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MARINERS RELEASE PROTECTED LIST Protected List includes 25 players BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – June 3, 2019 – The Maine Mariners released their 2019 Protected List on Monday, containing names of 25 players that signed a SPC with the Mariners in 2018-19. The Protected List includes 14 forwards, 9 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders. The full list is as follows: FORWARDS (14): Taylor Cammarata, Greg Chase, Ryan Ferrill, Dillan Fox, Zeb Knutson, Alex Kile, Nick Master, Michael McNicholas, Johnny McInnis*, Wade Murphy, Louie Rowe, Branden Troock, Dwyer Tschantz, Terrence Wallin DEFENSEMEN (9): Rich Boyd, Johnny Coughlin, Josh Couturier, Garrett Cecere, Jon Jutzi, Blake Kessel, Derek Pratt, Scott Savage, Zach Tolkinen GOALTENDERS (2): Francois Brassard, Connor LaCouvee *McInnis has retired and been announced as the Head Coach and General Manager of the NA3HL’s Canton Cubs. Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that: Signed an SPC in 2018-19 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR Signed an SPC in 2018-19, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2018-19 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released. Protected lists may exceed 20 players. The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 13 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 15. Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2018-19. The first day for players to sign an SPC (standard player contract) is June 16. The second season of Maine Mariners ECHL hockey will begin in October. Full and half season ticket packages are available by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the Mariners front office located next to the Cross Insurance Arena at 94 Free Street. Registration for Beacon’s Kids Club and the Mariners inaugural summer reading a program, “Read with ME” is also underway. More information can be found at MarinersOfMaine.com. Read the full article

Mariners add depth to the blue line BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners       PORTLAND, ME – March 23, 2019 – The Maine Mariners added to their blue line on Saturday, signing defenseman Richie Boyd to an SPC (standard player contract), out of the University of New Hampshire. A 6’3, 209-pound D-man from Fort Myers, FL, Boyd brings a sizeable and gritty presence to the Mariners blue line. Boyd ranked third on the Wildcats in shot blocks (33), this past season – his senior year. He also led the team with a +4 rating. With one goal and seven assists in 34 games, this past season was Boyd’s offensive year of his four. He received the team’s “Most Improved Player” award in 2017-18. Prior to UNH, Boyd played at Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, MA), where he was more of a point-producing defenseman. Boyd registered 40 points in 32 games in 2013-14 – ten goals and 20 assists. He was a First Team All-New England selection. In addition to Boyd, the Mariners defense currently consists of Zach Tolkinen, Blake Kessel, Brycen Martin, Derek Pratt, Garrett Cecere, Johnny Coughlin, Jon Jutzi, and Josh Couturier, but Couturier and Jutzi have each been out with injuries since March 9th. The Mariners have a pair of sets of three games in three days over the next two weekends. The Mariners are off tonight, hosting Manchester tomorrow afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena for Country Night presented by 99.9 The Wolf. The first 500 fans will get a bandanna and concert giveaways will be held during the game including Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Old Dominion. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Chase scores both Maine goals in return as Mariners beat Railers in OT BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners    WORCESTER, MA – March 22, 2019 – In what was their final regular-season trip to Worcester this season, the Mariners topped the Railers 2-1 in OT, coming from behind in the third once again Friday night at the DCU Center. Greg Chase scored both Mariners goals including the overtime winner, the sixth OT or shootout win by the Mariners over the Railers this season. To open the scoring at 3:43 of the first, Railers defenseman Tyler Mueller led a 2-on-1 and wristed home his 2nd goal of the season past the glove of Chris Nell. After a sluggish start, the Mariners got going in the first, but trailed 1-0, with a 12-9 shot disadvantage after one. The second period was a little tighter, and neither team found the night. The period was highlighted by a pair of fights, each by Yanick Turcotte on the Railers side, as he dropped the gloves with Ryan Ferrill and later Derek Pratt. The second period shot totals were 8-6 in favor of the Mariners. Just over eight minutes into the third, the Mariners finally got even. Blake Kessel fed a pass across the top of the zone to his defense partner, Johnny Coughlin at the left-wing circle. Coughlin gathered in the pass and took a shot that Chase redirected inside the post past Mitch Gillam to make it 1-1. The goal went under video review and was upheld. Gillam and Nell, who each played strong games, kept things even through the third. Although Worcester controlled the puck for most of OT, Chase ended the game at the 3:00 mark, when he batted his own rebound out of midair and behind Gillam. Dwyer Tschantz received the lone assist. Chase’s goals were his team-leading 21st and 22nd of the season. Chris Nell made 30 saves on 31 shots to earn his 14th win of the season. Gillam stopped 28 of 30 in the loss. The Mariners gained two points on idle Manchester (now ahead by three) and Adirondack (behind by three). They are also now three up on Worcester, which moves into a fourth-place tie with Manchester by gaining a point. The Mariners next will host Manchester at 3:00 PM on Sunday. It’s Country Night presented by 99.9 The Wolf. The first 500 fans will get a bandanna and concert giveaways will be held during the game including Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Old Dominion. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Chase and Cammarata put up multi-point games against their former team BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  PORTLAND, ME – March 6, 2019 – The Mariners scored one goal in each period while Connor LaCouvee turned aside 39 shots as the Mariners continued to roll with a 3-1 win on home ice over the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Maine has points in 11 of its last 12 games and five straight. They have leapfrogged Manchester to overtake third place in the North Division, just three points out of second. After a two-goal game on Saturday in Utah, Mariners' defenseman John Furgele continued his run when he opened the scoring at the 12:13 mark of the first period, set up by Greg Chase and Derek Pratt. Furgele moved down from the point area and beat Admirals goaltender Ty Reichenbach with a high backhand. LaCouvee made all 19 saves asked of him in the opening frame. At 9:26 of the second, Maine doubled the lead when Michael McNicholas cut off a breakout pass and fed Taylor Cammarata at the right wing circle. Cammarata found a crashing Chase for a tap in on the doorstep. The Mariners led 2-0 after 40 minutes. Early in the third as the Admirals were on a delayed penalty, Maine capitalized with the extra attacker. Cammarata beat Reichenback to the back post with a backhand wraparound at 2:42, assists from Chase and Blake Kessel to make it 3-0. Dwyer Tschantz and Romain Chuard dropped the gloves and LaCouvee was 4:37 away from a shutout when Eric Roy beat him with a blast from the blue line just after an Admirals power play had ended. The Mariners had a few chances at an empty netter but 3-1 was the final score. Maine swept the season series from Norfolk, winning all three games. The Admirals fell to 1-10-2 against North Division opponents this season. The Mariners sit alone in third place in the North for the first time since January 18th. The South Carolina Stingrays come to town over the weekend. The Stanley Cup © is in the building on Friday for a 7:15 faceoff. Fans can get their photo with the cup, doors opening at 6:15 to the general public and 5:00 to season ticket holders and corporate partners. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 hotdogs, $2 popcorn, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the 2nd period. Saturday is Wild Blueberries Night presented by Northeast Charter and Tour Co. The Mariners will wear Wild Blueberries jerseys and auction them live after the game. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Wild Blueberries logo cup presented by FRANK-FM. Tickets to both games can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  Feb. 26, 2019 – In November of 2010, 26-year-old forward Riley Armstrong got his first taste of the ECHL when he joined the Utah Grizzlies. Armstrong, who had spent the previous six seasons in the AHL, played just two games in Utah before deciding to take his career to Europe. Less than a year later, he was back in Utah as captain of the Grizzlies and would go on to enjoy one of the best seasons of his professional career. Nearly a decade later, now as head coach of the Maine Mariners, Armstrong brings his red-hot first-year squad into the Maverik Center for three games this week, currently holding down the final North Division playoff position after winning seven of their last eight games. The week that was Wednesday, Feb. 20th – MNE: 6, REA: 4 After sweeping Norfolk to start their road trip, the Mariners entered the Santander Arena on equal footing with the Reading Royals, both teams seeking to move up the standings into a playoff spot. The Mariners simply had their best road start of the season, scoring the game’s first five goals. Terrence Wallin, Blake Kessel (in his Maine debut), Greg Chase, Johnny McInnis, and Dwyer Tschantz had the Mariners up big early in the 2nd period. The Royals got the next two goals but Dillan Fox seized momentum back by making it a 6-2 game and that was just about it until Reading scored twice in the final two minutes of the game: much too little too late. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Feb. 22nd – MNE: 4, ADK: 3/OT In a game with a distinct playoff atmosphere, John Furgele and Jon Edwardh traded first period goals. After the Thunder took their first lead in the middle frame, Taylor Cammarata scored his first Mariners goal to quickly respond and tie it up again. With less than seven minutes remaining in the third, Brian Ward’s goal was answered by Greg Chase’s coast-to-coast wraparound, which ultimately forced the Mariners’ third overtime game in five. The Mariners got a power play early in OT and none other than the former Thunder forward himself, Terrence Wallin played hero, deflecting home Josh Couturier’s shot from the point and giving the Mariners their sixth straight victory and fourth in four tries on the trip. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Feb. 23rd – MNE: 2, MAN: 6 Manchester struck twice in the first 5:05 of the game, and eventually took a 3-0 lead, putting Maine in a big hole midway through the game. Dwyer Tschantz scored his fourth goal of the road trip before the 2nd ended and Charles-Eric Legare, playing his second game on an ATO would cut the deficit to one halfway through the third. A late Mariners penalty yielded an insurance goal for the Monarchs and an empty netter officially signaled the end of the win streak, marking the second time this season that Manchester ended a 6-game Maine win streak at the SNHU Arena (Dec. 31st, 2018). FULL GAME RECAP Sunday, Feb. 24th –WOR: 3, MNE: 4/OT The Mariners returned home for the first time in 11 days and found themselves behind the Worcester Railers for the second consecutive Cross Insurance Arena contest. The Mariners were down to seven forwards for a spell after Ryan Ferrill received a game misconduct, Terrence Wallin was injured, and Greg Chase was called for a ten minute misconduct. Dillan Fox quickly erased a 2-0 deficit when he scored twice in a two minute span in the 2nd. Worcester’s 3-2 lead in the third period was short-lived after Johnny McInnis scored the equalizer, setting the stage for yet another OT game. The Mariners killed a penalty in the final two minutes of the overtime and managed to come out on top in a wild seven round shootout – Josh Couturier’s goal turning out to be the game-winner. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Transactions -The Mariners acquired F Taylor Cammarata from Wichita, F Jason Salvaggio was called up to Hartford and loaned to Wichita -The Mariners claimed F Ryan Siiro off waivers from Fort Wayne and signed F Charles-Eric Legare to an ATO -F Charles-Eric Legare was released from his ATO Coming up (all times Eastern) Weds, Feb. 27th @ Utah Grizzlies – 9:05 PM (AWAY) Fri, Mar. 1st @ Utah Grizzlies – 9:05 PM (AWAY) Sat, Mar. 2nd @ Utah Grizzlies – 9:05 PM (AWAY) It’s the first Mountain Division opponent of the season for Maine, which is 4-2-0 outside the North Division. For the Grizzlies, the Mariners represent the first opponent outside of the Western Conference. Utah is currently third place in a very top-heavy Mountain Division, where their 31-17-4-2 record is behind Idaho and Tulsa. The Grizzlies recently lost three consecutive games to the ECHL bottom-feeding Allen Americans, and have dropped five straight overall. Looking ahead: Upon their return from Utah, the Mariners leave New England (Worcester, Manchester, Maine) for just one trip in the final 14 games. A three game homestand begins March 6th against the Norfolk Admirals with a sensory reduced game as part of “Autism Awareness” night. More information on that game is here. On March 8th, the Stanley Cup® is in the building, and on March 9th, it’s Wild Blueberries Night presented by Northeast Charter & Tour, Co. The South Carolina Stingrays are the opponent for both games. A full promotional schedule is here. Fun Facts/Notes: -The Mariners have won nine straight games that have advanced beyond regulation, with a 9-0-1 overall record in those situations -The Mariners are now 8-3-0 against the Worcester Railers this season, including six consecutive head-to-head wins -Greg Chase has eight goals and nine assists in 12 February games -The Mariners have won seven of eight games (Feb. 10th – Feb. 24th) after losing seven of eight games (Jan. 25th – Feb. 9th) Read the full article

Terrence Wallin nets OT winner as Mariners take sixth straight BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners GLENS FALLS, NY – February 22, 2019 – Terrence Wallin returned to the place he called home for parts of the last three seasons and played hero, scoring at 3:17 of overtime to give the Mariners a 4-3 win on Friday night at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. The win gave the Mariners a season-high fourth straight road victory and sixth in a row overall. The Mariners scored the first goal for the seventh consecutive time in their head-to-head series with the Thunder when John Furgele was able to get a shot through Evan Cormier at 8:02 of the opening period. Furgele got his fifth goal of the season with Greg Chase getting the only assist – his 16th point of February. Adirondack tied it up at 16:49 when Jon Edwardh finished a two on one by tipping a pass from Peter MacArthur past Connor LaCouvee. The Mariners and Thunder combined for 31 first period shots. The Thunder took their first lead of the game at 10:44 of the second period when Nikolas Olsson scored his first ECHL goal, beating LaCouvee in the slot, set up by Brian Ward from below the goal line. It took the Mariners less than three minutes to tie the game again when Taylor Cammarata finished a Wade Murphy rebound to make it 2-2 at 13:01. It was a 2-2 game through two. Still tied at two into the late stages of the 3rd, Each team took a penalty a minute apart and Jake Linhart fed Brian Ward for a deflection to beat LaCouvee during 4-on-4 and make it 3-2 Thunder with less than seven minutes remaining. Chase continued his remarkable month less than two minutes later when he drove down the left wing and finished a wraparound at the back post to re-tie the score. Each team gained a point as they played OT for the second time head-to-head this season. Ward tripped up Blake Kessel midway through OT, giving the Mariners a 4-on-3 power play, in which they quickly converted on to end the game. Cammarata fed Josh Couturier, whose blast from the point was tipped in by Wallin at 3:17. The Mariners have won eight consecutive games that have gone beyond regulation, and are now 5-0 in 3-on-3 OT. LaCouvee earned his 19th win, making 31 saves. Cormier stopped 32 in the losing effort. The Mariners moved within a point of Brampton for fourth place in the division, and within two of Manchester, who they’ll visit tomorrow looking for a perfect road trip. The Mariners face the Monarchs at 6:00 PM tomorrow night at the SNHU Arena. They return to Portland on Sunday at 3:00 PM against the Worcester Railers, with a full team autograph session to follow the game. Single game tickets can be purchased at MarinersofMaine.com or by visiting or calling the Trusted Choice Box Office: 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Mariners build a 5-0 lead and hang on in Reading BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners READING, PA – February 20, 2019 – Five different Mariners had multi-point games, including the two newest members of the team in a 6-4 win over the Reading Royals on Wednesday night at the Santander Arena in PA. The Mariners won their fifth game in a row and improved to 3-0-0 on their road trip, which has two games remaining. Maine scored the first five goals of the game, grabbing a 3-0 lead in the first. Making his Mariners debut, Blake Kessel set up a power-play goal at 3:05 of the first period when his shot from the blue line was cleaned up in front by Terrence Wallin. Kessel also created the second goal at 10:26 with a blast from the point that was deflected by fellow newcomer Taylor Cammarata. At 15:11, Cammarata spotted Greg Chase for a breakaway and Chase beat Andrew D’Agostini under the crossbar for a 3-0 Maine lead and the end of D’Agostini’s night. Less than two minutes into the second period, Johnny McInnis scored his first Mariners goal to extend the lead to 4-0, burying his own rebound after Dillan Fox and Terrence Wallin worked hard to keep the puck in the attacking zone. At 3:12, Dwyer Tschantz scored for his third game in a row, set up by a nice pass from Wallin into the slot. Reading responded with two quick goals from Josh MacDonald and Tyler Brown, but at 8:45, Fox scored an unassisted goal to restore Mariners' momentum. They led 6-2 through two. The Royals outshot the Mariners 17-1 in the third and got two goals in the final 2:09, from Adam Schmidt and Joe Houk (power play). Connor LaCouvee finished the game with 30 saves to earn his 8th win. Devin Buffalo, in relief of D’Agostini, stopped 7 of 10 and was saddled with the loss. Wallin and Kessel finished with three points each, while Cammarata, Chase, and Fox each had two-point nights. Chase has 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in nine February games. The Mariners jump over Worcester and into fifth place as the Railers fell in Manchester. Maine also gained ground on the top three teams in the North Division (Newfoundland, Adirondack, and Brampton) who were all idle tonight. The Mariners will travel to Glens Falls, NY on Friday to continue their road trip with a game against the Adirondack Thunder. They will then visit Manchester on Saturday before returning to Portland on Sunday at 3:00 PM against the Worcester Railers. A full team autograph session will follow the game. Single game tickets can be purchased at MarinersofMaine.com or by visiting or calling the Trusted Choice Box Office: 207-775-3458. Read the full article

  BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners Feb. 18, 2019 – After losing a pair of blowout games on back-to-back nights at home on February 8th and 9th, the Mariners were reeling. They had dropped 12 of 16 games in the 2019 calendar year and were in danger of falling out of the playoff conversation. A much needed Sunday afternoon win and a galvanizing comeback on Wednesday salvaged the homestand and the momentum has carried onto the road, where after a sweep in Norfolk started the trip off right, the Mariners are right back within three points of a playoff spot and feeling good about their game with 20 to go. The week that was Wednesday, Feb. 13th – WOR: 4, MNE: 5/OT Returning to divisional play briefly, the Mariners and Railers combined for 33 first period shots, with each team scoring once – Jason Salvaggio for Maine and Barry Almeida for Worcester. The Railers got a pair in the 2nd and another early in the 3rd, to put Maine in a 4-1 hole. Making his team debut, defenseman Josh Couturier got the comeback started with a wrist shot off a 3-on-1 rush at the 7:33 mark of the third. Wade Murphy followed with his first goal in a month and then Derek Pratt finished the trio of unlikely heroes, tying the game with a prayer from below the goal line at 18:00 of the 3rd. With the team’s only shot of OT, Brycen Martin completed the comeback and won the game for the Mariners with a short-side snipe. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Friday, Feb. 15th – MNE: 4, NOR: 3/OT Making their first ever trip to Norfolk, the Mariners fell down 2-0 and then 3-1, but closed back to within one twice on goals by Michael McNicholas (PPG) and Dwyer Tschantz. Greg Chase, returning to his former home arena (Chase was a member of the Admirals in 2015-16), scored the tying goal early in the 3rd, setting the stage for Maine’s second consecutive overtime victory. McNicholas played hero this time, scoring exactly halfway through the 3-on-3 frame, giving the Mariners seven consecutive OT or SO wins, and snapping a four-game road losing streak. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, Feb. 16th – MNE: 4, NOR: 2 The Mariners allowed the first goal of the game once again but took the lead on goals by Terrence Wallin (1st period) and Dwyer Tschantz (2nd). After the Admirals got even late in the second period, Chase struck again, scoring for his fifth point of the weekend before the frame came to an end. Dillan Fox added insurance in the 3rd and Hannu Toivonen did the rest, making 30 saves for the win in his first start since January 12th. Jason Salvaggio and Brycen Martin each dropped the gloves in the win. FULL GAME RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS  Transactions -The Mariners acquired D Josh Couturier from Wheeling for future considerations -F Ty Ronning was recalled to AHL Hartford -F Drew Melanson (recalled) and D Derek Pratt (loaned) moved up to AHL Hartford -The Mariners acquired D Blake Kessel from Jacksonville for future considerations Coming up (all times Eastern) Weds, Feb. 20th @ Reading Royals – 7:00 PM (AWAY) Fri, Feb. 22nd @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY) Sat, Feb 23rd @ Manchester Monarchs – 6:00 PM (AWAY) Sun, Feb. 24th vs. Worcester Railers – 3:00 PM (HOME) With four key divisional games coming up, the Mariners are currently in 6th place in the North Division, sitting with the same point total as Reading, one behind Worcester, three behind Manchester, and only four back of Brampton. Maine holds a game in hand on the Railers and two on the Monarchs. An extended win streak could also put them in striking distance of the second place Thunder. Sunday’s brief home return will feature a postgame autograph session with the entire team in the concourse. After the 24th, the Mariners are back on the road until March 6th. Looking ahead: March will feature six home games and several exciting promotional nights. March 6th is a sensory reduced game and also “Autism Awareness” night. More information on that game is here. On March 8th, the Stanley Cup® is in the building, and on March 9th, it’s Wild Blueberries Night presented by Northeast Charter & Tour, Co. A full promotional schedule is here. Fun Facts/Notes: -In the month of February (8 games), Greg Chase has six goals and six assists -The Mariners are 7-0-0-1 in games decided by either OT or a SO, winning their last seven -Last Wednesday’s three-goal third period comeback was the second of this season at the Cross Insurance Arena (Nov. 24 vs. Manchester). There was also less than 13 minutes remaining in the third when they engineered that comeback. -The Mariners current four game win streak is tied for their 2nd longest this season (Nov. 7-14). They won five in a row from Dec. 14-29. Read the full article