Sean Avery will be with the Rangers on Thursday and Friday on their western trip, but according to Tom Renney he’s still a ways away from suiting up.

“[He'll] drive us bananas because he is itching to play,” Renney said. “He’s a few days away from serious contact and there’s still a little bit of pain there. We can rehab him, and he could be day-to-day in two days.”

***

Al Montoya was called up in case Henrik Lundqvist was not ready after coming down with the flu. Based on last night’s perfromance, The King was ready.

***

The line shakeups seems to work very well.

Jaromir Jagr seemed pleased with playing next to Scott Gomez: “From the first time we played together, Scotty is a lot more confident. He’s gotten a lot quicker.”

Gomez on Jagr: “I think that was the problem in the beginning, I was thinking too much,” Gomez said with a laugh. “We get in trouble when we start to think. We’re just a bunch of hockey players.”

Chris Drury and Brendan Shanahan also seemed pleased, although Shanahan wantes to take some time before passing judgement. Said Shanahan: “It was good. I though at a certain point of the game, it seemed like we were getting more special teams shifts together. We killed a lot of penalities. He had a lot of shifts with Nigel [Dawes], but then we couldn’t string them together. It’s tough to gage.”

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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.
 

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The American Hockey League today named Hartford Wolf Pack left-wing Nigel Dawes the Rbk AHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 9th. Dawes totaled three goals and five assists for eight points in the Wolf Pack’s three games on the week, as the Pack ran their streak of games with at least a standings point to eight straight (7-0-0-1).

On that note, here’s the rest of WPW

The Wolf Pack have now recorded at least a standings point in eight straight games (7-0-0-1), 12 of their last 13 outings (11-1-0-1) and 14 of their last 16 (13-2-0-1), after a 2-0-0-1 week this past week.  The Pack saw their season-high five-game winning streak come to an end in a 4-3 shootout loss Wednesday night in Providence, but rebounded to post victories against Lowell, 3-1 at home, Friday and Worcester, 7-1 on the road, Saturday.  The win in Worcester represented the Wolf Pack’s biggest offensive output thus far on the year, and their largest margin of victory.  Nigel Dawes set a franchise regular-season record with six points (2-4-6) in Saturday’s game and notched a total of 3-5-8 in the three games.  That performance earned him Rbk AHL Player of the Week honors.  Al Montoya was in net for all three contests and is now 5-0-1 in his last six decisions and 6-1-1 in his last eight.
This week:
The Wolf Pack start a four-game homestand by hosting the Houston Aeros on Wednesday (7:00).  The Manchester Monarchs then make their first visit of the season to the Hartford Civic Center Saturday night (7:00).

Tuesday, December 11^th – Wolf Pack Holiday Party at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 4:00 –

            6:00 PM

The entire Wolf Pack team will join more than 100 cancer patients and their families for their 11^th annual Holiday party at CT Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington St. in Hartford.  The party has become an annual tradition and a perennial favorite of players during the holiday season.  The team will be signing autographs and doing crafts with, and distributing goodies to, children undergoing treatment for, and recovering from, cancer.

Tuesday, December 11^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 defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and goaltender Miika Wiikman 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.

Wednesday, December 12^th vs. Houston at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         This is the only visit to Hartford on the season by the Aeros, top affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, and the first meeting between them and the Wolf Pack on the year.  The Pack swept a pair of games from the Aeros last year, including a 4-3 overtime triumph at the Hartford Civic Center January 27^th.
·         The Aeros, coached by former San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils head man Kevin Constantine, are 12-10-1-1 for 26 points on the year.  That puts them seventh in the West Division.
·         The top point-producer on the Aeros’ squad is defenseman Erik Reitz, who has recorded 5-9-14 in 16 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).
·         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 15^th vs. Manchester at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         The Monarchs and Wolf Pack have already tangled three times in Manchester, with the Wolf Pack going 1-1-0-1, but this is the defending Atlantic Division champions’ first visit to Hartford.
·         Manchester forward Teddy Purcell, the Rbk Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for November, leads the AHL in points and assists with 8-25-33 in 24 GP.
·         The Monarchs have won back-to-back games to climb to 10-11-2-1 for 23 points and into fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
·         This night will include a “Teddy Bear Toss” when the Wolf Pack scores its first goal of the game.  Fans are asked to bring soft toys, which will be donated to local charitable organizations. 
·         The first 5,000 fans into this game will receive a free Wolf Pack ski cap.
·         Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford at www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Networks!  Go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Sunday, December 16^th – Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon at AMF Silver Lanes, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’s annual Bowl-a-Thon benefits Special Olympics Connecticut Eastern Region and takes place at AMF Silver Lanes, 748 Silver Lane in East Hartford (860-569-2990), from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Teams of four bowlers raise pledges to bowl alongside a Wolf Pack player.  For more information, contact Marc at Special Olympics Connecticut by calling (860) 887-1555.
Recent Transactions:
Ryan Constant – returned on loan by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
Mark Lee – returned on loan by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
Matt Zaba – Reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) December 3^rd.
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 11         11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
Wed., December 12       10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Houston)
Thurs., December 13      11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., December 14          11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
Sat., December 15         10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Manchester)
Sun., December 16        No practice
Mon., December 17        11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
 

Pack Tracks:

96.5 TIC’s Acoustic Café Volume 7, the proceeds from which benefit the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation, 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.

Posted under Blog

A new Gardenvision and graphic boards at both goal ends highlight the look at the old girl. Also the John Condon press room got a once over.

And debuting tonight are the new uniforms.. But no Jaromir Jagr, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury or Henrik Lundqvist. Antem Anisimov is centering Brendan Shanahan and Sean Avery.

Al Montoya and Stephen Valiquette are in goal and olf friend Kevin Weekes is in net for Jersey.

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With Don Maloney out, the Rangers will need a new second man in the front office. Both Mark Messier, who desired Glen Sather’s job back in February and Adam Graves are candidates. As is Jim Schoenfeld, the Hartford GM.

Of the candidates, Sather will look to retain someone who will do the legwork Maloney did over the past decade in teh front office. Both Messier and Graves are inexperienced, yet could get some sort of position to begin their careers, but Schoenfeld has the knowledge of the organization, so will also a considerable look.

Eventually Messier will probably work his way up to the job, The Captain said he was moving to New York and wanted to be Slats’ successor. So, it would be hard to fathom if he was left out in the cold.

As for Maloney, Sather may have a trading partner. Larry Brooks mentioned a possible Al Montoya for the third overall pick. We shall see what prospects Maloney liked more than Sather and if any deals come to pass.

You can read more about this on NY Sports Day.  

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