The boys are trickling back to the Island, and the first official practice of the season is Friday morning in East Meadow at rookie camp, with numerous once and/or future Sound Tigers. The kids are scheduled to play before a packed house in Philadelphia next Wednesday. And then it’ll begin for real. We’re planning on getting down there at least once in the leadup to the Sept. 22 exhibition game up here.
Friday’s also the start of high school season. Let’s go.
On the alumni watch: Mike Halmo to HC Bolzano. (HT: EliteProspects.) Tip of the cap to Jordan Hill, a versatile player for Scott Pellerin in 2012-13 who went on to a couple of good years with St. John’s. Hill announced his retirement on Twitter, citing a hip injury.
A gutwrenching story on David Gove from the Boston Globe.
The NHL, AHL and numerous other hockey organizations held a press conference Wednesday morning to release their declaration of principles. Respect, perseverance, sportsmanship, that kind of thing.
The Panthers are bolting to Massachusetts, and George Richards reports they may begin camp in Springfield, home of their affiliate, whose nickname I’m not taking a shot at; it’s still technical summer for a few hours. Meanwhile a little southeast: Outstanding. Something good in what’s already another horrific storm. Hoping for the best.
Frank Boulton says High Point, N.C., will be the future home of the Bridgeport Bluefish. (I enjoyed the last few paragraphs of that, which sound vaguely familiar.)
Six years. Unreal.
And RIP, Noel Picard, Walter Becker and Ray Collins.