We have just posted a new page in our Whalers Audio section titled Team Store Answering Machine, where you will currently find the final outgoing message from the machine. Various clips from messages left by customers will be added shortly, so check back soon!

It was April 1997, and the Hartford Whalers Team Store was in the process of shutting down. Most Whalers merchandise went quickly, as die hard fans knew it would be difficult to find authentic Whalers merchandise once the team packed up after the final game. Looking for a deal, my brother walked into the gift shop and looked around at what was left. He spotted something behind the counter and walked up to the clerk. Twenty bucks later, the item was his.

Now, after years in storage, we have uncovered what we consider a great find. The original answering machine (still working!) from the Hartford Whalers Team Store, complete with authentic outgoing message and numerous incoming messages left by customers in the final months. We’re in the process of getting these recorded and will have clips in the coming week!

I stumbled upon an old cassette tape this afternoon which is mostly filled with random songs and clips from Craig and Company, the morning show on 96.5 WTIC-FM in Hartford. Much to my surprise, one of the clips features what sounds like a remixed version of Brass Bonanza in the background. Go take a listen for yourself on our Brass Bonanza audio page (scroll to the bottom). The recording is from October 8, 1991 - the day of the home opener against Montreal.

On another historical note, here is what the associated press had to say the next day, October 9, 1991: Whalers Rally to Tie Canadiens - Mark Hunter and Rob Brown scored power-play goals in the second period to give the Whalers a 2-2 tie with Montreal last night in Hartford’s home opener. In the first period, the Canadiens took a 2-0 lead on goals by Kirk Muller and Russ Courtnall, but the Whalers scored on two of three second-period power plays.

We are finally getting around to adding more audio to the site. Today we added sounds from the New England Whalers EP, a 45rpm record released in the late 1970’s. The recordings were taken from an original EP and sound great.