Sound Tigers Loan Hitchcock To Worcester

The Sound Tigers have loaned former Yale
star Ryan Hitchcock to the Worcester
Railers of the ECHL.

BRIDGEPORT—On Tuesday the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that forward Ryan Hitchcock has been loaned to the Worcester Railers H.C. of the .East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). In baseball terms, the AHL is equivalent to the AAA level, while the ECHL equates to the AA level of play

Hitchcock, 22, had one assist in nine games with the Sound Tigers this season. He signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with Bridgeport on Mar. 8, 2018 and collected nine points (three goals, six assists) in 16 contests to end last season. He signed an AHL contact May 1, 2018.

Prior to turning pro, the 5-10, 180-lb. forward played at Yale where, as a senior, he registered a career-high 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 31 games while serving as the Bulldog’s captain. Hitchcock finished his college career with a plus-10 rating in 103 career games. As a freshman, the Manhasset, Long Island native led all newcomers with 15 points and earned the Martin Dwyer III Award as Yale's rookie MVP. In addition, Hitchcock helped Team USA capture a Bronze Medal at the 2015 U20 World Junior Championships and led Team USA to a Gold Medal at the 2014 U18 World Junior Championships.

Prior to attending Yale, Hitchcock skated in the U.S. National Development Program from 2012-14 and played bantam hockey with the Long Island Gulls.

ON DECK

Next up for the Sound Tigers will be an 11 a.m. matchup with the Hartford Wolf Pack on Thursday at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. It will be the Wolf Pack’s fifth annual “Sonar Edu-skate” school day with area schools getting to enjoy the experience of hockey. The 9-5-1-0 Sound Tigers will be loo extend their current five-game winning streak against the 5-8-1-2 Wolf Pack. It will be the second of 10 regular-season games between the in-state arch-rivals. (In addition to their geographical proximity, it is the AHL version of the Rangers-Islanders rivalry. Bridgeport topped the Pack 5-4 in the only meeting between the teams to date this season on Oct. 27. Sebastian Aho had three assists that night and Ryan Bourque scored twice against his former team, while Steve Bernier notched the game-winner with a power-play tally at 6:26 of the third period. Christopher Gibson earned the win with 23 saves.

Hartford head coach Keith McCambridge's club is on a three-game slide (0-1-0-2) as the Pack continues a five-game homestand. Most recently, Tim Gettinger scored Hartford's lone tally in a 4-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last Saturday at XL Center. Dustin Tokarski made 28 saves in his fourth consecutive setback—and his third straight in regulation. Steven Fogarty is the leader of the Pack in goals scored (with 7) and points (14). Former No. 7 overall pick Lias Andersson is second in scoring with 12 points. However, Andersson will not be available for the Wolf Pack on Wednesday having been recalled by the parent New York Rangers on Monday.

The Sound Tigers will carry a number of notable streaks into their three-game road trip this week. Steve Bernier is on a six-game point streak and an AHL career-best five-game assist streak, while Kieffer Bellows has scored in four consecutive games (five goals during that span)—the longest active streak in the AHL. Bernier hasn't logged points in seven straight games since a career-best eight-game streak from Dec. 22, 2005–Jan. 8, 2006. In addition, Otto Koivula is on a four-game point streak ahead of today's matchup.

Josh Ho-Sang had a trio of assists last week and now leads the Sound Tigers with 14 helpers and 15 points this season. Even better, Ho-Sang leads all AHL forwards in assists and is second in the League overall (one behind Rochester's Lawrence Pilut). Ho-Sang has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in his last six games.

Chris Bourque

HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Three-time Calder Cup Champion Chris Bourque became just the 24th player in AHL history to eclipse 700 points when he collected the secondary assist on Devon Toews' first-period goal against Providence last Saturday. Bourque has played 735 AHL games and is currently three points shy of 23rd place on the all-time list held by Alex Giroux (2001-12).

He is also one goal away from tying Bob Solinger (241 goals, 1945-60) for 48th place on the all-time goal-scoring list and 14 helpers shy of tying Zellio Toppazzini (476, 1948-64) for 14th all-time in assists. Bourque has nine points (four goals, five assists) and a team-high 45 shots in 13 games with Bridgeport this season.

QUICK HITS
Brent Thompson is two wins shy of his 200th AHL/Sound Tigers victory as head coach… Kyle Burroughs is two games away from his 200th AHL/Sound Tigers appearance… Bridgeport is 9-1-1-0 this season when leading at any point in a game… The Sound Tigers have outscored opponents 42-29 at home this season and are currently on a seven-game point streak at Webster Bank Arena (6-0-1-0)... Jeremy Colliton, the Sound Tigers' all-time leader in assists (126) & points (203), was named head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, Nov. 6... Devon Toews and Travis St. Denis both have three goals and five assists (eight points) over their last six games... Toews is tied for fourth among AHL defensemen with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
The Sound Tigers feature an extensive promotional schedule with a fan-friendly calendar includes the return of popular themes like Hockey and Hops (Nov. 23 and Mar. 17), Military Appreciation (Jan. 12), Star Wars Night (Jan. 19) and Princess Night (Mar. 30). Regional hockey fans can enjoy Hockey Weekend in Connecticut (Feb. 23-24), while other new headliners include Holiday Gift Weekend (Dec. 15-16) and a revamped Teddy Bear Toss (Nov. 23). To view the complete 2018-19 promotional schedule HERE.

—Staff Reports