So Jeremy Colliton practiced and has been feeling pretty good, so he’s likely to be available tomorrow. Either way, the Elmira boys are being thrown back to the Jackals, leaving the Sound Tigers at 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Jack Capuano didn’t commit to any lineup decisions, though the options seem to be a little more limited at 11+7.
Steve Regier skated after practice but is out for the weekend. Pascal Morency skated before practice and looked OK. He says he’s feeling better and getting stronger.
Met Matt Keith afterward. If there’s no room in the paper, I’ll maybe post something here late tonight (or maybe it’ll go online, and I’ll post a URL.)
Practice started about an hour late because some new kid had to get a physical…..
Oh, jeez! The new kid!
Kyle Okposo stepped onto the ice (cameras clicking) in a red jersey, skating with Tambellini and Nielsen. He admitted it was a good workout, coming back after he hadn’t skated for a while and weary after a lot of travel. May take him a couple of days to get up to speed. As Capuano said, the staff here will get him into condition.
It was amazing here. By far the most media ever here for a practice, maybe twice over. No fewer than three New York writers, AP, three photographers (including our Brian Pounds), Islanders TV, Sound Tigers TV… Amazing. I’m not sure there were that many people here when they were in the final six years ago.
He handled the throng in the dressing room with aplomb, though, it seemed. Poised, mature. I did not have the guts to ask how he finds Bridgeport*.
Elsewhere, I’m almost loathe to link to James Mirtle and this Russian League brawl he posted. You know, there’s violence, and then there’s unspeakable travesty perpetrated on ice. But then I realized… you know… I have an obligation. Ray Giroux is No. 2 in white. Doesn’t look like he’s in the middle of it, but he makes a cameo. Yeah, BST content, that’s good enough justification. (The second half is nastier than the first.)
Brent Johnson is almost back for the Caps; Brandon Nolan and Keith Aucoin are going back up to Carolina.
*-“How did you find America?”**
**- “I Want To Hold Your Hand” came on WLNG as I pulled up to the arena (way too) early this morning. Talk about the radio-programming gods being too invested in my bad jokes. That’s just eerie.