Sun Fall To Sky in Game One

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE—At this time of the season, a nine-day break can mean a couple of things. On the one hand, it gives players a chance to rest and recover from the bumps and bruises—major and minor—accrued over the course of a long season. On the other hand, it can throw a team off its rhythm.

For the Connecticut Sun, the top-seeded team in the WNBA postseason tournament, the first day back in the office seemed to be more a case of the second. The team, in search of its first WNBA championship and coming off a 14-game winning streak, dropped its first game in over a week to the Chicago Sky—the No. 6 seed—101-95 in double overtime before 4,720 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday night.

Jonquel Jones, who earlier had been named the league’s Most Valuable Player of the regular season, led the Sun with a 26-point, 11-rebound effort, while Brionna Jones (22 points, 10 rebounds) and DeWanna Bonner (13 points, 10 boards) also put up double-doubles for Connecticut. Longtime Sun nemesis Candace Parker led the Sky with a strong all around game (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), with Allie Quigley (19 points), Kahleah Copper (13 points) and Courtney Vandersloot (12 points) also scored in double digits for the visitors. Indeed, Vandersloot, who also grabbed 10 boards and handed out a playoff-record 18 assists, became just the second player in league history to record a triple-double in the playoffs. Former Houston Comets star Sheryl Swoopes was the other player to put up a triple-double in the 2005 playoffs.

The game, which featured 14 lead changes and 15 ties, was tight from start to finish. Chicago led by three at the first turn and took a one-point lead, 47-46, into the locker room at intermission. Chicago maintained a slim lead, 66-63 at the third turn while the Sun came back to win the fourth quarter by three points, sending the game into an extra session.

After both teams scored seven points in the first extra session, Chicago took the second OT period 10-4 for the margin of victory. It was just the fifth double OT game in WNBA playoff history.

“We missed shots, missed assignments, we missed free throws, we missed layups… some things uncharacteristic of us,” said Bonner.

“We had some chances,” added Curt Miller, who was named the WNBA Coach of the Year before game-time. “We took 13 more shots and we took 10 more fould shots. We just weren’t efficient enough tonight offensively to overcome the offensive juggernaut [the Sky] can be and for how much Slooty can really, really influence a game.”

Next game will be on Thursday, and it’s a must-win situation for the Sun, who lost their home-court advantage with the Game 1 loss. “We know we can play better,” Bonner said. “We have to play better or we’re going to be down 0-2.”

Tip-off at the Mohegan Sun Arena is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Bridgeport Isles Release Promo Sked

By Bob Phillips

BRIDGEPORT—The Bridgeport Islanders—the team formerly known as the Sound Tigers—have released their promotional schedule for the 2021-22 season. All of the Islanders’ 36 home games will feature a new or returning promotion, theme, or exclusive giveaway item. Individual-game tickets are now on sale.

The promotional lineup features major theme nights that will headline many Islanders’ home games, some for the very first time. Those include Maverick Night (Nov. 6), Superhero Weekend (Dec. 4-5), Star Wars Night (Feb. 26) and Pokémania (Apr. 10). Hockey & Hops also returns for three times the fun (Nov. 26, Mar. 4, and Apr. 8).

“This is something you don’t see a lot, a key promotion during every regular-season game,” said Tim Farrell, Islanders Vice President of Marketing. “We’re proud to offer our fans more variety and creativity than we ever have this season as we enhance the game-night experience at Webster Bank Arena.”

Click here for the full promotional schedule

The calendar also includes the return of popular cause events like Teddy Bear Toss (Dec. 11), Military Appreciation Night (Jan. 8), First Responders Appreciation Night (Feb. 19), Pink in the Rink (Mar. 5), and Girls Hockey Weekend (Mar. 18-19).

The promotional calendar kicks off with the home opener on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., featuring a magnet schedule giveaway to the first 3,000 fans, live music before the game, and a kid’s zone on the concourse. Bridgeport will face Springfield in its 21st home opener.

“We’re genuinely so excited to welcome our fans back to home games this season,” President of Business Operations Brent Rossi said. ““I think there’s a strong appetite for fans and families in our area to come out and this is going to be a special season for many different reasons, beginning with opening night in less than six weeks.

The Islanders will continue to provide season-long value to fans attending Webster Bank Arena. Every Sunday home game will feature a $10 ticket for kids 12 and under. In addition, all military veterans and active-duty personnel, as well as seniors 65 and older, will receive a $5-off ticket discount. Each of these offers are available at the Yale New Haven Health Box Office at the Webster Bank Arema.

Single-game tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Yale New Haven Health Box Office (Webster Bank Arena, 600 Main Street in Bridgeport). In addition, partial and flex ticket plans are currently on sale. Each offer a discount over the regular ticket price and guarantee the purchaser a seat to the games of his or her choosing.

Promotions by Date:

Oct. 23 Opening Night at Webster Bank Arena

Oct. 24 Kids’ Day ($10 tickets for fans 12 and under)*

Oct. 30 Haunted Hockey

Oct. 31 Trick-or-Treat

Nov. 6 Maverick Night

Nov. 7 Kids’ Day ($10 tickets for fans 12 and under)*

Nov. 21 Kids’ Day ($10 tickets for fans 12 and under)*

Nov. 26 Hockey & Hops Beer Tasting

Dec. 4 -5 Superhero Weekend

Dec. 11 North Pole Night

Dec. 28-29 Holiday Hockey Weekend

Jan. 5 Deal Days

Jan. 8 Military Appreciation Night

Jan. 9 Prince and Princess Night

Jan. 22 Hockey Night in Connecticut

Jan. 23 Wizarding World Day

Feb. 2 School Day Game (10:30 a.m.)

Feb. 15 Deal Days

Feb. 19 First Responders Appreciation Night, presented by Yale New Haven Health

Feb. 20 A Day at the Office

Feb. 26 Star Wars Night

Feb. 27 Kids’ Day ($10 tickets for fans kids 12 and younger*)

Mar. 4 Hockey & Hops Beer Tasting

Mar. 5 Pink in the Rink, presented by Yale New Haven Health

Mar. 11 Deal Days

Mar. 18-19 Girls Hockey Weekend

Apr. 3 Autism Awareness

Apr. 5 School Day Game (10:30 a.m.)

Apr. 8 Hockey & Hops Beer Tasting

Apr. 10 Pokémania

Apr. 22 Pride Night

Apr. 23 Fan Fest

* With purchase of adult ticket.

Please visit BridgeportIslanders.com for updates as the season draws closer.

Connect with the Bridgeport Islanders

The Bridgeport Islanders are proud to introduce their new social media handles on Facebook (@AHLIslanders), Twitter (@AHLIslanders) and Instagram (@AHLIslanders). The team can be reached by phone at 203-345-2300.

COVID POLICY

The Bridgeport Islanders’ COVID-19 policy is that all fans ages 12 and over will need to be fully vaccinated (two weeks after the final required dose, depending on the vaccine), show proof of a negative rapid antigen test taken within six hours of faceoff, or show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of game day.

“The City of Bridgeport currently requires all attendees to wear a face mask while inside the arena,” the team said in a statement.

Islanders To Play Home Preseason Schedule in Bridgeport

Anyone worried about the parent New York Islanders commitment to Bridgeport (vis-à-vis the Nassau Coliseum with plenty of open dates) should have those concerns allayed after the Islanders announced that their 2021 six-game preseason schedule feature all three home games at Webster Bank Arena. The Islanders’ preseason schedule is as follows:

*09/26 at 7 p.m. - Islanders at NY Rangers (Madison Square Garden)

*09/28 at 7 p.m. - Islanders at Flyers (Wells Fargo Center)

10/02 at 2 p.m. - Islanders vs. Devils (Webster Bank Arena)

10/05 at 7 p.m. - Islanders vs. Flyers (Webster Bank Arena)

10/07 at 7 p.m. - Islanders at Devils (Prudential Center)

10/09 at 7 p.m. - Islanders vs. NY Rangers (Webster Bank Arena)

Tickets to the games at Webster Bank Arena will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. and are available through Ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Yale New Haven Health Box Office at the Webster Bank Arena. For group ticket information, please call 203-579-5230. Executive suites and premium seat packages are also available by calling 203-345-4818.

Exclusive presale opportunities for games at Webster Bank Arena are as follows:

Presale Priority #1

New York Islanders Season Ticket Members

*Exclusive 2-day window begins Tuesday Aug. 17 at 10 a.m.

Opt-in form sent via email from the New York Islanders>

Presale Priority #2

Bridgeport Islanders Season Ticket Members

Begins Thursday August 19 at 10 a.m.

Available through Ticketmaster.com>

Presale Priority #3

New York Islanders Season Ticket Waiting List Members

New York Islanders Newsletter Members: Sign up here

Bridgeport Islanders Newsletter Members (Sign up at BridgeportIslanders.com)

Begins Thursday August 19 at 12 p.m.

Available through Ticketmaster.com

Job Fair

The Bridgeport Islanders will host a Fall Job Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Yale New Haven Health Box Office at the Webster Bank Arena, in partnership with Career Resources and Entry Point Staffing.

The Fall Job Fair is an opportunity for local job seekers to connect with businesses that are currently hiring in southern Connecticut and beyond.

Register HERE

“We’re excited to partner with Career Resources and Entry Point Staffing to host this kind of career fair for the very first time,” Islanders President of Business Operations Brent Rossi said. “This event will play a tremendous role in pairing qualified job seekers with several of our area’s top businesses. It doesn’t matter if someone is looking to enter the workforce for the first time or expand his or her career, we’re looking forward to making a difference.” >

The entry fee for a participating business includes one six-foot table, a showcase on the team’s website, placement on Webster Bank Arena digital assets during the event, and 20 tickets to a Bridgeport Islanders home game. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity.

Space is limited, but businesses may reserve their spot by contacting Dan Tamburro in the Islanders front office at 203-345-4822 or via email: dan.tamburro@bridgeportislanders.com.

Job seeker registration for the event is completely free and includes interviewing tips and skills, guidance on resume writing, and a complementary professional headshot photo. Early entry on the day of the event is available beginning at 9:30 a.m. for veterans and disabled job seekers.

Those looking to attend can save time at the door by registering in advance using this link.