Wolf Pack Weekly

Published on January 3, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


After extending their unbeaten-in-regulation streak to 13 consecutive games with a 3-2 shootout victory at Bridgeport on Friday, December 23rd (upping their GEICO Connecticut Cup record to 5-0-0-0), the Wolf Pack lost three straight contests in regulation for the first time this season. The points streak ended with a 5-0 defeat in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, the first shutout the Pack have been involved with on the year. They then fell 4-3 at Syracuse on Friday, despite outshooting the Crunch by a margin of 44-23, and absorbed a 3-1 home loss to Providence New Year's Eve, in a game in which the Pack enjoyed a 50-22 shots advantage. Youngsters Dwight Helminen and Colby Genoway continue to spearhead the Wolf Pack offense. Helminen (17-8-25 in 32 GP) leads the club in points and goals and has at least a point in 11 of his last 12 games (10-7-17), while Genoway scored two goals in Friday's game and has points in eight of his last nine outings (3-7-10).

This week: Four games in five days for the Pack this week, with three of the four being divisional games. The highlight is Friday's "Whalers Appreciation Night", as the Wolf Pack take on Head Coach Kevin Dineen's Portland Pirates (7:00 faceoff) and salute the careers of Dineen, Ron Francis and Pack assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson. The Pack are also home tomorrow night, Wednesday, hosting Syracuse (7:00), and face road games Saturday in Manchester (7:35) and Sunday at Portland (4:05).

Wednesday, January 4 vs. Syracuse at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
* This is the second meeting between these two clubs in a span of six days. The Crunch defeated the Wolf Pack in Syracuse, 4-3, on Friday night. The last previous time the Pack and Crunch saw one another was March 30, 2001, a 4-4 tie in Syracuse.
* Syracuse is third in the North Division with a record of 19-12-2-1 for 41 points, and the Crunch are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games.
* Crunch leading scorer Andy Delmore (5-20-25 in 25 GP), the leading point-getter among AHL defensemen, is currently on recall to parent club Columbus. The Blue Jackets, however, have returned Mark Hartigan (10-18-23 in 23 GP), who is second to Delmore on the Syracuse points list.
* Selected Wolf Pack players will be conducting a free post-game autograph session in Center Court of the Civic Center Mall.
* Broadcast - live with Bob Crawford on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com or watch on B2 Network! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.

Friday, January 6 vs. Portland at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
* This night is the Wolf Pack's "Whalers Appreciation Night", celebrating the careers of Ron Francis, Pirate Head Coach Kevin Dineen and Wolf Pack assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson, and the significant impact and influence that all three individuals had on the sport of hockey in Hartford. All three individuals will be on hand for the festivities.
* Banners will be raised to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony honoring the jersey numbers of Francis (#10), Dineen (#11) and Samuelsson (#5). Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is scheduled to be on hand for the celebration, and Eddie Perez, Mayor of the City of Hartford, will give the three former Whalers stars keys to the city.
* The first 12,000 fans into the game will receive commemorative posters as mementos of the night, courtesy of Arrowhead Printing, The Hartford Courant and Gengras Volvo and Mitchell Volvo.
* The Pirates currently lead the Atlantic Division with a record of 22-8-3-1 for 48 points.
* First-year pros Corey Perry (12-12-24 in 13 GP) and Ryan Getzlaf (6-17-23 in 11 GP) led the AHL in scoring in the month of December.
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com or watch on B2 Network! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.

Saturday, January 7 at Manchester (Verizon Wireless Arena), 7:35 p.m.
* The Monarchs are 21-8-1-3 for 46 points, two points off the lead in the Atlantic Division.
* Manchester has won two in a row and five of its last seven.
* The Wolf Pack have at least a standings point in all five games between themselves and the Monarchs this season (2-0-1-2), but have suffered an overtime loss and two shootout losses in their three previous visits to Manchester.
* Former Wolf Pack Brad Smyth (14-21-35 in 33 GP) leads the Monarchs in points and assists and ranks third in the AHL in +/- (+17).
* Broadcast - live with Bob Crawford on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com or watch on B2 Network! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.

Sunday, January 8 at Portland (Cumberland County Civic Center), 4:05 p.m.
* The Wolf Pack are 1-1-0 in two earlier trips to Portland, and 1-2-0 overall vs. the Pirates.
* Radio - delayed broadcast on ESPN Radio 1410 with Bob Crawford, following NFL football. Live on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com or watch on B2 Network! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.

Injury Report:
Bruce Graham - viral infection (indefinite).
Bryce Lampman - dislocated left shoulder (indefinite).
Dale Purinton - broken right pinky finger (six weeks).
Jake Taylor - facial fractures (indefinite).

Recent Transactions: Blake Bellefeuille - released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack December 29. Maxim Kondratiev - loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 28, recalled by the Rangers December 30 and returned to the Wolf Pack January 2. Thomas Pöck - recalled by the New York Rangers January 2.

Pack Tracks:

Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office and 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. Season tickets, five, 10 and 20 game packages and group tickets are also available. Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.

The Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop", located 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2006


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