WHALE WEEKLY: November 14-20, 2011 

BY: BOB CRAWFORD, Voice of the Connecticut Whale

The Whale visited the St. John’s IceCaps for two games this past weekend, in their only trip to Newfoundland this season. After leading in both games, Connecticut ended up with a pair of losses, the Whale’s first back-to-back regulation defeats of the season.  The Whale fell in Saturday’s game, 8-4, before being narrowly edged, 4-3, in Sunday afternoon’s rematch. John Mitchell recorded three goals on the weekend for the Whale, while Tim Erixon recorded his first North American professional goal. Carl Hagelin also scored twice in two games for the Whale, and has matched a Whale season high with a three-game goal-scoring streak (3-1-4).

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

(Courtesy theahl.com)

This week:

The Whale will look to rebound and get back on the winning track as they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night (7:00), in a GEICO Connecticut Cup game at the XL Center. Connecticut will have a rare Saturday off before heading to Providence for their first meeting of the season with the P-Bruins on Sunday afternoon (4:05).

Friday, November 18 vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· In celebration of Veterans Day, the Whale is proud to offer a buy-one-get-one-free discount on Lower Level tickets for this game to any military personnel who present a military/veteran ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.

· This is the third head-to-head tilt of the season between the Whale and Sound Tigers. Connecticut has dropped both GEICO Connecticut Cup match-ups so far, one loss coming via the shootout, and the other coming in overtime.

· Tim Wallace recorded a hat trick for the Sound Tigers in their 4-3 home overtime win over the Whale back on Nov. 2, the two teams’ last meeting.

· The Sound Tigers rattled off consecutive 4-3 wins on the road over the Springfield Falcons and the Hershey Bears this past weekend, to improve their record to 8-6-1-0 for 17 points, tied with the Whale for second place in the Northeast Division.

· Nino Niederreiter has netted goals in three straight games for Bridgeport, giving the former fifth overall pick four points in his last five games (3-1-4).

· Radio – CT Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” live, with Bob Crawford, Garry Swain and Mark Bailey, on “The Rock”, 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Sunday, November 20 at Providence Bruins (Dunkin’ Donuts Center), 4:05 p.m.

· This game is the first of eight meetings on the year between the Whale and their long-time rivals the P-Bruins.

· The Whale posted a record of 5-4-0-1 in last year’s season series vs. the P-Bruins, going 3-2-0-0 in five visits to Providence.

· The Bruins have won two of their last three games and are .500 on the year, 8-8-1-0 for 17 points, second in the Atlantic Division.

· Rookie wing Carter Camper currently leads the Bruins in scoring with 12 points (4-8-12) on the season.  The Miami of Ohio product has a goal and an assist in both of his last two games.

· Radio – CT Whale “Rockin’ Hockey” live with Bob Crawford on “The Rock”, 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Recent Transactions:

Jordan Owens – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement, and signed to AHL contract, by the Whale November 7

Francois Bouchard – acquired by the NY Rangers from Washington, and loaned to Whale, November 8

Tomas Kundratek – recalled from the Whale by the NY Rangers and traded to Washington November 8

Jyri Niemi – reassigned by the NY Rangers from the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) November 9

Whale Tales:

To celebrate the upcoming Holiday season, the Whale are offering a “Holiday Hat Trick” package.  A package of four Upper Level tickets, four Whale winter hats and four Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards is only $80, with upgrades available.  Purchase your Holiday Hat Trick package through the Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366.

Fans who purchase Whale season tickets, or a mini-plan, before December 31 will be entered to win a round-trip excursion via limousine to a New York Rangers regular-season home game at Madison Square Garden.  Current season seat-holders and mini-plan-holders are also automatically entered.

College students can get discounted tickets to Whale weekday games with the Whale’s “Ditch the Dorms” deal.  For Monday through Friday home games, students who show a valid student ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center can get $2 off Upper Level tickets and $5 off Lower Level seats.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats, mini plans and great group discounts, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

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

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated nearly $21.4 billion in sales and has transferred more than $7.2 billion to the state’s General Fund. Prizes have exceeded $12.3 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, visit ctlottery.org.

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