AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers To Open Training Camp Monday

Published on September 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT – The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, will open training camp for the 2004-05 season this Monday, September 27th. The Sound Tigers will hold training camp, including four preseason games, at the Rinks at Shelton.

"I'm really excited to get started," says Sound Tigers Head Coach Greg Cronin. "This is the first time in several years I haven't been to an NHL camp, so there is a whole different dynamic to the start of this season. We're already set with an NHL-caliber roster, and this will also be a great opportunity for the players who have never been to a big-league camp to gain that type of experience."

There will be 15 players that have skated for the Sound Tigers in the past among the 36 (20 forwards, 12 defensemen and four goaltenders) who will take to the ice Monday in Shelton. The returning players include Forwards Mike Bayrack, Graham Belak, Sean Bergenheim, Kevin Colley, Rob Collins, Blaine Down, Eric Godard, Ryan Kraft, Justin Mapletoft and Justin Papineau; Defensemen Cole Jarrett, Vince Macri and Jody Robinson and Goaltenders Wade Dubielewicz and Dieter Kochan. Colley, Macri and Robinson enter camp after signing their first NHL contracts this past summer.

Among the new faces are nine players on contract to the Islanders. Veteran Forwards Jim Campbell and Barrett Heisten, as well as Defensemen Keith Aldridge and Richard Seeley will join highly-touted prospects Matt Koalska and Steven Regier up front along with Ryan Caldwell, Chris Campoli and Bruno Gervais on the blue line.

"There are two aspects to working with the players assigned to us from Long Island," says Cronin. "First is to develop the young prospects who have the potential for a solid NHL career, and second to work with the players who are at a critical intersection of their career where they need to solidify their game to step up to the Islanders on a full-time basis. In any event, the new prospects, returning players and off-season free-agent signings will make us a very strong and exciting team."

Rounding out the squad are Forwards Jeff Bateman, Paul Caponigri, Derek Edwardson, Nicolas Laplante, John Morlang and former Sacred Heart Pioneer Martin Paquet; Defensemen Ivan Curic, Dave Reid, Charles Simard and Ben Wallace and Netminders David Cann and former Yale Bulldog Alex Westlund.

The preliminary Sound Tigers' training-camp schedule is as follows:

•Monday, September 27th, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate

•Tuesday, September 28th, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 4 – 5:30 p.m. weight training

•Wednesday, September 29th, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 4 – 5:30 p.m. weight training

•Thursday, September 30th, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate

•Friday, October 1st, 10 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 7 p.m. preseason game vs. Albany River Rats

•Saturday, October 2nd, 11 a.m. off-ice workout

•Sunday, October 3rd, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 4 – 5:30 p.m. weight training

•Monday, October 4th, 10 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 7 p.m. preseason game vs. Springfield Falcons

•Tuesday, October 5th, 9:45 a.m. – 12 noon skate

•Wednesday, October 6th, 10 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 7:30 p.m. preseason game vs. Lowell Lock Monsters

•Thursday, October 7th, 11 a.m. skate; 12:30 p.m. weight training

•Friday, October 8th, 10 a.m. skate; 11:30 a.m. weight training

•Saturday, October 9th, 10 a.m. – 12 noon skate; 7 p.m. preseason game vs. Hartford Wolf Pack

The Sound Tigers will open the 2004-05 regular season on Saturday, October 16th when they host Albany at 7:05 p.m. at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard.

Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or logging on to www.soundtigers.com. Groups, organizations, companies, etc. that are interested in having a member of the Sound Tigers appear at an event are also invited to call 203-334-GOAL.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2004


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