Mariners Open Inaugural ECHL Season Tonight
October 13, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Maine Mariners News Release
PORTLAND, ME - The day has finally arrived. The Maine Mariners begin the 2018-19 regular season tonight at the Cross Insurance Arena with a 6:00 PM faceoff against the Adirondack Thunder. Doors will open to the public at 5:00. Season ticket holders can get in at 4:45. The Trusted Choice Box office open at noon. All fans in attendance will receive a Mariners magnet schedule courtesy of Portland North Dental. Here are the storylines for tonight's game:
Pro hockey returns to Portland
The Maine Mariners make their "return" to Cross Insurance Arena with their ECHL debut tonight against the Adirondack Thunder. The last "Maine Mariners" game was an AHL contest on April 4th, 1992 right here at Cross Insurance Arena, when the Fredricton Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins-affiliated Mariners, 12-1. The Bruins top farm club has played in Providence, Rhode Island ever since. Prior to tonight, the last professional hockey game at Cross Insurance Arena took place on April 23rd, 2016 when the Hershey Bears defeated the Portland Pirates 3-1 in a first round playoff game.
Armstrong's Head Coaching Debut
Tonight also marks the head coaching debut for Mariners bench boss Riley Armstrong, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers. Armstrong retired from a 12-year playing career after spending the 2015-16 season with the Reading Royals and immediately joined the coaching ranks. Riley's brother Colby is also well known in hockey circles, playing over 450 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Toronto, and Montreal and is currently a TV analyst for Sportsnet in Canada.
Wallin Faces Former Team
The Mariners and Thunder made a trade on September 11th, a deal that sent forward Terrence Wallin to Maine in exchange for defenseman Matias Cleland. Wallin's arrival was somewhat of a homecoming for the 26-year-old resident of Kennebunk. He enjoyed career highs in all major offensive categories with the Thunder last season, scoring 21 goals and adding 29 assists - good for fourth on the team in scoring. Wallin spent parts of three seasons with Adirondack from 2015-18. He's also played for the Rapid City Rush (ECHL), Peoria Rivermen (SPHL), and four games in the AHL last season for Binghamton.
ECHL Stories from October 13, 2018
- Offense Ignites as Fuel Ground Wings for First Win of Season - Indy Fuel
- IceMen Take Home Opener 4-2 over Stingrays - Jacksonville Icemen
- Oilers Top Steelheads in Season Opener - Tulsa Oilers
- Steelheads Press Late, Fall 2-1 to Tulsa - Idaho Steelheads
- Power Play Propels Gladiators to 4-2 Season Opening Win in Orlando - Atlanta Gladiators
- Brassard's Dagger Goal Raises Swamp Rabbits over Walleye - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Solar Bears Drop Opener to Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Wings Fall in Season Opener - Kalamazoo Wings
- Dorowicz, Atwal Each Net Two as Cyclones Get First Face-Off Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- IceMen Best Stingrays with Three-Goal Third - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cowbells Echo in Opener, Worcester Prevails in OT, 2-1 - Reading Royals
- Nailers Rally Late, But Fall Short in Norfolk to Open Season - Wheeling Nailers
- Josh Holmstrom Nets Overtime Winner as Railers Take 2-1 Season Opener in Reading - Worcester Railers HC
- Everblades Skate Past Growlers in 3-2 Win - Florida Everblades
- Thunder Sinks Mariners 6-3 in Regular Season Opener - Adirondack Thunder
- Growlers Suffer Their First Franchise Loss - Newfoundland Growlers
- Mariners Fall in Inaugural Game to Adirondack - Maine Mariners
- Beast Down Monarchs in Shootout to Open 2018-19 Season - Brampton Beast
- Beast Tackle Monarchs in Shootout, 6-5 - Manchester Monarchs
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- James Henry Named Fourth Captain in Adirondack Thunder History - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - October 13 - ECHL
- Defenseman Dirk Assigned to Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs. Ft. Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Thunder Closes Opening Weekend Tonight vs. Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Road Trip Continues Tonight in Wichita - Allen Americans
- Nailers at Admirals Game Day Snap Shot, October 13 - Wheeling Nailers
- Mariners Open Inaugural ECHL Season Tonight - Maine Mariners
- Game Day: K-Wings Open 45th Anniversary Season in Indy - Kalamazoo Wings
- Royals Game 1 Preview: Worcester at Reading - Reading Royals
- Americans Fall in Season Opener to KC - Allen Americans
- Branham Breaks Record in 4-2 Season Opening Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Jacobs Helps Wichita to Opening Night Win - Wichita Thunder
- Tim Branham Becomes All-Time Winningest Coach - Utah Grizzlies
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