Michael Fornabaio
@fornabaioctp
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Ex-@connpost/@GameTimeCT sports. Group 3 free agent. See also @bstsoundinoff maybe? Last name like "boy, the bio" (changed). Here for line combos.
Joined August 2009
How'd you feel, Josh? "Gucci, dude. You can quote that." Yep, he's back. "This is just the start. Crashin' nets and cashin' checks.".
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Nothing official, but looks like Robin Salo isn't in the Bridgeport lineup tonight in Hartford.
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Ho-Sang: Sixth five-point game for a Sound Tiger, eighth natural hat trick.
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Some personnel news: Saturday was my last day at Hearst CT/the Connecticut Post/GametimeCT. It has been a ride of a 26 years. Thanks to all my bosses and colleagues over the years.
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Aatu Raty is the first Sound Tiger or Islander with more than one career playoff overtime point.
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St. Joseph senior Brady Hutchison on the foremost message he wanted to get across from today's #cthsfb rally
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First very-unofficial blush is Aatu Raty makes his North American debut tonight for Bridgeport, Robin Salo back in from what's believed was a (not-that) illness.
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Matt Lorito scores early in overtime to give the Sound Tigers a 3-2 win in Hershey. Game 5 is Saturday at 7 at Webster Bank Arena.
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Eighteen years, you guys. Where the time goes. This has been a kinda tumultuous year for me, and just thanks for, you know, putting up with me. And following along.
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Along with the first game of Cal Clutterbuck's conditioning stint, looks like Thomas Hickey returns tonight in Bridgeport. First game since Nov. 29.
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Bridgeport wins 5-4 over Toronto. Three points for Czarnik, two goals on seven shots for Koivula.
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Thomas Hickey and Linus Soderstrom, both out since November, appear to be full participants in Sound Tigers practice today. Andrew Ladd, Matt Lorito, Nick Schilkey on in no-contact yellow. (Or maybe that's just their line color.).
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Ryan Pulock scores with 5:26 left, Jaroslav Halak makes 42 saves for his eighth straight win in Bridgeport's 1-0 win at Providence.
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Bridgeport expected to announce an AHL deal for C Scott Eansor. Played with Barzal at Seattle (WHL).
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So it appears D Mike Cornell is dressed as the Bridgeport Islanders' backup goalie to Jakub Skarek tonight. Don't know what's what with Cory Schneider. Indication is that Michael Dal Colle returns after sitting out 17 games injured.
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Boy, 27 years and thank goodness they've only tweaked the uniform, who'd change this sweater
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Vande Sompel gets a skate on a puck heading out. Over left circle Wahlstrom; one-timer for his first pro goal. 2-0 Bridgeport at 12:50.
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Devon Toews is the Sound Tigers' all-time leader in regular-season overtime scoring, which is his second-coolest pro overtime fact now.
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Aatu Raty from Kyle MacLean, wrister on the rush top of the left circle, 12:53 into overtime. Bridgeport 2, Providence 1, final (OT). For the first time in 19 years, dinky though it be. Bridgeport has won a playoff series.
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Sound Tigers have quietly added former Devils G Ken Appleby on an AHL contract and named Seth Helgeson their 14th captain. Tanner Fritz, Cole Bardreau alternates.
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As everyone loves bookkeeping, AHL transactions say Josh Ho-Sang was sent down last night (emergency conditions expired etc) and called back up today.
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Wahlstrom, who had one of those scoring chances earlier, from the top of the right circle from Bellows. BPT up 2-1 with 7:53 left in the second.
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Believe Bridgeport's last AHL Player of the Month was Casey Cizikas, January 2012.
Bridgeport's Kieffer Bellows, Utica's Brogan Rafferty and Chicago's Oscar Dansk have been named the CCM/AHL award winners for December. Details:
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One of my favorite silly #cthk facts (if you've been here awhile, you knew it was coming): No class has graduated from Fairfield Prep without a CIAC hockey championship sometime during its four years since 1990. None will until at least 2027. Not even a pandemic stopped this one.
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Salo wins it with 50.0 to go. Pulled up on Anas and wristed it through a screen. Bridgeport 4, Springfield 3, final (OT).
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From Bridgeport Islanders GM Chris Lamoriello through the team, no players currently in COVID-19 protocol. There were three last weekend.
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Per GM Chris Lamoriello, Bridgeport has eight players and a staffer in COVID protocol and one player out of protocol as of today. Declined again to discuss who is at what point, who's in for what reason. Said "players' attitudes have been exceptional" through whole process.
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Thompson on Koivula: "I want to make sure he resets, gets going, and look, numbers, just like last week (with the three-in-threes). I thought it was a good time for him just to sit, watch from up top, get rest: It's all in development. He'll be back in tomorrow, 100 percent.".
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Bibeau for Golyshev appears to be the only change for Bridgeport from last night, at least as of warmups.
Hearing #Isles have at least one more player in COVID protocol today. Bridgeport plays at 3 p.m., should be obvious by then who is on his way to the Island for tonight. Believe Anatolii Golyshev is getting a call-up. Could be others on the way depending on test results.
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Bridgeport Islanders announce that their three ATOs -- D Trevor Cosgrove, F's Koby Bender and Jimmy Lambert -- are under AHL contract for next season.
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Bridgeport has clinhed a spot in the AHL's expanded playoffs. Opponent in a best-of-3 first-round series to be determined over the next week or so.
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Is Sean Bergenheim the first former Sound Tiger to run for parliament? Tomi Pettinen didn't sneak that in when I wasn't watching, did he?.
Sean Bergenheim, 35-vuotias isä ja yrittäjä, asettuu ehdolle eduskuntavaaleissa Uudellamaalla. #sfprkp #lähelläsinua #eduskuntavaalit2019
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Ryan Bourque has retired after nine pro seasons, most of the past three with the Sound Tigers:
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Thompson confirmed that Hickey took Chris Wagner's skate to the side of the head yesterday but is "doing fine. The guy fell and as he was falling, the skate came up, caught him in the ear/jaw area, very dangerous. We're very thankful that it's just a cut.".
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Sound Tigers tie it at 2, 1:56 into the third, in Hershey. Nice deflection by Wahlstrom.
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Bridgeport's first roll vs Springfield, Raty in Koivula's spot.F: Holmstrom-Andreoff-Terry.Dal Colle-Raty-Czarnik.Jenkins-Kubiak-Bardreau.Brown-MacLean-Adams.D: Wotherspoon-Hutton.Helgeson-Vande Sompel.Salo-LaDue.G: Schneider.Skarek.
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Aatu Raty does not appear to be in Bridgeport's lineup tonight.
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Apparent Sound Tigers lineup in Springfield: .Lorito-Koivula-Wahlstrom.S.Holmstrom-Fritz (A)-Bernier.Bellows-Jobst-Schilkey.R.Bourque-Bardreau-McDonald.Hickey-Burroughs (C).Aho-Hutton.Wotherspoon-Helgeson (A).Coreau.Gibson.
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Bardreau, Ho-Sang, Gibson all day-to-day, per Thompson. Koivula said he, Thompson and Chris Lamoriello had a chat earlier in the week about working harder, taking his game to the next level. Thompson liked his response after sitting Friday.
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Ness led the Bears' handshake line. A few long hugs along the way.
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Bellows in the slot from Wahlstrom with Bernier in front at 33:36. Bridgeport 3, Hershey 2, final (Bridgeport leads series 1-0). For the first time in 13 years, Bridgeport leads a playoff series.
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Koivula cuts in from the left around Andersson and backhands it over the glove under the bar with 6.9 seconds left in OT. Bridgeport 4, Hartford 3, final.
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LRT: With Golyshev in NHL limbo and Vande Sompel reportedly hurt, Bridgeport's only healthy (AFAIK, he took warmup) scratch yesterday was Newkirk. BPT has no other skaters in Worcester.
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Bridgeport Islanders GM Chris Lamoriello says team has three players currently in COVID protocol, declining to detail further. "Taking every precaution not only for them but for everyone else.".
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Fun fact: Of the 333 players who have reached 1,000 NHL games, three of them have a son right now on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' roster. (One has two.).
Carpenter, Wahlstrom add young skill to Sound Tigers
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Fairfield Prep 9, Darien 7, final, CIAC Class LL championship. Graham Niemi will never have to hear me drop that "but they haven't won with" factoid ever again. #ctlax
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Bridgeport 3, WBS 0, final. Skarek 30 saves in his first North American shutout.
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Islanders should soon announce signing ex-Devils D Seth Helgeson to a one-year, two-way deal.
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Simon Holmstrom scores his first in North America. Took the pass top of the left circle, waited out the sliding D and put it home. 2-1 Bridgeport at 10:32 second. Breaks an 0-for-14 for BST.
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Unofficial but all signs pointing to Gibson going up.
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No chance the Bridgeport Islanders postpone, if it even crossed your mind. Bunch of guys up is Situation Normal in the AHL.
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Dal Colle fakes a shot, holds, loses Paul Thompson (who high-sticked him earlier) and scores from the right circle. Five in two nights. 2-1 BPT. .
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Sam Bolduc makes his season debut: .F: Dal Colle-Czarnik (A)-Terry.Golyshev-Koivula-Holmstrom.Durandeau-Andreoff (A)-Coskey.Brown-MacLean-Jenkins.D: Helgeson (C)-Vande Sompel.Bolduc-LaDue.Salo-Wotherspoon.G: Skarek.Appleby.
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41 seconds into the third, Sound Tigers legend Jan Kovar scores on his own rebound as the Bruins catch Bridgeport changing. Goal in his North American debut. 4-1 Providence.
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Cory Schneider still hasn't faced a shot in 55 1/2 weeks. No score after one. Shots 9-0 BPT. Second time in team history they've not allowed a shot in a period (1/9/10 vs SPR, third, OTW 3-2).
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Sound Tigers/Railers, Former Yale C Ryan Hitchcock: "Stepping away from hockey to pursue a different part of my life. Just the right time for myself." Played 36 AHL, 52 ECHL games.
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Newcomer Andrew Ladd tips in Rathgeb's pass after being in on forcing the neutral-zone turnover, I think. Might have a future. 1-1 with 2:40 left first.
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Told Casey Bailey has an AHL deal with the Sound Tigers.
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BPT rolled in Springfield (welcome back).F: Dal Colle-Czarnik (A)-Holmstrom.Durandeau-Andreoff (A)-Terry.Newkirk-Koivula-Golyshev.Jenkins-MacLean-Coskey.D: Hickey (A)-Vande Sompel.Salo-LaDue.Wotherspoon-Hutton.G: Skarek.Appleby.
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Ross Johnston getting the love on national television.
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Bridgeport Islanders coaches have masks on. Believe that's new.
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Three more points for Ho-Sang today five minutes into the second period.
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Huge free-agency splash for the Sound Tigers, who announce they've signed LW Chris Bourque and G Jeremy Smith, re-signing C's Ben Holmstrom and Connor Jones and LW Ryan Bourque.
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Hutton will be coming here on an amateur tryout, Bridgeport announces.
#Isles Transaction: Defenseman Grant Hutton has agreed to terms on a one-year, entry level contract for the 2019-20 season. He scored 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 37 games this season with Miami University (Ohio). Details:
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Sound Tigers in Hartford look like.F: Kuhnhackl-Kubiak-Bardreau.Timashov-Koivula-Coskey.Holmstrom-MacLean-Fritz.Turcotte-Carpenter-Greer.D: Helgeson-Bolduc.Vande Sompel-Hutton.Wotherspoon-Wilde.G: Skarek.Appleby. Alan says Golyshev is on the roster but not in town.
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I miss Darien-Hamden / Notre Dame-Northwest / whatever it'd be right now. I miss tweeting the lineup and getting "Why isn't (X) on the top line.".I miss the joyful anticipation of that bottom Monday semifinal and trying to write whatever crazy thing happened. Be well, you+yours.
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Ho-Sang, Verhaeghe back in tonight. and so is Eric Boulton for his Bridgeport/season debut. #BST.
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Bridgeport Islanders practiced today. Appeared to be a couple of forwards short, but no word on them yet.
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Justin Danforth set for his NHL debut tonight. He'll be the first Sacred Heart product to play in the Show.
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Neither Dal Colle nor Toews on for Sound Tigers practice. Don't see Mike Sislo, but the other injured guys are on, and John Stevens is in a spot that makes him look like he might be good to go.
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(Sec. 105 sings "Happy Birthday" to Ho-Sang. He turns around and claps for them.).
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Kyle Okposo, Stanley Cup champion. Most anticipated Sound Tigers pro debut. He lived up to it. And 16 years later we may've watched him cap it off perfectly.
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Fairfield Prep goalie Justin Lewis on his (25-save) game today in a 5-1 win over No. 1 Notre Dame-West Haven #cthk
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Ryan Pulock came into the season one of four BST D all-time with four or more game-winning goals. He has four more in the past 16 days.
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Prelim indication is no Austin Czarnik for Bridgeport tonight. No vets issue; team has reported no one in protocol and no injuries beyond Panik and Dal Colle. Felix Bibeau appears to return after missing five games. Sam Bolduc and Erik Brown are out for their fifth in a row.
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Bridgeport has made the Bobo Carpenter ATO official. Assigned No. 42.
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Took a shot of this one this afternoon out of last year's Fairfield Prep 50th-anniversary book from last year. That's current first-year coach Vin O'Hara in Matt Sather's first year, under. the banner #cthk
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St. Joseph 17, Hand 13, final, Class L #cthsfb final. The Hogs have won Class S, Class M and Class L in a row.
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Best-guess Bridgeport Game 1 line rushes, squinting at AHLTV:.F: Holmstrom-Andreoff-Terry.Dal Colle-Koivula-Czarnik.MacLean-Raty-Durandeau.Brown-Kubiak-Bardreau.D: Helgeson-Vande Sompel.Wotherspoon-Hutton.Salo-LaDue.G: Schneider.Skarek.
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Thompson: Ho-Sang was late tonight. "It's been handled.".
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Josh Ho-Sang (lower-body) is back in regular practice for the Sound Tigers. Ryan Bourque is not, though; upper-body.
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Halak (who will ultimately wear 41; Cullity to 39) declined to comment on the past week. "It's past." Looking forward to playing. #BST.
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F: Bellows-Lorito-McDonald (A).Jobst-Stevens-Schilkey.St. Denis - Koivula - Ho-Sang.R.Bourque-Kubiak-Bardreau.(S.Holmstrom-scratch).D: Wotherspoon-Burroughs (C).Hutton-Cornell.Helgeson (A)-Quenneville.G: Skarek.Coreau. A bit more:
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Aaron Ness missed the last three weeks injured for Hershey, but he got the first handoff from Dylan McIlrath. Also two in a row for ex-Yalie Joe Snively, and one for ex-QU D Chase Priskie
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They do let those 0.5 seconds go. Bridgeport 7, Charlotte 3, final. Bridgeport scores the last six. Ho-Sang in on five of them, with a hat trick. Three points apiece for Hickey, Ladd.
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My regular favorite crazy fact: No class has graduated from Fairfield Prep without a #cthk championship in their four years since 1990. Now none will until at least 2023.
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Bardreau, Dal Colle and Hutton back to Bridgeport, per AHL transactions. B-Islanders play in Allentown at 6.
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Holmstrom puts in the rebound of a Cornell one-timer before Lyon can cover. If Holmstrom gets that Koivula burst-o'-confidence. anyway. 3-3 with 12 minutes left.
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At the end of tonight's shift, it's retirement for Gary Rogo, the Post's former longtime sports editor. Gonna miss him. He took several chances on me; hope they paid off. All the best on the other side, boss.
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Bridgeport's first roll:.F: Dal Colle-Koivula-Terry.Durandeau-Andreoff-Holmstrom.MacLean-Kubiak-Adams.Brown-Jenkins-Bardreau.D: Wotherspoon-LaDue.Helgeson-Vande Sompel.Hickey-Hutton.G: Skarek.MIKE CORNELL.
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Couple of weeks shy of 16 years ago, the Islanders let the entire Bridgeport Sound Tigers coaching staff go. Including Lane Lambert.
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Quinnipiac goalies day on the AHL transaction wire. Andrew Shortridge up to Stockton from Kansas City. Keith Petruzzelli up from the Rock to the Marlies.
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Since Seth Helgeson arrived in 2017, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers/Islanders have played 375 games including tonight’s. At his first shift tonight, Helgeson will have played 369 of them (plus all 11 playoff games), passing Mark Wotton for most games played for BPT.
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Harding #cthsfb lineman Troy Rainey heard Rutgers coach Greg Schiano coming (in a helicopter) last week. He signed today to become a Scarlet Knight.
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Providence 4, Bridgeport 2, final. The Sound Tigers are the first AHL team to go 15 straight years without winning a playoff series. Sit out the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
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