Maine Mariners announced as Bruins’ new ECHL affiliate

The Bruins logo will reportedly gain new currency in Portland, Maine, on Wednesday, when it's announced that the city's Maine Mariners will begin an affiliation with the club. The Maine Mariners announced Wednesday that it will become an ECHL affiliate of the Bruins, joining the Portland Sea Dogs and Maine Celtics as sporting connections between Maine’s largest city and New England’s sports heavyweights.

The Bruins’ affiliate in the ECHL — the second tier of the NHL’s minor leagues, beneath the Springfield-based American Hockey League — has been the Atlanta Gladiators since 2015. Like Maine, Atlanta voluntarily opted not to participate in the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic,…