WOLF PACK/WHALE WEEKLY: November 1-7, 2010 

WOLF PACK/WHALE WEEKLY: November 1-7, 2010

 The Wolf Pack (3-5-2-1, 9 pts.) saw a winless skein extend to six games (0-4-2-0) this past week, with a pair of regulation losses and an overtime defeat.  The Albany Devils came into the XL Center on Wednesday night and skated off with a 3-1 win, before the Wolf Pack wrapped up a five-game homestand by dropping a 2-1 overtime decision at home to Springfield on Friday, despite outshooting the Falcons 42-25.  The Wolf Pack and Falcons completed a home-and-home set in Springfield on Saturday, and the home club broke out to a 3-0 lead before hanging on to win by a score of 3-2.  Tomas Kundratek registered his first pro point with a goal in that game, and Devin DiDiomete got his first point of the season with the other Wolf Pack score.

This week:

The Wolf Pack faces its first four-games-in-five-nights stretch of the season this week, with a pair of Atlantic Division home-and-home sets.  The Manchester Monarchs visit the XL Center on Wednesday night at 7:00, before the two teams rematch in Manchester on Friday night (7:00).  Then it’s GEICO Connecticut Cup action vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Saturday night in Bridgeport (7:00) and Sunday at the XL Center.  That Sunday game is a special 7:00 PM start.

Wednesday, November 3 vs. Manchester at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· The Monarchs (5-3-1-1, 12 pts.) are currently tied with Springfield for second place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind division-leading Portland.

· This is the first of eight meetings on the year between the Wolf Pack and Manchester.  The Pack were 3-5-0-0 in an eight-game season series last year, and won three of their four home games against the Monarchs.

· David Meckler (6-3-9) and Brandon Kozun (5-4-9) are tied for Manchester’s scoring lead, and Kozun is tied for second among AHL rookie scorers.

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

Friday, November 5 at Manchester (Verizon Wireless Arena), 7:00 PM

· Manchester is 3-1-1-0 in five home games thus far this year.

· The Wolf Pack were 0-4-0-0 in action in Manchester last season, and were outscored by a combined margin of 17-3 in their last three visits.

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

Saturday, November 6 at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 7:00 PM

· This is the second of ten GEICO Connecticut Cup battles this season between the Wolf Pack and their GEICO Connecticut Cup rivals the Sound Tigers.  The Wolf Pack took the first clash, 2-1, October 16 in Bridgeport.

· The Sound Tigers stopped a two-game losing streak with a win in their last outing, a 3-2 overtime triumph in Manchester on Friday night.  Overall, Coach Jack Capuano’s club is 3-5-0-0 for six points, three points behind the Wolf Pack.

· Rookie goaltender Kevin Poulin got the win Friday with 25 saves, and has two of Bridgeport’s three victories on the year (2-1-0, 2.00 GAA, 93.1 save percentage), and defenseman Travis Hamonic, a fellow first-year pro, netted the overtime game-winner.

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

Sunday, November 7 vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· Please note the special Sunday starting time of 7:00 PM for this game.

· This is the first of five Sound Tiger visits to the XL Center on the year.  The Wolf Pack were 3-2-0-0 in five home games against Bridgeport last season.

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

Recent Transactions:

Evgeny Grachev – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 28. 

Pack Tracks:

The Wolf Pack will officially be re-branded as the Connecticut Whale on November 27 for a game at the XL Center vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The Wolf Pack’s final home game at the XL Center will be on November 13 vs. the Springfield Falcons. There will be several events commemorating the 13-plus year Wolf Pack history that night.  A “Hartford Distributors/Bud Light All-time Wolf Pack Team” will be announced at the November 13 game, and fans are invited to cast their votes for the team, at CTWhale.com and at various retailers, courtesy of Hartford Distributors and Bud Light.

Individual tickets for Wolf Pack/Whale home games are on sale now at the XL Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.CTwhale.com.

For information on Wolf Pack/Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366

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/Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin.  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/WHALE AT WWW.CTWHALE.COM