The Maine Mariners announced two new signings ahead of road trip, adding forward Matt Allen and defenseman Cale List. Both players are alumni of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and started the season in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Allen is in his first professional season after graduating from the University of Alaska-Anchorage last spring. He spent two seasons with Alaska after transferring from UMass Lowell in 2022. Allen briefly played with the Tulsa Oilers at the end of the 2023-24 season, recording one assist in three games.
This season, he signed with the SPHL’s Huntsville Havoc, where he has garnered 15 points (5G, 10A) in 20 games. Allen also served as captain of the Amarillo Bulls in the North American Hockey League during the 2019-20 season.
List made his ECHL debut after three seasons in the SPHL. He was recently traded from the Peoria Rivermen to the Pensacola Ice Flyers. In 26 games this season, List has scored four goals and added 12 assists. In college, he played for Umass Lowell from 2018 to 2020 before transferring to Norwich University.
As for this week’s games, the Mariners had a rough road trip as they lost two of the three games they played.
Game 1: Mariners vs. Fuel
The Mariners were able to score a W in their dramatic 4-3 comeback against the Indy Fuel on Wednesday night at Fishers Event Center. The Mariners, who found themselves down by three goals less than 14 minutes into the game, mounted a fierce rally to secure the win.
The Fuel jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, starting with two goals from Nathan Burke at 5:01 and 7:07. Indy pushed its advantage to 3-0 at 13:09 when Kevin Lombardi scored off a faceoff win.
However, with time winding down in the period, the Mariners got on the board during a power play. Christian Sarlo sent a pass to Carter Johnson, who moved in to get his fourth goal of the season. Only 13 seconds later, newcomer Matt Allen fired a shot from the right boards that was tipped in front by Xander Lamppa to pull the Mariners within one.
Brooklyn Kalmikov tied the game early in the second, converting a 2-on-1 feed from Jimmy Lambert. Both teams played a tight, defensive third period, and the score remained deadlocked through regulation.
In overtime, Hudson pounced on a rebound after Owen Pederson drove to the net and drew a penalty. Hudson capitalized, cleaning up the loose puck before the Fuel could clear it, securing the victory for Maine. In goal, Ryan Bischel stopped 20 of 23 shots to earn his 10th win of the season.
Game 2: Mariners vs. Cyclones
On Friday night at Heritage Bank Center, the Maine Mariners fell to the Cincinnati Cyclones 6-1.
Chase Zieky’s power-play goal in the 2nd period was the lone goal for the Mariners.
After a scoreless first, the second saw a total of three goals. Cincinnati’s Justin Vaive with an assist from Remy Parker would make its way behind Maier to get the first goal of the game.
Maine used the power play to get even at 11:43.
The Cyclones regained the lead at 13:57 with Chas Sharpe’s getting past Maier.
In the third period, the Cyclones erupted for four goals to shut down Maine. Jacob Frasca’s goal at 9:19 pushed the lead to 3-1 after Christian Berger’s stick broke, resulting in a 2-on-1 opportunity. The Cyclones then added three more goals in just under two minutes. Sharpe converted on a 5-on-3 power play at 11:31 to make it 4-1, followed by back-to-back goals from Tristan Ashbrook at 12:07 and 13:32.
Maine was outshot 27-10 and Nolan Maier made 21 stops.
Game 3: Mariners vs. Komets
The Maine Mariners were defeated 5-2 by the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday night at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
Mariners goalie Ryan Bischel was the standout in the first period, turning away all 16 shots from Fort Wayne to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
The Komets got on to the board early in the second period, taking a 2-0 lead. Jack Dugan opened the scoring at 7:29. Just 1:41 later, Brandon McManus shot the puck past Bischel to double the lead.
Maine responded quickly, with Chase Zieky leading a 3-on-2 rush into the zone and beating Komets goalie Connor Ungar with a wrist shot from the right circle to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Fort Wayne answered back at 14:49 when Odeen Tufto scored, restoring the two-goal lead. However, the Mariners pulled back within one on a power-play goal by Owen Pederson at 16:26.
Maine had a chance to tie the game early in the third period with a 5-on-3 advantage, but they were unable to capitalize. Fort Wayne’s Darren Brady then added another at 12:49. Keppen sealed the win with an empty-netter at 19:17.
Bischel finished with 37 saves on 42 shots.
The Mariners will be back at Cross Insurance Arena the next weekend for a three-game showdown versus Worcester on Friday and Saturday, along with Trois-Rivieres on Sunday.
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