The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers American Hockey League (AHL) member, will continue to call Hartford and the Hartford Civic Center home after the Rangers signed a multi-year affiliation agreement with Northland AEG LLC, the new Hartford Civic Center building operator, it was jointly announced by Glen Sather, president and general manager of the New York Rangers, Bob Newman, chief operating officer, AEG Facilities, and Lawrence R. Gottesdiener, chairman and chief executive officer of Northland Investment Corporation.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement with Northland AEG to keep the Wolf Pack in Hartford," said Sather. “The Rangers organization has enjoyed a great relationship with the city over the last 10 years and our players, coaches and staff are excited to remain a part of the community and continue to play at the Hartford Civic Center.”
“This is a great day for hockey fans and the City of Hartford,” said Newman. “The commitment of this partnership is to build on the success and the popularity of the Wolf Pack while creating even more excitement both on the ice as well as the total fan experience from the moment they make their plans to attend a game to their arrival at the Civic Center and the exhilarating atmosphere we can create during the game. We are committed to Hartford and are here to stay!”
"Having made the playoffs ten years in a row, the Wolf Pack have demonstrated an ability to produce on the ice," said Lawrence R. Gottesdiener. “Today's announcement means that all of the business operations and management for the Wolf Pack will be run by Northland AEG with all of the financial risk and reward now residing with this Hartford-based partnership."
Mayor Eddie A. Perez said, “Hockey is part of Hartford’s past, present, and future. The sport brings families and friends together as well as plays a vital role in our city’s economy. Today’s announcement shows that Hartford’s revitalization has scored another goal and the momentum continues to build!”
Under the terms of the agreement, Northland AEG LLC will be responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the Wolf Pack, including marketing, sponsorship and ticket sales, while Madison Square Garden and the Rangers will retain ownership of the Wolf Pack and continue to be responsible for on-ice team decisions, including coaching and player movement.
Northland AEG LLC will begin managing the Hartford Civic Center on July 1, 2007 on behalf of the Connecticut Development Authority.
The Wolf Pack brought Hartford its first pro sports championship in 2000 when the team captured the AHL’s Calder Cup. The team has also compiled the most regular season wins and standings points of any team in the league during the its ten year history. The Pack made the playoffs in each of the ten seasons of its tenure, a claim that only two other franchises in the AHL’s 71-year history can make, and won at least 40 games in all but two of its 10 years. In addition to the Calder Cup, Eastern Conference Playoff, New England Division and AHL Regular Season championships that the Pack won during the 1999-2000 season, the Wolf Pack also earned an Atlantic Division crown in 2003-04.
Several dozen young Wolf Pack players have gone on to enjoy solid NHL careers; recent contributors to the Rangers include Fedor Tyutin, Jed Ortmeyer, Thomas Pöck, Blair Betts, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Ryan Hollweg, and Steve Valiquette. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack Community Foundation has been committed to the Hartford community, raising more than $1 million for numerous community organizations.
