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Staples football season nearly perfect

By ROB SULLIVAN

Although the Staples football team came up a few points short in its quest for a Class LL state title, there is no question that Staples restaked its claim as one of the premier football programs in the state. Just as the Staples boys soccer team has re-established itself as an elite program — with both an FCIAC and CIAC state championship under its belt the booters are probably the elite program in the state — the gridders have also returned to glory.

But this is a team that in actuality had nothing to prove, at least to this writer. Staples went 6-5 in 2008, not a great season by Wrecker standards, but certainly respectable. True, they didn’t make the postseason last year but the team has been one of the dominant teams in the league and the state for most of the last decade. Surely a 6-5 season is no reason to panic.

The sky was not falling in Westport and the Wreckers proved it this autumn. Staples had a special season on many fronts and thrilled the town of Westport in the process.

In a way, this was a story of two seasons for the FCIAC champs. In its first nine games the Wreckers completely dominated whatever team lined up against them. The locals featured a potent triple-threat offense with tremendous rushing, passing and kicking games. However, the Staples defense was perhaps even more impressive, tossing five shutouts in those nine games. Heading into the FCIAC championship game against Bridgeport Central, the Westporters had outscored their opponents 338-25. Now, that certainly is an impressive statistic.

Starting with the FCIAC title game, Staples entered a new phase of the season. Playing Central at McDougall Stadium on the campus of Trumbull High School, the Wreckers had their first taste of adversity. And they answered.

The Hilltoppers opened a 10-0 lead against Staples and led for the entire game until the final minute. On second down from his own 34-yardline, quarterback Keith Gelman slung a pass to wideout Brendan Rankowitz who bolted downfield for an incredible 66-yard touchdown run, a 14-10 lead and the league championship.

Bridgeport welcomes Bartley, ships out Romano

Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that rookie forward Vic Bartley has been recalled by the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In addition, the New York Islanders have reassigned rookie forward Tony Romano from Bridgeport to Utah. Finally, defenseman Evan Stoflet has been traded to Bakersfield in exchange for future considerations and forward Jason Dale has been recalled by Bridgeport and reassigned to Bakersfield.

The Grizzlies are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.

At the time of his departure, Bartley is tied for fourth in the ECHL with a plus-12 and leads all rookies in plus-minus. The 21-year-old is also tied for 13th in the ECHL in scoring by defensemen with two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 21 games.

Bartley becomes the sixth Utah player in the first month and a half of the season to be promoted to the American Hockey League: joining J.D. Watt, Matt Clarke, Josh Meyers, Ryan Kinasewich and James Sixsmith.

Romano, 21, played 21 games with Bridgeport this year tallying one goal and one assist after totaling 69 points (36 goals, 33 assists) in 66 games last year with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes.

Sully's Sports: Enjoying memories of 'Old Reliable'

By ROB SULLIVAN

I guess growing up outside of Boston and being a rabid Red Sox fan means that I am supposed to be a Yankee hater. And to some degree that’s true.

Actually, it’s true to a great degree. I constantly root against the Yankees and wouldn’t mind to see the Bronx Bombers finish the season with an 0-162 record. I concede that may not be entirely realistic, but I do cheer for who ever they happen to be playing on any given day.

After rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies in this year’s World Series, I was once again resigned to the Yankees being world champs. For the 27th time. In some odd way, I suppose things are back to normal.

But my dislike of the Yanks actually extends only to the current version of the team. I love baseball history and I devour baseball books every chance I get. I’m a member of the Society of American Baseball Research and I suppose I spend a lot of time living in the past. And that’s a past from long before I was born. But I like it that way.

And as a student of baseball history, how can I not like those great Yankees teams and players?

This affection for baseball history was one of the reasons I read with sorrow about the death of former Yankee great Tommy Henrich on Tuesday, Dec.1st. Henrich passed away at the tender age of 96 in Dayton, Ohio.

Dubbed as "Old Reliable," by legendary New York Yankee broadcaster Mel Allen, Henrich was among the most clutch players in Yankee history. According to teammate and former American league president Dr. Bobby Brown, the right fielder rose to the occasion when the most chips were on the table.

"If we were ahead 10-1 or 10-2, he was just average. If we were behind 10-1 or 10-2, same thing. But get him in a big game and he was terrific. We didn’t call him ‘Old Reliable.’ We just knew he was ‘Old Reliable,’" Brown told the Associated Press.

Peter Laviolette takes the reins in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League named former ECHL coach Peter Laviolette as their head coach on Friday.

Laviolette began his coaching career in the ECHL in 1997-98 when he led Wheeling to the conference finals in the Kelly Cup Playoffs after finishing 37-24-9 in the regular season.

The Kalamazoo Wings are the ECHL affiliate of the Flyers. Every ECHL team has an affiliation with an NHL team and the league has affiliations with 28 of the 30 NHL teams, marking the 13th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

Sound Tigers salvage a point against Bruins

Bridgeport-providence

By ROB SULLIVAN

BRIDGEPORT - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers fell to Providence 2-1 in a shootout Wednesday night at The Arena at Harbor Yard, but the locals were lucky not to have been routed in regulation play.

The team hit the ice listless and remained that way through 65 minutes of hockey. If not for the steady play of goaltender Nathan Lawson, the icemen would have been blown out of their own building by the Baby Bruins. As it stands, Bridgeport was extremely fortunate to salvage a point Wednesday night.

Still, the Sound Tigers had a legitimate chance to win the game despite their lackadaisical play.

Grizzlies win 7-6 in OT

The Utah Grizzlies (13-6) defeated the Ontario Reign 7-6 in overtime Wednesday night at the E-Center.

Tim Maxwell scored the game-winning goal 3:08 into overtime to cap off five-straight power-play shots by Utah. Vlady Nikiforov and Ryan Kinasewich added assists on the game-winning scores.

The Grizzlies built a 5-0 lead after one period outshooting Ontario 22-2. Matt Clarke starting the scoring 2:57 into the first period on his first pro goal and Utah held the lead until the Reign tied the contest at six with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Ontario scored three goals in a span of 1:43 to make the game go from a 6-3 Utah lead to a 6-6 tie in the final 2:31 of regulation.

Six Grizzlies had multiple-points in the game, while 11 total Utah skaters made it to the scoring column. Ryan Kinasewich led the way with four assists, Vlady Nikiforov had three helpers. Dylan Hunter, with two goals, came close to nailing his second hat trick of the year in overtime. Tom May and Vic Bartley also added goals for Utah.

Mitch O’Keefe earned his ninth win of the year in the process.

Worcester skates past Sound Tigers

By ROB SULLIVAN

WORCESTER, MASS – Danny Grouix had a goal and an assist and Alex Stalock made 29 saves to lead the Worcester Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night at the DCU Center. Tyler Haskins scored the only Sound Tigers goal.

 

Alex Desjardins tallied his sixth goal of the year at the 6:06 mark of the first period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Grouix fired a shot from the left circle that Desjardins deflected through traffic past Nathan Lawson. It was the only goal of an exciting first period in which the Sharks held a 17-12 advantage in shots. Sean Bentivoglio had the best scoring chance of the period for the Sound Tigers, as he was denied by Stalock on a transition breakaway started by a pass from Mark Flood.

 

Scott Munroe blanks Lowell

By RICK COHEN

Scott Munroe made 39 saves and James Sixsmith had a goal and an assist as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers shut out the Lowell Devils, 3-0, Saturday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard. With the win, the Sound Tigers move over the .500 mark for the season, improving to 12-11-0-1.

 

Bridgeport got off to a fast start as James Sixsmith scored his first goal as a Sound Tiger just 2:14 into the game. Tyler Haskins fired a shot on goal from the top of the face-off circle that Jeff Frazee turned aside, but the rebound landed right on Sixsmith’s stick and he quickly snapped it into the back of the net. Greg Mauldin had a scoring chance midway through the period but rang a shot from the slot off the post.

 

Matt Martin made it 2-0 Sound Tigers at the 9:47 mark of the second period. After Sixsmith had his initial attempt turned aside, Martin pounced on the loose rebound as it slid through the crease and poked it through Frazee’s pads for his third goal of the year.

 

Bluefish announce start times

The Bridgeport Bluefish have announced the starting times for their 2010 regular season schedule at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

The Bluefish will host 70 homes games, consisting of 68 openings at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard during 2010. For the majority of the season, Monday through Friday contests will start at 7:05 p.m., Saturday games will begin at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday contests will be played at 2:05 p.m.

The ever popular school and camp days return and are scheduled for April 28, May 12, July 21 and August 4, with all contests starting at 10:35 a.m. The April 28 game will be a unique day-game doubleheader consisting of two seven-innings contests, with the second game beginning one-half hour following the conclusion of the opener. The Wednesday, September 8 doubleheader against the Lancaster Barnstormers will begin at 5:05 p.m. and will also consist of two seven-inning games. On Saturday, May 8, the Bluefish will host their cross-Sound rivals, the Long Island Ducks in a split day/night doubleheader. The first game will begin at 1:05 p.m., with the second contest starting at 7:05 p.m.

For more information, visit www.bridgeportbluefish.com or call (203) 345-4800.

Providence Bruins skate past Sound Tigers

By RICK COHEN

Jeff Penner had a goal and two assists and Jeff LoVechio added a goal and an assist as the Providence Bruins defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

 

An exciting first period saw the game tied at two. The Sound Tigers struck first, just 12 seconds into the contest. After Dany Sabourin misplayed a clearing attempt in front of his net, Greg Moore picked up the loose puck and sent it into the slot for Trevor Smith who snapped a quick shot into an empty net for his fifth tally of the season.

 

The first period saw 11 penalties called between the two teams. Bridgeport ’s Trevor Gillies received a five minute major for elbowing at the 15:23 mark

 

Bentivoglio wins it with 10 seconds left

By RICK COHEN

Sean Bentivoglio scored the game winning goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation and Nathan Lawson made 35 saves as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers held off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2-1, Saturday night at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza .

 

The first period ended scoreless, but it was not for lack of action. Both goaltenders made some excellent save, including a sequence late in the period in which Penguins goaltender John Curry made a toe save on a slot shot by Jesse Joenssu leading to a transition rush for Wilkes-Barre that saw Lawson rob Konstantin Pushkarev with a sprawling glove save. Lawson made 14 saves in the opening period to keep the Penguins off the scoreboard.

 

Sound Tigers skate past Worcester

By RICK COHEN

Trevor Smith had a goal and an assist and scored in the shootout and Mikko Koskinen stopped 32 shots in his professional debut as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers won a shootout, 2-0, to earn a 4-3 win over the Worcester Sharks Friday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

 

Worcester jumped on top first, as Jon McCarthy tipped home a blast from the point off the stick of Dan DaSilva, beating  Koskinen at the 8:45 mark of the first period. Mark Katic tied the score with 2:27 to go, ripping a shot past Alex Stalock off a feed from Dustin Kohn. The goal was Katic’s first as a professional. The Sound Tigers took a 2-1 lead into the locker-room after Greg Moore snapped a wrist shot past Stalock with 28 seconds remaining in the frame.

 

Sound Tigers win opener

Andrew MacDonald scored the game winning goal 2:54 into overtime and Sean Bentivoglio added a goal and two assists as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers posted a 4-3 victory over the Lowell Devils in the season opener for both teams Saturday night at a sold out Arena at Harbor Yard.

 

Trevor Smith got the Sound Tigers off to a good start, opening the scoring just 38 seconds into the game. Dustin Kohn put an initial shot on goal that was turned aside by Gerald Coleman but the hard rebound landed right on Smith’s stick and he backhanded it into the top of the net.

 

Utah Grizzlies to host Faceoff Luncheon

The Utah Grizzlies have announced that the public is invited to attend the annual "Face-Off Luncheon" and Media Day Tuesday, October 20 at the E-Center.  Fans can reserve seats for the luncheon by calling (801) 988-8800.  Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. and the cost is $10 for Grizzlies season ticket holders. The cost for the general public is $20.

Players and coaches will be introduced and Head Coach Kevin Colley will give his comments on the upcoming season.

Bluefish finally win

By POORYA NAYERAHMADI

The Camden Riversharks were defeated by the Bridgeport Bluefish tonight, by a final score of 6-1. Camden starter Kalen Gearhart (1-3) suffered the loss, as he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings pitching. Bridgeport’s Matt Pike (7-9) picked up the win, as he gave up just 1 run and 9 hits in 7.2 innings of work. With the loss, the Riversharks’ second half tally falls to 27-38, while Bridgeport’s improves to 30-35.

The Bluefish jumped out to an early lead, and brought two runs across the plate in the first inning. With two runners in scoring position, third baseman Luis Lopez hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Adam Greenberg and advanced Tyrone Pendergrass to third. The next batter was Brandon Sing, who also notched a sacrifice fly, scoring Pendergrass and giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. They would tack on a third run in the 3rd inning, as Sing would once again bring home Pendergrass with a double to deep center field.

Bridgeport would add to their lead in the 4th, and take a 4-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Camden’s Kalen Gearhart walked Pendergrass, giving Ryner Bautista a free pass home. The visitors would score again the following inning, as first baseman Jesse Hoorelbeke launched a solo homerun over the left field wall, his 22nd of the year.

Bluefish staggering to the finish line

The Camden Riversharks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish tonight, by a final score of 9-1. Camden starter Ryan DiPietro (6-10) picked up the win, as he pitched 6 innings of shut out ball, allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks. Bridgeport’s Kyle Jackson (11-11) suffered the loss, as he gave up 7 runs on 8 hits in 5.1 innings pitched. With the win, the Riversharks' second half record improves to 27-37, while Bridgeport’s falls to 29-35.

The Riversharks broke the scoreless tie in the 3rd inning, and took a 1-0 lead. Center fielder Wayne Lydon lined a one out triple down the right field line, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Walker. The run gave Walker his 82nd RBI of the season.

High school soccer roundup

By ROB SULLIVAN

Soccer season is here, and several of our local teams should be competitive on the pitch.

Weston coach Kevin Fitzsimmons is upbeat as the season beckons.

“I have an optimistic outlook for the season especially as the boys have
worked very hard in pre-season and are looking sharper everyday,” said Fitzsimmons. “On the field the boys will be playing a passing and possession game so you
will not see many long balls being played I want all my teams to entertain
me with nice flowing soccer, the way it should be played.”
The Trojan captains are JD Thompson and Dennis Levene, and Fitzsimmons expects the SWC to be a powerful league noting, “I expect every opponent to be strong as they have been coached by the same coach for more than a week, unlike my boys so they should be a lot further on than us in terms of development, but I doubt any of them work as hard as
my boys.”

Joanna Hallac, the Weston girls soccer coach is as enthusiastic about the season ahead as her colleague on the boys side.

Goaltender Lawson is re-signed

The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goaltender Nathan Lawson.

Lawson spent the majority of last season with the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 31 games with the Sound Tigers, Lawson posted a 19-9-2 record with a .927 save percentage and a 2.16 goals against average. He had a nine-game unbeaten streak to open his career in the AHL, going 8-0-1.

Lawson, who began the season with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, was named to the AHL All-Rookie at the conclusion of the season.

“Nathan had an impressive season last year in Bridgeport,” said Garth Snow, Islanders General Manager. “His competitiveness increases our organizational goaltending depth.”

Prior to last season, the Calgary, Alberta native played the 2007-08 in the ECHL for both the Phoenix Roadrunners and Utah. From 2004-07, Lawson played at the University of Alaska-Anchorage of the WCHA. During those three seasons, he played in 75 games while posting a .906 save percentage and a 3.24 goals against average.

Sound Tigers announce preseason schedule

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have announced the dates and times of their training camp and two pre-season games.

Training camp will take place at the Sound Tigers official practice facility, The Rinks at Shelton in Shelton, from Sept. 22-27. Fans are welcome to attend all on-ice sessions.

The Sound Tigers will play two preseason games this year. Both contests will be against the archrival Hartford Wolf Pack. On Friday, September 25 at 7:00 pm the teams will face-off at the Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. On Saturday, September 26 the Sound Tigers will host the Wolf Pack in a preseason game at The Rinks at Shelton at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Sound Tigers-Wolf Pack game in Shelton will go on sale this Saturday, August 22 at The Rinks at Shelton Customer Service window. For more ticket information, practice times and group discounts, please call The Rinks At Shelton at 203-929-6500 ext 10.

Football is in the air already

By ROB SULLIVAN

Maybe it’s the return of Tom Brady, which has all New England Patriots fans champing at the bit for the National Football League regular season to start. In his first appearance since the 2008 season opener, Brady performed well in the Pats 27-25 preseason win against the Philadelphia Eagles completing 10 of 15 passes for 100 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Or maybe it was watching the New York Football Giants against the Carolina Panthers win their preseason opener in such a bizarre manner. For those who missed it, the Giants and Panthers were tied at 17-17 with 10 seconds left to go in the game when Carolina Panther quarterback Hunter Cantwell faded back to pass from his own 18-yardline.

Cantwell was hit as he tried to throw and Giants defensive end Thomas Hill picked off the ball in midair and romped into the end zone for the winning score with no time left on the clock.

Whatever the reason, many local sports fans, myself included, are starting to focus on football as summer speeds to a conclusion. And, no, I am not giving up on baseball and I am not yearning for the gridiron simply because I am a frustrated Boston Red Sox fan.