AHL Atlantic Division News: August 2023

As the 2023 AHL offseason trudges along, news involving the upcoming season continues to trickle out. From signings to schedule changes, teams have been able to keep themselves busy. Below is what you may have missed in August.

Signings

Bridgeport Islanders

On August 15, the Bridgeport Islanders announced the signing of defender Trevor Cosgrove and forward Ashton Calder to AHL contracts for the 2023-24 season.

Cosgrove made his AHL debut during the 2022-23 season, playing in nine games with Bridgeport.

Calder spent the 2022-23 season playing for the current ECHL champions – the Florida Everblades – and the Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA). While with Penn State, Calder notched 17 points, spread over 10 goals and 7 assists. He made his professional debut with the Everblades towards the end of the season, scoring one goal over six regular season games and six points (three goals, three assists) over 17 playoff games.

You can find the rest of the Islanders’ offseason signings and departures here.

Springfield Thunderbirds

The Springfield Thunderbirds re-signed a trio of players to one-year AHL contracts for the 2023-24 season on August 17. Forwards Mitchell Hoelscher & Steven Jandric and defender Austin Osmanski provided much needed depth, consistency, and work ethic in the 2022-23 campaign, helping them earn another chance at the AHL level.

Hoelscher kicked off the 2022-23 season with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, scoring nine points (1g, 8a) in the first six games of the season. This hot streak led to Hoelscher earing a call-up to Springfield where he would stay the rest of the season, playing in 57 games and tallying 16 points (9g, 7a).

Jandric is another ECHLer that earned a permanent spot in Springfield after a strong start to the 2022-23 season, scoring 19 points in 20 games for the Worcester Railers.  While with Springfield, Jandric skated in 31 games and posted two goals & six assists.

For 30 games, Osmanski helped bolster the Thunderbirds’ blue line, notching six points, 28 penalty minutes, and a +1 rating.

You can find the rest of the Thunderbirds’ offseason signings and departures here.

Hartford Wolf Pack

Forward Tristan Mullin signed a one-year AHL standard player contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack on August 15. Mullin spent the 2022-23 season playing in both the AHL for the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks. While with the Mavericks, Mullin scored at a point-per-game pace with 25 points (14g, 11a) over 25 games.

You can find the rest of the Wolf Pack’s offseason signings and departures here.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

On August 16, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced the re-signing of their top rookie from the 2022-23 season, Sam Houde, to a one-year AHL contract for the 2023-24 season. Over the course of 65 games, Houde notched 12 goals and 8 assists.

You can find the rest of the Penguins signings and departures here.

Around The AHL

• Leafs Digest – 9/22 – Nylander MOVED to Center, Murray and Muzzin OUT for Season
• AHL Releases 2023 Preseason Schedule
• 5 AHL Players Who Retired This 2023 Offseason
• AHL Pacific Division News : August 2023
• AHL North Division News: August 2023

Promo Schedules

At the end of August, the Hartford Wolf Pack unveiled their promotional schedule for the 2023-24 season. Highlighting the schedule is an (at this time) unnamed bobblehead giveaway, the Friday night special of $2 draft and $2 hotdogs, and a celebration for their 2,000^th game on February 9.

Fans will also have four separate postgame events featuring Wolf Pack players on November 18, December 17, February 24, and March 30.

Click here to view the entire 2023-24 promo schedule for the Wolfpack.

Schedule Changes

Speaking of schedules, the Hershey Bears had to make a few changes to their 2023-24 schedule.

The Bears home game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms — previously scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024 — will now be played on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm ET.

A previously scheduled away game against the Cleveland Monsters on Thursday, March 21, 2024 will now be played on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7:00 pm ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

You can find the full 2023-24 Hershey Bears schedule here.

Awards

Fox43 was named the winner for the 2022-23 James H. Ellery Memorial Award on August 21. The station broadcasted 10 Bears regular-season home games and added a few road broadcasts to their schedule during the 2022-23 season. They also extended their coverage into the 2023 Calder Cup Championship by televising all games during the final two rounds and were on-site in both Coachella Valley and Hershey for the finals.

This is the first time a representative of Hershey has won the Ellery Award since the league began honoring a single organization in 2013-14.