Wolf Pack Weekly

March 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Pack are 1-1 after two games of this western swing, with Jozef Balej scoring all the club's goals on the road thus far. He scored the team's lone marker last Friday in a 3-1 loss to Houston, and had both markers in the Pack's 2-0 shutout of the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday. The .500 weekend leaves the team just two points out of first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 38-19-2-2, good for fourth overall in the league. The team maintains it's eighth place standing on the powerplay with a 16.67% efficiency and are number two on the penalty-kill with an 88.66% stat. The team still leads the AHL in penalty minutes with 1,837.

The Packs' goalies are back to one and two in netminder standings. Valiquette sports a 1.83 goals against average, while Jason LaBarbera, with a zero against the Rampage last week, brings his average down to 1.90. Lawrence Nycholat is in seventh place among AHL defenders with 5 goals and 32 assists for 37 points.

This week:

Back to back games against Utah to start the week for the Pack. The team plays tonight in Utah and then again on Wednesday, before heading home for tough contests against Bridgeport and Lowell on Friday and Saturday. The team still has the best home record in the league at 25-5-1-1.

Monday, March 7 & Wednesday, March 9 at Utah - The "E" Center, both games start at 9:05 p.m.
* The Grizzlies are currently in last place in the West Division with a record of 16-38-0-4. The team has an 11-16-0-2 record at home.
* The Pack lead the season series between the two clubs two games to none, their last game a 5-2 win on January 1.
* High scorers for the Wolf Pack against Utah are Chad Wiseman, Jeff Hamilton and Lawrence Nycholat, each with three points. Randall Gelech, Mike Stutzel and Jarrod Skalde all have two for the Grizzlies.
* Radio - both games live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Friday, March 11 vs. Bridgeport - Hartford Civic Center 7:05 p.m.
* The Sound Tigers are currently in sixth spot in East with a record 26-29-2-1 and have a 6-21-2-1 road record.
* The Pack are 5-2-1-0 against the Sound Tigers, their last game a 2-1 overtime loss in Hartford.
* Alexandre Giroux has four goals and four assists against Bridgeport, while Lawrence Nycholat has eight assists. Rob Collins is the top point-getter for Bridgeport against Hartford with 6 points (1-5)
* This is game nine of 10 between Hartford and Bridgeport, and the GEICO Connecticut Cup is still up for grabs. With a win, the Wolf Pack can win series and the Cup.
* J.N. Phillips will be handing out ice scrapers to fans (while supplies last)
* It's Guida's Family Value Night - a family of four can purchase a package for as low as $44 and receive tickets to the game, refreshments and a Wolf Pack souvenir ... call 548-2000 for more information
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Saturday, March 12 vs. Lowell - Hartford Civic Center 7:05 p.m.
* The Lock Monsters are in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 34-18-1-5, for 74 points, with a 14-13-1-2 away record.
* The Wolf Pack are 2-1-0-1 against Lowell, their last game, a 3-0 loss to the Lock Monsters in Lowell
* Jed Ortmeyer has four goals against Lowell, while Mike Zigomanis is the high scorer for the Lock Monsters (2-1-3)
* This is CTNow.com's "Town Night". Comcast is sponsoring a T-shirt giveaway for fans (while supplies last) and Sponge Bob Square Pants, sponsored by Cox Media, will be meeting fans at the game.
* Hartford Financial Services have donated 250 tickets to Hartford Public High School Honor Students and the Hartford Youth Network, which supports stay in school programs of Hartford Social Services
* The Hockey Company (THC) has donated 150 tickets to four area charities: Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Children's Home of Cromwell and the CT Chasers hockey team
* Television - Live on CN8
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Injuries:

Chad Wiseman (concussion) - day-to-day
Blair Betts (right shoulder) - out indefinitely

Recent Transactions:

Martin Grenier loaned to Charlotte of the ECHL on March 2, 2005

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. March 8 In Utah
Wed. March 9 In Utah
Thu. March 10 Travel day
Fri. March 11 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC (game vs. Bridgeport)
Sat. March 12 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC (game vs. Lowell)
Sun. March 13 Game versus Portland
Mon, March 14 TBD

Pack Tracks:

Dominic Moore is the featured player in this week's Newspapers in Education feature in The Hartford Courant. Jozef Balej was the first player to be featured, and three more players will be spotlighted in the coming months.

The Calder Cup Tour makes its stop in Hartford on Saturday, April 9 when the Pack host the Portland Pirates. Come get your picture taken with the most coveted trophy in the American Hockey League.

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.



American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2005


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.

OurSports Central