By Bob Phillips
HARTFORD—The Hartford Wolf Pack announced today that the club has signed veteran forward Tanner Fritz to a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract through the 2021-22 AHL season. Fritz, 30 (8/20/91), scored six points (3 g, 3 a) in 20 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the 2020-21 AHL season. The 31-year-old Grand Prairie, Alberta, native added 10 PIM’s and finished with a -5 rating during the abbreviated campaign.
The 5’11”, 192-pound forward has played each of his first six professional seasons in the New York Islanders organization. He scored a career-high 42 points (19 g, 23 a) in 63 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers—who this season will be rebranded as the Bridgeport Islanders--in 2016-17, then made his NHL debut the next season with the Islanders on January 2, 2018, against the Boston Bruins.
Fritz appeared in 34 NHL games during the 2017-18 season, scoring seven points (3g, 4a). In all, Fritz has appeared in 42 NHL games over the course of two seasons with eight points (3g, 5a) and 10 PIM’s.
An undrafted free agent, Fritz signed with the Islanders organization for the 2015-16 season following a a four-year collegiate career at Ohio State. Fritz scored 110 points (36g, 74a) in 142 games for the Buckeyes, whom he captained during his senior season in 2014-15. He also wore the “A” for the Sound Tigers in 2020-21.
Single-Game Tix Now On Sale
Excited at the prospect at welcoming fans back into the XL Center for the first time in 19 months, the Wolf Pack announced this week that single-game tickets are now on sale for the team’s 25th season in the AHL. The ’Pack return to a full Atlantic Division after playing only the Bridgeport Islanders and Providence Bruins in the 2020-21 season, truncated by COVID. The Wolf Pack will compete with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Hershey Bears, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Charlotte Checkers, Bridgeport Islanders and Providence Bruins in the quest to return to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Among the highlights on the 2021-22 schedule, the Islanders come to town five times to fight for bragging rights in the State of Connecticut. The T-Birds will make the short trek down I-91 six times, while the Bruins come to town five times during the upcoming campaign.
There will also be some unfamiliar faces coming to the XL Center. The Laval Rocket will come to town on Jan. 15, 2022, while the Belleville Senators make a pair of appearances across the border on Dec. 8, 2021, and Apr. 1, 2022. The Toronto Marlies will also make a rare appearance in Hartford, visiting the XL Center on Jan. 19, 2022.
The Utica Comets will have a new look when they come to town on Dec. 4, 2021. The Comets are entering their first season as the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
In addition to some marquee matchups, the Wolf Pack will also host numerous promotional nights throughout the season including:
*The annual Hockey Fights Cancer game on November 20
*Star Wars Night and the Teddy Bear Toss on December 4.
*Military Appreciation Night returns on March 5.
*Hartford Hockey Heritage Night on February 26.
As has been the case for the past several years, every Friday night at the XL Center will be $2 beer and $1 hot dog night, while every Sunday is Family Day. Family Day packages can be purchased for each Sunday home game, and include three tickets, three hot dogs and three fountain drinks.
The action starts on Oct. 15, when the Wolf Pack host the Islanders on Opening Night. Opening Weekend concludes two days later on Oct. 17 when the P-Bruins come to town.
Tickets are available at the XL Center box office, or by visiting www.hartfordwolfpack.com. The Wolf Pack have been the top minor league affiliate of the New York Rangers since the team’s inception in 1997, and have been the starting point for several of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. .
The American Hockey League was officially born in 1936 when the Canadian-American Hockey League and the International Hockey League merged to form the International-American Hockey League (the “International” would be dropped from the league’s name in 1940). The AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 32 National Hockey League teams; nearly 90 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers.
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