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JOHNSON INJURED, MISSIAEN RECALLED

Connecticut WhaleChad Johnson was injured late in the first period of Friday night’s 6-3 Connecticut Whale victory over the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center. The injury has resulted in the immediate recall of Jason Missiaen from the Greenville Road Warriors as a backup for Cam Talbot.

Including Friday night, Johnson had started the last seven games for the Whale and while he didn’t figure in this decision, he has won five of those seven.

Missiaen has had a good season with the Road Warriors. In 26 games, Missiaen, the tallest goaltender in North America at 6’8” and 220 pounds, has a 13-10-2 posting a 3.16 goals-against average and a 90.3% save percentage with three shutouts. Missiaen is tied for second-most in the ECHL in the shutout category.

The extent of Johnson’s injury is unknown as is the length of time he will be out.

Here’s the official release:

GOALTENDER JASON MISSIAEN SUMMONED TO WHALE FROM ECHL GREENVILLE

HARTFORD, February 18, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Jason Missiaen to the Whale from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Missiaen, who, at 6-8 and 220 pounds, is the tallest goaltender in North American pro hockey, is 13-10-2 in 26 games with the Road Warriors, with a 3.16 goals-against average, a 90.3% save percentage and three shutouts, tied for second-most in the ECHL.

Missiaen was signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 24, 2011, from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  He was a fourth-round selection (116th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.

The Whale are in action tonight at the XL Center, in a 7:00 PM game vs. the Worcester Sharks.  That is “It All Starts Here Night”, celebrating both youth hockey and the tremendous player-development record that has been the hallmark of the relationship between the Whale and their NHL parent club, the New York Rangers.

Fans who wear a youth hockey jersey to the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will be able to purchase lower-level end-zone seats to tonight’s game for just $10 each.

In addition, all fans in attendance tonight will receive a Whale TV poster, courtesy of Webster Bank. The poster will feature the theme of the night, “It All Starts Here”, with players and staff who have sent time developing with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Whale before being promoted to the New York Rangers, including players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Carl Hagelin.

Tickets to 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.

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Mitch Beck

Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He has also worked in hockey as a coach and administrator. He also works for USA Hockey as a Coach Developer. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack since 2005.

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