Hartford, CT ... Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that Mark Janssens will join the roster of 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.
Janssens, a center from Surrey, British Columbia, played with the Hartford Whalers for most of five seasons, from 1992-1997. Janssens skated in a total of 341 games for the Whalers, accruing totals of 20 goals and 43 assists for 63 points, along with 712 penalty minutes, the eighth-highest career total in the history of the franchise. His 237 penalty minutes during the 1992-93 season ranked second on the team behind Nick Kypreos’ 325.
Janssens was originally a fourth round pick, 72nd overall, by the New York Rangers in the 1986 NHL entry draft. He went on to play in 711 NHL games for the Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, Whalers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes. He was acquired by the Whalers from Minnesota on September 3, 1992, in exchange for forward James Black.
In 1998, Janssens was traded from Anaheim to the Islanders, along with current Connecticut Whale assistant coach J.J. Daigneault, in exchange for Travis Green, Doug Houda and former Hartford Wolf Pack forward Tony Tuzzolino. Through 15 NHL seasons, Janssens scored 40 goals and added 73 assists for a total of 113 points, while accumulating 1,422 penalty minutes.
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).
