HARTFORD, CT – We’re taking a slightly different approach to finding our hidden Connecticut gem this time around. It’s sort of at the XL Center in Hartford, but you have to go through a hall of fame in Milwaukee first, and then the web.
But it could be a must-have acquisition for hockey fans in Hatford and Tolland counties.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition vintage Hartford Wolf Pack bobblehead this week. The bobblehead is part of the American Hockey League’s Vintage Bobbleheads collection that the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is releasing in conjunction with the start of the 2022-23 AHL season.
Collection includes all 32 AHL teams: Abbotsford Canucks, Bakersfield Condors, Belleville Senators, Bridgeport Islanders, Calgary Wranglers, Charlotte Checkers, Chicago Wolves, Cleveland Monsters , Coachella Valley Firebirds, Colorado Eagles, Grand Rapids Griffins, Hartford Wolf Pack, Henderson Knights Silver, Hershey Bears, Iowa Wild, Laval Rocket, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, Ontario Reign, Providence Bruins, Rochester Americans, Rockford IceHogs, San Diego Gulls, San Jose Barracuda, Springfield Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch, Texas Stars, Toronto Marlies, Tucson Roadrunners, Utica Comets and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. A figurine with the AHL colors and logo is also available.
Standing on a circular ice-shaped base bearing the team name, the smiling Hartford Wolf Pack bobblehead wears a blue, red and black jersey emblazoned with the team logo and holding a hockey stick. Each bobblehead is individually numbered up to 500, and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. The bobbleheads, which are slated to ship in November, are $30 each plus a flat rate shipping fee of $8 per order. A set including all 32 bobbleheads costs $900. Ordering information is available online.
Based in Hartford, the Wolf Pack has a long history as a franchise, dating back to 1926 when it was one of the five founding members of the Canadian American Hockey League and was known as the Providence Reds. according to the Boblehead Hall of Fame. After playing in Rhode Island from 1926-77, the franchise was based in Binghamton, NY, until 1997 before moving to Connecticut for the 1997-98 season shortly after the Hartford Whalers left the NHL for North Carolina to become the Hurricanes, Hall said.
The club is currently the top affiliate of the New York Rangers in the NHL.
According to Hall, while the Wolf Pack does not officially acknowledge its history in Providence and Binghamton or the four Calder Cup titles the franchise won before moving to Connecticut, it is the only AHL franchise to date. never missed a season since the league’s founding in 1936. .
The Wolf Pack won a Calder Cup title in the 1999-2000 season and in 2021-22 the Pack finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.
“We are thrilled to work with the AHL to launch the first collection of vintage bobbleheads featuring every team in the American Hockey League,” said Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. . “As one of the oldest professional hockey franchises in existence, the Wolf Pack is sure to give hockey-loving Hartford fans plenty of excitement in 2022-23.”
About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, opened to the public on February 1, 2019. The HOF and museum also produce high-quality custom bobbleheads for retail as well that for organizations, individuals and teams across the country. To order the bobblehead or to learn more, visit the lobby online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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The Hidden Gems series features off-the-beaten-path mom and pop restaurants, small specialty shops you may never have heard of, little-known historical markers, or beautiful natural landmarks that may be a little off the beaten path. , all located in Connecticut. .
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