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AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Stay In First Place

February 16, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Sound Tigers sandwiched a road win over the Springfield Falcons in between home losses to Springfield and the Hershey Bears but finished last week first place in the East Division and tied with the Hartford Wolf Pack for first place in the Eastern Conference with 67 points and a 28-13-8-3 record, including 12-6-5-1 at home and 16-7-3-2 on the road.

WED FEB 11th vs. SPR, 4-1 L: In the only meeting at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard this regular season, the teams played scoreless hockey for 43 minutes before the Falcons took the first lead early in the third period on a goal by KIEL McLEOD. JEFF HAMILTON, in his first game back after missing 13 with an eye injury, tied the score just over five minutes later, but Springfield iced the win on goals by JASON JASPERS, FRANTISEK LUKES and TREVOR GILLIES. DIETER KOCHAN made 32 saves for the Sound Tigers while DAVID LeNEVEU made 28 for the Falcons who had a 36-29 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play while Springfield was 0-2. SAT FEB 14th at SPR, 5-3 W: The Sound Tigers' specials teams were spectacular going 2 for 4 on the power play, 5 for 5 on the penalty kill and scoring two shorthanded goals. BRENT GAUVREAU opened the scoring on the advantage; JUSTIN MAPLETOFT and BEN GUITE notched the shorties; JEFF HAMILTON had a power-play goal, the game-winner and an assist; and WADE DUBIELEWICZ made 19 saves. The Sound Tigers outshot Springfield 28-22.

SUN FEB 15th vs. HER, 1-0 L: Hershey's ERIC BRULE scored the game's only goal, on the power play, 3:21 into the third period re-setting this season's mark for the latest first goal of the game in a contest involving the Sound Tigers, which was established just four days earlier in the 4-1 loss to Springfield. Sound Tigers G DIETER KOCHAN earned second star of the game honors with 35 saves as the Bears had a 36-18 shots on goal advantage, including 17-6 in the third period. Hershey was 1 for 8 on the power play while the Sound Tigers were 0 for 5.

SOUND TIGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – RW/C JEFF HAMILTON

Hamilton returned from a 13-game absence due to a serious eye injury and scored the Sound Tigers' lone goal Wednesday and notched a power-play goal, the game-winner and an assist in Saturday's win. He hit four targets in the Accuracy Shooting Competition in Sunday's Skills Competition and led all players with seven shots on goal and tied for the scoring lead with three points, on one goal and two assists, in Monday's game at the AHL All-Star Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hamilton leads the Sound Tigers with 28 goals, 46 points and a +13 and also has 18 assists in 39 games this season. He leads all AHL scorers with ten game-winning goals and is second in the League with his 28 goals and 14 power-play goals.

THIS WEEK – Tuesday Matinee Opens Four Game Week The Sound Tigers will open a four-game week with the last of this season's four weekday matinees at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard when the Worcester IceCats make their only visit of the regular season tomorrow. The Portland Pirates will also make their only regular-season visit to Bridgeport Wednesday. The Sound Tigers will then visit Hartford Friday and host the Norfolk Admirals Saturday.

TUE FEB 17th vs. WOR, 4:05 p.m.: This will be the second and final meeting of the teams, the only in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 5-1-1 all-time, 1-0 this season, versus Worcester who begins this week in second place in the Atlantic Division with 59 points and a 24-19-10-1 record, including 13-8-5-1 on the road and 5-3-2 in the last ten games.

WED FEB 18th vs. POR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the second and final meeting of the teams, the only in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 4-3 all-time, 1-0 this season, versus Portland who begins this week in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points and a 21-17-8-6 record, including 7-11-3-3 on the road and 4-0-1 in the last five games. The Pirates will host the Lowell Lock Monsters today.

FRI FEB 20th at HAR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the sixth of ten meetings of the teams, the third of five in Hartford, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 15-8-2 all-time, 3-1-1 with an overtime loss this season, with versus the Wolf Pack who are in first place in the Atlantic Division with 67 points and a 29-16-8-1 record, including 14-7-5-0 at home. The Sound Tigers are also tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with Hartford who begins this week on a four-game winning streak. The Wolf Pack will visit Springfield Wednesday.

SAT FEB 21st vs. NOR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the fifth of eight meetings of the teams, the third of four in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 2-4 all-time, 2-2 this season, versus Norfolk who begins this week in fifth place in the East Division with 55 points and a 23-25-4-5 record, including 9-16-3-3 on the road. The Admirals, who begin this week on a three-game winning streak, visit the Providence Bruins today. They will also visit the Albany River Rats Wednesday and Lowell Friday.

SOUND TIGERS STREAKS

G WADE DUBIELEWICZ (2-0-2) is on a four-game unbeaten streak. • The Sound Tigers are winless in their last five home games at 0-2-3. However, they have won three straight road games.

SOUND TIGERS TRANSACTIONS

D JAY LEACH signed a professional tryout contact Saturday. • RW ERIC GODARD was assigned by the Islanders on conditioning loan Wednesday. • C PRESTON MIZZI was released from a PTO last week. • LW/C EVAN CHEVERIE was released from a PTO Monday, February 2nd. • RW/C BRENT GAUVREAU signed a PTO Monday, January 26th. • C JUSTIN MAPLETOFT was reassigned by the Islanders Wednesday, January 21st. • LW DEREK BEKAR was reassigned by the Islanders Friday, January 16th. • C ERIC MANLOW, D SVEN BUTENSCHON, G RICK DiPIETRO and RW MATTIAS WEINHANDL remain on recall to the Islanders.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & PROMOTIONAL NEWS

The Sound Tigers will host the last of this season's four weekday matinees when Worcester makes its only regular-season visit tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. • It will be "Milford Family Fun Night" when the Sound Tigers host Norfolk this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with specially-priced tickets for Milford residents and employees. • Saturday will also be "Labor Day in February" and "Union Appreciation Night" with specially-priced tickets for all labor union members and their family and friends. • The first two-thousand fans who enter this Saturday's game will receive a free Sound Tigers hat courtesy of Freedom Plains. • In conjunction with Bridgeport Hospital and BJ's Wholesale Club, the Sound Tigers will hold "Connecticut's Largest Baby Shower" when they host Providence on Saturday, February 28th at 7:05 p.m. Fans who donate a package of diapers will receive a free ticket to an upcoming home game. All donations will benefit the Bridgeport Hospital Primary Care Center and the Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County. • February 28th will also be "Monroe Family Night" with specially-priced tickets as part of several fundraisers to benefit the MARCELLA SICILIANO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, which will be awarded to a graduating senior from Monroe in honor of the 18-year-old who passed away in a car accident last October. • AAA members who show their AAA card at the box office will receive a special ticket price of $12.50 for all Saturday home games in the month of February. • WWE superstar RANDY ORTON will appear at the Friday, March 5th 7:35 p.m. game versus the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. • March 5th through 7th will be "Scout Appreciation Weekend" with a "Scout Sleepover" on Saturday the 6th. • It will be "Norwalk Family Night" with specially-priced tickets for city residents when the Sound Tigers host the Binghamton Senators on Sunday, March 7th at 4:05 p.m.

SOUND TIGERS ON THE AIR

All four of this week's games will be web cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Both of this weekend's games are also scheduled to be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM. • Head Coach GREG CRONIN is interviewed live on WICC by News Director TIM QUINN every Friday at 9:30 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

The Sound Tigers are scheduled to practice at the Rinks at Shelton Monday, Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. They are also slated to skate at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. Call 203-334-GOAL to confirm practice times and locations or with any special media requests.

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