Sound Tigers Kick Off 'Pride In America Weekend' With Tie vs. Hershey
January 3, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, tied the Hershey Bears 2-2 at home Friday. The game marked the beginning of the second-annual "Pride In America Weekend" at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard and was also the first outing of calendar 2003 for both teams.
The Sound Tigers took charge of the game with a pair of early, first-period goals. Jeremy Adduono scored the first goal of the game for the second game in a row netting his third marker of the season at the :34 mark on assists from Alan Letang and Raffi Torres. Brandon Smith then made it 2-0 with his fifth goal of the year at 4:39 on assists from Mike Souza and Martin Chabada.
Hershey got on the board with a long-distance goal by Alexander Ryazantsev, his fourth goal of the season, at 12:40 of the first period on an assist from Brett Clark. The Bears then tied the game at 2-2 and chased Sound Tigers' starting Goaltender Rick DiPietro from the nets mid-way through the game as Brian Willsie scored his team-leading 15th goal of the year on assists from Joe Goodenow and Rob Voltera at 10:33 of the second period.
Steve Valiquette, who was replaced by David St. Germain in Tuesday's 4-2 road loss to the Manitoba Moose, relieved DiPietro and stopped all 21 shots he faced. Phil Sauve made 32 saves for Hershey. Valiquette earned the first star of the game, Ryazantsev the second, and Sauve the third. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play, 3 for 3 on the penalty kill and were outshot 40-34.
The Sound Tigers also announced that, due to Friday's inclement weather, they will honor unused tickets from the game for the Friday, January 24th home contest versus the Houston Aeros. Fans can redeem unused tickets from the Hershey game at Arena at Harbor Yard box office on a one-for-one basis for a ticket of equal or lesser value for the Houston game up until 4 p.m. Thursday, January 23rd. Fans can call 203-334-GOAL or log on to www.soundtigers.com for more information.
The Sound Tigers will host the Hartford Wolf Pack tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. with a charity hockey game between the Bridgeport and Hartford Fire Departments to benefit the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation Burn Camp slated for 4 p.m. They will also auction their game-worn "Pride In America" jerseys with proceeds benefiting charity. Fans, age 18 and older, can enter a written bid at special tables in the atrium on Arena at Harbor Yard's concourse up until the end of the second intermission Saturday. Written bidding will close at the end of the second intermission, and each jersey will then be subject to live bidding by an auctioneer during the third period. The opening bid is $250 per jersey, and bidding will be in increments of $10.
As part of the second of this season's three "Scout Weekends" at Arena at Harbor Yard, scouts who attend the game in uniform will also receive will receive a commemorative Sound Tigers / scout patch while supplies last.
All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 also carries road games. Fans can also email their questions and comments about the team by clicking on the "Ask The Broadcaster" link at www.soundtigers.com.
American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2003
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- Bulldogs Make It 11 Straight Road Wins - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers Kick Off 'Pride In America Weekend' With Tie vs. Hershey - Bridgeport Islanders
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