Our very first, preliminary look at a new day in Bridgeport. No names on backs, unfortunately (Islanders practice jerseys, but at least there was an Argentina Line, and a Swede dressed in gold), but some numbers on some helmets to give us a rudimentary idea in some cases.
They had been separated into groups, but today, the 17 forwards, seven D and four goalies (Ryan Hegarty and Jessey Astles were excused, banged up) all went together. A hard skate for about two hours, capped by a further hard skate.
“They’re a very hard working group,” Brent Thompson said. “That’s one of the requirements to be with our organization, top to bottom.”
It is, when you look at it, a very big camp considering that, once the Big Club sends down what it’s sending before Tuesday night, there may not be a lot of spots to fight over. Thompson took exception to that, and there’s a note in tomorrow’s story to that effect.
What we picked out with a little help: Chris Langkow and Scooter Vaughan, together again, were joined by tryout forward Colton Gillies, who seems like he could be a nice fit on that unit. Brett Gallant had Lukas Sutter and Ryan Hayes on his line. Sebastian Collberg, in yellow, skated with Andrew Rowe and C.J. Stretch. Not positive on the other units.
A day, hopefully, to get bearings before we have to get our actual bearings. Sounds like they’ll be skating closer to home next week, when the rosters have to shake out.
Thompson said they’ve talked about a captain, but he wasn’t tipping his hand. (I’d offer my guess, but I’m still surprised Greg Cronin didn’t go with Kevin Colley 10 years ago. Speaking of which, there are enough throwback banners on the main-sheet side of Iceworks, but over on the smaller sheet, the “Sound Tigers” rink — holy time machine. Dubielewicz, Colliton (in No. 23), Collins, Down, Hamilton, Kraft.)
Further adventures of the alumni: Brant Harris to the Florida Everblades; Dmitry Antipin and Nick Niedert to Reading on camp tryouts.
More, it’s nice to say again, tomorrow.