PORTLAND, Maine (WGAN) In just two days, the Maine Mariners will kick off their inaugural season in the ECHL.
To celebrate, the organization held a team meet-and-greet for season ticket holders Wednesday night.
Fans like Andy Graves are thrilled to have hockey back.
“We lost the Pirates two years ago and now we’ve got a hockey team,” he said. “I think having a hockey team in Portland, or any sporting team, the Portland sea dogs, the basketball team, I think that’s great and I think hockey needs to be part of Portland’s demeanor.”
It’s not only fans that are excited about the looming season, though.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Vice President of Operations Danny Briere. “I can’t wait to be in the building on Saturday and to see our guys stand up and take the ice.”
Heather Troidel and her husband are anxious for the new season to start, too.
“It’s been hard to either have to go up to Bangor to see UMaine or Boston to see the Bruins, and it’s so just great to have a team here in Portland again.”
The Mariners are in the ECHL, a league that is a step below the American Hockey League, which the first Mariners organization and Portland Pirates each played in. It’s equivalent to AA baseball, the league that the Portland Sea Dogs play in, and can bring excitement of its own.
“See the younger guys on their way up,” Adam Troidel says. “Hopefully more goals, more fights.”
“It’s a younger team, so we’re going to get to see some raw hockey, which is really cool,” echoed Heather.
And they are a young team, but Briere is still confident in the lineup.
“That’s maybe the one thing that I’d like to see a little bit more experience, but other than that, I love the speed of our guys. I love our defensemen and how they’re moving. We have a good mix of everything in our lineup, up and down our lineup. I’m really, really excited about the team that we’ve built.”
The team includes a local touch as Terrence Wallin earned a spot as a forward. Originally from Pennsylvania, his family lives in Kennebunk now.
“We’ve had a beach house in Wells for three years, then my family got a house in Kennebeunk,” he says. “It’s so nice, I can shoot down 95, go there and relax for a little bit. But it’s awesome being close to home. I have friends and family up here all over the place up here in the northeast so it’s a pretty special feeling.”
He’s even earned a leadership role with the team, earning an “A” on his jersey.
“I haven’t had a letter since my prep school days, so I’m pretty proud of it. I think Tolks [Zach Tolkinen] is going to be a great captain and Savvy’s [Scott Savage] going to be a great assistant.”
Head Coach Riley Armstrong says those three players all stood out for different reasons.
“I already knew kind of player and person Zach was, coming in, so I kind of had that one right off the bat,” he says of the team’s captain, whom he coached in Wheeling. “He was my main, main piece. And then adding Terrence who has experience in the league and he’s already been a leader in the locker room since coming here. And then Savage is just kind of that outgoing personality type guy who’s always talking and I think he’s also a guy that really holds people accountable in the room and on the ice as well.”
Wallin says he’s excited about carrying the leadership role for the fledgling team.
“I’ve been through it all. I’ve been in the league under this and I’ve been in the league above this so it’ll be fun to lead these guys.”
There’s plenty of talent on the squad as well. Coach Armstrong is excited for Tolkinen and Dawson Leedahl, as well as the man in net, Branden Halverson.
“I’m looking for him in his final year of his NHL contract to step up and put his work boots on and get some wins for us.”
Briere is also expecting big things from the 22-year-old.
“We don’t even know how long we’ll have him here because he could end up being back up with Hartford,” he says. “He’s played in the NHL before so I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up losing him, so he would definitely be a player to watch.”
But Briere and Armstrong both feel that the team’s lineup, top-to-bottom, is what will make them competitors.
“I think up and down the lineup, we’re probably going to be one of the teams that has the best depth and more balanced, offense and defense,” Briere said.
“I always joke around with Danny, I say if we’re going to lose, were going to lose 8-7,” the coach laughs. “We’re going to be fast paced, we’re going to be flying.”
It’s a style Armstrong is shooting for, one that will be fast-paced and potentially filled with mistakes. But he’s fine with that.
“I want our guys to make plays, I’ve been stressing that, I just don’t want a dump-and-chase type style of team, I want guys to make skill plays, make plays.”
And if they do cough up the puck? Just work harder to get it back, says the man in charge.
All around, the excitement was palpable during the meet-and-greet. Defenseman John Furgele is happy to be a part of the organization.
“We’ve got a great group of guys, great city, unbelievable city, awesome facilities, stuff like that. A great coaching staff, so I think we’re really excited to get things going.”
And Heather Troidel says, besides the on-ice product, the organization has put it’s best foot forward when it’s come to dealing with their fans.
“I am so appreciative of all the great stuff they’ve been doing for us as season ticket holders. We’ve gotten all sorts of emails and all sorts of swag and opportunities to participate in things, which for a league of this size, that feels a little unusual, so it feels so great that they’re making this a community event, which is awesome.”
Everyone, from players, fans and coaches are just ready to get started.
“I can’t wait to get on the ice,” says Armstrong. “I was just talking to some people at the event tonight of when I was hired in February and it seemed like we had so much time to prepare and it’s finally here. It’s been a long waiting journey and I’m excited to get back out there.”
The team hosts Adirondack Saturday night for a 6 p.m. puck drop at the Cross Insurance Arena.
