Hartford, CT … Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that Bob Crawford and Chris Kotsopoulos will join the group of featured players for the Hartford Whalers legends vs. Boston Bruins legends game February 19, 2011 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
The legends game comprises part of the “Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl,” the featured event of the two-week outdoor Whalers Hockey Fest spectacular at Rentschler Field that will include numerous collegiate, high school, prep school and youth hockey games. The legends game will face off at 4:00 PM on February 19 and will be followed by the outdoor AHL game between the Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM.
Crawford, a right wing from Belleville, Ontario, skated in 182 NHL games as a Hartford Whaler, totaling 64 goals and 59 assists for 123 points from the 1983-84 season through 1985-86. Crawford was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round of the 1979 NHL draft, the 65th pick overall, and was acquired by the Whalers on October 3, 1983 off of waivers from St. Louis. His 36 goals for the Whalers during the 1983-84 season ranked second on the team behind Sylvain Turgeon’s 40.
Crawford played in a total of 246 games during his NHL career, skating for the Blues, Whalers, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. In nine NHL seasons, Crawford totaled 71 goals and 71 assists for 142 points.
As a coach, Crawford won AJHL Coach of the Year in 2005, and was part of the USA Hockey Select 18 National team coaching staff that won a Bronze medal in Canada in 2006. Crawford also owns and operates three Hartford-area rinks; Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, the Bolton Ice Palace in Bolton and the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury. In addition to serving as a New England director for USA Hockey, Crawford is also a member of the Board of Directors and International Council.
Kotsopoulos, a defenseman hailing from Scarborough, Ontario, played 241 games as a member of the Hartford Whalers over four seasons, from 1981-1985. Kotsopoulos totaled 29 goals and 60 assists for 89 points as a member of the Whalers, to go along with 443 penalty minutes. His 147 penalty minutes during the 1981-82 season ranked second on the team.
Kotsopoulos played his college hockey at Acadia University and spent two seasons in the minor leagues playing for the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL and the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL, before being signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers prior to the 1980-81 season. Kotsopoulos was acquired by the Whalers on October 3, 1981 from the Rangers, along with Doug Sulliman and Gerry McDonald, for Mike Rogers and future considerations. Overall, Kotsopoulos played in a total of 479 NHL games for the Rangers, Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, totaling 44 goals and 109 assists for 153 points, and 827 penalty minutes.
Kotsopoulos now works as a color commentator on Quinnipiac University hockey broadcasts.
Tickets for the February 19 Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl, which include admission to both the AHL game and the legends game, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com., as well as at the Bushnell box office from Monday through Friday, 12 noon-5:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $20 to $85 and can also be purchased by calling the Connecticut Whale at 860-728-3366. Tickets purchased online can be printed immediately (via Ticketmaster).
