Baby Penguins Banter: August 24, 2010 Edition

Welcome back to Baby Penguins Banter!

I know I promised I would write this every week, but things have been a little slow this offseason, and would you believe the AHL STILL hasn’t released its schedule (thanks a lot, NBA!)?

With the release of the schedule just one day away, it is time to recap some of the latest happenings with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins organization.

Here’s what you’ve missed:

Hynes Takes Over

Following former head coach Todd Reirden’s promotion to Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced that John Hynes would be taking the reigns as Wilkes-Barre’s next head coach.

Hynes was the Baby Penguins’ assistant coach last season. Before joining the organization, he was the head coach of the USA Hockey Development Program and guided the team to three medals in U-18 tournaments (2004, 2006, and 2008). His record in 2008-2009 was 42-17-6.

Assistant Alain

Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh defenseman Alain Nasreddine will return to Wilkes-Barre this fall.

But instead of pulling on a Penguins jersey, he will don a suit and step behind the bench as the Baby Penguins assistant coach. This will be his first coaching job.

Nasreddine came to the Penguins in 2003-2004 as part of a trade from the New York Islanders. He was with the team from 2004-2008 and played 249 games, posting 55 points. He also played in 56 games with Pittsburgh and had five points.

After leaving the Penguins, Nasreddine played two seasons in Germany and finished his career with 20 points in 83 games.

Broadcaster “Graces” Hockey With his Presence

Baby Penguins fans were thrilled to hear of the return of Tom Grace, who served as the Penguins broadcaster from 1999-2007.

Grace had spent the last two and a half years working outside of hockey as a sales representative for a digital media company in Boston. However, he told The Citizens Voice that he always missed hockey.

He ended up back in the broadcast booth this past season when Boston College played in the Frozen Four. He then knew he wanted to be back in hockey and could not pass up an opportunity to return to Wilkes-Barre.

Scott Stuccio, who served as the team’s play-by-play broadcaster after Grace left, will remain on air doing color commentary. He will also conduct intermission interviews on radio and television and interview players for podcasts to be posted on the Baby Penguins site.

Brotherly Love

The Penguins signed a minor league player who will have a good idea about what it is like to play in a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform.

Just ask his Stanley Cup winning and Olympic medalist brother.

The Penguins signed Andrew Orpik to a minor league contract. And yes, he is the little brother of Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik.

Andrew followed in Brooks’ footsteps and played four years with Boston College. He finished his NCAA career with 47 points in 155 games.

He spent last season splitting time between the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL and the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. He had 27 points and 34 penalty minutes in 57 games.

Bye-Bye, Berkie

Goaltender Adam Berkhoel, who played the last two seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, has retired from professional hockey, according to The Goalie Guild.

Berkhoel joined the Penguins in 2008-2009 and acted as backup to John Curry. In his first season, he had a record of 15-11-2 with four shutouts and posted a 2.53 GAA and .910 save percentage.

In the 2009-2010 season, Berkhoel split time between the Wheeling Nailers and Wilkes-Barre. He had a combined record of 16-14-3 and averaged a 3.05 GAA and .890 save percentage.