BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Peter Shutowich of East Northport has been attending Islanders’ games since the 1970s. But he had never attended a game at the 10,000-seat Total Mortgage Arena, where the Islanders’ AHL affiliate has played since 2001.
“I’ve always been a lifelong Islander fan,” Shutowich said as he walked into the arena with his 21-year-old son, Matthew, after driving from Long Island. “My sister-in-law lives two towns over so I went and visited her and made an afternoon out of it. Plus, you want to see some of the young guys.”
“The Islanders haven’t had good youth for a while now so with that and the other element of trying to see a game before they move, it was a bucket list item,” Matthew Shutowich added.
Bridgeport lost 2-0 in Game 1 of its best-of-three, first-round playoff series against Hershey on Tuesday night — its first postseason appearance since 2022 — with its move next season to the 18,000-seat TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, which recently underwent a $300 million renovation, hanging over the match. Game 3, if necessary, is Saturday in Bridgeport. Otherwise, Tuesday will mark the final game.
It’s why Bradley Altman, 23, of Holbrook, drove from Long Island for the game with Anthony Mandracchia, 24, of Levittown.
Anthony Mandracchia, 24, of Levittown and Bradley Altman, 23, of Holbrook at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Tuesday night. Credit: Andrew Gross
“A, missing having the Islanders in the [NHL] playoffs and B, this team is going to be moving — I’d love to make a trip (to Hamilton) eventually — but having them right across the Sound in Bridgeport is nice to have,” Altman said. “A lot of teams are much further away from their home teams. Having a chance to see them so close is nice for this last chance.”
Walter Barker, 42, of Wantagh, a season-ticket holder at UBS Arena since it opened in 2021, also said he wanted to see the team in Bridgeport before it moved, though Tuesday was not his first visit. He also attended Bridgeport’s 4-3 shootout win over Hershey on March 21 that marked 2024 first-rounder Cole Eiserman’s debut after he joined the team out of Boston University.
Walter Barker, 42, of Wantagh, sits behind the net at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Tuesday night. Credit: Andrew Gross
“I just figured the last season I wanted to see them a couple of times before they went away,” said Barker, who took the train from Long Island. “I think it’s going to be a net positive move for the team but I really feel bad for the people who work in the arena. Those are paychecks that they’re losing.”
A chance to see the prospects was another incentive for Islanders fans to make the trek. In addition to Eiserman, Tuesday’s lineup included 2025 first-rounder Victor Eklund, Cal Ritchie, an Islanders’ rookie this season, defenseman Isaiah George, expected to be on the Islanders’ roster next season, and defenseman Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow.
“You get to see these younger players come up,” said Will Chiarucci, 35, of Bellmore. “You get to see the future. Whether or not you drove up — I took the train today — or you take the ferry, it’s always been an awesome time coming up here.”
Chiarucci sat in his seat with a pile of Bridgeport Islanders jerseys purchased from the team’s store in his lap. The jerseys were being sold at a close-out reduced price of $30.
And as Chiarucci surveyed the sparse crowd, Newsday asked him if he understood why the team was relocating.
“One hundred percent I understand why they’re moving to Hamilton.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.