#DillanFox

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KEELEY: MARINERS ANNOUNCE INITIAL PROTECTED LIST

Mariners retain rights of 17 players to begin building a roster  BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – July 2, 2021 – The Maine Mariners released their 2021 Protected List on Friday, containing 17 names of players whose ECHL rights will be retained by the Mariners. The Protected List is the first phase in a three-step process of protecting players’ rights, followed by submitting a season-ending roster and finally, issuing qualifying offers. The Protected List is as follows: FORWARDS (11): Conner Bleackley, Jonathan Desbiens, Ryan Ferrill, Dillan Fox, Ben Freeman, Ted Hart, Alex Kile, Nick Master, Michael McNicholas, Mikael Robidoux, Andrew Romano DEFENSEMEN (6): Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, Nate Kallen, Ryan Jackson, Michael Kim, Dallas Rossiter, Scott Savage

RULES

Any Player who had originally signed with one of the 12 Teams (Mariners included) not participating in the 2020-21 Season, and went on to sign with one of the 2020-21 Active Teams, shall have his Player Rights revert back to the original Member Team’s Protected List. Any Player who was issued a Qualifying Offer by a Member that elected Pandemic Voluntary Suspension, but never signed the Qualifying Offer, shall be declared a Free Agent for the 2021-22 Season. Any Player signed as an Amateur prior to the 2020-21 Season (i.e. straight out of college or juniors with zero pro experience) whose Member Team elected to take Pandemic Voluntary Suspension, and who subsequently did not play in the ECHL during the 2020-21 Season, may be voluntarily omitted from his Member's Protected List without penalty. Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that: - Signed an SPC in 2020-21 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR 2. Signed an SPC in 2020-21, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR 3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR 4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR 5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2020-21 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR 6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released. Protected lists may exceed 20 players.

ROSTERS

The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on July 5 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on July 8. Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2020-21. The Mariners are now proud affiliates of the Boston Bruins and begin their 2021-22 season, presented by Hannaford To Go, begins on October 22nd, with the home opener against the Worcester Railers, presented by Skowhegan Savings. The full schedule can be found here. Full season, half-season, 12-game mini-plans, and 10-ticket flex plans, as well as group tickets, are available now. All new and existing full and half-season ticket holders who make a deposit by August 1st are eligible to receive an exclusive Mariners jacket (full) or hooded sweatshirt. (half) For a limited time, to commemorate the new affiliation with the Bruins, ticket package deposits are just $19.92. Single-game tickets will go on sale in September. More information on current ticketing options is available by calling 833-GO-MAINE, emailing mariners-sales@comcastspectacor.com, or by visiting MarinersOfMaine.com. MAINE MARINERS HOME Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS ANNOUNCE 2020 PROTECTED LIST

Twenty players listed in step one of the rights protection process BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – June 2, 2020 – The Maine Mariners released their 2020 Protected List on Tuesday, containing 20 names of players of whom the Mariners retain ECHL rights. The Protected List is the first phase in a three-step process of protecting players’ rights, followed by submitting a season-ending roster and finally, issuing qualifying offers. The Protected List is as follows: FORWARDS (11): Conner Bleackley, Ryan Ferrill, Dillan Fox, Brian Hart, Ted Hart, Corey Kalk, Alex Kile, Nick Master, Michael McNicholas, Mikael Robidoux, Terrence Wallin DEFENSEMEN (8): Josh Couturier, Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, Nathaniel Kallen, Austin McEneny, Matt Nuttle, Jonathan Racine, Dallas Rossiter, Gabriel Sylvestre GOALTENDERS (1): Francois Brassard Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that: 1. Signed an SPC in 2019-20 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR 2. Signed an SPC in 2019-20, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR 3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR 4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR 5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2019-20 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR 6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released. Protected lists may exceed 20 players. The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 12 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 15. Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2019-20. Full and half-season ticket packages as well as mini-plans and flex packs for the 2020-21 season, sponsored by Hannaford To Go, are available by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Registration is open for the Aroma Joe’s “Read with ME” program, allowing kids in grades K-8 to earn Mariners and Aroma Joe’s prizes for accumulating reading hours. The latest Mariners merchandise is available at our online store: MarinersOfMaine.com/shop. The Mariners have also partnered with Evergreen Credit Union, the Portland Sea Dogs, and the Maine Red Claws to support the Good Shepherd Food Bank through a virtual food drive for COVID-19 relief at Fans4Food.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS ANNOUNCE END OF SEASON AWARDS

Wallin, Ronning, Fox, Hart, and Culkin recognized  BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – April 23, 2020 – Mariners Head Coach and Assistant General Manager Riley Armstrong announced the end of season team awards on Thursday. Forwards Terrence Wallin, Ty Ronning, Dillan Fox, Ted Hart, and defenseman Ryan Culkin were all recognized for their achievements in the 2019-20 season. The “Community Leader” Award went to Terrence Wallin. The second-year alternate captain put in 12 hours of community service in 2019-20, the most of anyone on the team. He participated in events such as the South Portland Fire and Police Community Open House, volunteering at the South Portland Food Cupboard, and participating in the Aroma Joe’s Community Skate. Wallin also runs “Evolution Hockey,” which puts on camps for youth hockey players and has launched a computer-based “Quarantine Classroom,” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he’s a native of Pennsylvania, Wallin has Maine roots in Kennebunk, which he called home for many years. “Terrence has devoted himself to the community in Portland,” said Armstrong “He continues doing work even now with his zoom hockey skills to help develop and grow the game in Maine.” The “Most Improved Player” award went to Ty Ronning, who saw his season similarly split between Maine and the Hartford Wolf Pack for the second year in a row. The 2016 draft pick of the New York Rangers posted 11 goals and 13 assists in his 28 games as a Mariner in 2019-20. “The way Ty approached this season on being sent to Maine was a 180 from last season,” said Armstrong. “His maturity level both on and off the ice was eye-opening for me. The way he played in Maine, he really deserved to be up in Hartford.” Ronning got a pair of call ups to the Wolf Pack – first on October 24th, 2019, and again on February 3rd, 2020, after which he stayed in the AHL for the remainder of the season. With the Mariners in 2019-20, Ronning had three multi-goal games, highlighted by his second career hat trick on January 24th, 2020 in an 8-1 home win against the Worcester Railers. Ronning will forever hold legendary status in Mariners history for his five-point ECHL debut on November 24th, 2018 vs. Manchester, still a single-game franchise record. The team’s “Unsung Hero” was Dillan Fox for the second year in a row. Fox was tied for the team lead in goals with 23, and power play goals with five. He has also become the franchise’s career leader in both categories through its first two seasons. Fox played in 59 games for the Mariners in 2019-20, second to Michael McNicholas’ 60. “Dillan pretty much put the team on his back at the start of the year scoring some big goals and breaking the 20 goal plateau,” said Armstrong. His blazing start to 2019-20 was marked by six goals in the first six games of the season. Fox initially joined the Mariners on a loan from the SPHL in January 2019 and made a name for himself by scoring 16 goals in 37 games for Maine in the inaugural season. This past season, he had nine multi-point games for the Mariners including a four-point performance on November 22nd at Norfolk. On December 28th, 2019, Fox was loaned to Hartford and made his AHL debut by dressing in two games for the Wolf Pack. Ted Hart was named “Rookie of the Year.” The Cumberland native officially became the first Maine-born Mariner on November 9th, 2019 when he made his ECHL debut in a 5-1 win over the Adirondack Thunder. Hart scored his first ECHL on November 20th at Norfolk and finished the season with 10 goals and eight assists in 48 games. Hart was initially cut from the team after training camp, but put up six points in five games with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen, and stuck with the Mariners for the rest of the season after his November recall. “Once he came back to Maine from the SPHL, he showed that he can play in this league,” said Armstrong. “I can see Ted scoring 30 goals if he puts the work in the summer.” Hart, 24, is a former two-time Maine state champion for Greely High School and played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey for Yale University before turning pro this past season. Armstrong named co-MVPs for 2019-20. Wallin and defenseman Ryan Culkin share the honor. “Terrence was our most consistent player throughout the course of the year making a big impact in every game that he played in,” said Armstrong. “Ryan was a big part of the D-core even though he only played half the season for us. He played in all key areas and big minutes.” Wallin finished second on the team with 43 points, and tied Fox for the goals lead, with 23. That mark was a career-high in his fifth pro season, and he was seven points shy of his career-high in points, with 10 games canceled due to COVID-19. To illustrate his consistency, Wallin had just one span of more than two games without a point in the entire 2019-20 season. He registered his first career hat trick on January 3rd, 2020 against the Jacksonville Icemen. Culkin, also a second-year Mariner, was remarkably productive offensively from the blue line. His 33 points in 45 games were by far the most by a Mariners defenseman (13 more than the next highest: Sean Day), and also good for fifth on the team overall. Under contract with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, Culkin was recalled in late November and again – for good, in mid-February. Like Fox, Culkin had a four-point game on November 22nd in Norfolk, highlighting his season. Maine Mariners Award History: Community Leader 2018-19: Louie Rowe 2019-20: Terrence Wallin Most Improved Player 2018-19: Dwyer Tschantz 2019-20: Ty Ronning Unsung Hero 2018-19: Dillan Fox 2019-20: Dillan Fox Rookie of the Year 2018-19: Michael McNicholas 2019-20: Ted Hart Most Valuable Player 2018-19: Greg Chase 2019-20: Terrence Wallin/Ryan Culkin The Mariners are supporting local COVID-19 relief efforts in a number of ways. “HOME” t-shirts are on sale through Friday, April 24th at the online merchandise store, with net proceeds benefitting the United Way of Greater Portland and other local COVID-19 relief funds. Local school districts and other non-profits are also being supported by the Mariners by way of an exclusive specialty jersey auction through Handbid, which runs through May 1st. Additionally, the Mariners have partnered with Evergreen Credit Union, the Portland Sea Dogs, and the Maine Red Claws to support the Good Shepherd Food Bank in a virtual food drive at Fans4Food.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS LAUNCH NEW RADIO SHOW: ‘QUARANTIME’

Michael Keeley talks hockey from home with players and coaches BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – April 7, 2020 – Although there’s been a lack of sports in the world over the last month, the Mariners will be bringing some hockey talkback starting this Thursday night. Media Relations and Broadcast Manager Michael Keeley will be hosting a new show on the Mariners Radio Network called “Quarantime,” in which Mariners players and coaches will call in and join the conversation. The first show will air on Thursday from 5-6 PM ET and will stream live on the Mariners Radio Network, powered by Mixlr. Fans can tune in at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen, Mixlr.com/MaineMariners, or through the Mixlr App, available wherever apps can be downloaded. Keeley will speak with Mariners Head Coach and Assistant General Manager Riley Armstrong from 5-5:30 and forward Dillan Fox will call in from 5:30-6 PM. Listeners can submit questions for guests live through the Mixlr chat. “I think it’s important to bring the conversation back to hockey every now and then, as an escape from the stresses of our current situation,” said Keeley. “It’s been rough for all fans, athletes, and those who work in the sports industry to have virtually no ‘sports escape’ outlets in our lives for the last month. Hopefully, we can take people’s minds off of the virus for a little while.” Thursday’s show will focus on a recap of the 2019-20 season, how Armstrong and Fox are spending their time at home, and a look toward the summer. For fans that can’t tune in to the show live, the full recording will be available on the audio archive at this link. Information on future shows will be posted on Mariners' social media channels as well as MarinersOfMaine.com. The Mariners are raising funds for COVID-19 relief efforts including the United Way of Greater Portland, through sales of an exclusive t-shirt at their online store. The shirt is $20 and is being sold through the end of the business day on April 24th. It can be purchased at this link. Net proceeds benefit the United Way and other local COVID-19 relief funds. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: 2019-20 SEASON RECAP

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME: Here is a recap of key dates and events from the 2019-2020 season. Mar. 24, 2020 – Regardless of the hockey team one played, worked, or rooted for in 2019-20, it will be a season they’ll never forget. An abrupt end to the ECHL season cut down the Maine Mariners schedule to 62 games and took away what looked to be the first postseason appearance in franchise history. While we’ll never know how the 2019-20 season would have turned out in the end, the second season of Mariners hockey brought many exciting moments to the Cross Insurance Arena and the great hockey fans of Maine. Here are some significant moments that marked the shortened, but a memory-filled season that was. October 11th, 2019 vs. ADK: The Mariners open the season at home against the Adirondack Thunder, just as they did in their inaugural campaign. Unfortunately, history repeats itself and the Mariners suffered a 5-2 loss. Taylor Cammarata scores both Maine goals, attempting to bring them back from a 3-0 deficit late. October 19th, 2019 @ REA: The Mariners get their first win of the season, spoiling the Reading Royals home opener. Tom McCollum(who would ironically become a Royal later in the season), makes 44 saves, and the Mariners put up 5 goals in a 5-3 victory. This would turn out to be their lone win in Reading for the season. November 9th, 2019 vs. ADK: In front of the largest crowd of the season (4,588) on Military Appreciation Night, Jake Elmer nets the first of four Mariners hat tricks, leading the Mariners to a 5-1 win over Adirondack. November 11th, 2019 vs. REA: With Gritty in the building, the Mariners defeat the Reading Royals, 4-3 in overtime. Alex Kile scores the game-winning goal just 23 seconds into the extra period, his first goal of the season. Kile would prove to be a clutch OT player for the Mariners all season long. November 15th, 2019 vs. BRM: The Mariners honor NHL refereeing great, Maine Sports Hall of Fame inductee, and South Portland resident Wes McCauley, as they defeat the Brampton Beast, 6-3 despite letting a 3-0 lead slip away quickly late in the 2nd period. The win is the Mariners’ fourth in a row. November 26th, 2019 vs. WOR: After losing two of three in Norfolk, the Mariners return home before Thanksgiving to win a wild one in overtime, 5-4 in their first home meeting of the season with the Worcester Railers. Ryan Gropp scores two goals while Kile gets his second overtime winner in the span of 15 days. This turns out to be the final game for Railers head coach Jamie Russell, who is relieved of his duties the following day. December 6th, 2019 @ ADK: Jake Elmer registers his second hat trick against Adirondack in less than a month, capping it with the overtime winner to rescue the Mariners, who had blown a 4-1 lead. It was only Maine’s second-ever win at the Cool Insuring Arena but would turn out to be the start of a remarkable Mariners run in Glens Falls. December 7th, 2019 vs. ADK: Elmer continues his dominance of the Thunder, scoring the Teddy Bear Toss goal early, and adding his fifth goal of the weekend to later tie the game at 4 in the third period. Ty Ronning’s shorthanded goal is the game-winner and Elmer goes on to win ECHL Player of the Week honors. December 10th, 2019 vs. ADK: Francois Brassard makes his season debut and gets the win as Dillan Fox tips home a Brandon Crawley pass in the final minute of overtime to give the Mariners a 3-2 win and a three-game sweep of Adirondack. December 21st, 2019 @ ADK: The Mariners finish off back-to-back pre-Christmas 4-3 shootout wins in Adirondack when Taylor Cammarata scores in the fifth round to end it. Each game featured the Thunder tying it up late, but the Mariners getting the shootout bonus point. Maine goes into holiday break in sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division and a season-high four games above .500. January 3rd, 2020 vs. JAX: The Mariners and the Jacksonville IceMen meet for the first time ever, and Maine rallies from down 3-2 late in the 2nd to get a 5-3 win. Terrence Wallin’s first career hat trick leads the way as he scores one in each period, including the game-winner in the third. January 14th, 2020 vs. WOR: The Mariners snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Worcester at home. Rookie forward Mikael Robidoux enters the scene, stirring up physical play and drawing the Railers into penalties, ultimately allowing the Mariners to score back-to-back power play goals late in the 3rd to flip the score in their favor. January 24th, 2020 vs. WOR: Returning from the All-Star break after playing eight games in ten days, the Mariners explode for a franchise-best eight goals – three by Ty Ronning. They score three goals in a 58-second span in the 2nd period to pull away. Adam Huska makes his Mariners debut in between the pipes and makes 43 saves. January 29th, 2020 @ ADK: The Mariners win yet again in Glens Falls 3-0, as Connor LaCouvee picks up his third shutout in a span of 10 starts and his second in a row. Their win two nights later makes it six consecutive road victories over Adirondack. The streak goes to seven with another win in mid-February. February 1st, 2020 vs. ADK: In a partnership with Agren and Make-A-Wish Maine, the Mariners wear jerseys designed by 11-year-old “Wish Kid” Ellie LaBree, and take down the Thunder, 3-2 in OT. Michael McNicholas scores the golden goal, which improves the franchise’s all-time “extra time” record to 20-3-2 (W-OTL-SOL). February 7th, 2020 vs. WOR: LaCouvee makes 45 stops to lead the Mariners to a season-high five wins in a row, squeezing out a 2-1 victory over Worcester. The streak ends the following night, with a 3-2 OT loss to Brampton, but the point streak gets to six. February 11th, 2020 vs. BRM: The Mariners salvage the last of a three-game home set with the Brampton Beast when Alex Kile gets his third OT winner of the season with less than a minute remaining. This would turn out to be the final win on home ice for the Mariners in 2019-20. February 14th, 2020 @ NFL: The Mariners are on the wrong side of some ECHL history when the Newfoundland Growlers win their 19th consecutive home game, 5-1. The Mariners fall to 0-5-0-0 all-time at Mile One Centre, but the best is yet to come. February 15th, 2020 @ NFL: Morgan Adams-Moisan scores a late power play goal to break a 1-1 tie and end the Growlers’ streak before it can reach 20. Francois Brassard gets his first of consecutive wins in between the pipes as the Mariners go on to take three in a row in St. John’s, becoming the first team to ever do so against the Growlers. February 26th, 2020 @ REA: The Royals crush the Mariners, 8-0, the largest margin of defeat in franchise history. The Mariners play the game with just four defensemen due to injuries and the last moment illness to captain Zach Tolkinen. February 28th, 2020 @ WHE: The franchise’s first trip to Wheeling marks a homecoming for Mariners Head Coach Riley Armstrong, who was an assistant for the Nailers from 2016-18. Terrence Wallin scores a pair – including the beneficiary of a Nailers' “own goal,” and Greg Chase scores the game-winner in the 3rd. This becomes Maine’s final victory of the season. March 10th, 2020 vs. NOR: The fateful final game of the season, unbeknownst to anyone. The Mariners battled back from a pair of one-goal deficits but Norfolk’s J.C. Campagna scores on a breakaway with 2:05 left to hand the Mariners a 3-2 loss. The final goal of the Mariners’ season belongs to Cumberland native, Ted Hart. The Mariners' final record will read 32-26-3-1. They went 16-15-2-0 on home ice and 16-11-1-1 on the road (they had only 15 road wins in all of 2018-19). When the season halted, the Mariners were 11 points ahead of Adirondack for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division, and three points behind Brampton for third place. They had seven games remaining with Worcester, two with Adirondack, and one with Reading. CLICK HERE for a video recap of the 2019-20 season! 2019-20 Records: Overall: 32-26-3-1 Home: 16-15-2-0 Road: 16-11-1-1 vs. ADK: 12-4-0-0 vs. WOR: 7-2-1-1 vs. NFL: 5-6-0-0 vs. BRM: 3-2-2-0 vs. REA: 2-6-0-0 The Mariners used 42 different players this season: 23 forwards, 15 defensemen, and 4 goaltenders. 2019-20 Team Leaders: Points: Alex Kile (51) Goals: Terrence Wallin/Dillan Fox (23) Assists: Alex Kile (35) Games Played: Michael McNicholas (60) PIM: Mikael Robidoux (80) PPG: Terrence Wallin/Dillan Fox (5) SHG: Michael McNicholas (2) GWG: Terrence Wallin (7) Wins: Connor LaCouvee (20) GAA: Connor LaCouvee (2.75) SV%: Connor LaCouvee (.915) Notable League Ranks (Individual): Terrence Wallin – T-2nd, game-winning goals (7) Alex Kile – T-2nd, longest road point streak (12 games, 11/22/19-1/7/20) Connor LaCouvee – 4th, saves (1060), 4th, shootout SV% (.833), 13th, GAA (2.75) Ryan Culkin – 16th, points by a defenseman (33) Notable League Ranks (Team): Team, shorthanded goals against – T-3rd (4) Team, penalty kill – 6th (83.7%) Team, road penalty kill – 6th (85.5%) Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: RIGHTING THE SHIP 

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME: Mar. 9, 2020 – Double up the nautical puns for Tuesday’s meeting between the Mariners and Norfolk Admirals, as Maine looks to shake off some recent struggles, both overall, and at home. After playing three straight home games against the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, the Mariners let a 2-0 lead slip away on Sunday afternoon against the Worcester Railers and fell in overtime. Despite the slump, the Mariners gained a key point in the playoff race, dropping their “Magic Number” down to ten points to clinch their first-ever playoff berth. For more information on how the Magic Number is calculated, check out some “Magic Number 101.” Three games are on the schedule this week. The Admirals are in town tomorrow and then a home and home with the Railers over the weekend. Eleven games remain in the regular season. The week that was Fri, Mar. 6th – REA: 2, MNE: 1 There was a playoff atmosphere in the Cross Insurance Arena as the Mariners wore throwback jerseys and took on a Reading Royals team that they could face in the postseason. The Royals held a 1-0 lead through two before Pascal Laberge gave them insurance in the third. Michael McNicholas gave the Mariners life with a late goal, but former Mariner goalie Tom McCollum was fantastic and made a clutch save on Conner Bleackley in the game’s closing seconds to seal the Reading victory.  FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sun, Mar. 8th – WOR: 3, MNE: 2/OT The Mariners scored twice in the first period as Matt Nuttle got his first goal in a Maine uniform and Dillan Fox added a pretty power play goal in the final minute. Trailing 2-1 in the third, Worcester’s Tyler Poulsen tied the game on a breakaway and forced OT. Both teams had to kill a penalty in overtime, but Railers forward Drew Callin ended the game during 3 on 3 at the 4:27 mark. It was only Worcester’s second-ever win at the Cross Insurance Arena, in 13 trips. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) MAR 5 – FERRIS STATE DEFENSEMAN KALLEN SIGNS IN MAINE MAR 5 – MARINERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN MCENENY AT DEADLINE This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Tues, Mar. 10 vs. Norfolk Admirals – 7:00 PM (HOME) – PRESENTED BY CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS Fri, Mar. 13 @ Worcester Railers – 7:05 PM (AWAY) Sat, Mar. 14 vs. Worcester Railers – 6:00 PM (HOME) – BEACON’S BIRTHDAY BASH  Tuesday is the final non-divisional game of the season as the Mariners take on Norfolk for the fourth time. The teams played a three-game series in Virginia in November, with the Admirals winning two of three. Then, it’s a home-and-home over the weekend with Worcester. The Mariners and Railers still have seven meetings (of the Mariners’ final 11 games). Worcester’s next loss (or Maine’s next win/point gained), will officially eliminate them from playoff contention. On Saturday, the Mariners celebrate Beacon’s second birthday with “Beacon’s Birthday Bash,” a celebration that will include several local mascots on hand. The first 1,000 kids in attendance ages 12 and under will get a Mariners' travel toothbrush. Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance: four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies starting at $80. After Saturday, the final Family Four Pack game of the regular season is Sunday, March 29th. Doors open one hour prior to all Mariners home games, one hour and fifteen minutes for season ticket holders. Playoff Picture:

The Mariners “Magic Number” is calculated by the combination of points gained and points “not gained” by the first non-playoff team (Adirondack). For example, each Mariners win reduces the number by two, and each overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. Conversely, each Adirondack regular loss reduces the number by two, and each Adirondack overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. The top four teams in the division make the playoffs, with the top two getting “home-ice advantage” in the first round. More info on how the Magic Number works, can be found in THIS VIDEO.  Looking ahead: The Mariners' final two home games are against Worcester on Friday, March 27th, and Sunday, March 29th. The 27th is Country Night, presented by 99.9 The Wolf, and includes ticket giveaways to upcoming country concerts. March 29th is Fan Appreciation Night presented by Redbank Village. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting books for the remainder of the regular season for Ronald McDonald Charities of Maine. Fans who donate three or more books will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Both children’s and adult’s book donations are welcomed. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While donations will be accepted at the Mariners office and other Cross Insurance Arena events, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a Mariners game. Mariners Coach’s Show The Mariners Coach’s Show airs this Thursday, March 12th from 6-7 PM, hosted by Mariners broadcaster Michael Keeley, broadcasting live at Three Dollar Deweys at 241 Commercial Street in Portland and airs online at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen. A Mariners coach and player will each join the show and meet with fans. Four tickets to an upcoming Mariners game will also be given away at Three Dollar Deweys at the end of the show. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS FALL TO SOUTH CAROLINA IN SEE-SAW AFFAIR

Mariners can’t make a fifth comeback, fall at home to league’s best team BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – March 1, 2020 – The Mariners battled back from four one-goal deficits but never led, and ultimately fell 6-4 to the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena. Steve Whitney scored two goals plus an assist for South Carolina while Jeff Taylor facilitated the Mariners offense with three assists. The first three goals of the game came in the final five minutes of the first period. Whitney ripped a wrister past the glove of Connor LaCouvee at 15:04 to make it 1-0 Stingrays. Michael McNicholas tied the game at 17:24 with a nice shot inside the post, but the Stingrays took the momentum back quickly with a Tim Harrison shorthanded goal at 19:14, finishing a net drive from Andrew Cherniwchan. It was 2-1 ‘Rays after one period. The second period was rather chaotic, as each team scored three times. Terrence Wallin tipped a power play shot from Alex Kile past Parker Milner just 21 seconds into the frame to tie the game at two. Alec Marsh put the Stingrays back ahead at 3:05, only to be answered by a Dillan Fox power play tally at 8:32. Kile’s drive once again made the play, with Jeff Taylor picking up an assist on each of Maine’s first three goals. The Stingrays got a power play goal of their own at 10:52 from Matthew Weis, which was answered 21 seconds later when Andrew Sturtz backhanded a rebound from a McNicholas shot under Milner’s stick. Whitney would score his second goal of the game off a broken zone entry at 16:21 to restore the South Carolina lead heading to the third. The lone goal of the third came from Cherniwchan on the power play at 8:54 to bring the game to a 6-4 final. Milner earned his 20th win with 26 stops. LaCouvee stopped 25 in the loss. Due to the Reading Royals’ win at Worcester, the Mariners fell seven points out of 2nd place, but remain four ahead of the idle Brampton Beast for third and still ten up on Adirondack for a playoff spot, with a “magic number” of 17 points. The winner of the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award, announced during the second intermission, was Matthew St. Pierre of the Hampden Fire Department. Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragic passing of the Berwick fire captain. The Mariners host Reading on Friday, March 6th for “80s Night/Throwback Night,” presented by Partner’s Bank. The Mariners will wear vintage AHL Mariners jerseys with the orange, white, and black color scheme, which will go on auction via Handbid, starting March 2nd and running until the end of the 3rd period on Friday. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the 2nd period. Throwback Weekend continues on Sunday, March 8th with “I Love the 90s” against Worcester at 3 PM, also featuring a postgame full-team autograph session. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80, and must be purchased in advance of game day. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: SCHEDULE SOFTENING

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME - Feb. 24, 2020 – It’s been a major grind for the Mariners through the first two months of 2020. After playing 15 games in January, the Mariners will wind down their 14-game February with two this week – and a third on Sunday to open March. 2020’s third month will provide some relief – with a total of 11 games, seven of which are at home, and nine of which are played in New England (Portland or Worcester). The Mariners sit third in the North Division, ten points up on a playoff spot, in a sandwich between second and fourth place, with a two-point buffer in each direction. Sunday afternoon begins a big four-game homestand and features an appearance by the Kelly Cup and the honoring of a local hero. The week that was Tues, Feb. 18th – MNE: 2, NFL: 1 For as good as Francois Brassard was on Saturday, he was even better Tuesday, making 34 saves to help the Mariners take back-to-back games in Newfoundland. Aaron Luchuk, who would be traded the following day, scored the lone first-period goal for the Growlers before Greg Chase tied it up in the 2nd period. Terrence Wallin netted his team-leading seventh game-winner midway through the third. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Weds, Feb. 19th – MNE: 5, NFL: 2 Despite giving up the first goal of the game for the third time in four contests at Mile One Centre, the Mariners jumped on Growler goalie Maxsim Zhukov with three in the first from Conner Bleackley, Dillan Fox, and Alex Kile – Kile’s goal coming on a 5-on-3. Newfoundland got the game back to a one-goal margin in the third but Kile scored again to restore the two-goal lead. Ryan Culkin’s empty netter capped off the third win in a row at Mile One Centre – a first for a visiting opponent in Growlers franchise history. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sat, Feb 22nd – MNE: 2, ADK: 1 The Mariners continued a stellar run defensively, keeping their opponent to two or fewer goals for the fifth game in a row, as goals from Bleackley and Kile were enough for Connor LaCouvee. The Thunder didn’t score until midway through the third period when Mike Szmatula banked one off LaCouvee’s back from below the goal line. The Mariners win in Glens Falls was their seventh in a row, and they improved to 12-4-0-0 overall against the Thunder this season. FULL GAME RECAP Sun, Feb 23rd – NFL: 4, MNE: 1 A visibly fatigued Mariners team just didn’t have it from the get-go in their return to Portland after the five-game trip. The Growlers pounced early with a pair of goals before the game was five minutes old and when they took a 3-0 lead through one, the hole was too deep for the Mariners to climb out of. Jeff Taylor scored Maine’s lone goal while Justin Brazeau and Evan Neugold had two points each for a Newfoundland team that snapped a four-game losing streak. The Growlers took a very even season series, 6-5. Over 3,000 fans turned out on a Sunday afternoon for “Miracle Night,” as the Mariners wore 1980 Team USA-inspired uniforms and screen the movie after the game. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) F LEWIS ZERTER GOSSAGE WAS TRADED FROM THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS THE MARINERS ACQUIRED D MATT NUTTLE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Weds, Feb. 26 @ Reading Royals – 7:00 PM (AWAY) Fri, Feb. 28 @ Wheeling Nailers – 7:05 PM (AWAY) Sun, Mar. 1 vs. South Carolina Stingrays – 3:00 PM (HOME) - TICKETS  The Mariners jump back on the road for a pair of games, Wednesday at Reading and Friday at Wheeling. Wednesday night’s game will be a battle for 2nd place in the North Division, with the Mariners currently trailing the Royals by two points. Friday’s trip to Wheeling is the first-ever in Mariners' history. The Nailers came to Portland last February and lost to the Mariners, 4-1. All games air on the Mariners Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to puck drop. The radio broadcast streams free on MarinersOfMaine.com/listen or the Mixlr App. A video stream is available on a subscription or pay-per-view bases through ECHL.tv in HD, with the “AWAY” audio option carrying the Mariners broadcast. On Sunday afternoon, Northeast Charter and Tour Co. presents “Reading Night,” as the Mariners will recognize members of their inaugural “Read with ME” summer reading program. The ECHL’s championship trophy, the Kelly Cup will also be in the building for fans to view and take photos with. During the 2nd intermission, the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award will be handed out to one of three finalists, which were named this past week. Captain Barnes tragically passed away in the line of duty exactly one year ago to the day of the game. The Mariners’ opponent is the South Carolina Stingrays, who currently possess the best record in the ECHL. Puck drop is 3 PM, and fans can skate with the team after the game. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. For all Saturday and Sunday home games, Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance. Family four packs include four tickets, four food, and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies, starting at $80. Playoff Picture:

TIEBREAKERS: Non-Shootout Wins (ROW) Goal Differential Head-To-Head points (Adjusted for an equal number of home games) The Mariners “Magic Number” is calculated by the combination of points gained and points “not gained” by the first non-playoff team (Adirondack). For example, each Mariners win reduces the number by two, and each overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. Conversely, each Adirondack regular loss reduces the number by two, and each Adirondack overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. The top four teams in the division make the playoffs, with the top two getting “home-ice advantage” in the first round. Looking ahead: The Mariners remain home for the first four games of March. On March 6th, it’s Throwback Night against the Reading Royals at 7:15 PM presented by Partners Bank, as the Mariners wear original Mariners jerseys with Mariners AHL alumni on hand. Sunday, March 8th is “I Love the 90s” against Worcester at 3 PM with a postgame full-team autograph session after the game. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting books for the remainder of the regular season for Ronald McDonald Charities of Maine. Fans who donate three or more books will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Both children’s and adult’s book donations are welcomed. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While donations will be accepted at the Mariners office and other Cross Insurance Arena events, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a Mariners game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: SCHEDULE SOFTENING

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – It’s been a major grind for the Mariners through the first two months of 2020. After playing 15 games in January, the Mariners will wind down their 14-game February with two this week – and a third on Sunday to open March. 2020’s third month will provide some relief – with a total of 11 games, seven of which are at home, and nine of which are played in New England (Portland or Worcester). The Mariners sit third in the North Division, ten points up on a playoff spot, in a sandwich between second and fourth place, with a two-point buffer in each direction. Sunday afternoon begins a big four-game homestand and features an appearance by the Kelly Cup and the honoring of a local hero. The week that was: Tues, Feb. 18th – MNE: 2, NFL: 1 For as good as Francois Brassard was on Saturday, he was even better Tuesday, making 34 saves to help the Mariners take back-to-back games in Newfoundland. Aaron Luchuk, who would be traded the following day, scored the lone first-period goal for the Growlers before Greg Chase tied it up in the 2nd period. Terrence Wallin netted his team-leading seventh game-winner midway through the third. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Weds, Feb. 19th – MNE: 5, NFL: 2 Despite giving up the first goal of the game for the third time in four contests at Mile One Centre, the Mariners jumped on Growler goalie Maxim Zhukov with three in the first from Conner Bleackley, Dillan Fox, and Alex Kile – Kile’s goal coming on a 5-on-3. Newfoundland got the game back to a one-goal margin in the third but Kile score again to restore the two-goal lead. Ryan Culkin’s empty netter capped off the third win in a row at Mile One Centre – a first for a visiting opponent in Growlers franchise history. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sat, Feb 22nd – MNE: 2, ADK: 1 The Mariners continued a stellar run defensively, keeping their opponent to two or fewer goals for the fifth game in a row, as goals from Bleackley and Kile were enough for Connor LaCouvee. The Thunder didn’t score until midway through the third period when Mike Szmatula banked one off LaCouvee’s back from below the goal line. The Mariners win in Glens Falls was their seventh in a row, and they improved to 12-4-0-0 overall against the Thunder this season. FULL GAME RECAP Sun, Feb 23rd – NFL: 4, MNE: 1 A visibly fatigued Mariners team just didn’t have it from the get-go in their return to Portland after the five-game trip. The Growlers pounced early with a pair of goals before the game was five minutes old and when they took a 3-0 lead through one, the hole was too deep for the Mariners to climb out of. Jeff Taylor scored Maine’s lone goal while Justin Brazeau and Evan Neugold had two points each for a Newfoundland team that snapped a four-game losing streak. The Growlers took a very even season series, 6-5. Over 3,000 fans turned out on a Sunday afternoon for “Miracle Night,” as the Mariners wore 1980 Team USA-inspired uniforms and screen the movie after the game. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) F LEWIS ZERTER GOSSAGE WAS TRADED FROM THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS THE MARINERS ACQUIRED D MATT NUTTLE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Weds, Feb. 26 @ Reading Royals – 7:00 PM (AWAY) Fri, Feb. 28 @ Wheeling Nailers – 7:05 PM (AWAY) Sun, Mar. 1 vs. South Carolina Stingrays – 3:00 PM (HOME) - TICKETS  The Mariners jump back on the road for a pair of games, Wednesday at Reading and Friday at Wheeling. Wednesday night’s game will be a battle for 2nd place in the North Division, with the Mariners currently trailing the Royals by two points. Friday’s trip to Wheeling is the first-ever in Mariners' history. The Nailers came to Portland last February and lost to the Mariners, 4-1. All games air on the Mariners Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to puck drop. The radio broadcast streams free on MarinersOfMaine.com/listen or the Mixlr App. A video stream is available on a subscription or pay-per-view bases through ECHL.tv in HD, with the “AWAY” audio option carrying the Mariners broadcast. On Sunday afternoon, Northeast Charter and Tour Co. presents “Reading Night,” as the Mariners will recognize members of their inaugural “Read with ME” summer reading program. The ECHL’s championship trophy, the Kelly Cup will also be in the building for fans to view and take photos with. During the 2nd intermission, the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award will be handed out to one of three finalists, which were named this past week. Captain Barnes tragically passed away in the line of duty exactly one year ago to the day of the game. The Mariners’ opponent is the South Carolina Stingrays, who currently possess the best record in the ECHL. Puck drop is 3 PM, and fans can skate with the team after the game. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. For all Saturday and Sunday home games, Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance. Family four packs include four tickets, four food, and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies, starting at $80. Playoff Picture:

Tiebreakers: 1. Non-shootout wins (ROW) 2. Goal differential 3. Head-to-Head points (adjusted for equal # of home games) The Mariners “Magic Number” is calculated by the combination of points gained and points “not gained” by the first non-playoff team (Adirondack). For example, each Mariners win reduces the number by two, and each overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. Conversely, each Adirondack regular loss reduces the number by two, and each Adirondack overtime or shootout loss reduces it by one. The top four teams in the division make the playoffs, with the top two getting “home-ice advantage” in the first round. Looking ahead: The Mariners remain home for the first four games of March. On March 6th, it’s Throwback Night against the Reading Royals at 7:15 PM presented by Partners Bank, as the Mariners wear original Mariners jerseys with Mariners AHL alumni on hand. Sunday, March 8th is “I Love the 90s” against Worcester at 3 PM with a postgame full-team autograph session after the game. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting books for the remainder of the regular season for Ronald McDonald Charities of Maine. Fans who donate three or more books will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Both children’s and adult’s book donations are welcomed. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While donations will be accepted at the Mariners office and other Cross Insurance Arena events, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a Mariners game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: STREAK STOPPERS?

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME - Feb. 10, 2020 – One game remains on the current homestand for the Maine Mariners before becoming road warriors for the next three weeks. After Tuesday’s season-series finale against the Brampton Beast, the Mariners will play seven of their next eight games on the road, stopping home just briefly on February 23rd to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. The road stretch begins in St. John’s Newfoundland on Friday, where the defending Kelly Cup Champion Growlers haven’t lost a game since October. The Mariners will look to keep the North Division leaders from breaking an ECHL record, all the while trying to inch closer to clinching a playoff spot. The week that was Tues, Feb. 4th – WOR: 1, MNE: 4 At the start of a busy home week, the Mariners continued to dominate Worcester on Cross Insurance Arena ice, building a 3-0 lead on goals by Michael McNicholas, Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, and Ryan Culkin. Dillan Fox added an empty netter while Greg Chase and Alex Kile each registered three assists. The Mariners moved into a third-place tie with Brampton. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Fri, Feb. 7th – WOR: 1, MNE: 2 The Mariners again took a 2-0 lead on Worcester, getting goals from Fox (his fourth game in a row with a goal), and Morgan Adams-Moisan. The rest fell on Connor LaCouvee’s shoulders, as he made 45 saves on 46 Railers shots. The Mariners moved to 11-1-0-0 all-time against Worcester in Portland and took sole possession of third place in the North. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sat, Feb 8th – BRM: 3, MNE: 2/OT The Mariners kept their point streak alive, but the win streak came to an end at the hands of a rested Brampton Beast team that hadn’t played in a week. Maine rallied back from a 2-0 deficit with a shorthanded goal late in the 2nd period by Alex Kile and then a 4-on-4 marker from debuting forward Conner Bleackley early in the 3rd. David Vallorani beat the Mariners in OT for the 2nd time in less than a month, when he scored his ECHL-leading eighth game-winner late in 3-on-3. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS   Sun, Feb 9th – BRM: 3, MNE: 2 Sunday’s game was a see-saw affair, with the Beast taking three one-goal leads, ultimately holding onto the third. Linsday Sparks had two for Brampton, while Jake Elmer and Morgan Adams-Moisan tied the game in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Elmer’s goal sends packages of underwear flying from the stands for the “Underwear Toss,” which collected donations for Preble Street Teen Services. David Pacan’s redirect with less than 12 minutes to play in the 3rd held up as the game-winning goal. Brampton jumped back over Maine for third place. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) F TY RONNING RECALLED TO HARTFORD (AHL) BY THE NEW YORK RANGERS F JAKE ELMER RECALLED TO HARTFORD (AHL) BY THE NEW YORK RANGERS F LEWIS ZERTER-GOSSAGE REASSIGNED TO MAINE FROM HARTFORD (AHL) D JEFF TAYLOR REASSIGNED TO MAINE FROM HARTFORD (AHL) This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Tues, Feb. 11 vs. Brampton Beast – 7:00 PM (HOME) Fri, Feb. 14 @ Newfoundland Growlers – 5:30 PM (AWAY) Sat, Feb. 15 @ Newfoundland Growlers – 5:30 PM (AWAY)  The Mariners and Beast finish their season series on Tuesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena, separated by just one point for third place in the North Division playoff race. It will be the last home game until Sunday, February 23rd when the Mariners celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice with “Miracle Night,” at 3 PM against Newfoundland. The Mariners will wear specialty jerseys inspired by the 1980 U.S. Olympic goal medal team, which will be auctioned through the Handbid app, beginning February 12th. The Disney movie will be screened on the video board following the game. Fans can avoid Ticketmaster Fees by purchasing tickets to select themed games through the Mariners' new “Theme Night Tickets” page. For all Saturday and Sunday home games, Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance. Family four packs include four tickets, four food, and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies, starting at $80. The five-game road trip begins this coming weekend in Newfoundland, where the Mariners will attempt to end the Growlers’ 18 game home winning streak, which has tied an ECHL record. The Mariners play a total of four games in St. Johns (February 14th, 15th, 18th, and 19th), before finishing the trip at Adirondack on February 22nd. All games air on the Mariners Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to puck drop. The radio broadcast streams free on MarinersOfMaine.com/listen or the Mixlr App. A video stream is available on a subscription or pay-per-view bases through ECHL.tv in HD, with the “AWAY” option carrying the Mariners broadcast. Looking ahead: The first four games of March are on home ice. On Sunday, March 1st at 3 PM, the South Carolina Stingrays come to down as the Mariners name the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award winner, plus a postgame skate with the team. On March 6th, it’s Throwback Night against the Reading Royals at 7:15 PM, as the Mariners wear original Mariners jerseys with Mariners AHL alumni on hand. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting books for the remainder of the regular season for Ronald McDonald Charities of Maine. Fans who donate three or more books will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Both children’s and adult’s book donations are welcomed. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While donations will be accepted at the Mariners office and other Cross Insurance Arena events, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a Mariners game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: (FRI) LACOUVEE STOPS 45 AS MARINERS KEEP ROLLING

Mariners win their fifth straight on the back of their netminder BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – February 7, 2020 – On January 17th, Mariners' netminder Connor LaCouvee allowed seven goals in a 7-6 OT loss in Brampton. In his five starts since then, he’s allowed a total of four, winning each start, and cracking the ECHL’s top ten in goals-against average. On Friday night, LaCouvee stopped 45 of 46 Worcester Railers shots, leading the Mariners to a 2-1 win, their fifth in a row. With the win, the Mariners also claimed sole possession of third place in the North Division. “It was definitely a mental grind,” said Mariners Head Coach Riley Armstrong, in regards to the tight-checking game. “It was a tough game for us to play tonight, they played hard and Worcester played hard as well.” The Mariners started slow, outshot 11-3 early in the game, but Connor LaCouvee and the Mariners penalty kill kept the game scoreless, including dispatching a 5-on-3 against. With just over five minutes to go, Ryan Culkin spotted Dillan Fox behind the Railers defense and sprung him for a breakaway, on which Fox beat the blocker side of Evan Buitenhuis to give Maine a 1-0 lead. For Fox, it gave him a team-leading 20 goals on the season and a four-game streak. The second period took a similar pattern as the first, and at the 13:28 mark, Morgan Adams-Moisan made it a 2-0 game, when his wrister from the left-wing popped Buitenhuis’ water bottle off the top of the net. Linemates Brian Hart and Ryan Ferrill helped set up the goal. Worcester took back-to-back penalties at 16:56 and 17:19 of the period, giving the Mariners a 5-on-3, which they couldn’t convert. The score remained 2-0 at the end of 40 minutes. Worcester defenseman Justin Murray scored his first professional goal at 5:36 of the third to get the Railers on the board, as his shot from the top of the left circle beat a screened LaCouvee. From there, the Railers pushed hard, totaling 19 third period shots in an effort to even the score. With 3:16 remaining, Ryan Ferrill took a double-minor penalty for high-sticking, and Ryan Culkin followed at 19:28 with a trip, giving the Railers a 6-on-3 advantage when they pulled Buitenhuis. LaCouvee and the Mariners were able to hold the one-goal lead to earn their fifth win in a row. LaCouvee’s 45 saves is a new season-high for a Mariners' netminder, topping Tom McCollum’s 44 from October 19th in Reading. It was his 16th win of the season and fifth victorious start in a row. Evan Buitenhuis suffered his league-leading 17th loss, making 25 stops. “We’re playing really well right now,” LaCouvee said. “Sometimes when you’re playing a team that you’re a couple of points higher than in the standings, you might have a tendency to let off but I think it’s huge to win this game and solidify our position and keep working towards climbing the ladder.” The Mariners continue the “3kend,” sponsored by Three Dollar Deweys tomorrow, welcoming in the Brampton Beast at 6 PM, looking to widen their third-place lead. It’s Pride Night with EqualityMaine, including a sunglasses giveaway for the first 2,000 fans in attendance. On Sunday the Mariners host Brampton once again for the “Underwear Toss,” with fans encouraged to throw new packages of underwear onto the ice after the first Mariners goal to benefit Preble Street Teen Services. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS PULL INTO THIRD PLACE TIE WITH FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN

Kile and Chase each register three assists as Mariners beat Worcester BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – February 4, 2020 – Alex Kile and Greg Chase facilitated the offense, while Connor LaCouvee continued a stellar run between the pipes as the Mariners won their fourth in a row by 4-1 final over the Worcester Railers on Tuesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. With the win, the Mariners have moved into a third-place tie in the North Division playoff race. The Mariners struck early and late in the first period to establish a 2-0 lead, which lasted through the game’s first 40 minutes. At the 3:16 mark, Michael McNicholas finished a 3-on-2 rush set up by Greg Chase and Alex Kile. McNicholas crashed the net to the right of Railers goaltender Evan Buitenhuis and tipped home a deceptive feed from Chase to open the scoring. In the final minute of the period, defenseman Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin doubled the lead, ripping a shot under the crossbar after Kile waited at the top of the zone and handed it off to him at the left circle. At the tail end of the 2nd period, Worcester’s Ross Olsson and Maine’s Sean Day each received seven minutes in penalties for a fight down behind Buitenhuis. Through two periods, Connor LaCouvee turned side all 22 Worcester shots to preserve the 2-0 Mariners lead. Ryan Culkin made it 3-0 at 5:35 of the third when his backhand pass banked off of Railers defenseman Ryan MacKinnon and past Buitenhuis, Chase picking up his third assist of the game on the play. Just over a minute later, Worcester finally broke the scoreboard when Drew Callin followed Ben Thomson’s shot and ended LaCouvee’s shutout bid. That’s as close as the Railers would come, however, as Dillan Fox one-timed home an empty-net goal, set up by Alex Kile at 19:55 – Kile’s third assist of the night as well. LaCouvee made 28 saves to earn his 15th win. Buitenhuis stopped 23 of 26. The Mariners have their third four-game winning streak of the season and have points in nine of their last 11 games overall. The win pulled them into a third-place tie with the Brampton Beast in the North Division standings. The Mariners are home all three dates this weekend - February 7th, 8th, and 9th for the “Giving 3Kend,” sponsored by Three Dollar Deweys. Friday night at 7:15 PM vs. Worcester is “Works For ME Night,” presented by News Center Maine and a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina water, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Saturday at 6 PM against Brampton is Pride Night with EqualityMaine, including a sunglasses giveaway for the first 2,000 fans in attendance. On Sunday at 3 PM against Brampton once again, it’s the “Underwear Toss,” with fans encouraged to throw new packages of underwear onto the ice after the first Mariners goal to benefit Preble Street Teen Services. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: MOVIN’ ON UP

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  Feb. 3, 2020 – Michael McNicholas capped off a magical Make-A-Wish night on Saturday with the overtime winner, giving the Mariners a three-game sweep of the Adirondack Thunder, and putting them three points clear of the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. It was the fifth win in six games for a Mariners team which also now has points in 8 of 10 overall. They now have third place in their sights, just two points behind the Brampton Beast, who don’t play again until Saturday in Portland. The Mariners play twice against Worcester between now and then, as their early February homestand continues this week. All in all, five more games will be played at the Cross Insurance Arena in the next eight days. The week that was Weds, Jan. 29th – MNE: 3, ADK: 0 The Mariners started the week two points behind Adirondack for fourth place and immediately made a statement in their first of three games against the Thunder, posting a 3-0 shutout on the road. For Connor LaCouvee it was his second consecutive shutout, making 30 stops while Ted Hart, Morgan Adams-Moisan, and Sean Day all found the net. The win made it five in a row for Maine at the Cool Insuring Arena. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Fri, Jan. 31st – MNE: 5, ADK:2 Sean Day stayed hot by scoring two goals in a game that was filled with penalties – 84 minutes combined between the two teams. The Mariners opened up the game in the second period with goals by Alex Kile, Dillan Fox (shorthanded), and Day to build a 4-1 lead. The Mariners pulled back ahead of the Thunder for fourth place by two points and clinched the season series. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sat, Feb 1st – ADK: 2, MNE: 3/OT The Mariners wore special “Make-A-Wish” themed jerseys, designed by 11-year-old Make-A-Wish Maine “Wish Kid,” Ellie LaBree. Dillan Fox and Adirondack’s Colby Sissons traded power play goals to bring the game to a 1-1 tie at the end of two periods before Mariners defenseman Josh Couturier’s first goal (and point) of the season gave Maine a 2-1 lead in the third. Adirondack forced overtime, but Michael McNicholas found the game-winner just 1:21 into bonus hockey to give the Mariners the sweep. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) NO TRANSACTIONS LAST WEEK This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Tues, Feb. 4 vs. Worcester Railers – 7:00 PM (HOME) Fri, Feb. 7 vs. Worcester Railers – 7:15 PM (HOME) – Works for ME Night sponsored by News Center Maine / Three Dollar Deweys #Giving3kend Sat, Feb. 8 vs. Brampton Beast – 6:00 PM (HOME) – Pride Night sponsored by EqualityMaine/ Three Dollar Deweys #Giving3kend Sun, Feb. 9 vs. Brampton Beast – 3:00 PM (HOME) – Underwear Toss / Three Dollar Deweys #Giving3kend Tues, Feb. 11 vs. Brampton Beast – 7:00 PM (HOME)  The second “3kend” of the season is sponsored once again by Three Dollar Deweys, and it’s the “Giving 3kend,” with a focus on community. Friday night’s “Works for ME Night,” is sponsored by News Center Maine. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, $3 Bud Light drafts through the start of the second period. On Saturday, the first 2,000 fans will get a pair of sunglasses presented by EqualityMaine as part of “Pride Night.” On Sunday, fans are encouraged to bring new packages of underwear to toss onto the ice after the first Mariners goal – proceeds to benefit Preble Street Teen Services. Through the months of February and March, the Mariners will be collecting new and lightly used books for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine. Fans can avoid Ticketmaster Fees by purchasing tickets to select themed games through the Mariners' new “Theme Night Tickets” page. For all Saturday and Sunday home games, Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance. Family four packs include four tickets, four food, and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies, starting at $80. Mariners Coach’s Show The Mariners Coach’s Show returns this Thursday, February 6th, hosted by Mariners broadcaster Michael Keeley, featuring guests Riley Armstrong (Head Coach/Assistant General Manager) and forward Morgan Adams-Moisan. The show runs from 6-7 PM, broadcasting live at Three Dollar Deweys at 241 Commercial Street in Portland and airs online at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen. Four tickets to an upcoming Mariners game will also be given away at Three Dollar Deweys at the end of the show. Looking ahead: The Mariners conclude their homestand with one more game against Brampton on Tuesday, February 11th at 7 PM. They will then embark on a five-game road trip to Newfoundland and Adirondack before returning to Portland for “Miracle Night,” on Sunday, February 23rd at 3 PM vs. Newfoundland, honoring the 40th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice.” The team will wear Team USA inspired jerseys and the Disney movie will be screened on the video board following the game. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting books for the remainder of the regular season for Ronald McDonald Charities of Maine. Fans who donate three or more books will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Both children’s and adult’s book donations are welcomed. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While donations will be accepted at the Mariners office and other Cross Insurance Arena events, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a Mariners game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: (SAT) MCNICHOLAS GRANTS WISH WITH OVERTIME WINNER

Mariners take down Thunder in OT to complete the three-game sweep BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – February 1, 2020 – Michael McNicholas delivered the overtime winner at 1:21 of the extra session to give the Mariners a 3-2 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. It was Maine’s third win of the week against the Thunder and their 11th in 15 meetings this season with Adirondack. Maine is now just two points out of third place in the North Division playoff race. “We’re coming together as a team,” said Mariners defenseman Josh Couturier, who scored his first goal of the season in the win. “We’re playing the right way, we’re getting pucks in, everyone’s blocking shots, you’re able to look to the guy next to you and you know he’s going to do the right thing.” Couturier broke a 1-1 tie at 2:09 of the third after great work by the line of Eddie Matsushima, Morgan Adams-Moisan, and Brian Hart. It was Couturier’s first point of what has been an injury-riddled season. Just 1:30 after Couturier’s go-ahead goal, Adirondack’s Mike Szmatula evened up the score, setting the stage for the eventual overtime. The scoring began with a Dillan Fox power play goal at 5:05 of the first, backhanding the rebound of a blocked shot around the pad of Thunder netminder Evan Cormier. The Mariners carried the 1-0 lead into the 2nd, but defenseman Colby Sissons scored on the power play at 5:39 of period two for Adirondack with a point shot that seemed to turn the game in Adirondack’s favor. The Mariners were outshot 11-5 in the middle frame but led by Francois Brassard, kept the game tied into the third. “I thought we played hard,” OT hero Michael McNicholas said. “I thought our push off the bat in the first was really hard. I felt they came back at us just as hard in the second. It was kind of back and forth all game so it’s really nice to get that win. Those two points are really big for us.” Coming out of their defensive zone early in overtime, Greg Chase darted down the left-wing, dropping a pass to Sean Day, who found McNicholas at the far circle. McNicholas one-timed the feed off the back crossbar inside the net to end the game. It was McNicholas’ sixth goal of the season. “Those are big confidence builders,” said Mariners head coach Riley Armstrong about the Couturier and McNicholas goals. “Getting off that and getting him back playing again and also for he hasn’t scored too many this year so he came up big for us.” Brassard made 25 saves to earn his fourth win – all against Adirondack. Cormier made 19 stops in the loss. The Mariners improved to 7-1-1 in OT and SO games this season and 20-3-2 all-time. They have reached 50 points with their third win in a row – two behind third-place Brampton with a game in hand. They are now three points clear of the Thunder for a playoff spot. The Mariners sported jerseys designed by Make-A-Wish Maine “Wish Kid,” Ellie Labree, an 11-year old cancer patient. The jerseys were auctioned off to help raise money for Make-A-Wish Maine. The Mariners continue their homestand Tuesday against the Worcester Railers at 7 PM. They’re also home all three dates next weekend - February 7th, 8th, and 9th for the “Giving 3Kend,” sponsored by Three Dollar Deweys. Friday night at 7:15 PM vs. Worcester is “Works For ME Night,” presented by News Center Maine and a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina water, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Saturday at 6 PM against Brampton is Pride Night with EqualityMaine, including a sunglasses giveaway for the first 2,000 fans in attendance. On Sunday at 3 PM against Brampton once again, it’s the “Underwear Toss,” with fans encouraged to throw new packages of underwear onto the ice after the first Mariners goal to benefit Preble Street Teen Services. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: (FRI) DAY SCORES A PAIR AS MARINERS COMPLETE ROAD TRIP SWEEP OF THUNDER

Special teams played a big role as Mariners take all four points in Glens Falls BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  GLENS FALLS, NY – January 31, 2020 – In a game that featured over 80 combined penalty minutes, the Mariners converted at even strength, the power play, and the penalty kill in a 5-2 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night at the Cool Insuring Arena. Sean Day led the way with two goals, as the Mariners swept a pair of road games from the Thunder this week, pulling two points ahead of them for fourth place in the North Division playoff race. The teams traded goals in the opening frame. At 7:51, Sean Day made it 1-0, when he trailed Brandon Crawley’s rush into the offensive zone and was set up by Michael McNicholas. The first period – and the game as a whole, was full of penalties, and Adirondack converted on its third chance when Colby Sissons beat LaCouvee with a shot from the blue line. The goal ended LaCouvee’s shutout streak at 125:18. Four ten minute misconducts were handed out – including Zach Tolkinen and Sean Day, leaving the Mariners with four defensemen for the first half of the second period. Maine quickly took the lead back when the second began, as Ryan Culkin stretched a breakaway pass to Alex Kile, who deked Thunder netminder Sean Romeo and slipped the puck five-hole. Dillan Fox made it a 3-1 game at 5:06 when he stole a puck from Matt Salhany near the Thunder blue line and walked in alone on Romeo, beating his blocker. Penalties continued to flow, and the Mariners ended up on a 5 on 3, converting on the second penalty when Day ripped home his second goal of the game at 16:56. Ara Nazarian scored at 18:13 to bring Adirondack within two at the end of the second. Ty Ronning added insurance at 7:39 of the third, beating Romeo on a 2-on-1 with Greg Chase. The Mariners penalty kill finished the night taking care of a two-man advantage in the game’s final minutes to go 8/9 in the game. LaCouvee made 36 saves to earn the win, while Romeo made 18 stops in the loss. Of the 14 head-to-head meetings between Maine and Adirondack, the Mariners have now won 10, including six straight games at the Cool Insuring Arena. The Mariners begin a six-game homestand tomorrow night against Adirondack at 6 PM at the Cross Insurance Arena. It’s Make-A-Wish Maine night presented by Agren. The Mariners will wear jerseys designed by 11-year-old ‘Wish Kid’ Ellie Labree, who won a jersey design contest this past fall. The full set of jerseys are currently up for auction on the Handbid App, with proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish Maine. Auctions will close at the start of the third period of Saturday’s game. The Mariners are also home Tuesday against Worcester and all three dates next weekend - February 7th, 8th, and 9th. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: (1/25) LATE GOAL STINGS MARINERS IN WORCESTER

Ross Olsson breaks 1-1 tie with 1:38 left as Railers earn a weekend split BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  WORCESTER, MA – January 25, 2020 – Worcester forward Ross Olsson scored at 18:22 of the third period to put the Railers ahead 2-1, which was the final score in a heartbreaking Mariners defeat on Saturday night at the DCU Center in Worcester. The game was scoreless through the first 40 minutes of play, with goaltenders Evan Buitenhuis and Adam Huska each posting standout performances.  The Railers outshot Maine 12-9 in the first, while the Mariners won the shot battle 11-9 in the second. Huska turned aside Cody Payne on a shorthanded breakaway in the first, while Buitenhuis stopped two Greg Chase breaks. Neither team could convert on multiple power play chances and two instances of four on four. Finally, at 6:14 of the third, Barry Almeida redirected Kyle McKenzie’s shot from the left point to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. At 14:07, Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin tied it up with a wrister from the left-wing circle, following Dillan Fox’s drive to the net. Jake Elmer also assisted. After the Mariners successfully killed a Morgan Adams-Moisan crosschecking penalty, Olsson scored the game-winner, following Shane Walsh’s shot that trickled off of Huska and behind him. Olsson easily tapped it in over the goal line. The Mariners outshot Worcester, 30-27 in the losing effort. Huska made 25 saves while Buitenhuis stopped 29. The Mariners travel to Adirondack Wednesday and Friday, to begin a three-game series with the Thunder. Their next home game is next Saturday, February 1st against Adirondack at 6 PM. It’s Make-A-Wish Maine night presented by Agren. The Mariners will wear jerseys designed by 11-year-old ‘Wish Kid’ Ellie Labree, which will be auctioned via Handbid with proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish Maine. All Saturday and Sunday home games feature the Family Four Pack – four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies, starting at $80. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article