Five Underrated Bridgeport Sound Tigers Players
Looking back on the 19 seasons of Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey, there have been many underrated Sound Tigers Players throughout the years. From quietly good forwards to goaltenders overshadowed by their partner, there is a good mix of under the radar talented Sound Tigers in team history.
Greg Mauldin (2009-10)
A player that fans forget about, Greg Mauldin is one of the most underrated Sound Tigers players to suit up. Mauldin came over to the Sound Tigers from the Senators after two years in the Ottawa organization. In 2009-10, Mauldin led the Sound Tigers in scoring in 77 games with 25 goals and 29 assists, good for 54 points. Later that season, Mauldin earned a call-up to the Islanders, playing in one game, his first NHL call up since 2004 where he played six games out of college with Columbus. Mauldin wrapped up his professional career in 2019 and was just brought on to the US Development Team’s coaching staff, being the first African American coach in USNDTP history.
Tony Romano (2009-2012)
In the early 2010’s, no one worked harder than Tony Romano. A late round pick of the Devils, Romano was traded for Ben Walter in the summer of 2009. Romano, a local guy from Smithtown, jumped on the opportunity to have a chance to play for his hometown team. While he never went up to the Islanders, Romano had a solid 2010-11 season with 19 points. He turned it up in 2011-12 with 34 points, helping the Sound Tigers win their second division title in team history. But, much like most of that era of Sound Tiger players, Romano, along with Rhett Rakhshani, Justin DiBenedetto and David Ullstrom were gone by 2014.
Dieter Kochan (2003-05)
Our first goaltender on the list, Kochan was overshadowed by Wade Dubielewicz. While both shared the starting duties, they won the best Goals Against Average award in the AHL in 03-04. Kochan played in Game 7 of the Sound Tigers series vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he gave up the goal to send WB/S to the next round in front of an invaded Harbor Yard crowd. Kochan earned a call up to the Islanders backing up Wade Dubielewicz in the last home game of the season. Dieter Kochan had a 1.87 GAA in 2003-04, the best single season GAA in Sound Tigers history.
Cole Jarrett (2003-06)
He is one of the more steady defensemen in team history. He suited up for three seasons in Bridgeport, earning a one-game stint with the New York Islanders. After the Sound Tigers 2006 season ended, so did Jarrett’s North American run, as he moved on to Europe where he played until 2018. Jarrett averaged around 20 points a season in Bridgeport.
Jeff Kubiak (2017-Present)
We go current with Jeff Kubiak. He is a player that works hard and gets the job done. Kubiak has become one of the Sound Tigers’ most consistent players in recent history. Kubiak consistently stays out of the penalty box and is a big part of the Sound Tigers. He recently resigned for another season.
Thank you for reading! More Sound Tigers content will be coming throughout the offseason.
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.
