Wolf Pack Weekly

Published on January 24, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Wolf Pack embark on a two week road stint starting Wednesday in Norfolk, with a record of 30-11-1-2 and 63 points, good for second place in the Atlantic Division, and overall. The club still holds the best home record in the league at 21-3-0-1, and will put their 9-8-1-1 road record to the test in six games on the road in 10 days. The team is still tops in penalty killing, with an 89.80% and rank fifth on the powerplay with a 19.5% success rate.

On the power of back-to-back shutouts, and more than a period of shutout hockey on Saturday, goaltender Steve Valiquette owns the best goals against average in the league at 1.57, with Jason LaBarbera number two at 1.90. Jeff Hamilton is riding a nine game point-scoring streak, dating back to December 27. He has 14 points. Layne Ulmer has notched at least one assist in his last four games (6 total). Lawence Nycholat is tied for fourth among AHL defensemen with 28 points (5-23).

The team's away game versus the Lowell Lock Monsters, which was postponed due to weather on Sunday, January 23, has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Lowell.

This week:
The team was to begin their longest road stand of the year on Sunday, with game one of seven on the road. But with the Lowell game canceled on Sunday, the club will have six straight away matches starting with four against East Division teams. The Pack are 7-4-0-0 against East Division rivals this year. The club plays Norfolk on Wednesday, then Philadelphia, Hershey and Bridgeport, while the Civic Center hosts the CMTA Hartford Boat Show. There will be no "Pack Talk" at Little Mark's this week, since the team will leave for Norfolk on Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, January 26 at Norfolk - Norfolk Scope 7:35 p.m.
* The Admirals are currently in third place in the East Division with a record of 24-16-1-3. They are 13-5-0-0 at home and are the most penalized team in the league with 1,328 minutes in the box.
* Norfolk is on a four game winning streak, and boasts the number two point-getter among rookies in the AHL this season, Rene Bourque (16-14-30)
* Radio - live on ESPN Radio 1410 with Bob Crawford and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Friday, January 28 at Philadelphia - Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.
* The 24-11-2-4 Philadelphia Phantoms rank number two in the East Division, but haven't won a game in four straight. They are 15-4-2-2 at home.
* The Wolf Pack are 1-0-0-0 against the Phantoms, the win, a 2-1 decision back on October 16 in Hartford for the Pack's home-opener. Layne Ulmer had two assists in that game.
* Radio - live on ESPN Radio 1410 with Bob Crawford and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Saturday, January 29 at Hershey - GIANT Center 7:00 p.m.
* The Hershey Bears sit in fifth place in the East Division, with a record of 20-21-1-0. The club is in the midst of a four game losing streak and are 11-10-1-0 at home
* The Pack lost their only game versus Hershey this season, a 4-1 drubbing in Hartford on November 10. Marek Svatos, Mathieu Darche, Dennis Bonvie and Eric Perrin each had two points for the Bears. Bryce Lampman scored the Pack's only goal.
* Live on the web only at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Sunday, January 30 at Bridgeport - Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard 4:05 p.m.
* Bridgeport's record to start the week is 16-22-1-1, good for sixth place in the East Dvision. They are 14-5-0-0 at home.
* The Pack are 5-1-0-1 in this GEICO Connecticut Cup challenge, and could wrap up the title with a win.
* Top scorer against Bridgeport for Hartford is Alexandre Giroux (3-4-7), while Sean Bergenheim, Keith Aldridge and Rob Collins all have three points for the Sound Tigers.
* The Wolf Pack's powerplay is clicking at 24.1% against Bridgeport, socring 7 goals on 29 attempts. The Pack won the last meeting of the two clubs back on January 15, 5-0.
* Radio - live on ESPN Radio 1410 with Bob Crawford and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Injuries:
Jozef Balej (lower back) - TBD
David Liffiton (right shoulder sprain) - day-to-day
Trevor Gillies (broken left foot) - 2-4 weeks
Martin Grenier (right thumb) - 8-10 weeks
Blair Betts (right shoulder) - out indefinitely

Recent Transactions:
Thomas Pock assigned to Charlotte of the ECHL on January 19, 2005 Thomas Pock recalled from Charlotte of the ECHL on January 23, 2005 Ryan Glenn assigned to Charlotte of the ECHL on January 24, 2005 (will take part in ECHL All-Star Game)

Practice Schedule:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 Ext. 256 before attending a practice.

Tue. January 25 TBA, Cromwell (Bus leaves at 10:00 a.m. for Norfolk)
Wed. January 26 Away versus Norfolk
Thu. January 27 Team is on the road
Fri. January 28 Away versus Philadelphia
Sat. January 29 Away versus Hershey
Sun. January 30 Away versus Bridgeport
Mon. January 31 TBA

Looking Ahead:

Seats are going fast for the Second Annual Hartford Wolf Pack Tip A Player event at the Coach's Sports Bar and Grille Monday, February 7 to benefit Gaylord Hospital. There are two seatings, 5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12 and include dinner and non-alcoholic refreshments, autograph signings, apron auctions, a silent auction, and Wolf Pack players will wait on all guests. Great fun for the whole family. Call 860-246-7825 for more details.

The team returns to the Civic Center on Saturday, February 12. The game against the Portland Pirates will be a fundraiser for the Red Cross Tsunami Relief efforts. Proceeds of "Chuck-A-Puck", a silent game-worn jersey auction, the 50-50 draw and a portion of ticket sales will go to the charity. It's also Torpedo Bobblehead Night. Every fan in attendance will receive a Torpedo Bobblehead. And Cox Media presents Jimmy Neutron, who will also be at the game.

The new Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop" is now open at its new location - 100 Allyn Street. The store is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as two hours prior to and one hour after each and every Wolf Pack home game, including Saturday and Sundays. A full line of Wolf Pack merchandise is available, while a limited selection of items will still be available in the Civic Center Mall before games.

The 96.5 TIC Acoustic Café -Volume IV CD to benefit the Wolf Pack Community Foundation is available at Strawberries or FYE locations in Connecticut, Big Y World Class Markets in Connecticut and Massachusetts, FootPrints Family Super Shoe Store in Newington or the Hartford Wolf Pack store. CD's are only $9.65 and contain a voucher for a free Wolf Pack ticket (value $16.50).

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American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2005


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