Whale Weekly

January 7, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Whale (15-17-3-0, 33 pts.) celebrated the start of the new year by garnering five out of a possible six points in last weekend's three games, including the club's first two shutouts of the season. Cam Talbot blanked the Adirondack Phantoms 3-0 on Friday night at the XL Center, making 25 saves, and, after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Phantoms Saturday in the second half of a home-and-home, Jason Missiaen rang up his first AHL shutout Sunday at home, stopping 35 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shots in a 2-0 win. Kyle Jean scored both Whale goals in that game for his first multiple-goal game as a pro, and Chad Kolarik lit the lamp both Friday and Saturday to bump his team-leading goal total up to 14.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

Atlantic Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Portland Pirates 34 20 12 1 1 42 0.618 100 99 1-0-0-0 8-2-0-0 1-1 709

2 Worcester Sharks 33 18 12 1 2 39 0.591 88 93 1-0-0-0 6-4-0-0 5-2 759

3 Providence Bruins 32 17 13 0 2 36 0.562 79 88 0-1-0-0 5-5-0-0 4-2 592

4 Manchester Monarchs 35 16 15 2 2 36 0.514 94 92 2-0-0-0 5-4-0-1 1-2 505

5 St. John's IceCaps 36 15 19 1 1 32 0.444 86 105 0-2-1-0 4-5-1-0 1-1 498

Northeast Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Springfield Falcons 33 19 9 2 3 43 0.652 109 79 1-0-0-0 5-4-1-0 1-3 525

2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 34 17 14 1 2 37 0.544 106 106 0-2-0-0 6-3-0-1 2-2 799

3 Albany Devils 31 13 11 1 6 33 0.532 78 80 3-0-0-0 5-3-1-1 0-6 490

4 Connecticut Whale 35 15 17 3 0 33 0.471 95 109 2-0-1-0 4-5-1-0 1-0 646

5 Adirondack Phantoms 33 14 17 1 1 30 0.455 79 96 1-0-0-0 4-5-0-1 2-1 735

East Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Syracuse Crunch 34 22 7 2 3 49 0.721 122 91 5-0-1-0 7-1-1-1 0-3 875

2 Binghamton Senators 32 21 8 1 2 45 0.703 104 80 0-1-0-0 7-2-0-1 0-2 647

3 Hershey Bears 34 16 16 1 1 34 0.500 87 85 0-3-0-0 5-4-0-1 1-1 582

4 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 34 15 16 2 1 33 0.485 83 90 0-1-0-0 2-7-1-0 3-1 705

5 Norfolk Admirals 33 14 17 2 0 30 0.455 83 100 0-3-1-0 4-5-1-0 3-0 742

North Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Toronto Marlies 33 21 9 1 2 45 0.682 115 83 8-0-1-1 8-0-1-1 1-2 579

2 Abbotsford Heat 34 17 10 3 4 41 0.603 80 74 1-0-0-0 3-6-0-1 2-4 476

3 Lake Erie Monsters 36 18 15 2 1 39 0.542 111 114 1-0-0-0 6-3-1-0 5-1 628

4 Rochester Americans 33 17 13 2 1 37 0.561 111 104 0-1-0-0 5-4-0-1 4-1 538

5 Hamilton Bulldogs 34 12 18 1 3 28 0.412 74 109 1-0-0-1 2-6-0-2 1-3 691

Midwest Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Grand Rapids Griffins 33 20 10 1 2 43 0.652 103 88 3-0-0-1 7-2-0-1 4-2 511

2 Milwaukee Admirals 34 17 13 2 2 38 0.559 92 97 2-0-0-1 6-3-0-1 2-2 424

3 Rockford IceHogs 35 17 16 1 1 36 0.514 106 105 0-3-0-0 4-5-1-0 2-1 849

4 Chicago Wolves 32 15 12 3 2 35 0.547 86 92 1-0-0-1 5-3-1-1 2-2 420

5 Peoria Rivermen 35 14 17 2 2 32 0.457 81 112 0-3-0-0 4-6-0-0 4-2 511

South Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 Charlotte Checkers 36 20 11 2 3 45 0.625 109 94 2-0-1-0 5-2-2-1 2-3 495

2 Texas Stars 35 19 11 3 2 43 0.614 92 92 3-0-0-0 6-3-1-0 3-2 486

3 Houston Aeros 35 18 11 3 3 42 0.600 104 97 1-0-1-0 5-3-2-0 3-3 418

4 Oklahoma City Barons 35 18 13 1 3 40 0.571 115 108 0-1-0-0 5-4-0-1 2-3 609

5 San Antonio Rampage 37 15 18 0 4 34 0.459 94 104 1-0-0-0 5-4-0-1 0-4 628

This week:

The Whale this week start a stretch of six straight games on the road, with a two-game visit to Hershey, PA. The Whale and Bears clash Saturday night at 7:00 PM at Giant Center, and then again at 5:00 on Sunday.

Saturday, January 12 at the Hershey Bears (Giant Center), 7:00 p.m.

- After a 10-3-0-1 run from November 25 through December 27, the Bears (16-16-1-1, 34 pts.) have lost their last three games and sit third in the East Division, one point ahead of fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

- This is the second of four games on the year between the Bears and Whale, who defeated Hershey 3-1 at the XL Center October 26 in the teams' first get-together. Connecticut won three out of four against the Bears last season and swept a pair of meetings in Hershey, winning 4-1 on February 4 and 1-0 April 8.

- Hershey netminder Braden Holtby was December's CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month, going 5-4-1 with a 1.69 goals-against average and a 94.3% save percentage in 10 December games. On the year, Holtby is 12-12-1 with a 2.14 GAA, a 93.2% save percentage and four shutouts. Those numbers rank him tied for second in the league in shutouts, third in save percentage and sixth in GAA.

- Former Hartford Wolf Pack Jeff Taffe (8-26-34 in 34 GP) is the Bears' leading point-scorer. His assist total is tied for third in the AHL and he is tied for sixth in points.

- Radio - live with Bob Crawford on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM. All Whale Saturday night games this year will be beamed on The Rock 106.9 WCCC's 50,000 watts of power. Also available on-line at www.ctwhale.com. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

Sunday, January 13 at the Hershey Bears (Giant Center), 5:00 p.m.

- Hershey comes into this week 9-5-0-0 on the road, but only 7-11-1-1 in 20 home games.

- The Whale are 11-5-0-0 all-time in 16 trips to Hershey.

- Radio - live with Bob Crawford on "Beethoven Radio" AM 1290, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

Whale Community Appearances:

The Whale have the following appearances scheduled this week. For further information on these, or any other Whale community initiatives, contact Whale community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728:

- Tuesday, January 8, 5:00-7:00 PM, Winterfest Rink at Bushnell Park, Downtown Hartford

The entire Whale team will be strapping on the blades for a refreshing outdoor skate at the Winterfest skating rink in beautiful Bushnell Park in the heart of downtown Hartford. The Whale will be meeting and greeting fans and signing autographs as they glide around the rink, offering fans of all ages a chance to skate alongside their favorite Whale players.

Recent Transactions:

J.T. Miller - reassigned to the Whale from the U.S. National Junior Team January 6.

Practice:

All Whale practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 541-4791 before attending a practice.

Tue., January 8 No practice - day off

Wed., January 9 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center

Thu., January 10 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center

Fri., January 11 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center

Sat., January 12 Game at Hershey

Sun., January 13 Game at Hershey

Mon., January 14 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center

Whale Tales:

The Whale's next home game is Wednesday, January 23, a 7:00 game against the Adirondack Phantoms. For that and all Whale home games, tickets start as low as $10 each ($12 each when tickets are purchased on the day of the game), at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, through TicketMaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

Whale fans can present their Whale ticket stub at the Russian Lady, which is located at 191 Ann Uccello Street, directly across from the XL Center, and not only skip the line at the door, but get in with no cover charge as well.

The Whale's next Friday-night home game is January 25, when the Manchester Monarchs invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game. At each and every Friday Whale home game this year, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers until the end of the first intermission.

At every Sunday Whale home game this year, fans can take advantage of the Whale's "Click It or Ticket Sunday Family Value Packs", which include a ticket, a hot dog or a pizza slice and a soda, all for just $18. The next Sunday home outing at the XL Center is February 17, a 3:00 PM game vs. the Manchester Monarchs.

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 January 7, 2013


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