Hartford Wolf Pack Three Stars of the Month—October

Welcome to a new monthly piece at Blueshirt Banter, where I'll be highlighting some of the best Hartford Wolf Pack players for each given month. Three players will be selected each month to be the Wolf Pack's three stars of the month based on how they performed over each month of the regular season.

The Wolf Pack played eight games in October, going 3-4-1-0 for seven points. A number of players posted strong performances over the opening month of competition, and I've selected the three I think had the best overall performances in the month. Let's get into the three stars for October!

Third Star - Jackson Dorrington, Defenseman

October stats: 8 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 4 Pts, +2, 7 PIMs

Rookie defenseman Jackson Dorrington was the Wolf Pack's best blueliner in October. In eight games, Dorrington notched four assists, tying for the team lead in assists and leading all Wolf Pack defensemen in points. He's showed strong play in all three zones, highlighted by a two-assist and +4 performance in a 6-3 Wolf Pack win over Springfield on October 25th. Dorrington isn't particularly known for his offense - his best season at Northeastern University saw him post 15 points in 37 games - so to see him lead defensemen in points over notable puck-movers like Scott Morrow and Derrick Pouliot is encouraging.

Dorrington also hasn't been afraid to mix it up with opponents this season. Notably, he fought Springfield's Dylan Peterson in the aforementioned October 25th game after Peterson kneed Wolf Pack forward Carey Terrance. Peterson is a tough customer, but Dorrington got the better of him and convincingly won the tilt.

"I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about how he stood up for his teammates in Springfield," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter following Hartford's October 29th game against Charlotte. "It was a hit that our bench didn’t like very much, and obviously Jackson didn’t like very much. That’s a tough customer that he rodeoed with."

"He’s kinda evolving into pro hockey. It’s a big jump for a player. For Jackson, I think he’s learning he’s a lot stronger than other people even at this level, so he’s able to use that."

Dorrington's evolution in pro hockey will be one to pay plenty of attention to over the 2025-26 campaign. For a strong first month, he earns third star honors.

Second Star - Bryce McConnell-Barker, Forward

October stats: 8 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 Pts, EV, 2 PIMs

Second-year forward Bryce McConnell-Barker has shown significant strides in his game. In the first eight games of his sophomore campaign, McConnell-Barker posted three goals and five points. He's already a third of the way to his point total from last season (15) through just the first month of the season. McConnell-Barker's five points through October were good for second on the team.

McConnell-Barker was a victim of circumstance last season. He played much of the season away from his natural center position, with players like Bo Groulx, Jake Leschyshyn, and Dylan Roobroeck getting the bulk of the workload down the middle. McConnell-Barker adapted to the change, carving out a defensive and checking fourth-line role and becoming a quality contributor in limited minutes. The former Soo Greyhound has always played with energy, and it translated to pro hockey, even if the points weren't coming as much.

This year, partially thanks to Noah Laba forcing his way onto the NHL roster, McConnell-Barker is getting the opportunity to play middle-six minutes at his natural position, and he's excelling in the early going. McConnell-Barker has been strong on faceoffs and has provided a quality 200-foot game. The third round pick (#97) from 2022 has also found himself playing big minutes on both the power play and penalty kill.

"Bryce has taken a big step," Potulny told Blueshirt Banter after the Wolf Pack's game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on October 31st.

It's a step the Wolf Pack are thrilled to see McConnell-Barker take, and it's a step that earns him second star honors for October.

First Star - Gabe Perreault, Forward

October stats: 8 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 Pts, +5, 8 PIMs

Rookie forward Gabe Perreault has taken Hartford, and the AHL, by storm. Through the first eight games of his inaugural pro season, Perreault played at a point-per-game pace, notching four goals and four assists. Both marks, as well as his eight points and +5 plus/minus, led the Wolf Pack in October.

After a bit of a slow start to the year, Perreault caught fire on a line with Justin Dowling and Jaroslav Chmelař, posting six points (3 G, 3 A) over the final three games of October. That included a three-point night on October 29th against Charlotte, where Perreault notched a goal and two assists. The 23rd overall pick in 2023 has been involved in all areas of the ice and in all situations, showcasing his playmaking and line-driving abilities. He's also showcased energy on the forecheck, helping force turnovers and create second- and third-chance opportunities for him and his linemates. Perreault has been strong in his own end as well - he didn't have a single game in October where he finished as a minus.

"When you've got a brain like Gabe's got, it's allowed him to transition [to pro hockey] as quickly as he has," Potulny told Blueshirt Banter on October 31st. "Now he's starting to turn that corner to where he can take that next step."

Perreault is going to get plenty of time in the Connecticut capital this season to hone in his skills and make a push for a top-six spot in the NHL. If his start to the campaign is any indication of his future performance, he could be knocking on the doors of Madison Square Garden sooner rather than later.

Overall, Perreault was by far the Wolf Pack's best player during the month of October. He easily earns first star honors.

Check back next month for the Three Stars of November!