BETTER LATE THAN NEVER 

(The worst kept secret in hockey history is made official with this release from the Connecticut Whale)

RANGERS RETURN FIVE PLAYERS TO WHALE

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Forwards Dupont, Grachev, Kolarik and Newbury, and Defenseman Del Zotto, Reassigned to AHL

HARTFORD, CT –  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have returned forwards Brodie Dupont, Evgeny Grachev, Chad Kolarik and Kris Newbury, as well as defenseman Michael Del Zotto, to the Whale.

Dupont was scoreless in one game, his NHL debut January 22 at Atlanta, for the Rangers, after receiving his first career NHL recall from New York last Wednesday, January 19.  In 40 games with the Whale this season, the fourth-year pro has registered eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points, along with 54 penalty minutes.

Grachev, recalled Saturday by the Rangers, has skated in eight NHL games this year with New York and has no points or penalty minutes.  In 40 games with the Whale, Grachev has 12 goals, fourth-most on the team, and six assists for 18 points.

Kolarik received his first Ranger recall last Wednesday, January 19 and had one assist and two penalty minutes in four games with the parent club.  Since being acquired by New York in a trade with Columbus November 11, Kolarik has 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 26 games with the Whale, and in AHL action between Connecticut and Springfield, the former University of Michigan Wolverine has 17 goals, second on the Whale team, and 16 assists for 33 points in 39 games.

Newbury, an eighth-year pro, played seven games in his first stint with the Rangers after being recalled January 9.  He had one assist and 33 PIM in those seven games, and is the Whale’s second-leading point-getter on the year, with five goals and a team-best 30 assists for 35 points in 41 games.

Del Zotto was scoreless with five shots on goal in two games with the Rangers, after being recalled from the Whale along with Grachev on Saturday.  On the year Del Zotto has totaled 37 NHL games-played, with two goals and seven assists for nine points, along with 14 penalty minutes.  In eight games with the Whale since his initial assignment January 3, Del Zotto has seven assists and eight PIM.

The Whale are back in home-ice action at the XL Center this Friday, January 28 against the Manchester Monarchs.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and being a Friday night, it’s Guida’s Family Value Night.  Family Value packages start as low as $48 and include three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Whale souvenir. Guida’s Family Value Night packs are available at the XL Center ticket office and on-line at www.CTwhale.com.

The Whale also play at home this Saturday, January 29 vs. Head Coach Kevin Dineen and the Portland Pirates.  That is also a 7:00 faceoff, and features a special appearance by Hall of Fame ex-NHL defenseman Brad Park, who will be signing autographs in the XL Center atrium from 6:00-7:00 PM and dropping a ceremonial first puck.  Park is also slated to be among the Boston Bruins legends who take the ice against Whalers legends February 19 at Rentschler Field in the Harvest-Properties.com “Whale Bowl”.

Tickets for all 2010-11 Whale home games are available now at the XL Center ticket office, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line 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.

The AHL’s CT 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.