Whale Weekly

January 14, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Whale (15-18-3-1, 34 pts.) ventured out on a two-game trip to Hershey this past week, and came back with a shootout loss and a regulation defeat. The Bears scored a 4-3 shootout triumph on Saturday night at Giant Center in a seesaw affair, and then handed the Whale its sixth shutout loss of the season Sunday, winning by a score of 5-0. Chad Kolarik upped his team-leading goal total to 15 with a shorthanded goal in Saturday's game, and defenseman Logan Pyett had two assists.

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 37 23 12 1 1 48 0.649 116 106 4-0-0-0 8-2-0-0 1-1 781

2 Worcester Sharks 37 19 15 1 2 41 0.554 97 110 0-2-0-0 5-5-0-0 5-2 819

3 Providence Bruins 35 19 14 0 2 40 0.571 88 97 1-0-0-0 5-5-0-0 4-2 636

4 Manchester Monarchs 37 17 16 2 2 38 0.514 102 98 0-1-0-0 5-5-0-0 1-2 527

5 St. John's IceCaps 38 16 20 1 1 34 0.447 92 113 1-0-0-0 3-6-1-0 1-1 529

Northeast Division

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

1 Springfield Falcons 35 20 9 3 3 46 0.657 116 85 2-0-1-0 5-4-1-0 1-3 555

2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 38 18 16 2 2 40 0.526 121 125 1-0-0-0 5-4-1-0 2-2 856

3 Albany Devils 34 14 13 1 6 35 0.515 90 93 0-1-0-0 5-4-1-0 0-6 518

4 Connecticut Whale 37 15 18 3 1 34 0.459 98 118 0-1-0-1 3-5-1-1 1-1 682

5 Adirondack Phantoms 35 15 18 1 1 32 0.457 83 100 0-1-0-0 5-4-0-1 3-1 765

East Division

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

1 Syracuse Crunch 37 24 8 2 3 53 0.716 131 100 0-1-0-0 7-2-1-0 1-3 947

2 Binghamton Senators 35 23 8 1 3 50 0.714 113 86 2-0-0-1 7-2-0-1 0-3 689

3 Hershey Bears 38 19 17 1 1 40 0.526 100 92 2-0-0-0 5-5-0-0 2-1 629

4 Wilkes-Barre/Scr. Penguins 37 17 17 2 1 37 0.500 87 94 2-0-0-0 3-6-1-0 3-1 741

5 Norfolk Admirals 35 14 18 2 1 31 0.443 87 107 0-4-1-1 3-5-1-1 3-1 766

North Division

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

1 Toronto Marlies 36 22 11 1 2 47 0.653 124 91 0-1-0-0 7-2-0-1 1-2 610

2 Lake Erie Monsters 39 20 16 2 1 43 0.551 121 121 1-0-0-0 6-3-1-0 5-1 667

3 Rochester Americans 36 19 14 2 1 41 0.569 123 112 2-0-0-0 6-4-0-0 4-1 618

4 Abbotsford Heat 36 17 12 3 4 41 0.569 81 78 0-2-0-0 2-7-0-1 2-4 490

5 Hamilton Bulldogs 36 13 19 1 3 30 0.417 78 115 0-1-0-0 3-6-0-1 1-3 746

Midwest Division

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

1 Grand Rapids Griffins 36 21 11 2 2 46 0.639 113 99 0-1-1-0 6-2-1-1 4-2 625

2 Milwaukee Admirals 37 17 14 3 3 40 0.541 97 107 0-1-1-1 5-2-1-2 2-3 456

3 Rockford IceHogs 38 19 17 1 1 40 0.526 116 114 2-0-0-0 5-5-0-0 2-1 947

4 Chicago Wolves 34 17 12 3 2 39 0.574 90 93 3-0-0-1 5-3-1-1 2-2 432

5 Peoria Rivermen 38 17 17 2 2 38 0.500 92 118 3-0-0-0 4-6-0-0 5-2 557

South Division

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

1 Charlotte Checkers 39 23 11 2 3 51 0.654 122 98 5-0-1-0 6-2-2-0 2-3 529

2 Texas Stars 38 22 11 3 2 49 0.645 102 94 6-0-0-0 7-2-1-0 3-2 514

3 Houston Aeros 38 18 13 4 3 43 0.566 108 106 0-2-2-0 4-3-3-0 3-3 462

4 Oklahoma City Barons 38 18 15 2 3 41 0.539 118 122 0-3-1-0 4-5-1-0 2-3 650

5 San Antonio Rampage 40 16 20 0 4 36 0.450 100 114 0-1-0-0 6-3-0-1 0-4 670

This week:

The Whale hit the halfway point of their season as they play four road games in a six-day span this week. Ken Gernander's team is off to Portland to take on the Pirates Tuesday night, in a 7:00 PM game. Then the Whale are in Springfield on Friday for a 7:00 game against the Falcons, go back to Portland Saturday (7:00) and finish the busy week in Providence with a 3:05 game Sunday.

Tuesday, January 15 at the Portland Pirates (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 p.m.

- The Atlantic Division-leading Pirates (23-12-1-1, 48 pts.) have opened up a seven-point lead over second-place Worcester by winning their last four games, and 13 of their last 15.

- Five of Portland's top eight scorers, Alexandre Bolduc (17-15-32 in 34 GP), Andy Miele (11-15-26 in 35 GP), David Rundblad (6-17-23 in 32 GP), Michael Stone (6-16-22 in 31 GP) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (7-14-21 in 20 GP) have been recalled by the parent Phoenix Coyotes.

- The Whale are 0-3-0-0 against the Pirates on the year and lost 4-3 in the only previous meeting in Portland New Year's Eve, after having built a 3-0 lead.

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

Friday, January 18 at the Springfield Falcons (MassMutual Center), 7:00 p.m.

- The Whale are 2-3-0-0 thus far in the season series against the Falcons, but have won two of their previous three visits to Springfield.

- The Falcons (20-9-3-3, 46 pts.) lead the field in the Northeast Division, sitting six points ahead of second-place Bridgeport. Springfield is unbeaten in regulation in its last three games (2-0-1-0) and has points in five of its last six (4-1-1-0).

- The Falcons' top two scorers, Cam Atkinson (17-21-38 in 33 GP) and former Whale Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (13-24-37 in 35 GP), rank third and fourth, respectively, in the AHL points standings. Atkinson was recalled Sunday by the parent Columbus Blue Jackets.

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

Saturday, January 19 at the Portland Pirates (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 p.m.

- Portland's home winning percentage of .765 (13-4-0-0) is third-best in the AHL, and the Pirates have won eight straight at home.

- The Whale are 0-4-1-0 in their last five visits to Portland, but are still 26(W)-17(L)-5(T)-2(OTL) all-time at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

- 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 20 at the Providence Bruins (Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence), 3:05 p.m.

- The Whale are 2-3-0-0 thus far in the season series against the Falcons, but have won two of their previous three visits to Springfield.

- The Whale won their first encounter of the year with Providence, 6-3 at home on October 27, but then have lost the last two, including the only previous meeting in Providence, a 4-2 Bruin win November 30.

- The Bruins have lost their top three scorers, Chris Bourque (8-20-28 in 32 GP), Jamie Tardif (16-7-23 in 32 GP) and Ryan Spooner (7-13-20 in 26 GP), as well as defensemen Matt Bartkowski (2-7-9 in 30 GP) and David Warsofsky (2-7-9 in 30 GP), to recall to the parent Boston Bruins.

- Providence is 19-14-0-2 for 40 points, good for third place in the Atlantic Division, one point behind second-place Worcester.

- 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:

- Wednesday, January 16, 9:30 AM, Farm Hill Elementary School, 390 Ridge Rd., Middletown, CT

Pucky, the Whale's lovable mascot, brings the Whale's "We Believe" tour to Farm Hill Elementary's STARR assembly.

- Wednesday, January 16, 12 Noon-2:45 PM, South Windsor High School, 161 Nevers Rd., South Windsor, CT

Whale players Mike Vernace and Kyle Jean will be holding a question and answer session with South Windsor high schoolers.

- Thursday, January 17, 6:00-7:00 PM, Northern Middlesex YMCA, 99 Union St., Middletown, CT

Pucky brings the Whale's "CIGNA Hockey in the Streets" program to Middletown, sharing the fun and health benefits of floor hockey with a group of local youngsters.

- Friday, January 18, 8:15 AM, North Street School, 325 North St., Windsor Locks, CT

Pucky and the We Believe tour head to Windsor Locks.

- Saturday, January 19, 12 Noon-2:00 PM, Pleasant View Golf Center, 452 South Rd., Somers, CT

Pucky will be attending the International Chili Society's Chili Cook-off to benefit the Sandy Hook Fire Department.

- Monday, January 21, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, Mount Southington Ski Area, 396 Mt. Vernon Rd., Plantsville, CT

Pucky brings the We Believe Tour to Mount Southington's Martin Luther King Day celebration.

Recent Transactions:

Andrew Yogan - reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) January 8.

Shayne Wiebe - released from his Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Whale and signed to an AHL contract January 9.

Matt Gilroy - released from his AHL contract by the Whale January 13.

Chris Kreider - recalled by the New York Rangers from the Whale January 13.

Jason Wilson - reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) January 14.

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 15 Game at Portland

Wed., January 16 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center

Thu., January 17 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center Fri., January 18 10:00 - 10:30 AM, Champions Skating Center (Game at Springfield)

Sat., January 19 Game at Portland

Sun., January 20 Game at Providence

Mon., January 21 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 14, 2013


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