WHALE WEEKLY: April 26-May 1, 2011 

The Whale’s 13^th Calder Cup playoff appearance in the franchise’s 14-year history ended Saturday, with a 6-4 loss to the Portland Pirates in Game Six of the two teams’ Atlantic Division Semi-final series.  The Whale led Saturday’s contest 2-0 after one period, but the division-champion Pirates then took control of the game with a four-goal second.  After losing the first two games of the series on the road, the Whale posted back-to-back home wins, both by 3-1 scores, Sunday and Tuesday.  Portland regained the advantage Thursday in Game Five, however, winning 5-4 at home to set up Saturday’s clincher.  John Mitchell and Chad Kolarik were the top goal-scorers in the series, with three apiece, and Mitchell (3-3-6) and Wade Redden (six assists) shared the Whale team points lead.

2011 Atlantic Division Semi-final:

(Portland wins series, four-games-to-two)

Season tickets for the 2011-12 Whale season are available now, with a special early bird discount.  Call (860) 728-3366 for information on that, as well as all Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages.

Recent Transactions:

• Mats Zuccarello – returned to Whale by the New York Rangers April 18.
• Derek Couture – released by Whale from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement April 25.
• Tommy Grant – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Carl Hagelin – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Kale Kerbashian – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Dylan McIlrath – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Jason Missiaen – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Blake Parlett – returned by Whale on loan to Greenville (ECHL) April 25.
• Shayne Wiebe – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.
• Andrew Yogan – released by Whale from Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 25.

The AHL’s Connecticut 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.

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