CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: December 3-9, 2018

HARTFORD, CT – The Wolf Pack (11-9-1-2, 25 pts., .543) extended a team season-high winning streak to four games with a victory in their only game last week, defeating the AHL-leading Charlotte Checkers by a score of 5-3 Saturday night at the XL Center.  The line of Peter Holland (game-winning goal, assist) between Ville Meskanen (goal, assist) and Matt Beleskey (three assists) combined for seven points in the win and Dustin Tokarski earned his fourth straight triumph in net, with 30 saves.

For the latest AHL standings, click here.

This week:

After playing seven of their last eight games at home, the Wolf Pack start a stretch of four out of five and seven out of nine on the road this Wednesday night, as they travel to Bridgeport to meet the Sound Tigers.  Faceoff for that game is 7:00 PM, and then the Wolf Pack return to the XL Center on Friday night for a 7:15 rematch with Charlotte.  Saturday will find the Wolf Pack in Hershey, taking on the Bears at 7:00.

Wednesday, December 5 at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at Webster Bank Arena, 7:00 PM

• The Sound Tigers come into the week five points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, at 13-7-3-1 for 30 points and a .625 points percentage.  Head Coach Brent Thompson’s Bridgeport club is 2-2-1-1 in its last six games, after a 7-0-1-0 run from November 2-17.
• The Wolf Pack have won their last three meetings with the Sound Tigers, including a 3-2 shootout victory November 23 in their only previous visit to Bridgeport, after the Sound Tigers took the first game of the season series.
• Top Bridgeport point-getter Josh Ho-Sang leads the AHL in assists, with 24 in 20 games, and his second goal of the season was the overtime winner in the Sound Tigers’ last outing, a 5-4 victory in Springfield Sunday.
• Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at ahllive.com.

Friday, December 7 vs. the Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM

• This being a Friday-night Wolf Pack home game, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.
• This is the second clash in less than a week between the Checkers and the Wolf Pack, who took the season series opener this past Saturday at the XL Center, 5-3.
• That Saturday night defeat to the Wolf Pack was Charlotte’s second straight regulation loss, marking the first time all season the Eastern Conference-leading Checkers had dropped consecutive games in regulation.  Charlotte rebounded on Sunday, winning 3-2 in overtime at Providence, to improve their season record to 17-6-1-0 (35 pts., .729).
• Andrew Poturalski, who stands second on the Checker club in points and goals, with 8-14-22 in 24 GP, netted the winning goal Sunday in Providence, with 16 seconds remaining in overtime.
• At this and every Wolf Pack home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club.  Enjoy $2 beers and $5 appetizers from 5:15 PM until puck drop.
• Tickets for this and all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.
• Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.

Saturday, December 8 at the Hershey Bears (Washington) at Giant Center, 7:00 PM

• This is the second of six meetings on the year between the Wolf Pack and the Bears.  In the first clash, November 4 in Hershey, the Bears came away with a 2-1 shootout win.
• Hershey currently sits in eighth place in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 10-12-0-1 (21 pts., .457), but is only one point out of seventh, and only four points behind the fifth-place Wolf Pack.
• Bear veteran defenseman Aaron Ness, who had the only goal of a seven-round shootout against the Wolf Pack November 4 in Hershey, had four points (1-3-4) in the Bears’ two games this past weekend, a 4-2 loss Saturday night at home to Springfield, and a 6-3 home-ice victory over Binghamton Sunday.
• Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at ahllive.com.

Wolf Pack Community Appearances:

The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728:

• Tuesday, December 4, 3:00 PM, U.S. Army National Guard Armory, 360 Broad St., Hartford

Wolf Pack players Brandon Crawley and Libor Hajek are scheduled to join the Wolf Pack’s beloved mascot, Sonar, in delivering a shipment of soft toys, donated by Wolf Pack fans in the recent “Teddy Bear Toss”, to Operation ELF, which will distribute the toys to the children of CT National Guard soldiers.

• Thursday, December 6, 8:45 AM, New Hartford, CT

Sonar heads to Litchfield County to promote the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program in three different schools, New Hartford Elementary (40 Wickett St., Pine Meadow), Bakerville Elementary (51 Cedar Lane, New Hartford) and Ann Antolini School (30 Antolini Rd., New Hartford).

• Saturday, December 8, 9:00 AM, West Farms Mall, 1500 New Britain Ave., Farmington, CT

Sonar delivers more of the “Teddy Bear Toss” toys to NBC Connecticut, for donation to Toys for Tots.

Recent Transactions:

Tim Gettinger – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers November 26, recalled November 27 and returned December 1.

Matt Beleskey – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 1, and returned to the Wolf Pack December 2.

Alexandar Georgiev – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 2.

Vinni Lettieri – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers November 30, and returned to the Wolf Pack December 2.

Vince Pedrie – reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Maine (ECHL) December 2.

Dustin Tokarski – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 2.

Ryan Gropp – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Maine (ECHL) December 3.

Terrence Wallin – released by the Wolf Pack from a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement December 3.

Pack Tracks:

Saturday, December 29, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 PM, the first 2,000 fans into the game will receive a free Wolf Pack team trading card set, presented by CM Concessions.  Also, fans are invited to bring their skates that night, for a free postgame skate on the XL Center ice.

Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  After this Friday, the Wolf Pack’s next Friday home date is January 4, when they host the Springfield Thunderbirds in a 7:15 PM game.

Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and two hot dogs, all for just $40.  The next Family Value Pack game is Wednesday, December 19, when the Providence Bruins come to town for a 7:00 PM game.

Every Wolf Pack Wednesday home game is a “Winning Wednesday”.  If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday Wolf Pack home game (some restrictions apply).  The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home game is December 19, a 7:00 PM contest vs. the Providence Bruins.

Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

 TRACK THE PACK ON-LINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM