Hartford, CT … Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that brothers Dave and Wayne Babych will be among the 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.
Dave Babych, a defenseman, was the all-time Whaler franchise leader in points and assists by a blueliner, with 240 points and 196 assists in 349 games in a Hartford uniform. Acquired in a trade November 21, 1985 from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Ray Neufeld, who will also be playing in the Whale Bowl legends game, Dave Babych also ranks fifth overall in franchise history in assists and ninth in points. His 44 Whaler goals are also tied for second-most all-time among defensemen.
Dave Babych was the second overall pick in the 1980 NHL Draft by the Jets and would go on to amass 1195 games of NHL action in a 19-year career with the Jets, Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. The Edmonton, Alberta native finished with 142 NHL goals and 581 assists for 723 points, along with 970 PIM.
Wayne Babych, a winger and Dave’s older brother by three years, joined Dave for 37 Whaler games in 1985-86, after being acquired in a trade with the Quebec Nordiques January 17, 1986. He notched 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points that year, and played four more games with Hartford the nest season, 1986-87, his last as a pro.
That Whaler tenure concluded a career that saw Wayne Babych play 519 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nordiques and Whalers. He totaled 192 NHL goals and 246 assists for 438 points, along with 498 penalty minutes. The Edmonton native’s best season was 1980-81, when he ripped home 54 goals and added 42 assists for 96 points for the Blues, who drafted Babych third overall in 1978.
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).
