The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are dead; now is the time of the Bridgeport Islanders. The New York Islanders announced today that they have changed the name of their AHL affiliate to better link the two franchises. The Bridgeport Islanders will have a new logo and retain the blue and orange organizational colors. New York AGM Chris Lamoriello released a statement on the change:
Having the Islanders name associated with Bridgeport, creates a stronger tie between the NHL team and the top development team. Every time a player puts on the Bridgeport uniform, he will be putting on the identical uniform the NHL team wears, except for the new logo.
In 2004, the NHL team bought the AHL club and the two now hold the fifth-longest affiliation in AHL history. Bridgeport was unsuccessful in the shortened minor league season this year, going just 8-14-2 in 24 games. In the team’s 20-year history, it has not been able to take home a Calder Cup championship, though did make it to the finals in their inaugural season. They last made the AHL playoffs in 2018-19.
Very original nickname!
This is the kind of useless idea that emanates from mandatory board meetings.
Good ol’ corporate think tank
Until recently I thought Bridgeport Sound was the team’s location and the nickname was Tigers.
Nope, Sound Tigers. A record exec owned them or something like that.
I thought it was because Bridgeport is on the Long Island Sound, but who knows.
Aren’t they already the same colors,except for the logo?
Why do I see the Stan Fischer/Gorton’s Fisherman logo on the horizon.
I always liked the 4 bars on the sleeve as well.
lame
Bridgeport isn’t on an island though? Unless I missed some geographical transformation recently.