FORD AND TAYLOR IN TO THE MIX 

Howlings attended the Wolf Pack’s practice yesterday and saw some new faces and today we’re able to tell you that they are forwards Matthew Ford and Mike Taylor, both up from Charlotte. Ford is up on a Professional Try-Out contract while Taylor is here on his WP contract that he signed in July.

Ford did play 12 games with the Pack earlier this season and potted one goal and six penalty minutes. The West Hills, California product has been a very talented scorer at the ECHL level with the Checkers. The 6’1” 207 pounder is slated to represent Charlotte at the ECHL All Star game.

Taylor has been having a good rookie campaign in Charlotte and while appearing small (5’11”) next to his teammates at practice, does have speed.

Both skated on a line with Patrick Rissmiller in practice.

Neither Jordan Owens or Brian Fahey practiced yesterday and neither were there to take the 3:15 bus to Portland. More on this later.

The Wolf Pack have an early afternoon tilt with the first Place Portland Pirates in a VERY important game for the Rangers farm team. Game time is 1pm. Howlings will have complete coverage.

Here’s the Official release on this as well as a wonderful job by Wolf Pack fans buying a special issue game used jersey and raising over $11,000 for a very worth charity in March of Dimes…

WOLF PACK SUMMON MATTHEW FORD AND MIKE TAYLOR FROM CHARLOTTE

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has signed forward Matthew Ford to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement from the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL, and has recalled forward Mike Taylor from Charlotte.

Ford, a rookie out of the University of Wisconsin, is entering his second stint with the Wolf Pack. The 6-1, 207-pound native of West Hills, CA played 12 games in a Pack uniform on an earlier PTO, scoring one goal and registering six penalty minutes. Ford led the Checkers’ club in goals and plus/minus, and ranked second on the team in points and assists, with 16-15-31 and a +19 in 21 games. That plus/minus rating was good for a tie for third in the ECHL, and Ford has been selected to participate in the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game.

In four years at the University of Wisconsin, Ford totaled 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points, along with 100 PIM, in 124 games. He was drafted in the eighth round (256^th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Taylor, a first-year pro out of Harvard University, has tallied nine goals and added 13 assists for 22 points in 35 games this season with Charlotte. Those totals place him tied for third on the Checker club in goals and fourth on the team in points. A 5-11, 180-pound native of Maple Grove, MN, Taylor joined the Wolf Pack for eight games at the end of his college season last year, and struck for four points, two goals and two assists. Taylor led the 2007-08 Harvard Crimson squad in points, and finished third on the team in goals, with 12-23-35 in 34 games. His point total was good for a tie for fifth in the ECACHL, and Taylor finished tied for sixth in the league in assists.

Taylor, 22, signed an American Hockey League contract with the Wolf Pack July 1, 2008

WOLF PACK JERSEY AUCTION RAISES MORE THAN $11,000 FOR MARCH OF DIMES

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Specialty Jerseys Auctioned at Saturday’s Home Game

Northland AEG announced today that Saturday’s auction of Hartford Wolf Pack limited-edition specialty jerseys raised a total of $11,410. Those proceeds were donated to March of Dimes.

The Wolf Pack players wore the jerseys in home games this past Friday night against Springfield and Saturday night versus Providence. The auction Saturday was conducted throughout the first two periods of the game, and the winning bidders received the jerseys from the players, on the ice after the game.

The highest bid in the auction was $2,000, for the #30 jersey of Wolf Pack goaltender Matt Zaba.