query: where did the hartford whalers hockey team move to

pos: Hartford Whalers the Philadelphia Flyers, scored the final goal in Whalers history. On May 6, 1997, Karmanos announced the team would move to Raleigh, North Carolina, to become the Carolina Hurricanes, playing its first two seasons in North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum while awaiting arena construction in Raleigh, a year earlier than planned. The following summer in 1997, the Binghamton Rangers, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the New York Rangers, relocated to the Hartford market to take the place of the Whalers, renaming themselves the Hartford Wolf Pack. Former Whalers owner Howard Baldwin acquired the team in 2010 and

pos: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut the NHL created the Islanders franchise to fill the desired arena, shutting them out of the market. The Whaler's moved to Hartford in 1974, and entered the NHL in 1979, where it became the Hartford Whalers. Although it had losing seasons its first two years in Hartford, the team had won the 1972–73 WHA championship while in Boston and, never missed the playoffs while in the WHA. The team had mixed success in the NHL before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997 due to attendance and revenue issues. Years after the departure of the Whalers, the team remains a

pos: History of Hartford, Connecticut Hills grew in popularity. In 1975, Howard Baldwin moved his prospering New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association into the brand new Hartford Civic Center and began play. In 1979, along with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and the Winnipeg Jets moved into the National Hockey League. Many great players of hockey played for the Whalers including Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Ron Francis, Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson, Mike Liut, Joel Quenneville, Pat Verbeek, Chris Pronger, Brendan Shanahan, Glen Wesley, and Geoff Sanderson. In 1997, the city lost its professional hockey franchise, the Hartford Whalers, to Raleigh, North Carolina despite

pos: Hartford Wolf Pack the Rhode Island Reds in their later years— folded after the 1975–76 season. Shortly afterward, the owners of the Broome Dusters of the North American Hockey League bought the Reds franchise and moved it to Binghamton, New York as the Binghamton Dusters. After securing an affiliation with the Hartford Whalers in 1980, the team changed its name to the Binghamton Whalers. An affiliation change to the Rangers in 1990—one that continues to this day—brought another new name, the Binghamton Rangers. After the 1996-97 NHL season, the Whalers moved to Raleigh, North Carolina as the Carolina Hurricanes. Soon after the Whalers'

pos: National Hockey League rivalries season. At the Hartford Civic Center, usually where the Bruins won, the Whalers fans would fight Bruins fans on Ann St. in Downtown Hartford. The rivalry ended in 1997 when the Whalers relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. Before the Whalers moved to Raleigh, Boston won the all-time regular season series 68–42–14–0, and the all-time playoff series 8–5, for a total of 76–47–14–0 against Hartford. The Battle of Quebec is the nickname for a former NHL rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques. The rivalry lasted from to . The teams played against each other five times in the NHL

pos: Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Hurricanes play their home games at the 18,680-seat PNC Arena. The franchise was formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), and joined the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL–WHA merger, renaming themselves the Hartford Whalers. The team relocated to North Carolina in 1997 and won its first Stanley Cup during the 2005–06 season, beating the Edmonton Oilers,

pos: Greensboro Coliseum Complex southward in 1995, it invited Greensboro to join; the new team took the Monarchs nickname, but attempted to draw a more regional fan base by labeling themselves the Carolina Monarchs. When the Hartford Whalers announced their move to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1997 as the Carolina Hurricanes, they leased the Coliseum for two years while waiting for the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (now PNC Arena) in Raleigh to be completed. Subjected to ticket price increases and unwilling to support a team that was destined for Raleigh, Greensboro hockey fans rarely filled the arena for Hurricane games. Meanwhile, Triangle fans

neg: Hartford Whalers Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were an American professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved to Hartford in 1974 and joined the NHL in the NHL–WHA merger of 1979. In 1997, the Whalers franchise relocated to North Carolina, where

neg: Hartford Whalers Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game During its existence the team was affiliated with the following teams: Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were an American professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved to

neg: Mark Hunter (ice hockey) and 25 points for Calgary. On March 5, 1991, the Flames traded Hunter to the Hartford Whalers for Carey Wilson. Hunter finished the 1990–91 season with the Hartford Whalers, where in 11 games, he scored four goals and seven points. In six playoff games, Hunter had five goals and six points as the Whalers lost to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. In 63 games with the Whalers in 1991–92, Hunter scored 10 goals and 23 points, helping the team reach the playoffs. In four playoff games, he did not earn any points, as the Whalers

neg: Nolan Pratt Nolan Pratt Nolan William Pratt (born August 14, 1975) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an assistant coach for his former club, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nolan Pratt was selected in the 5th round, 115th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers from the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League. Pratt made his NHL debut in the 1996–97 season with the Hartford Whalers, in the last year of the franchise. Pratt would then move with the team to the Carolina Hurricanes. On June 24,

neg: Danbury Whalers Whalers franchise. Danbury Whalers The Danbury Whalers were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Federal Hockey League that began play in the 2010–11 season. Based in Danbury, Connecticut, the Whalers played at the Danbury Ice Arena, located in CityCenter Danbury. Their name comes from the Hartford Whalers, who were a professional ice hockey team based in Connecticut and played in Hartford from 1975–1997 before relocating to Carolina. Until the 2014–15 season, the Danbury Whalers were an affiliate of the Evansville IceMen of the ECHL. On March 22, 2013, the Whalers won their first FHL Commissioner's Cup Title

neg: Danbury Whalers Danbury Whalers The Danbury Whalers were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Federal Hockey League that began play in the 2010–11 season. Based in Danbury, Connecticut, the Whalers played at the Danbury Ice Arena, located in CityCenter Danbury. Their name comes from the Hartford Whalers, who were a professional ice hockey team based in Connecticut and played in Hartford from 1975–1997 before relocating to Carolina. Until the 2014–15 season, the Danbury Whalers were an affiliate of the Evansville IceMen of the ECHL. On March 22, 2013, the Whalers won their first FHL Commissioner's Cup Title by sweeping

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins. After the NHL team, the Hartford Whalers, left for North Carolina in 1997, the minor league Hartford Wolf Pack relocated from Binghamton, NY to Hartford. The Wolf Pack had a previous relationship with Hartford in the 1980s as the Whaler's AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Whalers, until they started their current affiliation with New York Rangers in 1990. In 2010, the team announced it was changing its name to the Connecticut Whale, to honor hockey tradition in Hartford started by the Whalers. The name reverted to the Wolf Pack in 2012. Danbury has a fairly

neg: Binghamton Whalers Whalers moved their affiliation to Springfield the next season, where the seven remaining players from the disastrous 1990 Binghamton season helped the Indians to their seventh and final Calder Cup championship. When the Whalers left Hartford, the Binghamton Rangers moved in to fill the void. The market was previously served by: The market was subsequently home to: Binghamton Whalers The Binghamton Whalers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, playing in Binghamton, New York, USA, at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The Whalers were generally a successful team, making the playoffs seven times and advancing all

neg: Hartford Whalers WHA championship. The club played its first season's home games at Boston Garden and Boston Arena. However, the Garden was owned by the rival NHL Bruins, and the Whalers found themselves fourth in priority for dates behind the Bruins, Boston Celtics and even the American Hockey League's Boston Braves. Fed up with the situation, Baldwin decided to move elsewhere. Hartford was about to open a new, modern downtown arena and convention center, the Hartford Civic Center. The city had hoped to get an American Basketball Association team as the main tenant, but when that fell through, city leaders got in

neg: Larry Pleau World Hockey Association. Pleau became one of the Whalers' early stars and appeared in the 1973, 1974 and 1975 WHA All Star Game as the Whalers representative. He was also a member of the United States team at the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup although he did not appear in the tournament itself. He played seven seasons for the Whalers before retiring in 1979. He was the head coach of the Hartford Whalers from 1980-1983. He then coached the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL from 1984–1988. He was re-hired by the Hartford Whalers in 1987 and coached them until 1989. Pleau

neg: Hartford Whalers song is still very popular with Hartford crowds and continues to occasionally be played at XL Center events, including at Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale games until 2013 and at the University of Connecticut's basketball and men's ice hockey games. It was also previously used by the Whalers affiliate minor league team the Binghamton Whalers, the Danbury Whalers of the Federal Hockey League (FHL), and Quinnipiac University's men's and women's ice hockey teams. It has also been played at Fenway Park in Boston during Boston Red Sox games in between innings for several years. Rock bands have been known to play

neg: 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season The 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' fifth season in the National Hockey League. In early May, the Whalers hired Emile Francis as president and general manager of the club. As a player, Francis was a goaltender who played with the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers from 1946-1952, in which he had a record of 32-52-10 and a 3.75 GAA in 95 games. Following his playing career, Francis was the head coach and general manager of the New York Rangers from 1965-1976, where he led the team to a 342-209-103 record. From

neg: Dallas Gaume Dallas Gaume Dallas Gaume (born August 27, 1963) is a Canadian retired ice hockey centre. He played in four NHL games for the Hartford Whalers. Gaume was born in Innisfail, Alberta. He spent four seasons in the University of Denver, leading the team with 99 points in his final year as a first team all=American. He remains Denver's all-time leading scorer with 266 career points. He signed with the Hartford Whalers as a free agent and assigned to the AHL's Binghamton Whalers where he spent four seasons. He played four regular season games for Hartford in the 1988-89 NHL season,

neg: 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season Governor John G. Rowland did not want to keep the Whalers, as he harbored hopes of instead landing an NFL franchise. Ideally, Rowland wanted to use the state's resources to build a new stadium to lure the New England Patriots to Connecticut and did not have serious intentions of building an NHL arena for the Whalers. 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season The 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season was the 25th season of the franchise and the 18th and final season in Hartford. The Whalers would move to Greensboro, North Carolina, the next season to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Key dates prior to

neg: 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season over the Canadiens. The team finished their second season with a 21-41-18 record, earning 60 points, and fourth place in the Norris Division, four points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings. The Whalers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in team history. Hartford's draft picks from the 1980 NHL Entry Draft which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 11, 1980. 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season The 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' second season in the National Hockey League. On May 23, Hartford signed defenseman Thommy Abrahamsson as a free agent.

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Cup Finals, though ultimately losing to the Chicago Wolves four games to one. As of the 2009 season, the team had seven winning seasons. Located 20 miles west of the New Haven Coliseum, competition from the Arena at Harbor Yard was one of the factors in the coliseum's demise. Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, was bereft of a professional ice hockey team until 1974, when the Whalers franchise from the World Hockey Association came to town, occupying the newly built Hartford Civic Center. After the Whalers relocated to North Carolina in 1997, the minor league team the Hartford Wolf Pack

neg: Carolina Hurricanes four games to three. The New England Whalers were established in November 1971 when the World Hockey Association (WHA) awarded a franchise to begin play in Boston, Massachusetts. For the first two years of their existence, the club played their home games at the Boston Arena and Boston Garden. With the increasing difficulty of scheduling games at Boston Garden (owned by the NHL rival Boston Bruins), the owners decided to move the team to Hartford, Connecticut, beginning with the 1974–75 season. While waiting for the completion of a new arena in Hartford, the Whalers played the first part of the

neg: 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season the Whalers was 30-41-9, as Hartford earned 69 points, and finished in last place in the Adams Division, 13 points behind the fourth place Boston Bruins. This was the fifth consecutive season that the team failed the qualify for the post-season. This was the last season the Whalers missed the playoffs, until eight years later. Hartford's draft picks at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season The 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' sixth season in the National Hockey League. On May 29, the Whalers acquired defenseman Brad Shaw

neg: Howard Baldwin there in 1975. In 1979 Baldwin guided the WHA into a historic merger with the NHL with his New England Whalers making the transition to the more established league after their identity was changed to the Hartford Whalers. Baldwin served as the managing general partner of the Whalers until the team was sold to local ownership in 1988. In 2009, Baldwin founded Hartford Hockey LLC, better known as Whalers Sports & Entertainment, to promote ice hockey throughout Connecticut. In August 2010, Whalers Sports and Entertainment was hired by the NHL's New York Rangers to manage the day-to-day business and marketing

neg: 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season The 1984–85 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' sixth season in the National Hockey League. On May 29, the Whalers acquired defenseman Brad Shaw from the Detroit Red Wings for an eighth round draft pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Shaw played with the Ottawa 67's during the 1983-84 season, scoring 12 goals and 78 points in 63 games. Shaw also participated with Canada at the 1984 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he had two assists in seven games. Shaw was a fifth round draft pick for Detroit at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.

neg: Greater Hartford 1974 to 1997. The Whalers came to Hartford playing in the World Hockey Association, until they were admitted to the National Hockey League in 1979. In 1997, the team relocated to North Carolina, where they were renamed the Carolina Hurricanes. Throughout the mid-1990s, the New England Patriots were negotiating with the state of Connecticut for a brand new football stadium located in downtown Hartford to replace the aging Foxboro Stadium where they played. The team eventually made agreed to another proposal that saw Gillette Stadium. With the Patriots no longer in the equation, the state instead decided to construct a

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut however some have boycotted the team as former players from Hartford were traded to other teams or retired. Loyalty remains focused on the team's Hartford years, with new Whalers merchandise sales alone among the highest selling brands in the NHL as of August 2010. This continued popularity throughout the intervening years has led to many efforts to bring NHL Hockey back to Hartford by individuals such as Hartford real estate magnate and former XL Center operator Larry Gottesdiener and former Whalers franchise owner Howard Baldwin. Several efforts have been made over the years to revive NHL hockey by promoting the

neg: Howard Baldwin affairs for their AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack. As part of the marketing agreement, the minor league team was renamed the Connecticut Whale, as a tribute to the former Hartford Whalers team. Baldwin licensed the name "Connecticut Whale" to a franchise of the National Women's Hockey League , a founding member of the 2015 upstart league. In the early 2010's Baldwin organized the "Whalers Hockey Fest", an outdoor ice hockey festival which featured "up to 20 minor league, college, high school, and youth hockey games at a rink...built at Rentschler Field, the University of Connecticut's football stadium in East

neg: 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season The 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' second season in the National Hockey League. On May 23, Hartford signed defenseman Thommy Abrahamsson as a free agent. Abrahamsson played in 26 games with Leksands IF of Elitserien, scoring nine goals and 15 points. Abrahamsson had previously played with the Whalers from 1974-77 when the club was still apart of the WHA. In 203 games with New England, Abrahamsson scored 28 goals and 95 points. Gordie Howe announced his retirement from the team on June 4. Howe retired as the highest scoring player in NHL history, as

neg: 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season The 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season was the 25th season of the franchise and the 18th and final season in Hartford. The Whalers would move to Greensboro, North Carolina, the next season to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Key dates prior to the start of the season: On April 13, 1997, the Whalers played their last game in Hartford, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1. Fittingly, team captain Kevin Dineen scored the final goal in Whaler history. The final words from Sports channel New England with Play by play voice John Fourslund at the end of the game

neg: Bobby Holík Bobby Holík Robert Holík (born January 1, 1971) is a retired Czech American professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Holík is the son of Jaroslav Holík, a Czech ice hockey world champion in 1972 and Czech national team head coach who led the under-20 team to world titles in 2000 and 2001. Holik began his NHL career playing for the Hartford Whalers in 1990 after being selected tenth overall by them in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. After two seasons with the Whalers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils where

neg: Jack Brownschidle Jack Brownschidle John Joseph "Jack" Brownschidle, Jr. (born October 2, 1955) is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 494 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers between 1977 and 1985. He was born in Buffalo, New York. Brownschidle was also a member of the University of Notre Dame hockey team before turning professional. His brother Jeff Brownschidle was also a former National Hockey League player who played three games for the Hartford Whalers. Jeff was killed in a car accident on December 13, 1996. In international hockey, Jack Brownshidle played for Team USA at

neg: Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford Wolf Pack The Hartford Wolf Pack are a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. A member of the American Hockey League (AHL), they play their home games at the XL Center. The team was established in 1926 as the Providence Reds. After a series of relocations, the team moved to Hartford in 1997 as the Hartford Wolf Pack. It is one of the oldest professional hockey franchises extant, and the oldest continuously operating minor-league franchise in North America. The franchise was renamed the Connecticut Whale in October 2010, in honor of the former Hartford Whalers of the

neg: California Golden Seals in the Bay Area, the San Jose Sharks, has a historical connection to the Seals. Years after the Barons-North Stars merger, the Gunds wanted to bring hockey back to the Bay Area. They asked the NHL for permission to move the North Stars there in the late 1980s, but the league was unwilling to abandon a traditional hockey market like the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, a group led by former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin was pushing the NHL to bring a team to San Jose, where an arena was being built. Eventually, a compromise was struck whereby the Gunds would

neg: Springfield Pics to semifinal. Springfield Pics The Springfield Pics are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in Springfield, Massachusetts. They field two Tier III teams and a number of Youth teams. The franchise was founded as the Springfield Olympics (or Pics for short) as charter member of the Tier III Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1993. The team would relocate across the Massachusetts-Connecticut border to Enfield, Connecticut in 1995 and were renamed the New England Jr. Whalers named after the local National Hockey League team in Hartford. After the Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina in 1997, the franchise

neg: Springfield Pics Springfield Pics The Springfield Pics are an American junior ice hockey organization playing in Springfield, Massachusetts. They field two Tier III teams and a number of Youth teams. The franchise was founded as the Springfield Olympics (or Pics for short) as charter member of the Tier III Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) in 1993. The team would relocate across the Massachusetts-Connecticut border to Enfield, Connecticut in 1995 and were renamed the New England Jr. Whalers named after the local National Hockey League team in Hartford. After the Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina in 1997, the franchise was renamed

neg: Kevin Kemp seasons with the Gears in the IHL before moving on the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League. He was then claimed in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft by the Hartford Whalers and went on to have full seasons in the AHL with the Springfield Indians and the Binghamton Whalers but did manage to play three regular season games in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, going scoreless. Kemp retired at the end of the season. Despite never playing for the Ottawa Senators, Kemp is a member of the Senators' Alumni, appearing at events with the alumni

neg: 1982–83 Hartford Whalers season 1982–83 Hartford Whalers season The 1982–83 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' fourth season in the National Hockey League. On June 2, the Whalers made a head coaching change, as Larry Pleau was replaced by Larry Kish. Kish had been the head coach of the Whalers AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Whalers, from 1980-1982. Kish led Binghamton to a 46-28-6 record, earning 98 points and first place in the Southern Division in 1981-82. In the post-season, Binghamton lost to the New Brunswick Hawks in the Calder Cup finals. Pleau remained with Hartford as director of hockey operations. At the 1982 NHL

neg: Carolina Hurricanes use at PNC Arena. The Whalers were plagued for most of their existence by limited marketability. Hartford was the smallest American market in the league, and was located on the traditional dividing line between the home territories for New York City and Boston teams. It did not help matters that the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league, seating just over 15,000 people for hockey. The Whalers' off-ice problems were magnified when the start of the 1990s triggered a spike in player salaries. Despite assurances made when he purchased the team in 1994 that the

neg: Leonid Toropchenko Leonid Toropchenko Leonid Aleksandrovich Toropchenko ( ), (born 28 August 1968) is a retired Russian professional ice hockey player. Toropchenko played several years of professional hockey in Russia before signing with the Hartford Whalers on September 11, 1992. Because of an NHL rule where professional overseas players had to be drafted in order to play in the National Hockey League, Toropchenko did not make the final Whalers' roster and was assigned to their AHL affiliate in Springfield on 24 September 1992. After putting up a career-best 61 points in 71 regular season games, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins

neg: 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season The 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' third season in the National Hockey League. At the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec on June 10, the Whalers selected center Ron Francis of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League with their first round, fourth overall selection. In 64 games with the Greyhounds in 1980-81, Francis scored 26 goals and 69 points. On June 15, the Whalers signed restricted free agent goaltender Greg Millen from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hartford sent forwards Pat Boutette and Kevin McClelland to

neg: Hartford Whalers announced that the Wolf Pack were changing their name to the Connecticut Whale in the middle of the 2010–11 season adopting the Whalers' old green-blue-white palette; The team changed back to the Wolfpack after Baldwin sold the team following the 2010–2011 season. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was the final former Hartford Whalers player still playing in the NHL; he retired after the end of the 2013–14 season. Robert Petrovicky was the last former Whaler active in professional hockey, playing in European leagues through the end of the 2016 season. Glen Wesley was the last Whaler still active with the Hartford/Carolina franchise,

neg: 1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes season 1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes season The 1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 26th season in franchise history, their 19th as a member of the National Hockey League, and their first in North Carolina. Formerly the Hartford Whalers, the team would play in Greensboro while a new arena was being constructed in Raleigh. The club finished sub-.500 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. In March 1997, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos announced that the team would move elsewhere after the 1996–97 season because of the team's inability to negotiate a satisfactory construction and lease package for a new arena to replace the

neg: Hartford Whalers touch with the Whalers. Aside from various minor league teams in New Haven, the area had been largely bereft of professional hockey until the Whalers' arrival. The Civic Center was still being finished when the 1974–75 season began, so the Whalers played the first part of the 1974–75 season at The Big E Coliseum in West Springfield, Massachusetts. On January 11, 1975, the team played its first game at the Hartford Civic Center in front of a sellout crowd. The franchise remained in Hartford until it relocated to North Carolina for the 1997–98 season, save for a temporary relocation to

neg: Peter Karmanos Jr. Junior Red Wings, Detroit Whalers and then Plymouth Whalers following a relocation to nearby Plymouth. In 2015, Karmanos sold the Whalers to the owners of Flint's Perani Arena and Event Center, and the franchise was renamed Flint Firebirds. He also sold the Plymouth arena to USA Hockey. Karmanos, his Compuware partner Thewes and former player Jim Rutherford purchased the Hartford Whalers in 1994, for $47.5 million. At the time, they had committed to keeping the team in Hartford for at least four years. Connecticut's then-governor Lowell P. Weicker announced that Karmanos would be critical for the team to stay in

neg: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Whalers Fan Fest, occurred, featuring many of the former players, draws were close to 5,000 people on a Saturday afternoon. From February 11 to the 20th, 2011, the stadium hosted the Whalers Hockey Fest 2011. A hockey rink was constructed on the field much like is done for the annual NHL Winter Classic. Events included a Hartford Whalers Alumni vs. Boston Bruins Alumni game, with an appearance from the Hanson Brothers, from the film Slap Shot (film), a double-header featuring both UConn men's and women's hockey teams, a Hockey Legends team faced off against the Mystery, Alaska Hollywood team, and

neg: 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season finished the year with a 21-41-18 record for the second straight season, earning 60 points, and were the last place team in the Adams Division, 22 points behind the Quebec Nordiques for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. Hartford's draft picks from the 1981 NHL Entry Draft which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 10, 1981. 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season The 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' third season in the National Hockey League. At the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec on June 10,

neg: Hartford Whalers became the Hartford Whalers. Only Selwood, George Lyle and Warren Miller were reclaimed by their former NHL teams. The Whalers were the only American-based WHA team to join the NHL. Since the NHL's Boston Bruins were also located in New England and didn't want a newcomer to infringe on their turf, an agreement was made between the two franchises and the NHL that before the New England Whalers could join the league they had to lose the New England in their name and adopt something else. Since the Whalers were joining the top hockey league in the world and also

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut short history of minor league hockey from mostly independent leagues (no affiliation with the NHL). Most of the teams succumbed to budget and management problems. Danbury teams played at the Danbury Ice Arena, built in 1999 and renovated in 2004 just before the Danbury Trashers began play. The Danbury Whalers of the Federal Hockey League (FHL) were named in honor of the former Hartford Whalers NHL hockey team. The team and the FHL league have no affiliation with the NHL or any NHL franchise. The Danbury Titans replaced the Whalers in the FHL in the 2015–16 season but would also

neg: 1978–79 New England Whalers season the season ended, and he became the first coach of the team in the NHL. 1978–79 New England Whalers season The 1978–79 New England Whalers season was the seventh season of the Whalers' franchise. This was the final season in the World Hockey Association, which ceased operations after the season. The Whalers (along with the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Quebec Nordiques) were admitted to the National Hockey League as expansion teams. The Whalers (as part of the agreement suggested by the Boston Bruins) changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. The Whalers made the playoffs, with only

neg: 1978–79 New England Whalers season 1978–79 New England Whalers season The 1978–79 New England Whalers season was the seventh season of the Whalers' franchise. This was the final season in the World Hockey Association, which ceased operations after the season. The Whalers (along with the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Quebec Nordiques) were admitted to the National Hockey League as expansion teams. The Whalers (as part of the agreement suggested by the Boston Bruins) changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. The Whalers made the playoffs, with only five teams participating in the postseason. Don Blackburn took over the team as coach before

neg: 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season The 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' first season in the National Hockey League. Along with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, the Whalers were one of four World Hockey Association franchises that joined the NHL. The Whalers season was Gordie Howe's final season in the NHL. Hartford's draft picks from the 1979 NHL Entry Draft which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on August 9, 1979. Reclaiming of players: The 17 existing NHL teams were allowed to reclaim any rights to former WHA players they held. The four

neg: Dave Tippett in 1982–83, improving his offensive numbers to 15 goals and 46 points in 36 games with North Dakota. Tippett spent the 1983–84 hockey season with Team Canada, where he appeared in 66 games, scoring 14 goals and 33 points. Tippett played for Canada at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, scoring a goal and two points in seven games. After the Olympics, on February 29, 1984, Tippett left the national team and signed as a free agent with the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Tippett finished the 1983–84 season with the Whalers, playing in 17 games

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut relocated to the Civic Center. In the years since, various proposals for a new arena have been submitted with the hope of attracting a new major league hockey team. The former Hartford Whalers were the first and only major league hockey team located in Connecticut, nestled halfway between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers/Islanders hockey markets. The team was founded in Boston as the New England Whalers, one of the original World Hockey Association teams (from whose initials "WHA" inspired the Whaler's name). The WHA planned for a rival team to play in New York on Long Island, however

neg: Kevin Dineen Hartford Whalers' number 11 honored by the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack alongside former Whalers' teammates Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson. The ceremony took place before the Portland Pirates, who he was coaching at the time, played against the Wolf Pack in an AHL match. Dineen participated with the Canadian national hockey team numerous times during his career. He spent the 1983–84 season with the club, scoring five goals and 16 points in 52 games, and appeared in seven games with Canada at the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, where he had no points in seven games. In 1985, Dineen

neg: Bob Neumeier Bob Neumeier Robin "Bob" Neumeier is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports and Comcast SportsNet New England, specializing in thoroughbred horse racing. Neumeier is originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts and is a 1972 graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and radio. After graduating from college, Neumeier worked in the sports department of the "Boston Globe", and did public relations work for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (who later became the NHL's Hartford Whalers). Neumeier's first job in broadcasting began in 1975 on WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut where he called play-by-play of

neg: Mike Lenarduzzi Mike Lenarduzzi Mike "Whopper" Lenarduzzi (born September 14, 1972) is a retired ice hockey goaltender who played professionally for the Hartford Whalers, Hershey Bears, Springfield Indians and other professional teams in North America and Europe. Born in London, Ontario, Lenarduzzi played junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Ottawa 67s and Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League before turning professional in 1992 with the Springfield Indians, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Hartford Whalers. He had been drafted in the third round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. He would

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut fold after two seasons Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Professional ice hockey in Connecticut has a rich tradition dating from the mid-1920s. Most of these teams were NHL minor league affiliates located in New Haven, though with the closure of the New Haven Coliseum, minor league affiliates now exist only exist in Hartford and Bridgeport. Hartford had its own Major league team, the Whalers team that existed in Hartford from 1974-97. Independent hockey leagues teams have also been gaining a foothold in Danbury starting in 2004. This article concludes with a summary of all past and present hockey teams from

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Professional ice hockey in Connecticut has a rich tradition dating from the mid-1920s. Most of these teams were NHL minor league affiliates located in New Haven, though with the closure of the New Haven Coliseum, minor league affiliates now exist only exist in Hartford and Bridgeport. Hartford had its own Major league team, the Whalers team that existed in Hartford from 1974-97. Independent hockey leagues teams have also been gaining a foothold in Danbury starting in 2004. This article concludes with a summary of all past and present hockey teams from Connecticut, listed by city

neg: 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season and sixth of the series, only 29 seconds into overtime, as Montreal won the game 4-3, and swept the series 3-0. This game marked the final game of Gordie Howe's career, as the 52-year-old retired after the season. 1980 NHL All-Star Game 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season The 1979–80 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' first season in the National Hockey League. Along with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, the Whalers were one of four World Hockey Association franchises that joined the NHL. The Whalers season was Gordie Howe's final season in the NHL. Hartford's draft picks from

neg: Hartford Whalers factors. Hartford was the smallest American market in the NHL and was located on the traditional dividing line between the home territories for Boston and the two New York area teams, the Rangers and Islanders. This limited the team's marketability. Additionally, for most of the Whalers' tenure as an NHL team, the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league. At its maximum, it seated just 15,635 for hockey. The team averaged over 14,000 fans only twice in its 15 years at the Civic Center. They averaged only 13,867 from 1980 to 1997. Most of their

neg: Mike Fidler U.S. team that participated in the 1983 Pool B tournament. Mike Fidler Michael Edward Fidler (born August 19, 1956 in Everett, Massachusetts and raised in Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 271 games in the National Hockey League between 1976 and 1982. He played for the Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, Hartford Whalers, and Chicago Black Hawks. As an amateur, Fidler played for the Boston University hockey team and Malden Catholic. In international hockey, Mike Fidler represented the United States national team at the 1978 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships tournament (where he was the

neg: Greg Britz with the Saints and played one more game with the Maple Leafs in 1984–84. In 1986–87, Britz joined the Binghamton Whalers, where he had 25 goals and 41 points in 74 games. He also played his final NHL game that year, getting into the lineup of the Hartford Whalers for one game. Britz had an eight-game NHL career and was held pointless with four minutes in penalties. Greg Britz Gregory J. Britz (born January 3, 1961) is a former American professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hartford Whalers.

neg: Jeff Brown (ice hockey, born 1966) round of the playoffs. Brown started the 1995-96 season with Vancouver, appearing in 28 games, as he scored only one goal, and 17 points. On December 19, 1995, the Canucks traded Brown and their third round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft to the Hartford Whalers for Jim Dowd, Frantisek Kucera and the Whalers second round pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Brown finished the 1995-96 season with the Hartford Whalers, appearing in 48 games, scoring seven goals and 38 points to lead the team defense in scoring, however, the Whalers failed to reach the post-season. During

neg: 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season were was follows "It's Over Folks, it's been a great ride, The Whalers will go out, Winners". The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season. Hartford's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1994, Compuware founder Peter Karmanos purchased the Whalers. Karmanos pledged to keep the Whalers in Hartford for four years. Frustrated with lackluster attendance and corporate support, he announced in 1996 that if the Whalers were unable to sell at least 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season, he would likely move the team.

neg: Mickey Volcan played one season of college hockey with University of North Dakota. On January 15, 1983, Volcan (as a member of the Hartford Whalers) and Garry Howatt (as a member of the New Jersey Devils) become the only active players to officiate an NHL game when a snowstorm prevented a referee, Ron Fournier, and a linesman, Ron Asselstine, from reaching the Hartford Civic Center for a game between the Whalers and Devils. Mickey Volcan Michael Stephen Volcan (born March 3, 1962) is a Canadian retired ice hockey defenceman who played 162 National Hockey League games for the Hartford Whalers and Calgary

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut registration with the patent office expired. Northland has since divested of its share in the XL Center, and appears to have abandoned its attempts to attract an NHL team. Former Whalers owner Howard Baldwin has sponsored numerous events such the "Whalers Reunion and Fan Fest" in August 2010 featuring charitable events and appearances by former players. His company planned the "Whalers Hockey Fest and Whale Bowl", a hockey festival in East Hartford, Connecticut at Rentschler Field held in February 2011. The festival featured over 20 outdoor high school and college hockey games and an AHL Outdoor Classic contest featuring the

neg: Professional ice hockey in Connecticut Hartford market for a new or relocated NHL franchise. Larry Gottesdiener, head of Northland Investment Group, has scouted for years for an NHL franchise to bring to Hartford. Northland, a firm heavily invested in Hartford real estate, jointly operated XL Center from 2007–10. Gottesdiener hoped to bring a new team temporarily to the XL Center until a modern arena could be built in a possible deal with the state. The new team would have likely been named after the Whalers, as at least some of the logos associated with the "Whalers" franchise were registered by Northland until 2009, when the

neg: Hartford Whalers their winning percentage. Whenever they did make the playoffs, they faced the near-certainty of having to get past the Boston Bruins or Montreal Canadiens to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team developed a heated rivalry with the Bruins because they were based only 100 miles northeast of Hartford and the fact they used to play in the same arena. Home games against the Bruins usually attracted the Whalers' largest crowds, as many Bruins fans followed their team to Hartford. The Whalers had an all-time head-to-head record of 37–69–12 against Boston. The Whalers were hampered by numerous off-ice

neg: John Anderson (ice hockey) following year, his first full year with Hartford, Whalers sniper Sylvain Turgeon battled injuries and Anderson filled in nicely as the top left wing on the team. He hit the 30-goal plateau for the fifth and final time of his career finishing with 31 goals and 75 points, good for the third highest point total on the team. He played two more years in Hartford with diminishing returns then played the last five seasons of his career in the minor leagues, primarily the International Hockey League where he was a solid goal scorer. Anderson scored the winning goal against the

neg: Dan Fridgen Dan Fridgen Daniel J. Fridgen (born May 18, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Fridgen played four seasons of college hockey with Colgate University, where he still holds the record for most goals in a season (38) and most points in a season (68). Fridgen signed with the Hartford Whalers as a free agent on April 5, 1982. He went on to play 13 regular season games for the Whalers in two seasons, scoring two goals and three assists for five points. He split his time with the American Hockey League's Binghamton Whalers where he spent the

neg: Professional ice hockey Hockey Association was formed with professional teams in Edmonton, Ottawa, Quebec City and Winnipeg. Ottawa relocated to Toronto after one season, but the other teams survived until the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, with Edmonton, Quebec City and Winnipeg joined the NHL, along with the Hartford, Connecticut-based New England Whalers, which joined the NHL as the Hartford Whalers. The inclusion of all three Canadian WHA teams was a key point of contention in merger talks between the NHL and WHA, and only after the NHL agreed to that stipulation was agreed upon did the merger happen. In 1980,

neg: Jim Warner Before turning professional, Warner played for the Colorado College men's ice hockey team. He was also a member of the United States national team at the 1975, 1976 and 1978 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments. Jim Warner James Francis Warner (born March 26, 1954 in Saint Paul, Minnesota) is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 32 National Hockey League regular season games with the Hartford Whalers in 1979–80. Warner was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft but he chose instead to sign a free agent contract with the New England Whalers

neg: Dana Murzyn Dana Murzyn Dana Trevor Murzyn (born December 9, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Drafted out of the Western Hockey League (WHL), he was selected fifth overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He began his NHL career in 1985–86 with the Whalers and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. After being traded to the Calgary Flames in 1988, he won the Stanley Cup with the club in 1989. He was traded a second time in 1991 to the Vancouver Canucks, where he spent the majority of his career. Murzyn retired following

neg: Mike Fidler Mike Fidler Michael Edward Fidler (born August 19, 1956 in Everett, Massachusetts and raised in Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 271 games in the National Hockey League between 1976 and 1982. He played for the Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, Hartford Whalers, and Chicago Black Hawks. As an amateur, Fidler played for the Boston University hockey team and Malden Catholic. In international hockey, Mike Fidler represented the United States national team at the 1978 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships tournament (where he was the team's top scorer). He was also a member of the

neg: Hartford–Springfield slightly more populous than Springfield, hemorrhaged residents. By 1960, Springfield had become more populous than Hartford, and remains more populous as of 2011. During the 1990s, Hartford and Springfield established a professional hockey partnership, as the Springfield American Hockey League team (first the Indians and then the Falcons) served as the development affiliate of the National Hockey League's Hartford Whalers. Since 2000, both cities have seen an increase in public and private investment, and a general increase in culture, vitality, and civic pride. The Knowledge Corridor high-speed intercity rail line is one such project, intended to unite the region and

neg: Danbury, Connecticut the Trashers in the 2004–05 season. On December 27, 2009, Danbury was named the first city to officially have a new team in the newly formed Federal Hockey League (FHL). The team was named the Danbury Whalers, bringing back the name "Whalers" to Connecticut for the first time since 1997 when Hartford Whalers of the WHA/NHL moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes. At the end of the 2014–15 season, the Danbury Ice Arena evicted the Danbury Whalers. The Whalers were announced as moving to neighboring Brewster, New York, and called the Stateline Whalers. However, a new FHL

neg: Carolina Hurricanes Whalers would remain in Hartford at least through 1998, in March 1997, owner Peter Karmanos announced that the team would move elsewhere after the 1996–97 season because of the team's inability to negotiate a satisfactory construction and lease package for a new arena in Hartford. On May 6, 1997, Karmanos announced that the Whalers would move to the Research Triangle area of North Carolina and the new Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Raleigh. Due to the relatively short time frame for the move, Karmanos himself thought of and decided upon the new name for the club, the Carolina Hurricanes,

neg: Igor Chibirev Igor Chibirev Ihor Viktorovich "Igor" Chibirev (; born April 19, 1968) is a retired Ukrainian ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers. Chibirev began his career in the Vysshaya Liga for SKA Kalinin before moving to the Soviet Hockey League for CSKA Moscow. After a spell in the International Hockey League for the Fort Wayne Komets, Chibirev was drafted 266th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and over two seasons he played 45 regular season games for the Whalers, scoring 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points.

neg: New England Foxborough), and the Boston Cannons. Hartford had professional hockey team the Hartford Whalers from 1975 until they moved to North Carolina in 1997. WNBA team the Connecticut Sun are based in southeastern Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun resort, which is also home to the professional indoor lacrosse team the New England Black Wolves. New England is also home to the Worcester Blades, Boston Pride, and the Connecticut Whale which represent three of the five professional women's hockey teams in the United States. There are also minor league baseball and hockey teams based in larger cities, such as the Bridgeport Bluefish

neg: Gary Bettman (1995), the original Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix (1996) and the Hartford Whalers to North Carolina (1997). This move towards southern markets was heavily criticized as well, however, with fans in Canada and the Northern United States lamenting the move away from "traditional hockey markets". Critics have also accused Bettman of having an "anti-Canadian" agenda, citing the relocation of the franchises in Quebec City and Winnipeg and his apparent refusal to help stop it, along with the aborted sale of the Nashville Predators in 2007 to interests that would have moved the team to Hamilton, Ontario. Jim Balsillie accused Bettman of

neg: Providence Reds breed of chicken known as the Rhode Island Red. When the North American Hockey League folded in 1977, the Broome Dusters acquired the Reds franchise and moved them to Binghamton, New York, where they were known as the Binghamton Dusters, Binghamton Whalers, and Binghamton Rangers. In 1997 the franchise was sold to Madison Square Garden and then moved to become the Hartford Wolf Pack. On November 27, 2010, they were renamed the Connecticut Whale to honor the NHL's Hartford Whalers; but changed their name back to the Wolf Pack in 2013. It is the oldest continuously operating minor-league hockey franchise

neg: Hartford Whalers the 1980s, Kevin Dineen. His skills and leadership had an immediate impact on the team, as the Whalers began playing significantly better in January. Despite the strong finish in the second half of the season, the Whalers were unable to recover from their poor start and they missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Before the beginning of the 1996–97 season, Brendan Shanahan ended his silence about his displeasure about playing in Hartford. He demanded a trade out of Hartford because he claimed he did not want to play in a small market for a team with

neg: Todd Krygier as the new coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks United States Hockey League team until he was released in July 2016. He is now an assistant coach with the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team. In 543 NHL games, Krygier scored 100 goals and 143 assists. Todd Krygier Todd Andrew Krygier (born October 12, 1965 in Chicago Heights, Illinois) is an American retired ice hockey player. After playing for the University of Connecticut, Krygier was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft. He played parts of two seasons with the Whalers before being traded to the

neg: Hartford Whalers playoffs before their final regular season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Owner Peter Karmanos pledged to keep the Whalers in the city of Hartford for four years when he purchased the team in 1994. However, two years later, frustrated with lackluster attendance and little corporate support, he announced that if the Whalers were unable to sell at least 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season, he would likely move the team. Furthermore, ownership only made season tickets available in full-season (41-game) packages, eliminating the popular six-, 9-, 10- and 20-game mini-plans in a strategy largely designed to spur purchases

neg: Sami Kapanen Sami Kapanen Sami Hannu Antero Kapanen (born 14 June 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Finnish Liiga. He played 12 NHL seasons for the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He is the majority owner and general manager of KalPa. Kapanen's son, Kasperi Kapanen, is a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kapanen was drafted 87th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. His first NHL season was in 1995–96, when he played 35 games with Hartford. The Whalers relocated to become

neg: Hartford Whalers the song during shows in Connecticut, most notably The Zambonis. The official mascot of the Whalers was named "Pucky The Whale" and most commonly referred to as "Pucky". Depicted as a green whale, not only was he a mascot but he was also a secondary logo of the team, appearing on the shoulders of their jerseys from the 1970s WHA days until the mid 1980s. In the 2010s a new mascot costume version of Pucky was making appearances around Connecticut when the Hartford Wolf Pack minor league hockey team briefly changed its identity to the Connecticut Whale. "Note: GP =

neg: Andrew Cassels again as Hartford struggled to non-playoff finishes, he continued to mature as an all-around player in following years and he and Sanderson remained a consistent and effective offensive partnership. Cassels led the Whalers in assists for 5 consecutive seasons from 1992–1997, and led the team in overall scoring in the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. Cassels was a member of the final Whalers team in 1996–97, but did not make the move with the franchise to Carolina as he was dealt to the Calgary Flames that summer. He would play two seasons for the Flames, but struggled to produce in the defensive

neg: 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season the Adams Division. Hartford finished nine points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff position. Hartford's draft picks at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season The 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' fifth season in the National Hockey League. In early May, the Whalers hired Emile Francis as president and general manager of the club. As a player, Francis was a goaltender who played with the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers from 1946-1952, in which he had a record of 32-52-10 and a 3.75

neg: Howard Baldwin Howard Baldwin Trophy in his honor. =Professional ice hockey= Baldwin has had a long-standing involvement with ice hockey in Connecticut since the early 1970s, starting with the WHA's New England Whalers/NHL's Hartford Whalers, then with the Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL), and finally with the Connecticut Whale of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). Baldwin became one of the youngest executives in professional sports when he became a founder and partner of the WHA's Boston-based New England Whalers in 1971 at the age of 28. Five years later he was president of the league. The

neg: W. Godfrey Wood lowest goals against average (1.27 GAA, in 1962), as a goalie for Harvard's hockey team. His save percentage of .945 ranks second in all-time NCAA standings (only .001 behind .946). He was the last player cut from the United States team that would play the 1964 Winter Olympics. In 1971, Wood was one of the founding partners of a World Hockey Association franchise based in New England, along with Howard Baldwin, John Colburn, and William Barnes. Originally known as New England Whalers upon its inception in 1972, the franchise would later be renamed Hartford Whalers when joining the National Hockey

neg: Dallas Gaume scoring a goal and an assist. In 1990, Gaume moved to the Norwegian Eliteserien with Trondheim IK and remained there until his retirement in 1999. Dallas Gaume Dallas Gaume (born August 27, 1963) is a Canadian retired ice hockey centre. He played in four NHL games for the Hartford Whalers. Gaume was born in Innisfail, Alberta. He spent four seasons in the University of Denver, leading the team with 99 points in his final year as a first team all=American. He remains Denver's all-time leading scorer with 266 career points. He signed with the Hartford Whalers as a free agent

neg: Eddie Johnston of the greatest hockey players of all-time. After Johnston left the Penguins for the first time in 1988, he served as the general manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1989 until his release in 1992. Johnston's tenure is remembered with distinct displeasure in Hartford, where he is viewed as ultimately being responsible for the franchise's eventual relocation to North Carolina, by having dismantled a playoff team through unproductive trades, and by allowing relations between captain and star player Ron Francis and head coach Rick Ley to deteriorate to the point where Francis was accused of "playing out the final year

neg: John Stevens (ice hockey) Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) by playing four seasons for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. He was called up to the NHL level at times during the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons, playing in a total of 9 games with the Flyers. He was signed by the Hartford Whalers in 1990 and reassigned to the Whalers' AHL team, the Springfield Indians. Stevens was named team captain that year and went on to win the Calder Cup with the team that same year for the franchise's seventh Championship title. With the Indians' franchise moving to Worcester, Massachusetts in

neg: Thomas Dundon of the National Hockey League from owner Peter Karmanos Jr. who had owned the team since it was the Hartford Whalers. He became majority owner of the team on January 11, 2018 in a transaction where he purchased 52% of the team and the operating rights to PNC Arena for $420 million. Thomas Dundon Thomas Dundon (born 1972) is an American businessman, specializing in financial services and entertainment. He serves as Chairman and Managing Partner of Dundon Capital Partners in Dallas, Texas and is the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Dundon was born in New

neg: Bob Crocker Bob Crocker Bob Crocker (born August 3, 1928) is an American ice hockey scout, former coach and executive. He was awarded the Lester Patrick Award, for contributions to hockey in the United States, in 2015. Born in East Boston, Massachusetts, Crocker attended Boston University, where he played hockey in the 1954–55 season for the Boston University Terriers. He later served as a recruiter and freshman coach for his alma mater. From 1972 to 1976, he coached the University of Pennsylvania men's hockey team. In 1980, he was hired as an assistant general manager of the Hartford Whalers; he would serve

neg: Blaine Stoughton is the former head coach of the University of Cincinnati club hockey team. Blaine Stoughton Blaine Stoughton (born March 13, 1953) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward who played twelve professional seasons. Stoughton played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers, which bookended three seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) split among the Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. Stoughton played his major junior career with the Flin Flon Bombers, and was drafted seventh overall by the Penguins in the 1973