#JohnFurgele

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN, JOE MASONIUS

Greenville bolsters blue line ahead of the stretch run BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have acquired defenseman Joe Masonius from the Norfolk Admirals in exchange for defenseman John Furgele. Masonius, 23, was a sixth-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. Masonius is a product of the prestigious Team USA National Team Development Program. There, he won a World Under-17s Gold Medal, a World Under-18s Gold Medal, and took part in the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa. Masonius played his collegiate career at the University of Connecticut. He played three seasons at UConn, totaling 10 goals and 40 assists across 96 games. The 23-year-old defenseman is in his second season as a pro and will be joining his fourth pro club (South Carolina, Manchester, Norfolk, Greenville). Across 47 games as a pro, he has posted 11 points and 106 PIM. Furgele departs the Swamp Rabbits after suiting up for 12 games in the Upstate. He scored a goal and an assist in that span. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS' LEAD ERASED IN OT LOSS TO GLADIATORS

Greenville earns a standings point in the loss BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits held a lead in the first period, lost the lead, and dragged the game into overtime, but the Atlanta Gladiators were one goal better in the extra session, as the Swamp Rabbits fell 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Infinite Energy Arena. Scott Conway's snipe at the 2:44 mark of overtime in the midst of the Gladiators' seventh power play of the afternoon gave the Gladiators the win, as the puck sailed over the shoulder of goaltender Jake Kupsky. Greenville started the game on a tear, scoring twice in the opening ten minutes of the first period. Chris Nell spat out a rebound on a shot attempt by Luke Ripley, and as John Furgele picked up the long rebound off of the pads from the right point, his shot was tipped into the goal by Nathan Perkovich to open the scoring. The veteran forward added on one more at the 8:41 mark, off of another crazy rebound. Cédric Lacroix dumped the puck in front center, and the high bounce kicked off of Nell's pads into the slot. Michael Pelech was denied on the first opportunity, but Perkovich followed up to cash in. Atlanta took control of the game late in the first period. First, Zach Malatesta scored to halve the lead in the final minute, and just moments later, it appeared that Luke Nogard tied the game with just seconds left in the period, but after further review, the goal was taken away. Malatesta got that goal back anyway on a carryover power play into the second period, his second of the day. The third period created intrigue, as both teams exchanged goals, but it was the Gladiators who struck to completely erase Greenville's advantage. Luke Nogard pounced on a Greenville mistake in the defensive zone and zipped a shot into the back of the net to grab the lead. Thankfully, the Swamp Rabbits' PK was up to the task and generated a goal. Pelech broke free with Ripley on a two-on-one break, and Ripley made no mistake for his second goal of the season to tie the game. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Gladiators in all three periods of regulation and led in the shot count 35-33. However, they were unable to tally on the power play on seven opportunities. Atlanta did so on two of seven, in a game that saw 19 penalties called. The Swamp Rabbits return to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Wednesday, February 26 for the final Winning Wednesday game of the season against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Tickets are available at SwampRabbits.com. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHN: FURIOUS RALLY TIES GAME, BUT SWAMP RABBITS FALL

Grizzlies score in the final two minutes of regulation BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — Down 4-0 in the first period, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits scored four unanswered goals to draw even at the halfway point of regulation. However, Mitch Maxwell scored with just two and a half minutes remaining in the third period, and Ty Lewis added an empty-net goal to give the visiting Utah Grizzlies a 6-4 win over Greenville on Saturday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Yuri Terao forced out high in the offensive zone, flipped a shot from the point, and Maxwell got inside position on the defense and tipped the puck past goaltender Jake Theut to give Utah the lead in the waning moments of regulation. Lewis scored at the 18:25 mark to put the game away. It was Michael Pelech's goal that gave Greenville hope in the final 30 seconds of the first period, down by what looked to be a commanding lead by the visitors. John Furgele snapped a shot from the point, and Pelech tipped the puck in the slot to give Greenville life. Pelech continued to lead the way heading into the second period with a strip steal to begin the frame. Jake Horton took the dish and lifted a backhander over the fallen Ouellette to cut the lead in half. Karl El-Mir and Kamerin Nault scored within a minute and six seconds of each other as the Swamp Rabbits completed the comeback to tie the game. Greenville outshot Utah 20-5 in the second period. It was the first period that was mostly all Utah. The Grizzlies outshot the Swamp Rabbits 15-9 and struck twice in the opening eight minutes. Jack Jenkins opened the scoring on a fortuitous bounce off the end wall. The puck slipped in front and Jenkins, while falling away from the net, lifted a backhander over Theut to open the scoring. Former Swamp Rabbit J.C. Brassard scored his own goal just over two minutes later off the rush. Brandon Saigeon and Griffen Molino posted goals as the Swamp Rabbits lost track of defensive coverage out in front of the net. Greenville had a power play in the midst of that span but was unable to cash in. Neither team could score on the combined six power play opportunities in the evening. The Swamp Rabbits close out the homestand with the Atlanta Gladiators on Sunday, February 2 at 2:05 p.m. With the purchase of a regularly-priced ticket at the box office, two kids 12 and under can enter for free! Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #16

Season-long homestand ahead for Swamp Rabbits BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Swamp Rabbits started a road swing starting in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and ended in the Sunshine State with back-to-back games with the Florida Everblades and the Orlando Solar Bears. Monday's game was, in a word, wild. The Swamp Rabbits fell behind 2-0 in the opening 2:23 of the game but rallied back to have the game tied at three after one period, and have a 6-5 lead after two periods of play. Mason Baptista did the heavy lifting offensively with a hat trick. However, Tommy Marchin responded with a hat trick of his own, including the tying goal at the 11:23 mark of the third period, to send the game to overtime. Cue Kamerin Nault. A three-on-one break began as Dylan MacPherson rushed the puck up ice, and Nault finished the pass and converted to give Greenville the win. The move down to Florida saw the Swamp Rabbits lose the offensive mojo. While outshooting the Everblades 32-27, Greenville was unable to get past two early, deflating goals that set them back out of the first period against one of the better defensive teams in the league. Friday marked the Greenville debut of John Furgele, who posted five shots on goal, which tied the team lead. Just over 12 hours after the conclusion of the game in Estero, the Swamp Rabbits hit the ice again to take on the Orlando Solar Bears, just behind them in the standings. Without starting goaltender Zach Fucale, who was on recall, the Solar Bears went with Clint Windsor, who entered the game with three shutouts. Windsor made 28 saves and outdueled the debut of Swamp Rabbits goaltender Jake Theut, who made 40 saves and posted a .930 save percentage in his first ECHL game. 1/20 at Atlanta Gladiators - W 7-6 1/24 at Florida Everblades - L 4-0 1/25 at Orlando Solar Bears - L 3-0 UPCOMING GAMES Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs South Carolina Stingrays -WINNING WEDNESDAY- When we win, you win! With a win, all in attendance get a voucher to a ticket to a future game. Wednesday, January 29 - 7:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Florida Everblades -Stomper's Birthday/Teacher Appreciation Night/Canned Food Drive- With a teacher ID or a donation of canned food at the box office, receive $5 off your ticket. Friday, January 31 - 7:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Utah Grizzlies -MARVEL COMICS NIGHT + FAMILY 4 PACK- The Swamp Rabbits will wear Iron Man-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off digitally. Saturday, February 1 - 6:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Atlanta Gladiators -KIDS FREE DAY + POSTGAME SKATE- For each adult ticket, two kids 12 and under get in free! Plus, stick around for our postgame skate with the Swamp Rabbits. Sunday, February 2 - 2:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch PLAYER OF THE WEEK Mason Baptista - 3 GP | 3 G - 0 A - 3 P The 30-year-old forward continues to chug along offensively and had one of his best nights as a Swamp Rabbit. On Monday, Baptista posted a hat trick en route to a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Gladiators. He sits one point away from 30 on the season. RABBIT TAILS Greenville posted a tremendous feature about our DC Comics Night. You can read it by clicking here. Mark your calendars for February 4, as our second Hockey Talk Hoppy Hour will take part at Dave & Buster's on Woodruff Road on February 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Don't forget to take part in Chuck-A-Puck during the next four games, sponsored by the official insurer of the Swamp Rabbits, Allstate - Blake Steiert. SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS South Carolina Stingrays (32-6-4) - 68 pts Florida Everblades (27-11-4) - 58 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (22-21-2) - 46 pts Orlando Solar Bears (18-16-6) - 42 pts Atlanta Gladiators (17-22-2) - 36 pts Jacksonville Icemen (13-21-5) - 31 pts Norfolk Admirals (11-27-5) - 27 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on January 27, 2020 Read the full article

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KUHN: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #16

Season-long homestand ahead for Swamp Rabbits BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Swamp Rabbits started a road swing starting in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and ended in the Sunshine State with back-to-back games with the Florida Everblades and the Orlando Solar Bears. Monday's game was, in a word, wild. The Swamp Rabbits fell behind 2-0 in the opening 2:23 of the game but rallied back to have the game tied at three after one period, and have a 6-5 lead after two periods of play. Mason Baptista did the heavy lifting offensively with a hat trick. However, Tommy Marchin responded with a hat trick of his own, including the tying goal at the 11:23 mark of the third period, to send the game to overtime. Cue Kamerin Nault. A three-on-one break began as Dylan MacPherson rushed the puck up ice, and Nault finished the pass and converted to give Greenville the win. The move down to Florida saw the Swamp Rabbits lose the offensive mojo. While outshooting the Everblades 32-27, Greenville was unable to get past two early, deflating goals that set them back out of the first period against one of the better defensive teams in the league. Friday marked the Greenville debut of John Furgele, who posted five shots on goal, which tied the team lead. Just over 12 hours after the conclusion of the game in Estero, the Swamp Rabbits hit the ice again to take on the Orlando Solar Bears, just behind them in the standings. Without starting goaltender Zach Fucale, who was on recall, the Solar Bears went with Clint Windsor, who entered the game with three shutouts. Windsor made 28 saves and outdueled the debut of Swamp Rabbits goaltender Jake Theut, who made 40 saves and posted a .930 save percentage in his first ECHL game. 1/20 at Atlanta Gladiators - W 7-6 1/24 at Florida Everblades - L 4-0 1/25 at Orlando Solar Bears - L 3-0 UPCOMING GAMES Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs South Carolina Stingrays -WINNING WEDNESDAY- When we win, you win! With a win, all in attendance get a voucher to a ticket to a future game. Wednesday, January 29 - 7:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Florida Everblades -Stomper's Birthday/Teacher Appreciation Night/Canned Food Drive- With a teacher ID or a donation of canned food at the box office, receive $5 off your ticket. Friday, January 31 - 7:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Utah Grizzlies -MARVEL COMICS NIGHT + FAMILY 4 PACK- The Swamp Rabbits will wear Iron Man-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off digitally. Saturday, February 1 - 6:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Atlanta Gladiators -KIDS FREE DAY + POSTGAME SKATE- For each adult ticket, two kids 12 and under get in free! Plus, stick around for our postgame skate with the Swamp Rabbits. Sunday, February 2 - 2:05 p.m. Tickets — Listen — Watch PLAYER OF THE WEEK Mason Baptista - 3 GP | 3 G - 0 A - 3 P The 30-year-old forward continues to chug along offensively and had one of his best nights as a Swamp Rabbit. On Monday, Baptista posted a hat trick en route to a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Gladiators. He sits one point away from 30 on the season. RABBIT TAILS Greenville posted a tremendous feature about our DC Comics Night. You can read it by clicking here. Mark your calendars for February 4, as our second Hockey Talk Hoppy Hour will take part at Dave & Buster's on Woodruff Road on February 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Don't forget to take part in Chuck-A-Puck during the next four games, sponsored by the official insurer of the Swamp Rabbits, Allstate - Blake Steiert. SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS South Carolina Stingrays (32-6-4) - 68 pts Florida Everblades (27-11-4) - 58 pts Greenville Swamp Rabbits (22-21-2) - 46 pts Orlando Solar Bears (18-16-6) - 42 pts Atlanta Gladiators (17-22-2) - 36 pts Jacksonville Icemen (13-21-5) - 31 pts Norfolk Admirals (11-27-5) - 27 pts *standings as of 10:00 a.m. on January 27, 2020 Read the full article

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KUHN: (FRI) SWAMP RABBITS DULLED BY 'BLADES

Greenville outshoots Florida, but can't dent the back of the net BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE ESTERO. Fla. — Joe Pendenza opened the scoring at the 3:01 mark of the opening period, and Ken Appleby made 32 saves as the Greenville Swamp Rabbits were unable to dent the twine and dropped a 4-0 decision to the Florida Everblades on Friday night at Hertz Arena. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Everblades 27-19 in the final two periods, and killed off five power plays in the opening period, looking to turn the momentum around. A turnover in the offensive zone led to the first goal. A three-way passing play started the scoring for Florida as Joe Pendenza connected to start the scoring. Cam Maclise's goal directly off of a faceoff doubled the Everblades' lead five minutes later. The Swamp Rabbits got their first power play opportunity in the second period following the 'Blades third goal from Levko Koper, and even as the Swamp Rabbits pumped chance after chance towards the goal, they were unable to break the goose egg. Zach Magwood closed out the scoring at the 14:20 mark of the third on the power play. Matt Marcinew and John Furgele led the way in the shot count with five apiece. Three of Marcinew's shots were of grade-A scoring quality. The shutout was Appleby's second blank sheet of the season. Jeremy Helvig made 23 saves in the losing effort. The Swamp Rabbits turn around quickly and head to Orlando to take on the Solar Bears at noon on Saturday, January 25. Catch the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: ALL-STAR BREAK 

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners Jan. 21, 2020 – The busiest 10 day stretch in the young history of the Maine Mariners is now behind them, and a much needed All-Star break is now underway, giving the players a chance to get away from the game for a few days before resuming the grind this coming weekend. Last week’s grueling “8 in 10” got off to an inauspicious start when the Mariners dropped the first three games – all on home ice, but they managed points in four of the final five, for a respectable run of 3-4-1-0 over the eight. Now 32 games remain on the docket, the Mariners holding a playoff spot if the season were to end today. As January rapidly winds to an end, seven of the next 10 are on home ice, each game bigger than the last. The week that was Tuesday, Jan. 14th – WOR: 2, MNE: 3 The Mariners were looking to avoid their sixth loss in a row, which would have been a new franchise long mark. Despite 17 first period shots and a spirited fight between Morgan Adams-Moisan and Yanick Turcotte, the Mariners found themselves trailing 1-0 until late into the 2nd when Ted Hart’s power play goal tied the game. Worcester immediately regained their lead, however, and carried a 2-1 advantage into the third. The Mariners power play saved the day when Adams-Moisan and Wallin scored back-to-back to steal a 3-2 win and end the losing skid. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Wednesday, Jan. 15th – MNE: 4, ADK: 1 In a quick turnaround, the Mariners marched into Glens Falls and got their fourth win in a row at the Cool Insuring Arena. For the second straight night, it was the power play that led the lay – Alex Kile and Ty Ronning scoring with the man advantage in the third after the game was tied at one. Kile and Ronning each had two goals on the night while Francois Brassard earned the win between the pipes. The Mariners leapfrogged Adirondack for fourth place in the North Division. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Jan. 17th – MNE: 6, BRM: 7/OT In one of the crazier games of the season, the Mariners and Beast combined for 13 goals, as leads changed hands multiple times, and ultimately Brampton claimed a 7-6 overtime win. Eddie Matsushima scored twice for the Mariners, who had leads of 2-0, 3-1, and 6-4, as late as over halfway through the third period. Brampton’s Daniel Leavens led the Beast back with a hat trick, and David Vallorani netted the overtime winner. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Jan. 18th – MNE: 1, BRM: 4 Both teams played a much more concerted defensive effort, but Brampton was able to take a 4-0 lead against Francois Brassard and the Mariners, scoring two in each of the first two periods. It wasn’t until Michael McNicholas’ shorthanded goal late in the third (his first goal in 16 games) that the shutout bid of Alex Dubeau was spoiled. Mariners leading scorer Terrence Wallin injured his foot blocking a shot less than a minute into the game. FULL GAME RECAP Sunday, Jan. 19th – MNE: 4, BRM: 0 The Mariners flipped the script on the Beast, grabbing a 4-0 lead on goals by Brandon Crawley, Sean Day, Jake Elmer, and Ted Hart. Connor LaCouvee rebounded nicely from a shaky performance on Friday, with a 27 save shutout, his second in less than a month. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) The Mariners acquired F Conner Bleackley from the Idaho Steelheads in a three-team trade D Scott Savage was reassigned to the Mariners from Milwaukee (AHL) The Mariners traded D John Furgele to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for future considerations D Jeff Taylor was recalled to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Fri, Jan 24 vs. Worcester Railers – 7:15 PM (HOME) – Star Wars Night, T-Shirt giveaway to the first 2,000 fans Sat, Jan 25 @ Worcester Railers – 7:00 PM (AWAY)  The first 2,000 fans in attendance on Friday will get a Mariners T-shirt, courtesy of Unifirst. It’s Star Wars Night, which will feature movie characters roaming the arena to interact with fans, plus Star Wars-themed in-game elements. Fans can bid on experiences through Thursday, January 23rd, including benchwarmers, ceremonial puck drop, and a postgame photo with Beacon on the Handbid App – 100% of proceeds benefitting Maine Children’s Cancer program. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi Products, $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Fans can avoid Ticketmaster Fees by purchasing tickets through the Mariners' new “Theme Night Tickets” page. Mariners Coach’s Show The Mariners Coach’s Show is off for the remainder of January and will return on Thursday, February 6th. The show airs from 6-7 PM and also broadcasts live at Three Dollar Dewey’s at 241 Commercial Street and airs at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen. Due to team travel, the February 6th show will be the last show until the month of March. Looking ahead: The Mariners play the first six games of February on home ice. On February 1st, when the Mariners host Adirondack, they’ll be wearing special jerseys, designed by Make-A-Wish Maine wish kid, Ellie Labree, and sponsored by Agren Appliance. The jerseys will be then auctioned off, proceeds benefitting Make-A-Wish Maine. The Giving #3kend is February 7th through 9th presented by Three Dollar Deweys, which includes Works for ME night, Pride Night, and Underwear Toss. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting new packages of underwear and socks to benefit the Preble Street Teen Center on Friday, which will switch over to a book collection for the remainder of the regular season for the Ronald McDonald house. Fans who donate five items (or three books in February/March) will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While the Mariners will accept donations at their office, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: ALL-STAR BREAK 

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners Jan. 21, 2020 – The busiest 10 day stretch in the young history of the Maine Mariners is now behind them, and a much needed All-Star break is now underway, giving the players a chance to get away from the game for a few days before resuming the grind this coming weekend. Last week’s grueling “8 in 10” got off to an inauspicious start when the Mariners dropped the first three games – all on home ice, but they managed points in four of the final five, for a respectable run of 3-4-1-0 over the eight. Now 32 games remain on the docket, the Mariners holding a playoff spot if the season were to end today. As January rapidly winds to an end, seven of the next 10 are on home ice, each game bigger than the last. The week that was Tuesday, Jan. 14th – WOR: 2, MNE: 3 The Mariners were looking to avoid their sixth loss in a row, which would have been a new franchise long mark. Despite 17 first period shots and a spirited fight between Morgan Adams-Moisan and Yanick Turcotte, the Mariners found themselves trailing 1-0 until late into the 2nd when Ted Hart’s power play goal tied the game. Worcester immediately regained their lead, however, and carried a 2-1 advantage into the third. The Mariners power play saved the day when Adams-Moisan and Wallin scored back-to-back to steal a 3-2 win and end the losing skid. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Wednesday, Jan. 15th – MNE: 4, ADK: 1 In a quick turnaround, the Mariners marched into Glens Falls and got their fourth win in a row at the Cool Insuring Arena. For the second straight night, it was the power play that led the lay – Alex Kile and Ty Ronning scoring with the man advantage in the third after the game was tied at one. Kile and Ronning each had two goals on the night while Francois Brassard earned the win between the pipes. The Mariners leapfrogged Adirondack for fourth place in the North Division. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Jan. 17th – MNE: 6, BRM: 7/OT In one of the crazier games of the season, the Mariners and Beast combined for 13 goals, as leads changed hands multiple times, and ultimately Brampton claimed a 7-6 overtime win. Eddie Matsushima scored twice for the Mariners, who had leads of 2-0, 3-1, and 6-4, as late as over halfway through the third period. Brampton’s Daniel Leavens led the Beast back with a hat trick, and David Vallorani netted the overtime winner. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Jan. 18th – MNE: 1, BRM: 4 Both teams played a much more concerted defensive effort, but Brampton was able to take a 4-0 lead against Francois Brassard and the Mariners, scoring two in each of the first two periods. It wasn’t until Michael McNicholas’ shorthanded goal late in the third (his first goal in 16 games) that the shutout bid of Alex Dubeau was spoiled. Mariners leading scorer Terrence Wallin injured his foot blocking a shot less than a minute into the game. FULL GAME RECAP Sunday, Jan. 19th – MNE: 4, BRM: 0 The Mariners flipped the script on the Beast, grabbing a 4-0 lead on goals by Brandon Crawley, Sean Day, Jake Elmer, and Ted Hart. Connor LaCouvee rebounded nicely from a shaky performance on Friday, with a 27 save shutout, his second in less than a month. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions (oldest to most recent) The Mariners acquired F Conner Bleackley from the Idaho Steelheads in a three-team trade D Scott Savage was reassigned to the Mariners from Milwaukee (AHL) The Mariners traded D John Furgele to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for future considerations D Jeff Taylor was recalled to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Fri, Jan 24 vs. Worcester Railers – 7:15 PM (HOME) – Star Wars Night, T-Shirt giveaway to the first 2,000 fans Sat, Jan 25 @ Worcester Railers – 7:00 PM (AWAY)  The first 2,000 fans in attendance on Friday will get a Mariners T-shirt, courtesy of Unifirst. It’s Star Wars Night, which will feature movie characters roaming the arena to interact with fans, plus Star Wars-themed in-game elements. Fans can bid on experiences through Thursday, January 23rd, including benchwarmers, ceremonial puck drop, and a postgame photo with Beacon on the Handbid App – 100% of proceeds benefitting Maine Children’s Cancer program. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi Products, $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Fans can avoid Ticketmaster Fees by purchasing tickets through the Mariners' new “Theme Night Tickets” page. Mariners Coach’s Show The Mariners Coach’s Show is off for the remainder of January and will return on Thursday, February 6th. The show airs from 6-7 PM and also broadcasts live at Three Dollar Dewey’s at 241 Commercial Street and airs at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen. Due to team travel, the February 6th show will be the last show until the month of March. Looking ahead: The Mariners play the first six games of February on home ice. On February 1st, when the Mariners host Adirondack, they’ll be wearing special jerseys, designed by Make-A-Wish Maine wish kid, Ellie Labree, and sponsored by Agren Appliance. The jerseys will be then auctioned off, proceeds benefitting Make-A-Wish Maine. The Giving #3kend is February 7th through 9th presented by Three Dollar Deweys, which includes Works for ME night, Pride Night, and Underwear Toss. The full promotional schedule can be found here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting new packages of underwear and socks to benefit the Preble Street Teen Center on Friday, which will switch over to a book collection for the remainder of the regular season for the Ronald McDonald house. Fans who donate five items (or three books in February/March) will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. Items MUST be donated at the Promotions Port to the right of the main security gates. While the Mariners will accept donations at their office, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a game. Read the full article

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KEELEY / KUHN: FURGELE DEALT TO GREENVILLE

Mariners trade defenseman for second time BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – January 19, 2020 – The Mariners traded defenseman John Furgele to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Sunday in exchange for future considerations. Furgele was in his second stint with the Mariners after being traded to Atlanta last February. Greenville will become his fourth ECHL organization. Furgele, who turned 27 last Wednesday, played most of his rookie season of 2018-19 in Maine, coming out of Quinnipiac University, after transferring from the University of New Hampshire. In 51 games for the Mariners last season, Furgele had eight goals and 13 assists. On March 7th, 2019, Furgele was traded to the Atlanta Gladiators for forward, Branden Troock. In 15 games for the Gladiators to close out the season, Furgele had three assists. He signed with the Kansas City Mavericks in the offseason, playing seven games with a goal and two assists before his release in mid-November. In 17 games for the Mariners in the time since Furgele has three assists. Furgele is a native of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. The Mariners currently have eight defensemen on the roster even after trading Furgele: Zach Tolkinen, Sean Day, Jeff Taylor, Brandon Crawley, Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, Ryan Culkin, Josh Couturier, and Scott Savage who was reassigned from Milwaukee yesterday. Additionally, Jonathan Racine is on loan to the AHL’s Stockton Heat. The Mariners play their final game before the All-Star break this afternoon in Brampton at 2 PM. They’ll return home on Friday, January 24th for Star Wars night, against Worcester once again. It’s a “1-2-3 Friday,” featuring $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Star Wars characters from local fan groups will be on hand, and the first 2,000 fans in attendance will get a Mariners t-shirt courtesy of Unifirst. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. _______________________________________________ Second-year pro joins the blue line in the Upstate BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville Swamp Rabbits have acquired defenseman John Furgele from the Maine Mariners in exchange for future considerations. Furgele, 27, will join his fourth ECHL team. Known as a puck-moving blueliner throughout his entire career, Furgele has scored 10 goals and 21 assists in 92 pro games. His stops in the ECHL, aside from the Maine Mariners, include the Kansas City Mavericks and Atlanta Gladiators. The Glen Mills, Pennsylvania native split his time playing college hockey between the University of New Hampshire and Quinnipiac University. The latter is where he served as an alternate captain and put up a single-season high of 14 points in 38 games. A tremendous student in the classroom, Furgele was named an ECAC All-Academic, and an AHCA All-American Scholar. The latter accomplishment required a 3.60 GPA and a significant playing contribution to the team. The Swamp Rabbits are back in action on Monday to take on the Atlanta Gladiators at 12:30 p.m. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

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KEELEY: (FRI) MARINERS DROP WILD OVERTIME AFFAIR IN BRAMPTON

Mariners settle for a point in a heartbreaking OT defeat BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners BRAMPTON, ON – January 17, 2020 – The Mariners surrendered three different two goals leads and ultimately suffered a 7-6 overtime loss at the hands of the Brampton Beast on Friday night at the CAA Centre in Ontario, Canada. David Vallorani scored the game-winner for Brampton at 3:21 of OT while Alex Kile had three assists for the Mariners in the loss and Eddie Matsushima scored two goals. The Mariners scored twice in a span of 17 seconds to grab a 2-0 lead 4:36 into the game. Ty Ronning’s shoot-in fooled Beast goaltender Alex Dubeau, who ventured below the goal line to try and play the puck that popped out to the left circle for a gift for Eddie Matsushima. Morgan Adams-Moisan also assisted on the goal. On the ensuing shift, John Furgele drove the net and took a feed from Alex Kile, backhanding his second goal of the season – and first in 2019-20 as a Mariners over Dubeau. Brampton’s first goal was a bit controversial at the 10:43 mark when Jackson Leef appeared to be offside but was ruled to have touched up and then beat LaCouvee’s stick side with a wrister to make it a 2-1 game. Maine regained the two-goal lead at 16:20 when Morgan Adams-Moisan finished a second chance after Dubeau shut him down on a breakaway. The Beast turned the puck over to Adams-Moisan at the bottom of the right circle and he ripped a shot over Dubeau’s glove for his fourth of the season. Brampton cut the lead back to one before the end of the period when Daniel Leavens beat LaCouvee’s glove with a wrist shot from the right circle. There were a combined 31 shots in the first period, 16 by Brampton. The second period provided a little relief for the goaltenders, but still saw a total of three goals. Francois Beauchemin tied the game just 53 seconds into the period, finishing a pair of Erik Bradford chances off of LaCouvee’s pad. Beauchemin added another on the power play at 11:34 to give Brampton its first lead. With under a minute left in the period, Alex Kile set up Terrence Wallin, driving the net to tie the game at four through two periods. Just like the first, the Mariners scored two quick goals to open the third. At 2:40, Kile found defenseman Jeff Taylor between the circles, for what became Taylor’s first goal as a Mariner. Thirty-six seconds later, Matsushima capitalized on another Brampton turnover and walked in alone to beat Dubeau and make it a 6-4 game. Leavens scored at 11:49 and 18:46 (with the goalie pulled) to complete his hat trick and force overtime. In the third, the Mariners scored two goals on three shots. Vallorani used Kile as a screen to beat LaCouvee for the game-winner at 3:21 of overtime. Brampton avoided their third loss in a row, while the Mariners now have a three-game point streak despite the defeat. They gain a point of cushion on Adirondack for fourth place in the North, as the Thunder lost at Reading. The Mariners have two more games this weekend in Brampton – tomorrow at 7:15 and Sunday at 2:00 PM. They’ll return home on Friday, January 24th for Star Wars night, against Worcester once again. It’s a “1-2-3 Friday,” featuring $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Star Wars characters from local fan groups will be on hand, and the first 2,000 fans in attendance will get a Mariners t-shirt courtesy of Unifirst. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: (FRI) WALLIN’S HAT TRICK LEADS MARINERS OVER JACKSONVILLE

Terrence Wallin records team leading 14th, 15th, and 16th goals PORTLAND, ME – January 3, 2020 – Terrence Wallin has been a leader on and off the ice for the Mariners since arriving in Maine late in the offseason of 2018. On Friday, he recorded a hat trick, including his team leading 5th game-winning goal as the Mariners topped the Jacksonville Icemen, 5-3 in a back and forth affair at the Cross Insurance Arena. “Honestly we just got pucks deep and I got to the crease a couple of times and I got lucky to put it in a few times,” said a modest Wallin after the game. Wallin added to his team-leading goal total which now sits at 16. Each team found the net in the first period, with goals coming 1:08 apart. The Mariners struck first at 12:12 when Taylor Cammarata skated in on a partial breakaway, turned out and fed Ryan Culkin, who located Terrence Wallin trailing. Wallin ripped a shot off the post and behind IceMen goaltender Adam Carlson for his team-leading 14th. Jacksonville had the quick answer when Craig Martin’s shot from the slot beat Connor LaCouvee’s glove. The second period was a back-and-forth affair, with Jacksonville jumping to a 2-1 lead at 6:49. Kyle Shiplo’s shot from the blue line evaded LaCouvee to give the IceMen their first advantage of the game. At 7:47, Wallin struck again to tie it up after John Furgele and Ty Ronning shots caused rebounds off of Carlson. Wallin was sitting in the crease to Carlson’s right to cash his second goal of the night. Jacksonville took the lead back at 15:58 when Adam Dauda’s redirect went between LaCouvee’s pads. The shot was taken by Pierre-Luc Mercier for his second assist of the game. IceMen defenseman Kyle Shapiro was called for cross-checking in the final minute of the period and the Mariners cashed in to tie it up at three. Sean Day one-timed a pass from Michael McNicholas off two Jacksonville bodies and in for his first goal of the season. Each team fired 11 shots in the middle frame. The Mariners were dominant in the third, ultimately outshooting Jacksonville 19-8, and broke the 3-3 tie when Wallin finished his hat trick at the 6:52 mark. Just after a power play expired, Alex Kile’s shot deflected off Morgan Adams-Moisan and the rebound was deposited by Wallin. It was the third Mariners hat trick this season – the previous two by Jake Elmer. Less than a minute later, the Mariners added insurance. Dillan Fox, in his first game back off an AHL loan to Hartford, circled the net with the puck and sent it to the front, deflecting off Kile before Ty Ronning finished it at the bottom of the left-wing circle. At the 8:40 mark, Jacksonville appeared to cut the deficit back to one when a shot from the corner to LaCouvee’s right by Chase Lang sat around his pad and appeared to be poked in. A lengthy review by the officials determined no goal, and no further scoring unfolded in the game. “The first and second were a little sluggish for us and we were lucky to come out of it 3-3,” said Wallin. “Our third period we really locked them down and scored some timely goals.” The 19 third period shots and 39 in the game were each a season high mark for the Mariners. LaCouvee made 24 saves to earn his 10th win. Carlson turned aside 34. The Mariners jumped back into fourth place in the North Division with the win, pulling within five points of both Brampton and Reading for 2nd and 3rd. The Mariners and Icemen will play an encore performance tomorrow night, the second of two games in a doubleheader at the Cross Insurance arena for “Hockey Day in Maine.” The University of Maine men’s hockey team will host the University of Nebraska-Omaha at noon to kick off the festivities. The Mariners and Jacksonville follow with a game at 6 PM. It’s also “Witchcraft and Wizardry Night.” Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: HEADING SOUTH 

BY: Michael Keeley. Maine Mariners Nov. 18, 2019 – After seven consecutive home games, the Mariners hit the road for the first time in nearly a month, spending this week in Norfolk, Virginia. The Norfolk Admirals will be the first non-divisional opponent of the season – the Mariners visiting Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The North division is proving to be as competitive as ever, with five of the six teams holding an above .540 PT%. The Admirals rank last in the entire ECHL, entering the series with the Mariners on a 11 game losing streak. The Mariners dropped their homestand finale to Adirondack on Saturday, but finished the seven game run at a more than respectable 5-2-0-0. The week that was Monday, Nov. 11th – REA: 3, MNE: 4/OT In their only Monday game of the season – home or away, Gritty was in the building helping to entertain the fans who braved the early winter climate. Trailing 2-1 entering the third, Terrence Wallin’s second goal of the game tied the score just :26 into the final frame. Wallin, who was wearing a face shield due a mouth injury, has scored in four consecutive games. Reading tied it up late to force overtime, but Alex Kile cashed in on a power play with his first goal of the season to deliver the Mariners their third straight win. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Nov. 15th – BRM: 3, MNE: 6 In a very strange game, the Mariners defeated Brampton using their highest goal output of the season. After a dominant first period in which they out-shot Brampton 18-6, the Mariners eventually built a 3-0 lead, only to see the Beast furiously rally back with three goals in a three minute, 38 second span at the end of the 2nd period. Michael McNicholas broke the tie with a power play goal early in the 3rd, and the Mariners never looked back, winning their fourth straight. A crowd of 4,047 turned out for “Wes McCauley Appreciation Night.” FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Nov. 16th – ADK: 4, MNE: 0 Adirondack goaltender Evan Cormier was on top of his game, stopping all 25 Mariners shots on Saturday night, as the homestand concluded. The Thunder scored twice in the first and twice in the third against Connor LaCouvee, and the Mariners win streak was snapped. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS  Transactions (oldest to most recent) The Mariners signed F Dwyer Tschantz and D John Furgele Community News Quality Inn & Suites donates a truckload of food for South Portland Food Cupboard through Mariners “Community Collections” program This week’s schedule (all times Eastern) Weds, Nov. 20 @ Norfolk Admirals – 7:30 PM (AWAY) Fri, Nov. 22 @ Norfolk Admirals – 7:30 PM (AWAY) Sat, Nov. 23 @ Norfolk Admirals – 7:30 PM (AWAY)  The Mariners will try to take advantage of the last place Admirals with three games at the Norfolk Scope. The Admirals are an ECHL worst 2-11-3-0 and on an 11 game losing streak. Former Mariners Brandon Halverson, Johnny Coughlin, and Shawn McBride are all on Norfolk’s roster. Last season, the Mariners went 3-0-0 against the Admirals. All three games begin at 7:30, with pregame coverage starting at 7:15 on MarinersOfMaine.com/listen and ECHL.tv, with the “AWAY” feed carrying the Mariners broadcast.  Mariners Coach’s Show The Mariners Coach’s Show is off for the remainder of the month due to this week’s road trip and the Thanksgiving holiday. The show returns on Tuesday, December 3rd, airing from 6-7 PM live at Three Dollar Deweys in downtown Portland. Looking ahead: Upon returning to Portland, the Mariners have three home games in the final week of November. Tuesday, November 26th is a sensory reduced game for “Autism Awareness Night” as the Mariners host the Worcester Railers at 7:00 PM. The Mariners will play the Indy Fuel for the first time in their history on Friday, November 29th at 7:15 PM. It’s a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 Aquafina water, $2 Pepsi products, $3 Bud Light drafts through the start of the 2nd period. The Newfoundland Growlers are in on Saturday, November 30th for a 6 PM face-off and Aquaman Night, featuring Aquaman specialty jerseys, sponsored by Spectrum Healthcare Partners. As with all Saturday and Sunday home games, Family Four Packs are available: four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies, starting at $80. The full promotional schedule is here. Holiday Packs: Mariners Holiday Packs are now on sale, with three different tiers to fit any gift-giving budget. With early bird pricing available through December 3rd, Holiday Packs start at $25 and can be purchased through the Mariners online shop here. Community Collection: The Mariners and the Cross Insurance Arena are collecting non-perishable food donations to benefit the South Portland Food Cupboard at home games through the remainder of November. Fans who donate five items will receive a ticket to a Mariners weekday game. (must donate items at a Mariners game). While the Mariners will accept donations at their office, fans are not eligible to receive tickets unless the items are donated at a game. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS BRING BACK TSCHANTZ AND FURGELE

Mariners sign two players from 2018-19 team BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – November 14, 2019 – The Mariners have signed forward Dwyer Tschantz and defenseman John Furgele to standard player contracts, the team announced on Thursday. Tschantz, who spent all of the 2018-19 season on the Mariners roster, was playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Knoxville Ice Bears. Furgele was recently released by the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks. Tschantz, a 6’6 forward from Wilmington, Delaware was a rookie last season, and appeared 50 games for the Mariners. He scored nine goals and added seven assists, doing almost all of his damage in the second half of the season. Fourteen of Tschantz’s 16 points were scored in February, March, and April, allowing him to earn the “Most Improved Player” award, as selected by the coaching staff. He was one of just four Mariners to spend the entire 2018-19 season on the roster. Tschantz re-signed with Maine in late June, but was released following the Mariners’ preseason game on October 5th. In five games for SPHL Knoxville, he has two goals and an assist. Tschantz is a former USHL Clark Cup champion with the Indiana Ice and was a 2014 seventh round pick of the St. Louis Blues. Furgele, a mobile defenseman with an offensive touch to his game, enjoyed success with the Mariners last season, posting 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) in 51 games, before being moved at the trade deadline. In February, the Mariners dealt Furgele to the Atlanta Gladiators for forward Branden Troock. In 15 games for Atlanta, Furgele posted no goals and three assists. In July, the Gladiators dealt him to the Kansas City Mavericks in a future considerations deal. Furgele played seven games for the Mavericks with a goal and two assists, before his release on November 8th. Furgele is a native of Glens Mills, PA and played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire from 2014-16, before transferring to Quinnipiac. The Mariners wrap up their home stand two a pair of games this weekend at the Cross Insurance Arena. Friday is Wes McCauley Appreciation Night, as the Mariners honor the South Portland resident and famous NHL referee, who will sign autographs on the concourse during the first intermission. McCauley has also donated two game worn and autographed NHL referee jerseys, that are currently up for auction via the Handbid App. The auction will run through the start of the third period on Friday and the proceeds will benefit the Portland Hockey Trust. Game time is 7:15 PM. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday with $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the 2nd period. Saturday is Hockey Fights Cancer against the Adirondack Thunder at 6:00 PM. The first 1,000 kids 12 and under will receive a pennant upon entry, courtesy of Q97.9. It’s a Family Four Pack night as well – families of four can get four tickets, four food and drink vouchers, and four Mariners can koozies for as low as $80. Individual game tickets can be purchased online at MarinersOfMaine.com, in person at the Trusted Choice Box Office or by calling 207-775-3458. Ticket packages, group tickets, and holiday packs can be purchased by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the Mariners business office at 94 Free St. in Portland. More information on all ticketing is available at MarinersOfMaine.com. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: Inside the Division for the Last Eleven

By: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  Mar. 12, 2019 – With the unpredictability of the ECHL’s North Division a constant theme from week to week in the 2018-19 season, it should be no surprise that there’s still very little decided as teams push past the 60 games played mark. All that is truly known is that the Newfoundland Growlers will be in the postseason, likely as the top seed. The Mariners’ hard charge has put them only a point out of second, but still just four up on a playoff spot altogether. Manchester, Brampton, and Worcester are all very much in the mix along with Adirondack and Maine to make up the 2, 3, and 4 slots in the playoff picture. Reading is teetering, but still alive. The Mariners enjoy somewhat of a light week, by recent standards – getting an entire six days off between games. The week that was Wednesday, Mar. 6th – NOR: 1, MNE: 3 It was a solid defensive performance throughout by the Mariners, who scored a goal in each period to build a 3-0 lead. Former Admirals Greg Chase and Taylor Cammarata each found the net, the third goal from John Furgele, who would be traded the following day. Connor LaCouvee lost the bid at his first pro shutout late in the game but stopped 39/40 to earn his 11th win of the season. The Mariners swept the season series against Norfolk. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS  Friday, Mar. 8th – MNE: 4, SC: 1 The Mariners took the lead in the 1st by breaking a power-play drought that had reached 26 straight, thanks to Dillan Fox. Dwyer Tschantz was the story of the second period with a pair of goals, Wade Murphy adding a fourth for good measure. LaCouvee once again lost the shutout in the 3rd but once again was solid in between the pipes. The Mariners improved to 5-1-0 against the South Division and tied their season-long point streak (6) and home win streak (5). FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Mar 9th – MNE: 1, SC: 2/OT For a night, the Mariners became the Maine Wild Blueberries and drew over 4900 people to the Cross Insurance Arena. Greg Chase stayed hot with a first-period power play goal but gave it back when his roughing penalty minutes later led to the Stingrays tying the game. It was a battle the rest of the way, but the Mariners couldn’t find any third-period puck luck, hitting three posts and getting shut down by South Carolina netminder Adam Morrison, who made numerous spectacular stops. With less than a minute remaining in OT, Sam Fioretti beat LaCouvee’s glove to hand Maine its first home loss in six. The point streak continued to a season-high seventh game. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS  Transactions -D Zach Tolkinen was returned from loan to AHL Hartford -The Mariners signed F Chris Ordoobadi -F Terrence Wallin was loaned to AHL Hartford -The Mariners acquired F Branden Troock from Atlanta for D John Furgele -G Chris Nell was reassigned to Maine from AHL Hartford -F Greg Chase was loaned to AHL Hartford -F Drew Melanson was reassigned to Maine from AHL Hartford -G Connor LaCouvee was recalled to AHL Laval Coming up (all times Eastern) Sat, Mar. 16th @ Worcester Railers – 7:05 PM (AWAY) Sun, Mar. 17th vs. Newfoundland Growlers – 3:00 PM (HOME) – BEACON’S BIRTHDAY BASH PRES. BY EVERGREEN CREDIT UNION The remainder of the regular season is inside the North Division. The Mariners visit Worcester on Saturday for the first of two trips to the DCU Center in a six-day span. Maine has won six in a row against the Railers, head to head. On Sunday, the first place Newfoundland Growlers are at the Cross Insurance Arena. Newfoundland has hit a bit of a speed bump of late, losing two of three to Orlando on home ice over the weekend. The Growlers are 5-1-0 against Maine this season. Celebrate Beacon’s 1st birthday with a mascot party as part of “Beacon’s Birthday Bash” presented by Evergreen Credit Union. Members of the Mariners Kids Club can skate with the team after the game. The puck drops at 3:00 PM Looking ahead: The Mariners have two more Sundays afternoon home dates in March – the 24th against Manchester and 31st against Adirondack. The 24th is Country Night presented by 99.9 The Wolf. On the 31st, the Mariners will screen D2: The Mighty Ducks on the video board after the game. The full promotional schedule can be found HERE. There are only six regular season home games remaining. Standings update (top 4 make playoffs): 1. Newfoundland: 83 points, 11 games remaining (magic number: 8 pts) 2. Adirondack, 70 points, 11 games remaining 3. Maine, 69 points, 11 games remaining 4. Manchester, 68 points, 11 games remaining 5. Brampton, 66 points, 12 games remaining 6. Worcester, 65 points, 12 games remaining 7. Reading, 61 points, 11 games remaining *NOTE: The first tiebreaker is ROW (regulation and overtime wins). The Mariners currently hold that tiebreaker over Brampton, Worcester, and Reading, but lose it to Newfoundland, Adirondack, and Manchester. Read the full article

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KEELEY: FORMER ADMIRALS HAUNT OLD TEAM AS MARINERS TOP NORFOLK

Chase and Cammarata put up multi-point games against their former team BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – March 6, 2019 – The Mariners scored one goal in each period while Connor LaCouvee turned aside 39 shots as the Mariners continued to roll with a 3-1 win on home ice over the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Maine has points in 11 of its last 12 games and five straight. They have leapfrogged Manchester to overtake third place in the North Division, just three points out of second. After a two-goal game on Saturday in Utah, Mariners' defenseman John Furgele continued his run when he opened the scoring at the 12:13 mark of the first period, set up by Greg Chase and Derek Pratt. Furgele moved down from the point area and beat Admirals goaltender Ty Reichenbach with a high backhand. LaCouvee made all 19 saves asked of him in the opening frame. At 9:26 of the second, Maine doubled the lead when Michael McNicholas cut off a breakout pass and fed Taylor Cammarata at the right wing circle. Cammarata found a crashing Chase for a tap in on the doorstep. The Mariners led 2-0 after 40 minutes. Early in the third as the Admirals were on a delayed penalty, Maine capitalized with the extra attacker. Cammarata beat Reichenback to the back post with a backhand wraparound at 2:42, assists from Chase and Blake Kessel to make it 3-0. Dwyer Tschantz and Romain Chuard dropped the gloves and LaCouvee was 4:37 away from a shutout when Eric Roy beat him with a blast from the blue line just after an Admirals power play had ended. The Mariners had a few chances at an empty netter but 3-1 was the final score. Maine swept the season series from Norfolk, winning all three games. The Admirals fell to 1-10-2 against North Division opponents this season. The Mariners sit alone in third place in the North for the first time since January 18th. The South Carolina Stingrays come to town over the weekend. The Stanley Cup © is in the building on Friday for a 7:15 faceoff. Fans can get their photo with the cup, doors opening at 6:15 to the general public and 5:00 to season ticket holders and corporate partners. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 hotdogs, $2 popcorn, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the 2nd period. Saturday is Wild Blueberries Night presented by Northeast Charter and Tour Co. The Mariners will wear Wild Blueberries jerseys and auction them live after the game. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Wild Blueberries logo cup presented by FRANK-FM. Tickets to both games can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

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KEELEY: MARINERS WEEKLY: STANLEY CUP AND WILD BLUEBERRIES HIGHLIGHT HOME STRETCH START

By: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  Mar. 4, 2019 – When the Mariners were staring down a stretch of 8 out of 9 games on the road in the middle of February, head coach Riley Armstrong called it a “make or break” run. Maine was 8-15-0 on the road at that point and teetering on the edge of the playoff picture. The Mariners went 6-1-1 in those eight games, now with points in 10 of their last 11 games and are in prime position to make a run for as high as 2nd place in the division, as the true “home stretch” begins this week. The week that was Sunday, Feb. 24th – WOR: 3, MNE: 4/SO Coming from behind yet again, the Mariners continued to have Worcester’s number as they eked out a shootout win for their sixth straight head-to-head victory against the Railers. Dillan Fox erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals in the second period and Johnny McInnis answered Bo Brauer’s go-ahead goal early in the third. The shootout was filled with drama, going seven rounds, finally ending with the combination of a Josh Couturier goal and a Hannu Toivonen save on Matty Gaudreau. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS  Wednesday, Feb. 27th – MNE: 4, UTA: 1 The first of three games in Utah got off to a slightly rocky start when the Mariners allowed a power-play goal just 1:07 into the game. Finding their legs in the second period, Greg Chase capped off his remarkable month with his 9th goal of February to tie the game at one. Three in the third sparked by Terrence Wallin’s shorthanded goal powered the Mariners to a 4-1 win. Josh Couturier and Taylor Cammarata provided the insurance. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Mar 1st – MNE: 4, UTA: 3/SO There must have been a full moon in Utah because Friday was unquestionable the “weirdest” game of the season. Five on five play was rare, as the teams totaled a combined 19 power play attempts – Maine going 0/12 including a seven-minute man advantage. Both teams also had a 5 on 3 at one point. Despite failing on the power play, the Mariners built up a 3-1 lead on a pair of goals by Dillan Fox and one scored 4-on-4 by Johnny McInnis. Although he let the lead slip away in the 3rd, Hannu Toivonen was terrific in helping the Mariners survive through overtime, after which Fox scored the only goal of a four-round shootout and Toivonen was perfect. It was the 10th consecutive Mariners OT or SO win. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Mar 2nd– MNE: 3, UTA: 4/OT John Furgele scored twice but the power play slump continued as the Mariners went 0/6 and 0/23 in the three-game Utah series. Missed opportunities allowed for Utah to rally from a pair of one-goal deficits and Josh Dickinson quickly ended the game in OT with a nice dangle and a quick shot that beat Connor LaCouvee just 21 seconds in. It was the first 3-on-3 OT loss in Mariners history. FULL GAME RECAP Transactions -The Mariners signed G Domenic Graham Coming up (all times Eastern) Weds, Mar. 6th vs. Norfolk Admirals – 7:00 PM (HOME) – SENSORY REDUCED GAME FOR AUTISM AWARENESS Fri, Mar. 8th vs. South Carolina Stingrays – 7:15 PM (HOME) – STANLEY CUP NIGHT Sat, Mar. 9th vs. South Carolina Stingrays – 6:00 PM (HOME) – WILD BLUEBERRIES NIGHT (PRES. BY NORTHEAST CHARTER & TOUR CO.) The Mariners have three at home this week, all against South Division opponents. Wednesday night is a “Sensory Reduced” game, which will cater to fans who are normally unable to enjoy a Mariners game due to the loud and chaotic environment. Music and public address announcements will be lowered, no goal horn will be utilized, and quiet spaces will be made available in multiple spots throughout the arena. A full breakdown of details can be found HERE. On Friday, the Stanley Cup will visit the Cross Insurance Arena, with fans having the opportunity to take a photo with it in the C.N. Brown Landing. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 hot dogs, $2 popcorn, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. The week concludes on Saturday with “Wild Blueberries Night” presented by Northeast Charter and Tour Co. The Mariners will wear special Wild Blueberries jerseys, to honor the second-place finisher in the offseason naming contest. The jerseys will be auctioned live after the game. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Wild Blueberries logo cup sponsored by Binnie Media. Looking ahead: The schedule mellows out of a bit for the Mariners in the coming weeks, as they do not play another Wednesday game until April 3rd. There are three consecutive Sunday home games March 17th, 24th, and 31st which include Beacon’s Birthday Bash presented by Evergreen Credit Union, Country Night presented by 99.9 the Wolf, and Mighty Ducks Night featuring a postgame movie. The full promotional schedule can be found HERE. Standings update: The Mariners currently sit in a 3rd place tie with the Manchester Monarchs - each team with 64 points but the Mariners holding a game in hand. The Adirondack Thunder have a 5 point edge for 2nd place. The Brampton Beast sit two points behind Maine and Manchester for the fourth and final playoff spot, holding a game in hand on the Mariners and two on the Monarchs. Reading and Worcester are currently five points off the playoff pace. Newfoundland leads the division with 76 points. Read the full article