📍 Hartford, Connecticut
🏒 Home of the Hartford Wolf Pack

The story of Hartford hockey is one of ups and downs, triumph and heartbreak. From the good ‘ole days of the beloved Whalers to the arrival of the minor league Wolf Pack, the capital city of Connecticut – and indeed the entire state – has had a long love affair with the game. Despite a divorce from the NHL in the late 1990s, the Nutmeg State continues to be a hockey-rich hotbed to this day, boasting two minor league franchises, an independent team and several successful college programs. Hartford, at the center of it all, is proud to have hosted a professional team continuously since 1975, and has built one of the best fanbases in the AHL.

THE WHALERS

A founding member of the World Hockey Association, the then-New England Whalers began play in Boston in 1972. Frustrated with venue availability issues in Beantown, the team moved to Hartford just three years later and took up residence at the newly-opened Hartford Civic Center. Their inaugural game in Connecticut came on January 11, 1975 and drew a sellout crowd. In 1979, the WHA and NHL merged, with the Whalers being absorbed into the latter league and adopting the the name of their home city in the process. The team – now the Hartford Whalers – would debut one of the best logos in all of sports that same year. Created by artist Peter Good, it featured a large green “W” with a whale’s tail above, creating the letter “H” in the negative space between the two.

Despite their amazing logo and passionate fanbase, the franchise was regrettably plagued by attendance issues, poor success on the ice and troubled ownership. In 1997, the plug was finally pulled on the Whalers and the team was relocated to North Carolina. There, they would become the Carolina Hurricanes, who continue to thrill crowds at Raleigh’s Lenovo Center.

THE RETURN OF HOCKEY

After the Whalers’ departure, a plan for their minor league replacement was swiftly implemented. The American Hockey League quickly moved the Binghamton Rangers to Hartford in the summer of 1997, christening the team the Wolf Pack. Founded in Rhode Island in 1926, the club is the oldest continually-operating minor league hockey franchise in the world. After departing Rhode Island in 1977, the team spent twenty years in Binghamton before finally docking in Hartford.

The Wolf Pack name was chosen due to Connecticut’s important role in the submarine industry, with the new moniker referencing both a naval tactic and class of submarines. The nautical theme extends to the team mascot, Sonar, a friendly-looking wolf that works the crowd at every home game.

Each season, the legacy of the Hartford Civic Center continues to grow as the Wolf Pack take to the ice. Now named PeoplesBank Arena, the arena features a plethora of photos that highlight Hartford sports history. Shots from the Whalers days cover the walls at the main entrance and rounded murals in each corner of the concourse feature scenes from UConn basketball, the state of Connecticut and the Wolf Pack. Jerseys from the past and present hang in the large foyer as well, promoting professional, college and other hockey teams from across in the state.

Although lots of upgrades and improvements have been made to PeoplesBank Arena, the atrium is still reminiscent of the venue’s time as the focal point of an old shopping mall, with escalators and some closed stores surrounding the main doors. Once inside, it’s clear that the arena has been well maintained and nicely overhauled, with modern concourses and an overall slick interior keeping everything looking fresh.

During Wolf Pack games, a smattering of concessions are available to enjoy. Some must-tries include stuffed meatballs and a Ted’s Steamed Cheeseburger, a delicious regional staple. Carvel, The Pizza House, Chicken Fry Fry and The Sausage Guy also have stands throughout the venue. Plastic hockey sticks that are filled to the brim with beer and Skittles – not together, of course – round out the unique offerings at PeoplesBank Arena. Pre-game, folks can check out the Fanatics Sportsbook that’s attached to the arena, featuring a full bar and an excess of television screens showing live events from around the globe.

Banners hanging in the rafters high above the ice remind fans of the success of the Whalers, Wolf Pack and of Connecticut basketball. The numerous nods to the past here ensure that the exciting moments and electrified crowds that have filled the Civic Center for over 50 years will never be forgotten.