SWAIN COMPLETES THE SOUND OF WHALE BROADCASTS

FORMER WHALER GARRY SWAIN TO JOIN CONNECTICUT WHALE BROADCAST TEAM

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Former WHA and NHL Player Skated in Nine Professional Seasons

Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that former New England Whaler Garry Swain will be joining veteran play-by-play man Bob Crawford as a commentator during this season’s Connecticut Whale home game radio broadcasts as part of “Rockin’ Hockey” on 106.9 WCCC-FM.

Swain, a first-round draft pick of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins in 1968 and a veteran of three seasons with the WHA’s Whalers, brings additional broadcast experience to the radio booth. Swain has previously worked with Bob Neumeier, former voice of the Hartford Whalers on WTIC-AM and currently a broadcaster for NBC Sports and Comcast SportsNet New England. He has also done games with former Whaler broadcaster Chuck Kaiton, currently the radio play-by-play voice of the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I have a passion for the game and I have an eye towards bringing the Hartford market back to prominence in the hockey world,” said Swain. “It’s nice not only to work with another professional in Bob Crawford, but also Howard Baldwin, and to help with his vision.”

Swain has already been on board with Whalers Sports and Entertainment for some time, working in the Business Development department in sponsorship sales.

The Whale’s regular-season home opener is this Saturday, October 15, a GEICO Connecticut Cup game vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Five-thousand fans at that game will receive a free Whale magnetic schedule, sponsored by Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  Tickets to that game, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

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 and mini plans, 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.