AHL / BRUCE BERLET
Bruce Landon has spent nearly three decades trying to keep hockey afloat in Springfield - from tending goal to putting together local ownership for NHL affiliates.
The Falcons president and general manager was especially upbeat about a fresh start this season after signing a three-year affiliation agreement with the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who shared the franchise with Phoenix in 2001-03 before the Coyotes went solo.
The signing of several former AHL All-Stars and Calder Cup winners to mix with 10 rookies had Landon enthused about the possibility of making the playoffs for the second time in five years.
But Landon experienced one of his most disheartening seasons. The Falcons (24-47-6-3) finished next-to-last in the league and attendance averaged 3,713, the worst in team history. They ranked 27th among 28 teams for the second consecutive year.
"It was very frustrating because we and Tampa Bay had such high expectations, but unfortunately it didn't pan out the way we expected," Landon said. "We didn't get the leadership we needed from some veterans, and having five rookies on defense at times was too much. It's certainly bothering the people in Tampa Bay as much as it's bothering me, and they vow to make sure they make some changes to make sure we're better next season."
Some of the veteran signings turned sour early, and former Pack defenseman Terry Virtue and center Jarrod Skalde were traded to Utah. Then defenseman Darren Rumble retired because of back problems and became an assistant to first-year coach Dirk Graham.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the Falcons couldn't score. Their 161 goals were third fewest in the league, and they were shut out 17 times, an AHL record. Center Craig Darby, another veteran signed in the off-season, had only eight goals.
"We didn't have a lot of offense, so there was so much pressure on our goaltending and defensemen because we were in our end so much," Landon said. "And the NHL situation didn't help because it made the AHL so much stronger but you couldn't make any NHL deals. [The lockout] is bad for hockey and affecting everything because the kids didn't have the carrot in front of them to get called up. In a normal year, we might have been OK, but we went with a lot of youth who will be better next year and we'll add some new veterans."
Landon said Tampa Bay GM Jay Feaster is committed to giving the Falcons a better look, and it began when the Falcons sent out season-ticket renewals. Feaster included a personalized letter to them, apologizing for what they had gone through and vowing things would get better.
"I thought that was a really classy move because I don't know how many other GMs would do that," Landon said. "It's one thing if they owned us, but they don't. But he wanted to show our fans the commitment he has to us."
The Falcons also lowered season and individual game ticket prices for next season. And they have offered a money-back satisfaction on season tickets. Fans can receive a refund on the balance of their season tickets if they're not satisfied after the first three home games.
Improvements next season will start with the $71 million facelift to the Springfield Civic Center. New offices and locker rooms opened this year, and the arena will have a new video scoreboard installed by mid-September.
"We'll finally have some of the bells and whistles that other people have had for years," Landon said. "There are some real positive signs for next season, and that's all we can do, start to rebuild. Better days are coming."
Rare Feat
The Wolf Pack's goaltending tandem of Steve Valiquette (1.77) and Jason LaBarbera (1.84) are the first teammates since Sherbrooke's Jean-Claude Bergeron and Andre Racicot in 1989-90 to finish 1-2 in goals-against average. ... LaBarbera and Manchester's Adam Hauser (1.93) joined Alfie Moore (1937-39) as the only AHL goalies to have a GAA under 2.00 twice. ... The Pack's 30 home victories were the most since the 1998-99 Providence Bruins (33) on their way to the Calder Cup. ... Wolf Pack season tickets for 2005-06 are on sale, and prices haven't changed. ... With two goals against Syracuse last week, Bolton native Ron Hainsey set Hamilton career records for defensemen in goals (18) and points (67). ... Bridgeport coach Greg Cronin had his first losing record as a head coach or player (37-38-4-1) before leaving to become coach at Northeastern.
