Sunday at Giant Center was going to be cool for Ryan Bourque one way or the other. Then the two goals happened. Then the win happened. Then he was named first star.
“I looked down at the paper, and they had me as second star. That’s just the way they do it there,” Bourque said. “Then I saw Chris under me, and I knew he was waiting at the bench.”
Chris Bourque gave his little brother a little fist bump before Ryan saluted the crowd.
Hershey has been meaningful to him for a long time, anyway, even before a great year and a half with the Bears.
“Even going there before I played, as a kid when (Chris) was coming up,” Ryan said. “It’s cool to be back there.”
(Ryan was 14 for Chris’ rookie-pro season, 2005-06, and wait that was 12 years ago, and how old does that make me oh no.)
And beyond all that: Big win to cap a big weekend for Bridgeport, Ryan said. Huge two points.
All hands on deck for Bridgeport’s practice. Steve Bernier returned to his usual spot; Casey Bailey was with Scott Eansor and Travis St. Denis. They had a fourth player on each of the other two lines rather than a shortened fifth. (With Kyle Schempp joining Dal Colle-Stevens-Gionta, that meant they had 15, 16, 17 and 18 on one unit, which, well.) Gionta and Kane Lafranchise said they were feeling good.
Saturday’s St. Denis goal was the fifth-latest tying goal in team history, at least by our dicey records. Sunday’s Bourque (second) goal was the 16th-latest.
Elsewhere, Aaron Ness is on waivers.
Matt Murray was hurt last night for Pittsburgh. Casey DeSmith got the call this morning.
More on Jason Shaya’s day on the bench for Charlotte.
Sacred Heart’s Marc Johnstone was Atlantic Hockey’s rookie of the week. Three goals in an 0-1-2 week.