WOLF PACK WEEKLY: April 13 – 19, 2009

The Wolf Pack (46-27-3-4, 99 pts.) secured their third division title in franchise history last week, closing out the regular season by gaining five out of a possible six points.  The Pack got the shorthanded game-winner from Mark Bell with 20.2 seconds left in Wednesday’s 4-3 win at Manchester, and then tied Friday’s game in Lowell with 2:11 remaining in regulation, before losing 3-2 in a shootout.  In Saturday’s regular-season finale at the XL Center vs. Springfield, the Wolf Pack prevailed by a score of 5-3.  Bell added three assists on the week to his game-winning goal from Wednesday, and Dale Weise notched the third-period winner and had an assist Saturday.

This week:

The Atlantic Division-champion Wolf Pack begin their 12^th consecutive trip to the postseason with a first-round matchup against the Worcester Sharks, who finished fourth in the division.  The series opens at the XL Center this Thursday, April 16, with faceoff at 7:00.  Game Two is also in Hartford, this Saturday, April 18 at 7:00, before the series shifts to the DCU Center in Worcester for Game Three on Monday, April 20.  That game faces off at 6:35.  The full series schedule is as follows:

Game One                            Thu., Apr. 16       XL Center                                  7:00

Game Two                            Sat., Apr. 18       XL Center                                  7:00

Game Three                          Mon., Apr. 20      DCU Center                               6:35

Game Four                           Wed., Apr. 22     DCU Center                               6:35

Game Five (if necessary)        Thu., Apr. 23       XL Center                                  7:00

Game Six (if necessary)         Sat., Apr. 25       DCU Center                               7:05

Game Seven (if necessary)     Mon., Apr. 27      XL Center                                  7:00

Tickets for Games One and Two are on sale now at the XL Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall.  Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000., and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all 16 possible home playoff games, plus rollover options and incentives for next year’s season tickets.  To speak to a Wolf Pack account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 548-2000.  More information is available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Thursday, April 16^th, Game One vs. Worcester at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· This is the first-ever playoff matchup between the Wolf Pack and Sharks, who finished the regular season with a record of 42-35-1-2 for 87 points.  Worcester won six of its last seven games, and eight of its last 10, to secure the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

· The Wolf Pack were 4-3-0-1 in regular-season action vs. the Sharks, and the two teams split four meetings at the XL Center.

· Sharks regular-season scoring leader Ryan Vesce (24-47-71 in 67 GP) finished 13^th in the AHL in points.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, April 18^th, Game Two vs. Worcester at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Monday, April 20^th, Game Three at Worcester (DCU Center), 6:35 p.m.

· The Wolf Pack were 2-1-0-1 in four visits to Worcester this year, and are 9-3-0-1 in 13 all-time road games vs. the Sharks.

· Radio – this game can be heard live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  Bob Crawford and WTIC NewsTalk 1080’s Scott Gray will have the call.    The action will also be carried live in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Matt Schepke – signed to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement by the Wolf Pack April 8 and released Ap
ril 9.

Pack Tracks:

Tickets for the Wolf Pack’s first two home playoff games (Games “A” and “B”) are on sale now at the XL Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall.  Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000., and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all 16 possible home playoff games, plus rollover options and incentives for next year’s season tickets.  To speak to a Wolf Pack account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 548-2000.  More information is available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

The Wolf Pack is the presenting sponsor of the 2009 March of Dimes Hartford “March for Babies”, which takes place Sunday, April 26, starting at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will also be entering a team in the March for Babies, and fans are invited to join.  To join the Wolf Pack team, visit its team page at www.marchforbabies.org/teams/hartfordwolfpack.  For general registration, go to www.marchforbabies.org or www.marchofdimes.com/Connecticut.

The Wolf Pack has a new broadcast partnership this season with WTIC NewsTalk 1080 and WTIC-FM.  All of the Wolf Pack’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com . Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  And, as part of the partnership, all Wolf Pack full season ticket accounts will receive a free HD car radio, with installation from JoDi’s Sound Center, courtesy of the two stations and the Wolf Pack.  To purchase your season seats, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.

TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM