The Calder Cup goes to the Toronto Marlies. Toronto took control early, finished it off with a few late goals and beat Texas 6-1 in Game 7. It’s the Marlies’ first title. Andreas Johnsson, who scored the first goal and the back-breaking fourth, was named playoff MVP. Tough finish but fine season for the Stars, including ex-Sound Tigers Colin Markison and Matt Mangene as well as Westport’s Michael Paliotta.
So now we wait for a schedule, the draft, free agency and what other changes may come. Chris Botta reported a few of the latter today. We’re told things are status quo in Bridgeport at the moment, with development camp coming soon.
Garrett Rank played Shinnecock to a 13-over-par 83 this morning, which for an amateur in some nasty scoring conditions at a major is pretty darn respectable. There was a moment, when the ref was through 13 holes (he started on the back nine), where he and Rory McIlroy were both plus-10, but McIlroy was two holes behind him, so Rank was right above McIlroy on the leaderboard. Looked neat. Missed it, but Rank’s brother, onetime Sound Tigers ATO Kyle Rank, is caddying for him. Kyle’s a pretty good golfer himself; played both sports at St. Lawrence.
Former Sound Tiger Doug Christiansen replaces former Sound Tiger Richard Seeley as coach of the Manchester Monarchs. Sorta weird fact: Christiansen’s one 2004-05 game with Bridgeport, March 13, 2005, was Seeley’s last before he was reassigned to Norfolk two days later.
Kelly Benoit has a new online venture.
Best wishes to Wilkes-BarreAnne Donovan and Chloe Labrie.