The Bridgeport Islanders, AHL affiliate of the NY Islanders, announced Friday morning they have come to terms with three players for the 2022-23 season. Defensemen Ryan MacKinnon, Vincent Sevigny, and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen will suit up for the Jr. blue and orange following a successful 2021-22 season in Bridgeport.
Tikkanen is a former Islander seventh-round draft pick in 2020. Earlier in June, the Islanders opted to give up the rights to Tikkanen and it appeared they were ready to move on. Now, Tikkanen is under contract to play on North American ice for the first time since being drafted. The 6’8″, 201-pound goaltender played for three different clubs in 2021-22. He spent time with KalPa of Liiga, MoDo Hockey of the HockeyAllsvenskan, and Växjö Lakers HC in the SHL.
It was a brief, unsuccessful showing for Tikkanen with KalPa going 0-2-0 with a 4.95 GAA and .765 SV%. He was then acquired by MoDo where he was much more successful accruing a 13-4-0 record including a shutout, a 2.50 GAA, and .903 SV%. The Lohja, Finnish native was then loaned to Växjö, dressed for one game recording a win sporting a 1.00 GAA and a .952 SV%. He'll now give it a go on smaller, North American ice next season in Bridgeport, but will have to earn ice time over Jakub Skarek and Ken Appleby.
MacKinnon returns to Bridgeport after a short hiatus playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season. He registered two goals and an assist in 25 games with the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate. In 17 games with the B-Isles over three seasons before 2021-22, MacKinnon registered three assists.
Sevigny signs his first professional contract with the B-Isles after the last five-plus seasons in the QMJHL. The Quebec native captained the Saint John Sea Dogs last season and was teammates with Islanders prospect William Dufour. Sevigny registered 11 goals and 36 points in 37 games last season on the Sea Dogs blue line. He also registered a goal and an assist in four games helping Saint John claim the memorial cup.