AHL Report Headlines: Sunday October 1, 2017
	On this day in hockey history… 1999 — Wayne Gretzy watches his famous number 99 rise to the rafters in Edmonton as the team retires his number just months after his retirement. 1991 — Scotty Bowman takes over as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins when Bob Johnson becomes ill and passes away. Bowman would lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup win that season.
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by Joseph Whalen, Staff Writer, AHL Report

► More Canadiens cuts

• The Montreal Canadiens did some more roster trimming this past week. It started with veteran AHL defenseman Matt Taormina who had to go through waivers, but cleared and reported to the Laval Rocket. After Taormina, Chris Terry cleared waivers and reported to the Rocket. The Canadiens also cut forwards Daniel Carr, Peter Holland and Michael McCarron, along with defenseman Jakub Jerabek. McCarron and Jerabek both reported directly to Laval, and Carr and Holland cleared waivers to be sent down.

ROSTER MOVE | Canadiens Cut Four Players Before Final Preseason Game https://t.co/Gzusvsk9tJ pic.twitter.com/AZaq7ICOwW

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) September 30, 2017

► Belleville Senators assign players to Brampton Beast

• The Belleville Senators have assigned Cody Donaghey to the ECHL’s Brampton Beast. Donaghey, 21, hails from St. John’s, Newfoundland. The Beast have been the ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since the 2015-16 season and it now appears that they will share the affiliation with the Ottawa Senators in some capacity.
• Additionally, the Beast announced six players to sign Standard Player Contracts (SPC) in recent days: Stefan Fournier, Andrew D’Agonstini, Matt Petgrave, Philippe Gadoury, Nick Trecapelli, and Chris Izmirlian. Training camp runs from October 1-12 at the Powerade Center.

► Utica Memorial Auditorium name change, All-Star Classic

• The Upper Mohawk Valley Auditorium Authority and Adirondack Bank announced a 10-year, multi-million-dollar agreement to amend the name of the Utica Memorial Auditorium to the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The building has been closed to the public since May while undergoing a large-scale renovation and addition project, including office space and suite and loge seating.
• The AHL also announced this week that the newly-named Utica arena will be the host of the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic on January 27-28, 2018. The Comets last hosted the All-Star festivities in 2015.

Welcome to the family, @ADKBankCenter!

— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) September 27, 2017

► Rocket kick off preseason action

• The Laval Rocket and Belleville Senators got their preseason action underway. It was a 3-1 victory for the Senators on Saturday for the arena and team’s debut. The Rocket will most likely ice a different lineup for the second game of the two-game set against the Senators that will take place Sunday afternoon at Place Bell.

C'est parti! || Game time! #GoRocket pic.twitter.com/V9BOFd4NFJ

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) September 30, 2017

► It’s signing season

• With less than a week left until the AHL season begins, signing season has almost come to an end, but teams continue to add to their rosters.

September 24

• The San Diego Gulls signed right wing Spencer Abbott to a one-year contract through the 2017-18 AHL season. The 29-year-old skated in 67 AHL games with San Diego and Rockford last season, amassing 18 goals and 31 assists.

September 25

• Stockton Heat announced the signings of forwards Rod Pelley and Brett Findlay and defensemen Kayle Doetzel, Adam Ollas Mattsson and Oleg Yevenko to AHL contracts for the 2017-18 season. Pelley joins the Heat after serving the last four seasons as captain of the AHL’s Albany Devils. Findlay recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 34 games with the Toronto Marlies last season. Doetzel made his pro debut with Stockton last season, while Ollas Mattsson spent most of last season with Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League before joining the Heat. Yevenko appeared in 49 AHL games for Cleveland last season.