The sun rose. The birds were singing. The outside weather was warm and despite it being only the middle of the week, Hump Day if you will, life was looking positive for Greater Fairfield County and the surrounding area. Despite only being located about 45 min to an hour from New York City and a short Ferry ride across Long Island Sound to Nassau, New York, life seemed to be pretty normal for the Sound Tiger faithful this time of a year. Earlier this week Islanders Rookie Camp opened and the dreams of a possible Calder Cup began dancing in the heads of the Sound Tigers faithful. Of course life in Bridgeport is good, unlike its rival up 91/95, the city is sitting on a 20 year lease with the league which guarantees an AHL presence in Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard until the year 2021. Prospects such as Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart are making waves at Islanders camp and while no roster is set for the Sound Tigers, the future apparently looks bright on the ice. Life on the Sound seems good for hockey fans that rezide in Harbor Yard. Why wouldn’t it? The future of Bridgeport hockey is secure. Its safe and unlike its neighbor to the North, the Sound Tigers are the only hockey team Bridgeport knows. There is no tension between former NHL fans who used to reside in Harbor Yard and current AHL residents because this is all Bridgeport knows. Yes, there are some ill feelings from former New Haven hockey fans who still think they deserved a new arena after the old New Haven Coliseum was torn down, since New Haven was a hockey hot bead for so long but its not at a fever pitch. The building isn’t a concrete fortress that was built decades ago for a professional team, Harbor Yard is the perfect size for an AHL level team. One of the big talks this off season for the Sound Tigers was a new light board that circles in permiter inside Harbor Yard. Despite lower than wanted attendance, Harbor Yard never looks empty so of course the AHL would sign a 20 year deal with the company that manages the building. Its also “easy on, easy off” from 95 so you don’t have to even go into Downtown Bridgeport. There is, however, a looming shadow that hangs over this franchise and its fan base. Talk has arose from New York that the Rangers would be interested in moving its Affiliation from Hartford to Bridgeport in 5 to 10 years (see my article entitled Hockey in Connecticut: Hartford; New England Falling Star)
So my question is:
What is Bridgeports role in all of this?
Well lets think about it...What does Bridgeport have to lose? Nothing. This means that their building will at least still have another hockey team until the contract they currently signed runs out in 2021. Will they lose fans? No. I seriously doubt that the long time fans of this team will run for the doors and go on boycotts if the Rangers are in charge and not the Islanders. I also doubt that a name change from Bridgeport Sound Tigers to Connecticut Rangers is going to sway them. Why would it? They still have a team, actually I think that a Rangers presence in Bridgeport might attract more fans than the Islanders do, after all, 90% of the building are Rangers fans anyway (at least the ones I know). I’ll bet there are more Rangers fans in Bridgeport/Fairfield County than there are Islanders fans so more people might be enticed to pack the Arena. Harbor Yard is the perfect size for a minor league hockey team and is as close to “state of the art” as it gets, and the Rangers know this and are probably salivating at the mouth to take hold of this building that is so close to MSG anyway.
Despite all of the intangeables, I decided to ask a few Sound Tigers “faithful” to see what they thought about a possible Rangers presence in Bridgeport. I asked Mike Landona, Sound Tigers die hard since 2002 what he thought about the Islanders moving their Affiliation to Long Island and the Rangers calling Harbor Yard home:
“Hate it. I've been a fan since year 1. While the main idea of an AHL team is to support their NHL team, it's downright wrong from a fan's perspective. (See also: Hartford Whalers but about a 10th of how it felt in 1997). As for the Rangers moving to Bridgeport, it's progress. The Rangers need a closer place to MSG, Bridgeport has a contract stating a hockey team be there until AT LEAST 2020. It's a hollow victory in knowing there will be a team”
I then asked him if the Bridgeport fan base would support a Rangers Affiliation:
“Yes and no. But then again the main fanbase is Rangers oriented (with the Bruins a close second).”
Lastly, since he is an original Sound Tigers fan, I asked if he would support a Rangers Affiliate in Bridgeport:
“Absolutely not! I dislike their NHL affiliate, what makes them think I'd like the CT Rangers? I tolerated the Whale for a little bit but in the end, they're still the New York Rangers system.”
In my quest for greater understanding, I decided to also turn to the President of the Sound Tigers Booster Club, Debbie Lietuvninkas, and get her take on a possible Sound Tigers move to Long Island and Rangers take over of Harbor Yard:
“As to the reference of the possible moving of the Sound Tigers to Long Island ...I know changes can happen but until then, I will continue to support my Tigers right here in Bridgeport. I will watch "my boys" as they develop and be the proudest "Mama Tiger" when the call comes for them to play in the NHL.
The owners are the only ones who know first hand what is in the future, we as fans really have no control over the decisions that they will make. I would love to have a guarantee that I will have my Sound Tiger team here forever but nothing in life is a guarantee. As I spoke with many AHL fans throughout the weekend I realized we are lucky to even have a team and even luckier that the entire Sound Tiger organization has supported our Booster Club from day one. Can't wait for opening night!”
As the season draws closer and the rosters are filled out, there is only one certain for Hockey in Connecticut, we need to support our teams. From Hartford to Bridgeport, no matter what the team name or Affiliation, we need to pack our buildings and give our love and support to those men who strap on their skates in persuit of the Calder Cup this year and beyond.
With that said, it seems that its always sunny for Bridgeport hockey...
at least for now...