WOLF PACK WEEKLY: October 13 – 18, 2009 

The Wolf Pack evened their season record at 2-2-0-0 for four points last week, by winning two out of three games.  After a 5-3 loss at Providence on Friday, the Wolf Pack celebrated their home opener by registering their first win of the 2009-10 season, a 7-3 triumph over Springfield, on Saturday.  The Pack then returned to Providence on Sunday and gained some revenge on the Bruins, scoring a 3-2 win.  P.A. Parenteau led the way offensively for the Wolf Pack in the three games, with four goals and two assists for six points, and is currently tied for second in the AHL in points (4-3-7 in 4 GP).  Corey Locke (3-1-4) and Dale Weise (2-2-4) contributed four points apiece this past week.

This week:

The Wolf Pack continue a stretch of four straight road games with a pair of Atlantic-Division road outings this week.  The Pack make their first of three visits on the year to Portland Friday (7:00 faceoff), and then travel up I-91 to take on the Springfield Falcons on Saturday (7:00).

Friday, October 16 at Portland (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 PM

· Former Hartford Whaler Kevin Dineen is in his fifth season as head coach of the Pirates, who are in the second year of an affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres.  Portland is off to a 1-3-0-0 start for two points.

· This is the first of six meetings on the season between the Pack and Pirates.  The Wolf Pack won seven of the eight games between the two teams last year, including the last six in a row, and were a perfect 4-0-0-0 in Portland.  All-time at the Cumberland County Civic Center, the Wolf Pack own a record of 23(W)-9(L)-4(T)-2(OTL) in 38 visits.

· Forward Nathan Gerbe, last season’s AHL Rookie-of-the-Year, and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani currently lead the Pirates offensively, with 2-1-3 apiece.

· 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, October 17 at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:00 p.m.

· After Saturday night’s 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Wolf Pack at the XL Center, the Falcons have lost three straight since winning their season opener.

· Veterans Ryan Potulny and Chris Armstrong posted a goal and an assist each in Springfield’s loss to the Pack Saturday.  Potulny (2-3-5) is tied for the Falcon points lead, with Taylor Chorney (2-3-5), Chris Minard (2-3-5) and Charles Linglet (1-4-5).

· This is the first of five visits on the year by the Wolf Pack to Springfield, where they were a perfect 5-0-0 against the Falcons last season.

· 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:

Miika Wiikman – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) October 5, and reassigned back to the Wolf Pack October 11.

Evgeny Grachev – recalled by the New York Rangers from loan to the Wolf Pack, and returned to Wolf Pack later that day.

Pack Tracks:

Fans are invited to bring their skates to the Wolf Pack’s home game Sunday, October 25 vs. the Worcester Sharks, as there will be a post-game skate on the XL Center ice.  Faceoff that day is 3:00 PM.

There will be a Kids’ “HOWL-een” celebration at the XL Center Friday, October 30, as the Wolf Pack host the defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in a 7:00 game.  Kids can come down on to the ice for an intermission costume parade, and the first 2,000 youngsters into the game will receive Wolf Pack goodie bags.

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 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

The Wolf Pack is offering “Knockout Season Ticket Prices” for 2009-10, with across-the-board price reductions of 8-13% depending on the seat location, as well as terrific discounts for groups of 15 or more.  For more information, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today about all of the Wolf Pack’s many ticket options.

Every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game at the XL Center is Guida’s Family Value Night.  Family Value packages start as low as $45 and include three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir.  To order your Guida’s Family Value Night pack, visit the XL Center box office, or go on-line to www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  The first Friday Guida’s Family Value Night of the season is October 30, when the Pack take on the defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in a 7:00 game. 

Once again this season, the Wolf Pack are partnering with WTIC Radio to air Wolf Pack hockey action.  All of the Wolf Pack’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com . Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  And, as part of the partnership, all new Wolf Pack full season ticket accounts will receive a free HD car radio, with installation from JoDi’s Sound Center, courtesy of the two stations and the Wolf Pack.  To purchase your season seats, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.

The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack is operated by Northland AEG LLC, a joint partnership between Northland Investment Corporation and AEG Facilities.  The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

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