The Official Home of the Hartford Wolf Pack :: Ten Years ago Today, the Pack Hoisted Calder...

June 4, 2010 Author: Bob Crawford

Can you believe it’s been ten years? I still remember it like it was yesterday.

But yes, today, June 4, 2010, as former Wolf Pack public relations guru and current AHL communications czar Jason Chaimovitch reminded me, is the tenth anniversary of the present high point in Wolf Pack history. That is, of course, Game Six of the 2000 Calder Cup Finals at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, when the Pack captured the AHL championship with a 4-1 win over the Americans.

That capped an unbelievable playoff run for the John Paddock-coached and Ken Gernander-captained Wolf Pack. They had fallen behind Springfield two games to one in the best-of-five opening round, and trailed Game Five 2-1 midway through the second period, before finally winning that series. And of course, they were down three games to one to Providence in the Conference Finals, and behind 2-0 going into the final minute of the second period of Game Five, before staging the rally that culminated in Terry Virtue’s unforgettable overtime winner in Game Seven.

The thing I most remember about that playoff year was the feeling of utter exhaustion I had when I finally got off the air following the deciding game. It had been nearly two months, and 23 games (more than another quarter of a season), of postseason action, with more than a few must-win, nip-and-tuck nail-biters among them. I was totally gassed, and all I had done is sit on my rear and flap my gums. I can only imagine what it must be like to go through a run like that as a player. Unreal.

Hopefully we’ll see a few more springs like that here in the near future, but for now, here’s wishing you Happy Tenth Anniversary, Wolf Pack World!

Scott, I greatly enjoyed the parade, thanks very much. My son Mac was marching in the HALS Middle School band and I was very proud of him.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jul 7 2010 9:19AM

Chris, none of the actual franchises that started in the AHL's first season, 1936-37, are still playing, but several of the same cities, Springfield, Providence, Syracuse and Cleveland are still in the league. The oldest franchise in the league right now, or the closest thing the AHL has to an "Original Six" team, is the Hershey Bears, a team that has been in operation since 1938-39.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jul 7 2010 9:17AM

I was nine, i remember virtues goal and Damon Scott kissing the ice after. Me and my four year old brother had out jerseys on and we were jumping up and down listening on the radio as they one the cup.

Posted by: Josh

- Jun 14 2010 10:15PM

I think this might be the breaking point year for the pack. With the number of veterans potentially coming back next year, if the pack get off to that bad start like they did this year i see the pack dismantled and starting from scratch. As a note it was very good to see our own Bob Crawford take in the Memorial day Parade from New Britain. Great to see you there Bob hope you enjoyed the parade.

Posted by: Scott

- Jun 8 2010 10:15AM

does the ahl have any teams that can be considdered the ahl origional 6. i know the nhl does.

Posted by: chris

- Jun 8 2010 7:26AM

Chris, you are absolutely right about that. The AHL has been considered a development league for the NHL for probably the last 40 years or so, if not more. The league has only been able to call itself the single "top" development league, though, since 2001, when the AHL absorbed the remaining teams in the International League (IHL), which had also consisted of several primary affiliates of NHL teams.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jun 7 2010 2:55PM

i saw on ahl.com that the ahl will be celebrating. it also said that that Since 2001, the AHL has been the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams, with more than 85 percent of todayâ€™s NHL players having graduated from the American Hockey League. the funny thing is i thought the ahl was a development league the nhl a lot longer than that.

Posted by: chris

- Jun 7 2010 2:46PM

Chris, it's my understanding that an AHL team, not an ECHL team, will be going into Albany.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jun 7 2010 2:45PM

if an anouncement is expected to be made soon for an echl team that is moving into albany to replace Charlotte and charlotte was ranger orgional affilate. would it make sense to switch there echl affliation to albany.

Posted by: chris

- Jun 7 2010 2:36PM

Chris, the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate was indeed the Albany River Rats, so as of right now, Albany does not have an AHL team. An announcement is expected soon, though, about another franchise moving into Albany to replace the one that departed for Charlotte. And no announcement has yet been made about what sort of ECHL affiliation the Rangers might enter into to take the place of their long-time association with the Checkers. I believe the organization has talked to a few teams, but I am not aware of what the status is of that search.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jun 7 2010 11:38AM

Chris, those were some great crowds. I still get chills when I think about some of those big houses going crazy after big goals.

Posted by: Bob Crawford

- Jun 7 2010 11:32AM

so i saw on http://www.gocheckers.com/ahl/ that the charlotte checkers are moving up to the ahl and will be under the huricanes orginazation. who will the rangers and pack echl affilates be next season and what will happen to the huricanes ahl affilate from this season. if i were to take a guess i would say that was albany.

Posted by: chris

- Jun 4 2010 5:38PM

The crowds were great in both cities during the 2000 finals. If I remember correctly, up to that point, it was the highest attended final series in AHL history. Being a Hartford native attending college in Rochester I was in AHL hockey heaven. I can't believe it's been 10 years...

Posted by: Chris

- Jun 4 2010 2:46PM

Monday August 30, 2010

Ten Years ago Today, the Pack Hoisted Calder...

Reader Comments

Add a Comment

More News