Hartford Hockey: New Englands Falling Star

Hartford Hockey: 

New Englands Falling Star

Since 1974 there has always been a Professional Hockey team in Hartford.  It began with the relocation of the New England Whalers of the WHA and in 1979 began play as the Hartford Whalers in the NHL but I'm sure you already knew that.  By now, I'm sure every reader of this article knows the history of Hartfords one and only big league franchise.  Right now I want to fast forward, lets fast forward 4 years.  The New York Islanders are nice and comfortable in their new home in Brooklyn, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers are all packed up and getting ready to jump on the Port Jeff Ferry for their big move to the Nassau Coliseum and the New York Rangers are designing the new jerseys for the Connecticut Rangers (MSG already has a copyright on the name and website instead of Wolf Pack), whom will move from Hartford to Bridgeport and replace the void left when the Islanders moved their affiliate to Long Island.  This triple switch is no secret, any hockey fan in Connecticut who pays close attention or is a member of any local hockey group on Facebook knows this already.  The one thing that is missing from all of this is the grand question is:

What about Hartford?

Nobody is asking that question.  Why? Is it the sense of entitlement that comes with being a Hartford Hockey fan? The fact that something will always come along and fill the place of the team that just left? What if nothing comes? Its no secret that the Wolf Pack average attendance has been declining since 1997 and have finished in the bottom third in the AHL for the past few years (and no, the name Connecticut Whale had nothing to do with it.)  Hockey in Hartford is dying, and its the fault of the fans.  When the Whalers left for Raleigh in 1997, many rabid Whalers fans refused to support the new Rangers Affiliate.  Many rabid Whalers fans kept pining for the NHLs return, Wolf Pack fans then started calling them "stubborn" and told them to "get over it".  Wolf Pack fans failed to see that they needed the Whalers fans to help keep hockey in our capital city, yet did everything in their power to drive them out.  When the Wolf Pack came under management by Howard Baldwin, the name and logo were changed to the Connecticut Whale.  This was the attempt to finally get the two sides to join together to help keep and eventually escalate the status of Hartford in the hockey world.  Many Wolf Pack fans hated this idea, and then abandoned the team, despite the fact that it was the exact same team they cheered for a year earlier, and attendance got even worse.  Now the team is going back to being called the Wolf Pack, the Whalers fans are once again excluded, the Wolf Pack fans are delusional and the team is moving to Bridgeport in a few short years.  Hartford hockey needs to be saved.  It needs every hockey fan in Connecticut to come out and support the team in the next few years.  WE won't get an NHL team again with things the way they are.  WE won't have anything if things stay the way they are.  Wolf Pack fans, don't mock and shun those who wear Whalers merchandise to the games.  Welcome them! Don't yell at them and mock them when you over hear a conversation about the Whalers coming back, give constructive advice or disagree kindly.  Whalers fans, GO TO THE GAMES! Go watch the sport you love, cheer on what is currently playing in the XL Center.  Stop calling the Wolf Pack, "Baby Rangers", respect their legitimacy as Hartfords team.  Both sides might have a different vision for Hartfords hockey future, but both sides are needed to see a future for Hartford hockey.  My daughter is the exact age I was when I first started attending games in Hartford, its a big part of my life and I want it to be a big part of her life too.  Think about what brought you to the XL/Civic Center and why you stayed, for either Whalers or Wolf Pack.  Its time both sides came together for the GOOD OF HARTFORD! Both sides need to end this "Civil War" and shake hands and cheer together, in one voice for the hockey team, NO MATTER THE NAME OR AFFILIATION, that plays in our city. In 30 something days hockey season begins, we all need to be there. 

Hartford hockey needs to be saved, if even from itself.