Wolf Pack Set for Season Opener on Friday

By Bob Crawford

The Hartford Wolf Pack will open the regular season on Friday night at
the XL Center vs. the Charlotte Checkers.

HARTFORD–The Hartford Wolf Pack, the top minor league affiliate of the New York Rangers, begin their third decade in the American Hockey League tomorrow night, when they host their new Atlantic Division rivals, the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricane—in these parts known as the team formerly known as the Hartford Whalers—were members of the AHL’s Western Conference since joining the league in 2010-11. The Checkers are coached by Mike Vellucci, a former Hartford Whaler defenseman who spent the last 13 seasons as head man of the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.  Last year under another Whaler alum, former Wolf Pack and New York Ranger assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson, Charlotte finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a 39-29-7-1 record (86 points). The Checkers were led in scoring by rookie forward Andrew Poturalski, who put up a 19-33-52 line in 74 games.

New Look

The Wolf Pack begin the 2017-18 campaign with a whole new look in the front office—new general manager, Chris Drury, the former Rangers star and Trumbull native who first burst onto the national sports scene as a youngster when he led Trumbull to the Little League World Series championship in 1989; new head coach, Keith McCambridge; and a new assistant coach, Joe Mormina.

This week’s home games and promotions:

Fri., Oct. 6 vs. the Charolotte Checkers (Carolina), XL Center, 5 p.m. 

• Free Wolf Pack magnetic schedules presented by CT DOT will be given away to the first 5,000 fans at this game,.
• This is the first meeting between the Wolf Pack and the Checkers, who played the last six seasons in the Western Conference, since Charlotte’s inaugural AHL campaign of 2010-11. The Wolf Pack and Checkers split a four-game season series that year, with each team winning both of its home games.

Sun., Oct. 8 vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia), XL Center, 5 p.m.

• 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,” which is comprised of two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs for $35.
• This will be the first of six meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Phantoms, and the first of three visits to the XL Center by Lehigh Valley.
• The two clubs played an eight-game season series last year, with the Wolf Pack going 4-4-0-0.  The Pack were just 1-3-0-0, however, in four 2016-17 home games vs. the Phantoms.
• Lehigh Valley was a 101-point team (48-23-5-0) last season, in Head Coach Scott Gordon’s second year.  That record placed the Phantoms second in the Atlantic Division.
• The Phantoms return both last season’s leading point-scorer, defenseman T.J. Brennan, who led all AHL blueliners in goals last year and tied for the lead in points (21-39-60 in 76 GP), and top goal man Greg Carey, who struck for 28-23-51 in 74 games.

Tickets for these and all 2017-18 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale 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.

Upcoming Wolf Pack Community Appearances:

Sat., Oct. 7, 12:00 noon, Hebron Fair Grounds, 347 Gilead St., Hebron, CT

• Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, joins in the fun at the Hebron Fair.  For further information, contact Frank Berrian, Wolf Pack community relations manager, at (860) 541-4728.

Recent Transactions:

*Dan Catenacci – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 25.

*Brandon Crawley – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 25.

*Cole Schneider – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 25.

*Gabriel Fontaine – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 27.

*Brandon Halverson – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 27.

*Ryan Graves – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 28.

*Vinni Lettieri – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 28.

*Boo Nieves – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 28.

*Neal Pionk – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 28.

*Joe Basaraba – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Sean Flanagan – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Cale Herbert – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Brenden Kotyk - loaned by the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) Sept. 29.

*Eric Levine – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Jack Nevins – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Matt Puempel – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Sept. 29.

*Henrik Samuelsson – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Carter Sandlak – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Brenden Troock – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack Sept. 29.

*Adam Chapie – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) Oct. 1.

*Sean Day – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Windsor (OHL) Oct. 1.

*Brandon Halverson – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) Oct. 1.

*Dawson Leedahl – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) Oct. 1.

Pack Tracks:

• The Wolf Pack’s home game on Fri., Oct. 27, at 7:15 p.m. vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, features a “Howl-o-ween” celebration.  Youngsters can enjoy trick-or-treating on the XL Center concourse, and take part in a costume parade during one of the intermissions. 
• 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.  After this Friday, the next Friday-night home game is next Fri., Oct. 13, when the Pack host the Toronto Marlies at 7:15 p.m.
• Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” (see above). After Sunday, the next Family Value Pack game is Sun., Nov. 5, vs. the Springfield Thunderbirds. Faceoff is at 5 p.m.
• 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 Wolf Pack’s first Wednesday home outing of the season is Nov. 15 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7 p.m..

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. Tickets purchased on gameday will be $12. 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.

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