By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, April 22, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4-3, in overtime Sunday night at the XL Center to sweep their first-round playoff series, three games to none.

Marek Hrivik had two goals for the Whale and Casey Wellman tallied the overtime game-winner to give Connecticut their first postseason series win since 2006.

“Everybody is contributing and pulling their weight and that’s what it takes and that’s why it’s been such a good feeling tonight,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.

The Whale took the first lead of the game on Hrivik’s third goal in the last two games, as he scored at the 6:11 mark of the first period on the power-play. Hrivik took a pass from Wellman, skating in at the bottom of the circle before firing a shot through Sound Tigers’ goaltender Kevin Poulin (50 saves). Mike Vernace picked up the secondary assist on the goal.

The Sound Tigers would end Cam Talbot’s (44 saves) playoff shutout streak at 139 minutes and 44 seconds, as Justin DiBenedetto tied the game on the power-play with 16 seconds remaining in the first period. David Ullstrom slid the puck across the top of the crease to the open DiBenedetto, who tallied the first playoff goal for Bridgeport. Calvin de Haan also assisted on the goal.

Neither team would be able to push anything across in the second period, as Talbot and Poulin dueled throughout the frame. The Whale outshot the Sound Tigers, 22-10, in the second, with Poulin making an exceptional save on Kris Newbury to keep the game tied at one.

Talbot also contributed a quality save on Kael Mouillierat, who broke in on the Whale goaltender alone on a shorthanded breakaway.

The third period would prove to be a change of pace from the quiet second frame.

Ryan Bourque would strike for the Whale 5:32 into the third period, converting on a model give-and-go with Kelsey Tessier in front of Poulin. Tessier drew the attention of Poulin and fed Bourque at the last moment, allowing the Bridgeport goaltender no chance to make a stop. Andreas Thuresson collected the secondary assist on the play.

David Ullstrom would tie the game for Bridgeport with 9:28 left in the third, burying a rebound chance over the left pad of Talbot. DiBenedetto and Matt Donovan notched the assists on the equalizer.

Hrivik would strike again with his second goal of the night and fourth of the series just 46 seconds later, blasting a slapshot past Poulin to put the Whale up 3-2. Hrivik came in on a two-on-one with Andre Deveaux, but opted for the shot, which beat Poulin to his glove side.

“There’s still lots of work ahead of me,” said Hrivik. “I couldn’t find a passing lane through [Wellman] so I just shot it and it just went in.”

“It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m thankful for this.”

The back-and-forth struggle would continue, as Rhett Rakhshani tallied his first goal of the playoffs with 3:21 remaining to tie the game at four and send Game Three into overtime.

Tony Romano would break the stick of Whale defenseman Wade Redden 14:40 into the extra session, setting up a key power-play chance for Connecticut.

With just five seconds left in the man-advantage, Redden fed Wellman coming in at the far post in front of Poulin, who fired the winning shot over the Sound Tigers goaltender for the series clinching tally. Thuresson netted his second assist of the game on the play.

The Whale will now await their opponent for the Eastern Conference Semi-finals series, dates and times to be announced.

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 at Connecticut Whale 4 (OT)
Sunday, April 22, 2012 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Bridgeport 1 0 2 0 – 3
Connecticut 1 0 2 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Hrivik 3 (Wellman, Vernace), 6:11 (PP). 2, Bridgeport, DiBenedetto 1 (Ullstrom, de Haan), 19:44 (PP). Penalties-Donovan Bri (slashing), 3:39; Riley Bri (checking to the head), 4:52; Audy-Marchessault Ct (cross-checking), 16:14; Nightingale Ct (high-sticking), 18:28.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-DiBenedetto Bri (roughing), 8:56; Newbury Ct (roughing), 8:56; Ness Bri (slashing), 9:38; Mouillierat Bri (tripping), 12:46; Ness Bri (cross-checking), 14:14.

3rd Period-3, Connecticut, Bourque 2 (Tessier, Thuresson), 5:32. 4, Bridgeport, Ullstrom 1 (DiBenedetto, Donovan), 10:32. 5, Connecticut, Hrivik 4 (Deveaux, Valentenko), 11:18. 6, Bridgeport, Rakhshani 1 (Romano, de Haan), 16:39. Penalties-Bell Ct (cross-checking), 8:24.

OT Period-7, Connecticut, Wellman 1 (Redden, Thuresson), 16:36 (PP). Penalties-Romano Bri (slashing), 14:40; Bri (game misconduct – abuse of officials), 16:36; Romano Bri (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:36.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-10-19-8-47. Connecticut 7-22-14-11-54.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 1 / 3; Connecticut 2 / 6.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 0-3-0 (54 shots-50 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 3-0-0 (47 shots-44 saves).
A-3,856
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Derek Wahl (46).

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By Brian Ring

Bridgeport, CT, April 21, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-0, Saturday night in the second game of their best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series at the Webster Bank Arena.

The Whale bumped their lead to two games to none over Bridgeport, who face elimination in Game Three slated for Sunday in Hartford (5:00 PM).

Cam Talbot was excellent in goal for the second straight game, becoming the first goaltender in franchise history to notch back-to-back shutouts in the postseason with a 41-save performance. Talbot has stopped 83 straight shots to begin the playoffs, and is the first AHL goaltender to begin a playoff season with back-to-back shutouts since Michael Leighton, then of the Norfolk Admirals in 2004.

Marek Hrivik scored his first two postseason goals of his pro career for the Whale, and Casey Wellman added two assists to lead the Connecticut attack.

“For the most part we’ve been very patient and eliminated those unforced errors,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “We make them earn it. We did a good job eliminating second and third opportunities and Cam did a good job on the initial saves.”

The Whale turned the momentum of the game right away, killing off an early five-on-three Bridgeport power-play just minutes into the first period. The penalty kill, combined with the play of Talbot, helped to stifle the Sound Tigers, who were held without a goal in five man-advantage attempts on the night.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault put the Whale up 1-0 just 5:32 into the first period, as he picked off a pass from Sound Tigers defenseman Jon Landry. Audy-Marchessault skated in and shot on goaltender Kevin Poulin (27 saves), who made the initial save, but could not stop the rookie forward’s rebound attempt. Audy-Marchessault’s first goal of his pro playoff career came unassisted.

Talbot continued his strong play in goal, building on Thursday’s 42-save shutout in Game One with 13 first period saves, to remain perfect through four periods of play.

Hrivik would extend the lead to 2-0 6:44 into the second period, converting a pass from Wellman in the slot.

The Sound Tigers outshot the Whale, 28-20, through two periods, but Talbot continued to dazzle Bridgeport with 70 straight saves through five periods in the series.

Hrivik buried his second goal of the night with 5:45 left in the game on the power-play, skating in on Poulin down the left-hand boards and firing a shot over his stick side. Wellman picked up his second assist of the game on the goal.

Talbot would hold the lead the rest of the way, continuing to stone the Sound Tigers.

“I’m just trying to give us a chance to win every night and the guys are coming through with some big goals,” said Talbot. “The biggest thing is we’re getting balanced scoring from every single line.”

The Whale and Sound Tigers will resume their playoff series Sunday night at the XL Center for Game Three, with Bridgeport on the brink of elimination (5:00).  Tickets for Sunday’s game are available at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000, and on line at www.ctwhale.com.  Upper-level tickets for first-round home games are only $5 each.

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Connecticut Whale 3 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0

Saturday, April 21, 2012 – Webster Bank Arena

Connecticut 1 1 1 – 3
Bridgeport 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 1   5:32. Penalties-Miller Ct (holding), 1:10; Newbury Ct (roughing), 1:24; Wishart Bri (tripping), 6:35; Oleksy Bri (cross-checking), 13:54; Haley Bri (interference), 17:51; Donovan Bri (cross-checking), 19:38.

2nd Period-2, Connecticut, Hrivik 1 (Wellman), 6:44. Penalties-Deveaux Ct (kneeing), 3:39; Wellman Ct (tripping), 14:02.

3rd Period-3, Connecticut, Hrivik 2 (Wellman), 14:15 (PP). Penalties-Nightingale Ct (holding), 0:57; Ullstrom Bri (roughing), 13:01; Redden Ct (roughing), 15:40; DiBenedetto Bri (roughing, roughing, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:40; Deveaux Ct (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:19; Grant Ct (roughing), 16:19; Cizikas Bri (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct, game misconduct – abuse of officials), 16:19; Donovan Bri (roughing), 16:19; Ullstrom Bri (cross-checking), 18:58.

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 12-8-10-30. Bridgeport 13-15-13-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 7; Bridgeport 0 / 5.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 2-0-0 (41 shots-41 saves). Bridgeport, Poulin 0-2-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-4,151
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84), Jon McIsaac (39).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Brent Colby (7).

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HARTFORD, April 20, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward J.T. Miller to the Whale from the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

Miller, 19, a 6-2, 195-pound native of East Palestine, Ohio, was the Rangers’ first-round pick (15^th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.  In 61 games with the Whalers this year, he scored 25 goals and added 37 assists for 62 points, and registered 61 penalty minutes.  Those totals were good for fourth among Plymouth skaters in assists, a tie for fourth in points and fifth on the team in goals.  In 13 OHL playoff contests, Miller notched two goals and eight assists (tied for second-most on the team) for 10 points, along with 18 PIM.

Miller also saw action this winter in the World Junior Championship for Team USA, scoring two goals and chipping in two assists for four points in six games.  Prior to joining Plymouth, he played two seasons in the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP).

The Whale play Game Two of their best-of-five, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tomorrow night, Saturday, April 21, at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, with faceoff at 7:00 PM (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com).  The Whale are up a game in the series, after a 3-0 victory last night in Game One in Bridgeport.  The series switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Game Three this Sunday, April 22, and faceoff for that contest will be 5:00.  A Game Four, if it is necessary, would be in Hartford Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00, and if the series went the full five games, a decisive Game Five would be next Saturday, April 28 in Bridgeport at 7:00.

Tickets to Game Three 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, and all Upper Level tickets for Game Three are available for $5 each at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.

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.

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By Brian Ring

Bridgeport, CT, April 19, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-0, in the first game of their best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series Thursday night at the Webster Bank Arena.

Cam Talbot recorded 42 saves in a stellar shutout performance, the most saves in franchise history in a postseason shutout, and Kelsey Tessier supplied the game-winning goal and an assist as the Whale won for the first time in Bridgeport this season.

“That’s playoff hockey, it’s going to be close-checking,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “We have to be patient and keep with the game plan.

“I loved the third period.  I thought they elevated the intensity, everything got elevated in the third.”

Game Two of the series will be Saturday night at the Webster Bank Arena (7:00 PM).

The Whale were in trouble early and often to begin the first period, affording the Sound Tigers two power-play opportunities within the first half of the frame, and three total in the period. Talbot was excellent for the Whale in the opening period, turning aside a number of up-close chances, including a great sprawling save on a Justin DiBenedetto opportunity.

Bridgeport’s Kevin Poulin (33 saves) was equally good, with each goaltender stopping ten first period shots.

The scoreless standoff would continue through the second period, as both Talbot and Poulin continued to keep any offense off the scoreboard. Both clubs would have close calls in the second, with a shorthanded odd-man rush involving Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and Kris Newbury being narrowly broken up, and an apparent Sound Tigers goal being waved off by the referee at the other end of the ice.

The Sound Tigers outshot the Whale, 15-13, in the second period.

Connecticut would finally break the game open with a statement three-goal third period, started by the line of Tessier, Jordan Owens and Ryan Bourque.

Tessier would break the deadlock just 1:03 into the third, scoring on a breakaway to put the Whale ahead 1-0. Tim Erixon would split the Bridgeport defense with a great outlet pass, feeding Tessier. Erixon’s defense partner Jared Nightingale also assisted on the goal, which would prove the eventual game-winner.

“Awesome saucer pass right on my tape, I just had to put it in there,” said Tessier.

That line would score again at the 9:48 mark, as Owens backhanded a rebound past a sprawled Poulin for the 2-0 advantage. Poulin had stopped Bourque’s initial bid, but left an open opportunity for Owens.

Bourque would strike with a goal of his own with 6:42 remaining in the third period, putting home a rebound of Tessier’s shot. Pavel Valentenko grabbed the secondary assist on the score, a play that was very nearly an outstanding save Poulin.

Talbot would protect the lead the rest of the way, denying the Sound Tigers the chance to chip into the Whale lead with 17 third-period saves.

The Whale will look to up their series lead over the Sound Tigers in Game Two Saturday night in Bridgeport (7:00 PM). The series will shift to the XL Center Sunday night for Game Three (5:00 PM).

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Connecticut Whale 3 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0
Thursday, April 19, 2012 – Webster Bank Arena

Connecticut 0 0 3 – 3
Bridgeport 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Erixon Ct (holding), 1:41; Valentenko Ct (hooking), 10:30; de Haan Bri (hooking), 14:43; Audy-Marchessault Ct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:43.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Wellman Ct (interference), 12:07.

3rd Period-1, Connecticut, Tessier 1 (Erixon, Nightingale), 1:03. 2, Connecticut, Owens 1 (Bourque), 9:38. 3, Connecticut, Bourque 1 (Tessier, Valentenko), 13:18. Penalties-Owens Ct (roughing), 2:07; Poulin Bri (roughing), 2:07; Newbury Ct (slashing), 19:17.

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 10-13-13-36. Bridgeport 10-15-17-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 0 / 1; Bridgeport 0 / 5.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 1-0-0 (42 shots-42 saves). Bridgeport, Poulin 0-1-0 (36 shots-33 saves).
A-3,682
Referees-Geno Binda (22), Mark Lemelin (41).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Kevin Redding (16).

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By Bob Crawford

Shane McColgan, who joined the Connecticut Whale April 4 from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, grew up amid the sun and surf of Manhattan Beach, California, not exactly a hockey hotbed.

Fifteen or 20 years ago, a California-bred hockey player would have been a real novelty, but according to McColgan, youth hockey in his home state is taking off.

“It’s (the level of play) pretty high, and I’ve told everyone that asks me, it goes up every year, it increases,” McColgan said in a conversation before a recent Whale game in Portland, Maine.  “And you’ll see a lot of guys coming up in the next few years.”

The addition of McColgan gave the Whale two Californians on their roster, as fellow forward Casey Wellman hails from Brentwood.

Another Los Angeles area native, Ryan Hollweg, was a member of the then Hartford Wolf Pack in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and he cited the trade of Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the LA Kings in 1988 as the impetus for his getting interested in the game.  Nearly ten years younger than Hollweg, McColgan is part of a subsequent wave of California youngsters who have ridden that wave of enthusiasm.

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“I was definitely too young to remember the Gretzky trade,” McColgan said, “but just guys like (the Anaheim Ducks’) Bobby Ryan and Hollweg, guys like that, really good players that have played in the NHL and the AHL, I’m looking at following in their footsteps.”

Leaving the sands of Manhattan Beach for Kelowna and the wilds of British Columbia would seem to be the genesis of a major culture shock.  For McColgan, though, just the opposite was true.

“I got really lucky with a good billet family, they’re great people,” he said.  “And Kelowna, I kind of describe it as the California of Canada.  It’s really nice, I go back there for a few weeks every summer and train, and I enjoy it.  Hopefully I can eventually get a place there.”

Making the jump to Major Junior, too, had to be a big leap from California midget hockey, but McColgan suffered no hiccups at all, striking for 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games in 2009-10, his first year with the Rockets.

“For me it was a pretty easy transition,” said McColgan.  “Coming from midget hockey [in California], obviously guys are a little bit bigger and faster and stronger, like it is here (the AHL) from the ‘Dub’ (WHL).  It’s (the WHL) a great league, it’s a great development league.  I think for my overall goal to play in the NHL, that was the best route for me.”

The next transition now for McColgan, who was selected by the parent New York Rangers in the fifth round (134^th overall) of last summer’s NHL Draft, is to the pro ranks, where the 5-9, 170-pound centerman made his debut for the Whale in a 3-0 loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton April 7.

“I’ve felt pretty good,” McColgan said of his first pro action.  “The first game was kind of a feeling-out process, and after a few shifts I got pretty comfortable out there.  I just want to learn as much as I can here from the guys, and it’s been pretty good so far.”

That sentiment is echoed by Whale head coach Ken Gernander, who has liked what he has seen out of McColgan to this point.

“He’s a guy that’s going to bring an offensive package, a skilled player,” Gernander said.  “He’s not over-sized, but he is a feisty, competitive kid.  It’s a tough role for him coming in right now, to be a center.  It’s a little bit tougher position than maybe the wing positions, and I’m sure in Junior he wasn’t counted on to do as much defensively as he has been here.  So it was a little bit different role, even in the same position, than he was used to.”

The other hurdle that McColgan will always have to face is the challenge of being a small player in a big man’s game.  The key to overcoming that, according to Gernander, is being a good skater.

“You have to be able to use your skating ability to get in good body position,” the Whale bench boss said, “whether it be defensively or to protect the puck when you’ve got possession offensively.  As long as you’ve got a good, strong base and you can maintain that body position, you can be effective.”

So far, so good for McColgan on that score, is Gernander’s evaluation.

“He’s definitely a willing player,” Gernander said.  “He’s not shy to compete and battle for loose pucks and do things of that nature.  It’s just going to be a little bit of an adjustment period, and he is a little bit behind the curve from a development standpoint, in that some of these guys have been playing pro hockey for years upon years, and he’s a young kid coming right out of Junior.  So it’ll take him some time to get acclimated.”

That is fine with McColgan, who is not about to get impatient with his own personal developmental curve.

“For now I’m just going to learn as much as I can,” he said, “and probably come back next year with Kelowna and have a good season there and come as a 20-year-old here (the AHL) and play like I can.  And that’s when it really starts.”

McColgan began his pro tenure at the same time as another 19-year-old former Ranger draftee up from the Junior ranks, fellow forward Christian Thomas.  And though Thomas is a Canadian and played his Junior hockey in the Ontario League, McColgan reports that he and Thomas have formed some good chemistry since arriving simultaneously in Connecticut.

“Me and him are rooming together for the time that we’re here and we’re bonding pretty well,” McColgan said of Thomas.  “And obviously he plays in the OHL, they’re a little different leagues, but he’s definitely a great player, he has one of the best shots I’ve probably ever seen.  I can see him on the same line as me, for sure, in the future.”

That would undoubtedly be just fine with the Rangers, who have as good a “home-grown”, internally-developed character to their roster these days as any team in the NHL.

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HARTFORD, April 19, 2012:  Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that former New England Whaler, and long-time Simsbury, CT resident, Garry Swain has been named Director of Corporate Partnerships for the company.

Swain has been employed by WSE for the past year, serving as both a sales associate and radio color commentator.  In his new role he will oversee all sales and sponsorship activities for WSE.

Swain, a first-round draft pick of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins in 1968 and a veteran of three seasons with the WHA’s Whalers, brings years of business experience to Whalers Sports and Entertainment. He has previously worked with a number of local Hartford-area businesses in leadership positions, and has also managed his own real estate development business.

According to Mark Willand, WSE Senior Vice President of Business Operations, “Garry has been a great asset to the organization in 2011-2012, leveraging his many relationships in the Hartford community to expand our community relations and sponsorship efforts.  Examples of his efforts include:  Aetna, who sponsors the Whale’s Amateur Hockey program, and Cigna, who sponsored our  ‘Hockey in the Streets’ program.”

Added WSE President and COO, Howard Baldwin, Jr., “It’s great to have a former Whalers player in this critically important position. Garry’s combination of hockey experience, extensive business relationships and sales acumen make him the perfect person for this role.”

Swain also serves as a color commentator alongside Bob Crawford for Whale broadcasts on both 106.9 WCCC-FM’s “Rockin’ Hockey” and on television broadcasts aired by CPTV Sports.

The Whale host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Game Three of their first-round Calder Cup playoff series Sunday at the XL Center (5:00 PM faceoff).

Tickets to Game Three 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.

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HARTFORD, April 19, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Whale has signed defenseman Samuel Noreau to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement.

Noreau, 19, was a fifth-round selection (136^th overall) by the parent New York Rangers in the 2011 NHL Draft, from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  In 58 games this season with the Drakkar, the 6-5, 215-pound Noreau scored five goals, good for third among team defensemen, and added 12 assists for 17 points, while serving 92 minutes in penalties, the second-highest total on the club.  The Montreal, Quebec native also skated in eight postseason contests for Baie-Comeau, going scoreless with 18 PIM.

In 159 career QMJHL contests over three seasons with the Drakkar, Noreau has totaled 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points, along with 250 PIM.

The Whale start their best-of-five, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tonight at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, with faceoff at 7:00 PM (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com).  Game Two of the series will also be in Bridgeport, this Saturday, April 21 at 7:00, before the series switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Game Three this Sunday, April 22.  Faceoff for that contest will be 5:00.  A Game Four, if it is necessary, would be in Hartford Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00, and if the series went the full five games, a decisive Game Five would be next Saturday, April 28 in Bridgeport at 7:00.

Tickets to Game Three 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.

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HARTFORD, April 18, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Whale has released defenseman Peter Ceresnak from his Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement.

Ceresnak, a rookie out of the Ontario Hockey League and a sixth-round (172^nd overall) draftee by the parent New York Rangers in 2011, had yet to dress for a game since joining the Whale from the Peterborough Petes March 21.

The Whale start their best-of-five, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tomorrow night, Thursday, April 19, at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, with faceoff at 7:00 PM (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com).  Game Two of the series will also be in Bridgeport, this Saturday, April 21 at 7:00, before the series switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Game Three this Sunday, April 22.  Faceoff for that contest will be 5:00.  A Game Four, if it is necessary, would be in Hartford next Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00, and if the series went the full five games, a decisive Game Five would be next Saturday, April 28 in Bridgeport at 7:00.

Tickets to Game Three 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.

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Syracuse, NY, April 14, 2012 – Syracuse Crunch goaltender Iiro Tarkki narrowly outdueled his Connecticut Whale counterpart, Cam Talbot, Saturday night at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter, in the Whale’s last game of the regular season, a 2-1 Crunch shootout win.

Tarkki stopped 44 Whale shots in regulation and overtime, and then went four-for-four in the shootout.  Talbot stopped 37 out of 38 shots in regulation and overtime, but was beaten on two out of three shootout bids.

The game was meaningless in the standings for Connecticut, which was already locked into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but it was vital to the Crunch, who entered the game one point out of the last playoff spot in the East.

Riley Holzapfel scored a first-period goal for the Crunch and also scored in the shootout, and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had a second-period power-play tally for the Whale.

“I thought our guys put in a real good effort,” Whale head coach Ken Gernander said.  “That’s got to be among one of our season highs as far as shots on goal, and I think it came in large part due to how hard we worked tonight.”

The Whale came out firing in the first period, outshooting the Crunch, 19-8, but it was Syracuse that got the only goal.  That came at 12:56, when Holzapfel got his 16^th of the season, on a rebound of a Kyle Palmieri shot.  Talbot got his pads on Palmieri’s drive from off right wing, but the rebound went right to Holzapfel on the left side of the slot, and he had most of the net to shoot at.

The Whale finally solved Tarkki at 11:48 of the second period, as Crunch scoring leader Patrick Maroon was unable to convert on a shorthanded chance and Kris Newbury and Audy-Marchessault broke in on a two-on-one.  Newbury sent a pass to Audy-Marchessault to the left of the goalmouth, and Audy-Marchessault appeared to miss partially on his shot, but he put it perfectly over Tarkki’s stick-side arm for Audy-Marchessault’s 24^th goal of the season.

That was the balance of the scoring, as both goaltenders stood tall in an evenly-played third period, and Talbot stopped seven shots in an overtime in which the Whale were outshot 7-1.

The Crunch found the range in the shootout, however, with both Maroon and Holzapfel scoring, and Tarkki denied Casey Wellman, Newbury, Audy-Marchessault and Mike Vernace.

“I thought he had a real strong night tonight,” Gernander said of Talbot, “some real key saves for us.  It’s a shame how it ends in the shootout type of situation, but I thought his 65 minutes of actual play was real good.”

The Whale, who finished the regular season 36-26-7-7 for 86 points, begin their 14^th trip to the Calder Cup playoffs in 15 years of existence this Thursday night, April 19, when Connecticut travels to Bridgeport for Game One of their best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Sound Tigers.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM (“The Rock” 106.9 WCCC-FM, www.ctwhale.com).  The Whale’s first home game in that series is Game Three, Sunday, April 22, with faceoff at 5:00 at the XL Center.  If a Game Four is necessary in the series, it will also be at the XL Center, Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00.

Tickets to Whale home games can be purchased 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.

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Connecticut Whale 1 at Syracuse Crunch 2 (SO)

Saturday, April 14, 2012 – Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter

Connecticut 0 1 0 0 – 1
Syracuse 1 0 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Syracuse, Holzapfel 16 (Palmieri, Maroon), 12:56. Penalties-Tessier Ct (roughing), 6:23; Holzapfel Syr (roughing), 6:23; Etem Syr (tripping), 9:25; Parlett Ct (elbowing), 16:50; Jacques Syr (roughing), 16:50.

2nd Period-2, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 24 (Newbury), 11:48 (PP). Penalties-McGinnis Syr (hooking), 2:01; Newbury Ct (slashing), 2:05; Parlett Ct (slashing), 4:00; Guentzel Syr (interference), 11:01.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Connecticut 0 (Wellman NG, Newbury NG, Audy-Marchessault NG, Vernace NG), Syracuse 2 (Palmieri NG, Maroon G, Holzapfel G).
Shots on Goal-Connecticut 19-13-11-1-0-44. Syracuse 8-14-9-7-1-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 3; Syracuse 0 / 2.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 14-15-1 (38 shots-37 saves). Syracuse, Tarkki 23-17-4 (44 shots-43 saves).
A-6,478
Referees-Ryan Hersey (46).
Linesmen-Justin Prusak (70), Peter Feola (33).

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

HARTFORD, April 13, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today the schedule for the Whale’s first-round Calder Cup playoff series, which will match the Whale against their GEICO Connecticut Cup rivals the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the first-ever playoff meeting between the two Nutmeg-State teams.

The Whale, who will finish sixth in the AHL’s Eastern Conference, will start the best-of-five series against the third-seeded Sound Tigers this Thursday, April 19 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, with faceoff at 7:00 PM.  Game Two of the series will also be in Bridgeport, next Saturday, April 21 at 7:00, before the series switches to the XL Center in Hartford for Game Three next Sunday, April 22.  Faceoff for that contest will be 5:00.  A Game Four, if it is necessary, would be in Hartford Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00, and if the series went the full five games, a decisive Game Five would be Saturday, April 28 in Bridgeport at 7:00.

Connecticut Whale vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (best of five):

Game One                      Thu., Apr. 19       Webster Bank Arena   7:00

Game Two                       Sat., Apr. 21       Webster Bank Arena   7:00

Game Three                    Sun., Apr. 22       XL Center                  5:00

Game Four (if necessary) Wed., Apr. 25      XL Center                  7:00

Game Five (if necessary)  Sat., Apr. 28       Webster Bank Arena   7:00

Tickets to Whale home games can be purchased 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.

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