To continue our All-Time Bridgeport hockey team to honor the 20th anniversary of the Bridgeport Islanders/Sound Tigers franchise, we will be ranking the franchise’s best defensemen. Here are our thoughts on the seven best defensemen in Bridgeport Sound Tigers/Islanders franchise history for our team in no particular order.

Sebastian Aho

The only Bridgeport player to ever be selected for three All-Star Games, Aho was one of the best to come through Bridgeport in an era where many offensive defensemen came through the Park City. Aho arrived in Bridgeport in 2017-18 and impressed early, earning a 22 game stint with the NHL team. In 40 games, Aho scored 29 points including 20 assists. In 2018-19, with a solid roster, he scored a team-record 46 points by a defenseman and helped the team to the playoffs. In 2019-20, Aho again was fantastic, scoring 30 points. Aho has been up with the Islanders since 2020-21.

Aaron Ness

With the most points by a defenseman in team history, Aaron Ness is regarded as one of the best to ever wear a Bridgeport jersey and is definitely one of the All-Time defensemen in Bridgeport hockey history. Joining the Sound Tigers after his senior year at the University of Minnesota, Ness scored four points in the short stint. He then came back for 2011-12 and helped Bridgeport win their second division crown. Ness scored 27 points and earned an NHL call-up.

In 2012-13, with the NHL lockout looming, Ness played all 76 games in Bridgeport, the only player to do so in that season. Ness played around half of the year with the Islanders in 2013-14 and came back to Bridgeport in 2014-15 as the team’s captain. Ness represented the Sound Tigers in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic in Utica.

Since leaving the Islanders organization, Ness spent time with Washington, Arizona, and now with the Providence Bruins, and he also represented Team USA in the 2022 Olympics.

Mark Wotton (C)

Mark Wotton is arguably the greatest captain in Bridgeport hockey history. After winning his first championship with the Hershey Bears in 2006, Wotton joined the Islanders organization and immediately was named captain of the AHL team. Wotton led a young defensive group for most of his time in Bridgeport and later became a mentor to them. In years past, players like Matt Martin, Calvin de Haan, Travis Hamonic, and Kevin Poulin praised Wotton for his leadership, and Wotton would always make sure to stop by and say hi whenever the Islanders were in Winnipeg after his retirement in 2011.

The franchise leader in games played, Wotton scored 22 goals and 88 assists. He also had a knack for overtime winners, which he did four times.

Wotton’s son Colby played for Regina in the WHL in 2020-21, while Mark coached for the Yellowhead Chiefs 18U AAA team.

Ryan Pulock

When Pulock arrived at the end of 2013-14, fans knew he was coming in with one of the heaviest shots in team history. In 2014-15, Pulock was a key contributor on the youngest team in franchise history, and scored a team record 17 goals in a single season by a defenseman. He has the most goals by a defenseman in team history with 39.

In 2015-16, Pulock led a veteran heavy team. He was selected as the team’s all star, but was called up to the Islanders and stayed up for the playoffs. In 2016-17, Pulock was sent down to Bridgeport and played another 55 games with the Sound Tigers, scoring 15 goals before going up to the Islanders for good, where he still is.

Matt Donovan

Another member of the early 2010’s defensive corps with Ness, Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic, Donovan arrived in Bridgeport at the end of 2010-11 after two years at Denver. Donovan scored 45 points in his rookie season in 2011-12, helping Bridgeport to a division title, and is remembered for his game winning goal against Connecticut.

His hard work earned a callup to the Islanders and made him the first Oklahoma-born NHLer. In 2012-13, he spent all of the season in Bridgeport, tallying 48 points, which is still a career high. In 2013-14, Donovan played in 52 games for the Islanders, while also dressing in 27 for the Sound Tigers. The next season, he stayed up on Long Island, primarily as a healthy scratch, but did dress in 12 regular season games as well as two playoff games for the Isles.

Donovan signed with Buffalo in the 2015 offseason and played for Rochester, before going to Sweden for two years. He returned to North America, signing with Nashville while playing for Milwaukee and made an All Star appearance for the second time in his career in 2019.

Donovan is currently playing for the Milwaukee Admirals.

Bruno Gervais

One of the fan favorites to come through Bridgeport, Bruno Gervais came to Bridgeport during the 2004-05 lockout, and was keyed on as a top prospect for the Islanders. Scoring 30 points that season, his performance made him someone that had everyone’s attention the following year. In 2005-06, Bruno began the season in Bridgeport, and in 55 games, put home a then-team record 16 goals by a defenseman along with 25 assists, and was selected to represent Bridgeport at the 2006 AHL All Star Classic.

Gervais went to the Islanders in 2006, playing in 27 games, and earned a long stint with the Islanders from 2006-2011. He did make a cameo appearance in 2006-07 for three games in Bridgeport.

Gervais now works as a broadcaster for RDS and TVA Sports in Quebec, and is the color commentator for Laval Rocket broadcasts on RDS.

Devon Toews:

Coming out of Quinnipiac, Devon Toews did not have to go far to start his professional career. Joining the Islanders organization in 2016-17, Toews had 40 assists to go with five goals in his rookie campaign and was named an AHL All Star. The next year, injuries plagued his season and he only played in 30 games. In 2018-19, after 19 points in his first 24 games, Toews was finally called up, and he stuck.

After two years in New York, Toews is one of the few Bridgeport players to find huge success outside the organization, scoring 53 points for Colorado this season.

Honorable Mentions

Alan Letang, Adam Pelech, Calvin de Haan, Kyle Burroughs, Chris Campoli.

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.