Wolf Pack Weekly

March 28, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Last week the Wolf Pack captured three of a possible four points, but remain five points behind the division leading Manchester Monarchs, who clinched a berth in the playoffs this weekend. Hartford sports a record of 43-21-3-3 for 92 points, good for fourth overall in the league. The team is 26-13-1-3 against divisional rivals, which will be put to the test in three intra-divisional games this week.

Goaltenders Steve Valiquette and Jason LaBarbera remain one and two in the standings for best goals against, with 1.75 and 1.86 respectively. The netminders have 12 shutouts between them. Lawrence Nycholat is ninth overall in defeseman scoring (5-35-40) and leads blueliners in shootout goals with 6 on 9 tries. Jeff Hamilton is tied with two others in the AHL for most game winning goals with 10.

This week:

After playing just two games in 12 days - a rarity in the AHL - the Wolf Pack head into a very busy April, playing 10 games in 17 days, starting with three in three this coming week. Of the club's remaining 10 games, the Pack will face divisional opponents in all but one game.

Tuesday, March 29 - "Pack Talk" at Little Mark's Big Barbecue on ESPN Radio 1410

This week's scheduled guests Joel Bouchard and Jeff Hamilton will join the voice of the Wolf Pack, Bob Crawford, at Little Mark's Big Barbecue, 279 West Main Street (Route 44) in Avon from 7 to 8:00 p.m. Fans are invited to come down to Little Mark's to participate live, or to listen in on ESPN Radio 1410.

Pack Talk will take place for two more weeks, and concludes with the last show of the season on Tuesday, April 12.

Friday, April 1 at Springfield - Springfield Civic Center, 7:30 p.m.
* The Falcons are currently in last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 19-44-2-3.
* Springfield's home record is 14-16-1-3
* The Pack is 5-1-0-1 against Springfield, their last game, a 4-0 win over the Falcons. The Pack's high scorer against Springfield is Jozef Balej with 4-5-9, while the Falcons' leading scorer against the Wolf Pack is Ryan Craig with four goals.
* Steve Valiquette and the Pack have shut out the Falcons in three of their last four meetings.
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Saturday, April 2 vs. Portland - Hartford Civic Center, 7:05 p.m.
* The Pirates are still in the fight for a playoff spot, and currently are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 31-29-4-5, 7 points behind Providence for the last playoff spot in the division
* The Pirates' road record is 10-18-3-2
* The Wolf Pack are 5-1-1-0 against the Pirates, the last game a 2-0 loss for the Wolf Pack in Portland March 13. Jozef Balej is Hartford's high scorer against Portland (2-6-8). Tomas Fleischmann has 2-4-6 for the Pirates.
* The CT Sled Hockey team will play local media in a sled hockey game before the Wolf Pack game against Portland. The game will be played from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the game is by a donation of discretion. Confirmed media participating include: Brad Drazen, Kevin Nathan, Brian Shactman (NBC); Bob Rumbold (FOX), Damon Scott, Kevin Johnson (WTIC); and Donny Marshall (ESPN). The Hartford Courant's Bruce Berlet will coach the team.
* It's "college colors" night in honor of the NCAA Final Four ... wear college gear and get $4 off an adult ticket in Red or Blue Wolf seating areas.
* Television - live on CN 8 and MSG Network
* On the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com (no radio)

Sunday, April 3 at Lowell - Paul E. Tsongas Arena, 4:00 p.m.
* The Lock Monsters are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 39-23-1-5, good for 84 points. Their home record is 22-8-0-3
* Chuck Kobasew ranks second among AHL goal scorers with 34 goals, while Eric Staal has six shorthanded markers, which ties him for tops in the league. Goaltender Cam Ward has the best saves percentage in the league at .937, two points better than Steve Valiquette (.935)
* The Wolf Pack are 4-2-0-1 against the Lock Monsters, their last game a 1-0 win in Hartford with Steve Valiquette getting the shutout. Jed Ortmeyer, Jeff Hamilton and Jamie Lundmark each have five points against Lowell, while Mike Zigomanis and Eric Staal each have five versus the Wolf Pack.
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Injuries:
Chad Wiseman (concussion) - day-to-day
Jeff MacMillan (right shoulder) - day-to-day
Layne Ulmer (groin) - day-to-day
Jake Taylor (groin) - out indefinitely
Blair Betts (right shoulder) - out indefinitely

Recent Transactions: None

Pack Tracks:

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

The GEICO Connecticut Cup will be presented to the Wolf Pack on Sunday, April 17 before the game. The Pack won the inaugural cup after beating Bridgeport in their season series 6-2-2-0. Post game, the team will present its team awards and hold its annual "Shirts Off Our Backs" promotion.

Red and Blue Wolf seating is offered at half price for all members of the armed forces presenting their military ID. Adult tickets cost $8 or $10, with a limit of four (4) tickets per ID. College students with ID can purchase tickets in the Red and Blue Wolf seating areas to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday games for half price. Tickets are $8 or $10, with a limit of two (2) tickets per ID. Both offers are good for tickets purchased at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office ONLY.

The Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop" at 100 Allyn Street 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 28, 2005


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