Wolf Pack Weekly
December 19, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
The Wolf Pack climbed to within one game of the .500 mark last week, with a 2-1-1-0 record in four games. The week began Wednesday night at the Hartford Civic Center with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms, a game which the Wolf Pack trailed 2-0 at one point. On Friday at home against Worcester the Pack suffered a 5-4 overtime loss, and then they rebounded for a 1-0 shootout win over the first-place Portland Pirates Saturday night at home. Then on Sunday in Manchester the Wolf Pack fell to the Monarchs in another tight game, dropping a 2-1 decision. Steve Valiquette saw action in all four games during the week, allowing six goals on 92 shots (1.84 GAA, 93.5% save percentage) and registering his second shutout in a span of five starts on Saturday. Ryan Callahan stretched his franchise-record and AHL season-high goal-scoring streak to eight games (10-4-14) before it was stopped in Saturday's game.
This week:
The Wolf Pack head into the Christmas holiday with back-to-back home games this Friday and Saturday nights. Friday will see the Springfield Falcons visit the Hartford Civic Center for the second installment of the DATTCO I-91 Challenge (7:00 start). Like all Fridays, that is a Guida's Family Value Night, and the Wolf Pack and Rockville Bank will be giving away $1,000 in the "Go for Green" promotion. The Providence Bruins are the opponents on Saturday (7:00) on "Get a Gift Night". Everyone at the game will receive a free surprise gift, and one lucky fan will win a diamond from Becker's Jewelers.
Friday, December 22 vs. Springfield at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
This is the second 2006-07 game of the DATTCO l-91 Challenge; New this season, the challenge will see the Wolf Pack taking on the Springfield Falcons in 10 bouts, with one winner being named at the end of the series.
The Wolf Pack have not seen the Falcons since the Pack's opening night, October 7, a game that Springfield won by a score of 3-2.
The Falcons are currently five points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 15-13-0-1 for 31 points.
Long-time NHL mainstay Sean Burke has appeared in seven games in the Springfield net this season.
As is the case at every Friday night home game, the Wolf Pack and Rockville Bank will be giving away $1,000 during the "Go for the Green" promotion.
Friday night home games are Guida's Dairy Family Value Nights. Fans can purchase Family Value Night packages of three or four tickets, with each package including a hot dog or a pizza slice and a soda per ticket, as well as a Wolf Pack souvenir. Three-packs start as low as $36. To order, call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000.
Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details
Saturday, December 23 vs. Providence at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
The Bruins (14-11-1-2, 31 pts.) are tied with Springfield for fourth place in the Atlantic. They have lost three straight and nine of their last 12 (3-7-0-2).
The Bruins won their only previous visit to Hartford, 3-2, on November 3, and the Wolf Pack captured a 3-2 victory November 24 in Providence.
Rookie Kris Versteeg leads the Bruins' club in points and goals, with 13-14-27 in 25 games.
This game is the Wolf Pack's "Get a Gift Night". Every fan in attendance receives a gift from the Wolf Pack, and one lucky fan will win a diamond, courtesy of Becker's Jewelers.
Television - live on Fox Sports Net New England with Bob Crawford (play-by-play) and P.J. Stock (color commentary).
Webcast - live with Mark Bailey at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks! Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
Injury Report:
Dale Purinton - fractured right foot (4-6 weeks)
Jake Taylor - clavicle/shoulder surgery (1-2 months)
Recent Transactions: Jed Ortmeyer - assigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers on a conditioning loan December 12. Thomas Pock - recalled by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack December 18.
Pack Tracks:
"Wolf Pack Confidential", the Wolf Pack's weekly hour-long Tuesday-night talk show, will be taking a holiday break for the next two weeks. The show will return to Little Mark's Big Barbecue, located at 279 West Main St. (Rt. 44) in Avon, on Tuesday, January 2. Wolf Pack Confidential airs from 7-8 PM and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1410 and on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.
The 96.5 TIC Acoustic Café - Volume VI CD, featuring the music of some of today's most popular musical artists, recorded acoustically, is now on sale at all Big Y World Class Markets, FYE and Strawberries locations, as well as at the new Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop" in the Hartford 21 Mall surrounding the Civic Center. Net proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the charitable efforts of the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation. The retail price of the CD is only $9.65, and it includes cuts from Staind, KT Tunstall, The Fray, Five for Fighting, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Anna Nalick, James Blunt, Nick Lachey and Smash Mouth. Each CD includes a voucher worth $16.50 for a free ticket to see a Wednesday night or Sunday night Wolf Pack game during the 2006-07 season.
The Wolf Pack's home game December 30 against the Manchester Monarchs (7:00 faceoff) will include an in-game concert featuring the Jonas Brothers, the Truth Squad and Nothing but Strings. The concert is sponsored by Radio Disney.
The Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop", located in the newly-renovated Hartford 21 Mall surrounding the Civic Center, will be open for special shopping hours during this holiday season. The Pack shop is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays through Christmas 2-7 p.m. and for one hour after games, and Sundays, including Christmas Eve, noon to four p.m.. The Pack Shop features a Wolf Pack hockey rink-tiled replica floor and offers a full line of Wolf Pack merchandise and special 10th Anniversary items. Stop by and pick something up for all of the hockey fans on your shopping list!
Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy'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.
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