Wolf Pack Weekly: October 7-12
Oct 7, 2014The Wolf Pack kick off their 18th season of AHL action this Sunday, October 12, travelling to Syracuse to battle the Crunch in a 5:00 PM game. The Pack completed a four-game preseason slate with a 1-1-0-2 record, after a 3-2 shootout loss at Springfield on Sunday. That followed three local exhibition outings, a 3-1 victory over the Albany Devils at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT Wednesday, a 5-4 shootout loss to the Worcester Sharks Thursday at Quinnipiac University’s TD Bank Sports Center and a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Sharks at Trinity College’s Koeppel Community Sports Center Saturday.
This week:
The Wolf Pack opens its 2014-15 campaign at the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday, facing off at 5:00 PM.
Sunday, October 12 at the Syracuse Crunch (Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter), 5:00 p.m.
- This is the first of eight meetings on the season between the Wolf Pack and Crunch, who did not play in 2013-14, and the first of four trips for the Pack to Syracuse. The last action between the Pack and Crunch was a pair of meetings in 2012-13, and Syracuse won both, 4-3 in overtime December 1 in Hartford and 4-0 February 24 in Syracuse.
- The Crunch, the top affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, were moved into the Wolf Pack’s Division, the Northeast, for this season, after playing the last five years in the East Division. Syracuse was 31-32-4-9 for 75 points last year, in Head Coach Rob Zettler’s first full year behind the bench, finishing fifth in the East Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference.
- Syracuse opens its season Saturday night at home vs. Springfield, after holding its training camp in Lyon, France. The Crunch played three preseason games in Lyon, dropping a pair of contests vs. the Binghamton Senators and scoring a 3-1 win over the Lyon Lions of France’s Magnus League.
- Former Connecticut Whale Jonathan Marchessault had 9-6-15 in 21 games with the Crunch last season, after being acquired by the parent Tampa Bay Lightning from Columbus, and totaled 23-33-56 in 77 games between Syracuse and Springfield.
- The Wolf Pack are 8(W)-5(L)-2(T)-2(OTL)-1(SOL) in 18 all-time meetings with the Crunch, and 3(W)-4(L)-1(T)-0(OTL)-1(SOL) in nine all-time trips to Syracuse.
- Radio – live with Bob Crawford on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at foxsportsradio1410.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, October 8, 8:00 AM, Lincoln Elementary School, 145 Steele St., New Britain, CT: Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, takes part in Lincoln’s “Walk to School” event.
- Thursday, October 9, 2:00 PM, Trinity Episcopal Day School, 120 Sigourney St., Hartford, CT: Sonar meets and greets Hartford schoolchildren.
- Friday, October 10, 11:30 AM, Hospital of Central Connecticut, 100 Grand St., New Britain, CT: Sonar entertains patients and staff at the Hospital of Central Connecticut.
- Friday, October 10, 1:30 PM, Raymond Hill School, 370 Linwood St., New Britain, CT: Sonar helps New Britain students with a great finish to the school week.
- Saturday, October 11, 8:00 AM, Hartford Marathon, Downtown Hartford: Sonar cheers on participants in the annual Hartford Marathon.
- Saturday, October 11, 12:00 noon, Choate Rosemary Hall Rink, 35 North Elm St., Wallingford, CT: Sonar drops in on the Wallingford Hawks Youth Hockey Mite Jamboree.
- Saturday, October 11, 6:00 PM, Colt Park, 130 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford: Sonar joins in the fun of Hartford Night Fall.
- Sunday, October 12, 8:00 AM, South Windsor Arena, 585 John Fitch Blvd., South Windsor, CT: Sonar takes part in South Windsor Youth Hockey Learn to Play Hockey.
Recent Transactions:
Conor Allen – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Mat Bodie – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Chris Bourque – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Ryan Bourque – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Tommy Hughes – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Danny Kristo – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Jason Missiaen – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Nick Tarnasky – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 1.
Mike Catenacci – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Emerson Clark – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Nick Crawford – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Nick Latta – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Paxton Leroux – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Chad Nehring – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Logan Nelson – released by the Wolf Pack from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement October 3.
Josh Nicholls – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) October 3.
Trevor Parkes – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 3.
Mackenzie Skapski – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) October 3.
Tyler Brown – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Joey Crabb – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Cedrick Desjardins – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Troy Donnay – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Erie (OHL) October 6.
Sean Escobedo – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Ryan Haggerty – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Andrew Himelson – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Marek Hrivik – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Dallas Jackson – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Kyle Jean – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Steven Kampfer– loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers, then traded to Florida, October 6.
Mike Kostka – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Oscar Lindberg – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Matthew Lombardi – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Jeff Malcolm – loaned by the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) October 6.
Brandon Martell – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Dylan McIlrath – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers October 6.
Pat Mullane – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Michael St. Croix – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) October 6.
Vinny Saponari – loaned by the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) October 6.
Mikael Tam – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement October 6.
Andrew Yogan – traded by the New York Rangers to Florida October 6.
Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 541-4791 before attending a practice.
Wed., October 8: 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Thurs., October 9: 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., October 10: 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Sat., October 11: 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Trinity College
Sun., October 12: Game at Syracuse
Mon., October 13: 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Pack Tracks:
The Wolf Pack’s 2014-15 home opener is coming up Saturday, October 18, when the Pack host the Portland Pirates in a 7:00 PM game. The XL Center is newly renovated, with a brand-new center-hung scoreboard and ribbon boards, loge boxes and in-arena fan club, plus a fully-redone concourse, featuring enticing new concession stands. Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and the first 5,000 fans receive a free Wolf Pack magnetic schedule at the home opener, courtesy of Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Also, “Superfan” Cameron Hughes will return to entertain the crowd, and the UConn Cheer Team will be signing autographs in the XL Center atrium during the first intermission.
The Pack are also home Sunday, October 19, with the Hershey Bears coming to town. Faceoff is 3:00 PM. The Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” will again be featured on Sundays this year, and has been expanded to Wednesday and Thursday home games as well. The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.
Once again this season, every Friday night Wolf Pack home game will feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers, through the start of the second period. The first Friday-night home game is October 24, when the Wolf Pack host the Hershey Bears in a 7:00 PM game.
Wolf Pack “Winning Wednesdays” are back for the 2014-15 season. At all Wednesday night home games, if the Wolf Pack win, each fan receives a free ticket to the Pack’s next home game (some restrictions apply). The Wolf Pack’s first Wednesday-night home date is November 5, when the Albany Devils invade the XL Center for a special 11:00 AM game.
Tickets all 2014-15 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. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.
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.