Sad news hitting the inbox tonight: Cliff Lydiksen, a familiar face on the Zamboni and behind the scenes for years at the Arena, passed away Monday. He was 61. Good man. Condolences to his family.
……
Been a while since we checked in here. The Big Club in the meantime dropped its first real free-agent addition, Derick Brassard, who’ll fill a role in the middle. If everyone’s healthy, we’re getting int mortal-lock territory that forwards who finished the year up top won’t start this year there. “If everyone’s healthy,” though, are three big words at any time of year.
Tip of cap to two-time Sound Tigers leading scorer Bracken Kearns, who has announced his retirement. Kearns scored a couple of particularly memorable goals for Bridgeport, the overtime penalty shot in Providence to complete the “Na Na Hey Hey” comeback, then a month later the late goal in Portland that clinched a playoff spot for the first time in four years in 2016.
Matty Gaudreau to Stockton. Eamon McAdam signed with Binghamton.
Good wishes in cancer treatment to both Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Hurricanes prospect Stelio Mattheos.
RIP, Russ Conway and Vince Naimoli.
And RIP, Kymoni Pollock and NiShawn Tolliver.