The Fraternity - An Introduction

They come from towns like Blackie, Alberta, Carp and Porcupine, Ontario in Canada, from U.S. cities like Orange, California, Smithtown, New York and Pittsburgh,PA from Sweden, Finland, Russia and Slovakia. Most of them were drafted at the age of 18 at the annual June NHL draft. Many played their way up to the AHL in the junior leagues of Canada, the NCAA and minor leagues in the U.S.A. or the elite leagues of Europe. Now in their twenties (barely), they are members of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, proud affiliate of the New York Islanders, and a phone call away from realizing their dream - playing in the NHL.

With my editors permission, several of my next posts will be about my experiences with the 2009-10 BST team; the early morning wake up call from Jesse Joensuu, Matt Martin's call-up for his 2/9/10 NHL debut, my cracked rib from Sean Bentivoglio while watching US/Canada Olympic game, my Easter Sunday abduction by Justin DiBenedetto and the usual suspects, a typical night with 'the boys' and saying good-bye and the exit interview.

Hope you enjoy ... Happy New Year!