The Whale (10-11-2-4, 26 pts.) has climbed into a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Division, after a 2-0-0-1 week last week. A 2-1 shootout loss at Worcester was the first non-win for the Whale since the re-branding from the Wolf Pack, and the club rebounded for a 3-1 victory in Providence on Friday. Saturday found the Whale back at the XL Center, and Ken Gernander’s troops gained some revenge on Worcester, posting a come-from-behind, 4-3 shootout triumph over the Sharks. The team remains unbeaten in regulation in five games (4-0-0-1) since the re-branding, and the Whale’s season-high streak of games with at least a standings point now stands at six (4-0-0-2). Kris Newbury was the top offensive performer this past week, registering five assists in the three games. With 2-21-23 in 27 games, Newbury is now tied for the AHL lead in assists and is tied with Jeremy Williams (14-9-23 in 27 GP) for tops on the Whale team in points.
This week:
The Whale plays back-to-back home games at the XL Center this Saturday, December 11 vs. first-place Manchester (7:00 PM faceoff) and Sunday, December 12 (3:00 PM) against Adirondack.
Saturday, December 11 vs. Manchester at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
· This is “Military Appreciation Night” at the XL Center, and this game will feature the team’s annual “Teddy Bear Toss”. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped soft toys to the game and attach their names and phone numbers to them, and when the Whale scores its first goal of the game, heave them on to the ice, for holiday donation to local underprivileged kids. The fan whose toy comes closest to center ice will win four v.i.p. tickets to the Whale’s outdoor game at Rentschler Field February 19th.
· The first 1,000 fans into this game will receive a free poster of Whale forward Mats Zuccarello.
· Former Hartford Whaler defenseman Chris Kotsopoulos will be making a special appearance at this game, and will be signing autographs for fans in the XL Center atrium from 6:00-7:00 PM.
· The Monarchs currently sit atop the Atlantic Division with a record of 16-9-1-1 for 34 points, four points ahead of second-place Portland. Coach Mark Morris’ club has lost two of its last three games, after winning eight of the previous nine.
· Manchester has won all three previous meetings with the Whale this year, two of them by one-goal margins. The only previous get-together in Hartford was November 3, which Manchester won by a 4-1 score.
· Andrei Loktionov leads the Monarchs in points and assists, with 4-16-20, despite having played in only 17 of the team’s 27 games.
· Radio – this will be the first Whale broadcast of the season on the 50,000-watt AM flame-thrower, WTIC NewsTalk 1080. Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey will have the call, which can also be heard on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.
Sunday, December 12 vs. Adirondack at the XL Center, 3:00 PM
· Fans are encouraged to bring their skates to this game, as there will be a free postgame skate on the XL Center ice.
· The Phantoms have struggled to a 3-20-2-0 record for eight points through 25 games, and trail seventh-place Syracuse by 12 points in the East Division.
· The Whale won the first game between themselves and the Phantoms, 3-0, last Sunday at the XL Center.
· Rookie defenseman Erik Gustafsson continues to pace the Phantoms’ club in points, with 2-13-15 in 25 games.
· Radio – this game will also be boomed on the 50,000 watts of WTIC NewsTalk 1080. Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey are at the mikes, and the broadcast can also be heard on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.
Recent Transactions:
Tyler Donati – loaned by the Whale to Elmira (ECHL) November 30.
Chris McKelvie – loaned by the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) December 4.
Whale Tales:
Give the gift of Whale hockey this holiday season, with a Whale Holiday Pack, the perfect stocking stuffer for any hockey fan. A package of six dark green-section undated flex tickets, plus a heritage Connecticut Whale hat, is just $122, a savings of $38. And a yellow-section package of six undated flex tickets and a hat is only $74, a $14 savings. Holiday Packs are available at the Fan Center behind section 101 at Whale home games, or by calling the Whale at 860-728-3366.
The merchandise stands at the XL Center are carrying a full selection of Whale items, including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, pucks, mini-sticks and even plush toy whales. Whale merchandise is also available at the Whale Pro Shop in the Hartford Holiday Store, which is located at 45 Pratt St. in downtown Hartford and is open 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday, and two hours before every home game. Fans preferring to shop on the web can check out the Whale selection on-line at www.ctwhaleshop.com.
Individual tickets for Whale home games are on sale now at the XL Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.CTwhale.com. Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.
For information on Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366
Once again this season, the Whale are partnering with WTIC Radio to air Whale hockey action. All of the Whale’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 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.
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