The New York Rangers today extended their contract with Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, the providers of venue management to the XL Center, for the Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, to continue playing their home games at the XL Center through the 2016-17 season.
The Wolf Pack franchise is currently in its 19th year of operation as the Rangers’ top development affiliate. That represents the second-longest current continuous affiliation between an NHL club and a single AHL market in the league, surpassed only by the 24 seasons of partnership between the Boston Bruins and Providence, R.I.
“Spectra is excited that the Wolf Pack will continue calling downtown Hartford home,” said Spectra’s Chris Lawrence, general manager of the XL Center. “On behalf of our fans and residents throughout the greater Hartford area, we want to thank the Rangers for this exciting opportunity."
Spectra also provides food, hospitality, ticketing and fan engagement services to the XL Center.
Jim Schoenfeld, GM of the Wolf Pack, stated: “The Rangers appreciate the efforts and dedication the Spectra staff has put forth in Hartford. Extending our affiliation for a 20th season with the Wolf Pack is a testament to the fans in the Hartford community as well as the staff and coaches developing the future New York Rangers.”
The Wolf Pack has won one league title, the 2000 Calder Cup, during its proud history, and has captured four division championships, including last season’s Northeast Division crown. The franchise’s all-time record stands at 770(W)-499(L)-66(T)-70(OTL)-53(SOL) for a points percentage of .593. That is the best record over the past 18-plus seasons of any AHL franchise that has been in the league for the Wolf Pack’s entire existence, and is fourth-best among all teams that have been in the league during any part of the Pack’s tenure.
No fewer than 169 players have skated with both the Wolf Pack and the Rangers during the 19 seasons that the organization has been developing talent in Hartford, and current Ranger stalwarts like captain Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller, Dominic Moore, Oscar Lindberg and Dylan McIlrathall spent significant time with the Wolf Pack along their paths to the NHL.
