After missing the playoffs in their 10th anniversary season, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers came into the 2011-12 season with a new coach, some new veterans, a strong core of forwards and highly skilled young defensemen.

New Coaching Staff:

With Jack Capuano taking over the Islanders’ head coaching job, it was time for a new coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Brent Thompson was named the seventh head coach in team history. Thompson played 121 NHL games, as well as two seasons for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Thompson got his first job as a head coach with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL in 2009-10. The Aces lost in the first round that year, but won the Kelley Cup as ECHL champions the following season.

This caught the eye of Isles’ general manager Garth Snow, who was looking for a new coach for his AHL squad. Thompson brought former Sound Tiger and teammate Eric Boguniecki as his assistant, joining longtime assistant Matt Bertani on the coaching staff.

Veteran Offense Mixed With a Young Defense

After a tough season, the 2011-12 Sound Tigers needed to build from defense out. Kevin Poulin returned in goal along with 2009 third-round pick Anders Nilsson.

On defense, after making their professional debuts, Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan and Aaron Ness were set to play their first full professional season for the Sound Tigers.

Another highly touted prospect joined the team that season. Casey Cizikas, who the Islanders drafted 92nd overall in 2009 from the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL, made his AHL debut. Cizikas captained the Majors to the Memorial Cup Finals and was an important prospect in the Islanders’ system. Forwards Rhett Rakhshani, Tony Romano, Justin DiBenedetto, Michael Haley, Tomas Marcinko and David Ullstrom all returned to Bridgeport.

Jeremy Colliton came back as well, and the Sound Tigers named him the seventh captain in their history. Bridgeport also added veterans Tim Wallace, Trevor Frischmon, Sean Backman and Ty Wishart.

Slow Start Turned Into a Memorable Run

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2011-12 season started off really slow. Bridgeport had a 4-4-1 record at the end of October and things got worse as the season went on.

In the new year, the Sound Tigers were near the bottom of the division at 12-17-4 until something switched. Bridgeport had picked up Scott Howes, who had played for Brent Thompson in Alaska, along with Kael Moulieratt, Blair Riley and Jon Landry. The Sound Tigers went on one of the greatest runs in team history. They won 11 of their next 12 including a 12 game point streak. Between New Year’s and March, the Sound Tigers only lost three games.

Things cooled off in March, which included an eight-game losing streak that had fans shaking their heads. But after Bridgeport lost to Springfield on March 23, 2012, Matt Donovan scored one of the most important goals in team history to break their losing streak and beat the Connecticut Whale.

Following the excitement of Donovan’s overtime winner against Connecticut, the Sound Tigers won nine of their last eleven. Then, on April 13, 2012, in Providence, the Sound Tigers won their division for the first time since their inaugural season. The Sound Tigers won the F.G “Teddy” Oke Award for winning the Northeast Division.

Defining Moment

The Sound Tigers were still battling for their playoff lives on March 31, 2012, as they took on the Portland Pirates at Webster Bank Arena. The Pirates led 2-1 after the second period as former Sound Tiger Peter Manino made 18 saves. But ten minutes into the third, Jon Landry and Rhett Rakhshani gave the Sound Tigers the lead. But with under a minute left, Andy Miele tied it for Portland.

Late in overtime, Trevor Frischmon crashed the net and stuffed the puck past Manino. There was only one second left to play. Bridgeport secured a big victory and kept their playoff hopes alive.

Playoffs

For the first time in franchise history, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers would face off against their in-state rival, the Connecticut Whale (formerly Hartford Wolf Pack) in the playoffs. The Whale were the second-place team in the division, but the AHL had gone to the NHL’s playoff format that season. Even though the Sound Tigers had the fourth most points (91) in the conference, they earned the number three seed since they won their division. Connecticut got the sixth seed, finishing the season with 86 points.

Game one was really quiet as both teams traded chances until the third period, when Kelsey Tessier gave the Whale a 1-0 lead just over a minute in. Jordan Owens and Ryan Bourque both potted goals to give the Whale a 3-0 victory. Goalie Cam Talbot shut the door as he made 42 saves for the shutout.

Game two was in Bridgeport and Cam Talbot remained a brick wall for Connecticut. Jonathan Marchessault scored in the first peiord, followed by two goals from Marek Hrivik and another 41 saves from Talbot. His second straight shutout pushed the Sound Tigers to brink of elimination heading back to Hartford.

Going into game three, Bridgeport knew they needed to score. Justin DiBenedetto broke the Talbot wall with 16 seconds left in the first period on the power-play to tie it at one. The teams traded goals in the third as Hrivik scored his fourth of the series for Connecticut, and David Ullstrom and Rhett Rakhshani scored for Bridgeport. Rakhshani’s goal kept Bridgeport’s season alive as he tied it with under four minutes to go. Going into overtime, Talbot had 36 saves, while Poulin had 40. The teams traded chances until the 16:36 mark when Casey Wellman beat Poulin to end the Sound Tigers’ season.

Bridgeport was left deprived of a playoff series win, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since 2003. When Wellman beat Poulin, an era had ended for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Many of core members of the team left during the offseason, including Trevor Gillies, Rakhshani, DiBenedetto, Haley, Romano, Colliton. Thompson was also promoted to the Islanders as an assistant coach. But, as is the case many years, the new faces who had emerged in the playoffs, including Brock Nelson, got a chance to step up the following 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.