Hartford Wolfpack | |
City: | Hartford, Connecticut |
---|---|
League: | American Hockey League |
Conference: | Eastern Conference |
Division: | Atlantic Division |
Founded: | 1997 |
Home Arena: | XL Center also known as the Civic Center |
Colors: | Navy blue, red, white, silver
|
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-present: | Connecticut Whale |
Championships | |
Regular Season Titles: | 1 1999–00 |
Division Championships: | 3 1999–00, 2003–04, 2008–09 |
Conference Championships: | 1 1999–00 |
Calder Cups: | 1 1999–00 |
The Hartford Wolf Pack were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team played in Hartford, Connecticut at the XL Center.
History[]
When Hartford's only major league sports franchise, the Hartford Whalers, left for North Carolina, the New York Rangers' minor league affiliate, the Binghamton Rangers, was moved to Hartford. After "a-name-the-team" contest, the winner was Wolf Pack, intending to honor the Seawolf-class submarines built in Connecticut (the name "Seawolf" itself being taken by the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL). The Wolf Pack's first coach was E.J. McGuire. The Hartford Wolf Pack's first game was against the neighboring Springfield Falcons. They won the game 2-0.
They reached the playoffs during the first twelve years of their existence. They finally missed the playoffs in the 2009-2010 AHL season. The Pack won the Calder Cup in 2000, defeating Rochester in the Cup finals.
The Wolf Pack mascots were Sonar and Torpedo.
Announced in summer 2010, the Pack would rename themselves the Connecticut Whale, after the former NHL team that left the Insurance City in April 1997. Howard Baldwin, former Hartford/New England Whaler owner is now in charge of the Pack/Whale's marketing department. The name change did not take place until November 27, 2010.
The final game with the name Hartford Wolf Pack came on November 26, 2010. The opponent was Connecticut's other AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers won 4-3, in a shootout. The first game under the new name came on November 27, 2010. The opponent was, again, the Sound Tigers. The Whale won 3-2, in a shootout. The attendance for the debut game was 13,089, which is the second-largest crowd in franchise history.
The market was previously served by:
- Hartford Whalers of the NHL (1979–1997)
Season-by-Season Results[]
Regular Season[]
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SL | Points | GF | GA | Standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997–98 | 80 | 43 | 24 | 12 | 1 | — | 99 | 272 | 227 | 2nd, New England |
1998–99 | 80 | 38 | 31 | 5 | 6 | — | 87 | 256 | 256 | 2nd, New England |
1999–2000 | 80 | 49 | 22 | 7 | 2 | — | 107 | 249 | 198 | 1st, New England |
2000–01 | 80 | 40 | 26 | 8 | 6 | — | 94 | 263 | 247 | 2nd, New England |
2001–02 | 80 | 41 | 26 | 10 | 3 | — | 95 | 249 | 243 | 2nd, East |
2002–03 | 80 | 33 | 27 | 12 | 8 | — | 86 | 255 | 236 | 3rd, East |
2003–04 | 80 | 44 | 22 | 12 | 2 | — | 102 | 198 | 153 | 1st, Atlantic |
2004–05 | 80 | 50 | 24 | — | 3 | 3 | 106 | 206 | 160 | 2nd, Atlantic |
2005–06 | 80 | 48 | 24 | — | 6 | 2 | 104 | 292 | 231 | 2nd, Atlantic |
2006–07 | 80 | 47 | 29 | — | 3 | 1 | 98 | 231 | 201 | 2nd, Atlantic |
2007–08 | 80 | 50 | 20 | — | 2 | 8 | 110 | 266 | 198 | 2nd, Atlantic |
2008–09 | 80 | 46 | 27 | — | 3 | 4 | 99 | 243 | 216 | 1st, Atlantic |
2009–10 | 80 | 36 | 33 | — | 6 | 5 | 83 | 231 | 251 | 6th, Atlantic |
Playoffs[]
Season | Prelim | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997–98 | — | W, 3–0, NH | W, 4–3, WOR | L, 1–4, SJ | — |
1998–99 | — | W, 3–0, SPR | L, 0–4, PRO | — | — |
1999–2000 | — | W, 3–2, SPR | W, 4–1, WOR | W, 4–3, PRO | W, 4–2, RCH |
2000–01 | — | L, 2–3, PRO | — | — | — |
2001–02 | — | W, 3–2, MAN | L, 1–4, HAM | — | — |
2002–03 | L, 0–2, SPR | — | — | — | — |
2003–04 | — | W, 4–1, POR | W, 4–0, WOR | L, 3–4, WBS | — |
2004–05 | — | L, 2–4, LOW | — | — | — |
2005–06 | — | W, 4–3, MAN | L, 2–4, POR | — | — |
2006–07 | — | L, 3–4, PRO | — | — | — |
2007–08 | — | L, 1–4, POR | — | — | — |
2008–09 | — | L, 2-4, WOR | — | — | — |
2009–10 | Out of Playoffs |