Category Archives: Hartford Wolf Pack

BERLET SPOTLIGHT: VALENTENKO GOES HOME

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sorry to hear Connecticut Whale defenseman Pavel Valentenko has signed a two-year contract to play with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League in his native Russia, but it’s certainly understandable.

Though Valentenko had his best statistical season in five in the AHL despite missing 16 games because of injury, he never got called up by the parent New York Rangers. Valentenko had the hardest shot on the Whale but was rarely used on the power play largely because he was so valuable on the penalty kill thanks to his shot-blocking ability. He tied his career high with five goals, had career highs in assists (16) and points (21) and shared the team plus-minus lead (plus-12) with wing Carl Hagelin, who was called up in late November. Valentenko also had three assists and was plus-2 in nine playoff games.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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VALENTENKO HEADING HOME

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to the Avangard Omsk (KHL) website now former Connecticut Whale defenseman Pavel Valentenko has signed a two-year deal to play for the team.

Jaromir Jagr left the New York Rangers to play for four seasons at Avangard Omsk. This franchise is the same where on October 13, 2008,  then first round pick Alexei Cherepanov died after collapsing on the bench during a game against Vityaz Chekhov.

Valentenko said his goodbye with the following tweet from his twitter account:

“It was two great seasons for me here, in Hartford! I was proud to be one of the part of Wolfpack/Whale team! Thanks everyone for support!”

Valentenko’s wife recently had their first child, a beautiful baby girl, and that likely played a major factor in his decision to return home. The logjam of defensemen the franchise has now was also likely a determining factor as well.

Valentenko was acquired on June 30, 2009 as part of the trade that sent Christopher Higgins, Doug Janik, and star defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto.

(Photo courtesy of newyorkrangers.com)

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, World Junior Championships

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WHERE’S EVERYONE GOING?

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

We were just looking at the list of free agents for next season that the Rangers/Whale will be dealing with.

Here’s a quick guess as to who they will resign and why. It’s not based upon ANY inside information or any such thing as that, just our guesses.

After looking at it, let’s here what you think.

The following guys are already signed and will be back with either the Rangers, the Whale or Greenville: Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, ECHL, Greenville Road Warriors, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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GAME SIX: WHALE ELIMINATED

Posted on May 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL SERIES: GAME SIX

BY: Bruce Berlet

Despite a dramatic improvement over the previous game, the Connecticut Whale’s season ended Friday night at the Scope in Norfolk, Va.

Richard Panik returned after being hit in the face by a teammate’s shot in the third period to score his second goal of the playoffs on a breakaway at 13:01 of overtime, giving the regular season champion Norfolk Admirals a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Whale in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, College Hockey, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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GAME FIVE: ADMIRALS SHOW…WHALE NOT SO MUCH

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL SERIES: GAME FIVE

BY: BRUCE BERLET (Special to Howlings)

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The “real” Norfolk Admirals showed up at Webster Bank Arena on Wednesday night, put the Connecticut Whale on the brink of elimination in their Eastern Conference semifinal and then celebrated with a rousing rendition of “We Are Young” by Janelle Monae in the post-game locker room.

The Admirals demonstrated why they won a North American professional hockey record 28 consecutive games to close the regular season to finish 55-18-1-3 for 113 points, 14 more than runner-up Oklahoma City, champions of the Western Conference. Four of the Admirals’ wins came against the Whale, who showed plenty of spunk in winning the series opener 3-2 in overtime in Virginia and then getting even with a convincing 4-1 victory on Sunday night at the XL Center in Hartford, ending the Admirals’ 16-game winning streak on the road since Feb. 5.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Whalers, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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WHALE WEEKLY: May 8-13, 2011

Posted on May 9, 2012 | 1 Comment

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the CTWhale

The Whale have split the first four games of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Calder Cup playoff series with the Norfolk Admirals, evening the series at two games a piece with a 4-1 win Monday night in Hartford. Each team has one once at home and on the road, and the series now shifts to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport Wednesday night for a pivotal Game Five. Casey Wellman (3-1-4), Kris Newbury (1-3-4) and Marek Hrivik (1-3-4) have led the way in scoring for the Whale with four points each in four games, while goaltender Cam Talbot has posted four strong efforts in goal with a 2.73 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Hrivik carries a six-game playoff scoring streak into Wednesday’s action, gathering five goals and three assists over that span. 

This week:

The Whale take on the Admirals again in Game Five Wednesday at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport (7:00), in what will be a crucial game for both teams. Regardless of the outcome of that game, the series is guaranteed to switch back to Norfolk for Game Six on Friday at the Norfolk Scope (7:30). If necessary, a winner-take-all Game Seven is slated for Sunday, May 13 at the Norfolk Scope (5:00). Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whalers, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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BERLET SPOTLIGHT: QUICK GRAVY IS KING

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

BY: BRUCE BERLET, (Special to Howlings)

Adam Graves, one of seven former New York Rangers to have his number retired in the Madison Square Garden rafters, is a big fan of Hamden native and former Avon Old Farms and University of Massachusetts standout Jonathan Quick, who has backstopped the Los Angeles Kings in their improbable run to the NHL’s Western Conference finals.

“I can’t believe how low he gets,” Graves said Sunday night before the Connecticut Whale lost 4-3 to the Norfolk Admirals in Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference semifinal series. “It’s not a butterfly, it’s like he’s spread out right on the ice. But he has been terrific.”

Quick, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie, made 23 saves, 13 in the second period, as the Kings beat the visiting second-seeded St. Louis Blues 3-1 Sunday for a four-game sweep and an 8-1 record through two rounds. The eighth-seeded Kings eliminated the President’s Trophy winner and No. 1 Vancouver Canucks in five games, and Quick allowed only six goals, none on 17 Blues power plays, in the Kings’ first postseason sweep.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Whalers, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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GAME FOUR: A THING OF BEAUTY

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL SERIES: GAME FOUR

BY: BRUCE BERLET (Special to Howlings)

After a tough one-goal loss to the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday night, Connecticut Whale coach Ken Gernander said he had few complaints, just a wish for his team to improve on the minutiae, those little things that can mean the difference in any sport, especially in the playoffs.

One night later, the Whale parlayed more aggressive goaltending by Cam Talbot and stellar penalty killing, especially late in the second period and early in the third, into a 4-1 victory at the XL Center that evened their AHL Eastern Conference semifinal at two games each.

“We had some great shot blocks,” Whale coach Ken Gernander said. “The defensemen had good anticipation, and we had real good all-around penalty killing. Jordan Owens and Ryan Bourque had those shots, and those are the plays that can rally a team when they see guys lay it on the line like that to get their job done.”  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports, Uncategorized

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GAME FIVE: GARDEN MIRACLE

Posted on May 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS      

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 5
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
(NYR lead 3-2)

Team Notes:

  • The Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-2, in overtime tonight at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series.  The Rangers lead the series 3-2.
  • The final three goals of the game were tallied on the power play, including Brad Richards’ game-tying goal with 6.6 seconds remaining in regulation and Marc Staal’s game-winning goal at 1:35 of overtime. Continue reading →
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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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GAME THREE: MINUTIAE

Posted on May 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL SERIES: GAME THREE

BY: BRUCE BERLET (Special to Howlings)

When you’re playing a team that has won 33 of 35 games since Super Bowl Sunday, including a North American professional hockey league record 29 in a row, every little action and reaction can be critical.

 The Connecticut Whale learned that lesson Sunday night, failing to convert several good scoring chances early in the second period before allowing three goals in 6:09, enabling the Norfolk Admirals to rally for a 4-3 victory before 3,319 at the XL Center and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

“If you look at our overall body of work, I’ve got no complaints,” Whale coach Ken Gernander said. “I thought we did a heck of a job, worked hard, finished our hits, did a lot of good things. Now it comes down to the minutiae, and we’re just going to have to play even closer to the vest because our margin of error isn’t that great given they’re a good team.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports, Uncategorized

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