Taking one step back in hopes of making two forward is a familiar refrain.

Left wing Wojtek Wolski and defenseman Jeff Woywitka are hoping that theory works in their quests to get more ice time with the New York Rangers or another NHL team.

This article appears courtesy of the Connecticut Whale written by Bruce Berlet. Sean Avery, wearing a yellow no-contact jersey, skated for the first time in nearly three weeks Wednesday morning in a 50-minute workout with the Connecticut Whale at the XL Center in Hartford.

Coaching hockey at one of the world’s finest institutions of higher learning (and discipline) has been in the Riley family tree for 60 years.

Memories abound since Jack Riley began a 36-year run on the banks of the Hudson River in New York in 1950, to be followed by son Rob for 17 years and now son Brian since 2004.

Alexa’s uncle, defenseman Dave Babych, played for the Whalers from 1985 until early in the 1990-91 season, a stretch that included the two most successful campaigns in franchise history, 1985-86 and ’86-87. In fact, many considered the acquisition of Babych from the Winnipeg Jets for right wing Ray Neufeld a major reason that the Whalers went to the next level for several seasons.

Hartford, CT, March 20, 2010 - The Springfield Falcons got a goal and two assists from rookie Jordan Eberle in a 4-3 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night before 4,694 at the XL Center.