KEELEY / CRAWFORD: DAY, GROPP RECALLED TO HARTFORD 

Pair of Rangers prospects earn AHL call-up

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – December 27, 2018 – Defenseman Sean Day and forward Ryan Gropp were recalled to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on Thursday. Both players are under contract with the New York Rangers and join the Wolf Pack for the second time this season.

Day, who will turn 21 on January 9^th, was assigned to the Mariners on November 6^th. The talented defenseman gained rare “Exceptional Player Status” from Hockey Canada in 2013, allowing him to play Juniors prior to the age of 16. In the midst of a five-year OHL career, Day was drafted by the Rangers in 2016, round three and signed with them in March of 2017. He finished Juniors last season with the Kingston Frontenacs and began this year in Hartford, playing in six games with no points. In his first game with the Mariners on November 7^th in Reading, Day scored two goals. In 19 games, he has four goals and 11 assists.

Ryan Gropp is a 22 year old forward who was drafted by the Rangers in 2015 (2^nd round, 41^st overall) and is in his 2^nd year as a pro, spending all of last season in Hartford where he had 21 points (14 goals, 7 assists) in 59 games. After putting up two goals and three assists in 19 games to start ’17-18, Gropp was assigned to the Mariners on November 4^th. He’s been a point-per-game player with Maine, scoring five goals and chipping in three assists in eight games. He scored twice, including the game-winner with 1:04 left in the third period in the Mariners’ last game on December 22^nd at Manchester. Gropp played his Junior hockey in the WHL, and put up two monster seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, with 70 and 84 points respectively.

The Mariners have back to back home games tonight and tomorrow night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Manchester is in town tonight at 7:00 PM. The Mariners also host Worcester on Friday, December 28^th at 7:15 PM for a 1-2-3 Friday, Nickelodeon Takeover Night, and First Responders Night. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling 207-775-3458.

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, December 27, 2018:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned defenseman Sean Day and forward Ryan Gropp to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners.

Day, a rookie out of the Ontario Hockey League and a third-round (81^st overall) Ranger draft pick in 2016,  was scoreless with five shots on goal in six games with the Wolf Pack prior to being reassigned to the Mariners November 5.  In 19 ECHL contests with Maine, the 20-year-old 6-3, 225-pounder has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points, along with six penalty minutes and a +4.  Those totals are good for tops among Mariner defensemen in points and goals, and a tie for the team lead among blueliners in assists.  Day is also tied for third overall on the Mariner club in assists and stands fourth in points.

Gropp, a second-year pro who was a second-round (41^st overall) pick by the Rangers in 2015, has skated in 19 games with the Wolf Pack this season, notching two goals and three assists for five points and serving four minutes in penalties.  Since joining the Mariners December 3, the 6-3, 187-pound Gropp has suited up for eight ECHL games, scoring five goals and adding three assists for eight points.  In 78 games with the Wolf Pack over two seasons, the 22-year-old Gropp has totaled 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points, plus 18 PIM.

The Wolf Pack are back in action tonight, with a 7:00 PM visit to Bridgeport to take on the Sound Tigers.  All of the action of that battle can be heard live on News Radio 1410 WPOP, and online at newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV.

The Wolf Pack’s next home game is this Saturday, December 29, the completion of a home-and-home with Bridgeport.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM and the first 2,000 fans into the XL Center for that game will receive a free Wolf Pack team trading card set, presented by CM Concessions.

Tickets for 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.

Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found online at hartfordwolfpack.com.  To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.