By Brian Ring

Providence, RI, February 19, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Providence Bruins, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Carter Camper led the Bruins with a hat trick, including the third-period game-winning goal.

Andre Deveaux scored twice, and Kris Newbury had two assists, in the Whale’s first regulation loss in their last nine games (7-1-1-0).

“We really would have liked to have had two more points here tonight,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.  “But we made some mistakes that cost you games and that’s often times the case when you don’t win.”

Camper scored the first goal of the game 5:47 into the first period, as he beat Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (35 saves) off of a pass from behind the net by Zach Hamill. Calle Ridderwall also assisted on the goal.

The Whale would tie the game back up just 1:26 later, as Mats Zuccarello and Deveaux entered the Providence zone on a two-on-one break. Quick passing opened up space behind Bruins’ netminder Anton Khudobin (29 saves), allowing Deveaux to capitalize on the play and score his 16^th goal of the season. Newbury earned the secondary assist on the score.

Connecticut had two nearly back-to-back power-plays late in the first, but they were unable to convert against Khudobin.

Camper would strike again with his second goal of the night just 1:36 into the second period, on a second rebound, with Hamill and Ridderwall again setting up the play to give Providence a 2-1 lead.

The Bruins would bump their lead to 3-1 at the 5:43 mark, as Jamie Arniel wired a sharp-angle shot past Talbot’s glove side. Craig Cunningham and Maxime Sauve picked up assists on the score, which came just seconds after Newbury hit the crossbar behind Khudobin at the opposite end of the ice.

Deveaux would score his second of the night with 2:43 remaining in the second period on the power-play, as he buried a feed from defenseman Tim Erixon. Newbury also assisted on the goal, which enabled the Whale to head to the locker room down just one goal headed into the third.

The Whale would rally to tie the game at three 1:55 into the final frame, with Kelsey Tessier backhanding home a loose puck as Khudobin found himself out of position. Tommy Grant and Scott Tanski would both register assists on the goal.

The momentum appeared to be turning in the Whale’s favor, but Camper’s third goal of the night at 8:43 would once again put Connecticut behind, 4-3. Ridderwall notched his third assist of the game on the game-winning tally, as Camper buried his rebound.

“We got that big goal in the third and I thought things were moving in the right direction,” said Gernander. “Then they got that quick one and it’s hard to come back on the road when the other team is given a lead like that.”

The Whale had a late chance to tie the score with a man-advantage in the final 1:25 of the third, but the visitors could not pull even in six-on-four action with Talbot pulled for the extra attacker.

Connecticut will return home this Friday, February 24, when the Whale hosts the Portland Pirates at the XL Center (7:00 PM).

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.  That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  The new inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.  Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.  There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10, details of which will be announced soon.  This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

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.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, February 18, 2012 - The Whale defeated the Worcester Sharks, 3-1, Saturday night at the XL Center before a crowd of 9,166, the second-largest of the season. Connecticut won for the seventh time in their last eight games overall (7-0-1-0).

The Whale scored three times in the third period to come from behind and beat the Sharks, with Kris Newbury’s game-winning tally coming at the 9:49 mark of the frame.

“[The Whale] stuck with it and once they got the quick one (an Andreas Thuresson goal, the Whale’s first of the game), they got a little momentum and got the second one,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “It just seemed to pick up from there.”

The teams played a scoreless first period, despite the Sharks outshooting the Whale by a 14-6 margin. Cam Talbot (37 saves), making his first start for the Whale since Jan. 28, was solid in keeping the visitors off the board. The Whale’s Casey Wellman may have had the best chance of the period as he narrowly missed putting the puck past Sharks goaltender Tyson Sexsmith (35 saves) as he came through the crease.

Sharks enforcer Jimmy Bonneau would provide the first lead of the game at 6:59 of the second period, as he managed to get a second touch on a bouncing puck to redirect it past Talbot. The goal was the second of the season for Bonneau, assisted by Matt Irwin and Marek Viedensky.

The Whale outshot the Sharks, 19-12, in the second period, but they could not get anything past Sexsmith, even on two excellent one-time chances by Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.

Connecticut would finally solve Sexsmith 6:59 into the third period, as Tommy Grant’s shot deflected off of the pads of the Worcester netminder and onto the stick of Thuresson, who buried the rebound to tie the game at one. Wade Redden picked up the secondary assist in his first game back in the Whale lineup since Dec. 17.

Kris Newbury would give the Whale a quick 2-1 lead less than a minute later at 9:49, as he finished off an excellent passing play between himself and Andre Deveaux. Newbury and Deveaux exchanged several passes entering the Sharks’ end, enabling Newbury to bury his 19^th of the season past Sexsmith for the game-winner.

Casey Wellman would ice the game with a bizarre empty net goal with under a minute to play, as he was hauled down before he could shoot on the vacated Sharks’ cage.

Connecticut will finish the week’s slate Sunday afternoon in Providence, when they face the Bruins (4:05 PM) looking for a perfect six-point weekend.  The Whale’s next home game at the XL Center is this Friday night, February 24 vs. the Portland Pirates at 7:00.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.  That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  The new inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.  Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.  There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10, details of which will be announced soon.  This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

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.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

HARTFORD, February 18, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Jason Missiaen to the Whale from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Missiaen, who, at 6-8 and 220 pounds, is the tallest goaltender in North American pro hockey, is 13-10-2 in 26 games with the Road Warriors, with a 3.16 goals-against average, a 90.3% save percentage and three shutouts, tied for second-most in the ECHL.

Missiaen was signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 24, 2011, from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  He was a fourth-round selection (116^th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.

The Whale are in action tonight at the XL Center, in a 7:00 PM game vs. the Worcester Sharks.  That is “It All Starts Here Night”, celebrating both youth hockey and the tremendous player-development record that has been the hallmark of the relationship between the Whale and their NHL parent club, the New York Rangers.

Fans who wear a youth hockey jersey to the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will be able to purchase lower-level end-zone seats to tonight’s game for just $10 each.

In addition, all fans in attendance tonight will receive a Whale TV poster, courtesy of Webster Bank. The poster will feature the theme of the night, “It All Starts Here”, with players and staff who have sent time developing with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Whale before being promoted to the New York Rangers, including players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Carl Hagelin.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. 

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 and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, February 17, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale defeated the Springfield Falcons, 6-3, Friday night at the XL Center. Andre Deveaux scored twice for the Whale, including the game-winner, as did Ryan Bourque, and Mats Zuccarello (1-2-3), Kris Newbury (0-3-3) and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (0-3-3) all recorded three points, in Connecticut’s sixth win in seven tries (6-0-1-0).

Connecticut scored three unanswered third-period goals, and would take the lead for good on Deveaux’s second goal of the night, coming at the 8:05 mark of the final frame.

“We had a strong finish, a strong third period and that ended up being the difference,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.

The Whale jumped out to the first lead of the game 3:26 into the first period, when Deveaux’s slap-shot from the right faceoff circle beat Springfield goaltender Paul Dainton (20 saves) for his 14^th goal of the season. Zuccarello started the play at mid-ice, dishing to Newbury, who made a nice feed to a streaking Deveaux down the right wing boards.

Springfield would bring the game back to even with 7:09 left to play in the first, as Cam Atkinson scored his 28^th of the season on the power-play. Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (seven saves in the first period) gave away a large rebound after denying a shot from Tomas Kubalik, and Atkinson promptly deposited it into the net for the equalizer. Martin St. Pierre also assisted on the goal, his 36^th helper of the campaign.

Zuccarello would enable the Whale to head to the locker room up 2-1, as he converted a pass from Newbury. Newbury passed to Zuccarello in the slot, his stick narrowly deflecting the puck through Dainton with 6:17 left to play in the opening period.

The Falcons would tie the game back up 4:13 into the second period, as Cody Bass’s shot from the high slot fooled Cam Talbot (17 saves), who replaced Johnson in goal to start the second period. Kubalik and Brent Regner assisted on the goal.

Dane Byers would give the Falcons their first and only lead of the game at the 13:43 mark of the second, as he finished a quality passing play among himself, Kubalik and Greg Amadio. Amadio’s long stretch pass to Kubalik, combined with a poor Whale line change, allowed Byers to tap in a pass from Kubalik to the right of Talbot.

Bourque’s fourth goal of the season would once again tie the score with 1:39 left in the second. Bourque ripped a one-timer past Dainton to make it a 3-3 game headed into the third period, with Audy-Marchessault and Casey Wellman recording the assists.

The Whale would take the lead for good on Deveaux’s second goal of the night, the first of three unanswered third period goals, as Zuccarello’s pass from behind the Springfield cage found him wide open in the Falcons’ slot for an easy put-in at the 8:05 mark on the power-play.

Bourque stretched the lead to 5-3 with his second of the game with 5:03 remaining in the third, as he converted an Audy-Marchessault faceoff win, slapping the puck right off the draw past Dainton.

Wellman would seal the victory with his 16^th goal, a tap-in of a Pavel Valentenko rebound, who earned an assist in his return to the Whale lineup. Audy-Marchessault also assisted on the goal, his third helper of the night.

The Whale will be back in action Saturday night at the XL Center as they take on the Worcester Sharks (7:00 PM). Connecticut will finish the weekend’s slate Sunday afternoon in Providence, when they face the Bruins (4:05 PM).

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.  That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  The new inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.  Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.  There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10, details of which will be announced soon.  This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

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.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

By Bruce Berlet

In 13 seasons in the NHL, Wade Redden never missed more than 18 games. In fact, in 10 of those seasons, the defenseman played at least 75 of 82 games.

So the 22 games that Redden has had to sit out since he was injured in the Connecticut Whale’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Providence Bruins on Dec. 17 have been uncharted territory. Not to mention being rather agonizing and a bit boring at times, though it did provide more time at home with wife Danica and 17-month-old daughter Leni.

“I’ve been making the most of that,” Redden said. “One thing that has helped me get through this is having them there. It’s not easy sitting out, but when you go home, life’s pretty busy so you have to keep going on day by day and get healthier. That’s all you can ask for.”

Redden, 34, the second overall pick by the New York Islanders in 1995 and a two-time NHL All-Star, has spent much of the past two months rehabbing an injury that has sidelined him twice as long as any other time in his noteworthy 15-year pro career. That included Thursday, when he had a 20-minute, post-practice “bag skate” under the watchful eye of assistant coach J.J. Daigneault, who handles the defense. Redden did plenty of huffin’ and puffin’ and needed a few minutes to catch his breath before doing an interview.

But, not surprisingly, Redden has remained professional in his approach to his recovery and discussing some of the most difficult times of his career as he is about to return to the game that he loves and has provided a lucrative livelihood. It was especially difficult in January, when the Whale went through an 11-game winless streak (0-6-3-2) to temporarily lose the Northeast Division lead to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

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HARTFORD, February 15, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have recalled forward Wojtek Wolski and defenseman Jeff Woywitka from their conditioning loans to the Whale.

During their two-week conditioning periods with Connecticut, Wolski scored three goals, including two game-winners, and had two assists for five points in six games, and Woywitka had three assists, a plus-two and six penalty minutes in six outings.

The Whale are back in action this Friday night, February 17, taking on the Springfield Falcons in a 7:00 PM game at the XL Center.

The Whale is also home this Saturday night, February 18, for a 7:00 game vs. the Worcester Sharks.  That is “It All Starts Here Night”, celebrating both youth hockey and the tremendous player-development record that has been the hallmark of the relationship between the Whale and their NHL parent club, the New York Rangers.

Fans who wear a youth hockey jersey to the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will be able to purchase lower-level end-zone seats to Saturday’s game for just $10 each.

In addition, all fans in attendance that night will receive a Whale TV poster, courtesy of Webster Bank. The poster will feature the theme of the night, “It All Starts Here”, with players and staff who have sent time developing with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Whale before being promoted to the New York Rangers, including players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Carl Hagelin.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. 

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 and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, February 15, 2012:  Whalers Sports & Entertainment announced today that, in the spirit of “Hockey Weekend Across America”, the Connecticut Whale will present “It All Starts Here Night” at its home game this Saturday, February 18 against the Worcester Sharks.

It All Starts Here Night will celebrate both youth hockey and the tremendous player-development record that has been the hallmark of the relationship between the Whale and their NHL parent club, the New York Rangers.

Fans who wear a youth hockey jersey to the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will be able to purchase lower-level end-zone seats to Saturday’s game for just $10 each.

In addition, all fans in attendance that night will receive a Whale TV poster, courtesy of Webster Bank. The poster will feature the theme of the night, “It All Starts Here”, with players and staff who have sent time developing with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Whale before being promoted to the New York Rangers, including players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Carl Hagelin.

“Hockey Weekend Across America” is a program developed by USA Hockey that takes place from February 17-19, aiming to celebrate the game of hockey by any means possible throughout the entire nation. Part of the initiative is also to provide opportunities for those that have not tried hockey, resulting in more people playing the game at all levels.

Staff from the Connecticut Whale will be participating in “Try Hockey for Free” clinics this Saturday at Newington Arena (8:00 AM) and at the Koeppel Community Sports Center at Trinity College (10:30 AM).

Tickets to It All Starts Here Night, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. 

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 and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

By Bruce Berlet

Mission accomplished.

That’s the consensus of left wing Wojtek Wolski and defenseman Jeff Woywitka after playing six games in 10 days with the Connecticut Whale in two-week conditioning assignments from the New York Rangers. The stints don’t officially end until Wednesday, but the Whale don’t play again until Friday night at home against the Springfield Falcons.

Wolski, Woywitka and center Casey Wellman, who also joined the Whale on Feb. 2 after being acquired from the Minnesota Wild for Erik Christensen and a conditional seventh-round pick in 2013, have helped the team earn 11 of 12 points in February after an 11-game winless streak (0-6-3-2) in January and reclaim first place in the Northeast Division. The only blemish was a 2-1 overtime loss Sunday to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (25-18-3-2), the AHL’s hottest team with a 13-1-0-1 record in 2012. The Sound Tigers, coached by former Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Brent Thompson, momentarily moved from last to first as the Whale (24-16-5-5) struggled last month, but they’re now three points behind with two games in hand.

Wolski and Woywitka got more ice time in six games than they had at any time in four months with the Rangers. Much of their lack of playing time on Broadway was the result of injuries, but Whale coach Ken Gernander and assistants J.J. Daigneault and Pat Boller used them plenty in all situations.

“They were obviously a good boost to our lineup, and two guys who bring different elements,” Gernander said Sunday. “Wolski is a skilled guy who can create some offense and get some points and scored a few goals. And Jeff played sound on the back end. He’s a bigger body (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) that can finish checks and move pucks. They’re both obviously very good caliber players and were good additions to our squad.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

By Brian Ring

Bridgeport, CT, February 12, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated on the road, 2-1 in overtime, Sunday afternoon by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. David Ullstrom recorded the overtime game-winner for Bridgeport, who sent the Whale to their first February defeat.

Jon Landry would assist on both of Bridgeport’s goals, with Kelsey Tessier supplying the lone goal for Connecticut.

“It was a back-and-forth game, a pretty close game,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “I thought there were opportunities to shoot pucks...of course, if you don’t take the shot, you’re in a situation where you’re stickhandling one versus one or one versus two or maybe trying to force a pass.”

The Whale would take the first lead of the game at the 12:24 mark of the opening period, as Wojtek Wolski set up Tessier for his eighth goal of the season. Wolski passed across the slot to Tessier, who banged the puck home on the doorstep of Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin (27 saves). It was the fifth point in six games with the Whale for Wolski (3-2-5).

Justin DiBenedetto would tie the game for the Sound Tigers, as he capitalized on a good passing play with Landry and Sean Backman at 17:09. Landry and Backman managed to draw Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (40 saves) far enough to his right that DiBenedetto had an open shot from the right circle, for his 14^th goal of the season.

The two in-state rivals would enter the third period still tied at one goal apiece, as neither club could break through in the second period. The Sound Tigers would outshoot the Whale, 15-9, in the second frame, but both goaltenders would stand tall in a period that saw each side receive one power-play chance.

Despite being heavily outshot in the third period, 18-6, the Whale kept the Sound Tigers off the board. The biggest moment came with 2:20 left in the period, as Bridgeport’s Scott Howes was awarded a penalty shot after Sam Klassen interfered with his breakaway.  Johnson, however, was up to the task and turned away the bid, eventually forcing overtime.

The Sound Tigers would need just 37 seconds in overtime to beat the Whale, as Ullstrom’s wrist shot beat a screened Johnson for the game-winning tally. The goal stood up even against a lengthy review, breaking the Whale’s five-game winning streak.

Having completed a three-game weekend road trip, the Whale will return home to host the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center on Friday (7:00).

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.  That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  The new inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.  Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.  There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10, details of which will be announced soon.  This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

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.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

By Brian Ring

Manchester, NH, February 11, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale defeated the Manchester Monarchs, 4-1, Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.  Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and Casey Wellman both scored and added an assist for the Whale, who won their fifth straight game.

The Whale scored three times in a key second period burst to power their victory over the Monarchs, improving to 2-0-0-0 against Manchester this season.  The five straight wins matches a season high for Connecticut.

“We had a good start again tonight, we did a lot of things right,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “I thought it was a solid effort throughout, five-on-five, special teams, goaltending. I thought there were a lot of good things.”

Neither team would score in the first period, but the Whale heavily outshot their opponents in the opening frame for the second straight night, totaling 17 shots to Manchester’s eight. Chad Johnson (26 saves) was especially good early on for the Whale, making a number of point-blank saves on Monarchs opportunities.

The Whale, however, would explode for three goals in the second period in the span of just 1:31.

Wellman would strike first as the beneficiary of hard corner work by Audy-Marchessault, as Audy-Marchessault dug the puck out and passed to Wellman as he sprinted into the slot. Wellman’s shot beat Manchester goaltender Martin Jones (36 saves) for his 15^th goal of the season, his first as a member of the Whale, and a 1-0 Connecticut lead at 12:01. Tim Erixon picked up the secondary assist on Audy-Marchessault’s 18^th goal.

Wellman would return the favor with a great pass to Audy-Marchessault just nine seconds later, as Audy-Marchessault put the Whale up 2-0. Audy-Marchessault sent a rocket of a one-timer past Jones from the left faceoff circle, the two goals coming just one second shy of the franchise record for fastest consecutive goals. Andre Deveaux would also assist on the score.

The Whale would increase their lead to 3-0 on the power-play, as Wojtek Wolski set up Kris Newbury’s 18^th goal of the season with a backhand pass. Newbury found just enough room to stuff the puck between the pad of Jones and the post at 13:32. Mats Zuccarello recorded the secondary assist.

Robert Czarnik would cut the Whale lead to 3-1 with Manchester’s first and only tally of the night at the 1:45 mark of the third period, as his shot managed to sneak past a screened Johnson, with the assists going to Thomas Hickey and Nick Deslauriers.

Andreas Thuresson would regain the Whale’s three-goal advantage just 31 seconds later, as he tipped an Erixon shot past Jones for a 4-1 lead and the final score of the night. Kelsey Tessier also notched a helper on the goal.

The Whale will finish their three-game road trip Sunday afternoon in Bridgeport, as they take on the Sound Tigers in GEICO Connecticut Cup action (3:00). The next home game for the Whale will be Friday, Jan. 17, when they host the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center (7:00).

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.  That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  The new inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.  Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.  There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10, details of which will be announced soon.  This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

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.

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