Sep 10, 2024
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack boasted a strong, tight-knit young core group during the 2023-24 season. That group helped lead the club back to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second season in a row and helped the team advance to the Atlantic Division Finals for the season straight spring.
Forward Ryder Korczak, in his rookie season, was a big part of that young core group. The former third-round draft choice (75th overall) by the Rangers in 2021 notched 20 points (9 g, 11 a) in 67 games during the regular season. He also scored a goal and an assist in the postseason, a goal that was among the highlights of the year in his mind.
“For sure they are,” Korczak said when asked if his first career goal in November and his first playoff goal in April were his personal highlights. “Obviously, your first pro goal is something you’re going to remember your whole life, so it was pretty special. I can still remember it, the exact play.
“Same with the one in Charlotte. I mean it was a pretty big goal, and it kind of got us to where we ended up. They were two pretty special goals.”
His goal in Charlotte, in Game 2 against the Checkers, was bigger than pretty big. The goal tied the game 2-2 in the third period, forcing an eventual overtime. In overtime, Alex Belzile scored to give the Wolf Pack a 3-2 victory and force a Game 3 the next afternoon. The Wolf Pack won Game 3, eliminating the Checkers and advancing to the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
For Korczak, however, his rookie season was more than just two big goals. The native of Yorkton, SK, believes he took steps during the season after an impact junior career in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen and Moose Jaw Warriors.
“I thought this season was good, it’s definitely a change going from junior to pro hockey,” he observed. “I thought my game kind of matured at the defensive level. I thought I was a little bit stronger on pucks, even defensive awareness I thought I grew in that area. This summer, I’m looking to improve my skating and obviously looking to get stronger to prepare for next season.”
Motivation for next season won’t be hard to find for the young forward. In addition to personal success, Korczak tasted team success as the Wolf Pack won two playoff rounds for the second straight spring. Their journey ended at the hands of the eventual Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears, the second time in as many years that has happened for…
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