GREAT NEWS FOR WHALE FANS

The Connecticut Whale announced today that they are going to be broadcasting EVERY game this season on WCCC-FM.

The radio deals that the team has had the past couple of seasons have been nothing shy of a joke. You had to either have a digital radio…which practically nobody has or you had to try and find it on line because the games were hardly ever on the air.

WCCC-FM is one of the largest stations in this state and this will afford Whale fans to listen to the team at any time. The production values are certain to be raised and as a result the broadcasts are certain to be among the best in the sport.

Bob Crawford will of course be behind the microphone as he has been since the team’s inception. That too is good news as “Hawk” Crawford is easily among the best AHL play-by-play announcers in the businesses.

“This will give the franchise a consistent radio reach the likes of which it has never enjoyed before, and among the best signals that any AHL team can boast of,” Crawford told Howlings. “Being able to land this deal is a huge ‘get’ for the franchise and its promotion, and I’m very excited about it.”

Here is the official release from the team.

WHALE ANNOUNCE NEW RADIO BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP

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Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” to be Carried on “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM

HARTFORD, CT:  Although the season has ended, the Connecticut Whale continues to rock off the ice with the announcement today by Whalers Sports & Entertainment chairman and CEO Howard Baldwin of the new “Rockin’” radio broadcast home of the Connecticut Whale.

Whalers Sports and Entertainment and “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM will partner in the Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” radio network starting with the upcoming 2011-12 Whale season, with all Whale regular season and playoff games being carried live on The Rock 106.9 WCCC-FM with its powerhouse 50,000-watt signal.

“Expanding our broadcast reach has been one of our top priorities since taking over the operations of Hartford’s American Hockey League (AHL) franchise, and this new partnership with WCCC-FM brings our game broadcasts to a much higher profile,” Baldwin said.  “The signal strength of ‘The Rock’ is competitive with the strongest in the market, and will allow fans throughout the state of Connecticut, and beyond, to hear our games.  We join the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox as teams here in New England who broadcast their games on FM. It’s the wave of the future.”

The Rock 106.9 WCCC FM is the Hartford market’s non-corporate, independent, live and local rock station, playing a wide variety of rock songs for a wide variety of rock fans.  The Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” partnership will include year-long cross-promotions, listener-interaction, opportunities to win and regular Whale player and staff on-air appearances on The Rock 106.9 WCCC, as the Whale and WCCC rock Connecticut together.

“This represents a whale of an opportunity for us to build on our long standing commitment to community involvement,” said Boyd Arnold, Vice President and General Manager of WCCC.  “The Connecticut Whale is a tremendous community asset and we’re proud to be involved with them at this level.”

Bob Crawford, the “Voice of the Whale” since the franchise’s inception, will return for his 15^th season behind the Whale microphone, and his 23^rd AHL campaign, in 2011-12.

“The WCCC-FM broadcast announcement is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of new programs and services for our fans this upcoming season,” Baldwin said. “Stay tuned.”

Season tickets for the 2011-12 Whale season are available now, with a special early bird discount. Call (860) 728-3366 for information on that, as well as all Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages.

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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