Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 10/6

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies football team as they take on Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

If you missed our UConn vs Rutgers preview, be sure to check that out.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Video: Friday Four Downs [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn RB Lyle McCombs Arrested Friday; To Play Against Rutgers Today [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Did you know? Big East Week 6 [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Q&A with UConn LB Jory Johnson [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Jimmy Bennett ready for Big East debut [jim fuller – new haven register]

Big night for UConn commit [jim fuller – new haven register]

Ground games to be key today [jim fuller – new haven register]

Game preview: UConn at Rutgers [lee lewis – republican-american]

Air Whitmer? [john silver – sny.com]

McCombs arrested, in uniform [john silver – sny.com]

Reserves move into starting role on UConn defensive line [ct post]

UConn Heading To Hostile Territory For Game With Rutgers [hartford courant]

Rutgers Didn’t Have To Go Far To Find A Winning Coach [hartford courant]

Huskies take on No. 22 Rutgers [new haven register]

Scarlet Knights ready for Huskies [ap]

Rutgers defense can’t take Connecticut’s sputtering offense lightly [the star-ledger]

Rutgers’ WR Brandon Coleman wants quality over quantity this time vs. UConn [the star-ledger]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Jessica Moore beating the odds [carl adamec – sny.com]

Shea Ralph’s Assessment: Things Are Looking Really Good [john altavilla – hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Rankin: Jabari Parker’s Final Five Does Not Include UConn [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn’s Paradise Jam Opener on CBS Sports Network [david borges – new haven register]

Alumni Profile: Ray Allen [uconn huskies basketball]

Other UConn related links

W. Cross Country. Women’s Cross Country Set For New England Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. No. 2 Huskies Look To Hand No. 9 Marquette First Loss [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Cross Country. Huskies Head to New England Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men’s Hockey Hosts York University Saturday at 3 p.m. [uconnhuskies.com]

Field Hockey. No. 3 Field Hockey Travels to Louisville Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Ice Hockey. Huskies Erase Three-Goal Deficit in 4-4 Tie [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Drops Heartbreaker at Home to USF, 1-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

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

UConn Restructures Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff

With the 2012-13 UConn Huskies men’s basketball season set to kickoff next Friday with First Night, new men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie has announced he’s made a few changes on the staff.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. — The University of Connecticut men’s basketball coaching staff has been restructured under new head coach Kevin Ollie.

UConn Huskies men's basketballGlen Miller, starting the third season of his second stint on the UConn staff, will assume the duties of Associate Head Coach, while Karl Hobbs, last year’s Director of Basketball Administration, will join veteran George Blaney as fulltime assistant coaches. Kevin Freeman, who was added to the UConn staff last year as Assistant Director of Administration, will take over as Director of Basketball Administration.

“As I said when I accepted the job as head coach at Connecticut, I think I have the greatest coaching staff in the country,” Ollie said. “I feel extremely fortunate to have a staff with so much head coaching experience behind me. I know that we are going to work as hard as we can to continue the legacy of tremendous success that UConn enjoyed under Coach (Jim) Calhoun.”

The UConn coaching staff has a combined 57 years of collegiate head coaching experience with a combined total of 860 victories.

To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Miller returned to Calhoun’s UConn staff in 2010-11 as Director of Basketball Administration following 17 years of head coaching experience at Connecticut College, Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania. Last year, he moved into the role of fulltime assistant coach and was an integral part of practice work, game strategy, and recruiting.

A native of Groton, Conn., Miller played for two seasons at UConn, then played two seasons for Calhoun at Northeastern. He joined Calhoun’s first staff at UConn in 1986 and worked with the Huskies for seven seasons before being named head coach at Connecticut College in 1993. In six seasons, Miller led Conn College to unprecedented success, including a 28-1 record and a berth in the Division III Final Four in 1998-99.

Miller moved on to Division I, taking over at Brown in 1999-2000, and setting school records for wins in a two-, three-, four-, and five-year span, as well as most Ivy League wins in a season. He recruited and developed 10 all-conference players and the League’s 2004 Player of the Year. Following seven years in Providence, Miller was hired as head coach of the prestigious program at Penn in 2006. He led the Quakers to the Ivy League Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2006-07, setting the school record for most Ivy League wins by a first-year coach. He spent three full years and part of a fourth as the Penn head coach. In 17 seasons as a head coach, Miller compiled 233 victories.

Born 8/20/1961, Miller and his wife Yvonne are the parents of four children: Tony, Genelle, Jillian (a UConn junior), and Emma.

Hobbs, who spent eight years as a UConn assistant from 1993-2001 and helped the Huskies win eight BIG EAST championships and the 1999 NCAA title, returned to Storrs last season and will again become a fulltime assistant on Ollie’s staff.

Hobbs had spent the previous 10 years as the head coach at George Washington University, leading the Colonials to two Atlantic 10 Tournament championships, a regular-season title, and five straight postseason appearances, including three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. He was the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in 2005-06, and notched 166 wins while at GWU.

Out of Roxbury, Mass., Hobbs was a four-year starting point guard for UConn (1980-84), where he served as team captain and was an All-BIG EAST selection as a senior. He led the team in assists all four years and still ranks fifth on the all-time list.

Hobbs began his coaching career as a six-year assistant at Boston University before joining Calhoun’s UConn staff. While Hobbs was at UConn, he was instrumental in the recruitment of such Husky stars as Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, and Emeka Okafor. The Huskies had a record of 216-56 while Hobbs was on the staff.

Born 8/7/1961, Hobbs and wife JoAnn are the parents of two daughters, RaShauna and Kaliah.

Blaney has spent the last 11 years as a member of Calhoun’s coaching staff, serving as associate head coach for the past five seasons and taking charge of the team on those occasions when Calhoun was incapacitated.

Since Blaney joined UConn, the Huskies have a 278-102 record, captured six BIG EAST championships, made 10 NCAA appearances, three trips to the Final Four, and won two national championships.

Blaney, a 2003 inductee into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, brought more than 30 years of coaching experience with him when he came to UConn, including two seasons at Stonehill, three years at Dartmouth, and 22 years at Holy Cross, his alma mater, where he won 357 games, posted seven 20-win seasons, and made eight postseason appearances.

He also was head coach for three years at Seton Hall in the BIG EAST before leaving to become the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the International Basketball League. Blaney returned to college coaching in 2000-01 as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island before joining Calhoun at UConn the following year. In 30 years as a collegiate head coach, Blaney compiled an impressive 461-383 overall record.

A native of Jersey City, N.J., Blaney was an All-New England player at Holy Cross, where he scored 1,012 points. After he graduated in 1961, he was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA Draft by the N.Y. Knicks and played the 1961-62 season with the team.

Born 11/12/1939, Blaney and his wife Maryellen have two daughters and three sons, and five grandchildren.

Freeman, a former UConn captain and the program’s all-time leader in games played (140), came back to Storrs last year after playing 11 seasons of professional basketball in Italy, Australia, Greece, South Korea, China, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela. He served as assistant director of administration under Hobbs last year and will assume the director’s position this year.

Freeman, a native of Springfield, Mass., was an all-state performer at Paterson (N.J.) Catholic before his stellar career at UConn. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 BIG EAST Championship and selected to the 1999 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team as an invaluable starter on UConn’s first National Championship team. During Freeman’s career, the Huskies compiled a 109-32 record, made three NCAA appearances, reaching the Elite Eight in 1998 and winning the crown in 1999.

He is No. 17 on UConn’s all-time scoring list with 1,476 points, No. 8 on the all-time rebounding list with 913, and earned his degree in 2006.

Born 3/3/1978, Freeman and his wife Nicole are the parents of a daughter, Kekoa, and a son, Sire.

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Annual Husky Run Set For Thursday, October 11

As we learned last week, the Annual Husky Run will take place next Thursday on campus in Storrs, CT. Today, UConn made it official.

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut men’s basketball program will host the annual Husky Run on Thursday, October 11, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Husky Run is open to the public and symbolizes the start of preseason activities for the men’s basketball program, leading up to First Night on Friday, October 12.

UConn Huskies men's basketballFans can register from 1:30-2:30 p.m. outside of the east entrance of Gampel Pavilion. The event is a 3.4-mile run around campus that begins and ends at Gampel Pavilion.

All runners will receive a FREE T-SHIRT and FREE FOOD after the race. The person who wins this year’s Husky Run will receive a UConn Nike sweat suit.

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SNY Announces UConn Women’s Basketball Announcing Crews

While I was preoccupied yesterday, SNY, the new home of UConn Huskies women’s basketball, announced their studio and game announcing crews for the games.

Here’s the release:

NEW YORK – SNY, the official television home of the UConn Huskies Women’s basketball program, today announced its on-air talent roster and its exclusive game schedule for the 2012-13 season.  The network named former UConn Women basketball greats Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters as analysts.  Meghan will serve as the network’s game analyst and Kara as the studio analyst for pre-game, half-time and post-game shows.  Joining the veteran UConn voices will be play-by-play announcerAndrew Catalon – who recently served as a play-by-play announcer at the London Olympics for NBC – and SNY reporter/anchor Kerith Burke as the sideline reporter. Gary Apple, who hosts SNY’s Big East basketball studio shows, will anchor the network’s studio coverage alongside Kara Wolters.

UConn on SNYSNY also announced its UConn Women’s 2012-13 game schedule – which will feature 20 live games.  All Big East Conference basketball games will be wrapped with comprehensive pre-game, half-time and post-game shows.  The network’s game schedule will tip-off on November 11th at 1:30pm when the Huskies – eyeing their 17th straight season-opening win – host the College of Charleston Cougars.  Prior to the game, SNY will air a special pre-game show featuring in-depth analysis of the upcoming season, including interviews with players and coaches, and highlight key players to watch. SNY’s official UConn Women’s basketball schedule is listed below.  As previously stated, SNY will also offer an online streaming package for games airing on SNY.  Details regarding the streaming service will be announced shortly.

“We have assembled a formidable and highly experienced group of on-air talent who will bring expert analysis, unique insight and compelling story-telling,” said Curt Gowdy, Jr.,Senior Vice President of Production and Executive Producer of SNY.  “Our coverage will provide unprecedented access to the UConn Women’s basketball program – while delivering innovative, first-rate game production and studio programming.”

“I am thrilled to join the SNY team in covering the UConn Women’s Basketball program,” said Meghan Culmo. “We will provide exceptional coverage for the best women’s basketball fans in the nation.  I cannot wait to get started working with Andrew, Kerith, Gary and Kara – great people who will work so hard to bring the best product to the air for our loyal fans.”

“I’m delighted to be part of the amazing team at SNY, as they have assembled one of the best broadcast teams in the business,” said Kara Wolters. “Their superior production capabilities will bring an unparalleled viewing experience to the fans.  I am thrilled to know that a broad audience will have the opportunity to experience the championship caliber of the UConn women’s basketball program.”

“It’s an honor to be working with the top women’s basketball program in the country,” said Andrew Catalon. “Growing up in the Northeast, I fully understand the passion UConn fans have for this team and that is very exciting. We will respect and honor that tradition.  I am greatly looking forward to working with Meg, Kerith, Kara, Gary and the great team SNY has put together.

Prior to joining SNY, Kara Wolters spent six seasons as the color commentator for the UConn women’s basketball team on their flagship station WTIC-1080 AM.  Her basketball career includes playing four years under Coach Geno Auriemma – earning an NCAA Championship in 1995 where she helped her team post a 35-0 record.  Kara was also the 1997 National Player of the Year during her senior year at UConn.  Kara went on to become one of only seven players in the world to achieve the elusive championship “set” – NCAA championship (1995), the WNBA championship (1999) and an Olympic gold medal (2000).  Kara also won a gold medal for the USA Jones Cup Team (1996); won a gold medal for the USA World University Games Team (1997), and a silver medal in 1995. She played on the US National Team in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. She also earned a European championship with her pro team in Schio, Italy.  In 1998 she began Kara Kares, a foundation to fund brain tumor research, in honor of her sister, Katie, who passed away as the result of a brain tumor in 2004.

Prior to joining the network, Meghan Culmo has been a color analyst on radio and television for more than a decade. She has appeared on Connecticut Public Television, ESPN, MSG and Lifetime Television, among others. While at CPTV, she hosted “The Geno Auriemma Show”, which she has done for the past 15 years. Meg’s playing career featured several historic milestones, including the first ever BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships.  She was a 1,000 point scorer and All BIG EAST performer – as well as Captain her senior year.  Meg earned Most Outstanding Player at the 1991 BIG EAST Championships as the Huskies claimed the title. Her resume also includes being a member of the coaching staff that helped guide the Huskies to their first of seven NCAA National Championships.

In addition to his role on SNY, Andrew has worked three Olympics for NBC – including London – as well as tennis at Wimbledon.  Andrew’s other play-by-play experience includes NFL games on CBS, NBC and WKYC.  Andrew worked for CBS at the 2011 & 2012 Masters – doing play-by-play for the featured group channel. He also worked the 2010 & 2011 US Open Tennis Tournaments for CBS, calling the action in 3D. In addition, He has worked for the NBC Sports Network, and Big Ten Network.  Catalon also was a sports anchor/reporter at NewsChannel 13 in Albany, NY, where he hosted the “Big Board Sports with Andrew Catalon,” the Capital Region’s only Sunday night sports wrap-up show.

2012-13 UConn Huskies women’s basketball schedule

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

 

2012 MLB Playoffs – Wild Card

2012 MLB Playoffs - Wild Card

It’s that time of year again where the MLB Playoffs take place. And for the first time, we have something different.

When Bud Selig added another wild card team in each league, it made things all the more interesting as we saw in the races down the stretch. And now, Selig’s plan takes to fruition as the 2012 MLB Playoffs kick off tonight on TBS.

Here’s the breakdown with announcers:

National League:

St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves

Time: 5:07 p.m.
Announcers: Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Joe Simpson and Tom Verducci

American League:

Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers

Time: 8:37 p.m.
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, John Smoltz, Cal Ripken and Craig Sager

H/T to Fang’s Bites for the announcing crews

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 10/5

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Paw Prints – UConn Huskies (3-2, 0-0) @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-0, 1-0) Preview [sox & dawgs]

Revenge vs. UConn not on Rutgers’ minds [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Who will transform tomorrow? [matt fortuna – espn.com]

A simple game? Coach P makes it so [lee lewis – republican-american]

SNY’s Sean Mulcahy previews UConn-Rutgers [sean mulcahy – sny.com]

C Alex Mateas 100 percent, Tyler Bullock to play — Thursday update [john silver – sny.com]

The other side: Reading up on Rutgers [john silver – sny.com]

The Blitz: UConn at Rutgers [uconnhuskies.com]

Connecticut Plays Ranked Rutgers Saturday [bigeast.org]

Stratford’s Harrison enjoying two roles — father and Rutgers receiver [ct post]

Video: UConn-Rutgers renew rivalry [espn.com]

UConn Needs Its Special Teams To Help Stop Rutgers [hartford courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Chong, McCall Due In Storrs; Canada On The Map? [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno to be honored in D.C. [jim fuller – new haven register]

Pat Summitt: Cherish The Memories [hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Recruiting Roundup: October 4 [kevin duffy – ct post]

Annual Husky Run Set For Thursday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m [uconnhuskies.com]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Hosts USF & No. 20 Marquette This Weekend [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Heads to the Midwest for Two [uconnhuskies.com]

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

In The Red Zone: Denver Broncos at New England Patriots Week 5

In the Red Zone

This Week

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots

The New England Patriots host the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 4:25 p.m.

The Broncos
 – The Patriots
Overall 2-2 Overall  2-2
Road record  0-1 Home record  0-1
AFC East  0-0 AFC West  0-0
AFC  2-1 AFC  2-1

Gene Steratore is the referee for the game.

The Line/Prediction

As of Thursday the line on the game from 5dimes.eu via Yahoo Sports has the Patriots at MINUS 7 1/2.  The over under is 52.

My Prediction is Patriots 34, Broncos, 28.  Take the points (BRONCOS) and take the OVER.  I am 2-2 against the spread and 3 of 4 on calling the over/under in 2012.

Tickets

The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 197th consecutive sell out dating back to the 1994 season opener.  The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.

Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster.  You can check the availability here.

After market tickets are available through the Official Patriots Ticket Exchange where season ticket holders can sell their unused seats to fans on the season ticket waiting list.

Getting to the Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro MA.

Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.

Tailgating

Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com.  There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack.  I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.

And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages.  With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks.  You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.

Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time.  Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver.  Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

CBS in televising the game regionally and Jim Nantz will do play by play while Phil Simms will provide the game analysis.  You can look here for your local affiliate.

See if you’re getting the game courtesy of J.P. Kirby at the506.com.

The DirecTV designation is Channel 713.

Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules; flex scheduling and commercial breaks.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play and former Patriots QB Scott Zolak will do game analysis. It all starts with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh with the pregame show at 1 p.m. along the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.

The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 86, XM Channel 226 and on SiriusXM Internet Channel 818.

The Broncos Radio Network has Dave Logan calling play by play and former Bronco Ed McCaffrey doing the color via their flagship station KOA.

Their call is available on Sirius Channel 85, and SiriusXM Internet Channel 809.

Dial Global Radio Sports will be broadcasting the game to their national affiliates.  Kevin Kugler and Mark Malone will call the action.

Patriots All Access

Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team.  It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.

  • Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
  • Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
  • Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
  • Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
  • Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
  • Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
  • Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.

You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.

To continue reading the Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots week 5 preview, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Last Week

The Patriots came back to rout the Bills, 52-28 in Buffalo.  The Broncos beat the Raiders at Mile High, 37-6.

History

  • The Broncos lead the all-time series 27-18 including playoffs.
  • The Patriots are 9-9 as the home team in the series.
  • New England and Denver have met three in the playoffs with Denver winning at home in 1986 and 2005 and the Patriots winning in Gillette in 2011.
  • The Patriots and the Broncos are the last two teams to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
  • In 1960 the teams faced each other in the inaugural game of each franchise.
  • There has never been a shutout in the series.
  • The two teams last met in AFC Divisional Playoff Game and the Patriots won 45-10.

Patriots Team Notes

Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2012 Patriots Schedule/Results

The Patriots overall franchise record is 416-367-9.  They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in seven appearances.  Overall they are 23-16 in the post season.

They last appeared in the playoffs in 2011 when they beat Denver at home in the AFC Divisional Playoff, 45-10 and defeated Baltimore 23-20 in Foxboro in the AFC Championship Game.  They lost Super Bowl XLVI to the New York Giants 21-17.

The Patriots were 13-3 (2-1 in playoffs) in 2011 and are the defending two-time AFC East Champions as well as the defending AFC Conference Champions.  They have won the division 8 times and the conference 5 times since 2000.

The Patriots are 67-14 at home in the regular season since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.

Since 1999 the Patriots have the best record in the NFL at 149-63.

Since 2003 New England is 32-6 in October games.

The Patriots are 2-2 vs. Denver at Gillette Stadium.

New England will have played Denver 12 times since 2000.  This is the Patriots 5th home game against Denver in those 12 games.

The Patriots beat Denver twice last season once in the regular season at Denver then in the AFC Divisional Game at Gillette Stadium.

New England has won 3 of the last 4 meetings including 1 playoff game.

The Patriots have had two straight games with two receivers reaching 100 yards. It is the fourth time in team history that the team has had back-to-back games with two receivers at 100 yards. The Patriots have never had three straight games with two 100-yard receivers.

The Patriots will be looking for their first back-to-back games with a 100-yard rusher since Laurence Maroney in 2007.

Last week in Buffalo the Patriots chalked up 580 yards in total offense, the fourth most in team history. It is the 14th time in team history that the Patriots have recorded at least 500 total yards on offense. It is the ninth time under Bill Belichick that the Patriots have accomplished the feat.

MOST TOTAL NET YARDS/GAME

  • 622 at Miami, Sept. 12, 2011
  • 619 vs. Tennessee, Oct. 18, 2009
  • 597 vs. N.Y. Jets, Sept. 9, 1979
  • 580 at Buffalo, Sept. 30, 2012.

The Patriots are 1st in the NFL in points per game with 33.5.  While they allow 23 points per game good for 18th in the NFL.

The New England defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 7 times this season, while their quarterbacks have been sacked 8 times.

New England is PLUS 8 in turnover differential. The offense has given up 1 INT and 2 fumbles, while the defense has 6 INTs and 5 fumble recoveries.

The Patriots are 22 for 53 (41.5%) in 3rd down efficiency and 0 for 0 on fourth down attempts.  Opponents are 21 for 51 (41.2%) in 3rd down efficiency and 1 for 3 (33.3%) on 4th down attempts.

New England is 11 of 18 (61.1%) in the red zone while opponents are 4 for 8 (50%) in the red zone in 2012.

In goal to go situations New England is 8 for 10 (80%) and opponents are 4 for 7 (57.1%).

Since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 they:

  • Have the most Super Bowl wins, 3.
  • Have the most regular season wins, 195.
  • Have the most wins including playoffs, 214.
  • Have the most conference titles, 6.
  • Have the most division titles, 11.
  • Have the most playoff wins, 19
  • Have played the most playoff games, 29.
  • Are tied for the most playoff seasons, 13.
  • Have the best playoff win percentage, .671.
  • Have drafted the most Pro Bowl players, 20.

New England set the following team records in 2011:

  • Total yards, 6,848.
  • First downs, 399.
  • Net passing yards, 5,084.
  • 100+ yard receiving games, 18.
  • Games with 30+ points, 12 (tied for most in NFL history).

Patriots Staff Notes

This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Broncos.

Bill Belichick is 5-10 vs. the Denver in his career.  He is 5-6 against them as the head coach in New England and that includes the playoffs (1-1).

Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 177-99 in his 18th NFL season.  He is 141-55 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland.  He is 17-7 in the playoffs, 16-6 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season.  When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 194-106.

Belichick’s 194 wins are good for 8th all-time.

Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league.  The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).

Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Joe Gibbs (3) and Bill Walsh (3).  Those men are all in the Hall of Fame.

He is the only coach in NFL history to win three championship titles in four seasons.

He is the only coach in NFL history to have led his team to 10+ wins in 9 consecutive seasons.

Belichick was the assistant special teams/assistant to the defensive coordinator for the Broncos during the 1978 season.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is the former head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2009-2010.  He was 11-17 in his time with the Broncos.

Special teams coach, Scott O’Brien, was the special teams’ coordinator for the Broncos in 2007 and 2008.

Patriots Possible Starters

Offense:

  • LT: Solder
  • LG: Thomas
  • C: Wendell
  • RG: Connolly
  • RT: Vollmer
  • TE: Gronkowski
  • TE: Fells
  • WR: Lloyd
  • WR: Welker
  • QB: Brady
  • RB: Ridley

Defense:

  • DE: Ninkovich
  • DT: Wilfork
  • DT: Love
  • DE: Jones
  • LB: Mayo
  • LB: Spikes
  • LB: Carpenter
  • LCB: McCourty
  • RCB: Arrington
  • S: Chung
  • S: Gregory

Patriots Players Notes

This is Tom Brady’s 13th NFL season he is 3-6 vs. the Broncos including 1-1 in the playoffs.

Denver is the only team in which Brady has a losing record against.

Brady and Peyton Manning have gone head to head 12 times with Brady holding a 6-3 regular season advantage and 2-1 playoff record.  Brady has thrown 22 TD’s and 12 INTs in those previous meetings including postseason against Manning.

Overall Brady is 126-37 as a starting QB and is 16-6 in the playoffs for an overall record of 142-43.  Brady is a 7 time Pro Bowl QB; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP.  He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.

He was ranked in the preseason by ESPN’s Ron Jaworski as the 3rd best quarterback in the NFL.

Brady finished the 2011 season with 5,235 passing yards and joined Drew Brees (5,476 in 2011 and 5,069 in 2008), Dan Marino (5,084 in 1984) and Matthew Stafford (5,038 in 2011) as the only players in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards in a single season.

Brady (3,498) moved past Kerry Collins (3,487) into 10th place all-time on the NFL’s all-time completion list.

Brady (41,206) moved past Kerry Collins (40,922) into 11th place all-time on the NFL’s all-time passing list.

Brady has 307 TD passes in his career he is now 5th all-time.  Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is 4th with 342.

Brady has 126 career wins he is 5th all-time.  Manning is 4th with 143.

Brady has thrown at least 1 TD pass in 36 consecutive games.

The Patriots are 83-15 when Brady throws at least 2 TD passes in a game.

WR Wes Welker now has catches in 105 consecutive games including playoffs, 88 as a Patriot.  The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.

Welker joined Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison as the only players in NFL history with four 100+ catch seasons.

Welker has two of the Top 4 seasons for most catches in a season with 123 in 2009 and 122 in 2011.

He has led the team in receptions for 5 consecutive seasons.

TE Rob Gronkowski has back-to-back 10+ TD reception seasons.  With another in 2012 he will be the first TE in NFL history to have done it three seasons in a row.

Gronkowski tallied his 30th NFL TD catch last Sunday.  It is the most TD catches by one player in the NFL since 2010.

K Stephen Gostkowski missed two field goals last Sunday at Buffalo.  It reminiscent of the 2003 game at Houston when Adam Viniateri had a miss and a block before hitting the game winner.

CB Devin McCourty had his 2nd career 2 INT game at Buffalo last week.

He leads the team along with rookie S Tavon Wilson in INTs with 2 each.

McCourty also has a team high 8 passes defensed in 2012. Wilson is 2nd with 3 passes defensed.

LB Jerod Mayo recorded his 3rd career INT last week.

Mayo leads the team in tackles through four weeks with 46 (33 solo).

Rookie DE Chandler Jones leads the team with 3 sacks; the other DE Rob Ninkovich is second with 2 sacks.

Jones and LB Brandon Spikes lead the team with 2 forced fumbles each.

Jones was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.  He had 17 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

DT Vince Wilfork has 2 recovered fumbles.

WR Matthew Slater has a team high 4 tackles on special teams, rookie S Nate Ebner is 2nd with 3 tackles.

Against Buffalo rookie LB Dont’a Hightower had his first NFL sack.

In 4 games RB Stevan Ridley already has 7 runs of 20 yards or more.

T Nate Solder attended the University of Colorado. He is from Buena Vista, CO.

TE Daniel Fells; LB Niko Koutouvides and WR Brandon Lloyd are former Broncos.

There are only three players on the team who played on at least one of the Super Bowl championship teams, Brady (3); Branch (2) and Vince Wilfork (1).

Roster moves this week:

  • Released DT Terrell McClain
  • Released OL Thomas Austin from practice squad
  • Re-signed LB Bobby Carpenter
  • Re-signed TE Alex Silvestro to the practice squad

On Wednesday the following players were on the injury list. WR Julian Edelman (hand); S Steve Gregory (hip); TE Rob Gronkowski (hip); TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) and TE Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion) did not practice.  RB Brandon Bolden (knee); QB Tom Brady (shoulder); DE Brandon Deaderick (ankle); DT Justin Francis (ankle); LB Dont’a Hightower (hamstring); G Logan Mankins (hip); C/G Nick McDonald (shoulder); CB Sterling Moore (knee); RB Shane Vereen (foot) and T Sebastian Vollmer (back) were limited in practice.  DT Kyle Love (knee) had full participation.

On Thursday the following players were on the injury list. CB Ras-I Dowling (personal reasons); WR Julian Edelman (hand) and S Steve Gregory (hip) did not practice.  TE Rob Gronkowski (hip); TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle); TE Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion); RB Brandon Bolden (knee); QB Tom Brady (shoulder); DE Brandon Deaderick (ankle); DT Justin Francis (ankle); LB Dont’a Hightower (hamstring); G Logan Mankins (hip); C/G Nick McDonald (shoulder); CB Sterling Moore (knee); RB Shane Vereen (foot) and T Sebastian Vollmer (back) were limited in practice.  DT Kyle Love (knee) had full participation.

The Patriots captains for 2012 are QB Tom Brady, DT Vince Wilfork, G Logan Mankins, LB Jerod Mayo, CB Devin McCourty and WR Matthew Slater (special teams). They are the same 6 players that were selected last season as well.

The Patriots have 5 New England natives on the roster they are: TE Aaron Hernandez (Bristol CT); OL Donald Thomas (New Haven CT); DE Ron Brace (Worcester MA); LB Niko Koutouvides (Plainville CT) and OL Jamey Richard (Weston CT – IR).  They have 14 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member.  They are CB Will Allen (Syracuse – IR); DE Ron Brace (Boston College); WR Deion Branch (Louisville); RB James Develin (Brown – Practice Squad); RB Tony Fiametta (Syracuse – Exempt List); DE Justin Francis (Rutgers); S Stephen Gregory (Syracuse); DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse); CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers); OL Donald Thomas (UConn); OL Matt Tennant (Boston College); TE Alex Silvestro (Rutgers); OL Jeremiah Warren (South Florida – Practice Squad) and NT Vince Wilfork (Miami).

The Patriots have 6 retired numbers: 20 – Gino Cappelletti, 40 – Mike Haynes, 73 – John Hannah, 78 – Bruce Armstrong, 79 – Jim Lee Hunt and 89 – Bob Dee.

Broncos Team Notes

Here is the Broncos roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2012 Broncos Schedule/Results

Denver’s all-time record is 408-374-10 and they are 18-16 in the playoffs with their last playoff appearance coming in 2011.  That season the Broncos beat Pittsburgh 29-23 in OT in the AFC Wild Card round and then lost to New England 45-10 in the AFC Division game.

Denver has won two Super Bowls (XXXII, XXXIII) in six appearances.

The Broncos have won 11 AFC West titles.

Denver is the only current AFC West team to never relocate or change its nickname.

In the decade long history of the AFL, Denver was the only team to never play in a championship game.

The Broncos switched back to orange jerseys in 2012 as their primary home uniform and dropped the navy pants.  They will wear the navy jerseys as their alternate home uniform.

The Broncos are 2-2 in Gillette Stadium.  Their last win in Foxboro came in 2006.

Denver’s longest series win streak was 11 games from 1979 to 1998.

The Broncos have the second toughest strength of schedule (based on their opponents 2011 records) in 2012 behind only the New York Giants.

Seven of Denver’s opponents made the playoffs last season.

This season the Broncos defense has allowed opponents to convert 41.4% (24 of 58) of the time on 3rd down, while the offense has a 3rd down conversion rate of 46.3% (25 of 54).

The Denver defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 10 times this season, while their quarterbacks have been sacked 8 times.

The Broncos are 7th in the NFL in points per game with 28.5.  While they allowed 20.8 points per game good for 10th in the NFL.

Denver is MINUS 4 in turnover differential, tied for 25th best in the NFL. The offense has given up 3 INTs and 4 fumbles, while the defense has 2 INTs and 1 fumble recovery.

They have converted on 64.3% of their chances in the red zone this season, while opponents have converted on 53.9%.

Broncos Staff Notes

Read what Denver Broncos head coach John Fox had to say to the New England media about the match up.

John Fox is 83-81 in his 11th season as a head coach; he is 10-10 with Denver and 73-71 in 9 seasons with Carolina.  In the playoffs he is 6-4 overall (5-3 with Carolina; 1-1 with Denver) for an overall record of 89-85.

Fox is 1-4 vs. New England including 1 Super Bowl (0-1).  He is 0-2 with Denver and 1-2 with Carolina.

Fox is the 14th head coach in Denver history.

Former Broncos QB and Hall of Fame member John Elway is the team’s executive vice president of football operations assuming that position in January 2011.

Denver offensive line coach Dave Magazu attended Springfield College.

Broncos Director of Player Personnel Matt Russell was a scout for New England for four seasons (2001, ‘03-05), and earned three Super Bowl rings.

Denver Director of Pro Personnel Keith Kidd spent three years (2002-04) with the Patriots, and was a member of two championship teams.

Broncos Possible Starters

Offense:

  • LT: Clady
  • LG: Beadles
  • C: Koppen
  • RG: Kuper
  • RT: Franklin
  • TE: Dressen
  • TE: Tamme
  • WR: D. Thomas
  • WR: Decker
  • QB: Manning
  • RB: McGahee

Defense:

  • DE: Wolfe
  • DT: Vickerson
  • NT: Bannan
  • DE: Dumervil
  • LB:  Miller
  • LB: Brooking
  • LB: Woodyard
  • LCB: Bailey
  • RCB: Porter
  • S: Adams
  • S: Moore

Broncos Players Notes

This is Peyton Manning’s 15th NFL season and first with Denver after 14 seasons in Indianapolis in which he made 11 Pro Bowls, was an 8-time All-Pro, 4-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl XLI MVP and a member of the NFL’s All-2000’s Team of the Decade.

He has a career record of 143-69 in 15 seasons.  He was 141-67 with Indianapolis and is 2-2 with Denver.  He is 9-10 in the post season for an overall record of 152-79.

Manning was the first overall pick by Indianapolis in the 1998 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee.

He was ranked in the preseason by ESPN’s Ron Jaworski as the 4th best quarterback in the NFL.

Prior to missing the 2011 season Manning was 7-12 against the Patriots, including playoffs (1-2).  He is 2-8 vs. the Patriots on the road.

In previous head to head games against Brady, Manning is 4-8 including playoffs with 24 TD’s and 19 INTs.

Manning has 407 career TD passes and 201 career INT’s.

He is the only 4 time NFL MVP.

Until he missed all of 2011 he had started every game in his career.

WR Eric Decker (24 rec.) and WR Demaryius Thomas (21 rec.) have combined for 45 receptions through four games to tie for the second-highest total among wide receiver duos in the NFL.

DE Elvis Dumervil (9 QBH) and LB Von Miller (7 QBH) have combined for the second-most quarterback hits (16) in the NFL among pass rushing tandems through four games.

Dumervil has the 8th most sacks in Denver franchise history with 55.  He has the single season team record with 17 sacks.

Since entering the NFL in 1999, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey is tied for third in the NFL and ranks first among pure cornerbacks with 50 interceptions. He also leads the league with 194 pass breakups since 1999, averaging nearly one per game.

Bailey has been selected to the Pro-Bowl team 11 times.

LB Keith Brooking has played 180 consecutive games to tie for the second-longest streak among active NFL players.

K Matt Prater is the most accurate kicker in NFL history in the fourth quarter or overtime, having converted 31-of-32 attempts.

Former Patriots playing in Denver are C Dan Koppen, DT Ty Warren (IR) and CB Tony Carter.

Broncos FB Chris Gronkowski is the brother of Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski.

CB Tracy Porter and LB Wesley Woodyard lead the Broncos in INTs with 1 each.

Woodyard and S Rahim Moore lead the team in tackles with 25 apiece.

LB Von Miller leads Denver in sacks with 3.  DE Elvis Dumervil is second with 2.5

On Wednesday the following players were listed on the injury report.  LB Nate Irving (concussion) and G Chris Kuper (forearm) did not practice.  CB Chris Harris (ankle); CB Tracy Porter (shoulder) and WR Matt Willis (hamstring) had full participation.

On Thursday the following players were listed on the injury report. LB Nate Irving (concussion);G Chris Kuper (forearm); CB Chris Harris (ankle); CB Tracy Porter (shoulder) and WR Matt Willis (hamstring) had full participation.

Denver team captains for 2012 are QB Peyton Manning, G Chris Kuper, CB Champ Bailey, DE Elvis Dumervil and LB Wesley Woodyard (special teams).

There are 4 players on the Broncos roster from a Big East University or New England based college.  They are C Dan Koppen (Boston College); C/G C.J. Davis (Pittsburgh); DE Derek Wolfe (Cincinnati) and DE Elvis Dummervil (Louisville).

The Broncos retired numbers: 7 – John Elway; 18 – Frank Tripucka and 44 – Floyd Little.

Next Week

The Patriots travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.  Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on CBS.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

Worcester Sharks 2, Connecticut Whale 1

Worcester, MA, October 4, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale fell to 0-2 in the preseason Thursday night, as they lost to the Worcester Sharks by a score of 2-1, at the Hart Center on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross.

CT WhaleBrandon Mashinter’s third-period goal was the game-winner for the Sharks, and Sena Acolatse also scored for Worcester.  Sebastien Piche had the only Whale goal.

After a scoreless first period, in which Worcester outshot the Whale 10-4, the Sharks jumped on top at 4:45 of the second frame, just as Connecticut’s Andrew Courtney was stepping out of the penalty box.  The Sharks’ Yanni Gourde worked the puck out of the right-wing corner to Acolatse at the middle of the blue line, and Acolatse fired a slap shot past the stick side of Whale starting goaltender Scott Stajcer.

After the Whale’s Ryan Bourque missed the net on a shorthanded partial breakaway at 10:45, Connecticut tied the game on its fourth power play at 18:58.  Piche, a defenseman, was credited with the goal, after his shot from the left point hit a Worcester defender and deflected past Shark starting goaltender Alex Stalock.

Worcester regained the lead just before the halfway point of the third period, as Mashinter scored on a rebound at 9:53.  Kyle Rank, who replaced Stajcer in the Whale net at 12:14 of the second, made a pad save on a shot by Mikael Tam off of a 3-on-2, but Mashinter found the carom in the left circle and buried the puck for a 2-1 Shark lead, and, as it would turn out, the win.

Thomas Heemskerk played a perfect third for Worcester, stopping seven shots, after Stalock made 16 saves through the first two periods.  Stajcer made 21 stops for the Whale and Rank had 13.

The Whale had opened its preseason with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Albany Devils Wednesday night, at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT.  The Whale’s only other home preseason game is this Sunday, October 7, as they and the Sharks rematch at the Koeppel Community Sports Center on the campus of Trinity College.  That game faces off at 2:00 PM.

To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Connecticut Whale 1 at Worcester Sharks 2
Thursday, October 4, 2012 – Hart Recreation Center

Connecticut 0 1 0 – 1
Worcester 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Oleksuk Wor (holding), 1:41; Hobbs Ct (hooking), 7:55; Courtney Ct (hooking), 10:53; Pelech Wor (elbowing), 15:11.

2nd Period-1, Worcester, Acolatse 1 (Gourde, Matsumoto), 4:45 (PP). 2, Connecticut, Piche 2 (Parlett, Yogan), 18:58 (PP). Penalties-Courtney Ct (hooking), 2:45; Miller Ct (high-sticking), 9:59; Mashinter Wor (high-sticking, high-sticking), 12:22; Haley Ct (roughing), 13:43; Kennedy Wor (roughing), 13:43; Kearns Wor (roughing), 17:34.

3rd Period-3, Worcester, Mashinter 1 (Tam, Viedensky), 9:53. Penalties-Sheppard Wor (holding), 2:04; Pitt Ct (holding), 7:04; Yogan Ct (slashing), 14:44; Petrecki Wor (high-sticking), 14:44; McCarthy Wor (slashing), 18:33.

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 4-12-7-23. Worcester 10-13-13-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 6; Worcester 1 / 5.
Goalies-Connecticut, Stajcer — (22 shots-21 saves); Rank — (14 shots-13 saves). Worcester, Stalock — (16 shots-15 saves); Heemskerk — (7 shots-7 saves).
A-283
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41).
Linesmen-Bob Paquette (18), Todd Whittemore (19).

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Red Sox Get Sands, De La Rosa From Dodgers

When the Boston Red Sox made the big deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers we knew they were going to get five players. But we also knew that two of them wouldn’t join the Red Sox until the season is over.

Well now that the miserable 2012 season for the Red Sox is over, they have now received the two players-to-be-named later from the Dodgers.

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa and first baseman/outfielder Jerry Sands from the Los Angeles Dodgers, completing the August 25 trade that sent right-handed pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and infielder Nick Punto to the Dodgers in exchange for first baseman James Loney, infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. and right-handed pitcher Allen Webster.  To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Guillermo Quiroz was designated for a assignment.

Boston Red SoxThe announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

De La Rosa, 23, tallied an 11-9 record with six saves, a 2.86 ERA (74 ER/233.0 IP), 237 strikeouts and just 187 hits allowed in 59 career minor league appearances (39 starts) over six seasons in the Dodgers system, and earned the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award in 2010.  Signed by Los Angeles as an international free agent in July 2007, the right-hander made his Major League debut with the club in 2011 and posted a 4-5 record with a 3.71 ERA (25 ER/60.2 IP) and 60 strikeouts over 13 games (10 starts).  After beginning the 2012 season on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery underwent on August 9, 2011, he made one Major League appearance for Los Angeles in August and compiled a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) and 12 strikeouts in six minor league outings, including five on rehab, between the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga.

The 25-year-old Sands spent most of 2012 with the Dodgers Triple-A Albuquerque affiliate and was named to the Pacific Coast League’s Postseason All-Star Team.  This season, he led all Triple-A batters with 107 RBI and finished third in the PCL with 26 home runs while also tallying 17 doubles, four triples, 84 runs scored and 59 walks in 119 games.  The right-handed batter hit .383 (51-for-133) with a minor league-leading 46 RBI over his last 34 regular season games with Albuquerque.  In five postseason contests for the Isotopes he hit .381 (8-for-21) with a double, a homer and seven RBI.  Sands also appeared in nine Major League games over two stints with the Dodgers this year and in 70 career Big League tilts, all with Los Angeles over the last two seasons, he has hit .244 (54-for-221) with 17 doubles, four homers, 27 RBI, 22 runs and 26 walks.  Selected by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Sands is a career .289 hitter (502-for-1,737) with 86 doubles, 16 triples, 119 home runs, 379 RBI, 356 runs, 236 walks and 28 stolen bases in 469 minor league games in the Dodgers system.

Quiroz, 30, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on September 4 and appeared in two games for the Red Sox this season, going 0-for-2 at the plate.  He began the season with Seattle’s Triple-A club in Tacoma, batting .278 (84-for-302) with 15 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 52 RBI, 45 runs scored and 36 walks in 89 games.  Originally signed by Toronto in 1998, the right-handed batter has played in 103 career Major League games with the Blue Jays (2004-05), Mariners (2006, 2009-10), Rangers (2007), Orioles (2008) and Red Sox (2012), going 53-for-257 (.206) with 11 doubles, two homers, 28 RBI, 19 runs scored and 17 walks.

Whale Sign Forward Ryan Flanigan

HARTFORD, October 4, 2012:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has signed forward Ryan Flanigan to an American Hockey League contract.

CT WhaleFlanigan, 24, got his first taste of pro hockey at the end of the 2011-12 season, skating in four AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs.  The 6-1, 180-pound Rochester, NY native contributed a goal and an assist for two points, and registered four penalty minutes, with the Bulldogs, after finishing a four-year Hockey East career at Merrimack College.  In 36 games with Merrimack last season, Flanigan scored 11 goals and added 18 assists for 29 points, good for tops on the team in both points and assists.  He also served 42 minutes in penalties.

Flanigan’s totals for his Merrimack career included 34 goals and 45 assists for 79 points, plus 147 PIM, in 131 games.

RYAN FLANIGAN’S AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL RECORD

The Whale open their 2012-13 season Friday, October 12 at the XL Center, with a 7:30 PM battle against their in-state rivals the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  At that game, all fans can purchase tickets at the special price of $12 each, and that night will also kick off the Whale’s new Friday night $1 hot dogs and $2 beers promotion.

Tickets for that game, and all Whale regular season home games at the XL Center, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, through TicketMaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

Season tickets for the Whale’s 2012-13 AHL season are also available. For information on season seats, and all of the Whale’s many ticketing options, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today.

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