#gregchase

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK TO ANNOUNCE CINCINNATI CYCLONES AS NEW ECHL AFFILIATE

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Howlings has exclusively learned that New York Rangers will announce on Wednesday that the organization, including The Hartford Wolf Pack, has a new ECHL affiliate after an agreement was reached with the Cincinnati Cyclones to replace the departed Jacksonville Icemen. in 27 years of existence, the Wolf Pack have now had four affiliate location. They were with the Charlotte Checkers until they moved up to the AHL. They then moved on to the Greenville Road Warriors (who are now the Swamp Rabbits), before going on to the Maine (Portland) Mariners, before finally landing with Jacksonville. There were strong signs that the professional relationship was coming to an end when there were no contracted Hartford/Ranger players on the Icemen's end-of-season roster. Jason Payne, the head coach of the Cyclones, is one of the few black head coaches in hockey history. His previous record as an assistant and head coach is 83-48-9-4. They didn’t play in 2020-21. Last year, the Cyclones' record of 47-16-6-3 (103 points) was the second-best record in the ECHL. Payne played on one of the six all-black lines in the entire history of hockey. He skated with the Flint Generals of the old Colonial Hockey League and is the grandfather of today’s FPHL as Kahil Thomas, Payne, and Nick Forbes skated together. His playing time took him to four AHL cities all defunct places the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Carolina Monarchs, Worcester IceCats, and Saint John Flames. Seven ECHL markets Dayton, Arkansas (Little Rock), Florida, New Orleans, Idaho, Reading, and Wheeling. Only three are left, Florida, who just won the ECHL Kelly Cup Idaho, Reading, and Wheeling, In all, between juniors and in his 11-year minor pro career he played in 28 cities. Cincinnati's season-ending roster features ex-Pack, Justin Vaive. For his last three years, he has been in Cincinnati, which is known as "The Queen City" since 1819, the first two as an assistant coach. His assistant, for now, is Chad MacLeod, as of now Jacksonville's head coach/GM is Nick Lukko, son of OVG co-chairman Peter Lukko and his brother Max is the GM of another OVG facility in the Mullett Arena, temporary home to the NHL Arizona Coyotes still searching for a permanent one and NCAA Division I independent, Arizona State University Sun Devils. Jacksonville's assistant coach is ex-CT Whale Brandon Mashinter HARTFORD WOLF PACK CINCINNATI CYCLONES HOME Read the full article

[afroloveglass]

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A look at my modest #PictureSausage collection. What you know about that @quixglass #Mushroom in cane form? Thank you to all the artist and sellers who helped bring my collection together. #MACAgroup #CaneRulesEverythingAroundMe #DapoGlass #PrecisionPulls #StephenBoehme #RyanMcCluer #AnnieHash #MurrineofIG #GlassofIG #BestofGlass #DavidKaminski #MadMillies #JesseJames #GregChase #JerryKelly #EtherTosh #MillieMalachi #AndyBuckles #MichaelMcCluer #RyanTeurfs #DavidStrobel #GeminiArtGlass #JesseTaj apologies for those I forgot. #DegenerateArt #CreateorDie #TorchTalk #

[releaseteam]

Next up: hearing how @Airbnb uses @spinnakerio for continuous delivery. #spinnakersummit pic.twitter.com/Aveo8n6lsw

— Chase Gregory @ #SpinnakerSummit (@GregChase) November 17, 2019

via: https://ift.tt/1GAs5mb

[jordynboyd]

Last Nights Game. Weeeuw on go game 7 we go.

[thehipsterhater]

Love coming home to this shizz #millefiore #milli #glassart #art #gregchase (Taken with Instagram)

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CANTLON: CT HOCKEY OFF SEASON VOL 10 PT 2

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The chase for a championship at all levels of hockey starts with roster selection. The number of signings this week picks up to a breakneck pace. Ex-Hartford Wolf Pack, Greg Chase, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Kelly Chase, signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL). Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Yannick Turcotte, signs a one-year, two-way (AHL-ECHL) deal with the Hershey Bears. Charles Curti (Yale University) departs the Rapid City Rush (ECHL) to sign back with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL). AHL TO EUROPE SIGNINGS Eight more AHL players sign in Europe this week. Gregor MacLeod leaves the Grand Rapids  Griffins for Nuremberg (Germany-DEL). Tyler Groavac leaves the Manitoba Moose for Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL), becoming the 17th player heading to the KHL. Then Veini Vehviläinen leaves the Toronto Marlies for Brynas IF (Sweden-SHL). This signing makes seven players going to Sweden. Jalen Smercek of the Tucson Roadrunners heads to Donbas Donets’k (Ukraine-UHL). He's the first AHL’er to head to Ukraine. Defenseman Reece Willcox departs the Hershey Bears for HC Val Pusteria (Italy-IceHL), becoming the first player to head to Italy. Chase Berger of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signs with HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL). Nicholas Welsh leaves the Rochester Americans and signs with Nuremberg (Germany-DEL). Jeremy Roy of the San Diego Gulls signs with HKM Zvolen (Slovakia-SLEL). 56 AHL’ers to date have signed overseas. Additionally, 25 of 31 AHL teams have lost at least one player. MORE MOVES Ex-Wolf Pack, Travis Oleksuk, splits from EC Graz (Austria-IceHL) and signs with the Sheffield Steelers (England-EIHL). Ex-Sound Tiger, Ty Wishart, departs from HC Cszilkscereda (Romania-MOL) and arrives at Unia Oswiecim (Poland-PZIHL) for the 2021-22 season is taking the import spot on the team from another ex-Sound Tiger, Victor Bartley. Former Yale Bulldog, Denny Keaney, switches French teams from Grenoble to HC Cergy-Pontoise (France-FREL). Another ex-Sound Tiger, Darren Nowick, who played with Skellefteå AIK (Sweden-SHL), announces his retirement. Riese Zmolek, the son of former NHL’er Doug Zmolek, finishes at Minnesota State-Mankato (NCHC) signs with the Iowa Wild (AHL). Brandon Schultz of Northern Michigan (WCHA) signs with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL), making 80 Division-I players signing in North America and 113 total college players (Division-I and Division-III) signing pro deals. The conference breakdown is as follows; Hockey Eart 25, Big 10 has 21, NCHC 15, AHA seven, ECACHL has six, the WCHA now CCHA has four and two from NCAA Division I independent Arizona State. In NCAA Division III, just three players thus far and 30 skaters have signed in Europe. EVEN MORE MOVES Aidan Metcalfe, a defenseman with the NAHL Robertson Cup champion Shreveport (La) Mudbugs, has committed to UCONN (HE) for the fall, the last for the Huskies. Christian Yersich transfers back home from Colorado College Tigers (NCHC) to the brand-new University of St. Thomas Tommies (CCHA) program. Zach Pellegrino (Gunnery Prep-Washington) leaves Bentley University (AHA) and transfers to Division-III independent Albertus Magnus College in New Haven who start play this fall, making 66 in-school transfers and 51 grad transfers for 116 college players to move this off season. A FIRST In a historic first, the NCAA has granted a major junior player the right to play in the NCAA. Austen Swankler commits to the Bowling Green University Falcons (CCHA). He played for the Erie Otters (OHL) for two years and didn’t play anywhere last year. He played US junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) three years ago. In a release, it was stated Swankler petitioned the NCAA directly before making his commit. Usually, one second of play in a major junior regular season game wiped out any chance of playing NCAA hockey. The NCAA has historically considered major junior as a professional league. This crack in the door likely means petitions will be handled on a case-by-case basis and not lead to a flood of applications. BACK TO TRANSACTIONS Sam Anderson of the Philadelphia Hockey Team (NCDC) and the Tim Manning Valley Jr. Warriors (EHL) commits to the Albertus Magnus (New Haven) College Falcons. After five seasons at Lake Superior State (CCHA), ex-Hartford Wolf Pack and New York Ranger Michael York signs a multi-year extension along with fellow assistant Zack Cisek. Both were given promotions of the title Associate Head Coach. The Holy Cross Invitational tournament scheduled for October 8-9 to kick off the college hockey season in the Northeast has been moved to the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, from the 1,600-seat renovated Hart Center Arena on the campus of Holy Cross. The Crusaders, the Northeastern Huskies, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats, and Boston College Eagles are slated to participate. The 56th annual Christmas Holiday Great Lakes tournament between Michigan, Michigan Tech, Michigan State, and Western Michigan will be held at the campus arenas of Michigan (Yost Arena) and Michigan St. (Munn Arena) on December 29-30. The Yost Arena will likely undergo a name change in the fall after an internal review found legendary football coach Ned Yost conducted unfair conduct against black athletes during his tenure as AD. Munn Arena just received a $1.5 million donation for arena upgrades. BLANCHETTE RETURNS Adam Blanchette (Berlin/CT Clippers-MetJHL/Danbury Whalers-FPHL) returns from overseas to become the new assistant coach with the Danbury Hat Tricks (FPHL). Blanchette spent four years in New Zealand playing and then coaching the Sky City (Queenstown) Stampede (formerly Southern Stampede) of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL). The team won three consecutive Birgel Cup titles (2015-2017) in the short-season league. He was also an assistant coach for the New Zealand National Team that took home silver at the IIHF Division 2 Group B Championships held in Grenada, Spain, in 2017. He also played two years in the Netherlands, a year in Australia, four years in the defunct Central Hockey League with the Rio Grande Valley (TX) Killer Bees, Tulsa Oilers, and New Mexico Scorpions. He also played major junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts, Moncton Wildcats and Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL. CONNECTICUT CONNECTED PLAYERS Matt Graham, a former Danbury Titans (FPHL) player, was named the new Head Coach/GM of the Port Huron (MI) Prowlers (FPHL) and had been a playing assistant coach the last three seasons. Former New Haven Senators Harijs Vitolins was named by the Latvia Hockey Federation (LHF) as the Head Coach for the Latvian National Team a month before their IIHF Group E Olympic qualifying tournament games at the Arena Riga August 27-29. The teams in that group vying to get an invite to the Beijing Games in February 2022 are France, Italy, Hungary, and Latvia. Latvia is seeking its sixth Olympic appearance. They took part in the 1936 Games and were then annexed by Nazi Germany and then by the Soviet Union. They made it in their first year back as an independent nation in 2002 and then in 2006, 2010, and 2014. They missed out on the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Vitolins replaces former NHL coach Bob Hartley, who was with the team for the last five years. He is now the head coach of the defending KHL Gagarin Cup champs Avangard Omsk team. In addition, Vitolins has been an assistant coach with Spartak Moscow (Russia-KHL) for the last two years. PACIFIC RIM The ALIH (Asia League Ice Hockey), because of the COVID-19 outbreak over in the Pacific Rim region to decide to move the start of their 2021-22 season to December from September. NHL HOME 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 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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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: March 2-8, 2020

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Wolf Pack (31-16-6-5, 73 pts.) sit three points off the lead in the Atlantic Division, coming off of a 1-2-0-0 week.  The Wolf Pack began their second straight three-game weekend with a 5-3 loss at Binghamton on Friday night but then rebounded for a 3-1 victory Saturday night in Bridgeport, putting a season-high 43 shots on the Sound Tiger net.  On Sunday at home against Providence, the Wolf Pack battled back from a 2-0 first-period deficit to tie the game but ultimately fell by a score of 3-2.  Tim Gettinger scored twice, including the game-winner, in Saturday’s triumph and tallied again on Sunday. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: The Wolf Pack has three games on their docket for a third consecutive weekend, including a back-to-back set with the Atlantic Division-leading Hershey Bears Friday (7:15) and Saturday (7:00) nights at the XL Center.  The slate concludes with a 3:05 visit to Springfield on Sunday. Friday, March 6 vs. the Hershey Bears (Washington) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM This game, like every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game, features $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. The first-place Bears come into the week three points ahead of the third-place Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, with a record of 35-18-3-3 for 76 points.  Head Coach Spencer Carbery’s club had a three-game winning streak snapped in its last action, a 6-3 home loss to Charlotte Sunday, only Hershey’s third regulation defeat in its last 11 outings (7-3-1-0). The Wolf Pack are unbeaten in regulation in four previous meetings with the Bears this season, with a record of 2-0-2-0, and scored a 2-1 win November 8 in Hershey’s only previous visit to the XL Center. Forward Daniel Sprong, who led AHL rookies in goals in 2017-18 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, with 32-33-65 in 65 GP, has 1-3-4 in two games with the Bears since being acquired by the parent Washington Capitals from Anaheim February 24. At this game and every Wolf Pack Friday or Saturday home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the XL Center’s Coliseum Club.  From 5:15 PM until puck drop, a $5 wrist band gives fans access to the “Chill Zone” of the Coliseum Club, which features an appetizer buffet and $2 beers, presented by Minuteman Press. Tickets for this game, and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Saturday, March 7 vs. the Hershey Bears (Washington) at the XL Center, 7:00 PM This is Military Appreciation Night at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be paying tribute to all veterans and active-duty military for their service to our country, and the team will wear specialty military jerseys. Those will be auctioned off during the second intermission, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting local veteran and military organizations. The first 2,000 fans into this game will take home a free Wolf Pack reversible drink koozie, courtesy of CT-DOT. Despite a 1-2-1-0 record in their last four home games, the Wolf Pack still has the best home-ice points percentage in the league, at .833 (21-3-1-2).  The Bears are 14-10-2-1 on the road. At this game and every Wolf Pack Friday or Saturday home game, fans are encouraged to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the XL Center’s Coliseum Club.  From 5:00 PM until puck drop, a $5 wrist band gives fans access to the “Chill Zone” of the Coliseum Club, which features an appetizer buffet and $2 beers, presented by Minuteman Press. Tickets for this game, and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Sunday, March 8 at the Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at the MassMutual Center, 3:05 PM The Wolf Pack are 5-2-0-0 in head-to-head competition with the Thunderbirds this year but have lost two of the last three, including both of their last two trips to Springfield, where they are 1-2-0-0 on the season. The Thunderbirds received defenseman Chase Priskie and forward Eetu Luostarinen as a result of the parent Florida Panthers’ trade deadline swap of Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes. Springfield (30-26-2-0, 62 pts.) enters the week having lost back-to-back games and three of its last four, and stands six points out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728: Thursday, March 5, 11:30 AM – 12 noon, Kensington Nursery School, 185 Sheldon St., Berlin, CT Wolf Pack forward Gabriel Fontaine is scheduled to join Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Friday, March 6, 10:00 AM, Hatton Elementary School, 50 Spring Lake Rd., Southington, CT Sonar and members of the Wolf Pack’s “Promo Pack” read to students as part of Read Across America. Recent Transactions: Greg Chase – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Maine (ECHL) February 29. Jake Elmer – reassigned from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers to Maine (ECHL) February 29. Pack Tracks: Saturday, March 28, when the Wolf Pack host the Utica Comets at 7:00, is “Heroes Night” at the XL Center, as the Wolf Pack celebrates the heroes in everyone’s lives.  The night includes a “Battle of the Badges” pregame tilt between local police personnel and firefighters, plus free Wolf Pack baseball hats to the first 2,000 fans, presented by CT-DOT. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40.  The next Hat Trick Pack game is Wednesday, March 11, a 7:00 battle with the Providence Bruins. In partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Wolf Pack is offering “Suit to Sweater Wednesdays”, to wash away the mid-week work blues.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID).  The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home date is March 11, when the Providence Bruins invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game. Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  After this Friday, the Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night home outing is March 20, when they entertain the Charlotte Checkers in a 7:15 PM game. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. TRACK THE PACK ONLINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: SEVENTEEN IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  Mar. 2, 2020 – From New Year’s Eve up through Mar. 1 (this past Sunday), the Mariners played 31 games, representing nearly half-the-total number of games of their schedule. The grind ended with a 6-4 loss to the ECHL’s top team, the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena, but an overall successful two month period has put the Mariners in a prime spot to clinch their first playoff appearance in franchise history. The magic number sits at 17 points (any combination of Mariners points gained and Adirondack Thunder points left on the table), with 13 games to go. After a lot of time in the bus, plane, and hotels, the Mariners now remain in New England until Mar. 22, playing only at home or in Worcester for the next six games. The week that was Weds, Feb. 26 – MNE: 0, REA: 8 It was a scoreless game through one period, but things got ugly quickly in the 2nd period, with Reading scoring six goals in the first 12 minutes of the frame. Royals forward Max Willman, who had been reassigned from AHL Lehigh Valley the morning of the game, had five points to lead a relentless Royals attack. It was Maine’s fourth straight loss at Santander Arena with one trip remaining. FULL GAME RECAP Fri, Feb. 28 – MNE: 3, WHE: 2 In a homecoming of sorts for Riley Armstrong (who worked for the Wheeling Nailers for two seasons as an assistant coach), the Mariners battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits in the latter stages of the 2nd period to win the franchise’s first-ever trip to WesBanco Arena. Terrence Wallin scored twice, including a gift goal that was scored by the Nailers on their own net. Greg Chase netted the game-winner in the third and was recalled to Hartford the next day. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Sun, Mar. 1 – SC: 6, MNE: 4 Most of the scoring came in the 2nd period when each team scored three in what quickly became a see-saw affair. Steve Whitney, who had three points on the day, broke a 4-4 tie late in the 2nd for what would turn out to be the game-winner when the Mariners were held off the board in the third. Jeff Taylor had three assists for Maine, who got goals from Michael McNicholas, Terrence Wallin, Dillan Fox, and Andrew Sturtz. Each team went 2/3 on the power play. The Mariners fell to 2-4-0-0 against the South Division. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) MAR 1 - F GREG CHASE WAS RECALLED TO HARTFORD MAR 1 - F JAKE ELMER WAS REASSIGNED TO MAINE FROM HARTFORD BY THE NY RANGERS This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Fri, Mar. 6 vs. Reading Royals – 7:15 PM (HOME) – THROWBACK NIGHT/80S NIGHT PRESENTED BY PARTNERS BANK Sun, Mar. 8 vs. Worcester Railers – 3:00 PM (HOME) – I LOVE THE 90S  The Mariners welcome in the Reading Royals on Friday for the third and final time and the 8th of nine overall meetings during the 2019-20 regular season. The Royals are now seven points ahead of Maine for 2nd place in the North, with four games in hand, and have points in six of the seven meetings between the two teams this season. The Mariners will honor the 1980s and the original AHL Mariners franchise by wearing white and orange vintage jerseys of the old Philadelphia Flyers affiliation, which are up for auction now through the Handbid App or at THIS LINK until the start of the third period on Friday. Several Mariners alumni are expected to attend, including Wayne Schaab, Dan Lucas, Terry Murray, and Gary McAdam. Alumni will sign autographs on the concourse during the first intermission. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday featuring $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. On Sunday, the Worcester Railers visit the Cross Insurance Arena at 3 PM, with the teams still slated for eight meetings before the end of the season. The Railers sit in last place in the North Division and have an elimination number of just eight (points left on the table + points gained by the Brampton Beast). The Mariners have won all five games between the two teams at the Cross Insurance Arena so far this season and are 7-2-0-1 against the Railers overall. Sunday’s promotion is “I Love the 90s,” and Family Four Packs are available when purchased in advance: four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners beverage koozies starting at $80. Doors open one hour before 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. Adirondack travels to Newfoundland for the next three games, beginning Wednesday night.  Looking ahead: The Mariners wrap up their homestand on Tuesday, Mar. 10, as they welcome in the Norfolk Admirals at 7 PM in the final non-divisional game of the season. Next weekend features a home-and-home with Worcester: at the DCU Center on Friday, and back at the Cross Insurance Arena on Saturday at 6 PM. Promotions feature “Girls Night Out” and Beacon’s Birthday Bash, with a travel toothbrush giveaway to the first 1,000 kids 12 and under. 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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CANTLON: BRUINS EDGE PACK TAKE SECOND PLACE BATTLE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - An early third-period penalty led to a Providence Bruins powerplay goal that allowed them to edge out the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, in a very hard-fought contest Sunday afternoon at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack record slips to 31-16-6-5 (73 points) and the team sits in third place in the Atlantic Division. Providence meanwhile sees its record improve to 34-18-3-3 (74 points). They take-over second-place from Hartford. The Baby bruins have now won eight straight games. The Charlotte Checkers are in fourth place and trail the Wolf Pack by five points. Early in the third period, a bad neutral zone tripping penalty by Pack captain, Steve Fogarty, led to the goal that would allow Providence to regain the lead they would not relinquish. The Bruins' puck possession skills that had been on display all game paid dividends on the man-advantage in just 17 seconds. Jack Studnicka sent the puck over to Peter Cehlarik. He fired a shot that was saved by J.F. Berube, but he was unable to corral the loose puck and Brendan Gaunce was right there to smack it into the net at 2:40. For Gaunce, it was his 17th goal of the season. The Wolf Pack made a strong effort to tie the game, especially in the final two minutes. With Berube pulled for an extra attacker, the Pack would come their closest to scoring. Vitali Kravtsov rang a shot off the inside of the right post with 1:15 remaining. Vinni Lettieri took a short side slapper that was stopped by Max Lagace (21 saves) and Fogarty saw his bid denied as well. “That’s what's happened in our games with Providence this year. Something happens late in the game or a period. They scored a goal from the corner in one game, I believe with 30 seconds left. They don’t always go in your favor. We had everything in our favor in trying to tie the game up, but we missed. We had three really great scoring chances, six on five. It was three-in-three. The guys coulda quit. It's hard playing three-in-three against a very good team and down 2-0. We did everything to try to get it to overtime,” said Knoblauch, doing his best to hide the impact of the tough loss. The Wolf Pack finally got some open ice and time with the puck and picked up their first goal midway through the second period. On a Bruins dump in, Libor Hajek commandeered the puck and started moving up the ice on the left-wing side. Hajek passed it over to Lettieri, who side-stepped getting nailed at the blue line and moved into center ice. Lettieri put a pass back to Hajek as he sailed down the left-wing. Nobody was going to catch him as he ripped his first of the season going top shelf to the far side at 11:56. “Libor did a great job to get the puck up the ice and gave us a real jump when we needed it,” remarked Knoblauch. Another jumpstart was Nick Ebert, not the heavyweight pugilist, getting into a scrap with a much bigger Brendan Woods, who is a lefty. Ebert got the Pack going. “We got that first goal and Nicky dropped the gloves really got us going and we got another late in the period. We battled hard the rest of the period,” said Tim Gettinger The Wolf Pack evened things up at two on a set of smart passes. A backhand dump in from Ebert behind the Bruins net that left the puck a little between Bruins goalie Max Lagace and defenseman Nick Zboril, who both arrived at the puck at the same time. Zboril eventually took possession and rimmed it up the left-wing boards, but just jumping on for his shift was Jeff LoVerde, who got the puck and sent it to Patrick Newell along the right-wing boards. Newell made a quick play from off the right-wing half-wall put the shot toward the net. The puck found Gettinger's red-hot stick as he got to the front of the net and scored his third goal in two games and 15th of the season off a perfect deflection at 14:05. “He (LoVerde) made a great play to Patty, luckily I was able to put in,” Gettinger said while downplaying his own contribution. The Bruins came into the game having won seven-in-a-row. In the first period, they showed why as they scored their first two goals of the game. The first goal was scored shorthanded by the Bruins with surgical precision at 11:41. Danny O’Regan lost the puck on his rush attempt ice. The puck went back to the Bruins left defenseman, Jason Zboril, who passed it over to his partner Josiah Didier who nailed a diagonal pass from the defensive zone to the Wolf Pack blue line to Trent Frederic. The Bruins second-leading scorer then hit a speeding Oskar Steen racing down the right-wing with a perfect pass that he redirected in full flight for his seventh of the season. The second goal was again a lightning strike by the Bruins using handy stick work. This time an outlet pass meant for Fogarty never arrived. Cameron Hughes intercepted a pass and then on a dime quickly curled to the net and fed Jack Studnicks who put in his 22nd of the season at 11:32. “We weren’t playing our best. They were taking it to us. They got pucks deep. We weren’t moving our feet and in the second and third we finally got our feet moving and we starting getting chances. We just didn’t have enough (at the end),” said Gettinger. It sets up a very critical three-in-three next weekend with two home games against the Hershey Bears. LINES: O’Regan-Kravtsov-Fogarty Jones-Newell-Gropp Beleskey-Lettieri-Gettinger McBride-Dmowski-Ronning Hajek-Raddysh LoVerde-Geersten Ebert-Rykov SCRATCHES: Boo Nieves - Upper-body - Injury day-to-day. Brandon Crawley - Healthy Greg Chase - Healthy Gabriel Fontaine - Shoulder Surgery - Season-Ending NOTES: J.F. Berube has 23 saves on the game for Hartford. Lettieri had six shots and Kravtsov had four to pace the Wolf Pack. D-men Didier and ex-Pack, Steven Kampfer, with four shots each paced the Bruins' shots. Matt Beleskey had the second scrap of the game with a much bigger Alex Petrovic early in the third. One lineup change was Jake Elmer, who was sent back to the team's ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. The Wolf Pack recalled Greg Chase, who's the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Kelly Chase. He was scratched as was Elmer since he was recalled. Among the six Bruins scratches was Wiley Sherman (Greenwich/Hotchkiss Prep). Wolf Pack Fan Jerseys Of The Game: Wolf Pack #10 Brian Gibbons (Charlotte), CT Whale, Michael Haley (Rangers) and CT Whale #86 Wojtech Wolski (SC Bern Switzerland LNA). Very classy gesture by the entire Bruins team to go shake hands with linesman Mike Baker and Derek Wahl, who were working their last AHL games as a linesman. We were alerted they had received a curiously worded e-mail “Pick your last game,“ earlier in the week as notice their contracts would not be renewed for next season. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK ANNOUNCE PLAYER MOVES

Greg Chase recalled from Maine, Jake Elmer reassigned to Mariners BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, March 1, 2020:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the Wolf Pack has recalled forward Greg Chase from its ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners and that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward Jake Elmer from the Wolf Pack to Maine. Chase, a fifth-year pro out of the Western Hockey League, has skated in 42 games with the Mariners this season, posting 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points, plus 56 penalty minutes.  The 6-0, 190-pound Edmonton, Alberta native stands third on the Maine club in PIM and has the fourth-most assists on the team.  Last year, Chase, 25, who was signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 1, 2019, played in five games with the Wolf Pack, going scoreless with four penalty minutes and two shots on goal.  He also logged a total of 64 ECHL games with three different teams.  In 41 contests with the Mariners, Chase notched 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points, as well as 72 penalty minutes.  He also suited up for ten games with the Wichita Thunder (1-5-6, 12 PIM) and 13 games with the Allen Americans (1-2-3, 19 PIM). A seventh-round draft pick (188th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 2013, Chase has seen action in a total of 102 AHL games in his career, with the Wolf Pack, Oklahoma City Barons, Bakersfield Condors and Springfield Thunderbirds, tallying seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points and amassing 55 penalty minutes.  In 166 career ECHL contests with the Mariners, Thunder, Americans, and Norfolk Admirals, he has totaled 58 goals and 75 assists for 133 points, as well as 215 PIM.

Elmer skated in one game for the Wolf Pack after being summoned from Maine February 9.  In two games with the Wolf Pack on the season, the rookie out of the Western Hockey League is scoreless with one minor penalty.  In 32 games with Maine Elmer has scored 12 goals and added 11 assists for 23 points, along with 26 penalty minutes and a +4. The Wolf Pack are in home-ice action at the XL Center this afternoon, hosting the Providence Bruins in a 3:00 contest.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: WALLIN’S PAIR HELP MARINERS EDGE NAILERS

Wallin gets two, Chase finds game-winner, LaCouvee sharp in 3-2 win BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  WHEELING, WV – February 28, 2020 – Greg Chase broke a 2-2 tie at the 13:08 mark of the third period to give the Mariners their first, last and only lead of the night as they defeated the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 on Friday night at WesBanco Arena. Terrence Wallin scored the other two Mariners goals, while Connor LaCouvee earned his 20th win. The Mariners extended their lead to four points over Brampton for 2nd place in the North Division playoff race. At the end of a scoreless first period, Terrence Wallin was called for tripping, giving the Nailers a power play to start the 2nd. Jan Drogz snuck down backdoor and finished a pass from Barry Almedia at 1:58 of the period to break the scoreless tie. The Mariners remained in a goal drought until the 14:01 mark when the Nailers did them a favor. Defenseman Aaron Titcomb, attempting to wrap the puck around behind his own net, inadvertently shot it past Nailers goaltender Alex D’Orio to tie the game at one. Terrence Wallin, the closest Mariner to the puck, was credited with the goal. The Nailers jumped back ahead at 16:13 when Brandon Hawkins took a pass from Nick Saracino and beat LaCouvee’s glove to make it 2-1. Before the period ended, Wallin struck again, sweeping a puck around D’Orio with one hand on his stick after a Greg Chase shot his the Nailers goalie in the chest. The game headed into the third tied at two. The Mariners caught a break when Nailers defenseman Matt Abt broke his stick on a point shot, producing a 2-on-1 in the other direction, with Connor Bleackley and Greg Chase entering the zone. Bleackley fed Chase, who one-timed the go-ahead goal past D’Orio to give Maine a 3-2 lead. The Mariners had a chance to add on when Titcomb and Abt took back-to-back penalties, awarding the Mariners a long two-man advantage. Despite failing to score, the 3-2 lead was enough for Connor LaCouvee, who with the help of several key shot blocks in the third, locked down the one-goal win. The Mariners' “magic number” to clinch a playoff spot fell to 19 – the combination of points accumulated by the Mariners and failed to gain by Adirondack. Additionally, the Mariners padded their third-place cushion to four points over Brampton, which lost to Worcester. The Mariners are back home on Sunday to start a four-game homestand, hosting the ECHL-leading South Carolina Stingrays at 3 PM. The ECHL championship trophy, the Kelly Cup will be in the building, and the Mariners will award the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award on the one-year anniversary of his tragic passing in the line of duty. Fans are also invited to skate with the Mariners after the game. 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: MIRACLE REMEMBERED

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME: Feb. 17, 2020 – The Mariners went riding high into a pair of off-days in Newfoundland after bringing the Growlers’ ECHL record 19 game win streak to an end on Saturday night at Mile One Centre in St. John’s. The Growlers set a new mark with a 5-1 win over the Mariners on Friday, passing the 18 game streak of the 1994-95 South Carolina Stingrays, but a 3-1 Maine win on Saturday kept the streak from reaching 20. Two games remain in Newfoundland on Tuesday and Wednesday, before the Mariners head back stateside to meet Adirondack on Saturday and finally return home for one more with the Growlers on Sunday afternoon in Portland. One day after the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Olympics, the Mariners will honor the famous Lake Placid event in the final home game of February. The week that was Tues, Feb. 11th – BRM: 2, MNE: 3/OT 3-2 was the score of choice in all three games between the Mariners and Brampton Beast as they played a trio of games at the Cross Insurance Arena last week, Brampton winning on Saturday and Sunday. The Beast jumped out to a pair of one-goal leads, following the pattern of the series’ previous games, but the Mariners rallied to erase a 2-1 third period deficit before Alex Kile delivered his third overtime winner of the season with less than a minute to go in the extra session. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Fri, Feb. 14th – MNE: 1, NFL: 5 The Growlers sought an ECHL record as they went for their 19th consecutive home win and grabbed a 3-0 lead through the middle part of the 2nd period. It was then that Conner Bleackley got the Mariners on the board, but they’d get no closer, as Newfoundland added on two more to skate away with the record and improve to 5-0 all-time vs. the Mariners on their home ice. FULL GAME RECAP Sat, Feb 15th – MNE: 3, NFL: 1 The Mariners got the first goal of the game for the first time in five contests as Michael McNicholas struck on the power play early in the 2nd. Newfoundland’s Riley Woods responded to tie the game late in the frame and it remained 1-1 until the Mariners power play found the net again with less than 90 seconds to go in the third on Morgan Adams-Moisan’s tap-in goal. Greg Chase added an empty netter and Newfoundland’s home win streak was stopped at 19 games. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) D JEFF TAYLOR AND F LEWIS-ZERTER GOSSAGE WERE ASSIGNED TO MAINE FROM HARTFORD (AHL) F JAKE ELMER WAS RECALLED TO HARTFORD (AHL) BY THE NEW YORK RANGERS (NHL) D BRANDON CRAWLEY WAS RECALLED TO HARTFORD (AHL) BY THE NEW YORK RANGERS (NHL) MARINERS RELEASED F EDDIE MATSUSHIMA MARINERS SIGNED D DALLAS ROSSITER D RYAN CULKIN WAS RECALLED TO THE LAVAL ROCKET (AHL) This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Tues, Feb. 18 @ Newfoundland Growlers – 5:30 PM (AWAY) Weds, Feb. 19 @ Newfoundland Growlers – 5:30 PM (AWAY) Sat, Feb. 22 @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY) Sun, Feb. 23 vs. Newfoundland Growlers – 3:00 PM (HOME) - TICKETS  Two more games await the Mariners in Newfoundland on Tuesday and Wednesday at Mile One Centre – both beginning at 5:30 PM ET. The road trip will conclude with a 7 PM faceoff on Saturday night at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, NY, where the Mariners have won each of their last six trips. 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. Sunday’s “Miracle Night,” at the Cross Insurance Arena will be the last home game of February as well as the final game of the regular season series between Maine and Newfoundland. The Mariners will wear specialty jerseys inspired by the 1980 U.S. Olympic goal medal team, which are currently up for auction through the Handbid app, and will be until the start of the 3rd period on Sunday. The Disney movie, “Miracle” will be screened on the video board following the game, with a concession stand remaining open to fans. Fans can avoid Ticketmaster Fees by purchasing tickets to select themed games (including Miracle Night) 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. Looking ahead: 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. 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