Off for a few days...

On this crazy UFA-Canada-Day, I am off for a few days with my family, so don't be surprised if this site is inactive for a bit.

I'll be back soon. Don't miss me too much!

Sound Tigers 08-09 Home Opponents Released

Today, the AHL Board of Governors released the individual team-by-team breakdown for home opponents. Here's how it's looking...

Atlantic Division

Hartford – 5
Lowell – 3
Manchester – 0
Portland – 3
Providence – 1
Springfield – 2
Worcester – 2

East Division

Albany – 4
Binghamton – 4
Hershey – 3
Norfolk – 4
Philadelphia - 4
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – 3

North Division

Grand Rapids – 0
Lake Erie – 0
Hamilton – 0
Manitoba – 0
Rochester – 0
Syracuse – 0
Toronto – 0

West Division

Chicago – 0
Houston – 1
Iowa – 0
Milwaukee – 0
Peoria – 0
Quad City – 0
Rockford – 0
San Antonio – 1

If there's something that I will never seem to understand, it's how the AHL schedule is worked out. Is it really that hard for a CT team to play an upstate NY team like Syracuse? or even Toronto? Rochester? Manitoba? I mean, now BRI can go to Houston and San Antonio, but they can't make a nice bus ride up to Rochester? C'mon...

Fans think the NHL schedule is screwed up? Well just take a look above. If a team two states over can't play each other at least once, then there's a problem. At least in the NHL every team plays each other, even if it's just for one game.

Wake me up when the AHL gets a decent scheduling system right...

The Tiger Track Featured on SoundTigers.com!

If you've recently visited SoundTigers.com lately, take a looksie down the left-hand side of the page. You may notice a familiar name added to the advertisements there!

A big thank you goes out to Kimber Auerbach and Howard Saffan of the Sound Tigers for getting this done!

Isles Qualify Six Former Tigers

Well it looks like the youth movement is going to be in full effect this coming season, as the Islanders have qualified six players, all former Sound Tigers.

The story on the Isles Official Site

The New York Islanders have extended qualifying offers to forwards Sean Bergenheim, Jeremy Colliton, Frans Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini and Ben Walter along with defenseman Bruno Gervais. All will become restricted free agent if they are not signed prior to July 1st, 2008.

Bergenheim and Gervais spent the entire 2007-08 season with the Islanders. Bergenheim appeared in 78 games, scoring 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Gervais saw action in 60 games and recorded 13 assists and points to go along with 34 penalty minutes.

Colliton, Nielsen, Tambellini and Walter all split time between the Islanders and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Tambellini recorded one goal and three assists in 31 games with the Islanders while finishing seventh in the AHL in scoring, leading the Sound Tigers with 38 goals, 38 assists and 76 points in only 57 games. Appearing in 16 games with the Islanders last season, Nielsen recorded two goals and an assist for three points. Colliton also played in 16 games and went scoreless while registering eight penalty minutes. Walter saw action in eight games with the Islanders and scored his first NHL goal.

Five Isles Prospects Invited to U20 Camp

From the New York Islanders Official Site

Less than a week after the 2008 NHL Entry Draft completed, a league-high five Islanders prospects, including four drafted last weekend, were invited to attend the Canadian Junior Development Camp in Ottawa from July 25-29. The next closest teams are Carolina, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles, which are each sending three players.

Josh Bailey (2008, 1st round), Travis Hamonic (2008, 2nd round), Mark Katic (selected in 2007 in the third round), Jared Spurgeon (2008, 6th round) and Corey Trivino (2008, 2nd round) will be at the Islanders Prospect Camp from July 14-20 at Islanders Iceworks before traveling north to join the top 45 junior-aged Canadians as a lead up to final selections for the 2009 World Junior Championship in December.

Blog Box Speaks With Aaron Ness

Since I had trouble uploading the audio, I thought I'd transcribe our interview with the NY Islanders #40 Overall pick, Aaron Ness.

Blog Box: How would you describe your game?

Aaron Ness: I'm an offensive defenseman, one of the many in this draft! I like to jump up into the play and be that fourth forward.

BB: You're originally from Minnesota, and set to go to the University of Minnesota this year. Looking forward to it?

Ness: Oh yeah, I can't wait! It's always been a dream of me to be playing in the WCHA, and to be a part of that program, it's going to be amazing, and I'm looking forward to getting down there.

BB: Did you have any expectations coming into this draft?

Ness: Not really. I've heard everything that I could probably go from 15 to 70. I had no idea, so I just kind of had to sit on the edge of my seat and hope my name gets called as soon as possible.

BB: Did you know the Islanders were interested in you?

Ness: Yeah, a little bit. I talked to them at the Combine so I knew there was some interest there, but bottom line is you don't know who's going to pick you until your name is called.

BB: How would you judge your whole experience so far?

Ness: Oh it's amazing. I mean it's a dream come true - half of it, anyways, still got the dream's plans, so this is only part of it. But it's pretty cool and great to be a part of.

BB: What do you know about the Islanders already?

Ness: Not a lot actually. I know they're developing right now, obviously with all the picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, so I'm just really looking forward to be a part of it.

BB: Great, thanks so much Aaron, and congratulations!

Ness: Thanks!

The Tiger Track and IslesBlogger on HNLI

Following Day 2 of the NHL Draft, Mike and I appeared on Hockey Night on LI. We're probably in the first 25 minutes of the show, so incase you missed it, here it is!

Heading home...

Mike and I are here in Ottawa International 3 hours before our flight...so we got tons of time to kill.

Just wanted to quickly extend a HUGE THANKS to everyone that checked in with The Tiger Track and IslesBlogger this weekend. We hope you enjoyed the coverage and got a lot out of it.

We will be back when eventually arrive in NY soon. Let's just hope customs doesn't give us a freakin hard time again!

"Biggest Winner of the Draft"

The Hockey Show on XM Radio was just asked a few minutes ago on who was the biggest winner of the draft was.

The answer?

New York Islanders.

Infact, most of the attending media had nothing but rave reviews for the Islanders scouting. One person said when talking about how the fanbase is blasting the pick of Bailey over Filatov, "there's nothing to worry about...smartest player in the draft and probably the best vision."

Fans, I know you didn't get what you wanted, but there's really nothing to worry about. As I said on ITV last night, this could be a very good draft, and a lot of fans won't even know it because of the first round selection.

Thirteen quality picks are nothing to cry over.

NYI Blog Box Talks With Corey Trivino

We had a chance to speak with the Islanders #36 Overall pick, Corey Trivino.

Round 6: Pick #175

With the Pick #175, the NY Islanders select Justin DiBenedetto, LW from the Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Season	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2004-05 Regular Season	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	64	3	6	9	1	37
2005-06 Regular Season	Toronto St. Michael's Majors	61	17	13	30	-4	58
2006-07 Regular Season	Sarnia Sting	58	28	35	63	21	46
2007-08 Regular Season	Sarnia Sting	58	39	54	93	12	61

Round 6: Pick #156

With the #156 Pick, the NY Islanders select Jared Spurgeon, D from Spokane (WHL)

Ranked #198, NA Skaters

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
2007-08	Spokane	WHL	69	12	31	43	19

Round 5: Pick #148

With the #148 pick, the New York Islanders select Matthew Martin, LW from the Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Season	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2006-07 Regular Season	Sarnia Sting	39	3	3	6	4	52
2007-08 Regular Season	Sarnia Sting	66	25	13	38	3	155

Round 5: Pick #126

The NY Islanders select with the #126 pick, Kevin Poulin, G from Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Ranked #7, NA Goaltenders

Season	Team	League	GP	GAA	MINS	SO	SV%
2006-07	Victoriaville	QMJHL	24	3.34	1220	0	.896
2007-08	Victoriaville	QMJHL	52	3.69	2733	0	.887

Round 4: Pick #102

With the #102 pick, the NY Islanders select David Ullstrom, F, from HV 71 Jr. (SWE)

Ranked #17 , European Skaters

Shoots Left.
6'3", 198 lbs.
Born: Jonkoping, Sweden, April 22, 1989

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
2007-08	HV 71 Jr.	Swe-Jr.	40	27	27	54	86