Menu
Wolf Pack Weekly, January 2-7

Wolf Pack Weekly, January 2-7

Jan 2, 2018

The Wolf Pack (13-15-3-3, 32 pts., .471) wrapped up calendar year 2017 with a 5-1 loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Friday night and a 5-4 home setback vs. Springfield Saturday evening.  Pack captain Joe Whitney scored in both games, and rookie defenseman Neal Pionk netted his first career pro goal in Saturday’s third period.

For the latest AHL standings, click here.

This week:  The Wolf Pack begin 2018 with a three-game weekend, including two home contests.  After a trip to Providence to meet the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins on Friday night (7:05 PM faceoff), the Pack host the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday night at 7:00 and welcome the Utica Comets for a 5:00 tilt on Sunday.

Friday, January 5 at the Providence Bruins (Boston) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence, 7:05 PM

  • The P-Bruins, who are 12-2-1-0 in 15 games since November 26, hit the turn of the year with an Eastern Conference-best .703 points percentage (21-8-3-0, 45 pts.), earning their head coach, Jay Leach, the honor of coaching the Atlantic Division All-Stars at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino, January 28-29 in Utica.
  • One of Providence’s two regulation defeats since Thanksgiving weekend was at the hands of the Wolf Pack, who downed the Bruins 6-4 in the team’s last meeting December 22 at the XL Center. That was after the Bruins took the first two battles, 5-0 in Hartford November 4 and 4-3 in a shootout December 8 in Providence.
  • Bruin goaltender Jordan Binnington is 9-1-1 on the season, with an AHL-leading 1.59 goals-against average and a 93.8% save percentage, which is second-best in the league.
  • Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

Saturday, January 6 vs. the Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay) at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

  • The first 2,000 fans into this game will receive a free Wolf Pack scarf, presented by Aetna.
  • This is “Latino Heritage Night”, as the Wolf Pack celebrate Three Kings Day.
  • The Wolf Pack will be holding a winter clothing drive at this game.  Any fan who donates a new or gently-used article of winter clothing will receive a Wolf Pack buy-one-get-one-free ticket voucher, good for any remaining 2017-18 home game.
  • At this and every Wolf Pack home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club.  Enjoy $2 domestic beers and $5 appetizers from 5:00 PM until puck drop.
  • This is the first of two meetings on the season between the Wolf Pack and the Crunch, and Syracuse’s only XL Center visit of the year.  The Wolf Pack swept a two-game season series last year, winning 2-1 in a shootout December 16 in Hartford and 5-4 in regulation five nights later in Syracuse.
  • North Division champions and Calder Cup finalists last season, the Crunch come into 2018 in third place in the North, with a record of 18-12-1-2, for 39 points and a .591 points percentage.  Since a 4-9-1-2 start, Head Coach Benoit Groulx’ Syracuse club has won 14 of its last 17 games.
  • Crunch rookie forward Alexander Volkov (10-11-21 in 32 GP) had consecutive two-goal performances in the club’s last two games, to  move into the Syracuse goals lead, and fellow forward Carter Verhaeghe (7-14-21 in 20 GP) comes into the week on a 12-game point-scoring streak (4-11-15), the longest by an AHL player so far this season.
  • Tickets for this and all 2017-18 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger are just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
  • Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

Sunday, January 7 vs. the Utica Comets (Vancouver) at the XL Center, 5:00 PM

  • At this and every Wolf Pack Sunday home game of the season, fans can take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.
  • The Wolf Pack’s winter clothing drive continues at this game.  Any fan who donates a new or gently-used article of winter clothing will receive a Wolf Pack buy-one-get-one-free ticket voucher, good for any remaining 2017-18 home game.
  • At this and every Wolf Pack home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club.  Enjoy $2 domestic beers and $5 appetizers from 3:00 PM until puck drop.
  • The Comets, who enter this week exactly at .500 (13-13-4-3, 33 pts.), and tied with Laval for fourth place in the North Division, have won only three of their last 11 games, but have at least a standings point in all but three of those contests (3-3-3-2).
  • Hartford native Cole Cassels, son of former Hartford Whaler Andrew Cassels, has at least a point in seven of the Comets’ last nine games (2-6-8), after being held to one assist in his first 18 games of the season.
  • This is the second of four games on the year between the Wolf Pack and the Comets, and the first of two Utica visits to the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack won the teams’ first encounter of the season, 4-1, November 18 in Utica.
  • Tickets for this and all 2017-18 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger are just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
  • Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at www.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 (860) 541-4728:

  • Wednesday, January 3, 1:15 PM, Mary E. Griswold School, 133 Heather Ln., Berlin, CT:  The Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, Sonar, promotes the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program, presented by ProHealth Physicians and Healthy Me.
  • Saturday, January 6, 10:00 AM, Hartford, CT:  Sonar joins in the fun and pageantry of Hartford’s Three Kings Day parade.

 

Recent Transactions:

Chris Langkow – signed to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack December 28.

Vinni Lettieri – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 28.

Branden Troock – signed to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack December 28, and released December 31.

 

Practice:  All Wolf Pack practices at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell are open to the public.  Schedule is subject to change.

Wed., January 3            10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center

Thurs., January 4           10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center

Fri., January 5               10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (game at Providence)

Sat., January 6              10:00 – 10:30 AM, Champions Skating Center (game vs. Syracuse)

Sun., January 7             Game vs. Utica

Mon., January 8              No practice

 

Pack Tracks:  Friday, January 26, when the Wolf Pack host the Charlotte Checkers in a 7:15 PM game, the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack winter hat, presented by Aetna.

Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Dave & Buster’s.  The Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night date is January 19, when they host the Utica Comets at 7:15 PM.

Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.  After this Sunday, the next Family Value Pack game is Sunday, January 21, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit for a 5:00 PM tilt.

Every Wolf Pack Wednesday home game is a “Winning Wednesday”.  If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game (some restrictions apply).  The next Wolf Pack Wednesday home outing is February 7, the “Sonar’s Edu-Skate” school-day morning game vs. Bridgeport at 11:00 AM.

Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger are just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $2 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 (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Back to All