Wotherspoon’s Sound Tigers debut makes an impression

Recommended Video:

BRIDGEPORT — The next level might be the universal dream, getting to the NHL, and it's something that could well be ahead for New York Islanders draft pick Parker Wotherspoon.

But the AHL is a step along the way for most players, and Wotherspoon got there earlier than a lot of others. Barely 18 and a half years old, Wotherspoon became the youngest Bridgeport Sound Tiger when he debuted Sunday against Springfield.

"It's one thing I've always dreamed about, playing a pro hockey game," Wotherspoon said. "I was very excited."

He didn't have much time to dwell on his excitement, though. He got the start. Ben Holmstrom won the faceoff to Scott Mayfield. Mayfield moved it across to Wotherspoon on the left.

He took the puck ahead, was met by a defender and smoothly moved it across the ice again to Mayfield.

"I had jitters right away," Wotherspoon said. "I was more excited than nervous."

It was the start of a pretty poised debut for Wotherspoon, the Islanders' fourth-round pick last year. His season in the junior Western Hockey League ended without a playoff spot, so he joined the Sound Tigers on an amateur tryout.

"I thought he was confident," Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said. "He was poised with the puck. He made really good puck decisions.

"He had really good battle. His hockey IQ: He was ready to play. He understood where to be on the ice."

Later in the first period, for instance, he broke up a Springfield two-on-one.

Wotherspoon sees himself as a two-way defenseman as a pro; he said he's played in all situations for Tri-City in the WHL.

"These (Sound Tigers) guys have helped out, showing me the ropes," Wotherspoon said.

"I've been learning a lot from these coaches, and from guys like (Matt) Carkner."

He has another professional template in his brother, Tyler, who is a defenseman for the Calgary Flames. Tyler Wotherspoon, 23, has been up and down between Calgary and its AHL teams over the past three years.

"I watched his games in juniors. That's when I really fell in love with the game," Parker Wotherspoon said.

Parker put up 56 points in the same league this season, and his first pro game made an impression on his coach.

"It shows the quality of our draft picks," Thompson said.

"It's good that he got his feet wet, much like (Kyle) Burroughs did a couple of years ago. He's one of those guys who are taking strides in the right direction."

Burroughs has been out a month injured, but he's expected to return Friday at Hershey.

With Christopher Gibson called up — he won his first NHL start Tuesday night, helping the New York Islanders clinch a playoff spot with an overtime win at Washington — Bridgeport brought up goalie Parker Milner from Missouri (ECHL).

mfornabaio@ctpost.com; http://twitter.com/fornabaioctp; http://blog.ctnews.com/fornabaio