PORTLAND JR PIRATES GOAL!

PORTLAND JUNIOR PIRATES PLAYER OLIVER WAHLSTROM

PIRATES FINAL ROSTER

Twelve returning players highlight the Portland Pirates 2009-10 American Hockey League opening day roster announced this afternoon.

Headlining the list is last season’s leading scorer Mark Mancari as well as 2008-09 AHL Rookie-of-the-Year Nathan Gerbe, who was re-assigned to the Pirates on Wednesday.

Mancari paced the Pirates in scoring in 2008-09 with 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points in 73 games as the 24 year-old established career highs in all three offensive categories.

Gerbe, a 22 year-old Oxford, Michigan native, finished fifth in AHL Rookie scoring a season ago with 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 points in 57 games. His 30 goals were tops among freshmen. The 5-foot-5 forward’s play earned him 10 games in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres last season.

The Pirates will also feature a good share of youth and experience up front. Veterans Jeff Cowan (413 NHL games), Brad Larsen (294 NHL games) and Cody McCormick (190 NHL games) will compliment offensively gifted rookies Tyler Ennis and Paul Byron. Ennis, a first round choice (26th overall) of the Sabres in 2008, paced Portland in the pre-season with seven points in three games while Byron (taken 179th overall by the Sabres in 2007) registered a team-high three goals in three pre-season games.

Portland presents the same kind of balance along the blue line. Veteran Joe DiPenta (174 NHL games) will provide experience to a young and talented group of defenders. Marc-Andre Gragnani returns after finishing tied for fourth in AHL scoring among defensemen with 51 points in 76 games a season ago. Mike Weber was a late cut by the Sabres and returns for a third AHL season while top prospects TJ Brennen (selected 31st overall by the Sabres in 2007), Dennis Persson (24th overall in 2006) and Drew Shiestel (59th overall in 2007) make up an impressive list of newcomers.

Jhonas Enroth will anchor the play between the pipes. The 21 year-old from Stockholm, Sweden carried the load for the Pirates last season appearing in 58 games. He finished his rookie AHL season with 26 wins, a 2.75 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

The Pirates also announced today that forwards Mark McCutcheon and Kyle Wanvig and defenseman Doug Krantz were released.



The Pirates open the 2009-2010 American Hockey League regular season with a pair of road games. This Saturday (October 3rd) the Pirates will be in Springfield to meet the Falcons followed by a Friday, October 9th game against the River Rats in Albany. Both games can be heard live on Atlantic Coast Radio's WLOB 95.5FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

The Pirates 2009-2010 home opener will take place on Saturday, October 10th when the Providence Bruins visit the Cumberland County Civic Center for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the home opener, as well as all other Pirates home games at the Cumberland County Civic Center, go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25th by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or on-line at www.portlandpirates.com.

Ticket plans for the 2009-2010 season are still available at the Pirates office, located at 94 Free Street in Portland. The Pirates office is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For all the information about the Pirates 2009-2010 ticket plans and 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic visit www.portlandpirates.com or call (207) 828-4665 Ext. 350 to speak with one of the Pirates account executives.

COURTESY PORTLAND PIRATES

Gerbe and Weber Return to the Pirates

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that forward Nathan Gerbe and defenseman Mike Weber have been assigned to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. Regier also announced that forward Adam Mair has Injured Non-Roster status because he did not pass his preseason physical. Once Mair passes his physical, he is eligible to be added to the roster. These moves leave the Sabres with a 23-man roster heading into Saturday’s season opener vs. Montreal.

Both Gerbe and Weber played most of last season with the Pirates.

Gerbe, the defending AHL Rookie-of-the-Year, scored 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 point in 57 games last season. His 30 goals were the most among all AHL rookies and he finished fifth in AHL rookie scoring. The forward also played 10 games with the Sabres collecting one assist.

Weber played 42 games with the Pirates last season registering a goal and seven assists for eight points. The third-year defenseman also played seven games with the Sabres last season without registering a point.

The Pirates play their final pre-season game tonight (Wednesday) when the University of New Brunswick Reds visit the Portland Ice Arena for a 7 p.m. start. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games.

The Pirates open the 2009-2010 American Hockey League regular season with a pair of road games. Saturday, October 3rd the Pirates will be in Springfield to meet the Falcons followed by a Friday, October 9th game against the River Rats in Albany. Both games can be heard live on Atlantic Coast Radio's WLOB 95.5FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

The Pirates 2009-2010 home opener will take place on Saturday, October 10th when the Providence Bruins visit the CCCC for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the home opener, as well as all other Pirates home games at the CCCC, go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25th by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the CCCC Box Office or go on-line at portlandpirates.com

COURTESY BUFFALO SABRES AND PORTLAND PIRATES

SABRES ASSIGN 7 MORE TO PIRATES

 

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have signed forward Mark Mancari to a one-year deal. The forward has been assigned to the Portland Pirates, the team's American Hockey League affiliate, pending waivers.

Mancari (7/11/1985, 6’3”, 225 lbs.) led the Pirates in scoring last season with 67 points (29+38) in 73 games. He was Buffalo’s seventh-round choice (207th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft.

Regier also announced that Jeff Cowan (F) and Joe DiPenta (D) have been assigned to Portland pending waivers. Jhonas Enroth (G), Philip Gogulla (F), Marc-Andre Gragnani (D) and Felix Schutz (F) were also assigned to Portland.

Enroth, Schutz and Gragnani all return to Portland for their second season with the Pirates.

Enroth was superb in his rookie AHL season posting a 26-23-6 record to go along with a 2.75 goals against average and a .910 save percentage; Gragnani finished tied for fifth in AHL scoring among defenseman last season with nine goals and 42 assists for 51 points in 59 games and Schutz completed his rookie AHL season seventh in Pirates scoring with 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points in 78 games.

Gogulla will be entering his first AHL season. The 22 year-old from Dusseldorf, Germany was selected 48th overall by the Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Last season with Cologne he collected 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points in 48 games.

The Pirates continue exhibition action tomorrow (Sunday) when they travel to Berlin, NH for a matinee contest against the Manchester Monarchs. The 2 p.m. game will be played at the Notre Dame Arena.

Portland completes the pre-season on Wednesday (September 30th) when the University of New Brunswick Reds visit the Portland Ice Arena for a 7 p.m. start. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games. Tickets can also be purchased at the door using cash only.

The Pirates open the 2009-2010 American Hockey League regular season with a pair of road games. Saturday, October 3rd the Pirates will be in Springfield to meet the Falcons followed by a Friday, October 9th game against the River Rats in Albany. Both games can be heard live on Atlantic Coast Radio's WLOB 95.5FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

The Pirates 2009-2010 home opener will take place on Saturday, October 10th when the Providence Bruins visit the CCCC for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the home opener, as well as all other Pirates home games at the CCCC, are now on sale by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the CCCC Box Office or on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Courtesy Portland Pirates

PORTLAND PIRATES TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!

  Individual game tickets for the 2009-10 Portland Pirates Regular Season go on sale to the general public tomorrow (Friday) at 9:30 a.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office, by calling (207) 775-3458 or on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Advance sale individual tickets are $15 for adults in the Main Deck and $12 for adults in the Quarter Deck. Youth (16 years of age and under), Senior (65 years of age and over) and College Student (with valid college ID) tickets are $10 in either seating location. There is a $2 increase for all Day of Game Individual Ticket purchases.

It’s not too late to cash in on the savings of a Pirates Season Ticket or a partial Ticket Plan. Full Season Tickets start as low as $200 for adults and $160 for Youth, Senior and College Students. Ten and 5-Ticket Flex Books are also available. For complete details visit portlandpirates.com or call (207) 828-4665 Ext. 350 to speak with one of the Pirates account executives.

2009 Pirates Training Camp begins tonight (Thursday) when all players are scheduled arrive for an evening meeting at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. The Pirates first on-ice session will be held tomorrow (Friday) at 10 a.m. at the Portland Ice Arena. All training camp practice sessions are open to the public free of charge.

The Pirates head into their first pre-season action this Saturday at 5 p.m. when the Lowell Devils visit the Portland Ice Arena. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games. Tickets can also be purchased at the door using cash only.

On Sunday (September 27th) the Pirates travel to Berlin, NH for a matinee exhibition contest against the Manchester Monarchs. The 2 p.m. game will be played at the Notre Dame Arena.

Portland completes the pre-season on Wednesday, September 30th when the University of New Brunswick Reds visit the Portland Ice Arena for a 7 p.m. start. All ages, general admission tickets are only $7 and are available at the Pirates Office (located at 94 Free Street in Portland), by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or by visiting https://www.formspring.com/forms/Pirates-Exhibition_games. Tickets can also be purchased at the door using cash only.

The Pirates open the 2009-2010 American Hockey League regular season with a pair of road games. Saturday, October 3rd the Pirates will be in Springfield to meet the Falcons followed by a Friday, October 9th game against the River Rats in Albany. Both games can be heard live on Atlantic Coast Radio's WLOB 95.5FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

The Pirates 2009-2010 home opener will take place on Saturday, October 10th when the Providence Bruins visit the CCCC for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the home opener, as well as all other Pirates home games at the CCCC, go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25th by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the CCCC Box Office or on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Courtesy Portland Pirates

PORTLAND PIRATES PRE SEASON AUDIO

Here are a couple of audio clips for thePortland Pirates preseason HEAD COACH KEVIN DINEEN ON THE MORNING JAB NEW PLAY BY PLAY GUY MARK JEANNERET

BUFFALO SABRES ASSIGN 14 TO PORTLAND PIRATES

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have assigned 14 players to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

Assigned to Portland are: forwards Paul Byron, Tyler Ennis, Brad Larsen, Maxime Legault, Mark McCutcheon, Kyle Rank, Travis Turnbull and Derek Whitmore; defensemen T.J. Brennan, Matt Generous, Mike Kostka, Dennis Persson and Drew Schiestel; and goaltender J.P. Lamoureux.

The group includes Sabres first rounders Ennis (26th overall in 2008) and Persson (24th overall in 2006) as well as second round picks Brennan (31st overall in 2007) and Schiestel (59th overall in 2007). Six of the players re-assigned today suited up for the Pirates last season including Rank (44-1-7-8-16), Turnbull (3-0-0-0-5), Whitmore (77-11-11-22-17), Generous (4-1-0-1-13), Kostka (80-4-26-30-33) and Persson (8-0-2-2-6).

In addition, defenseman Ryan Stokes and goaltender Glenn Fisher have both been released from their training camp tryouts. The moves leave the Sabres with 33 players remaining in camp: 19 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goaltenders.

Courtesy Portland Pirates

PORTLAND PIRATES ON THE BRINK

Pirates Felix Schutz get ready for a faceoff (CMSB/Pierre's of Exchange St)

The Portland Pirates are on the edge of being knocked out of the playoffs by the Providence Bruins. The Bruins dispatched of the Pirates 2 -1 Thursday night at the CX4.

This was wide open playoff hockey at it's best. Both goalies played strong, facing a combined 69 shots on goal. Providence Bruins Head Coach Rob Murray described it best, "both goalies played unbelievable..quality scoring chances...point blank chances..(the) goalies earned their money tonight."

The Pirates broke the scoring ice, taking a 1 - 0 lead at the on a beautiful rush on the right side by Marek Zagrapan who nailed a pass to Mark Mancari, who drilled the puck in the wide open net.

The Pirates has a shot to go up 2 - 0 when Bruins Center Zach Hamill hauled down the Pirates Colin Murphy from behind on a breakaway. Murphy went center, drifted left and tried to come back right with a backhand. Murphy said Rask was right on it. "(I) was just trying to go backhand..like I said he was playing well...brought his stick with him...followed me and made it look easy." The first period ended with the Pirates holding a 1 - 0 lead.

Most of the 2nd period was back and forth rushes by both teams facing tough goaltending. The highlight of the period was a shoulder save by Jhonas Enroth on the Bruins Mikko Lehtonen. Lehtonen came out from a right corner scrum clean, squared up Enroth and tried the 3 hole to no avail.

The Bruins persistence around the Pirates net finally paid off at the 17:13 mark of the 2nd when Vladimir Sobotka went from the right circle acroos the crease and somehow, in a crown, fed the puck to Brad Marchand who buried a blast by Enroth for the 1 - 1 tie.

The tie did not last long as bruins RW Kirk MacDonald came out of the corner and flipped a top shelf wrister past Enroth for the 2 - 1 lead at the end of 2 periods of play.

The 3rd period was a wide open as it get. On the verge of losing 2 at home, the Pirates opened things up. Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask said his defense made the difference. "there were a couple of chances that were guaranteed goals," Rask said "(but) the guys helpd me a lot today."

The Series now moves to Providence tomorrow night for Game 5.

POST GAME AUDIO
Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen




Pirates' Winger Colin Murphy




Providence Bruins Coach Rob Murray




Providence Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask

CHRIS ROY OF MAINE HOCKEY JOURNAL.COM

HERE IS CHRIS ROY TALKING PORTLAND PIRATE HOCKEY

Portland Pirates - Providence Bruins LIVE BLOG

JOIN THE CMSB AND OTHERS AS WE CHAT LIVE DURING THE PORTLAND PIRATES PROVIDENCE BRUINS GAME AT THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY CIVIC CENTER TONIGHT FRIDAY APRIL 10. FESTIVITIES START AT 6:30pm

Thursday Morning Quick Hitters

Ray Allen hitting the 3 to win the game with 2 seconds left.

Photo Courtesy Boston Herald

The AHL announced that 2 Portland Pirates were named to the AHL All Rookie Team today. Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy were awarded spots based on their outstanding offensive season so far. Gerebe has 26 goals and 24 assists for 50 points and Tim Kennedy has 16 goals and 43 assists.

The Portland Pirates were in action Wednesday taking on 1st Place Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Pirates, who have had problems with the Wolf Pack all season, dropped another to Hartford 5 - 3 in Hartford.

Former Colby Football Coach Sean Devine, leaves his Offensive Coordinator position at The University of New Hampshire to do the same job at Boston College.

UNH Wildcats Men's Hockey Superstar James van Reimsdyk, the #2 Overall Pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, will leave UNH and report to the AHL affiliate of the Phiadelphia Flyers. Reimsdyk will report to the Philadelphia Phantoms on Thursday.

The Boston Celtics needed 2 overtimes and 2 big Ray Allen 3s to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 111 - 109. Paul Pierce had 32 points and Ray Allen finished with 22.

Portland Pirates take down The Lowell Devils 3 - 2

Photo Courtesy Portland Pirates

It took a little longer than it should have, but the Portland Pirates found a way to hold on and beat the Lowell Devils 3-2.The win tonight finally gave coach Kevin Dineen the franchise lead in victories, as he passed Barry Trotz with win 190.

"I'm extremely honored (and) very grateful,” said Dineen. “(I) could not think of a better place..(to get) this victory."

The entire 1st period was a feeling out process, both teams playing stingy defense and not allowing second chance shots around the 2 goaltenders. The Pirates Jhonas Enroth and the Devils Jeff Frazee were quite a pair to watch in the 1st Period. Enroth made a nice stick save early, while facing 11 shots in the period. Frazee made a nice shoulder stop on a blue line blast from Derek Whitmore late in the period, all while facing 10 shot.

The Pirates finally got things going two minutes and four seconds into the 2nd Period as the AHL Rookie of the Week Tim Kennedy, off a nice play by Tyler Bouck, put one past Frazee for the 1 - 0 lead.

The Pirates continued aggressive play for a couple of shifts, but then seemed to sit back a bit, letting the Devils control the offensive zone most of 2nd period. The Devils seemed to outwork the Pirates in the corners, getting to loose pucks and clearing the zone well before the Pirates could muster a scoring chance. Portland had many chances, even with the lack of control of their offensive zone, most noticeably a break away opportunity that Paul Baier had coming out of the penalty box. Baier was all alone, went to the forehand, and Frazee closed the 4 hole.

The Pirates wrestled back control of the game at the 15:15 of the 2nd period as Marek Zagrapan deflected home a Mark Mancari wrister from the circle. Mancari made a nice deek play to the middle, dragged the puck past the defender and used a wrist shot to get it to the net. The goal was Zagrapan's 19th of the season. Not wasting any time, the Pirates got right back on the board as Marc-Andre Gragnani got his 8th goal of the season, getting out alone in the right circle, and posting a beautiful top-shelfer to put the Pirates up 3 - 0. The Pirates outshot the Devils in the 2nd 14 - 9.

The Pirates seemed determined to not allow recent history to repeat itself and blowing yet another lead. Barring spectacular goaltending by Jeff Frazee, the Pirates would not have had to sweat this one out as much as they did. Lowell finally got on the board as Brian Gionta's little brother Stephen got his 1st of the year at the 6:42 mark. Portland then clamped down on D, the rest of the way, only allowing a late 6 - 4 Power Play goal with :30 left to Niclas Bergfors. The goal was Bergfors 20th of the season.

Enroth finished the game with 39 saves on 41 shots and Frazee finished with 32 saves on 35 shots.

The Pirates take on arch rival Manchester Monarchs Saturday night, as Manchester holds a 1 point lead for 3rd place in the division. The Pirates will turn back the clock, wearing the Boston Bruins colored Maine Mariners uniforms for the game.

GAME NOTES

The Portland Pirates inducted the late Tom Ebright into the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame, in a moving ceremony between the 1st and 2nd periods. Speakers included Ebright's Widow Joyce Ebright and AHL President David Andrews.

Asst Coach Eric Weinrich had to be helped off the bench in the 3rd period, as he took a puck off the head. While all looked OK, there was no word on his status at the end of game.

Saturday Morning Quick Hitters

The Black Bears Men's Hockey team dropped a 3 - 2 overtime game to Northeastern Friday Night. Windham's Matt Duffy had a goal.





In their 1st of 2 games at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, The Lewiston MAINEiacs dropped a tough game to the Quebec Remparts 5 - 2.



The Pirates dropped a shootout loss to the Springfield Falcons Friday 3 - 2. Nathan Gerbe scored his 14th goal of the season.





Oh what could have been. Greg Oden made his Garden debut last night, as the Boston Celtics dismantled the Portland Trailblazers 93 - 78.

Portland Pirates Head Coach Kevin Dineen on The Morning Jab

Here is Kevin Dineen from this morning on the Morning Jab with Shoe and Joe