Whalers Weekend - August 2!

HARTFORD, CT — For one night, the strains of "Brass Bonanza" will once again permeate the air in Connecticut's capital city Saturday, as the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, play host to the eighth annual gathering of former Hartford Whalers.

Despite having uprooted from Connecticut and moving to North Carolina in 1997 as the Carolina Hurricanes, the Whalers have seemingly never gone away. The iconic logo can be found on jerseys, hats, sweatshirts and T-shirts all across America, and remains among the top-selling apparel of defunct pro teams.

Though the Connecticut market was ultimately deemed too small to support the franchise, one would never guess that based on the expected capacity crowd Saturday at Dunkin' Park. Prior to the Yard Goats' 6:10 p.m. game against the Reading Fightin' Phils, more than a dozen Whalers alumni and some special guests will meet fans and sign autographs in the main concourse at the stadium.

Andre Lacroix, the leading scorer in World Hockey Association history, will make his annual journey from Ohio to be in attendance. Former Whalers public relations director Mark Willand said, "I met him when I was still in college. The "Magician" is a special man. What a great talent he was, and was it ever a thrill to travel around Connecticut with Andre and Gordie Howe and the alumni on Friday nights in the winter."

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Mike Corrigan and Mark Willand at the 2024 Whalers Reunion