AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Draw Record Crowd For Shutout Win

Published on January 26, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Sound Tigers were 1-2 last week losing 2-1 on the road to the Albany River Rats Thursday and 2-0 on the road to the Philadelphia Phantoms Friday before shutting out Albany 1-0 Saturday in their first game at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard after six in a row away from home. A franchise-record, sellout crowd of 8,239 saw Saturday's win. The Sound Tigers finished last week in second place in the East Division with 58 points and a 25-11-5-3 record, including 12-4-2-1 at home and 13-7-3-2 on the road.

THU JAN 22nd vs. ALB at NJ, 2-1 L: Thursday's game was played at the Continental Airlines Arena in the New Jersey Meadowlands; home of the River Rats' NHL affiliate, the Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils. After a scoreless first period in which each team had five shots on goal and was 0 for 1 on the power play, former Sound Tiger RAY GIROUX put Albany up 1-0 with a four-on-four goal mid-way through the second period, but BEN GUITE answered for the Sound Tigers, on the power play, just over three minutes later. However, CHRIS HARTSBURG broke the 1-1 tie with 3:29 left in regulation. ADRIAN FOSTER and RYAN MURPHY assisted on both River Rats' goals. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 4 on the power play while Albany was 0 for 4 and had a 29-23 shots on goal advantage.

FRI JAN 23rd at PHI, 2-0 L: KIRK FUREY did all of the game's scoring giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead with a second-period, power-play goal and doubling the advantage to 2-0 just shy of the mid point of the third period. The Sound Tigers were held scoreless on seven power plays, including a five-minute major, while the Phantoms were 1 for 5 and had a 22-16 shots on goal advantage, including 12-2 in the second period.

SAT JAN 24th vs. ALB, 1-0 W: BLAINE DOWN opened the scoring 30 seconds into the game, and WADE DUBIELEWICZ made the goal stand up setting a new single-season franchise record with his fifth shutout on 23 saves. The Sound Tigers outshot the River Rats 29-23. Both teams were 0 for 5 on the power play.

SOUND TIGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – G WADE DUBIELEWICZ

After earning the third star of the game with a 27-save effort in Thursday's loss, Dubielewicz stopped all 23 shots he faced in Saturday's 1-0 win to set a new single-season franchise record with his fifth shutout. The reigning AHL Rookie of the Month and starting Canadian team goaltender for next month's All-Star Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan leads the League's netminders with a 1.26 goals against average, is second with a .950 save percentage and tied for second with his five shutouts. Dubielewicz has also posted a 13-5-1 record in 19 appearances this season.

THIS WEEK – Albany Returns, Manchester & Portland Await The Sound Tigers will host Albany once again this Wednesday before visiting the Manchester Monarchs this Friday and the Portland Pirates this Saturday.

WED JAN 28th vs. ALB, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the fourth of eight meetings of the teams, the second of four in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 12-4-3 all-time, including 1-1-1 this season, versus the River Rats who begin this week in seventh place in the East Division with 36 points and a 13-19-5-5 record, including 5-9-2-4 on the road. Albany does not play tonight or tomorrow.

FRI JAN 30th at MCH, 7:35 p.m.: This will be the second of four meetings of the teams, the first of two in Manchester, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 4-3-2 all-time, including 1-0 this season, versus the Monarchs who begin this week in third place in the Atlantic Division with 51 points and a 23-18-2-3 record, including 16-6-1-2 at home. This will be the Sound Tigers' first visit to Manchester since games one and two of last season's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal in which they swept the Monarchs three games to none. Manchester does not play again until Friday. The Monarchs will be represented by four players at next month's AHL All-Star Classic. C STEVE KELLY and D BRYAN MUIR will skate for the Canadian team while RW PAVEL ROSA and LW NOAH CLARKE will play for the PlanetUSA team that will be coached by Sound Tigers Head Coach Greg Cronin and Assistant Coach Dave Baseggio. Muir and Rosa have been named starters.

SAT JAN 31st at POR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the first of two meetings of the teams, the only in Portland, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 3-3 all-time versus the Pirates splitting last year's season series with a 4-2 home win on November 8, 2002 and a 1-0 road loss on January 16, 2003. Portland begins this week in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 44 points and a 16-17-7-5 record, including 11-6-5-2 at home. The Pirates will host the Lowell Lock Monsters Friday. G RASTISLAV STANA will represent Portland on the PlanetUSA team at next month's AHL All-Star Classic.

SOUND TIGERS STREAKS

The Sound Tigers have won their last three home games versus Albany dating back to last season, once this year and twice last season.

SOUND TIGERS TRANSACTIONS

RW/C BRENT GAUVREAU was signed to a professional tryout contract by the Sound Tigers today. • C ERIC MANLOW was recalled by the Islanders Friday. • D MATTIAS TIMANDER was recalled by the Islanders and traded to the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers for a draft pick Thursday. • C JUSTIN MAPLETOFT was reassigned to the Sound Tigers by the Islanders Wednesday. • LW DEREK BEKAR was reassigned to Bridgeport by the Islanders Friday, January 16th. • LW/C EVAN CHEVERIE was signed to a PTO Saturday, January 3rd. • D SVEN BUTENSCHON, G RICK DiPIETRO and RW MATTIAS WEINHANDL remain on NHL recall to the Islanders.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & PROMOTIONAL NEWS

The Team Mascot STORM will visit the Roger Ludlowe School in Fairfield at 10:30 a.m., Fox Run School in Norwalk at 11:20 a.m. and Marvin School in Norwalk at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, as well as Monroe Elementary School Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. • GRAHAM BELAK will read to students at Kendall School in Norwalk at 1:30 p.m. while DEREK BEKAR will read to students at Fairfield Country Day School at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. • STORM will also visit the grand opening of United Rentals in Stamford Saturday at 1:30 p.m. • The next "Family Four Pack Night" will be Friday, February 6th when the Sound Tigers host the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7:35 p.m. "Family Four Packs" include four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $55 and are available by calling 203-334-GOAL. • February 6th will also be "Trumbull Family Night" with specially-priced tickets for all Trumbull families. • The first two-thousand fans who enter the game on February 6th will receive a free poster featuring GRAHAM BELAK and JODY ROBINSON. • It will be "Bridgeport Family Fun Night" with specially-priced tickets for city residents and employees when the Sound Tigers host the Albany River Rats on Saturday, February 7th. • BJ's Wholesale Club members can purchase specially-priced tickets for the February 7th game. BJ's will also be giving away ten free memberships and holding enter-to-win contests on February 7th. • In conjunction with Disney's release of the movie "Miracle", all fans at the February 7th game will also have a chance to win a replica 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Jersey signed by some of the players from the gold-medal winning team and actors from the movie, including KURT RUSSELL.

SOUND TIGERS ON THE AIR

Wednesday's game will be web cast at www.soundtigers.com. This weekend's road games will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com. • Head Coach GREG CRONIN is interviewed on WICC every Friday at 9:30 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

The Sound Tigers will practice at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. They will also host Albany Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and depart for this weekend's road trip Thursday afternoon. Please call 203-334-GOAL to confirm practice times and locations or with any special media requests.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2004


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