The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved 100 miles (160 km), to Hartford, in 1974 and joined the NHL in the NHL–WHA merger of 1979.
Keith David Primeau is a Canadian businessman and ice hockey coach. He is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.
Geoffrey M. Sanderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Brian P. Burke is an American-Canadian ice hockey executive, currently the Executive Director of the Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association (PWHLPA). He previously worked in the NHL league office, including as the director of hockey operations, and worked as general manager of the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks—with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2007—and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as president of hockey operations for the Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Burke was general manager for the silver-medalist United States national team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is a member of Rugby Canada's board of directors. Burke was inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.
Patrick Martin Verbeek is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Verbeek played for five teams over a 20-year playing career, earning a Stanley Cup ring with the Dallas Stars in 1999. His nickname, the "Little Ball of Hate", was given to him in 1995 by Glenn Healy after fellow New York Rangers teammate Ray Ferraro was tagged as the "Big Ball of Hate".
Andrew William Cassels is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. He is a former assistant coach with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. Cassels was born and raised in Bramalea, Ontario, where he played his minor hockey. His son, Cole, was drafted 85th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Steve P. Martins is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Mark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and left winger who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) following six seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
Sylvain Côté is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 19 seasons in the NHL, the majority of them with the Washington Capitals. He also played for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars.
James Black is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers, Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals from 1989–90 to 2000–01.
Christopher William Tancill is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Hnat A. Domenichelli is a Canadian-born former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the fourth round, 83rd overall, of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He played 267 National Hockey League (NHL) games for the Whalers, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Minnesota Wild between 1996 and 2003 before moving to Switzerland where he has played for the remainder of his career in the National League A. After becoming a Swiss citizen in 2009, he would play for Switzerland at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Scott Daniels is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Brian Thomas Glynn is a German-born Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played six seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). A second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 37th overall at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, Glynn played with the Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers during his NHL career before playing one season in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for Kölner Haie.
Christopher Govedaris is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger.
The 1993–94 Hartford Whalers season was the 22nd season of the franchise, 15th season in the NHL. The Whalers missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It was the first season that all four former WHA teams missed the playoffs since joining the NHL in 1979.
The 1994–95 Hartford Whalers season was the 23rd season of the franchise, 16th season in the NHL. Despite trading away star forward Pat Verbeek to the New York Rangers on March 23, 1995, the Whalers played solid over the next 16 games from March 25 to April 24, with a record of 8-7-1. However, the Whalers could not keep pace with the New York Rangers who went on to take 8th place in the Eastern Conference. It was the third consecutive season that the Whalers missed the playoffs. On a positive note, the Whalers had the most overtime wins and the best overtime record in the NHL, going 4-0-5. Darren Turcotte led all NHL skaters in overtime goals scored with 2.
The 1992–93 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' 14th season in the National Hockey League.
Brian Nelson Hill is a Canadian-born Austrian former ice hockey right winger. He played 19 games in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers during the 1979–80 season. He moved to Europe in 1980 and spent eight seasons playing in the Austrian Hockey League before retiring in 1988. While there Hill became an Austrian citizen and played for the Austrian national team at the 1986 and 1987 World Championship B Pools.
Jean Savard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 43 games in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks and Hartford Whalers between 1977 and 1980.
