Yeah, I went to playoff games in town when Leetch was on the HS team before he transferred to Avon Old Farms. It was fun. Then the town sold the rink and the HS team now plays and practices in Middletown at Wesleyan. Ouch. His brother was just ahead of me in high school and was a beast on he ice before playing hockey at football at West Point.
A neighbor had Whale season tickets and as he was a tax accountant, we bought a lot of games during tax season from him. Probably went to 4 games a season (I was too young to handle weeknight games on a school night).
As for Hartford, Hartford and State politics have casued so many problems. The city stillf wants to be the insurance capital of the world; but, Hartford is not New York, London, Singapore, etc. That said, it has a lot to offer. I am actually looking into a job that can be based in Hartford or Boston. Boston has a lot more to offer as a city (but as a NYC guy, can't stand the culture) and is closer to my extended family; but, its brutally expensive with a one-hour, one-way commute normal commute for suburbanites with families and with my kdis schedule, I don't have time to catch a game, show, etc. in the city on a regular basis anyway. I can move to S Windsor or another good school district with 50% of the housing costs and a 30 minute commute and also have access to a solid regional airport. The city even has a good theater, some decent dining, outside stuff nearby a good and cheaper sports scene with UConn, Wolfpack and Yard Goats.That's how Hartford should market itself.