WOLF PACK WEEKLY: December 29, 2008 – January 4, 2009

In their last action of calendar year 2008, the Wolf Pack went 1-2-0-0 in three games this past week. After a four-day Christmas break, the Pack lost a 3-1 decision in Bridgeport on Friday, despite outshooting the Sound Tigers, 29-17. On Saturday at Springfield the Wolf Pack rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Falcons 4-3 in overtime, before seeing leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 slip away in a 5-4 loss at Lowell Sunday. Artem Anisimov took over the Pack team points lead (14-19-33) with goals in all three games on the week (3-2-5).

This week:

The Wolf Pack begin 2009 with a pair of home games this week, both against non-divisional opponents. The Grand Rapids Griffins make their first-ever visit to the XL Center Friday (7:00 faceoff) on Guida’s Family Value Night, and the league-leading Hershey Bears make their lone appearance in Hartford for a 7:00 game on Saturday night.

Friday, January 2^nd vs. Grand Rapids at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· Being a Friday night, this is a Guida’s Family Value Night. Family Value packages start at $39 and include three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir.  To order your Family Value Night pack, visit the XL Center box office, or go on-line to www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

· The Griffins have been in the AHL for seven seasons but have never before visited Hartford. The first-ever meeting between the Griffins and Wolf Pack was November 14^th of this season in Grand Rapids, and the Griffins prevailed that night by a score of 3-2.

· The top affiliate of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings, the Griffins are tied with the Manitoba Moose for tops in the Western Conference, with a record of 18-7-4-3 for 43 points. Grand Rapids is 5-0-1-0 in its last six games.

· Swedish-born goaltender Daniel Larsson is 11-3-1 in his first year of North American pro hockey and sports the AHL’s seventh-best goals-against average, at 2.41

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, January 3^rd vs. Hershey at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· The first 3,000 fans into this game will receive a free Wolf Pack drawstring jersey backpack, courtesy of Click it or Ticket.

· The Wolf Pack’s exciting ticket-discount promotion, with adult tickets available for as low as $10 each, has been extended to include this game.

· The Bears (23-8-0-1, 47 pts.) currently sit first overall in the AHL and are averaging a league-best 4.00 goals-per-game.

· Hershey’s veteran center Keith Aucoin tops all AHL players in points (41) and assists (30).

· The Bears won the first matchup of the season between themselves and the Wolf Pack, 4-2, December 6^th in Hershey.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Corey Potter – recalled by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack December 27^th and returned to the Wolf Pack December 29^th.

Chris Murray – recalled by the Wolf Pack from loan to Charlotte (ECHL) December 28^th.

Pack Tracks:

Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the XL Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy's at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500 or online at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Season tickets, six, 10 and 20-game packages, coupon books and group tickets are also available. Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.

The Wolf Pack’s annual “Scout Sleepover” is coming up Saturday, January 24^th at the XL Center.  The Pack host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that night at 7:00, and all scouts, family and friends are invited to the post-game sleepover.  The special Scout Sleepover offer includes a ticket to the game, a post-game skate (bring your own skates), a post-game movie and the special Wolf Pack scout patch, and costs only $14 per person.  To order Scout Sleepover tickets, call the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.

Friday, January 30^th, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, is Girl Scout Night at the XL Center. $25 tickets are available to Girl Scouts for only $14 each. Order by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000, and the first 1,500 Girl Scouts will receive a free Wolf Pack beanie hat.