HARTFORD, December 28, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Jason Missiaen to the Whale from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Missiaen, who, at 6-8 and 220 pounds, is the tallest goaltender in North American pro hockey, is 5-3-1 with a 2.43 goals-against average, 92.6% save percentage and three shutouts in 10 games with Greenville.  That ties him for the ECHL lead in shutouts, and the 21-year-old rookie from Chatham, Ontario ranks fifth in the league in save percentage and eighth in GAA.  Missiaen was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of December 5-11, after stopping 69 of 70 shots in a pair of wins, and strung together back-to-back shutouts in home games December 9 vs. South Carolina (38 saves in a 3-0 victory) and December 12 against Florida (31 saves, 3-0).

Missiaen was signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 24, 2011, and played last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.  He finished 2010-11 third among QMJHL goaltenders in saves (1,403) and fourth in minutes-played (3,026), going 10-33-8 with a 3.33 GAA, an 89.3% save percentage and one shutout.

Prior to joining Baie-Comeau, Missiaen spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes.  In 131 career games with Peterborough, he was 48-65-6 with a 3.77 GAA, a 90.1% save percentage and one shutout.

Missiaen was a fourth-round selection (116^th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.

The Whale are back in action this Friday night, December 30, when they travel to Worcester to take on the Sharks in a 7:30 PM game.  All the CT Whale Rockin’ Hockey action can be heard live on “The Rock”, 106.9 FM, WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  The Whale’s next home game is this Saturday night, New Year’s Eve, as they battle the Springfield Falcons.  The Whale will be celebrating the coming of the New Year with a special ticket discount, as all upper-level seats for Saturday’s game will be available for only $5 each at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games 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.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

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

HARTFORD, December 28, 2011:  There will be plenty of “fireworks”, on and off the ice, surrounding the Connecticut Whale’s home New Year’s Eve, this Saturday night, at the XL Center against the Springfield Falcons.

The game features a special Holiday start time of 5:00 PM, as the Whale renew acquaintances with their closest regional rival in an I-91 border battle.  And the Whale will be celebrating the coming of the New Year with a special ticket discount, as all upper-level seats for Saturday’s game will be available for only $5 each at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.

Taking in both the game and the downtown First Night festivities could not be easier, as the Hartford Parking Authority will be offering free parking at the Morgan Street Garage, 155 Morgan Street, and $2 parking at both the Church Street Garage, 200 Church Street, and the MAT Garage, 55 S. Chapel St..

“With our special 5 p.m. game start, Connecticut Whale fans can come for the game and stay for Hartford’s First Night Celebrations, complete with skating in Bushnell Park and fireworks,” said Whalers Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Howard Baldwin, Jr.. “Plus, add in $5 for all upper level tickets and free parking at the Morgan Street Garage, and First Night is truly a value-packed night.”

Fans showing a First Night wristband or button at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center can also take advantage of a 50% discount on lower-level end-zone seats for Saturday’s Whale game.  In addition, there will be a First Night table in the XL Center atrium on Saturday, with First Night buttons available for purchase.

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games 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.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

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

By Brian Ring

Hartford, CT, December 27, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale defeated the Albany Devils, 3-2, Tuesday night before a crowd of 7,123 at the XL Center in Hartford. The Whale received two goals from Andre Deveaux, as he earned first-star honors, while Kris Newbury scored and added two assists for Connecticut.

The Whale had leapt out to a 3-0 lead by the middle of the second period, and held on to beat the Devils for the second time this season. Eric Gelinas scored and added an assist for Albany.

The win enabled the Whale (18-9-1-3, 40 pts.) to move seven points ahead of Devils for first place in the Northeast Division standings.

“It was an all-around good effort by everyone tonight,” said Whale goaltender Cam Talbot. “A great effort by our big guys.”

The Whale took the early lead on the power-play at 2:20 of the first, as Deveaux tipped a Jonathan Audy-Marchessault pass past Albany goaltender Keith Kinkaid (23 saves). Audy-Marchessault sent a hard feed across the slot to the waiting Deveaux, who redirected the puck around the left pad of Kinkaid. Newbury also assisted on the goal.

Newbury would extend the Whale lead to 2-0 with just 54 seconds remaining in the first, as his wrist shot from the slot beat Kinkaid. Aaron Voros’ shot had deflected off the glass to Newbury in the high slot, allowing him to corral the puck and bury his tenth of the season.

Deveaux would push the Connecticut lead to 3-0 with his second goal of the night at 6:08 of the second period, again on the power-play. The set-up was nearly the same as Deveaux’s first, as Newbury fed Audy-Marchessault, whose shot was redirected through Kinkaid.

Albany’s power-play took over later in the period, as Gelinas’ blast from the right point beat Talbot (34 saves) to get the Devils on the board at 8:19. Brandon Burlon and Steve Zalewski assisted on the goal.

The Devils struck again on the power-play at 16:52, as Albany benefited from an extended five-on-three situation. Stephane Veilleux tipped a Gelinas shot past Talbot to get Albany within 3-2.

Talbot helped the Whale to preserve their 3-2 lead and withstood Devils’ pressure throughout the night, in a game in which Connecticut was outshot by a 36-26 margin.

“We were able to maintain our lead and we got our win tonight,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.

After a visit to Worcester on Friday, the Whale return to home-ice action on New Year’s Eve, this Saturday, December 31, taking on Springfield.  That game has a special holiday start time of 5:00, and all upper-level tickets are discounted to $5 each.  Also, in celebration of New Year’s Eve, the Hartford Parking Authority is offering free parking at the Morgan Street garage and $2 parking at both the Church Street and MAT garages.

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

Albany Devils 2 at Connecticut Whale 3
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Albany 0 2 0 – 2
Connecticut 2 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Deveaux 9 (Audy-Marchessault, Newbury), 2:20 (PP). 2, Connecticut, Newbury 10 (Voros), 19:06. Penalties-Gelinas Alb (interference), 1:52; Harrold Alb (elbowing), 10:52; Corrente Alb (roughing), 13:11; Thuresson Ct (roughing), 13:11.

2nd Period-3, Connecticut, Deveaux 10 (Audy-Marchessault, Newbury), 6:08 (PP). 4, Albany, Gelinas 5 (Burlon, Zalewski), 8:19 (PP). 5, Albany, Veilleux 4 (Gelinas, Anderson), 16:52 (PP). Penalties-Mills Alb (tripping), 5:09; Baldwin Ct (hooking), 6:35; Owens Ct (major – boarding), 13:17; Nightingale Ct (cross-checking, unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:49.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Albany 12-11-14-37. Connecticut 6-8-13-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 2 / 4; Connecticut 2 / 3.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 8-8-0 (27 shots-24 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 8-5-0 (37 shots-35 saves).
A-7,123
Referees-T.J. Luxmore (47), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Jim Briggs (83).

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