FanfavoriteKevin Dineen returning to Hartford for Yard Goats' Whalers Alumni Weekend
Jul. 17—The Yard Goats will honor the Whalers during games Friday (7:10 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.) by wearing the specially designed hockey style jersey uniforms, and the ballpark will be branded around the hockey team. The former Whalers attending will be honored before Saturday's game and players will be signing autographs when the gates open at 4 p.m.
The Yard Goats are hosting the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees' Double A affiliate.
Fans can also meet the players at a luncheon Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dunkin' Park. The luncheon includes on-field batting practice, an autograph session and a limited-edition poster, with proceeds benefiting the Yard Goats Foundation.
On Friday, the former Whalers will visit Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford with current Yard Goats players at 10 a.m.
Former Whalers attending besides Dineen: Andre Lacroix, Bill Bennett, Bob Crawford, Chuck Kaiton, Dave Baych, Don Nachbaur, Doug Roberts, Gordie Roberts, Grant Jennings, Jeff Brubaker, Mark Janssens, Marty Howe, Norm Barnes, Pat Boutette, Scott Daniels, Stew Gavin, Wayne Babych, and Yvon Corriveau, along with other guests.
Dineen has deep roots in the state. His family lived in Glastonbury when his father Bill coached the New England Whalers and Kevin attended Glastonbury High. Kevin Dineen joined the Whalers in 1984 and spent seven-plus seasons with the team before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.
He returned to Hartford in 1995 and was captain during the final season in Connecticut, scoring the team's final goal in the final game in Hartford. Dineen remained with the franchise when it moved to North Carolina and overall played 12 of his 19 seasons with the Whalers/Hurricanes.
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Dineen's wife Annie is from the Hartford area and was a nurse at Hartford Hospital when the met. And their son, Will, is a member of the Yale hockey team.
