Hartford, CT … Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that Pat Verbeek 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.
The Bruins Alumni currently boasts a roster that includes Craig Janney, Brian Leetch, Brad Park, Lyndon Byers and Rick Middleton. They will be taking on a Whalers Alumni team consisting of players such as Blaine Stoughton, Nelson Emerson, John McKenzie, Wayne and Dave Babych, as well as others still to be announced.
Verbeek, a right wing hailing from Sarnia, Ontario, played six seasons for the Hartford Whalers from 1989-95 and ranks twelfth on the all-time list of games played as a Whaler with 433. Verbeek served as the eighth captain of the Whalers from 1992-95.
Verbeek totaled 192 goals as a member of the Whalers, fourth all-time, and 211 assists, also good for fourth all-time. His 403 total points in a Hartford uniform ranks third in franchise history, behind Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen. Verbeek also registered 1,144 penalty minutes with the Whalers, also third all-time. He was selected to represent Hartford in the 1991 NHL All-Star Game in Chicago, recording one assist.
A 19-year professional, Verbeek skated in a career-total of 1,424 NHL contests with the New Jersey Devils, Whalers, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars, scoring 522 goals with 541 assists for 1,063 points, along with 2,905 penalty minutes, eleventh-most all-time in league history.
Originally a third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 1982 NHL Draft, Verbeek was acquired by the Whalers from New Jersey in June of 1989 in exchange for Sylvain Turgeon. He captured a Stanley Cup Championship with the Dallas Stars during the 1998-99 campaign.
Verbeek’s son, Kyle, will also be participating in the Outdoor Harvest-Properties.com Whalers Hockey Fest 2011. Kyle Verbeek is a sophomore forward on the Sacred Heart University Pioneers hockey team, which is taking on the UConn Huskies at 1:00 on Sunday, February 13 at Rentschler Field.
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).
