WHALE WEEKLY: November 7-13, 2011 

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the CT Whale

The Whale came away with three points in three games this past week, and Connecticut finished their slate in sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division. The Whale were defeated, 3-2 in a shootout, Wednesday in Bridgeport, before losing to the St. John’s IceCaps, 6-3, on Friday night in Hartford. Connecticut responded with a big 3-2 shootout win over the Albany Devils, to conclude the week’s action on Saturday night. Rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had points in all three games, tallying three goals and three assists on the week.

This week:

The Whale heads to St. John’s, Newfoundland this week for a pair of games with the IceCaps, in the season’s only road meetings with the AHL’s newest entry. Connecticut will meet St. John’s on Saturday for the first of two games at the Mile One Centre at 6:00 PM, and then again on Sunday at 2:30 PM. The trip will be the longest of the season for the Whale in terms of distance.

Saturday, November 12 at St. John’s IceCaps (Mile One Centre), 6:00 PM

· The Whale will face the IceCaps for the second time this season on Saturday, looking to avenge last week’s 6-3 loss to St. John’s at the XL Center in their first-ever meeting.

· Arturs Kulda had two goals for the IceCaps in their win over the Whale, while Eric O’Dell netted the game-winning tally, his first professional goal.

· St. John’s has stretched their current winning streak to four games, their longest run of the young season. All four wins came after starting out with two overtime losses on their six-game road trip that ended Sunday in Bridgeport.

· The Whale have not been to St. John’s since the 2002-2003 season, when the then Wolf Pack last faced the St. John’s Maple Leafs at Mile One Centre December 1, 2002 (a 3-1 Hartford victory). Brendan Bell, John Mitchell, Kris Newbury and former Whale Jeremy Williams were all part of that St. John’s team.

· Radio – CT Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” live with Bob Crawford on “The Rock”, 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Sunday, November 13 at St. John’s (Mile One Center), 2:30 PM

· The IceCaps entered the week with the most points in the AHL (21, 9-2-3-0), in first place in the Atlantic Division, eight points ahead of second-place Providence.

· Marco Rosa currently leads the IceCaps in scoring, having tallied eleven points (3-8-11) in 14 games this season. Rosa registered two assists in St. John’s’ win over the Whale on Friday.

· Paul Postma sits in a tie for fourth in league scoring amongst defensemen, showing eight points (2-6-8) in 10 games so far this season.

· Rookie goaltender Edward Pasquale ranks tied for second in the AHL in goals-against average with a 1.75 mark, along with a .935 save percentage. Pasquale made 16 stops on the Whale in Friday’s game.

· Radio – CT Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” live with Bob Crawford on “The Rock”, 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Recent Transactions:

Sean Avery – recalled from the Whale by the New York Rangers November 1.

Lee Baldwin – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Whale to the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL) November 3.

Practice:
All Whale practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 728-3366 before attending a practice.

Tues., November 8        10:00 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center

Wed., November 9        10:00 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Thurs., November 10     10:00 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., November 11          Practice in St. John’s

Sat., November 12        Game at St. John’s

Sun., November 13        Game at St. John’s

Mon., November 14       No Practice – Travel Day

Whale Tales:

The Whale’s next home game at the XL Center is Friday, November 18.  The Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town that night for a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle at 7:00 PM.

To celebrate the upcoming Holiday season, the Whale are offering a “Holiday Hat Trick” package.  A package of four Upper Level tickets, four Whale winter hats and four Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards is only $80, with upgrades available.  Purchase your Holiday Hat Trick package through the Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366.

Fans who purchase Whale season tickets, or a mini-plan, before December 31 will be entered to win a round-trip excursion via limousine to a New York Rangers regular-season home game at Madison Square Garden.  Current season seat-holders and mini-plan-holders are also automatically entered.

College students can get discounted tickets to Whale weekday games with the Whale’s “Ditch the Dorms” deal.  For Monday through Friday home games, students who show a valid student ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center can get $2 off Upper Level tickets and $5 off Lower Level seats.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats, mini plans and great group discounts, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

The AHL’s Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin and Howard Baldwin, Jr..  The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated nearly $21.4 billion in sales and has transferred more than $7.2 billion to the state’s General Fund. Prizes have exceeded $12.3 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, visit ctlottery.org.

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