GRUMET-MORRIS HERE FOR GOOD 

WHALE SIGN DOV GRUMET-MORRIS TO AHL CONTRACT

*           *           *           *

Goaltender had been Playing with Whale on PTO

HARTFORD, CT: Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has signed goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris to an American Hockey League contract.

Grumet-Morris, who had been under a Professional Tryout (PTO) with the Whale, has played 10 games in the Connecticut net this season, going 4-3-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a 91.9% save percentage.  The sixth-year pro has also appeared in 24 ECHL games this season with the Greenville Road Warriors, and carries the top GAA in the league at 2.32.  Grumet-Morris is also tied for the ECHL lead in shutouts with three, and his save percentage of 92.2 ranks second in the league.

Grumet-Morris, originally a fifth-round draft pick (161^st overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2002 NHL Draft out of Harvard University, has 37 career games of AHL experience with the San Antonio Rampage, Portland Pirates, Hamilton Bulldogs, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals and Whale, with a record of 12-15-6, a 2.50 GAA, a 91.5% save percentage and four shutouts.  In 72 career ECHL games, the 6-2, 205-pound Evanston, IL native has a record of 46-19-5, a 2.48 GAA, 91.5% save percentage and three shutouts.

Prior to this season, the 29-year-old Grumet-Morris spent the previous two campaigns in Europe, playing in Austria and Slovenia.

The Whale are back in action tonight, as they return to the XL Center to host the Springfield Falcons in a 7:00 PM game.  There will be a “Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl Appreciation Night” promotion for that game, as Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl ticket purchasers who present their Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl ticket stub at the XL Center ticket office can purchase one $19 or $12 ticket for the March 2 game, and receive a second of equal or lesser value free.  On top of that, the Whale will add a coupon for 15% off all Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl merchandise.  The coupon is redeemable at the Whale Pro Shop, which is located in the Hartford Store at 45 Pratt St. in downtown Hartford and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4:30 PM.  The coupon is good only for Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl merchandise.

Tickets for all 2010-11 Whale home games are available now at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.

For information on Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366.

The AHL’s CT Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin.  The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state’s General Fund.  Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion.  Purchasers must be 18 years or older.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238.  For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.