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Hartford Wolfpack
Hartford Wolf Pack
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
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