Wolf Pack Dole Out the Hardware
April 11, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
Hartford, April 12, 2004 - Hartford Wolf Pack goaltender Jason LaBarbera and team captain Ken Gernander were multiple award winners at ceremonies before and after the team's last game of the regular season. The Pack won 2-1 over Providence, clinching the Eastern Conference regular season championship and the Frank S. Mathers Trophy. The Pack also finishes the year with just 22 losses - best in the league.
Prior to the game, LaBarbera was presented league trophies by AHL President Dave Andrews for Goaltender of the Year, First Team All-Star and League MVP. Andrews also presented the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Trophy to Gernander for sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey and the Emile Francis trophy to the team, for winning the Atlantic Division.
Post-game, the team served up its annual hardware. Netminder Phil Osaer won the Community Service Award, Ken Gernander took the Bob Girouard Character Award and the team trophy for the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. The Booster Club presented the Fan Favorite Award to Ken Gernander, Rookie of the Year to Dominic Moore and the Unsung Hero Award to Craig Weller.
The Best Defenseman, as voted on by the team, went to Lawrence Nycholat, and Jason LaBarbera was voted MVP by both the team and fans.
The win means the club finishes the year with 102 points, and home ice advantage through the conference finals. The Calder Cup 2004 Playoffs get underway Wednesday. The Pack will face the winner of the Providence - Portland qualifying round (best of three).
The AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack hockey club is part of Madison Square Garden LP. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns a controlling interest in MSG LP, which also includes the New York Rangers (NHL), New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Liberty (WNBA), the MSG Network, Fox Sports Net and the Madison Square Garden arena complex.
American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2004
- Qualifying round playoff schedule announced - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- IceCats Edge Monarchs In Calder Cup Playoff Preview - Manchester Monarchs
- AHL Playoff Schedules Announced - AHL
- Bridgeport duo wins AHL's Holmes Award - AHL
- Bridgeport's Hamilton wins AHL's Marshall Award - AHL
- Manchester's Rosa wins AHL scoring title - AHL
- Crunch Announce First Round Playoff Dates Against Rochester - Syracuse Crunch
- Dances with Wolves, Part IV - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears season over after 3-2 loss to Philly - Hershey Bears
- P-Bruins announce sale of first round playoff tickets - Providence Bruins
- Milwaukee wins AHL's Kilpatrick Trophy - AHL
- Regular season ends with 4-3 loss - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Phantoms defeat Hershey, 3-2 in OT - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wolf Pack Dole Out the Hardware - Connecticut Whale
- Sound Tigers Tie WBS 2-2 In Season Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
- Falcons edged by Pirates to close season - Springfield Falcons
- Penguins to meet Bridgeport in playoffs - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins announce end of season award winners - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sens To Host Norfolk In Qualifying Round - Binghamton Senators
- St. John's Maple Leafs Announce Year End Award Winners - Toronto Marlies
- Bulldogs finish regular season on top of North Division standings - Hamilton Bulldogs
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