Hartford Wolf Pack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hartford Wolf Pack |
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City | Hartford, Connecticut |
League | American Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | Atlantic |
Founded | 1926, in the CAHL |
Home arena | XL Center |
Colors | Blue, red, white |
Owner(s) | Madison Square Garden, Inc. |
General manager | Ryan Martin |
Head coach | Grant Potulny |
Captain | Casey Fitzgerald |
Media | MSG Network AHL.TV (Internet) Mixlr (Internet) |
Affiliates | New York Rangers (NHL) Bloomington Bison (ECHL) |
Franchise history | |
1926–1976 | Providence Reds |
1976–1977 | Rhode Island Reds |
1977–1980 | Binghamton Dusters |
1980–1990 | Binghamton Whalers |
1990–1997 | Binghamton Rangers |
1997–2010 | Hartford Wolf Pack |
2010–2013 | Connecticut Whale |
2013–present | Hartford Wolf Pack |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 1: (1999–00) |
Division Championships | 4: (1999–00, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2014–15) |
Conference Championships | 1: (1999–00) |
Calder Cups | 1: (1999–00) |
The Hartford Wolf Pack is a professional ice hockey team located in Hartford, Connecticut. They are part of the American Hockey League (AHL) and play their home games at the XL Center. The team started in 1926 as the Providence Reds. After moving several times, the team came to Hartford in 1997 and became the Hartford Wolf Pack. It is one of the oldest professional hockey teams still playing today. It is also the oldest minor league hockey team in North America that has played every season since it began.
In October 2010, the team changed its name to the Connecticut Whale. This was done to honor the old Hartford Whalers team from the National Hockey League (NHL). However, after the 2012–13 AHL season, they changed back to their current name, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack is closely connected to the NHL's New York Rangers. They are one of three professional hockey teams in Connecticut.
Contents
How the Hartford Wolf Pack Started
The team that is now the Wolf Pack began in 1926. It was called the Providence Reds and was based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Reds were one of the first five teams in the Canadian-American Hockey League. In 1936, this league joined with another one, the International Hockey League. Together, they formed the International-American Hockey League. This league later became known simply as the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1940.
Moving to New Cities
The Providence Reds, also known as the Rhode Island Reds later on, stopped playing after the 1976–77 season. Soon after, the owners of another team, the Broome Dusters, bought the Reds. They moved the team to Binghamton, New York, and named them the Binghamton Dusters.
In 1980, the team partnered with the Hartford Whalers. Because of this, they changed their name to the Binghamton Whalers. Then, in 1990, they partnered with the New York Rangers. This partnership continues today. With the new partnership, the team changed its name again to the Binghamton Rangers.
Becoming the Hartford Wolf Pack
After the 1996–97 NHL season, the Hartford Whalers moved away from Connecticut. They became the Carolina Hurricanes. Soon after the Whalers left, the Binghamton Rangers moved to Hartford. They started playing at the Hartford Civic Center, which is now called the XL Center.
The team held a contest to choose a new name. They picked "Hartford Wolf Pack." This name refers to a type of submarine and a military tactic called "wolfpacking". Connecticut is known for building submarines and having a major US Navy submarine base. So, the name honored the state's naval history. The team's mascot was named "Sonar," keeping with the submarine theme.
The Wolf Pack's first coach was E.J. McGuire. Their first home game was on October 4, 1997. Over 12,900 fans came to watch. P.J. Stock scored the first goal for the Wolf Pack at home. The team made it to the playoffs for their first 12 years. They won the Calder Cup in 2000. They beat the Rochester Americans in the finals. Derek Armstrong was named the playoff MVP.
The Connecticut Whale Era
In the summer of 2010, the Rangers made a deal with former Whalers owner Howard Baldwin. His company took over the team's business side. On September 20, 2010, Baldwin announced the Wolf Pack would change their name. They became the Connecticut Whale to honor the old Hartford Whalers.
The name change happened on November 27, 2010. The last game as the "Wolf Pack" was on November 26, 2010. They played against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers won in a shootout. On November 27, 2010, the team played their first game as the "Whale." They played the Sound Tigers again and won in a shootout. Over 13,000 fans attended this debut game.
The Connecticut Whale hosted a special outdoor game in 2011. It was called the Whale Bowl and was held at Rentschler Field. The Whale lost to the Providence Bruins in a shootout.
In June 2012, the New York Rangers ended their partnership with Baldwin. His company had run into financial trouble.
Returning to the Wolf Pack Name
In April 2013, after just two and a half seasons, the team decided to go back to being the "Wolf Pack." Global Spectrum, the company managing the team and the XL Center, announced this change in May 2013.
The Wolf Pack team does not officially claim the history of the Providence and Binghamton teams. However, it is the only AHL team that has played every season since the league started in 1936. This makes the Wolf Pack the oldest continuously playing minor league hockey team in North America. Only a few NHL teams are older than the Wolf Pack.
Hartford Wolf Pack Team Information
Team Mascots
The Wolf Pack started with one mascot in 1997. It was a wolf named Sonar. His name fit the submarine theme of the team. Later, another mascot named Torpedo joined, but he has since retired.
When the team became the Connecticut Whale in 2010, Sonar was joined by Pucky the Whale. Pucky was the mascot for the old Hartford Whalers. Sonar took a break during the 2012–13 season, and Pucky was the only mascot. When the team changed back to the Wolf Pack, Sonar returned, and Pucky retired.
Season Results: How the Wolf Pack Played Each Year
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | PCT | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing | Year | Prelims | 1st round |
2nd round |
3rd round |
Final |
1997–98 | 80 | 43 | 24 | 12 | 1 | — | 99 | .619 | 272 | 227 | 2nd, New England | 1998 | — | W, 3–0, BNH | W, 4–3, WOR | L, 1–4, SJF | — |
1998–99 | 80 | 38 | 31 | 5 | 6 | — | 87 | .544 | 256 | 256 | 2nd, New England | 1999 | — | W, 3–0, SPR | L, 0–4, PRO | — | — |
1999–00 | 80 | 49 | 22 | 7 | 2 | — | 107 | .669 | 249 | 198 | 1st, New England | 2000 | — | W, 3–2, SPR | W, 4–1, WOR | W, 4–3, PRO | W, 4–2, RCH |
2000–01 | 80 | 40 | 26 | 8 | 6 | — | 94 | .588 | 263 | 247 | 2nd, New England | 2001 | — | L, 2–3, PRO | — | — | — |
2001–02 | 80 | 41 | 26 | 10 | 3 | — | 95 | .594 | 249 | 243 | 2nd, East | 2002 | BYE | W, 3–2, MAN | L, 1–4, HAM | — | — |
2002–03 | 80 | 33 | 27 | 12 | 8 | — | 86 | .538 | 255 | 236 | 3rd, East | 2003 | L, 0–2, SPR | — | — | — | — |
2003–04 | 80 | 44 | 22 | 12 | 2 | — | 102 | .638 | 198 | 153 | 1st, Atlantic | 2004 | BYE | W, 4–1, POR | W, 4–0, WOR | L, 3–4, WBS | — |
2004–05 | 80 | 50 | 24 | — | 3 | 3 | 106 | .663 | 206 | 160 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2005 | — | L, 2–4, LOW | — | — | — |
2005–06 | 80 | 48 | 24 | — | 6 | 2 | 104 | .650 | 292 | 231 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2006 | — | W, 4–3, MAN | L, 2–4, POR | — | — |
2006–07 | 80 | 47 | 29 | — | 3 | 1 | 98 | .613 | 231 | 201 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2007 | — | L, 3–4, PRO | — | — | — |
2007–08 | 80 | 50 | 20 | — | 2 | 8 | 110 | .688 | 266 | 198 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2008 | — | L, 1–4, POR | — | — | — |
2008–09 | 80 | 46 | 27 | — | 3 | 4 | 99 | .619 | 243 | 216 | 1st, Atlantic | 2009 | — | L, 2–4, WOR | — | — | — |
2009–10 | 80 | 36 | 33 | — | 6 | 5 | 83 | .519 | 231 | 251 | 6th, Atlantic | 2010 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2010–11 | 80 | 40 | 32 | — | 2 | 6 | 88 | .550 | 221 | 223 | 3rd, Atlantic | 2011 | — | L, 2–4, POR | — | — | — |
2011–12 | 76 | 36 | 26 | — | 7 | 7 | 86 | .566 | 210 | 208 | 2nd, Northeast | 2012 | — | W, 3–0, BRI | L, 2–4, NOR | — | — |
2012–13 | 76 | 35 | 32 | — | 6 | 3 | 79 | .520 | 213 | 222 | 2nd, Northeast | 2013 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2013–14 | 76 | 37 | 32 | — | 1 | 6 | 81 | .533 | 202 | 220 | 3rd, Northeast | 2014 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2014–15 | 76 | 43 | 24 | — | 5 | 4 | 95 | .625 | 221 | 214 | 1st, Northeast | 2015 | — | W, 3–2, PRO | W, 4–2, HER | L, 0–4, MAN | — |
2015–16 | 76 | 41 | 32 | — | 3 | 0 | 85 | .559 | 202 | 199 | 6th, Atlantic | 2016 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2016–17 | 76 | 24 | 46 | — | 4 | 2 | 54 | .355 | 194 | 280 | 7th, Atlantic | 2017 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2017–18 | 76 | 34 | 33 | — | 6 | 3 | 77 | .507 | 208 | 252 | 6th, Atlantic | 2018 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2018–19 | 76 | 29 | 36 | — | 7 | 4 | 69 | .454 | 209 | 266 | 8th, Atlantic | 2019 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2019–20 | 62 | 31 | 20 | — | 6 | 5 | 73 | .589 | 171 | 173 | 4th, Atlantic | 2020 | — | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
2020–21 | 24 | 14 | 9 | — | 1 | 0 | 29 | .604 | 82 | 74 | 2nd, Atlantic | 2021 | — | No playoffs were held | |||
2021–22 | 72 | 32 | 32 | — | 6 | 2 | 72 | .500 | 205 | 225 | 7th, Atlantic | 2022 | — | Did not qualify | |||
2022–23 | 72 | 35 | 26 | — | 4 | 7 | 81 | .563 | 227 | 215 | 5th, Atlantic | 2023 | W, 2–0, SPR | W, 3–1, PRO | L, 0–3, HER | — | — |
2023–24 | 72 | 34 | 28 | — | 7 | 3 | 78 | .542 | 204 | 219 | 5th, Atlantic | 2024 | W, 2–1, CHA | W, 3–1, PRO | L, 0–3, HER | — | — |
Players of the Hartford Wolf Pack
Current Team Roster
Updated November 23, 2024.
No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
55 | ![]() |
Alex Belzile (A) | RW | R | 33 | 2023 | Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec | Rangers |
9 | ![]() |
Brett Berard | LW | L | 22 | 2023 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Rangers |
21 | ![]() |
Anton Blidh (A) | LW | L | 30 | 2023 | Mölnlycke, Sweden | Rangers |
42 | ![]() |
Jaroslav Chmelar | F | R | 21 | 2024 | Nove Mesto nad Metuji, Czechia | Rangers |
70 | ![]() |
Louis Domingue | G | R | 33 | 2022 | Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec | Rangers |
67 | ![]() |
Isaac Dufort | LW | L | 22 | 2024 | Laval, Quebec | Wolf Pack |
4 | ![]() |
Casey Fitzgerald (C) | D | R | 28 | 2024 | North Reading, Massachusetts | Rangers |
31 | ![]() |
Dylan Garand | G | L | 23 | 2022 | Kamloops, British Columbia | Rangers |
24 | ![]() |
Bo Groulx | C | L | 25 | 2024 | Rouen, France | Rangers |
5 | ![]() |
Ben Harpur | D | L | 30 | 2022 | Hamilton, Ontario | Rangers |
25 | ![]() |
Blake Hillman | D | L | 29 | 2022 | Elk River, Minnesota | Wolf Pack |
17 | ![]() |
Blade Jenkins | LW | L | 24 | 2024 | Jackson, Michigan | Wolf Pack |
38 | ![]() |
Ryder Korczak | C | R | 22 | 2022 | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | Rangers |
16 | ![]() |
Jake Leschyshyn | C | L | 26 | 2023 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Rangers |
14 | ![]() |
Connor Mackey | D | L | 28 | 2023 | Tower Lakes, Illinois | Rangers |
7 | ![]() |
Case McCarthy | D | R | 24 | 2024 | Troy, New York | Wolf Pack |
18 | ![]() |
Bryce McConnell-Barker | C | L | 21 | 2023 | London, Ontario | Wolf Pack |
20 | ![]() |
Riley Nash ![]() |
C | R | 36 | 2023 | Consort, Alberta | Wolf Pack |
78 | ![]() |
Brennan Othmann | LW | L | 22 | 2023 | Scarborough, Ontario | Wolf Pack |
32 | ![]() |
Matt Rempe | C | R | 22 | 2022 | Calgary, Alberta | Rangers |
44 | ![]() |
Matthew Robertson | D | L | 24 | 2021 | Edmonton, Alberta | Rangers |
28 | ![]() |
Dylan Roobroeck | F | L | 20 | 2024 | London, Ontario | Rangers |
58 | ![]() |
Brandon Scanlin | D | L | 26 | 2022 | Hamilton, Ontario | Rangers |
37 | ![]() |
Nate Sucese | LW | L | 28 | 2024 | Fairport, New York | Wolf Pack |
10 | ![]() |
Adam Sykora | LW | L | 20 | 2023 | Piestany, Slovakia | Rangers |
Team Captains Through the Years
- Ken Gernander, 1997–05
- Craig Weller, 2005–07
- Andrew Hutchinson, 2007–08
- Greg Moore, 2008–09
- Dane Byers, 2009–10
- Wade Redden, 2011–12
- Aaron Johnson, 2013–14
- Ryan Bourque, 2015–16
- Mat Bodie, 2016–17
- Joe Whitney, 2017–18
- Cole Schneider, 2018
- Steven Fogarty, 2019–20
- Vincent LoVerde, 2021
- Jonny Brodzinski, 2021–24
- Casey Fitzgerald, 2024–present
Retired Jersey Numbers
No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Ken Gernander | RW | 1997–2005 | October 8, 2005 |
The Wolf Pack has also honored former Hartford Whalers players. They hung their jerseys in the arena rafters. This is a way to show respect, even if their numbers are not officially retired by the Wolf Pack. In 2006, Ulf Samuelsson (#5), Ron Francis (#10), and Kevin Dineen (#11) were honored. Their jerseys joined those of Rick Ley (#2), Gordie Howe (#9), and John Mckenzie (#19). These numbers were already retired by the Whalers.
AHL Hall of Fame Members
Some players and coaches from the Wolf Pack have been honored in the AHL Hall of Fame.
Name | Seasons | Induction Year |
---|---|---|
Ken Gernander | 1997-2005 (player) 2005-07 (asst. coach) 2007-17 (head coach) |
2013 |
Jean-Francois Labbe | 1998-2001 (player) | 2016 |
John Paddock | 1999-2002 (head coach) | 2010 |
Brad Smyth | 1997-2002, 2005-06 (player) | 2019 |
Famous Players Who Played for the Wolf Pack
The following players played at least 100 games for Hartford. They also played at least 100 games in the National Hockey League.
- Artem Anisimov
- Derek Armstrong
- Drew Bannister
- Matt Beleskey
- Jonny Brodzinski
- Jason Dawe
- Nigel Dawes
- Dan Girardi
- Ryan Graves
- Micheal Haley
- Chad Johnson
- Jason LaBarbera
- Tomas Kloucek
- Lauri Korpikoski
- Oscar Lindberg
- Jamie Lundmark
- J. T. Miller
- Al Montoya
- Dominic Moore
- Mike Mottau
- Garth Murray
- P. A. Parenteau
- Corey Potter
- Dale Purinton
- Tom Pyatt
- Wade Redden
- Michael Sauer
- P.J. Stock
- Cam Talbot
- Brent Thompson
- Dale Weise
- Craig Weller
Team Records: Best Performances
These are some of the best records set by Hartford Wolf Pack players.
Single Season Records
- Goals: 50, Brad Smyth (2000–01)
- Assists: 69, Derek Armstrong (2000–01)
- Points: 101, Derek Armstrong (2000–01)
- Penalty Minutes: 415, Dale Purinton (1999–2000)
- Goals Against Average (GAA): 1.59, Jason LaBarbera (2003–04)
- Save Percentage (SV%): .936, Jason LaBarbera (2003–04)
- Shutouts: 13, Jason LaBarbera (2003–04)
- Goaltending Wins: 34, Jason LaBarbera (2003–04)
Career Records
- Goals: 184, Brad Smyth
- Assists: 204, Derek Armstrong
- Points: 365, Brad Smyth
- Penalty Minutes: 1240, Dale Purinton
- Shutouts: 21, Jason LaBarbera
- Goaltending Wins: 91, Jason LaBarbera
- Games Played: 599, Ken Gernander
See also
In Spanish: Connecticut Whale para niños