Fans attend last ever Bridgeport Islanders regular season home game
Saying goodbye to a team that has called Bridgeport home for more than two decades. The Bridgeport islanders played their last regular season game in the city Sunday before they move to Canada next season.
As the Islanders faithful made their way inside Total Mortgage Arena, there were bittersweet emotions for Sunday’s game against the Hartford Wolfpack.
“It’s kind of sad. It’s a fun experience to come in and come to the game and close by,” Albe Bassett of Norwalk said.
“This has been my childhood team. I’ve had it since I was a kid. It sucks that they’re going,” Jacob Bannuzzi of Milford said.
It’s last regular season home game for the Bridgeport Islanders, the minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders. The team announced last month they’ll be moving to Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. It’s a trend fans have noticed recently with pro teams leaving Connecticut.
“Losing a lot of minor league teams around here for whatever reason which is kind of disappointing,” Bassett said.
For more than two decades, fans say they had the pleasure of watching young and up and coming hockey players play right here in Bridgeport.
“You see them on the big screen on TV with the NHL teams. That’s pretty good experience,” Bassett said.
For some fans . . . it’s about holding cherished memories close.
“You’re there just to have a good time. You find some random pucks on the ground and all that, but it was a fun time,” Bannuzzi said.
For others, it’s their final opportunity to catch a game in person.
“Sad. We had a lot of fun coming here. A lot of memories so it’s sad, but I love the support. I’ve seen a lot of support here today,” Kim Mitchell of Ridgefield said.
Support that came with one last final push at home to the playoffs with the Islanders beating the Wolfpack 4-1. Making the playoffs would guarantee at least one last home game and one last hurrah in the Park City.
“Good luck. Hope you change your mind and stay, but good luck,” Mitchell said.
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