Sun Announce 2019 Preseason Schedule

By Bob Phillips

The Connecticut Sun will be kicking off the 2019 season with a two-day
preseason event featuring the Sun, Wings, Liberty and Dream.

UNCASVILLE—Want a surefire sign that spring is, indeed, just around the corner? Then try this one on for size. This morning, the Connecticut Sun, the Nutmeg State’s entry in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced its preseason schedule for the 2019 campaign. The Sun will open the 2019 season by hosting a two-day preseason event involving the Dallas Wings, New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream on May 13 and 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The preseason festivities will kick off with a double-header on Monday, May 13. Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Dallas Wings will face Angel McCoughtry, Tiffany Hayes and the Atlanta Dream at 5 p.m. followed by a game between the Sun and their arch rivals—Tina Charles, Kia Nurse, Bria Hartley and the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. Then, the next day, the teams will change partners and do it over again with the Liberty meeting the Dream at 5 p.m, and the Sun facing Dallas at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Sun preseason double-header and the 2019 home opener will go on sale the second week of April.

“The two-day preseason tournament has become a popular tradition and we’re excited to once again host a great line-up of teams at Mohegan Sun Arena,” Connecticut Sun Vice President Amber Cox said. “The event will feature three outstanding teams and give Sun fans a unique way to kick off the season.”

Connecticut will close out the preseason on Sun, May 19, with a trip to Albany, NY, where the team will face the Liberty at the Times Union Center. Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m.

The Sun will open the 2019 WNBA season on Sat., May 25, when they will host Mike Thibault, Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics. Tip-off at Mohegan Sun Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit ConnecticutSun.com, or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX.

—with Colleen White and staff reports

Sun Sign Ariel Edwards

Ariel Edwards (27), an All-Big Ten selection out of Penn State, has been
signed by the Connecticut Sun to a training camp contract.

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun announced it has signed forward Ariel Edwards to a training camp contract. A native of Elmont, NY, the 6-3 Edwards currently ranks second in scoring in the Spanish League, averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for Araski. She had a standout season in Israel in 2017-18, averaging 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field in 21 games for Maccabi Raanana.

An All-Big Ten First Team selection as a senior at Penn State during the 2013-14 season, Edwards wrapped up her collegiate career ranked seventh in Nittany Lion history in career 3-point field goal percentage at 39.4% and as the 36^th member of the Penn State 1,000 point club.

Edwards was in training camp with the Tulsa Shock in 2014 before being waived at the start of the season. In three preseason games for Tulsa, she averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.

The Sun will open the 2019 WNBA season on Saturday, May 25 against at home vs. Mike Thibault, Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics. Tip-off at the Mohegan Sun Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. Visit ConnecticutSun.com or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX for more information or to purchase tickets.

—Staff Reports

Bees Sign Three

NEW BRITAIN—The New Britain Bees have announced the signings of infielders Deibinson Romero and Jonathan Galvez, and pitcher Rainy Lara.

“To be able to bring back three All-Stars is a tremendous achievement for our club,” says Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “Deibinson and Jonathan are proven veterans that bring versatility to the field and power to the lineup, while Rainy has excelled in both of his years in the Atlantic League and gives stability to our rotation.”

Romero returns to the Bees for his second season in the Atlantic League and 14th of professional baseball. Last year, the infielder played in 120 games for New Britain, and collected a .255 batting average with 71 RBI and 61 runs scored. The slugger also ranked second in the Atlantic League with 27 doubles and fourth with 18 home runs, while being named to the Liberty Division All-Star team and taking home the Home Run Derby title at the All-Star game.

The 32-year-old began his professional career in 2006 within the Minnesota Twins organization. He spent nine years in the Twins farm system, reaching as high as the Triple-A level in both 2013 and 2014. This also included a two year stint playing in New Britain Stadium with the Rock Cats from 2011-12, where he posted career highs of 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 2012. The slugger also spent time with both the Pirates and Yankees organizations in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

In 1,201 career minor league games, Romero owns a .262 batting average with 123 home runs, 655 RBI, 598 runs scored, and a .349 on-base percentage.

Galvez returns to New Britain for his fifth season in the Atlantic League and 12th of professional baseball. Last year with the Bees, he posted a .277 batting average with 10 home runs, 47 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases, while being named to the Liberty Division All-Star team.

Prior to coming to the Hardware City, Jonathan spent three seasons with the Bridgeport Bluefish, including an impressive 2017 campaign, where he batted .277 with 16 home runs, 27 doubles, 77 RBI, 68 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, and a .351 on-base percentage over the course of 126 games played. He also represented the ‘Fish and the Liberty Division in the 2016 Atlantic League All-Star Game.

The 28-year-old began his professional career in 2008 within the San Diego Padres organization. He spent seven years in the Padres farm system, reaching Triple-A in both 2013 and 2014. The slugger also spent time with both the Mets and Yankees organizations in 2015.

In 1,074 career minor league games, Galvez owns a .277 batting average with 91 home runs, 542 RBI, 601 runs scored and 153 stolen bases.

Lara returns to the Bees for his 10th season of professional baseball and third in the Atlantic League. Last year with New Britain, he posted a 9-7 record with a 3.63 ERA with 81 strikeouts over the course of 124.0 innings of work, while being named to the league’s All-Star team for the second season in a row.

The right-hander made his Atlantic League debut with the Bridgeport Bluefish way back in 2017—when the Park City actually had a professional baseball team—and was named to the Liberty Division All Star team. In 25 starts, he earned nine victories with a 4.31 ERA and 97 strikeouts across 142.0 innings pitched.

The 27-year-old made his professional debut in 2010 with the New York Mets organization in the Foreign Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Prior to joining the Atlantic League, he had been in the Mets farm system for the entirety of his career, reaching the Triple-A level in both 2015 and 2016.

In 181 career minor league outings (157 starts), Rainy owns a 62-52 record with a 3.76 ERA and 667 strikeouts in 908.0 innings pitched.

The New Britain Bees are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, widely recognized as the leading independent minor league circuit in the U.S., and play their home games at New Britain Stadium. For information on tickets packages, group outings and sponsorships call 860-826-BEES (2337) or visit NBBees.com.

—Staff Reports

Huskies Thrash Wichita State

Napheesa Collier scored 32 points and snared 12 boards to lead the No. 2
Huskies over Wichita State, 84-47, on Tuesday night.

WICHITA, KS—No Geno? No problema!

The No. 2 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team entered the second game of a road excursion through the nation’s heartland without their Hall-of-Fame coach, who missed his second straight game while coping with a stomach virus, and for the second straight game with associate head coach Chris Dailey at the helm, the Huskies didn’t miss a beat. Behind a 32-point, 12-rebound performance from senior forward Napheesa Collier, the Huskies coasted past Wichita State, 84-47, before 6,156 fans at Charles Koch Arena on Tuesday night. Collier, a native of O’Fallon, MO, moved into 10th place on the Huskies’ all-time scoring list, passing Rebecca Lobo. Collier has 2,137 points.

Katie Samuelson poured in 18 points for the Huskies—fueled by five 3-pointers—and Crystal Dangerfield added 14 points and eight assists for UConn.

Freshman Carla Bremaud scored 15 points for Wichita State (11-16, 4-10), just three shy of her season high. Bremaud was 6 of 10 from the floor while the rest of the Shockers were 13 of 44.

“We came out with an aggressiveness,” said Dailey. "We pushed the ball in transition, and that puts a lot of pressure on them. Even when we didn't hit shots early, I liked the way we were playing.”

Collier was 13-for-15 from the floor. She moved into eighth place on the school's career scoring list, moving past Kara Wolters and Diana Taurasi. The senior forward has 2,169 points, and is just 10 points away from moving into fifth place all-time at UConn.

“I just feel like Napheesa is going to score anytime she gets the ball,” Dailey said. “And she just doesn't get boxed out. She just goes make plays.”

Trailing 5-4 early, the Huskies went 23-0 run and lead 27-5 at the first turn. Game, set, match.

The Shockers, with five freshmen among their top eight players, went more than nine minutes without scoring in a stretch that extended into the second period. Meanwhile, Connecticut shot over 50 percent from the floor in each period, ending the game shooting 57.7 percent (30-for-52, including 10-for-23 from downtown), while holding the Shockers to 35.2 percent (19-for-54). The Huskies also dominated down low, outscoring the Shockers 38-18 in the paint, and parlayed 20 Wichita State turnovers into 27 points.

“Tonight was definitely a learning experience for our young squad,” Wichita State coach Keitha Adams said, who added “Big slice of humble pie.”

Big Draw

Other than a school-kids day, Wichita State had yet to reach the 2,000 attendance bar at a home game, and the Shockers had only played in front of more than 2,000 fans on the road once. But with the Huskies in town, attendance bumped up to over 6,000.

“That was a really great crowd,” Dailey said. “We were excited to be in an arena we've seen on TV. And you could tell it was a knowledgeable crowd.”

Bench-Building

There were no doubts about the star-power UConn would have this season, but there was some question about the Huskies' depth. Dailey thought sophomore Mikayla Coombs and freshman Olivia Nelson-Ododa took another step toward erasing that doubt Tuesday night.

“Both Mikayla and Olivia have put themselves in position for the playing time with what they've done in practice and in games,” Dailey said. “And the effort they give, the important things they give us, starts on the defensive end.”

Whither Geno?

Dailey said she expects Auriemma to return from his illness soon, even joking with the media that "you'll never see me again." She said Auriemma has been texting questions ever since UConn won 68-49 Sunday at Tulsa.

Asked what playing without Auriemma has taught her about her team, Dailey smiled and said, "Coaching doesn't matter?”

With the win, the Huskies improved to 26-2, (14-0 American) clinched an outright American Athletic Conference regular-season championship. They also remained unblemished—100-0—in regular-season games since joining The American.

The Huskies now head home to host Houston on Saturday. It will be Senior Day at the Gampel Arena. Tip-off is slated for noon, and the game will be televised on SNY and streamed on ESPN3. It will also be broadcast on ESPN Radio 97.9 FM.

—Staff Reports

#UConnHuskies #UConnWomensBasketball #WomensBasketball @NapheesaCollier @Pheesa @GenoAuriemma @ChrisDailey #GoHuskies

Sound Tigers Top Bears for Fifth Straight Win

Christopher Gibson (33) was nearly perfect between the pipes for
Bridgeport, stopping 25 shots and allowing just one goal with the
 Sound Tigers on the penalty kill with only 46 seconds left in the game.
(Photo courtesy soundtigers.com)

BRIDGEPORT—Christopher Gibson made 25 saves and was less than a minute away from his second shutout of the season on Sunday, helping the Bridgeport Sound Tigers earn their fifth straight victory by defeating the Hershey Bears), 5-1, before 5,098 fans at the Webster Bank Arena on Sunday. Steve Bernier, Travis St. Denis, Matt Lorito and Michael Dal Colle all scored once and added at least one assist, while Hershey's lone goal came from Juuso Ikonen with just 46 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Sound Tigers enjoyed a power play just 3:22 into the game after Ben Holmstrom took a hit from Nathan Walker, which drew an interference call. Midway through the man-advantage, St. Denis set up at the blue line and fed the puck to Bernier cutting down the right wing, which set up the scoring opportunity. Bernier took a stride towards the net and found Dal Colle streaking to the net, who tapped home a one-timer at the doorstep for his 17th goal of the season. The tally was Dal Colle's first since being loaned from the Islanders last Tuesday, and his first AHL goal since Dec. 21 at Charlotte.

The Sound Tigers doubled their lead at 16:41 of the first period when Chris Bourque scored his 13th of the season on a delayed penalty. With six attackers on the ice, Tanner Fritz created space at the right point and dished a cross-ice feed to Bourque, who cranked a slap shot over Vitek Vanecek's left shoulder. Bourque's marker was his second against his former team this season and extended his goal-scoring streak to three straight games.

Early in the second period, Seth Helgeson dropped the gloves for the second time in as many games when he and Liam O'Brien took center stage in the neutral zone to square off in an old-school-style bout. While neither definitely won the fight, it proved to be a catalyst for the Sound Tigers, as they extended their lead to 3-0 in the following minutes.

At 7:15, Bernier directed a shot on net that evaded Vanecek and hit the post. On the rebound, Lorito was in prime position in front to shovel the puck into a near-empty net for his second goal of the season. Since returning from injury on Feb. 10, Lorito has points in all five games this season (two goals, five assists).

St. Denis added Bridgeport's fourth goal on the power play at 10:42 into the middle frame. Following puck movement on the man advantage, Mitch Vande Sompel and Dal Colle connected on a one-timer, before St. Denis pounced on the rebound and found twine between Vanecek's five-hole for his 13th of the season.

Hershey controlled offensive-zone pressure in the final minute of the second period, but Gibson stood tall and made perhaps his best save of the night on O'Brien's point-blank one-timer in the slot, to keep the game 4-0 heading into the third.

The Sound Tigers scored their fifth goal of the contest on a strange play in front of Hershey's net at the 14:18 mark. Parker Wotherspoon's point shot generated a rebound in the crease, where Bernier backhanded the puck just past the goal line. It was initially ruled no goal, but after video review, Bernier was awarded his team-leading 18^th of the season and fifth point on the 3-in-3 weekend (two goals, three assists).

Gibson, who improved to 17-9-4, continued his stellar play in the final frame of regulation, where he stopped 11 of 12 shots directed his way - most notably when he moved laterally and denied Jayson Megna's one-timer off his mask.

Hershey spoiled Gibson's shutout bid when Ikonen banged home his fourth goal of the season following a scramble in the crease while on the power play. Speaking of which, Bridgeport went 2-for-4 on the power play and was successful on 5 of 6 PK shifts. Both teams registered 26 shots on goal.

With the win, the Sound Tigers improve to 33-18-5-2, and are unbeaten their last eight games (7-0-1-0). They also moved to within six points of Atlantic Division-leading Charlotte. The Bears, who entered the contest qas the hottest team in the AHL, having won 11 straight games and registering at least a point in their previous 17 games—a stretch dating back to Jan. 11—fall to 31-21-0-3.

The Sound Tigers now embark on a five-game road trip—matching their longest of the season—starting on Saturday when they will have a rematch with the Bears at Giant Center in Hershey, PA. First puck drops at 7 p.m., and the game can be heard on the Sound Tigers Radio Network and seen on AHLTV.

THE SKINNY

—Staff Reports

’Pack Power Past P-Bruins, 4-1

Steven Fogarty tallied his first pro hat trick and tacked on an assist to lead
the Wolf Pack to a 4-1 victory over Providence on Sunday.

PROVIDENCE – Steven Fogarty scored his first professional hat trick, including two shorthanded goals, and had an assist, and Chris Nell made 29 saves in his first AHL action of the season Sunday as the Hartford Wolf Pack stopped the Providence Bruins, 4-1, before 8,932 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sunday in the second leg of a home-and-home series. The Bruins defeated the Wolf Pack 3-2 in overtime Saturday night at the XL Center. Tim Gettinger added a goal and an assist for Hartford, and Vinni Lettieri had two assists. Gemel Smith scored the only Providence goal, and Dan Vladar made 25 saves in the Bruin net.

“We played on the right side of the puck, and I thought we were able to execute plays and play the game with good pace,” Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said. “All those, combined with good work ethic, gave us a chance to win that game.”

The Wolf Pack had a strong first period, outshooting Providence 14-6, and went ahead on a power-play goal by Gettinger at 16:29. With Trent Frederic off for high-sticking, Fogarty tipped the puck to Sean Day, who moved behind the Bruin net before handing off to Gettinger. He scored on a wraparound, slipping the puck between Vladar’s left skate and the goal post.

The Bruins had a 15-7 shots advantage in the second frame, but the Wolf Pack had the only two goals of the period, both by Fogarty, to increase their lead to 3-0.

Fogarty scored the Wolf Pack’s second shorthanded goal in as many games at 3:50, on Providence’s first power play of the game. Fogarty centered the puck from the right-wing side for Lettieri, who was headed hard towards the net, and it deflected off of a Providence defender and in behind Vladar.

Fogarty clicked again at 9:57, on a tap-in set up by Lettieri. After Brandon Crawley kept the puck in the Bruin zone on the left side, Fogarty fed the puck to Lettieri in the right-wing circle. He immediately whipped it back to Fogarty at the left side of the goal mouth, and he was easily able to put the puck into the open side.

Smith ended Nell’s shutout bid at the 12-minute mark of the third period, on a rebound of a shot from the left point by Connor Clifton. That would be the only puck to get past Nell, who joined the Wolf Pack Wednesday from the Maine Mariners of the ECHL and was making his first AHL appearance since March 17 of last season.

“Tough building to play in, but I thought Chris did an excellent job for us,” said McCambridge. “When there were some breakdowns, he was in position to make saves, and was a big part of our penalty kill having success as well.”

The Wolf Pack got that goal back less than two minutes later, at 13:57, with their second shorthanded goal in three man-disadvantages. Ryan Lindgren broke up a Paul Carey pass in the Wolf Pack zone and carried down the left side the Providence end, before sliding a pass across the slot to Gettinger. He poked it on goal, and Fogarty was able to wedge it out from underneath Vladar, in a goalmouth scramble, and knock it into the net.

That completed the Wolf Pack’s first hat trick in over two years, and Fogarty’s first career four-goal game as a pro. 

“Steven has all the details that you want players to have in his position,” McCambridge said of Fogarty. “And I’m real happy that he was able to get rewarded for that.”

The Wolf Pack’s next game is back home at the XL Center this Wednesday vs. the Hershey Bears. First Puck drops at 7 p.m., and it will be another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack, which includes two tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas, all for just $40.

Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at $13, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.

—Staff Reports

Dal Colle Returns

The New York Islanders have returned forward Michael Dal Colle to their AHL
affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

BRIDGEPORT—The New York Islanders announced today that forward Michael Dal Colle has been returned on loan to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In addition, forward Andrew Ladd and defenseman Thomas Hickey have been recalled from their conditioning stints.

Dal Colle had four points (two goals, two assists) and a plus-three rating in 20 games with the Islanders this season, including his first NHL goal on Jan. 17 against the New Jersey Devils. In the AHL, the 22-year-old is third on the team in goals (16) and has 12 assists for 28 points in 29 games this season. He participated in the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic in Springfield, MA, on Jan. 27-28 and finished the All-Star Challenge with one goal, one assist, and one shootout tally. Dal Colle was also named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for Dec. 9-16 after scoring five goals, including his first pro hat trick and overtime-winner, in just three games.

A third-year pro, Dal Colle collected 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 60 AHL games last season and earned his first NHL recall in January of 2018, playing four games with the Islanders, including his NHL debut in the club's 7-2 win over the New York Rangers on Jan. 13. The Woodbridge, Ont., naïve ranked fifth on the Sound Tigers in scoring as a rookie in 2016-17, producing 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 75 games. He made his pro debut on Apr. 15, 2016 against the Portland Pirates and scored his first pro goal in just his sixth game on Oct. 21, 2016 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Prior to turning pro, Dal Colle played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals and Kingston Frontenacs from 2012-16. He earned 316 points (131 goals, 185 assists) and a plus-76 rating in 246 career games, and helped Oshawa win the 2015 Memorial Cup Championship while playing with Islanders prospect Mitch Vande Sompel. The 6'3, 198-pound forward was also named to the 2015 CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team in 2014-15 and was selected as an OHL All-Star three times.

Dal Colle was selected by the Islanders in the first round (#5 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Power-Packed Promos

The Sound Tigers are presenting an extensive promotional schedule for the 2018-19 season, including of Hockey Weekend in Connecticut (Sat., Feb. 23 vs. Springfield, and Sun., Feb. 24 vs. Hershey). Saturday is Youth Jersey Giveaway Night with the first 1,000 fans 14 and under receiving Sound Tigers jerseys compliments of J.R.C. Transportation, and Sunday is Christopher Gibson Bobblehead Day presented by Newtown Savings Bank with the first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles receiving bobbleheads of the popular netminder. Other upcoming events include Hockey and Hops on St. Patrick’s Day (Mar. 17) and Princess Night (Mar. 30). To view the full 2018-19 Sound Tigers promotionsl schedule, click HERE. For additional details or to reserve a group outing for any giveaway or theme night, please call the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 345-2300 ext 7, or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

—Staff Reports