#atlanticdivision

BY: Bryce Grundy, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, March 6, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack suffered its first home shutout-against of the season Friday night, a 1-0 loss to the Hershey Bears in the first of back-to-back games between the two teams at the XL Center. Vitek Vanecek stopped all 30 shots he faced in the Hershey net, and the teams played more than 54 scoreless minutes before Ed Wittchow scored the only goal of the game at 14:12 of the third period.  J-F Berube made 16 saves in the Wolf Pack net. The game had significant standings implications, as the Atlantic Division-leading Bears (36-18-3-3, 78 pts.) widened the gap between themselves and the third-place Wolf Pack (31-17-6-5, 73 pts.) to five points. “Every game is important this time of year,” commented Berube. “We have to take the positive out of it. There were a lot of good things we did tonight.” “Besides the first ten minutes, I thought we played a pretty good game,” said Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “A lot of credit to Hershey, they’re a good hockey team.” There were multiple scoring opportunities, coupled with a high pace of play, despite neither team showing up on the scoresheet in the first period.  Hartford’s Mason Geertsen provided some energy with a thunderous heavyweight fight against Wittchow at 6:33 of the first period. “We knew this was going to be an intense game,” mentioned Knoblauch, “physical, and what’s on the line with the standings. We need to play with that presence.” The second period was an extension of the first – a scoreless period but relentless pressure by both clubs. The Wolf Pack and Bears were tied in shots after 40 minutes as well, at 13 apiece, until the Wolf Pack exploded for 17 in the third. “The second half of the game I thought we spent a lot of time in their zone,” said Knoblauch.  “The effort was there.” On the winning goal, an aggressive Hershey fore-check led to a turnover in the Wolf Pack defensive zone. Strong cycling below the net created a feed to a wide-open Wittchow at the left faceoff dot, and he blasted a one-timer past the catching glove of Berube towards the top right corner. Brian Pinho and Shane Gersich assisted on the goal. “J-F came up huge, especially early in the game,” said Knoblauch. “We, maybe deserved a better outcome,” noted Berube. “Forget about it tonight, move onto tomorrow and get back at it.” The Wolf Pack and Bears tangle again Saturday night at the XL Center, with faceoff at 7:00.  That is Military Appreciation Night, and the team will wear specialty military-themed jerseys. Those will be auctioned off during the second intermission, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting local veteran and military organizations.  Also, the first 2,000 fans into this game will take home a free Wolf Pack reversible drink koozie, courtesy of CT-DOT. Tickets for 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 (860) 722-9425.  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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hershey Bears 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 0 Friday, March 6, 2020 - XL Center Hershey  0 0 1 - 1 Hartford 0 0 0 - 0 1st Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Wittchow Her (instigating, fighting, misconduct - instigating), 6:33; Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 6:33; served by Sprong Her (bench minor - too many men), 8:49. 2nd Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-No Penalties 3rd Period-1, Hershey, Wittchow 5 (Pinho, Gersich), 14:12. Penalties-Sprong Her (tripping), 19:02. Shots on Goal-Hershey 10-3-4-17. Hartford 7-6-17-30. Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 0; Hartford 0 / 3. Goalies-Hershey, Vanecek 18-10-1 (30 shots-30 saves). Hartford, Berube 13-15-4 (17 shots-16 saves). A-4,489 Referees-Troy Paterson (29), Brandon Schrader (46). Linesmen-Ben O'Quinn (92), Brent Colby (7). Read the full article

Hartford Wolf Pack 4, Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Bridgeport, CT, February 23, 2020 – Tim Gettinger and Nick Jones had a goal and an assist apiece, and the Hartford Wolf Pack scored three special-teams goals, Sunday at Webster Bank Arena, in a 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The win, the Wolf Pack’s 30th of the season, lifted Hartford (30-14-6-5, 71 pts.) to within one point of idle Hershey for first place in the Atlantic Division. J-F Berube, making his second start since joining the Wolf Pack, got his first Wolf Pack win with 17 saves, and Darren Raddysh had two assists.  Josh Ho-Sang scored the only Bridgeport goal, and Jared Coreau made 26 saves. “I thought it was a good 60 minutes,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said.  “Early in the game, I thought we had to rely on J-F making some key saves, but after that, we were pretty good.” The two clubs traded power-play goals in the first period, on the first two man-advantage opportunities of the game. Bridgeport struck first after Mason Geertsen was called for holding at 11:47.  Sebastian Aho’s shot from high in the slot deflected wide, but Ho-Sang picked up the puck along the goal line on the right-wing side and moved around behind the net, beating Berube with a wraparound inside the goal post to his right, at 13:10. That would be the only Bridgeport offense, though, and the Wolf Pack would go on to get the next four, starting when Vinni Lettieri tied things back up only 1:58 later, at 15:08, with Parker Wotherspoon off for hooking.  Raddysh broke up a Bridgeport shorthanded rush in the Hartford end and passed ahead to Vitali Kravtsov.  He moved across the middle in the Sound Tiger zone and set Lettieri up for a one-timer in the left circle, and the shot beat Coreau to the stick side. That goal was Lettieri’s 24th of the season, a personal pro best for the Wolf Pack’s leading scorer. Jones scored the only goal of the second period, the eventual game-winner, at 5:24.  Patrick Newell fed the puck to Raddysh on the right side in the Bridgeport zone, and he took it towards the net, before sending towards the goalmouth.  Jones and Gettinger both attacked the net, and Jones backhanded the puck inside the goal post to Coreau’s left. The Wolf Pack then got two more in the third period, a shorthander by Gettinger and a power-play strike by Nick Ebert. Gettinger scored his 13th of the season to up the lead to 3-1 at 6:16, with Steven Fogarty serving a delay-of-game penalty.  Raddysh knocked a Sound Tiger pass out of the air in the defensive zone, and a Jones feed sent Gettinger up the right side.  He made his way past Ho-Sang, a forward playing one of the power-play points, and cut across the front of the net, getting to his forehand to put the puck past Coreau on the stick side. Then, with Bobo Carpenter in the box for holding, Ebert made it a three-goal advantage with 5:02 left.  Matt Beleskey moved out high in the offensive zone and handed the puck to Ebert, who sent a long wrist shot from the right point that went through a Fogarty screen and eluded Coreau’s catching glove. “The penalty-kill kind of put the game away, with the Gettinger shorthanded goal,” said Knoblauch.  “The penalty kill’s been a strong point of our game throughout the year, and it was nice to see the power play rewarded today with a couple of goals.” The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Friday night, February 28, when they travel to Binghamton to take on the Devils.  Faceoff is 7:05.  The next Wolf Pack home game is Sunday, March 1, a 3:00 contest vs. the Providence Bruins.  That 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 one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for 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 www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 4 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 Sunday, February 23, 2020 - Webster Bank Arena Hartford    1 1 2 - 4 Bridgeport 1 0 0 - 1 1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Ho-Sang 3 (Schilkey, Aho), 13:10 (PP). 2, Hartford, Lettieri 24 (Kravtsov, Raddysh), 15:08 (PP). Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (holding), 11:47; Wotherspoon Bri (hooking), 14:23. 2nd Period-3, Hartford, Jones 8 (Gettinger, Raddysh), 5:24. Penalties-Dmowski Hfd (slashing), 0:54; Aho Bri (slashing), 11:52. 3rd Period-4, Hartford, Gettinger 13 (Jones), 6:16 (SH). 5, Hartford, Ebert 5 (Beleskey, Fogarty), 14:58 (PP). Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (holding), 1:57; Fogarty Hfd (delay of game), 4:56; Carpenter Bri (holding), 13:20; Burroughs Bri (tripping), 15:38; Dmowski Hfd (elbowing), 19:32. Shots on Goal-Hartford 6-11-13-30. Bridgeport 9-2-7-18. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 2 / 4; Bridgeport 1 / 5. Goalies-Hartford, Berube 13-12-4 (18 shots-17 saves). Bridgeport, Coreau 10-14-1 (30 shots-26 saves). A-5,427 Referees-Carter Sandlak (6), Mason Riley (79). Linesmen-Nick Briganti (58), Petr Hejna (76). Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored two goals and goalie Casey DeSmith made 25 saves to lead the visiting Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins to victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1, for just their second home loss of the season on Wednesday night at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack pressed to knot the score in the third period, but DeSmith stopped all six shots he saw in the second half of the period and allowed no second or third chances on those shots. “There were not many scoring chances either way. We have to work harder to generate our opportunities. I thought we turned the puck over (too much) in the first three-and-a-half minutes, and Wilkes-Barre did a good job denying the blue line. We were trying to make a play when it wasn’t there,” remarked Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. On the flip side, the Wolf Pack defense held the Penguins to just 16 shots, the second-lowest number of attempts since they held Hershey to 15 on January 8th at the Giant Center. “I thought we defended really well,” said Knoblauch. He paused and said, "It’s the fewest scoring chances we have given up all year. I thought defensively we were pretty good.” The best offensive chance the Wolf Pack had was at 3:05. The Pack had Nick Jones and Tim Gettinger lead a shorthanded, two-on-one, but they couldn’t connect. Jones opted to pass instead of shooting. Pack leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, had several bids for goals including one at 7:05. The Pack had another shorthanded two-on-one with Shawn McBride and Steven Fogarty but they missed connecting as well. Pack defenseman Joey Keane had a good rush with 5:04 left, but again it just one lone shot. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tried to seal the game with an empty-net tally, but Darren Raddysh made an excellent effort diving forward with 56.5 seconds left with a successful one-hand swipe at the puck and knocked it away before he crashed into the net. Lettieri had two chances in the last 15 seconds to tie it. The first was a slapper from the top of the left-wing faceoff circle. DeSmith made a right pad save on it and then on a very late six-on-four power play with 2.5 seconds left Danny O’ Regan won the draw, getting the puck right back to Lettieri. His shot was kicked away by DeSmith ending any chance of a miracle ending for the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack record drops to 27-13-5-5 (64 points). They were unable to pick up any ground on the idle Hershey Bears, who remain in second place in the Atlantic division three points behind. Wilkes Barre/Scranton improves to 25-18-3-5 (58 points). They are now tied with the Providence Bruins for fourth place in the Atlantic. The Pack home record now stands at 20-2-0-2. This was the first home loss since November 20th against the Syracuse Crunch, when a 3-1 loss ended a twelve-game home winning streak. The Wolf Pack didn’t let the Penguins hold the lead for very long, scoring 2:08 into the second period, taking advantage of the situation through solid work in the Penguins zone. The whole sequence began with a faceoff win by Shawn McBride. The win allowed the Pack to keep the puck in the zone. A Penguin sought to exit their own end of the ice, but McBride's backhanded swipe on the loose puck put the puck back toward the net. Penguins defenseman Niclas Almari couldn’t control the biscuit and Vincent LoVerde was there to take it and get off a shot on DeSmith, who made a butterfly save. However, the rebound of LoVerde's shot went right to Ryan Dmowski who was deep in the right-wing corner, and along the goal line. He deposited his third of the season from the sharpest of angles to even the score at one. It wasn’t what Dmowski was trying to do. “To be honest, I was just throwing it at the net. The goalie was in mid-slide and was going backward. I saw on the replay, it was definitely one of the weirdest goals I’ve ever scored. I was lucky. I was just in the right spot for the rebound.“ Of late, it's seemed like the Pack's fourth line for Knoblauch has been his top unit. “I think our fourth line has been maybe our best line the last three games. They’ve been very consistent. They work hard every shift. It’s tough to play against a line that’s got three guys playing with that intensity. There helping this team a lot,” remarked Knoblauch. The Penguins picked up a late goal off the stick of Olivier-Joseph at the left point after he received a pass from Jon Lizotte via some fine board-work on the right-wing and got it to him. Lizotte kept the pass along the ice and got it over to Olivier-Joseph, who, from 55 feet, nailed it with a double screen in front provided by Brandon Hawkins and Cole Cassels. It left Adam Huska unable to see the shot at all 14:51. It looked like Cassels tipped it, but the goal at the end of the game was still credited to Joseph. Knoblauch said it was clearly tipped. It was a fairly pedestrian first period. There was very little action until the end of the period when the Penguins took their 1-0 lead. Myles Powell sent a point-to-point pass to Olivier-Joseph and the big rookie was left with an open lane off the left point. He drilled a shot that was blocked by Lettieri. He retrieved the puck and sent a 40-footer that went off the tip of Huska’s glove and into the net with 1.5 seconds left in the period. It was his second goal of the year with his first coming in Texas a little over two months ago. NOTES: The crowd of 1,537 was the sixth the worst in team history. LINES: Fogarty-Kravtsov-Gettinger O’Regan-Newell-Beleskey Jones-Gropp-Lettieri McBride-Dmowski-Ronning Hajek-Raddysh Keane-Geersten Crawley-LoVerde SCRATCHES: Nick Ebert - lower body injury, still day-to-day. He'll likely play this weekend. Boo Nieves - upper body injury, out indefinitely. He skated in practice yesterday for the first time in more than a week. Yegor Rykov -  healthy scratch for the third time in the last four games. Jake Elmer - healthy scratch who was just recalled from Maine. Gabriel Fontaine - shoulder surgery, season-ending Knoblauch gave a good review of Brandon Crawley’s first AHL game of the season. "For a defenseman coming in and playing for the first time (Vincent LoVerde) he played really well. Not flashy, just getting here (from Maine) he did all the small things well.” Olivier-Joseph was a former first-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes (23rd overall) in 2017. He was acquired last summer in the Alex Galcheynuk for Phil Kessel deal. Galcheynuk was traded to Minnesota on Monday. Joseph’s brother Mathieu plays for Tampa Bay. The Penguins lineup featured ex-Pack goalie Dustin Tokarski (as backup goalie) and Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels. He just signed a PTO just after the New Year and has nine points in 16 games. The parent Vancouver Canucks have loaned Utica veteran goalie, Richard Bachman, to IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-SHL) for the rest of the year. Ex-CT Whale, Casey Wellman’s planned transfer to SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA) from SC Rapperswil-Jona was nullified as he didn’t pass the team's physical. No details were disclosed. Read the full article

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 (860) 722-9425.  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 (860) 722-9425.  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 (860) 541-4728: 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 (860) 722-9425.  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 (860) 722-9425, 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

Will Represent Wolf Pack on Atlantic Division Team in Ontario, CA  HARTFORD, January 3, 2020:  The American Hockey League announced today that two Hartford Wolf Pack players, goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Joey Keane, have been named to the Atlantic Division roster for the upcoming 2020 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Ontario International Airport. Shesterkin, a 24-year-old native of Moscow, Russia who is in his first year of North American pro hockey, leads all AHL netminders in goals-against average, with a mark of 1.98, ranks second in wins (14) and fifth in save percentage (93.1), having gone 14-4-3 in 22 appearances on the season.  The 2014 fourth-round (118th overall) New York Ranger draft pick also has registered three shutouts, which is good for third among league backstops. Keane, 20, a rookie out of the Ontario Hockey League and a third-round (88th overall) Ranger selection in 2018, has scored six goals and added 15 assists for 21 points in 33 games on the season, good for tops among team blueliners in all three categories.  The Chicago, IL-born Keane is tied for the Wolf Pack overall team lead in assists and is tied for third in points.  He leads AHL rookie defensemen, and is tied for second overall among blueliners, in goals and has registered the third-most assists among league rookies. The 2020 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 26 (8:00 PM ET) will pit the All-Stars from the two Eastern Conference divisions against those from the two Western Conference divisions in seven skills events. In the 2020 AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday, January 27 (10:00 PM ET), the four teams will participate in a 3-on-3, round-robin tournament featuring six games of 10 minutes each. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin will face off for the championship, a six-minute, 3-on-3 game. The Wolf Pack are back in action tonight, traveling to Providence to take on the Bruins.  Face-off is 7:05, and all of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The next Wolf Pack home game is tomorrow night, Saturday, January 4, a 7:00 battle with the Utica Comets.  That is #MillenialNight at the XL Center, featuring a reusable straw set giveaway to all fans attending the game, presented by ProHealth. Tickets for  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 (877) 522-8499.  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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack (15-4-2-5) extended their winning streak to four games with a strong defensive effort, timely goal-scoring, and another strong performance in net from Igor Shesterkin all adding up to a 3-1 win over the Binghamton Devils before an announced crowd of 1,285, the second-lowest in franchise history by just ten fans. With the win, the Pack jumped back into first place in the Atlantic Division with 37 points, two ahead of the idle Providence Bruins. The game-winning goal came late in the third period after Tim Gettinger snared a long rebound, waited a few seconds for an open lane, and snapped home a 35-foot wrist shot over the glove hand of the Devils' goalie, Gilles Senn at 14:58. The goal was Gettinger's fifth of the season. “We got it down low and had a good forecheck going. (We) got it up to E (Nick Ebert). He got a good shot on net and it just popped out to me in the slot there, and I just fired it, and it went in." Gettinger said. Gettinger has been slowed recently with a slight groin injury but was back to his flying around self. “Coming back from a little injury, I felt good playing with Boo (Nieves) and Patrick (Newell). It’s been going very well. We’re learning about each other out there. For me personally, they're good players and are going to find me in spots and were able to do that tonight." The Devils (7-14-4-0) didn’t go quietly. They ruined Shesterkin's shutout bid at 17:49 with Kelly Summer coming off the right point and wiring his first of the season over his left shoulder. After that, the Pack's resilience kicked in. Nick Jones restored a two-goal lead with an empty-netter after stripping the puck from Devils defenseman, Dakota Mermis, with 38.3 seconds left in the game, icing it for Hartford. The game wasn’t exactly a barn-burner, racetrack-style hockey game. “The chances were not a lot in quantity for either team,” remarked Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “On both of ours (five-on-five goals), we made them count.” The Pack’s overall effort though was very pleasing for Knoblauch. “We got off to a good start and played in the offensive zone. We didn’t capitalize on some of them and passed-up a few good shots. In each game (of the current winning streak), we have found different ways to win, and tonight was one of those games.” The Wolf Pack scored the game's first goal early in the second period. Defenseman Vince LoVerde was operating on the point on his natural right side. He put a low shot on net that was double deflected. The first was from Gettinger and then Nieves, who was credited with just his second of the season at 4:55. “We were in hard on the forecheck there,” Gettinger said. “Patrick (Newell) was working hard along the boards and got it up top. I just tried to get to the front of the net, and Vince just got the shot on net. I was able to get the top and it went right to Boo’s stick. It was a big goal for us in the second.” It was, in fact, the only goal of the period and for the game, until Gettinger scored late in the third period. Shesterkin gave his usual solid play using an economy of movement on every save of the nine he faced. “He made the saves, but his work with the puck was very important tonight. In the second period, he makes the save and he isn’t looking for a whistle, he’s looking to make a play, so we don’t have a defensive zone draw. He also was moving the puck out of the zone on several other plays. He’s a very smart hockey player,” Knoblauch said of his goalie, who picked up his 10th win of the season. The first period was a tight-checking affair with just 13 shots between the two teams. The Packs' two best chances came on their only powerplay. Nick Ebert had a shot off the left point, and Joey Keane came in off the right point. Binghamton's best chance came on an open Chris Conner in front. His backhander was stopped cold by Shesterkin. LINES: Andersson-Fogarty-Beleskey Nieves-Gettinger-Newell O’Regan-Lettieri--DiGiuseppe Jones-Dmowsk-Zerter-Gossage Raddysh-LoVerde Keane-Geersten Rykov-Ebert SCRATCHES: Jeff Taylor (healthy) Ville Meskannen (see below) Gabriel Fontaine (season-ending - shoulder surgery). NOTES: Nieves was unavailable for a post-game interview due to his undergoing postgame medical. Steven Fogarty suffered a hand injury of some sort, dropping his glove after blocking a shot and headed immediately to the locker room. For a team on a four-game winning streak, and sitting fourth overall in the AHL, the Wolf Pack has moved several players over the last 36 hours. As expected, center Shawn McBride was reassigned to Norfolk (ECHL), while the other two were a surprise with the first, a complete shock. Hard-working veteran, Ville Meskanen, who was coming off a strong game against Binghamton last weekend, was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of releasing him from his contract. He is likely headed back to Finland to play in the Finnish Elite League or somewhere in Europe. He worked hard when he was a healthy scratch early in the season, and played fourth-line minutes optimizing his limited ice time. He has seen regular ice shifts recently and was effective, but had just two points, both assists, in the last ten games and four overall in his 20 games. The lanky winger had a strong freshmen campaign with 12 goals in 70 games. “I’ve been pleased with him all year. He really played well for us. A hard worker, a good teammate. I can’t say enough good things about him. I really enjoyed coaching him," Knoblauch said. "It was sad to hear that he was leaving. He felt the chances for him here in Hartford weren’t the best for him. He is likely to pursue options in Europe.” Out goes Meskanen and back comes Ryan Gropp from Maine where he tallied seven points in ten games. He initially refused to report and sat at home for three weeks before joining the Mariners. Gropp walked through the XL Center doors at 6:20 pm with his sticks and equipment bag in tow. The prep for Team USA's big game with Canada on Saturday is in full swing all throughout the building. They had an intra-squad scrimmage earlier this afternoon. Canada is practicing over in Cromwell. That practice is not open to the public according to several reliable hockey sources. Congrats to ex-Wolf Pack players Derek Armstrong, and goalie Robb Stauber for being named honorary captains for 2020 AHL All-Star Classic in Ontario, CA in January. The loquacious Armstrong was one of the founding pillars of the Wolf Pack franchise and the only 100 point scorer in the franchise history. He was the Jack Butterfield Playoff MVP during the Wolf Pack’s Calder Cup championship season in 2000. Stauber started his AHL career with the New Haven Nighthawks and ended it with the Wolf Pack. Wolf Pack fan jersey of the night: #14 Johan Witehall and #23 Tomas Kloucek. Read the full article

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - After only one regulation loss in the season’s first 17 games, the Wolf Pack (11-4-0-5, 27 pts.) went 0-3 in a trio of games against North Division opponents this past week.  In the annual “Sonar’s Edu-skate” school-day game at the XL Center on Wednesday, the Syracuse Crunch broke a scoreless deadlock with two goals in a span of 51 seconds late in the second period, on the way to a 3-1 win over the Wolf Pack.  The only Hartford goal in that game was scored by Lias Andersson, in his first AHL action of the season.  The Wolf Pack suffered its first shutout-against of 2019-20 Friday night in Rochester, falling to the Americans by a score of 4-0, and the Crunch bested the Wolf Pack again on Saturday night in Syracuse, 6-3.  Andersson scored again in that game, and the other Wolf Pack goals came from Matt Beleskey and Steven Fogarty. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: The Wolf Pack make their first Pennsylvania road trip of the season this weekend, traveling to the Keystone State for games Saturday night at Lehigh Valley (7:05 PM faceoff) and Sunday (5:00) in Hershey. Saturday, November 30 at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at the PPL Center, 7:05 PM This is the first of six games on the year between the Wolf Pack and the Phantoms.  The Wolf Pack were 3-2-0-1 in a six-game season series last year and won two of their three visits to Allentown, where they are 11-3-0-1 all-time. The Phantoms come into the week six points behind the first-place Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 8-6-1-4 for 21 points.  Head Coach Scott Gordon’s club is 6-2-1-2 in 11 home games thus far. Lehigh Valley’s leading goal and point-scorer is veteran winger Greg Carey, who has 7-7-14 in 17 games on the year. Broadcast – live online at iheart.com  Video streaming at AHLTV. Sunday, December 1 at the Hershey Bears (Washington) at Giant Center, 5:00 PM Hershey is exactly at .500 through 20 games, with a record of 8-8-2-2 for 20 points.  The Bears finished last week with back-to-back regulation losses and are 1-3-0-1 in their last five contests. Bear point and goal-scoring leader Mike Sgarbossa (7-9-16 in 18 GP) returned from his first Washington Capital recall with two assists in Hershey’s 6-3 loss at Providence Sunday. This is the second of six Wolf Pack-Bear battles this year and the Wolf Pack’s first visit to Hershey.  The Wolf Pack won the first meeting on November 8 in Hartford, 2-1, after going 0-5-0-1 vs. the Bears last season. Broadcast – live online at iheart.com  Video streaming at 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 (860) 541-4728: Saturday, November 30, 4:30 PM, Goodwin Park, 1130 Maple Ave., Hartford, CT The Wolf Pack’s “Promo Pack” lends a hand collecting tickets and directing traffic for the annual “Holiday Light Fantasia” display, in support of the Channel 3 Kids Camp. Saturday, November 30, 6:00 PM, Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s iconic mascot, joins in the fun with Simsbury Youth Sports, as the town lights the night with a parade, festival, and fireworks. Recent Transactions: Jake Elmer – returned by the Wolf Pack to Maine (ECHL) November 20. Tim Gettinger – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers November 24. Boo Nieves – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers November 24. Shawn McBride – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Norfolk (ECHL) November 26. Pack Tracks: The Wolf Pack’s next home game is Saturday, December 7, when the Binghamton Devils visit for a 7:30 PM game, and that 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, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack 2020 calendar, presented by Hartford Distributors. 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, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  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 (860) 722-9425, 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