HARTFORD, July 14 2011:  The Connecticut Whale today announced its schedule format for the upcoming 2011-12 American Hockey League season.

CT WhaleThe Whale’s 76-game regular-season schedule will be highlighted by 12 games (six home, six away) against its closest regional rival, the Springfield Falcons.  The next highest number of games against a single opponent for the Whale is ten (five home, five away), in the GEICO Connecticut Cup series against their Nutmeg State neighbors the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The Whale will play the other two teams in their new Northeast Division, the Albany Devils and the Adirondack Phantoms, four times each (two home, two away).

The Whale will also see a significant amount of 2011-12 action against its old division, the Atlantic.  Eight games (four home, four away) are on tap vs. the arch-rival Providence Bruins, and Connecticut will also see the Portland Pirates eight times (four home, four away).  The Whale will take on the Manchester Monarchs six times (three home, three away), and will play the Worcester Sharks and the new St. John’s, Newfoundland franchise four times each (two home, two away).

The rest of the Whale’s schedule will be comprised of battles with the East Division, including four games each (two home, two away) vs. the Hershey Bears, the Norfolk Admirals and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  The Whale will meet the defending Calder Cup-champion Binghamton Senators, and the Syracuse Crunch, twice each (one home, one away).

The Whale’s full schedule of specific game dates will be released later in the summer, as soon as it is finalized.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 Whale season are available now, with a special early bird discount. Call (860) 728-3366 for information on that, as well as all Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages.