Elmont, New York — The New York Islanders have called up defenseman Isaiah George from the Bridgeport team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Defenseman Cole McWard appeared in three games before being sent back to the AHL, where he was a healthy scratch for the following six games.
Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock will be sidelined for Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup against the Buffalo Sabers due to a day-to-day upper-body injury.
“We’re eager to welcome Georgie to the lineup,” said Islanders head coach Patrick Roy. “He’s been performing very well. Unfortunately, every time we brought him up before, he got injured, so it’s great to have him here now. We’ve been rotating players from Bridgeport—Mitchell and Warren have played a few games, as well as McWard and Georgie recently. We have a lot of faith in our young talent and believe this is a great chance for him to shine. He did suffer a concussion during the game against Domi in Toronto, making things tough lately, but I’m confident he’ll do great.”
At 21, George is expected to participate in 33 games with the Islanders this 2024-25 season, averaging five points (one goal, four assists) while playing nearly 16 minutes per game.
“He’s an excellent skater,” Roy added. “He’s capable of moving the puck out of the zone on his own.”
Originally from Oakville, Ontario, George has faced two major injuries this season—a lower-body and an upper-body injury—but still managed to notch 10 points (two goals, eight assists) across 24 games with Bridgeport.
Since returning from his latest injury, George has been showing strong form.
He will be paired on the ice with Adam Boqvist, while Scott Mayfield will team up with Matthew Schaefer.
Fan Take: This development is exciting for hockey fans as Isaiah George’s return injects fresh energy and talent into the Islanders’ defensive lineup. His resilience overcoming injuries and ability to perform at a high level could make him a key player to watch in shaping the team’s future successes.
