Whale Weekly

October 9, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


After a 2-2-0 performance in four preseason games, the Whale are set to begin their 16th season of AHL play in Hartford, kicking off the 2012-13 campaign with a pair of home games at the XL Center. The Whale will play their first of ten games against their in-state rivals the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the season opener this Friday night, October 12, with a special faceoff time of 7:30 PM. Then, after a Saturday off, the Whale will be back in home-ice action on Sunday, welcoming the St. John's IceCaps to town for a 3:00 game.

This week:

The Whale's first regular-season action of 2012-13, Friday night's battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center (7:30 PM faceoff), will kick off the Whale's new Friday-night $1 hot dogs and $2 beers promotion, and all fans at that game can purchase tickets for the special price of $12. The Whale are also in action at the XL Center on Sunday, when they host the St. John's IceCaps at 3:00. That will be the first chance for fans to take advantage of the Whale's "Click It or Ticket Family Value Sunday Packs". Those cost just $18, and include a ticket, a hot dog or a slice of pizza and a soda.

Friday, October 12 vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (XL Center), 7:30 p.m.

- In celebration of the Whale's 16th home opener at the XL Center, all fans can purchase tickets at this game for the special discount price of only $12 each.

- At this game, and every Friday night Whale home game during the season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers from 6:00-8:00 PM.

- The first 5,000 fans through the doors for the season opener will receive a free Whale cling magnetic schedule, courtesy of the CTDOT's "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.

- The Whale ended the Sound Tigers' season last year in a first-round playoff upset, sweeping Bridgeport in a best-of-three series.

- Bridgeport won the Northeast Division regular-season championship last year, finishing 41-26-3-6 for 91 points, five points ahead of the second-place Whale.

- The Whale finished 4-2-3-1 against the Sound Tigers in last season's battle of Connecticut, with four wins and a shootout loss in the five games the two teams played at the XL Center.

- Bridgeport has a new head coach this season, Scott Pellerin, and two of last season's top Sound Tiger scorers were rookies, forward Casey Cizikas (15-30-45 in 52 games) and defenseman Matt Donovan (10-35-45 in 72 games).

- Radio - live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on "Beethoven Radio" AM 1290, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Sunday, October 14 vs. St. John's IceCaps (XL Center), 3:00 p.m.

- At this game, and all Whale Sunday home games, fans can purchase "Click It or Ticket Family Value Sunday Packs", which include a ticket, a hot dog or a slice of pizza and a soda, for just $18 each.

- Last year was the first season of existence for the IceCaps franchise, after a six-year absence of AHL hockey from Newfoundland, and the new team captured the regular-season title in the Atlantic Division, going 43-25-5-3 for 94 points. St. John's' season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, where the IceCaps were swept by the eventual-champion Norfolk Admirals in four games.

- The Whale were 0-3-1-0 in four meetings with St. John's in 2011-12, including a 6-3 regulation loss and a 2-1 overtime defeat in a pair of clashes in Hartford.

- Head Coach Keith McCambridge is back for a second year behind the IceCaps' bench. Last year St. John's was the fourth highest-scoring club in the AHL, despite having only one player, winger Spencer Machacek, reach the 50-point mark (18-32-50 in 61 GP).

- Radio -live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on "Beethoven Radio" AM 1290, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Recent Transactions:

Andrew Courtney - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Steven Delisle - reassigned from the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) October 5

Ryan Flanigan - reassigned from the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) October 5

Colten Hayes - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Kyle Haines - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Brent Henley - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Bryan Hince - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Danny Hobbs - reassigned from the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) October 5

Jordie Johnston - reassigned from the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) October 5

Kyle Rank - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Scott Tanski - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Nicolas Tremblay - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 5

Matt Gilroy - signed to an AHL contract by the Whale October 6

Francis Verreault-Paul - released from training camp tryout by the Whale October 6

Whale Tales:

Season tickets for the Whale's 2012-13 AHL season are still available. For information on season seats, and all of the Whale's many ticketing options, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today.



American Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central