Calder Cup Finals: Who were gritty, grinding 2015 Utica Comets? Where are they now?
Article content
For Baertschi, it was the culmination of a season started with requesting a trade from the Calgary Flames that came to fruition in March. He played three games with the Canucks, and was dispatched to Utica, where he racked up 15 points (8-7) in 21 memorable postseason games.
Article content
Article content
'It had a lot to do with our leadership group,' Baertschi told Postmedia on Monday. 'Guys like Carter Bancks and (captain) Cal O'Reilly. He led with calmness in games, a really determined guy and it led to a lot of success. It was a the way we were built.
Article content
'We had a lot of heart-and-soul guys and the right scoring and that's not easy to do in the AHL. We had the combination. You're never going to have that again based on the wide age in guys we had. You always remember good playoff runs.
Article content
'It brings out the best. So many guys, who you wouldn't expect, elevated their games. That's hard because playoffs are a different animal and Manchester just had four really solid lines. That's why I'm super proud of those guys I played with. It was a grind.
Article content
'Abbotsford is having the same feeling and tasting victories.'
Article content
Baertschi's history with Green dates back to junior in Portland and he reached out to his former coach before taking the coaching leap.
Article content
'He's been a really important person in my life and always been a mentor,' said Baertschi. 'Obviously, coaching is different than a player. I've been in their shoes and can help them mature.'
Article content
The Winterhawks advanced to the Western Conference final this season before swept by powerhouse Spokane Chiefs. For the 32-year-old Baertschi, it was the right time to pivot to behind the bench and run the power play..
Article content
'It got to the point where I was done as a player and it doesn't matter why or how,' stressed Baertschi. 'I'm happy where I'm at and in a good place in my life. I get to touch the ice every day as a coach, which is the greatest thing, and I can share my experiences.'
Article content
Article content
Article content
Hunter Shinkaruk: 24th overall, 2013 NHL Draft, Vancouver, 11 NHL games.
Played four games for Cardiff Devils of Elite Hockey League in Britain this season.
Article content
Jake Virtanen: 6th overall, 2014 NHL Draft, Vancouver, 317 NHL games.
Played 46 games this season with Iserlohn Roosters in German pro loop. Six goals.
Article content
Alexandre Grenier, 90th overall, 2011 NHL Draft, Vancouver, 9 NHL games.
Had 42 points (17-25) in 41 games the season with the Cologne Sharks of DEL.
Article content
Nicklas Jensen, 29th overall pick, 2011 NHL Draft, Vancouver, 31 NHL games.
Had 29 points (16-13) in 48 games this season with Rapperswil-Jona (Swiss-A).
Article content
Alex Friesen, 172nd overall pick, 2010 NHL Draft, Vancouver, 1 NHL game.
Had 15 points (6-9) in 38 games this season with Bremerhaven Penguins (DEL).
Article content
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
More losses for PWHL's Toronto Sceptres, but a few key retentions too
As all six members of the PWHL's original clubs deal with the losses that have had to suffer to welcome in two new teams at (or some would argue better) than league levels, Monday provided the Toronto Sceptres its first real chance to add to its roster. Article content The opening of the period to sign players on expiring contracts didn't begin that way for the Sceptres, instead resulting in the loss of yet another key player in forward Hannah Miller, who is going home to sign with Vancouver. Article content Article content But it wasn't an all together bad day for the local side. Article content Before the day was out, news would start to filter that they also had lost Hayley Scamurra, who had been obtained mid-season from Ottawa in the Jocelyne Larocque trade. Scamurra was signed away by the Montreal Victoire, but the day and days ahead could have been so much worse. Article content And that's where we get to the re-signings of some of Toronto's other key veterans. Article content Re-signed though not officially acknowledged by the league just yet are forwards Natalie Spooner and Jesse Compher, as well as defender Kali Flanagan. Article content They aren't new faces coming in but having already sustained the loss of Sarah Nurse, Julia Gosling, Izzy Daniel, Megan Cater and now Miller and Scamurra, holding on to this trio is huge. Article content In retaining Flanagan GM Gina Kingsbury and the Sceptres hold on to all four of their top four defenders in Renata Fast, Savannah Harmon, Allie Munroe and Flanagan. Defences were decimated in the expansion process around the league. Two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost lost two of its three main cogs on the blue line right off the jump when Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques were scooped up by Vancouver in the exclusive signing window for the two new clubs. Article content Seattle then took a massive bite out of Montreal's defence corps snapping up two prized rookie rearguards in Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren. Ottawa lost both Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova putting a dent in its collection of rearguards and then Tuesday lost Zoe Boyd as well who signed with Boston. There's still talk Jincy Roese, another key defender on Ottawa's roster, could find a new home. Article content Toronto suffered its own losses on the blue line losing coveted rookie Megan Carter but compared to the rest of the league minus perhaps New York, they got off easy. Article content In retaining Renata Fast, Savannah Harmon, Flanagan and Allie Munroe, Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan can at least look at his blue line and know the losses he suffered are manageable. Article content The same can't be said up front where both his young corps and a chunk of his veteran corps will be playing elsewhere when the season opens in November.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Who should the Edmonton Oilers start in goal for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final?
Article content WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Off The Post, Toronto Sun sports columnist Steve Simmons, Postmedia hockey columnist Bruce Garrioch and Postmedia's Rob Wong preview Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. They debate which goalie should start in net for the Oilers and talk about the incredible job Bill Zito has done as GM of the Panthers.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
From Red Deer to Downtown: Free watch parties for Oilers' Game 6 against Florida Panthers
If you're hoping to get to Rogers Place to watch Game 6 on the big screen and don't have a ticket yet, you're out of luck. Article content The indoor watch party, with ticket proceeds going to the Oilers Community Foundation, is sold out. If you want to get to the Moss Pit, you'll need to line up well ahead of the 6 p.m. face-off time. Article content Article content But there are other family-friendly options, with free admissions, that are happening in and around the city. Article content If you do want to watch the game in an arena atmosphere, and on a giant screen, you could always make the 90-minute drive down south to Red Deer. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Marchant Crane Centrium, where the game will be shown at the home of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels. Price of admission? A donation of non-perishable goods for the local food bank. Article content Jaiden Foster, an administrative assistant at Westerner Park, said previous watch parties have attracted 150 to 200 fans. Article content 'But we're hoping for a much bigger turnout tomorrow,' she said. Article content And, in a place that's halfway between Edmonton and Calgary, where the NHL loyalties are divided between the Oilers and Flames, are there fans at the Centrium who will be cheering against Edmonton, because it's the most Calgary thing they can do. Let's face it, if we lived in a Bizarro universe where the Flames were in the Cup final, could dyed-in-the-wool Oilers fans bring themselves to cheer for that team in red? Article content Article content 'We bring in a diverse group,' said Foster. 'But the majority of them are Oilers fans.' Article content Article content 'Hoping to get a good one' Article content If Red Deer is too far, the Starlite Room is located Downtown, just a couple of blocks south of the Rogers Place mayhem. The venue is hosting a watch party, doors open at 5:30 p.m., and admission is free. Minors are welcome. The game will be shown on a 16-foot by nine-foot screen. There will be food, drinks, and DJs will play music during breaks in the action. Article content 'We're continuing to do them, hoping to get a good one,' he said. 'If we go to Game 7, I think it will be good. Tomorrow might be OK, hopefully.'
