HARTFORD, May 15, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld today announced eight season-ending Whale roster transactions.

The parent New York Rangers have recalled six players, goaltender Cam Talbot, defensemen Tim Erixon and Dylan McIlrath and forwards J.T. Miller, Kris Newbury and Casey Wellman, from Connecticut.  Additionally, the Whale has released forwards Steve Moses and Andrew Yogan from their Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreements.

The Whale’s 2011-12 season ended this past Friday, with a 2-1 overtime loss at Norfolk in Game Six of Connecticut’s Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the regular season AHL-champion Admirals.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2012-13 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.

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

Norfolk, VA, May 11, 2012 - Richard Panik’s goal at 13:01 of overtime ended the Connecticut Whale’s season Friday night at Scope Arena, giving the Norfolk Admirals a 2-1 win in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series between the two teams, and a four-games-to-two triumph in the best-of-seven set.

Panik took a pass from Alex Killorn and got a step on Whale defenseman Brendan Bell, then made a move to the forehand to put the puck past Connecticut goaltender Cam Talbot, who made 44 saves in the game, including a combined 32 in the third period and overtime.

The Whale nearly found themselves behind just 41 seconds into the game, but an apparent goal by Norfolk’s Alexandre Picard was disallowed when it was ruled that he knocked the puck into the net with a high stick.

The Whale controlled play thereafter, but were frustrated by Admiral netminder Jaroslav Janus (30 saves) until the 14:49 mark, when Connecticut got a goal as a result of a fortunate bounce.  Janus stopped a shot by Casey Wellman but could not control the rebound, and Norfolk forward Pierre-Cedric Labrie inadvertently knocked it into the net with his skate.  Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, who got the last touch on the puck, was credited with the goal.

The best chance of a scoreless second period came at 10:10, when Audy-Marchessault was awarded a penalty shot after he was hooked while working his way past the Admiral defense.  Janus, though, came up with a glove save on Audy-Marchessault’s penalty shot bid.

The Admirals dominated the third period, outshooting the Whale 18-2, but Talbot held the fort until the 10:52 mark, when Tyler Johnson tied the score.  The Whale won a defensive-zone draw but were unable to control the puck, and Ondrej Palat was able to work it off the left-wing boards to Johnson in front of the net.  Johnson nearly fanned on his shot, but was able to shove the puck through Talbot’s pads, for the goal that would end up forcing the overtime.

The series win was the first ever in a best-of-seven series for Norfolk, which will now go on to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the winner of a Game Seven Saturday between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and St. John’s in St. John’s.

It’s never too early to think about a Whale ticket package for the 2012-13 season.  For information on season seats, mini plans and 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, please click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

By Bob Crawford

Six-foot-five, 215-pound defenseman Dylan McIlrath, the tenth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, wasn’t sure what kind of opportunity he would get when he joined the Connecticut Whale April 30 from his Junior Hockey team, the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.  The Whale were coming off of a three-game sweep of the Northeast Division-champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the opening round, a series in which the Whale had allowed a total of three goals in the three games.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming in,” McIlrath said after a recent Whale practice.  “This team was doing well, firing on all cylinders, sweeping Bridgeport.  They had a good thing going, then I was fortunate to hop in the lineup and I feel really comfortable hopping in.  I think this time around I’m just trying to go in with an open mind and just go play hockey and not think too much.”

This year’s stint is not McIlrath’s first kick at the pro hockey can.  He also came to the Whale last year at the end of his WHL season, and got into Connecticut’s last two regular-season games.  That experience, according to McIlrath, was good preparation for his first career pro playoff action this year.

“Absolutely, I think just getting familiar with the city, with the coaching staff, sleeping arrangements, it’s all familiar this time around,” the Winnipeg native said, “and it makes it a lot easier just coming to the rink every day, knowing the guys and just kind of feeling comfortable.”

A big part of that comfort zone has been the fact that, during the majority of his shifts in his first three playoff games in a Whale uniform, the 20-year-old McIlrath has been paired with 15^th-year pro Wade Redden, the Whale captain and a veteran of nearly 1,000 NHL games.

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

By Brian Ring

Bridgeport, CT, May 9, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Norfolk Admirals, 4-0, Wednesday night at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport in Game Five of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals series.

The Admirals now lead the series, three games to two, with the series switching back to Norfolk for Game Six on Friday night at the Norfolk Scope (7:30).

Alexandre Picard had two of Norfolk’s goals to power the Admirals’ attack, tallying his fifth and sixth goals of the postseason, and Ondrej Palat added a goal and an assist in the effort.

Jaroslav Janus notched the shutout for the Admirals in his first appearance of the series, making 22 saves.

After missing on several close calls, the Admirals finally broke through with the first goal of the game with 4:45 remaining in the opening period. Picard beat Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (31 saves) off a wrap-around chance for his fifth goal of the playoffs, assisted by Pierre-Cedric Labrie.

Picard would strike again 2:43 into the second period, stuffing home a rebound of a Scott Jackson shot past Talbot for his second goal of the game and a 2-0 Norfolk advantage. Palat also assisted on the score.

Palat would extend the lead to 3-0 with 5:54 left in the third period, his second point of the night and third goal of the playoffs. Tyler Johnson and Jean-Philippe Cote each assisted on the goal.

Labrie capped the night’s scoring with his second goal of the series, coming with just over five seconds to play in the final frame.

The series now switches back to Norfolk for Game Six, as the Whale and Admirals face-off again in a must-win for Connecticut on Friday night (7:30 PM, “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC, live video streaming available at www.ahllive.com).

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

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, May 7, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 4-1, Monday night in Hartford to even their Eastern Conference Semifinal series at two games apiece. Game Five will be played Wednesday night at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport (7:00 PM).

Scott Tanski recorded the game-winning goal and Kris Newbury supplied a goal and an assist in front of Cam Talbot’s 19 saves, as the Whale took Game Four at home.

Richard Panik notched the only goal of the game for Norfolk.

“I thought our team defense was real good tonight,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “Obviously, [Talbot] had a bounce-back and was very good for us.”

“It was a big game for us to square the series and I thought we played very well tonight.”

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault gave the Whale the first lead of the game late in the first period, wristing a shot through the legs of Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski (21 saves) with under a minute to play in the opening frame. The goal was Audy-Marchessault’s third of the postseason, with assists going to linemates Kris Newbury and Andre Deveaux.

The Whale extended their lead to 2-0 3:56 into the second period when Scott Tanski wheeled through the Admirals’ zone, turning and firing a shot past Tokarski from the left circle. Tanski’s goal was his first of the playoffs in just his second game, with the lone assist going to Kelsey Tessier.

Richard Panik cut the Whale lead to 2-1 with Norfolk’s only goal of the game, his first of the playoffs, 7:42 into the third period. Panik took a crafty pass from Alex Killorn before heading down the left wing boards and firing a shot over Talbot on the stick side.

Casey Wellman would get that goal back with just 3:12 left in the third, finishing a great two-on-one opportunity with defenseman Pavel Valentenko. Valentenko passed to Wellman at the last moment, and Wellman beat Tokarski with a one-timer that the Norfolk goaltender had no chance on. The goal was Wellman’s third of the series, and fourth of the postseason. Marek Hrivik recorded the secondary assist.

Newbury would cap the scoring for the Whale with an empty-net goal that made it 4-1 with 2:09 remaining.

The win evened the second-round series at two games apiece.

The Whale and Admirals will resume their series Wednesday night, when the teams head to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport for a crucial Game Five (7:00, “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com, live video streaming at www.ahllive.com).  Game Five tickets are available at the Webster Bank Arena box office, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

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

HARTFORD, May 7, 2012:  Whalers Sports & Entertainment chairman and CEO Howard Baldwin, Sr. announced today that Howard Baldwin, Jr. is stepping down as WSE president and COO, effective immediately.

Baldwin, Jr., who had been serving in his role as president and COO since December 10, 2010, will remain with WSE in an important advisory capacity, continuing to act as a liaison between the company and its financial partners.

Taking over as head of the day-to-day operations of WSE is Mark Willand, who has been with the company since its inception and is currently WSE’s Senior Vice-President of Business Operations.

The Whale resume their Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff series against the Norfolk Admirals tonight at the XL Center with Game Four, which faces off at 7:00 PM (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com, live video streaming at www.ahllive.com).  Game Five is this Wednesday, May 9, a Whale home game that will be played at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT at 7:00.  Tickets for Game Four are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, and Game Five tickets are available at the Webster Bank Arena box office.  Tickets for both Games Four and Five can be purchased on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

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

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, May 6, 2012 - The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Norfolk Admirals, 4-3, Sunday night in Game Three of their second-round playoff series at the XL Center. Mike Angelidis had the game-winning goal for Norfolk, which has now won two straight against the Whale in the series. Casey Wellman scored twice for the Whale.

The Whale trail the Admirals in their best-of-seven series, two games to one, with Game Four coming up Monday night in Hartford at 7:00 PM.

“I thought we had a good start, I thought we showed good resolve at the end of the game, and we had a few mistakes in the second period that were pretty costly,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “We’ve got this one put behind us, time to focus on tomorrow night’s game and come out flying tomorrow night.”

The Whale struck first, as Wellman blocked a pass by Norfolk’s J.P. Cote an blasted a shot from the right-wing side past Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski (19 saves) for the 1-0 advantage 5:20 into the opening frame. The goal came unassisted on the Whale’s first power-play opportunity of the game.

Ondrej Palat would tie the game for the Admirals just 2:41 later, as Norfolk broke up a Whale power-play chance. Palat emerged from the Connecticut end with the puck and went in on a shorthanded breakaway, deking out Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (26 saves) with a move to the backhand for the equalizer.

Connecticut would take the lead again with 2:38 left in the first period, enabling them to make it a 2-1 game after one period. Andre Deveaux managed to push a loose puck past Tokarski after winger Marek Hrivik muscled the puck to the front of the Norfolk cage. The goal was Deveaux’s second in as many games.

The Admirals would tie the game back up at two with six seconds remaining on a second-period power-play, as Alex Killorn snapped one from the right circle past Talbot. Killorn’s third of the postseason was assisted by Mike Kostka and Alexandre Picard at 11:31.

Norfolk took a 3-2 lead just 45 seconds later, as Trevor Smith sent his third goal of the playoffs past Talbot to give the Admirals their first lead of the game. Smith’s goal was a deflection of a shot by Mark Barberio, and was also assisted by AHL MVP and Rookie of the Year Cory Conacher.

Angelidis extended the Admirals’ lead to 4-2 with 2:20 left in the second period, as he converted a pass from Michel Ouellet past the outstretched leg of Talbot. Radko Gudas also assisted on the score, Angelidis’ first point of the playoffs and the eventual game-winner.

Wellman would get the Whale to within one with his second goal of the night 1:06 into the third, as Connecticut scored their second power-play tally of the game. Wellman’s slapshot from just inside the Norfolk blue line beat Tokarski, with assists going to Kris Newbury and Tim Erixon.

The Whale, however, could not even the score despite several close chances during a last-minute scrum in the Admirals end, and find themselves down for the first time in the series.

The series resumes Monday night at 7:00 p.m., as the Whale host the Admirals in Game Four of their second-round series at the XL Center (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com, live video streaming at www.ahllive.com).  Game Five is this Wednesday, May 9, a Whale home game that will be played at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT at 7:00.  Tickets for Game Four are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, and Game Five tickets are available at the Webster Bank Arena box office.  Tickets for both Games Four and Five can be purchased on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

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

Norfolk, VA, May 4, 2012 – Mike Kostka and Tyler Johnson had a goal and an assist each, and Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves, as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Connecticut Whale, 4-1, Friday night at Scope Arena in Game Two of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

The best-of-seven series is now even at one game apiece.

Penalties hurt the Whale in their first postseason loss in five games, as Norfolk was 2/11 on the power play.  The Whale were 1/7 on the man advantage, as Andre Deveaux scored the only Connecticut goal of the game on a second-period power play.  Cam Talbot absorbed his first playoff loss in the Whale goal, despite making 36 saves.

The Whale generated numerous chances in the first period but could not beat Tokarski, and the Admirals would bury a pair of opportunities at the other end.

Alex Killorn gave Norfolk the game’s first lead at the 3:00 mark, after a good forecheck by defenseman Keith Aulie worked the puck loose.  Pierre-Cedric Labrie centered to Killorn, who snapped the puck past Talbot.

After furious Whale power-play pressure was fought off by Tokarski, Kostka scored a second Admiral goal at 17:44.  Alexandre Picard, who had served three minor penalties in the period, threaded a pass from the right-wing side across the slot to the defenseman Kostka, whose low shot beat Talbot.

The two teams then traded power-play goals in the second frame, starting at 9:02 when Deveaux, a 20-goals-scorer in the regular season got his first of the playoffs off of a goalmouth scramble.  A Deveaux pass went off of Marek Hrivik’s skate and into the goal crease.  Kelsey Tessier, who was going hard towards the goal, was knocked down into the net, and Deveaux found the loose puck and poked it in.

Norfolk replied on a five-on-three, however, after Kris Newbury took a cross-checking penalty at the 15-minute mark with Wade Redden already in the box for roughing.  Johnson had a pass from the left side of the goalmouth blocked, but the puck went off of a Whale defender right back to Johnson, and his shot just eluded a diving Talbot for a 3-1 Norfolk advantage.

The Admiral man advantage unit struck again at 4:41 of the third period to create the final margin, after a tripping call against Newbury at 3:40.

The best-of-seven series now switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Games Three and Four, which will be this Sunday, May 6 and Monday, May 7, with faceoff at 7:00 both nights (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com, live video streaming at www.ahllive.com).  Tickets for Games Three and Four 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.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

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

HARTFORD, May 3, 2012:  Whalers Sports & Entertainment announced today that Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Calder Cup Playoff series between the Connecticut Whale and the Norfolk Admirals will be aired live state-wide on CPTV Sports this Monday, May 7.

Game Four, which faces off at 7:00 PM Monday night at the XL Center, will be CPTV Sports' first live broadcast since their statewide expansion in April. Check cptvsports.org for cable channel locations on Cablevision, Charter, Cox, Comcast and Thames River cable systems.  Monday’s telecast will also be the first Whale franchise playoff game to be televised since the 2004 postseason.

Game Two of the best-of-seven series, which the Whale leads, 1-0, is Friday night at Scope in Norfolk (7:30 PM faceoff, “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com, live video streaming at www.ahllive.com). The series then switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Games Three and Four, which will be this Sunday, May 6 and Monday, May 7, with faceoff at 7:00 both nights.

Tickets for Games Three and Four at the XL Center 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.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games. To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366. More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

The Tavern Downtown, at 100 Allyn St. in Hartford, will host a special viewing party for Friday’s Game Two. The ahllive feed will be shown on at least one TV at The Tavern Downtown, which will offer Happy Hour specials of $1 off draft and bottled beers, $2 off mixed well drinks, $2 off house wines, $1 off shots, and $4 Whaler Ales, which include the customer keeping the glass. Appetizers will be out for Happy Hour from 5-7 PM, and there will be $2 sliders starting at 7 PM. There will also be raffles and handouts.

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

By Bob Crawford

The pressure cooker of pro sports can make for some strange situations, and hockey history has seen many a family battle, with gentlemen sharing the same last name going up against one another in opposing jerseys.

Most of those have been sibling clashes, with brother combinations like Phil and Tony Esposito, the Staal brothers, the Sutter clan, Scott and Rob Niedermayer, Keith and Wayne Primeau, etc., knocking heads.

The current Connecticut Whale vs. Norfolk Admirals series, though, features a father and son locking horns, in the Whale’s Christian Thomas and his dad, Steve.

Christian Thomas joined the Whale from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League April 4 and played in Connecticut’s last five regular season games, and all four playoff contests to date.  Steve Thomas is Player Development Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Norfolk’s parent club, and while he is not an official member of the Admirals’ coaching staff, often assists Head Coach John Cooper and Assistant Coach Mike Flanagan, both in practice and behind the bench.

Game One of the Whale/Admirals series Wednesday was the first time the two Thomas men had faced each other on opposing sides.  Given that his pride and joy was going to be front and center in the opponent’s lineup, Steve Thomas was conflicted, right up to the start of Wednesday’s game, about whether he should go back behind the bench.

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