Good morning/Schempp signs: Portland pregame

It’s early. But it’s an easy one to get up for. Winner’s in fourth.

Bridgeport is, in fact, again without Justin Vaive (upper body). Sebastian Collberg is in for Carter Verhaeghe, with accompanying shuffling. Meanwhile, Christopher Gibson starts for the first time since the Pirates’ last visit. If he finishes, it ends a streak of seven consecutive appearances for Stephon Williams. Whoever’s in goal, Bridgeport hasn’t allowed a five-on-five goal in 99:11 (not counting the Pirates’ empty-netter up there last Wednesday, which if we’re being consistent cuts the time by a few minutes as well, but, come on, it’s early).

Parker Wotherspoon took his first twirl in a professional sweater, but all indications were that he’s the last scratch for Bridgeport. The ATO brigade grew by one in the middle of warmup: The Islanders announced that they’ve signed Kyle Schempp, 2014 sixth-rounder out of Ferris State, to his ELC, beginning next season. He’s coming here to finish this year.

BRIDGEPORT
F: C.Jones-Kearns (A)-Wright
Halmo (A)-Quine-Fritz
Florek-B.Holmstrom (C)-Collberg
Johnston-Gomes-Markison
D: Czuczman-Mayfield
Finn-Lafranchise
Cullity-Graham
(Wotherspoon-scratch)
G: Williams
Gibson

PORTLAND
F: Rau-Grimaldi-Harper
Balisy-Megan-Brickley
Flick-Olson (A)-Lynch
Schremp-Knight-Simpson
D: Matheson-Regner (C)
Gaunce (A)-Weegar
Racine-Acolatse
G: McKenna
Brittain

R: D.Banfield, South. L: Simeon, Tubbs.

This should be the box.

Bridgeport scratches (believed healthy unless noted): McAdam, Burroughs (lower body), Carkner, Juha, Whitney (right leg), Rowe (lower body), Cliche (undisclosed), Vaive (upper body), Verhaeghe, looked like Wotherspoon

Think this is the first Bridgeport game for linesman Brent Tubbs, who it looks like has worked the CHL and ECHL along the way.

Michael Fornabaio