WOLF PACK WEEKLY: March 15-21, 2010 

After seeing a winless streak balloon to a season-high seven games (0-3-3-1) with a 6-4 loss at Worcester Wednesday, the Wolf Pack (28-28-6-5, 67 pts.) won two games in a row.  The Pack snapped their skid with a 4-2 victory in Springfield Friday night, then started a six-game homestand with a 6-2 victory Saturday night over Lowell.  The back-to-back triumphs were the Wolf Pack’s first since January 10 and 16, and elevated the club into sixth place in the Atlantic Division, six points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Pack leading scorer Corey Locke led the way offensively for the Wolf Pack last week, chalking up three goals and four assists, along with a +5, in the three games.

This week:

The Wolf Pack continue their season-high, six-game homestand with three games at the XL Center this week, all against Atlantic-Division competition.  The Providence Bruins invade the XL Center Wednesday for a St. Patrick’s Night clash with the Pack, with faceoff at 7:00 PM.  The Springfield Falcons come to town on Saturday night for a 7:00 game, on “CT Youth Sports Night”, and then the Bruins are back for a matinee on Sunday (3:00).

Wednesday, March 17 vs. Providence at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· As with all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night home games, this night features $3 domestic drafts and snacks in the XL Center Atrium.

· Only one point separates the sixth-place Wolf Pack from the seventh-place Bruins (31-33-3-1, 66 pts.) in the Atlantic Division.  The P-Bruins are winless in their last six games (0-5-0-1).

· The Wolf Pack are 5-2-1-0 in eight games against Providence this year, but absorbed a 7-1 pounding from the Bruins in the teams’ last meeting, February 12 in Providence.

· Bruin forward Lane MacDermid, whose father Paul played 370 games in a Hartford Whaler uniform between 1981 and 1989, leads all AHL rookies in penalty minutes, with 155, and major penalties, with 21.

· 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, March 20 vs. Springfield at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· This is “CT Youth Sports Night” at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be honoring Connecticut sports teams and organizations, of all age levels, throughout the evening.

· Springfield (23-34-9-3, 58 pts.) still trails the field in the overall AHL standings, and is eight points behind seventh-place Providence in the Atlantic Division, but the Falcons have scored 5-4 shootout wins in their last two games, over league-leading Hershey Saturday and at Portland Sunday.

· The Pack’s 4-2 victory in Springfield Friday upped their record in the season series with the Falcons to 4-1-2-0 in seven games.  The Wolf Pack are 2-0-1-0 in three home games this year vs. Springfield.

· Wethersfield, CT-raised Colin McDonald had a goal and five shots against the Wolf Pack Friday night, and the Falcons also got a power-play goal in that game from Slava Trukhno.

· As with all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night home games, this night features $3 domestic drafts and snacks in the XL Center Atrium.

· 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, March 21 vs. Providence at the XL Center, 3:00 PM

· Fans are encouraged to bring their skates to this game, as there will be a free post-game skate on the XL Center ice, presented by Stone Academy.

· Providence is above .500 on the road for the year (16-15-1-0), and three games under the even mark (15-18-2-1) at home.

· 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:

Mike Hoffman – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement, and signed to and AHL contract, by  the Wolf Pack March 10.

David Urquhart – loaned by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) March 11.

Pack Tracks:

Saturday, March 27, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a GEICO Connecticut Cup Game at 7:00 PM, it’s “Boy Scout Celebration Night” at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be joining the Scouts of America in celebrating their 100^th anniversary, and there will be an auction of Scout specialty jerseys, which the Wolf Pack will wear in this game and in their home game the night before, Friday, March 26 vs. Adirondack.

The Wolf Pack’s home game that had been scheduled for Thursday, April 1 at the XL Center vs. the Worcester Sharks has been moved to the previous night, Wednesday, March 31.  Faceoff time remains 7:00 PM.

At every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night Wolf Pack home game for the balance of the regular season, fans can enjoy $3 drafts and snacks in the XL Center Atrium.  Also, the Comcast Coliseum Club features a “Warm-up Menu”, with $3 domestic drafts and appetizers, before every Wolf Pack home game at the XL Center.

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.  Information on all of the Wolf Pack’s many terrific ticket options, including group discounts, season tickets, partial plans, Birthday Bash packages and more, is available by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000, and on-line 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.  The next Friday Guida’s Family Value Night is March 26, when the Wolf Pack host the Adirondack Phantoms at 7:00.

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 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.

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