Fans have whale of a time in Hartford

Feeling nostalgic 🏒🐳 #WhalersWeekend pic.twitter.com/c9C2LwEXEM

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) July 22, 2023

Get ready to have “Brass Bonanza” stuck in your head for a while.

On July 21-22, the Hartford Yard Goats hosted their annual Whalers Alumni Weekend, an event that remains the most popular weekend at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Connecticut residents flock to the Minor League ballpark to celebrate their since-departed NHL franchise.

For those who aren’t up to date on their hockey history, the Hartford Whalers existed as a professional hockey team from 1972-97 before relocating to North Carolina as the present-day Hurricanes. It remains Connecticut’s only franchise within the four major sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL), and nearly anybody from the area you ask will tell you the Whalers need to come back in some shape or form.

The Rockies' Double-A affiliate has been hosting the event since the Yard Goats' inception in 2015, and it’s not hard to see why. The Whalers are still beloved by Connecticut residents, and if you need more proof, look no further than the Goats’ colors -- the blue and green is a direct nod to the old NHL franchise.

Having a WHALE of a time 🐋 #WhalersWeekend pic.twitter.com/GyPIVVajax

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) July 21, 2023

The Goats, of course, wore special hockey jersey-inspired uniforms and the ballpark was Whalers themed, right down to "Brass Bonanza" -- the Whalers' goal song, which remains an enduring fan favorite and is still played at University of Connecticut hockey games -- blasting through the speakers at any and all moments of the day. And instead of a baseball bat, the goat logo temporarily chomped on a hockey stick.

While both days at the park were full of Whalers fun, the highlight of the weekend took place Saturday, when former players sat down outside of the main gate for a pregame autograph session. Headlining the group was Kevin Dineen, who is arguably the face of the Whalers' franchise.

We couldn’t have asked for a better gathering at our Whalers Alumni Luncheon! Reliving the glory days with these legendary players was an experience like no other. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed, your involvement directly supports the Yard Goats Foundation 🐳 pic.twitter.com/YLfMnocS4p

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) July 22, 2023

While the Whalers ultimately had to leave the state due to lackluster ticket sales, the Yard Goats have bucked that trend. The franchise led the Eastern League in attendance in 2018 and '19 and became the fastest Minor League team in New England to sell its one millionth ticket.

Even if you’re not a hockey diehard or are too young to have ever seen the Whalers, the Yard Goats made sure fans still had a whale of a time in Hartford.