Bridgeport Islanders
Movement in the minors
While things remain quiet atop the New York Islanders organization, there has been quite a bit of action down the ranks.
After signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on May 1, Matthew Maggio was awarded the Red Tilson Award on Friday, May 12, as the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) most outstanding player for the 2022-23 season.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Red Tilson Trophy,” Maggio said. “I would like to acknowledge the support and contributions of my family, friends, teammates, coaches, management, and ownership with the Windsor Spitfires. I am grateful for their guidance, motivation, and unwavering support throughout the season. I am also honored to join the esteemed group of past winners and their legacy of excellence in the OHL and the sport of hockey. This award is not only a personal achievement, but a reflection of the team’s success. I would like to thank the OHL and its fans for this recognition, and I am excited to continue working hard to achieve even greater success in the future.”
Selected with the 142nd overall pick by the Islanders in last year’s draft, Maggio led the OHL with 54 goals and 111 points in 66 games this season as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires. Following the OHL season, Maggio joined the Bridgeport Islanders for the conclusion of their schedule, recording two assists in two games.
Maggio will likely return to Bridgeport in the fall for his first full professional season, where he will be joined by defenseman Christian Krygier and forwards Jacob Pivonka and Riley Piercey, who all signed contracts with the Islanders’ American Hockey League (AHL) club on Friday.
Pivonka and Krygier were selected by the Islanders in the late rounds of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing their collegiate careers, both players made their professional debuts with Bridgeport this season under tryout contracts. Meanwhile, like Maggio, Piercey is a product of the OHL, where he split time between the Barrie Colts and Flint Firebirds over five seasons.
The Bridgeport Islanders missed the Calder Cup Playoffs in the AHL this season and finished with a record of 34-30-7.