Tonight’s two-game AHL slate features a match-up between the Manchester Monarchs and the Portland Pirates at Alfond Arena on the campus of the University of Maine.
The teams also played a game in Orono last season, on Dec. 18, 2007, when 2007-08 AHL rookie of the year and former Black Bear Teddy Purcell (pictured) scored twice in Manchester’s 6-2 victory in front of a crowd of 3,587 at the Alfond Arena.
There are once again plenty of University of Maine connections on both team’s rosters this year. Pirates assistant coach Eric Weinrich played in Orono from 1985-88, while Manchester’s roster includes Purcell, Michel Leveille and assistant coach Scott Pellerin, who all played for the Black Bears.
Portland has taken two of the teams’ three meetings thus far on the season series, most recently a 4-0 win on Nov. 30 in which rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth posted a 23-save shutout.
Elsewhere in the AHL, San Antonio looks to improve on a three-game winning streak when Rochester invades the AT&T Center tonight. Reigning Reebok/AHL player of the week Josh Tordjman is 3-0-0 (1.00, .958) with two shutouts over the last three games for the Rampage.
You can catch all of the action from San Antonio tonight on AHL Live.
