Discover the Islanders stars and key staff who honed their skills and began their NHL journeys with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers turned Bridgeport Islanders have meant a whole lot to the people of Connecticut and the New York Islanders' fan base for 25 seasons.
It wasn't the prettiest 25 seasons on the ice, but the relationship between the team and the community was personal. It seemed like a family.
We feel for the passionate fans and Total Mortgage Arena staff who will now be without their team as the club relocates its AHL affiliate to Hamilton, Ontario, beginning in 2026-27.
If you look at the Islanders' current roster, here's a list of players who played for Bridgeport on their way to the NHL: Casey Cizikas, Marc Gatcomb, Isaiah George, Simon Holmstrom, Anders Lee, Kyle MacLean, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and Cal Ritchie.
For the knock Bridgeport gets for its lack of development, the list above includes some key cogs in the Islanders' engine for years, while some are just getting started.
That doesn't include former Islanders like Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson, to name a few.
You look beyond the ice and Bridgeport's played a massive role in other areas.
Kimber Auerbach (PR) and Alan Fuehring (Islanders Radio/TV) came up through Bridgeport. Islanders assistant conditioning coach Joe Erdos spent the prior eight seasons as Bridgeport's conditioning coach.
Minor hockey matters. Many don't know this, but I got my start with the Binghamton Devils as a game-day media intern.
Without that experience, who knows if I am able to do what I love every day.
Minor hockey is a grind for everyone involved and it's great to see the positive impact Bridgeport has had on so many people.