The upcoming homestand for the Mariners consists of a matchup against the Adirondack Thunder on Friday and two meetings with the Reading Royals on Saturday and Sunday. This past weekend, the Mariners faced the Thunder twice, once in Maine and once in New York. At home, the Mariners managed a 7-0 win over the Thunder. The following night, the Mariners wouldn’t be so lucky, as they fell to the Thunder in overtime 4-3. The last time the Mariners and the Royals faced each other was back in January when they played six games in a row against each other. The first three games were played in Reading, and Maine was able to win two of the three games. The following weekend in Portland, the Mariners were only able to win one of the three games, which was also an overtime win. Adirondack stands at 1st in the North Division, while Maine is currently sitting in 6th, tied in points with the 7th-place Trois-Riviérés Lions. Reading is only one spot and two points ahead of Maine.
The Mariners have recently signed new forward Xander Lamppa. Lamppa has played for Penn State for the past four seasons. He had one goal and one assist in 13 games in the 2020-2021 season. His second season, he had two goals and six points in 29 games. His third season, Lamppa had six goals and 13 assists in 37 games. This season at Penn State, he has three goals and 13 assists in 35 games. Lamppa is from Rochester, Minnesota, and prior to playing at Penn State, he played two seasons with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. Notably, in the 2019-2020 season with them, he had 45 points in 49 games. Lamppa’s signing comes just a few days after two Mariners players were sent up to the Providence Bruins, these being forward Curtis Hall and defenseman Ryan Mast.
