MARK MANCARI LED ALL PIRATES SCORERS WITH FOUR POINTS LAST WEEK

Portland, Maine - The Pirates earned their first road win of the season last week and finished a three games in three days set with a 1-2 record. On the season Portland sports a 3-7 record, completing a grueling, season-opening schedule that featured eight of their first 10 games on the road.

The Pirates began their weekend with the first of back-to-back games in Norfolk against the Admirals. Norfolk built a 4-0 lead in the game before Paul Byron and Tyler Ennis scored midway through the second to half the lead. That was it for the offense in the game as the Admirals held their ground on the way to a 4-2 victory.

Portland worked from behind for a second straight night in the rematch against the Admirals on Saturday, rallying from a 3-1 first-period deficit to post a 6-5 win, their first road victory of the season. Six players scored for the Pirates including Jeff Cowan, who registered his 50th career AHL goal. The game also featured Kyle Wanvig’s first goal and assist as a member of the Pirates, Drew Schiestel’s first career AHL assist, Philip Gogulla’s first AHL two-point game (two assists) and the first career AHL victory for goaltender JP Lamoureux.

The Pirates closed out their weekend action Sunday in Hershey against the defending Calder Cup Champion Bears. Once again Portland gave up the opening goal of the game but wrestled the lead back with two goals in 28 seconds early in the second to grab the lead. Cowan and Gogulla (with the first of his AHL career) gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead heading into the third. However, the Bears evened the count early in the final period and followed with the eventual game winner as Steve Pinizzotto scored shorthanded to lift the Bears to victory. Hershey’s third-period rally spoiled an outstanding effort by Jhonas Enroth, who turned aside 32 shots in a losing effort.

This Week:
The Pirates are home to kick off a four-game home stand. On Friday the Pirates will take on the Lowell Devils (4-4-1-0) at the CCCC in a 7:00 PM faceoff. On Saturday night the Pirates will face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (6-4-0-0) at 7:00 PM.

Friday, October 30th vs. Lowell Devils (Cumberland County Civic Center, 7:00 PM
Click here to listen to the Pirates live on News Talk 95.5 WLOB.
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• This will be the second of 10 meetings between the two teams this season. Lowell blanked the Pirates 4-0 in the season series opener October 11th at the Tsongas Arena.
  
• The Devils dropped a 4-2 decision to Springfield in their last outing on home ice on Sunday to move to 4-4-1-0 on the season.
  
• Lowell’s goalie Mike McKenna (a former member of the Pirates) sports a 1.98 goals against average and a .938 save percentage, both of which are among the top-15 in the AHL. In addition the veteran’s two shutouts are tied for the League lead.
  
• Rookie Matt Taormina has three goals and seven assists for 10 points in nine games to rank tied for the most among freshmen players and tied for the second most among all defensemen.
  

Saturday, October 31, 2009 vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 PM
Click here to listen to the Pirates live on News Talk 95.5 WLOB.
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• This will be the first of eight encounters between the Pirates and Sound Tigers this season. Last season the Pirates went 3-3 against the Sound Tigers in a six-game season series.
  
• Bridgeport won their last two outings to move to 6-4 on the season. The Sound Tigers are coming off a 4-1 home ice win over the Albany River Rats on Sunday.
  
• Nathan Lawson is off to a strong start between the pipes for the Sound Tigers. The veteran goaltender is tied for eighth in goals against average (1.77) and his .947 save percentage is tied for sixth best.
  

Recent Transactions:
October 22, 2009 Mark McCutcheon Signed PTO
October 20, 2009 Kyle Wanvig Signed PTO

Pirates Practice:
As schedules are subject to last-minute changes please call the Pirates office ahead of time at 207-828-4665 ext. 313 to confirm location and time.
Tuesday, October 27th- 10:00 AM
Wednesday, October 28th-9:40 AM (PIA)
Thursday, October 29th -9:40 AM (PIA)
Friday, October 30th- 7:00 PM (Game vs. Lowell) GET TICKETS
Saturday, October 31st-7:00 PM (Game vs. Bridgeport) GET TICKETS
Sunday, November 1st – 10:00 AM

Pirates Events:

This Friday (October 30th) against Lowell, the Pirates will be teaming up with Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute’s Breast Care Center for the second annual “Pink at the Rink,” presented by Paradigm Window Solutions. The Pirates will be wearing commemorative specialty jerseys during the game, which will be auctioned off during and after the game. Proceeds from the auctions will be donated to the Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute's Breast Care Center. A portion of the proceeds from the game’s 50/50 sales will also be donated to the Institute’s research and care initiatives.
In addition, the Pirates have committed to donate $3 from every advanced ticket purchased through this promotion to the Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute's Breast Care Center to help promote breast health and research. In order for a donation to be made, tickets for the October 30th game must be purchased through a special on-line store by clicking here or by calling Ben Nickerson at the Pirates ticket office at (207) 828-4665 ext. 317. Advance or game-day tickets purchased at the CCCC Box Office will not qualify for the $3 donation.

Saturday (October 31st) the Pirates play the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 PM. It’s a Halloween celebration at the CCCC with trick or treating for the kids, costume contests and more. All fans who attend the game in costume will receive a free flex ticket, one lucky fan deemed to be the best dressed Pirate will win tickets to the 2010 Time Warner Cable All-Star Classic and the best costume winner will win a team autographed Pirates jersey. It’s also another Labatt Blue Light Hockey Night in Portland as the Pirates, Labatt Blue Light and local sponsors will be teaming up to give you an evening of great fun, entertainment and great AHL Portland Pirates action.

Pirates Promotions

SUBWAY Flex Books – Flex Books made fresh by SUBWAY are packs of five or 10-ticket vouchers that can be used for any Pirates 2009-2010 regular season home game (subject to availability). This season, SUBWAY will provide one (1) promotional coupon valid for one (1) FREE 6" sub for each set of five flex tickets purchased. Fans that purchase a 10-pack will receive two (2) SUBWAY coupons. Coupons are available while supplies last. For more information call a Portland Pirates Ticket Representative at 207-828-4665 ext. 350.

Sudzie Family Five Packs provide you with Five Main Deck Tickets, Five Hot Dogs or Pizza Slices, Five Sodas, and One "Daily Scroll" all for the discounted price of $60. This season, with each purchase of a Sudzie Family Five Pack, fans will receive a coupon for one (1) free Sudzie Minuteman exterior wash (valued at $11). In total, that's a value of $123 - and you don't even need to pay the babysitter! For more information call a Portland Pirates Ticket Representative at 207-828-4665 ext. 350.

2010 Time Warner Cable All-Star Classic
The 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic will be held at the CCCC Jan. 18-19th. Tickets for the 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic – which include admission to both the 2010 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 8 p.m. on Monday, January 18th and the 2010 AHL All-Star Game at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19th, as well as an official commemorative All-Star Classic event program – are $49 (rows 1-12 in all sections) and $42 (rows 13-24 in all sections). Buy your tickets now and come join us for a weekend of excitement!

It’s a 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic Season in Portland!
Come See What You’ve Been Missing!
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