Sound Tigers Stop Springfield in OT

Travis St. Denis scored the game winner in OT as the Sound Tigers topped the
Springfield Thunderbirds. The win snapped a five-game slide for Bridgeport.

Staff Reports

Josh Ho-Sang set up Travis St. Denis for the winning tally in overtime as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers topped the Springfield Thunderbirds, 5-4, before an announced 3,888 fans at Webster Bank Arena on Wednesday night. The Sound Tigers are the top minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders, while the Thunderbirds are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers.

Bridgeport fired the first salvo at 9:26 of the opening period. After a scramble in front of the crease, Connor Jones sent the puck out to the top of the left circle where Jon Landry fired a shot over the glove-side shoulder of Springfield netminder Mike McKenna.

Less than seven minutes later, the Sound Tigers doubled their lead. Playing his first game for Bridgeport, Eric Boulton sent the puck to Ryan Pulock in the neutral zone. Pulock, a third-year defenseman, skated down the left boards, cut through the circle and slipped a low shot from the slot that made it through McKenna’s five hole. The assist was Boulton’s first American Hockey League point since 2000 in his first AHL game since Nov. 27, 2011.

The Thunderbirds got one back in the middle stanza when Ryan Horvat snapped in a rebound at the 7:17 mark. Joe Diamond took the initial shot which was stopped by Sound Tigers goalie Stephon Williams. But Williams was unsuccessful in corralling in the rubber biscuit, and Horvat was in the right place at the right time to finish it and cut Bridgeport’s advantage to 2-1.

Ho-Sang put Bridgeport back up by two with a power play goal at 18:16 of the second period. Following a cross-checking major and game misconduct to Horvat for a vicious hit on Steve Bernier, Michael Dal Colle threaded a diagonal feed to Ho-Sang at the right post where he nudged it home for his third goal of the season.

Springfield controlled the majority of the third period, scoring three times to send the game to overtime. Chase Balisy made it 3-2 at the 2:40 mark when he scored on a wraparound, stuffing the puck into the left side of the net. Then, just 62 seconds later, Balisy sent a backhand pass to Zac Lynch in the high slot. Lynch lifted a slapshot over Williams’ left shoulder for his first professional goal, knotting the score at 3-3.

But after losing a two-goal lead, Bridgeport regained the advantage when St. Denis found Kearns deep in the Thunderbirds’ zone. Kearns redirected a shot on target that McKenna steered below the goal line, but Kearns stuck with it and banked another chance off the goaltender that made its way past the line for his ninth tally of the season.

But Springfield was undeterred. The Thunderbirds tied the game for a second time at 16:52 of the third when Williams lost the puck as he came out of the crease. That created an opportunity for Tim Bozon, who took full advantage by slipping a shot around Williams’ right leg for his fifth tally of the season.

The Sound Tigers wrapped things up 3:24 into the extra period when Ho-Sang corralled a bouncing puck below the right circle, spun right and fed it to St. Denis, who flipped a shot top shelf for his fifth goal of the month. “He’s an elite player,” said St. Denis of Ho-Sang, his teammate and roommate. “He sees the ice well. I knew he’d try to get it to me.”

A physical battle throughout, the game produced two fights and 47 combined penalty minutes. Ben Holmstrom and Mackenzie Weeger dropped the gloves at 12:17 of the middle frame, while Michael Dal Colle and Jared McCann did the two-fisted tango at 15:25 of the third.

The Sound Tigers were 1-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Williams (4-10-0) made 24 saves in the win, while McKenna (4-7-4) stopped 29 shots. With the win, the Sound Tigers improved to 17-12-0-0, while the Thunderbirds fell to 11-12-4-2. Ho-Sang (one goal, one assist) and Tanner Fritz (two assists) had multi-point efforts as the Sound Tigers remained unblemished, 8-0, in games extending beyond regulation. Bridgeport also snapped a five-game slide dating back to Dec. 11. Landry, Pulock and Bracken Kearns also found the back of the net for the Tigers.

The Sound Tigers now hit the road, beginning a five-game road trip on Friday with a 7 p.m. matchup against the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. Fans can follow all the action online at AHLlive.com, beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

The Tigers do not return to the cozy confines of the Webster Bank Arena until Sat., Jan. 14, when they will entertain the Utica Comets. It will be Military Appreciation Night, and the first 1,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a Sound Tigers Bomber Hat courtesy of the Better Business Bureau. In addition, all active and veterans of the military will receive free admission with valid ID. The Sound Tigers players will be wearing special camouflage jerseys during the game. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the game with proceeds benefiting the BBB Military Line Scholarship. Prior to the game, a Veterans Expo featuring companies that are hiring and offering special services to help veterans will take place from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Tickets to Military Appreciation Night are available by clicking HERE, or by visiting the Webster Bank Arena Click It or Ticket Box Office.

THE SKINNY 

Husky Homecoming: UConn Re-Hires Randy Edsall

By Bob Phillips

 

Randy Edsall, the most successful head coach in UConn football history, is
returning to Connecticut as the Huskies' head coach after a four-plus year
stint at Maryland.

The University of Connecticut wasted little time in filling their football coaching void. Even though former coach Bob Diaco remains on the payroll (his dismissal is effective on Jan 2 because of a buyout clause in Diaco’s contract that decreases considerably after the first of the year), UConn has already announced Diaco’s replacement. And in this case, the Huskies have gone back to the well and named Randy Edsall as their “new” head coach for the 2017 season.

Edsall, of course, led the Connecticut football program to its highest point—a Big East championship and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2010. During Edsall’s first go-round in Storrs, from 1999 to 2010, the Huskies had truly become a national force. Highlights included postseason bowl appearances in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; Big East titles in 2007 and 2010; a No. 13 national ranking in 2007; and the biggest win in program history—a 33-30 double-overtime victory over Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., in 2009. The following year, after getting off to a slow start (3-4), Edsall rallied his troops to win their last five games, leading the Huskies to the Big East title, primarily thanks to their first-ever win over West Virginia. That led to an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl were the Huskies were thoroughly thrashed by the Oklahoma Sooners, 48-20 on New Year’s Day 2011.

Then, after suffering arguably the most embarrassing loss in program history, things went from the sublime to the ridiculous when Edsall did not accompany the Huskies home to Storrs, but rather boarded a plane, flew to Maryland, and was named head coach of the Terrapins (his alma mater). Ouch. But in four-plus season at Maryland, after leading the Terps to a 22-34 record (10-24 in the ACC), Maryland opted to replace Edsall after six games in 2015. He wound up with the NFL’s Detroit Lions as director of football research-special projects under Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn, who was a graduate assistant for Edsall at UConn in 1999.

"Coach Edsall is the right fit for our university, football program and student-athletes," said UConn Director of Athletics David Benedict of the man who assumes the job as the Huskies’ winningest coach in program history on day one. “He led UConn to the most successful period in the history of our football program, and I believe he will provide consistent leadership and long-term success once again."

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to rejoin and lead the UConn program," said Edsall. "I want to thank President [Susan] Herbst, Athletic Director David Benedict and the rest of the administration for believing I am the right person to build this program and develop its student-athletes. I look forward to working with David, our student-athletes and the entire athletic department."

Regarding his abrupt departure following the embarrassing loss to Oklahoma, Edsall said, "Certainly as I look back on it, I wish I had done things differently in that instance. I completely understand and respect that there are loyal fans, supporters and former players that still have not forgotten, and it will take time to forgive. "

 

But the simple fact is that the Huskies have three bowl wins in program history, and Edsall has been on the sidelines for all three. One would be hard pressed to argue why Edsall should not be brought back.

“I have many incredible memories of my time at UConn and I hope the fans do too,” continued Edsall, who will earn $1 million annually with provisions for performance bonuses over the course of the five-year deal. “It is my goal to get us back to that level of success, and I hope that all of the Husky fans out there will be along for the ride.”

Edsall will formally be introduced as the Huskies’ head coach at a press conference on Friday, Dec. 30 on the club level at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Edsall’s “Welcome Back” ceremony is open to the public.

Diaco Out as UConn’s Top Dog

By Bob Phillips

The Bob Diaco era at UConn came to an abrupt end this morning.
Diaco was 11-26 in his three years as the Huskies' head coach.

 

What had long been anticipated is now a reality: Bob Diaco officially has become the scapegoat for the sad-sack UConn football program. This morning, the University of Connecticut announced that it will be replacing Diaco as head coach, effective Jan. 2, 2017. The reason the firing doesn’t take place for another week is unclear, but published reports have noted that the buyout clause in Diaco’s contract decreases considerably after the first of the year.

The heralded former defensive coordinator at Notre Dame was lured to Storrs in 2014 with a mission to revive a program that had declined in a precipitous manner on Paul Pasqualoni’s watch. Pasqualoni, a Cheshire native who had developed Syracuse into a national power in a previous life, spent three years at UConn, amassing a 10-18 record before being replaced by T.J. Weist during the 2013 season.

In 2012, Diaco was named the winner of the Frank Broyles Award, which
recognizes the nation’s top assistant college football coach. He was the first coach in the history of the prestigious Notre Dame program to be so honored. A two-time All-Big Ten selection during his playing days at Iowa, Diaco became a graduate assistant with the Hawkeyes before moving to Western Illinois as special teams coordinator and running backs coach in 1999. Then it was on to similar posts at Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, Virginia and Cincinnati before landing the Notre Dame job.

Diaco was 11-26 in his three seasons with the Huskies, including 3-9 this past campaign. The final nail in the coffin was the Connecticut defense—or rather lack thereof. After allowing just 15.9 points per game in Diaco’s first season with the Huskies, that figured exploded to a dismal 28.1 this season. Think about that for one second. That stat means that UConn could have averaged four touchdowns per game—and still lost every single contest.

"This is obviously not the way I had hoped things would turn out," said Diaco. "But I appreciate having had the opportunity to be here at UConn."

Penn State's Joe Moorhead is said to be a strong candidate
at UConn.

"I believe a new leader for our program and student-athletes is needed to build long-term success," athletic director Dave Benedict said in a statement. "I am grateful to Coach Diaco and his staff for their hard work and the integrity with which they ran the program and certainly wish them future success. I know this may come as a surprise to our fans and supporters given the timing of this decision. However, it became apparent to me that a change in program direction is necessary at this time."

Joe Moorhead, the defensive coordinator at Penn State, is reported to have the inside track as Diaco’s successor.

Friars’ First-Half Run Sinks Wagner

Jalen Lindsey (21) shows what the 2016-17 version of the Friars
is all about as he challenges Wagner's Greg Sentat’s shot
on Saturday.

By Bob Murphy

Q: How does a team recover from a 31-0 run by the opponent?

A: It doesn’t.

That point was driven home on Saturday afternoon when, down by six points, the Providence College Friars went on the aforementioned streak early in the first half to turn a 10-4 deficit into a 35-10 lead and went on to cruise to a 76-54 victory over the Wagner Seahawks before 4,069 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The gate was kept down by the region’s first significant snowfall. Jalen Lindsey led the Friars with 16 points, while Emmitt Holt added 11.

Rodney Bullock, the Friars’ leading scorer, had an off-night shooting wise with just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting from the floor, but, like any team leader, he contributed in other areas when the shot just wasn’t there. Bullock hauled down nine rebounds, and added two blocks and one steal to his stat-line. Indeed, it was the Friar D that once again proved too much for the opposition. Wagner was held to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor.

After junior guard Kyron Cartwright got the Friars on the board first by draining a trey just 22 seconds into the contest, Wagner raced out to an early 7-4 lead at 16:20. Sadly for the Seahawks, it was all downhill from there. The Friars totally dominated the first half, outshooting the Seahawks 52 percent to 25 percent from the floor. Most importantly, the Friars forced nine Wagner turnovers that were converted into 14 points, and went into the locker room leading 45-20 at intermission.

The Friars knotted the score at 10 on a layup by Lindsey at 14:28. And that’s when the roof caved on the Seahawks, who didn’t score a point for another 11:06 and another field goal for 11:34. By then Providence led 34-17, and the Seahawks’ chances of a comeback were about as good as Hillary Clinton’s chance of an Electoral College upset. Indeed, Wagner actually outscored Providence in the second half, 34-31—not that it mattered.

In addition to his 16 points, Lindsey hauled down eight rebounds for the Friars. Emmit Holt put up double digits on the scoreboard with an 11-point, four-rebound effort. Cartwright added five points and 11 assists in the Friar offensive assault. Elijah Davis led the way for Wagner with 13 points and nine boards, while Greg Senat put up nine points and hauled down five rebounds for the Seahawks.

Overall, the Friars, who improved to 9-2, shot 47.4 percent from the floor (27-for-57) including a respectable 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from beyond the arc. The Seahawks, meanwhile, were limited to 33.3 percent shooting (21-for-63) including just 5-for-20 from three-point land.

“You have to win your home games,” said Providence head coach Ed Cooley after his team won its eighth straight game on Dave Gavitt court. “It's so, so important. I want to appreciate the crowd for coming out in the tough weather and during the holiday season.”

Through the first 11 games, the surprising Friars, who entered the season ranked ninth in the 10-team conference. To this point in the season, Providence leads the Big East in scoring average against, and is holding opponents to 27.9 percent shooting from 3-point range. But as optimistic as this all sounds, keep in mind that it is just mid-December, and that conference play does not commence until Dec. 28, when the Friars travel to Cincinnati to take on the 9-2 Xavier Musketeers, currently ranked No. 17 in the country.

Cooley doesn’t expect his young team to suffer any kind of significant drop-off once they begin play in the traditionally rough-and-tumble Big East.

“A lot of teams get better at this point in time, especially after the holiday, because it's all basketball,” Cooley said. “You go two-a-days. You have a lot of film sessions. This is where most teams develop that identity and improve.”

The Friars hope to continue their home winning streak on Tuesday when they entertain Maine at The Dunk. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.