Wolf Pack Weekly, November 23-29
Nov 23, 2015The Wolf Pack (8-9-2-0, 18 pts., .474 pts. percentage) moved up a slot in the Atlantic Division this past weekend, winning two of their three games. The Pack snapped an 0-6-1-0 drought Friday night in their first-ever visit to the Utica Memorial Auditorium, downing the Utica Comets by a score of 3-2. Travis Oleksuk had the game-winning goal in that victory and Mat Bodie scored his first goal of the season. The next night back at home, Head Coach Ken Gernander’s team notched a 3-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with Luke Adam tallying the game-winning marker and adding an assist. The Wolf Pack were denied a perfect weekend, however, despite a good start in a rematch with the Comets at the XL Center Sunday. The Pack jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 3:38, on goals by Nick Tarnasky and Jayson Megna, but the Comets held them at bay the rest of the way and came back for a 3-2 win.
For the latest AHL standings, click here.
This week: The Wolf Pack return to action this Friday, for a “Black Friday” encounter with the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center. The new Friday-night Wolf Pack faceoff time this year is 7:15 PM. Then the Pack travel to Bridgeport on Saturday night for their second matchup of the season with the Sound Tigers. Faceoff for that game is 7:00.
Friday, November 27 vs. the Springfield Falcons (Arizona) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM
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The Wolf Pack will be celebrating “Black Friday” at this game. Fans will have a chance to win some of the holiday season’s hot gift items, and it will be a “Flashback Friday” as well, with the Wolf Pack wearing “throwback” blue jerseys modeled on the design from the Pack’s inaugural season of 1997-98.
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This game will also feature the Wolf Pack’s annual “Teddy Bear Toss”, with fans invited to bring soft toys to be chucked on to the ice when the Pack score their first goal of the game. All of the toys collected will be donated to Toys for Tots.
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This night is also the first chance this season to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s wildly popular Friday-night food and beverage discount. 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.
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7:15 PM is the new faceoff time for all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games this season.
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This is the first of eight games on the season between the Wolf Pack and their most familiar rivals the Falcons, and the first of four Springfield visits to the XL Center. In a ten-game season series last year, the Wolf Pack were unbeaten in regulation, going 7-0-0-3 against the Falcons, 3-0-0-2 in five home games.
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The Falcons have a new NHL affiliate this season, the Arizona Coyotes, after five years of partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and a new head coach, former Rochester Americans bench boss Ron Rolston. Springfield is 8-7-1-0 through its first 16 games, for 17 points and a .531 points percentage, and is one slot ahead of the fifth-place Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division.
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The Falcons’ top offensive threat is veteran centerman Dustin Jeffrey, who comes into the week tied for fourth in the AHL in points with 7-11-18 in 16 GP.
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Tickets for this and all 2015-16 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 have been reduced to $10 this season, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
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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.
Saturday, November 28 at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders) at the Webster Bank Arena, 7:00 PM
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The Sound Tigers have the second-best record in the Atlantic Division, with a mark of 13-5-1-0 (27 pts., .711). Bridgeport had a streak of six games without a regulation loss (5-0-1-0) streak snapped in their last game Sunday, a 2-0 home defeat to Springfield.
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This is the second of ten battles on the year between the AHL’s two Nutmeg-State teams. The Sound Tigers took the first meeting, 1-0, November 8 at home. The Pack were 6-2-2-0 in ten games vs. the Sound Tigers last year, 3-1-1-0 in Bridgeport.
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Goaltender Christopher Gibson (7-3-1, 2.12 GAA, 91.9% save percentage) made 30 saves for the Sound Tigers in their 1-0 win over the Wolf Pack November 8, a game in which Hartford had a 30-18 shots advantage.
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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.
Sunday, November 29 - Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon – Hall of Fame Silver Lanes, E. Hartford, CT, 11:00 AM: The 13th annual Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon benefits Special Olympics Connecticut. The entire Wolf Pack team will be on hand at Hall of Fame Silver Lanes, 748 Silver Lane, East Hartford, starting at 11:00 AM, to bowl alongside teams of Special Olympics athletes, who have solicited pledges in order to participate. The entirety of the event’s proceeds benefit Special Olympics Connecticut, and anyone interested in participating is encouraged to register on-line at www.soct.org.
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:
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Tuesday, November 24, 2:00 PM, Judson Elementary School, 124 Hamilton Ln., Watertown, CT: Wolf Pack players Ryan Graves and Chris McCarthy are scheduled to visit with elementary schoolers to promote the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program.
Recent Transactions:
Jack Combs – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Greenville (ECHL) November 16.
Richard Nejezchleb – loaned by the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) November 16.
Cedrick Desjardins – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers (NHL) November 18.
Petr Zamorsky – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers (NHL) November 18.
Jeff Malcolm – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Greenville (ECHL) November 21.
Practice: All Wolf Pack practices at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell are open to the public. Schedule is subject to change.
Tue., November 24 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Wed., November 25 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Thurs., November 26 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Fri., November 27 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (game vs. Springfield)
Sat., November 28 10:45 – 11:15 AM, Trinity College (game at Bridgeport)
Sun., November 29 No practice
Mon., November 30 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Pack Tracks: Saturday, December 12, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:00 game, it’s Star Wars Night at the XL Center. Fans can hang out with all of their favorite Star Wars characters, and win some exciting Star Wars prizes.
The Wolf Pack have 11 Sunday home games this year, and all of those 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 $35. The Wolf Pack’s next Sunday home date is January 3, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit for a 3:00 PM game.
Wolf Pack “Winning Wednesdays” also return for the 2015-16 season. If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday night, 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 Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home outing is February 17, a 7:00 PM game vs. the Providence Bruins.
Tickets all 2015-16 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale 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 have been reduced to $10 this season, 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.