The first half of this season for the Sound Tigers has been very strong. The Sound Tigers are in the middle of one of the best seasons in the 17-year history of the team. The team has been led by many different players, some come as no shock, some come as a surprise, while others are major disappointments. Let’s take a look at some players for the Sound Tigers and how think they are doing.
Josh Ho-Sang:
Grade: A
Josh Ho-Sang came into the season trying to make a statement, after having a dismal 2017-18 season. He started the year with 13 assists in the first month, which earned him a call-up, and while he didn’t do the best up on the Island, he did score a goal and caught the attention of Barry Trotz. Ho-Sang has been a force on the Bridgeport power-play, which was one of the reasons he was called up.
Otto Koivula
Grade: A+
After a slow start, Koivula adapted to the North American game and has 12 goals. He had scored four goals in four games recently and probably has some of the best hands for a big guy we’ve seen. When asked on his hands he said, “I work a lot on my stickhandling, I know I’m not the fastest, but I use my body and my hands and let them do the talking.”
Kieffer Bellows
Grade: B-
Kieffer Bellows started the season with a lot of promise. Some people said he was snubbed of a spot up on the Island. He started the season out well but has not scored much since mid-December. He is sort of on a slump at the moment, but there is still time for Bellows to blossom into the star that the Islanders want him to be.
Jeremy Smith
Grade: A-
Jeremy Smith came into the season splitting the goaltending duties with stalwart Chris Gibson. The two have split the first 45 games, but Smith has been better. Winning the AHL’s December Goalie of the Month award, as well as having a 2.92 GAA, .901 Save Percentage, and with a 12-7-2 record is impressive for the veteran netminder from Dearborn, MI.
Tanner Fritz
Grade: B
Ooh, Tanner Fritz. Everyone’s favorite player. Fritzy has shown some signs of brilliance this season but has had times where he’d gone many games without scoring. Fritz has had an up-and-down season for Brent Thompson after he returned the second time from the Islanders. He scored a little, but then had a dry spell. Fritz has shown to be the solid second line forward Thommer wanted but needs to produce more, especially being one of the top scorers last season.
Connor Jones
Grade: C
Our boy. CoJo, a Drive4Five Podcast alum, has only scored four points in 39 games. He started the season by centring a line with Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang but has been centring the 4th line since they were split up. CoJo has brought a physical presence but needs to score more.
That will do it for the Mid-Season Player Grades, so make sure to come back soon for our second Meet and Greet of the season!

Christian Gardecki

A Native of Danbury, CT. Christian is one of the longest tenured Drive4Five writers, Christian Gardecki began writing for Drive4five In May of 2017. Christian covers Minor League Hockey and the Bridgeport Islanders for Drive4Five. Outside of Drive4Five, Christian was the captain of his High School Hockey team and currently attends Hofstra University with a major in journalism. Christian was the play by play broadcaster for the Danbury Westerners summer collegiate baseball team during their 2021 NECBL Championship. Christian also was the Public Address Announcer for the Danbury Hat Tricks Minor Pro Hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and NAHL Junior team from 2019-21.