By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The ECHL Maine Mariners announced today that the “AA” minor-pro affiliate of the National Hockey League Boston Bruins has signed free-agent defenseman Tristian Thompson. The 27-year-old Alberta, Canada, native previously played overseas in the French Ligue Magnus for the Chamonix club. The undrafted blueliner started the 2024-25 regular season in France, appearing in 22 games for Chamonix and posting 3-10-13 numbers.
The former University of Alaska-Fairbanks defenseman last played in North America during the 2023-24 campaign when he was a member of the ECHL Adirondack Thunder. With the ECHL Thunder that season, the 5′-9″ 185-pound blueliner had 5-14-19 totals in 38 games played before heading overseas to finish the season in Slovakia for the HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas club, where he had five assists in nine games.
The Mariners are currently in last place in the ECHL’s North Division with an 11-14-2 regular season record and 24 points. The B’s minor-pro affiliate is only three points from tying fourth place. Adirondack, who has 27 points and lost their last game, is also set up for three games on the schedule this weekend. While the lower half of the North Division is tight, the Mariners have 45 games remaining and can get back into this season and climb the standings if they can string together a series of wins.
Maine is only eight points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference postseason picture, so it’s not like the regular season is at the 11th hour. The Mariners have been making several ECHL transactions lately in an effort to bring in experienced players to turn the tide, as many in the Portland, Maine, area tend to do when times are tough.
Maine Mariners Tickets and Cool Places in Portland, Maine, to Stay and Visit
The Maine Mariners are in action three times this weekend vs. the visiting and new ECHL franchise, the Tahoe Knight Monsters, kicking off on Friday night for all three games at the Cross Insurance Arena. For tickets to the three straight games this weekend, please visit HERE. If you live outside the Portland, Maine area and would like availability to watch the Maine Mariners action this weekend, please check out the FloHockey streaming service that provides a wide range of games from several professional and other lower developmental hockey leagues.
If you do make the trip to the state of Maine for this weekend’s three-in-three action at the Cross Insurance Arena, I’d like to recommend some options for extended stays and places to drink and eat. The Holiday Inn by the Bay is right across the street from the Cross Arena’s Spring Street location. It is a convenient location for the winter months and has easy access during the hockey season.
For Maine Mariners pre-game food and drink, I highly recommend the Little Tap House, which is a two-minute walk from the Holiday Inn and less than a ten-minute walk to the Cross Insurance Arena. The Little Tap House is a Portland, Maine, bar and restaurant that serves amazing food and high-quality adult beverages. The Steak Frites are my go-to dish, and I wash it down with a couple few Nonesuch Reds, a Red Ale courtesy of the nearby Nonesuch River Brewery. If you do visit The Little Tap House at 106 High Street in Portland, Maine, please tell owner Tim or his amazing staff that Mark from Black N’ Gold Productions sent you.
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