Wolf Pack Open Season Saturday with Tribute to Ken Gernander
October 5, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
HARTFORD, October 5, 2005: The Hartford Wolf Pack will honor Wolf Pack stalwart Ken Gernander before opening their ninth season of play in the AHL as proud affiliates of the New York Rangers. The club will face the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, October 8. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
Gernander, the only player until this coming Saturday to wear the captain's "C" for the Wolf Pack and now an assistant coach for the club, will have his jersey number retired in a pre-game ceremony. "Ken Gernander epitomizes what a professional hockey player should strive to be," said Coach and General Manager Jim Schoenfeld. "There is no one else who more deserves to be the first player the Pack will honor in this way."
Gernander, 36, steps behind the Wolf Pack bench as an assistant coach after concluding an illustrious 14-year playing career. A member of the Rangers organization since signing as a free agent in 1994, Gernander served as captain of the club's top minor league affiliate in each of the last 10 years (all eight years of Hartford's existence, plus the final two seasons in Binghamton).
Gernander is the highest-scoring American-born player (293-331-624) in AHL history and ranks eighth all-time in AHL games played (973). He is also the Wolf Pack's all-time franchise record-holder in points (347), games-played (599) and playoff games-played (78). Gernander also ranks second all-time in goals (160) and assists (187) in Hartford franchise history. Gernander was also the recipient of the AHL's Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award in 1995-96 and in 2003-04 for sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the game.
The pre-game ceremony and laser and pyrotechnics show will begin around 6:55 p.m., so fans are encouraged to come early to see this amazing display of light and sound and not miss the introduction of their 2005-06 Wolf Pack.
Opening Night is sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., which purchased 735 tickets and donated them to the following three Hartford schools - West Middle Elementary School, Quirk Middle School and Hartford Public High School, as well as the following non-profit organizations - Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Children's Home of Cromwell and the CT Chasers. All fans at the game will also receive a Ken Gernander miniature banner, courtesy of The Hartford.
Ticket prices range from $16 to $24 for adults in advance ($18 to $30 day-of-game) and $8 to $12 for youth ages 16 and under ($9 to $15 day-of-game) and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations including Filene's at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office
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.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2005
- Penguins post 8-1 win in season opener - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Season 10 begins Saturday at Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers lose opener 8-1 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Neilson signs with the Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Blues assign forward Lee Stempniak to Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
- Stars defenseman re-assigned - Iowa Chops
- Rivermen pare roster by three - Peoria Rivermen
- Aeros' sponsors, fans combine to donate 700 tickets to police, firemen - Houston Aeros
- Wolf Pack Open Season Saturday with Tribute to Ken Gernander - Connecticut Whale
- Barons assign Holden to Fresno - Cleveland Barons
- Hamel named B-Sens captain - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals, Brewers ink corporate partnership - Milwaukee Admirals
- 40 former Mighty Ducks, Cyclones on NHL rosters - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Kevin Colley named Sound Tigers Captain - Bridgeport Islanders
- AHL's 70th season set to begin Wednesday - Providence Bruins
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.
