Over on the 210Sports Facebook page I’ve been posting daily updates for each day in Worcester hockey history. In case people missed some, I’ll gather them at the end each month here on the blog.
1
1996 – Mike Maneluk traded to the Ottawa Senators by Anaheim for Kevin Brown.
2003 – St. Louis Blues signed forwards Sergei Varlamov and Jeff Panzer, defenseman Aris Brimanis, and goalie Reinhard Divis
2012 – San Jose signed Adam Burish to a free agent contract.
Birthdays: Evan Buitenhuis (1993); Chris Tierney (1994)
2
2002 – The St Louis Blues pick up contract option on Eric Boguniecki. Goaltenders Cody Rudkowsky and Curtis Sanford and defenseman Arvid Rekis were signed to contracts.
2007 – The Worcester Sharks re-signed defenseman Patrick Traverse to a two-year American Hockey League contract.
2012 – Bracken Kearns signed as a free agent by San Jose. San Jose also re-signed Danny Groulx, Alex Stalock, and Matt Irwin. Jimmy Bonneau was re-signed by the Worcester Sharks.
2014 – Taylor Fedun signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2015 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Josh Holmstrom
Birthdays: Brian Straub (1968); Blake Evans (1980)
3
Birthdays: Corey Quirk (1986); Nick Schaus (1986); Mike Connolly (1989)
4
1997 – The St. Louis Blues acquired Al MacInnis and Calgary’s 4th round choice (Didier Tremblay) in 1997 Entry Draft from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Phil Housley and St. Louis’ 2nd round choices in 1996 (Steve Begin) and 1997 (John Tripp) Entry Drafts.
Birthdays: Reinhard Divis (1975)
5
Birthdays: David Kaczowka (1981); Nick DeVito (1995)
6
1994 – Jim Roberts, a five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens and former coach of the Hartford Whalers and Springfield Indians, was named as the first head coach and general manager of the Worcester IceCats. Roy Boe reported that Roberts’ contract was for three years with an option year. Financial terms were not disclosed, but speculation was the deal was worth at least $250,000.
2011 – Matt Pelech signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2016 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Kellen Jones.
Birthdays: Chad Dameworth (1972); Nicole Anderson (1991)
7
1994 – Roy Boe, managing general partner of the new American Hockey League franchise, said yesterday the team will practice during the regular season in Marlboro at the soon-to-be-completed four-rink complex (New England Sports Center) on Donald Lynch Boulevard.
2011 – Worcester Sharks president Michael Mudd was honored with the James C. Hendy Memorial Award as the outstanding executive in the American Hockey League for 2010-11. A member of the San Jose Sharks organization for the last 10 years, Mudd oversaw significant growth in ticket and corporate sales during his first season as team president, including a league-leading 38 percent increase in group-ticket revenue. Mudd also ensured the Sharks’ future in Worcester by renegotiating the team’s lease at the DCU Center.
2017 – Worcester Railers sign Kyle McKenzie and Josh Monk.
Birthdays: Nick Naumenko (1974); Eriah Hayes (1988)
8
1995 – In the NHL Entry Draft the St Louis Blues selected Derek Bekar, Michal Handzus, Jochen Hecht, Scott Roche, and Libor Zabransky.
2011 – Ben Guite signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2014 – James Sheppard re-signed by the San Jose Sharks.
9
1998 – The St. Louis Blues announce that IceCats associate coach Paul Pickard was been fired. Picakrd, who had previously been told he was not coming back to Worcester, was hired as head coach and director of hockey operations for the Alexandria Warthogs of the Western Pro League. With one year left on his contract the Blues paid him the difference between what he would have made here and what he made in Alexandria.
Birthdays: Steve Dubinsky (1970)
10
1996 – Scott Pellerin signed to a free-agent contract by the St. Louis Blues.
2006 – Defenseman Patrick Traverse and forward Mathieu Darche signed as free agents by San Jose.
2013 – Joe Will was named general manager of the Worcester Sharks. San Jose also announces the signings of Matt Pelech, Adam Comrie, and Rob Davison.
2014 – Micheal Haley and Bryan Lerg signed as free agents by San Jose.
Birthdays: Gus Young (1991)
11
1996 – Jim Campbell signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2002 – St. Louis signed Terry Virtue to a two-year contract.
2007 – Worcester Sharks broadcaster Jamie Smock resigns as Sharks’ director of sales and play by play voice.
2018 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Tyler Mueller.
2019 – Worcester Railers re-sign Drew Callin and Ross Olsson.
Birthdays: T.J. Fox (1984); Joe Pavelski (1984); Nick Petrecki (1989)
12
2002 – St. Louis Blues sign Christian Backman to an entry-level contract
2007 – Telegram & Gazette sports writer Bill Ballou, who has worked on the newspaper’s AHL beat since 1994, has been named a recipient of the James H. Ellery Memorial Award, presented annually by the American Hockey League in recognition of outstanding media coverage. Ballou, who also won an Ellery Award in 1998, also has contributed AHL material to The Hockey News and San Jose’s “Sharks” magazine.
2012 – The Worcester Sharks won an award for their exceptional community service efforts at the annual AHL Team Business Services awards.
2013 – Jon Matsumoto signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2018 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Mitch Gillam.
2019 – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign Nic Pierog.
Birthdays: Mark Rycroft (1978)
13
2017 – Worcester Railers sign Ashton Rome.
Birthdays: Mike Stone (1972); Derek Diener (1976)
14
1994 – The IceCats selected a bid from WTAG (580-AM) over one from WORC (1310-AM) to carry their American Hockey League games. The agreement calls for WTAG to also carry pregame, postgame, and coach’s shows.
2000 – Dwayne Roloson signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2006 – Scott Ferguson and Graham Mink signed as free agents by San Jose.
2008 – San Jose signs former IceCats defenseman Brendan Buckley.
Birthdays: Lubos Bartecko (1976); Mike Morris (1983)
15
1996 – Jamie McLennan signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
1998 – St Louis Blues hire former St. Peter-Marian High and Yale goalie Keith Allain as an assistant coach for the IceCats. Allain primarily focused on goaltending in his tenure with the IceCats.
2008 – Cory Larose signed as a free agent by San Jose.
2010 – The San Jose Sharks signed left wing T.J. Trevelyan and defenseman Sean Sullivan to one-year contracts.
Birthdays: Bryan Helmer (1972); Jonathan Cheechoo (1980); Tyler Kennedy (1986)
16
1996 – Jimmy Roberts was promoted to associate coach for the St. Louis Blues. Roberts had one year left on his original contract with the IceCats, and Roy Boe was ready to offer Roberts an extension that would have kept him in Worcester for years to come. The Blues named Bob Berry as GM of the IceCats.
2001 – Steve McLaren signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2002 – St Louis Blues sign Eric Nickulas, Steve Dubinsky, and Steve Bancroft.
2009 – Joe Callahan and Dwight Helminen signed as free agents by San Jose.
Birthdays: Claude Lemieux (1965); Simon Tremblay (1978); Jessica Convery (1996)
17
1996 – The IceCats partial affiliation with the New York Islanders was mutually terminated. The IceCats will instead have the Ottawa Senators as a secondary affiliate.
1997 – St. Louis Blues announced they had reached contract terms with IceCats defenseman Terry Virtue. The Blues also signed two other defensemen, Chris McAlpine and Terry Hollinger, and goaltender Rich Parent.
2001 – Worcester IceCats captain Ed Campbell of Westboro signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues.
2003 – Jeremy Yablonski signed as a free agent by Worcester.
2008 – San Jose Sharks signed free agent defenseman Brett Westgarth.
2009 – Ryan Vesce, Joe Callahan, Danny Groulx, and Dwight Helminen signed to one-year contracts by San Jose.
2014 – San Jose Sharks re-sign Taylor Doherty (1 year) and Matt Tennyson (2 years)
2020 – The Worcester Railers sign Cam and Kenny Hausinger.
Birthdays: Jason Strudwick (1975); Ben Guite (1978); Dean Strong (1985)
18
1995 – Paul Pickard was named an assistant coach. In the 1994-95 season he was coach and assistant GM of the ECHL’s Huntington Blizzard, Worcester’s unofficial affiliate.
2001 – The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Darren Rumble, who had 47 points in 92 games over the past two seasons with the Worcester IceCats.
2007 – Brennan Evans signed as a free agent by San Jose. Riley Armstrong, Mike Iggulden, and Tom Cavanagh were signed to contract extensions.
2019 – Worcester Railers re-sign Bo Brauer.
Birthdays: Melker Karlsson (1990); Elizabeth Aveson (1995)
19
2002 – The IceCats agreed to contracts with forwards Steve McLaren and Brad Voth, along with defenseman Arvid Rekis and goalie Phil Osaer.
20
2007 – The Worcester Sharks re-signed defenseman Tom Walsh.
2009 – The Worcester Sharks re-signed forwards Dan DaSilva and Andrew Desjardins to one-year contracts.
Birthdays: Rebecca Fleming (1992)
21
2009 – The Worcester Sharks signed forward T.J. Trevelyan to a one-year deal.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks re-signed forward Cory Quirk to a one-year American Hockey League contract.
2020 – The Worcester Railers re-sign Brennan Feasey.
Birthdays: Kirk Daubenspeck (1974); Cody Rudkowsky (1978); Sergei Varlamov (1978)
22
1997 – John Ferguson Jr. named GM of the Worcester IceCats by the St. Louis Blues. Unlike previous GM Bob Berry who was based in St. Louis, Ferguson lived in the area and was with the team most days.
1998 – Telegram & Gazette IceCats beat writer Bill Ballou shared the print portion of the James H. Ellery Award, which is presented annually to reporters who have distinguished themselves in their coverage of the American Hockey League. Ballou, a student of the AHL’s storied past, has covered the team since its inception in 1994. He shared the award with Brendan McCarthy of the Evening Telegram in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
2008 – The San Jose Sharks have re-signed free agents Riley Armstrong and Mike Morris to one-year contracts. Sharks also signed Tyler Sexsmith to an entry level contract.
Birthdays: Chad Costello (1986)
23
2002 – St. Louis Blues announce the signing of forward Jason Dawe.
24
1995 – The Worcester IceCats sent first year captain Jim Nesich to the Los Angeles Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. The Ice Dogs assumed Nesich’s contract, and Worcester did not get a player in exchange. With the IceCats getting players from both the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders in the 1995-96 season, there’s was no room on the roster for Nesich.
1997 – Terry Yake signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
1998 – St. Louis Blues signed Derek Bekar, forward Ladislav Nagy, center Andrei Podkonicky, defenseman Tyler Harlton – all Blues draft choices – as well as free agent winger Tyson Nash. The Blues also put Boston College star Marty Reasoner under contract. He was their first-round pick, and the 14th player chosen overall, in 1996.
1999 – Dale Clarke signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2007 – San Jose re-signs forwards Tomas Plihal and Craig Valette.
Birthdays: Christer Olsson (1970); Bob Gassoff, Jr (1977); Matt Willows (1991)
25
2019 – The Worcester Railers re-signed defenseman Ivan Chukarov.
Birthdays: Bruce Mather (1926); Sean Hurley (1983)
26
1995 – The IceCats agreed to contract terms with defenseman Roy Mitchell, who had several offers but chose to re-sign with Worcester because he “really wanted to come back and play for Jimmy (Roberts)”.
2001 – The St. Louis Blues announce the signing of forward Jamie Thompson.
Birthdays: Greg Davis (1979)
27
2000 – Chris Murray signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2010 – The Worcester Sharks re-signed forward Dan DaSilva to a one-year contract.
2017 – Worcester Railers sign Woody Hudson and Ben Masella.
Birthdays: Andrew Desjardins (1986)
28
1995 – Ed Krayer, the IceCats assistant general manager, left the organization to assume the duties of general manager of the Adirondack Red Wings.
1997 – Terry Hollinger signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
1998 – Jason Widmer signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
Birthdays: Les Kuntar (1969); Steve Staios (1973); Brad Staubitz (1984); Alex Stalock (1987)
29
1996 – David Williams signed as a free agent by St. Louis.
2009 – The Worcester Sharks signed former UMass forward Cory Quirk to a one-year AHL contract.
2014 – Ryan Mougenel named Worcester Sharks assistant coach.
30
1997 – Greg Gilbert was named by the Hockey News as “Minor League Coach of the Year”.
2005 – In the NHL Entry Draft the San Jose Sharks selected Taylor Dakers, P.J. Fenton, Derek Joslin, Tony Lucia, Devin Setoguchi, Alex Stalock, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
31
Birthdays: Adam Comrie (1990)
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