I've been late in posting this, but tonight I'll be appearing on the NHL Arena Podcast tonight! The show starts at 10pm, but it looks like I'll be scheduled to appear around 10:30pm, so if you're up late, make sure to take a listen! If not, I'll have the archives up immediately!
And if you're up, check out the chat room, call, email...I'll be happy to take your questions!
For those that will be near a computer this afternoon, ITV will be streaming the Scott Gordon press conference at 1pm today.
Unfortunately, job responsibilities will hinder me from making the conference, but from what I know from the blogging community, Dee Karl will be there, so do check her blog out for LIVE! first-hand coverage!
Well, on Saturday at the Open House, we were hearing rumors about a possible Tuesday announcement concerning the Islanders new head coach.
So as the day rolled on, the media community seemed to be in a "wait for it....wait for it..." kind of attitude.
And yes, published at 7:11pm (eerie...), and straight from the mouth (or computer...) of Greg Logan, we have our new head coach, last year's AHL Coach of the Year, Scott Gordon!
Here's a snippet from Greg's article:
It took more than four weeks, but Islanders general manager Garth Snow finally identified the coach he hopes will become a close partner for many seasons to come. Scott Gordon, who was AHL coach of the year last season in Providence, has been named as the replacement for Ted Nolan, Newsday has learned.I'm going to play bias here and say that as an AHL-centered guy, I LOVE this hire.
Gordon, 45, was chosen following an exhaustive search that began on July 14, when Nolan and the Isles agreed to part company, and included interviews with more than the eight candidates who were known to be on Snow's list of possibilities. The key consideration in finding a new coach was his commitment to the program outlined by Snow to rebuild the franchise through the draft and development of young prospects.
"For me, the bottom line was finding the right coach for our organization at this time," Snow said of the coach search. "It was a rigorous interview process, extremely thorough. I don't want any perception the other candidates weren't qualified or weren't good people because they were. I just found the candidate that's the right coach for our organization. Scott Gordon really stood out."
Gordon, who agreed this evening to a multi-year contract, was the only coach on the list of eight known candidates without any experience behind an NHL bench. In a sense, he'll have to grow along with the players and Snow, who is set to begin his third season as GM. Like Snow, who played college hockey at Maine, Gordon is a goaltender from New England. The Easton, Mass. native, who played at Boston College, was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team.
Counting NHL All-Star Rick DiPietro, who played at Boston University, that means the three most important people for the Islanders' future progress share similar backgrounds and should speak the same language. If communication was an issue when Nolan was in charge, that problem should be resolved now.
The critics and true fans will be up in arms, I can guarantee you that. Here's what I expect to hear..."Why not someone with NHL experience?!"
"Steve Stirling Part II!!!"Yeah, yeah, we got it...
From the Sound Tigers Official Site
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have announced the dates and times of their training camp and four pre-season games.
Training camp will take place at the Sound Tigers official practice facility, The Rinks at Shelton in Shelton, CT, from Sept. 29 – Oct. 5. Fans are welcome to attend all on-ice sessions.
The Sound Tigers will travel to Albany to take on the River Rats in their first pre-season matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The game’s location is still to be determined.
The second preseason game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3 against the Hartford Wolf Pack, at the Northford Ice Pavilion in Northford, CT at 7 p.m. The Sound Tigers will play their final home preseason game against the Lowell Devils the following night at The Rinks at Shelton at 7 p.m. Tickets for both games will be available at the arenas the night of each game.
On Sunday, the Sound Tigers will close out their preseason against the Wolf Pack at the Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT. Face-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Here it is, finally on ITV, yours truly and Mike Schuerlein, joined by Blair MacGregor (Son of Scissons, from IslanderMania fame) talking with Josh Bailey and Doug Weight from Saturday morning's Open House. Enjoy!
From the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Official Site
The New York Islanders announced today that the team has signed an affiliation agreement with the Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL.
“We are very excited about our agreement with Odessa,” Sound Tigers president Howard Saffan said. ““Having strong affiliates is imperative to building the Islanders’ future. Along with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL), the Odessa Jackalopes will help feed the organization with not only skilled hockey players but great human beings.”
Joe Clark, the team’s general manager, served as Odessa’s head coach for three years from their inaugural year in 1997 to 2000. Head Coach Paul Gillis joined the Jackalopes in the summer of 2007 and became just the third head coach in the franchise's 11-year history.
“I know first-hand what kind of organization the New York Islanders are,” Clark said. “We are fortunate to be part of their family, and are committed to helping them in any way possible.”
“The Odessa Jackalopes are a top-rate organization and we’re proud to have them as an affiliate,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. “Joe Clark and his staff run a great program in Texas and we’re looking forward to working with them.”
If you've checked the New York Islanders official site lately, you may have noticed that the Isles will be introducing two of its newest additions to the Islanders family, Doug Weight and first round pick Josh Bailey, to the fans on Saturday at the next Open House.
I mention this because as part of this, the Islannders will be holding a Q&A session with Doug and Josh. They will be answering questions from a three-person panel...one of those persons will be me!
Now, I think to myself, "What can do here to really use the power of blogging to my advantage?" And that's when I got it...why not throw a question out there from a loyal reader??
So I call on you, my readers, to leave your questions for Doug Weight and Josh Bailey in the comment section here!! And if you're lucky, I may just ask it on Saturday!! I'll be taking emails up until the point of when the first words come out of my mouth on Saturday, so no worries about a "late entry".
I do hope to hear from all of you, and do hope to see you Saturday. If you see me, don't hesitate to say hi!
Remember, got a question for Josh Bailey or Doug Weight? Leave a comment and it may be asked on Saturday!!
Yesterday the New York Islanders released their pre-season schedule. All teams pre-season schedules vary in length, and that's usually to the teams discretion. I've never been a HUGE fan of this idea as it makes the NHL preseason look more like scrimmage games than actual preseason games.
The Isles will be traveling all over eastern Canada for their first three games, visiting Moncton (where training camp will be held); London, Ontario; and Summerside, Prince Edward Island. They'll finish their seven-game season with a tour of a few NHL arenas in NJ, BOS, FLA, and a game in the Coliseum.
There is something missing, I feel.
One facet of this preseason that has prevalent in the last seven years has been the addition of an exhibition game in Bridgeport.
Surprised?
The first hockey game I ever covered was a pre-season game between the Islanders and Devils at the Arena at Harbor Yard prior to the 2002-2003 season and it was quite an experience. Not just for me, but for all the fans in Bridgeport, who got to see some of their own stars in NY Islanders unis fighting for a chance to make the team. Plus it shows more of a partnership between affiliates (hell, the Isles own the freaking Tigers!)
It just feels right to head to the Bridge to watch the Isles play prior to the actual season start. Its also a very good way to get me motivated for the upcoming season!
So let's try to bring the Isles in more. Its good for the teams, good for fans. Hell, its a win-win.
I enjoy it.
That's just my opinion though.
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