After 18 months, hockey crowd returns to Webster Bank Arena

BRIDGEPORT — The faces, some familiar and some unfamiliar, trickled through the security and protocols check, and most came through with smiles.

For the first time since March 11, 2020, there was a hockey crowd at Webster Bank Arena on Saturday. The New York Islanders met the New Jersey Devils at the home of New York’s AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.

“After 18 months, to see people lined up and coming into the arena, it was an adrenaline rush for myself and the team,” Bridgeport Islanders president of business operations Brent Rossi said after the game.

“Our goal was to provide as safe an environment as possible and at the same time give a great experience. Hopefully those who showed up today got that.”

Attendance was 4,101 for the first of three New York Islanders preseason games in Bridgeport. They’ll meet the Philadelphia Flyers here Tuesday and the New York Rangers on Oct. 9.

Former Bridgeport Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows scored for the Islanders in a 2-1 loss. Yegor Sharangovich won it for the Devils 3:36 into overtime.

Fans cleared security along with a check that they were either vaccinated against or had a negative test for COVID-19. Rossi said that went smoothly.

“The lines flowed extremely well,” Rossi said. “We had a fanfest with a lot of younger fans.

“Candidly, we were prepared for much worse,” he added. “I thank every fan who came into the venue — I even thank the Devils fans — for bearing with us as we try to get everyone in in a safe way.”

There was plenty of promotion for the opening of the Islanders’ new home, UBS Arena, on Nov. 20 on Long Island. Ads around the concourse had reminders of that date. Scoreboard ads reminded fans that Comcast no longer carries MSG Networks, the Islanders’ cable home.

There was not much promotion for Bridgeport, which opens its season Oct. 15 and plays its first home game as the Bridgeport Islanders on Oct. 23. The team changed its name this summer after 20 years as the Sound Tigers. (The Sound Tigers’ four banners still hang over the harbor end, which is now the end the home team defends twice.)

A Maluma concert Thursday was the first open event at the arena.

“It was unbelievable,” Rossi said. “The energy, I haven’t been to a concert quite that crazy. It was unreal.”

These three Islanders games are the first sporting events since that Wednesday night when the NBA shut down, Tom Hanks announced he and Rita Wilson had tested positive and the world changed.

The Sound Tigers — in the event everyone definitely remembers from that night — beat the Toronto Marlies 4-1 in front of an announced crowd of 1,762. The AHL suspended its season the next day.

The Sound Tigers played a truncated 2020-21 season, 12 home games’ worth, between February and May with no fans admitted.

Bridgeport opens its 2021-22 camp early this week. New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz said he expected some roster cuts from Long Island to Bridgeport in the next couple of days.