#frankberrian

[mitchbeck]

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: February 10-16, 2020

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Wolf Pack (27-12-5-5, 64 pts.) set a franchise record for longest home winning streak with their 12th consecutive home victory Wednesday night, scoring a season-high seven goals in a 7-4 triumph over Springfield.  A two-game trip to Charlotte yielded only one point, though, as the Wolf Pack fell 6-0 to the Checkers on Friday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum and then dropped a 4-3 overtime decision Saturday.  Patrick Newell had his first multiple-goal game as a pro on Wednesday, with two tallies, and then had a goal and an assist Saturday, and Vinni Lettieri also scored twice in Wednesday’s win. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins make their first visit of the season to the XL Center on Wednesday night for a 7:00 game, and then the Wolf Pack host the Laval Rocket on “Love is Love Night” at 7:15 on Friday night.  The Wolf Pack close out the weekend with a trip to Allentown, PA to meet the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Saturday night.  That game faces off at 7:05. Wednesday, February 12 vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at the XL Center, 7:00 PM This is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40. This is also a “Suit to Sweater Wednesday”, offered in partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID). The Penguins enter the week 24-18-3-5 for 56 points, one point out of the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and eight points behind the Wolf Pack.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has lost its last two games in regulation, after going 6-0-0-2 in the previous eight. This is the second meeting of the season between the Wolf Pack and the Penguins, and Hartford’s first of three home games in the series.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shut the Wolf Pack out, 3-0, in the teams’ first clash, January 11 in Wilkes-Barre. Goaltender Casey DeSmith, who made 25 saves to blank the Wolf Pack in the Penguins’ 3-0 home win January 11, had a streak of five straight winning decisions snapped in his last outing, a 3-0 loss to Hershey at home on Friday night. Tickets for this game, and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Friday, February 14 vs. the Laval Rocket (Montreal) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM This is “Love Is Love Night” at the XL Center, as the Wolf Pack celebrates love for hockey, pride, and diversity.  The Wolf Pack will be wearing specialty pride jerseys, which will be auctioned off in the second intermission, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Collective, the Hartford Gay Men's Chorus and Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford. This game, like every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game, features $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. This is the last of four games on the season between the Wolf Pack and the Rocket, and the first time the two teams have seen each other since November 1, when the Wolf Pack fell 2-1 in a shootout at Laval.  The Wolf Pack’s record in the season series is 1-1-0-1, and they took the only previous XL Center meeting, 2-1 in overtime, on October 25. Rocket goal-scoring leader Charles Hudon has 4-3-7 in Laval’s last four games and is tied for fourth in the AHL in goals, with 24-7-31 in 39 GP. The Rocket, who are 1-3-2-1 in their last seven games, finished last week tied with Toronto for the last playoff spot in the North Division, with a record of 23-20-5-2 for 53 points. At this game and every Wolf Pack Friday or Saturday home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the XL Center’s Coliseum Club.  From 5:15 PM until puck drop, a $5 wrist band gives fans access to the “Chill Zone” of the Coliseum Club, which features an appetizer buffet and $2 beers, presented by Minuteman Press. Tickets for this game, and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Saturday, February 15 at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at the PPL Center, 7:05 PM The Phantoms (21-23-1-5, 48 pts.) have won three of their last four games and are 8-4-0-1 in their last 13.  Lehigh Valley’s .688 points percentage at home (15-6-1-2) is fifth-best in the AHL. The Wolf Pack are 2-1-1-0 in four previous games against the Phantoms this season, and it has been a “Home Ice series”.  The Wolf Pack has won twice at the XL Center and has an overtime loss and a regulation defeat to show for two earlier visits to Allentown. Lehigh Valley rookie forward Isaac Ratcliffe (5-7-12 in 41 GP) scored in back-to-back games Saturday night at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Sunday at home vs. Hershey, for his first career professional goal-scoring streak. Broadcast – live online HERE.  Video streaming at com/AHLTV. Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at [phone]: Tuesday, February 11, 1:30 PM, Wesley School, 10 Wesleyan Hills Rd., Middletown, CT Wolf Pack forward Gabriel Fontaine is scheduled to join Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s beloved mascot, in support the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” reading program. Tuesday, February 11, 3:00 PM, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington St., Hartford Wolf Pack players Matt Beleskey, Nick Ebert, Steven Fogarty, Ryan Gropp, Vinni Lettieri, and Boo Nieves are scheduled to be making valentines at CCMC and delivering them to some of the young patients. Recent Transactions: Ty Ronning – reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from Maine (ECHL) February 3. Jake Elmer – reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from Maine (ECHL) February 9. Jeff Taylor – returned by the Wolf Pack to Maine (ECHL) February 9. Lewis Zerter-Gossage – returned by the Wolf Pack to Maine (ECHL) February 9. Pack Tracks: The Wolf Pack will celebrate over 40 years of Hartford hockey history Saturday, February 22, when they face off against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:00.  The first 2,00 fans into the game that night will receive a free 2020 Wolf Pack Sonar bobblehead, presented by Xfinity. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40.  After this Wednesday night, the next Hat Trick Pack game is Sunday, March 1, a 3:00 battle with the Providence Bruins. In partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Wolf Pack together offer “Suit to Sweater Wednesdays”, to wash away the mid-week work blues.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID).  After this Wednesday night, the Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home date is March 11, when the Providence Bruins invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game. Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  After this Friday, the Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night home outing is March 6, when they entertain the Hershey Bears in a 7:15 PM game. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call [phone], or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. TRACK THE PACK ONLINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: December 2-8, 2019

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Wolf Pack (11-4-2-5, 29 pts.) made a two-game trip to the Keystone State this past weekend and came away with their first two overtime losses of the season.  On Saturday night in Allentown, in their first look of the season at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Wolf Pack nursed a 1-0 lead for more than a period-and-a-half, courtesy of a Matt Beleskey goal in the first period, but fell in OT by a score of 2-1.  In Hershey on Sunday, Steven Fogarty’s second goal of the game, and his team-leading seventh of the season tied the score with 2:03 remaining in regulation, but the Bears prevailed in overtime, 4-3. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: The Wolf Pack start a three-game weekend, and a stretch of six games in nine days, Friday night, with their first visit of the year to Springfield.  Faceoff for that game, the last of five straight on the road for the Wolf Pack, is 7:05 PM.  Head Coach Kris Knoblauch’s team returns to the XL Center Saturday night, for a 7:30 game vs. the Binghamton Devils, and then travels to Providence to take on the Bruins Sunday at 3:05. Friday, December 6 at the Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at the MassMutual Center, 7:05 PM The Thunderbirds, who enter the week three points behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, at 13-11-0-0 for 26 points, snapped a three-game losing streak in their last action Saturday, a 6-3 home win over Laval. The Wolf Pack swept their first two meetings with the Thunderbirds, both at the XL Center, winning 3-1 on October 12 and 1-0 on October 18.  The Thunderbirds won four of the five battles between the two teams in Springfield last season. Springfield’s leading point and goal-scorer is the team's rookie Owen Tippett, who is tied for the league rookie goals lead and is tied for second in points among first-year pros, with 10-10-20 in 22 games. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Saturday, December 7 vs. the Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at the XL Center, 7:30 PM This is “Star Wars Night” at the XL Center.  Fans can rub shoulders with their favorite Star Wars characters, and win some awesome Star Wars prizes. The first 2,000 fans through the doors for this game will receive a free Wolf Pack 2020 calendar, presented by Hartford Distributors. This is the second of four games on the season between the Wolf Pack and the Devils, and the Wolf Pack took the first meeting, winning 4-3 in overtime October 19 in Binghamton.  The Wolf Pack were 2-1-1-0 vs. the Devils last year and swept both XL Center encounters. Binghamton is 0-3-1-0 in its last four games and 7-11-4-0 (18 pts.) on the year. Veteran center Ben Street (8-16-24 in 22 GP) is the Devils’ points leader, and Brett Seney tops the club in goals, with 11-9-20 in 21 GP. At this and every Wolf Pack Friday or Saturday home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the XL Center’s Coliseum Club.  From 5:30 PM until puck drop, a $5 wrist band gives fans access to the “Chill Zone” of the Coliseum Club, which features an appetizer buffet and $2 beers, presented by Minuteman Press. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.  Sunday, December 8 at the Providence Bruins (Boston) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence, 3:05 PM Providence has risen to the top of the Atlantic Division, with a 5-0-1-0 run since a 5-2 loss to the Wolf Pack November 16 at the XL Center.  The Bruins come into the week with a 14-7-1-2 record for 31 points. Rookie center Jack Studnicka, Providence’s leader in points and goals (10-10-20 in 22 GP), returned from his first career NHL action Sunday and had a goal and an assist in a 4-0 Bruin win at Charlotte.  That extended a goal-scoring streak to six games (6-4-10) for Studnicka, who is tied for second among AHL rookies in points and goals. The Wolf Pack are 2-0-0-1 in earlier action this year vs. the Bruins, with a win and a shootout loss to show for two previous visits to Providence. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at [phone]: Thursday, December 5, 9:15 AM, New Hartford, CT The Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, Sonar, visits three New Hartford schools (New Hartford Elementary, 40 Wicket St.; Bakerville School, 51 Cedar Lane; and Ann Antolini School, 30 Antolini Rd.) to promote the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program. Thursday, December 5, 5:00 PM, Blue Back Square, West Hartford, CT Sonar helps kick off the Holidays in Blue Back Square’s “Holiday Stroll”. Saturday, December 7, 8:00 AM, West Farms Mall, West Hartford, CT Sonar will be delivering some of the toys collected in the Wolf Pack’s “Teddy Bear Toss” to Toys for Tots, in conjunction with NBC Connecticut. Saturday, December 7, 11:00 AM, Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford Sonar will be on hand for a Science Center Sci-Fi event. Recent Transactions: None Pack Tracks: Saturday, December 28, when the Wolf Pack host the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM, the first 2,000 fans into the game will receive a free Wolf Pack pennant flag, courtesy of NBC Connecticut.  Also that night, there will be a free post-game skate on the XL Center ice. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40.  The next Hat Trick Pack game is Wednesday, December 11, a 7:00 PM battle with the Binghamton Devils. In partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Wolf Pack this year will be offering “Suit to Sweater Wednesdays”, to wash away the mid-week work blues.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID).  The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home date is December 11, when the Binghamton Devils invade the XL Center for a 7:00 PM game. Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  The Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night home outing is December 13, when they entertain the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a 7:15 PM game. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call [phone], or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. TRACK THE PACK ONLINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: October 28-November 3, 2019

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Wolf Pack (8-0-0-1, 17 pts.) are one point short of the best nine-game start in franchise history, after sweeping their first three-game weekend of the season.  On Friday night at the XL Center, the Wolf Pack trailed the Laval Rocket 1-0 going into the final two minutes of regulation time, before Nick Ebert’s first Wolf Pack goal tied the game with 1:37 left and goaltender Igor Shesterkin headed to the bench for an extra attacker.  Then, Danny O’Regan scored his first goal in a Wolf Pack uniform with 41.4 seconds left in overtime, for a 2-1 win.  On Saturday night the Wolf Pack finished a season-opening stretch of seven out of eight games at home with a 4-1 win over Bridgeport, scoring the last four goals of the game, including three in a span of 2:36 in the second period, after the Sound Tigers had struck first.  O’Regan again led the way, with a goal and an assist.  The Wolf Pack prevailed over their in-state rivals again on Sunday in Bridgeport, in the second half of a home-and-home, with their fourth overtime win of the season, a 2-1 triumph.  Darren Raddysh’s first goal of the season was the winner, at 2:25 of OT.  This week: The Wolf Pack head out on their only Canadian road trip of the season, continuing a run of four straight and six out of eight on the road.  The Laval Rocket will host the Wolf Pack at Place Bell for games Wednesday night (7:00 PM faceoff) and Friday (7:30), and then it’s on to Belleville for a 7:00 date with the Senators on Saturday night. Wednesday, October 30 at the Laval Rocket (Montreal) at Place Bell, 7:00 PM This is the second of four games on the year between the Wolf Pack and the Rocket, and the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams in the Rocket’s three-year history.  After Friday night’s overtime win in Hartford, the Wolf Pack are 2-2-0-1 all-time against Laval, and they have lost both of their previous visits to Place Bell. Rookie forward Ryan Poehling scored the Rocket’s only goal, a second-period power-play tally, in Friday night’s contest at the XL Center.  He is tied for second on the Laval club in goals, with 3-2-5 in ten games. After Friday’s overtime defeat, the Rocket snapped an 0-2-1-0 drought with a 3-2 shootout win at Providence on Saturday night, improving to 4-5-1-0 for nine points. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at ahllive.com.  Friday, November 1 at the Laval Rocket (Montreal) at Place Bell, 7:30 PM The Rocket are 2-3-0-0 through their first five home games on the year, and the Wolf Pack have two overtime wins to show for their two away outings thus far. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at ahllive.com.  Saturday, November 2 at the Belleville Senators (Ottawa) at CAA Arena, 7:00 PM The Senators (3-5-0-0, 6 pts.) have won two of their last three games, after losses in four of their first five. Drake Batherson, an AHL All-Rookie selection last season who led the Senators in points and assists (22-40-62 in 59 GP) in 2018-19, is back atop the team points list this year, with 3-7-10 in seven games. This is the first of two meetings this season between the Wolf Pack and Senators, and the Wolf Pack’s only visit of the year to Belleville.  In 2018-19 the Wolf Pack were 1-0-1-0 in two games vs. the Senators, including a 4-3 win October 19 in their one trip to the CAA Arena. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at ahllive.com. Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at [phone]: Tuesday, October 29, 9:00 AM, Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s iconic mascot, and 11-time Hartford Mascot Marathon champion will join local youngsters in a lap around the Rentschler Field parking complex for the Hartford Marathon Foundation. Thursday, October 31, 11:15 AM, Travelers Insurance Co., 1 Tower Square, Hartford Sonar suits up in his werewolf costume and joins Travelers for a Halloween fundraiser on behalf of United Way. Recent Transactions: Ty Ronning – reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from Maine (ECHL) October 24. Vitali Kravtsov – reassigned from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers to Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) October 27. Pack Tracks: The next home game for the Wolf Pack is Friday, November 8, when they entertain the Hershey Bears for a 7:15 PM start.  Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. The Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, November 9, when the Belleville Senators visit the XL Center for a 7:30 PM faceoff, will feature the Wolf Pack’s annual “Teddy Bear Toss”.  Fans are invited to bring soft toys to the game and fling them on to the ice when the Wolf Pack scored their first goal.  All the toys collected will be donated to Operation ELF and Toys for Tots. On Saturday, November 16, when the Wolf Pack battle the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM, it’s “Hockey Fights Cancer Night” at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be teaming up with Hockey Fights Cancer to support those who are battling cancer, and their families.  Also, the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack lanyard, courtesy of CM Concessions. The Wolf Pack’s annual “Sonar’s Edu-skate” school-day game is coming up Wednesday, November 20 vs. the Syracuse Crunch, with faceoff at 11:00 AM.  Lots of educational fun will be on tap throughout the day, and for information on bringing a school group to the Edu-Skate game, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at [phone]. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40.  The next Hat Trick Pack game is the “Sonar’s Edu-skate” school-day game Wednesday, November 20 vs. the Syracuse Crunch, with faceoff at 11:00 AM. In partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Wolf Pack this year will be offering “Suit to Sweater Wednesdays”, to wash away the mid-week work blues.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID).  The Wolf Pack’s first Wednesday home date is November 20, the 11:00 AM “Sonar’s Edu-skate” school-day game vs. the Syracuse Crunch. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at [phone].  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call [phone], or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. TRACK THE PACK ONLINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article