PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACKS VISIT PHANTOMS TO OPEN 2024-25 SEASON

Oct 12, 2024

ALLENTOWN, PA – The 28th^Th The Hartford Wolf Pack hockey season begins tonight as the club begins the 2024-25 season against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and coverage is available on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.

History of the band:

The Wolf Pack and Phantoms met six times in the 2023/24 season. The Wolfpack won four of these matches with a record of 4-1-1-0 and collected nine of a possible twelve points. The Phantoms, meanwhile, posted a record of 2-3-1-0, which earned five points out of a possible twelve.

Olle Lycksell was the hero in the final meeting of the 2023/24 season, scoring two goals in the first period of the Phantoms’ 4-1 win on January 12, 2024. Lycksell’s power play goal at 19:32 in the first period would be the eventual game-winning score in the Phantoms’ only regulation win against the Wolfpack in the season series.

A 5-4 overtime decision at the XL Center on December 2, 2023 was the Wolf Pack’s last win in the straight series.

The Wolf Pack compiled a 1-1-1-0 record at the PPL Center during the 2023-24 season, recording their only win on October 29, 2023.

The rivals will meet again six times this season, including today’s season opener. The Phantoms make their first appearance at the XL Center on October 25th and then return on November 27th and January 11th. The Wolf Pack will return to Allentown on January 10th and February 8th.

View of the wolf pack:

Grant Potulny makes his debut as Wolf Pack head coach tonight. Potulny was named the eighth head coach in franchise history on June 27. Prior to joining the Wolf Pack, Potulny spent seven seasons as the head coach at Northern Michigan University (2017-2024) and eight seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota.

Forward Nate Sucese will make his Wolfpack debut tonight after signing a one-year deal with the club during the offseason. The Fairport, New York, native scored a career-high 23 goals in the 2023-24 season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald will also make his Wolf Pack debut tonight after signing with parent company New York Rangers (NHL) over the summer. Fitzgerald spent the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, setting career highs in assists (17), points (21) and +/- (+22).

The Wolfpack returns its three best point producers with Alex Belzile (50), Brennan Othmann (49) and Brett Berard (48) from the 2023/24 season.

A season ago, the Wolf Pack posted a record of 34-28-7-3 (78 points). That was enough for fifth place in the Atlantic Division. The club then defeated the Checkers (2-1, first round) and the Providence Bruins (3-1, Atlantic Division semifinals) in the Calder Cup playoffs before falling to the Hershey Bears (3-0, Atlantic Division finals). .

Phantoms outlook:

The Phantoms finished the 2023-24 season with a record of 32-31-6-3 (73 points), good for sixth place in the Atlantic Division. They defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2-0) in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs before falling to the Bears (3-1) in the Atlantic Division semifinals.

Ian Laperrière returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Phantoms. After missing the Calder Cup playoffs in his first season (2021–22), Laperriére led the team to two consecutive postseasons.

The Phantoms return four of their top five point producers from the 2023-24 season, including leader Cooper Marody (56). Also returning are Samu Tuomaala (third, 43), Lycksell (fourth, 39) and Emil Andrae (fifth, 32).

Marody and Lycksell finished the 2023/24 season as co-leaders with 19 goals each.

Game information:

REGARD: AHLTV on FloHockey
HEAR: Mixlr

Wolf Pack play-by-play voice Alex Thomas will broadcast “Wolf Pack Pregame” live on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr at 6:50 p.m.

The Wolf Pack will open the home portion of their 2024-25 schedule on Friday, October 18th at the XL Center against the Springfield Thunderbirds! Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m

Full season tickets, 20-game plans, 12-game plans, flex plans and single-game tickets for the 2024-25 season are on sale now! Visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com or call 860-722-9425 for more information!

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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the premier player development arm of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolfpack on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and TikTok.