WOLF PACK WEEKLY: November 23 – 29, 2009 

The Wolf Pack (11-8-0-1, 23 pts.) are tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division, after gaining three out of a possible six points in three non-division games this past week.  The Pack went to a shootout for the first time on the season Wednesday at home against Binghamton, and ended up on the short end of a 2-1 loss.  The next night at the XL Center, Ken Gernander’s club rebounded with a 5-3 triumph over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Saturday, though, saw a four-game Wolf Pack points streak (3-0-0-1) come to an end, as the Pack lost 2-1 in Syracuse.  Corey Locke chalked up six points (2-4-6) in the three games, including two goals and two assists in Thursday’s win, to become the first AHL player this year to hit the 30-point mark (11-19-30 in 20 GP).

This week:

The Wolf Pack celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with four Atlantic-Division games this week.  The Pack make their first visit of the season to Lowell on Wednesday (7:00 faceoff), before returning to the XL Center for a Guida’s Family Value Night date with the Portland Pirates on Friday (7:00).  The Wolf Pack are back on home ice on Saturday (7:00), hosting Providence, and then finish off the busy week in Bridgeport on Sunday.  That GEICO Connecticut Cup contest faces off at 3:00.

Wednesday, November 25 at Lowell (Paul E. Tsongas Arena), 7:00 PM

· The Devils (12-6-3-0, 27 pts.) have won two in a row, and seven of their last eight games, to climb into a first-place tie with Manchester in the Atlantic Division.

· This is the Wolf Pack’s first trip of the year to Lowell.  The Pack won the first game of the season between themselves and the Devils, 5-2 in Hartford October 24.

· Lowell is the highest-scoring team in the AHL, averaging 3.62 goals-per-game.  The Devils’ top scorer is Vladimir Zharkov, who is tied for sixth in the league with 20 points (6-14-20 in 21 GP).

· 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.

Friday, November 27 vs. Portland at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· Head Coach Kevin Dineen brings his Pirates into the XL Center winners of three straight, and unbeaten in regulation in their last six games (4-0-2-0).  Portland’s 9-10-2-0 overall record for 20 points puts them sixth in the Atlantic Division, three points behind the Wolf Pack.

· Being a Friday home game, this is a 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.  Guida’s Family Value Night packs are available at the XL Center box office and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

· The Pirates handed the Wolf Pack a 6-3 defeat in the teams’ first get-together of the season, October 16 in Portland.

· Tyler Ennis, who burnt the Wolf Pack for a hat trick and an assist in the Pirates’ October 16 win, leads all AHL rookies in scoring with 7-12-19 in 21 games.

· 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, November 28 vs. Providence at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· This is already the fifth meeting of the season between the Wolf Pack and P-Bruins.  The Pack have won three of the previous four, including the only prior game in Hartford, a 7-0 blowout Halloween Night.

· The Bruins (9-10-1-0, 19 pts.) currently occupy last place in the Atlantic Division, but have won three of their last four games.

· Veteran Providence defenseman Andy Wozniewski (6-14-20 in 20 games) is tied with the Wolf Pack’s Bobby Sanguinetti for the AHL lead in points among blueliners.

· This being a Saturday-night home game, $3 domestic draft beers will be available in the XL Center Atrium, as is the case for every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night home date.

· 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.

Sunday, November 29 at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 3:00 PM

· This game is the season’s second installment of the GEICO Connecticut Cup.  The Wolf Pack captured the first clash of the year November 7 in Bridgeport, winning 4-1.

· The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers enter the week tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division at 23 points.  Bridgeport has at least a point in five straight games (4-0-0-1), to improve to 11-10-0-1 in 22 games.

· Left-wing Sean Bentivoglio tops Sound Tiger point-scorers, with 7-8-15 in 22 games.

· 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:

None

Pack Tracks:

The perfect gift idea for any hockey fan is a Wolf Pack Holiday Pack.  Wolf Pack Holiday Packs are available starting this Friday, November 27 through January 3, from the Wolf Pack ticket office (860-548-2000) and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  Each Holiday Pack includes two flexible game vouchers, redeemable at the XL Center box office for tickets to any regular-season home game, a Wolf Pack souvenir and a Chuck-a-Puck voucher.  The cost of the Holiday Pack package is $32 for adults, and packages for kids 16 or younger can be purchased for $22, with the purchase of at least one adult package (service charges, facility and handling fees may apply).

Saturday, December 12, when the Wolf Pack host Bridgeport in a 7:00 GEICO Connecticut Cup game, is “Hometown Hero Night” at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be honoring various servicemen and women, including local Police and Fire departments, Military and Civil Service personnel, and will salute the 2009-10 “Hometown Hero of the Year”.  The December 12 game also features the Wolf Pack’s annual “Holiday Toy Toss”, and that night is a Boy Scout Night as well.  Information on Scout Nights, as well as all of the Wolf Pack’s many terrific ticket options, is available by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. 

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.

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. 

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.  The next Pack game scheduled to be on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 is coming up Saturday, December 12, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in GEICO Connecticut Cup action at the XL Center (7:00 faceoff).

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.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state’s General Fund.  Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion.  Purchasers must be 18 years or older.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238.  For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.

TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM