Webster Bank Announces Sponsorship of Connecticut Whale Telecasts

HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Whalers Sports & Entertainment and Webster Bank today announced that Webster has entered a three-year agreement to be the official presenting television sponsor of the Connecticut Whale.

In addition to in-arena signage and hospitality, Webster will receive promotional exposure across various forms of media. Webster Bank will be the presenting sponsor of the "Whale TV" Connecticut Whale telecast package for the 2011-2012 season on Connecticut's CW affiliate, WCCT-TV. This five-game slate of televised games represents a return of AHL action to the local TV airwaves for the first time since the 2006-07 Season.

"Webster Bank is pleased to share all the excitement of the Connecticut Whale hockey games with families and sports fans in the greater Hartford area. This venture is an important investment in the future economic growth of our region and state, and we look forward to this valued relationship," said Jerry Plush, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Webster Bank.

"We are excited to have Webster Bank on board for this major partnership package," Whalers Sports & Entertainment President and COO Howard Baldwin Jr. said. "Our television schedule on WCCT, along with our new radio presence on WCCC-FM, is extremely key exposure as we strive to restore Hartford's status as a premier hockey market, and Webster Bank's support of the telecasts is invaluable to showcasing our great product."

The televised home games are all prime, Saturday night dates, starting with a major-rivalry contest against the Providence Bruins this Saturday, December 10. The full schedule is as follows (all games face off at 7:00 PM):

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-byphone at 1-800-745-3000.

The AHL's Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin and Howard Baldwin, Jr. The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers.

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Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association. With $18.0 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, financial planning, trust and investment services through 171 banking offices, 485 ATMs, telephone, mobile and internet banking. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation; the equipment finance firm Webster Capital Finance; and provides health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank. Member FDIC and equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

SOURCE Webster Bank