The XL Center. Apparently, Northland AEG, the company that runs the facility came up with an agreement with XL Insurance Company with a seven figure deal.

The first “XL Center” event will be Hannah Montana on Wednesday.

Here’s the logo:

Posted under Blog

Tom Renney apparently had enough and decided to shuffle the lines to something more conventional before the Rangers take on the Pens tonight.

Scott Gomez will now be centering Jaromir Jagr and Marty Straka with Chris Drury becoming Brendan Shanahan’s pivot. Brandon Dubinsky goes to line No. 3 with Ryan Callahan and Petr Prucha.

Now this makes sense. As long as the Rangers were winning, Renney wanted to leave well-enough alone, but now it’s time to get Jagr a true puck moving center like Gomez and Drury with Shanahan works well too.

Let’s see if it puts more goals in the net tonight.

Posted under Blog

For the sports fan in your life, give the gift of Sportscene.  

With full color, exciting layouts and all of the New York sports covered – especially the Rangers – NYS is the perfect gift for the fan in your life.

Twelve issues only costs $25.50, so it is affordable for everyone.

Go to www.nysportscene.com/subscribe.php and buy it online or call 631-580-7772 and ask for Michelle.

Sportscene for the holidays – a perfect gift.

Posted under Blog

Posted under Blog

To Bob Galerstein of ESPN for having me on last night between the second and third periods.

I and the rest of the Sportscene staff appreciate the kind words you had for the magazine and hope the segment went well.

Also whenever you want, I will always make time to be on again.

Posted under Blog

The Rangers announced they recalled Ryan Callahan, who never left New York anyway, and sent Greg Moore back to Hartford, which was a change in heart from yesterday.

It was Tom Renney’s call, who felt he wanted Callahan in New York.

According the reporters in Greenburgh, Renney changed the lines up. You can read more on Sam Weinman’s blog on that topic.

Also Henrik Lundqvist is still sick with the flu, so if doesn’t take a turn for the better tomorrow and practices in the morning, expect Steve Valiquette again in goal against the Pens tomorrow night.

Speaking of the flu, didn’t Lundqvist get sick last year at this time? Maybe it’s time for a flu shot or something.

Posted under Blog

Unlike most other coaches and managers in New York, Tom Renney is very honest with the media. Last night was no exception as he said only three Rangers were playing well in this swoon while not mentioning them [feel free to speculate].

Also he said the team gets down when they are behind.

Renney is right. You can see the growns from crowd and the players when Joel Perrault scored in the first. Esentially when they are behind they get down and then try too hard to come back.

He said they had to get back to the simple defensive system that was working early on.

Also Henrik Lundqvist must return to form, as does Jaromir Jagr.

 

Posted under Blog

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS WEEKLY RELEASE
December 17, 2007
Dec. 13
CHECKERS TRAMPLED BY GLADIATORS
Charlotte, N.C. – The Checkers battled the Gwinnett Gladiators for the third time this season and lost by a score of 5-1.

For full story, please click: http://gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=787

Dec. 14
CHECKERS DROP CONTEST TO LYNX
Augusta, G.A. – The Charlotte Checkers battled the Augusta Lynx for the second time this season and lost by a score of 3-2 splitting the season series so far with one victory for each team.

For full story, please click: http://gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=788

Dec. 15
CHECKERS PUT OUT INFERNO IN OVERTIME
Charlotte, N.C. – Nathan Gillies scored the game winning goal in overtime to lift the Checkers over the Columbia Inferno by a score of 3-2.

For full story, please click: http://gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=790

CHECKERS RECORD THIS SEASON
9-8-3
CHECKERS NOTES
·         Blake Bellefeuille leads the team in points with 17 points (6g,11a)
·         Mike Ayers became the 8^th goaltender to suit up for the Checkers when he played on Dec. 13 against Gwinnett in a 5-1 defeat
·         Nathan Gillies overtime goal against Columbia on Dec. 15 was the first Checkers game this season to end in the extra session before a shootout was necessary.
·         Mike Bayrack returned to the Checkers lineup for the first time since his last stint with Charlotte during the 2005-06 season. He scored a goal in his re-debut.
GAMES THIS WEEK
·         Tuesday, Dec. 18 vs. Pensacola –7:00 p.m.
·         Thursday, Dec. 20 vs. Gwinnett – 7:00 p.m.
·         Friday, Dec. 21 vs. @Augusta—7:30 p.m.
·         Saturday, Dec. 22 @ South Carolina – 7:30 p.m.
CHECKERS LEADERS 
Goals: Jamieson, Dusty (9)           
Assists: Bellefeuille, Blake (11)    
Points: Bellefeuille, Blake (17)    
Plus/Minus: Capraro, Chris (+8)
PIM: Betts, Kaleb (67)      
Wins: Zaba, Matt (3)     
GAA: Darling, Curtis (2.12)       
Save Pct.: Darling, Curtis (.907)
*current players

Posted under Blog

Here’s the newest WPW:

The Wolf Pack split two home games this past week, running their season record to 19-8-0-2 for 40 points, good for second in the AHL’s Atlantic Division and a tie for second overall in the league, eight points behind league-leading Providence.  The Pack saw their streak of eight straight games with at least a standings point (7-0-0-1) snapped in a 6-1 loss to Houston on Wednesday, but rebounded Saturday to post a 2-1 overtime triumph over Manchester.  Nigel Dawes totaled three assists in the two games, and Greg Moore scored the Wolf Pack’s only goal (SHG) in Wednesday’s game and assisted on Ivan Baranka’s overtime game-winner Saturday.
This week:
The Wolf Pack complete a stretch of four straight home games, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town for a GEICO Connecticut Cup matchup on Guida’s Family Value Night Friday (7:00), and the Syracuse Crunch make their lone visit of the season to the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday (7:00).

Tuesday, December 18^th – “Wolf Pack Confidential”, at the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, on

            ESPN Radio 1410

This week’s edition of the Wolf Pack’s weekly Tuesday-night talk show, hosted by Bob Crawford, features Wolf Pack goaltender Al Montoya and defenseman Michael Sauer as scheduled guests.  The show airs live from the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, located at 315 Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford, from 7:00-8:00 PM.  Fans are welcome to be on hand at M&M for an exclusive opportunity to ask questions and speak one-on-one with the players.  Wolf Pack Confidential can be heard live on the radio home of the Wolf Pack, ESPN Radio 1410.

Friday, December 21^st vs. Bridgeport at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         This is the third installment of this season’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series between the Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers.  The series is tied at a game apiece, and Bridgeport won the only previous meeting in Hartford, a 3-2 verdict on opening night, October 6^th.
·         It’s Guida’s Family Value Night at the Civic Center.  Family Value Night packages start as low as $39 and include: three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas a Wolf Pack souvenir.  To order, call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000.
·         The Sound Tigers have won back-to-back games, to climb to 11-14-1 for 23 points and into a tie with Norfolk for sixth place in the East Division.
·         Jeff Tambellini leads Bridgeport in points, goals and assists, with 11-14-25 in 23 GP.
·         For all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Friday and Sunday home games, college students and members of the military showing ID at the Hartford Civic Center box office can purchase tickets at the special discount rate of $10 each (limit four tickets per ID).
·         The Hall High School (West Hartford) Jazz Band will be entertaining in the Civic Center atrium from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.
·         Santa Claus will be circulating at the game for picture-taking and holiday fun, and distributing candy canes to fans.
·         Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network!  Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Saturday, December 22^nd vs. Syracuse at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         This is the Crunch’s only visit of the year to Hartford, only their fifth all-time, and only their second in the last seven seasons.
·         The Wolf Pack won the first get-together of the year between the two clubs, 5-3 in Syracuse, October 13^th.
·         Crunch leading scorer Joakim Lindstrom (13-20-33 in 25 GP) is tied for third overall in the AHL in points.
·         Syracuse currently occupies third place in the North Division, with a record of 13-15-1-1 for 28 points.
·         Fans will be chosen at random to compete for excellent prizes in the Comcast Triple Play Shootout.
·         Santa Claus will be circulating at the game for picture-taking and holiday fun, and distributing candy canes to fans.
·         Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks!  Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Recent Transactions:
Matt Zaba – Reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Charlotte (ECHL) December 12^th.
Matt Waddell – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack December 13^th.
Ryan Callahan – loaned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack December 16^th.
Nigel Dawes – recalled by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack December 16^th.
Greg Moore – recalled by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack December 11^th and returned the same
day, then recalled again December 16^th.
Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 before attending a practice.
Tue., December 18         11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Wed., December 19       11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Thurs., December 20      11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
Fri., December 21          10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Bridgeport)
Sat., December 22         Game vs. Syracuse
Sun., December 23        No practice
Mon., December 24        No practice
 

Pack Tracks:

The Wolf Pack held its first annual “Teddy Bear Toss” at Saturday’s 2-1 win over Manchester.  The Wolf Pack’s generous fans lobbed a total of 748 soft toys onto the ice upon the scoring of the Wolf Pack’s first goal.  The toys will be donated to local charitable organizations for holiday gifts to needy youngsters.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 18^th, Wolf Pack players Ryan Murphy and Matt Zaba, along with Sonar, the Pack’s lovable mascot, will be appearing from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the FYE location at 738 Wolcott St. in Waterbury to promote 96.5 TIC’s Acoustic Café Volume 7 CD, the proceeds from which benefit the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation.  The CD is on sale now at the Wolf Pack store at Hartford 21, Strawberries and FYE stores and on-line at www.965tic.com.  Acoustic Café Volume 7 features exclusive performances by Daughtry, KT Tunstall, Lifehouse, Avril Lavigne, Mat Kearney, Bowling for Soup, The Fray, Collective Soul and Mandy Moore.  The CD costs only $9.65, and each CD also includes a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to a Wednesday or Sunday Wolf Pack home game.

 

This Wednesday, December 19^th, selected Wolf Pack players will be visiting patients at Gaylord Hospital, 50 Gaylord Farm Rd., Wallingford (203-284-2800), from 2:30 – 4:30 PM.

 

At the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, January 5^th vs. the Lowell Devils, the first 5,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack team poster, courtesy of Click it or Ticket.  The CT Department of Transportation’s Click It or Ticket campaign is a reminder that everyone needs to wear their safety belt — every trip, every time; “It’s the law – click it or ticket.”
 

Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall.  Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.  Season tickets, five, 10 and 20 game packages and group tickets are also available.  Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.
 

Posted under Blog

Ok the Ranger Flu strikes again. Henrik Lundqvist is out with the flu with Steve Valiquette taking the start in goal. Lundqvist will be the backup

Marcel Hossa is out and will be replaced by Nigel Dawes. Greg Moore will be on the third line replacing the demoted Ryan Callahan and Jason Strudwick is on the fourth line replacing Ryan Hollweg.

That means Marek Malik is back with Michal Rozsival and Marc Staal will be with Paul Mara.

Confused yet?

Outside of Lundqvist none of these moves are too earth shattering as they take on the Phoenix Great Ones – I mean the Coyotes.

Speaking of the Great One. Wayne Gretzky has laryngitis and can’t address to the media.

BTW, a good friend is back. Hockeybird, who has been very helpful to me has returned and Bird is posting his daily posts again. He went offline back in October and now is back.

Posted under Blog