Today was media day for the Connecticut Whale at the Hilton Hotel in Hartford. Among those who spoke were Howard Baldwin, Sr., Head Coach Ken Gernander and the Voice of the team, Bob Crawford.
There were several announcements that were made including an announcement that five CTWhale games would be televised on WCCT-TV. It will be the first time that the AHL action has been on local TV since the 2006-2007 season.
The games are all Saturday night contests starting December 10th when the Whale take on the Providence Bruins followed by the Springfield Falcons on January 28th. The Worcester Sharks will face-off against the Whale on WCCT-TV on February 18th and then against the Norfolk Admirals on March 10th and finally on March 31st, they will take on the Adirondack Phantoms.
WCCT-TV is the Hartford area “CW” station.
Also announced was a proclamation from Governor Dannel P. Malloy that this week was officially “CT Whale Week.”
Last but not least was the announcement that former New England Whaler Garry Swain will be joining the home game radio broadcasts with Bob Crawford.
Swain previously worked with Bob Neumeier, the former voice of the Hartford Whalers on WTIC-AM and he’s also a broadcaster with NBC Sports and Comcast New England. He also worked with former Whalers broadcaster Chuck Kaiton, who is currently the radio play-by-play man for the Carolina Hurricanes radio broadcasts.
Swain said that he might also go on some of the close road trips like Bridgeport and Springfield as well, but that was still being discussed.
You knew Sean Avery had to come up…well we brought it up, and Gernander said that he was expecting Avery to play in all situations and contribute in all areas. While Avery did not attend this function, he did attend last night’s season ticket holder function and was received and handled himself very professionally.
When would Avery actually take to the ice, “He’s rehabbing an injury right now.” Gernander said. “It depends upon the player. We won’t rush him. When he’s ready to go he’ll tell us and we’ll get him in there.”
