's here in Hartford, and I think the entire Wolf Pack fan base is glad to have him. 2 Goals in his first AHL game, both of them beautiful. The first one came off a rebound which he batted past Adam Hauser, the second was the Game Winner with 52 seconds to spare on a nice deflection. He knew where he had to be on both the goals, got there, and made the most of it.

Hugh Jessiman - He threw some hits out there, looked pretty decent. No Points, No Shots, No +/-, just threw some hits. It was his first game, so I'm not worried about him at all.

A - Bryce Lampman - Took a penalty 25 seconds in and was a -2. Not the best game he's played.

David Liffiton - Scratched.

Steve MacIntyre - Scratched.

Al Montoya - He looked good out there. Made some key saves, no bad goals in my opinion. I believe Connor James's second goal of the game shouldn't have counted because the net was off before the puck was in, and 7,500 people probably agree with me, but the refs ruled it a goal. 22 Saves for Al in his debut.

Thomas Pock - He doesn't keep the puck in his own zone. When someone goes to clear it out he'll go to block it, then he'll miss it, and the puck will go down the ice and we have to waste powerplay time chasing after it. Also, this goes back to last season. He's pushed as this great offensive move the puck kind of defenseman, but I'm just not seeing it. Hopefully he can put up some numbers this season. Someone has too now that we don't have Nycholat.

Dale Purinton - Scratched. He was there, though.

Joe Rullier - I was waiting for him to fight someone, and then he didn't. He's a big, tough defenseman who got a lot of cheers from the Monarchs fans when he took to the ice, being a former member of their team. As I said, didn't fight, so I can't be a critic on that part. I was a little confused as to why he was on the powerplay, but I guess we're just trying some stuff out to start the season.

Daniel Sparre - I really didn't notice him. Played with Giroux and Immonen though.

Jake Taylor - Got an assist on Immonen's first goal. Was a -1.

A - Craig Weller - Scored a funky goal which he banked in from behind the net off of the goalie. Threw some nice hits.

A - Chad Wiseman - For the second straight season he has a chance to score our first goal on opening night and he screws up. Made a move on Hauser, no finish though. Also, he took a slapshot to the face, and was bleeding pretty bad. Reports are that he fractured his cheekbone and he underwent surgery October 9th. No word on when he'll be back, but most of you have seen what happened to Mars Sundin.

Peter Worrell - Scratched. He is one big man though.

Powerplay went 3/9, penalty kill went 1/7.

The Wolf Pack raised Ken Gernander's #12 to the rafters prior to the game, making him the first Wolf Pack player to have his number retired. Ken played 8 seasons with the Wolf Pack, was the team's only captain, holds numerous records, and is still many fans' favorite player. The faces, the jerseys, the coaches, all changed. The one thing you could always count on was Ken Gernander. He now will be one of Hartford's assistant coaches. Congratulations Ken, you deserve it.

So That's it for Calder's Corner this week. Next week Hartford takes on Springfield and Lowell.

- caldercup0

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