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Elmira Jackals Weekly

December 31, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


ELMIRA, N.Y. - December 31, 2012 - After winning two of three games last week the Elmira Jackals continue their busy schedule with four games this week. After a New Year's Eve tilt in Wheeling the Jackals face a three-in-three over the weekend.

Last Week's Record: 2-1-0

Overall Record: 14-14-3, 31 pts., 4th Place Atlantic Division

Leaders:

Goals - Artem Demkov: 17

Assists - Dustin Gazley: 22

Points - Dustin Gazley: 31

+/- - Kyle Bushee: +6

PIMs - Kevin Harvey: 69

PPG - Artem Demkov: 7

SHG - Jack Downing/Louie Caporusso: 1

Wins - Marc Cheverie: 8

GAA - Marc Cheverie: 2.75

SVP - Marc Cheverie: .912

Previewing the Upcoming Week:

12/31 at Wheeling - 5:00 p.m., Home vs. WHL 2-1-0, Away vs. WHL 0-2-0

Monday night the Jackals ring in the new year with a visit to WesBanco Arena to take on the Wheeling Nailers. It will be an opportunity for the Jackals to reverse their recent fortunes against their division rivals. The Jackals have lost three straight to the Nailers, including back-to-back games in Wheeling on December 21 and 22. The Jackals have out-scored the Nailers 11-6 at First Arena in winning two of the three games there while the Nailers have beaten the Jackals by a combined 9-3 score in winning the first two of five games between the clubs in Wheeling. The Nailers are just returning home from a three-game southern trip that saw them go 1-1-1 while the Jackals are finishing up a seven-game road trip on which they are 2-4-0. Tonight is the third meeting between the Jackals and Nailers in the last two weeks but the division foes won't meet again until February 10 in Elmira.

1/4 vs. Reading & 1/5 at Reading - 7:05 p.m., Home vs. REA 1-2-1, Away vs. REA 0-0-1

The Jackals opened the season with a home win over the Royals but since then have dropped four in a row to the Eastern Conference's top team. The Royals have been on an incredible run that has seen them compile a 22-2-1 record over their last 25 games. The Jackals took the Royals to a shootout in the most recent meeting between the clubs on December 16 in Elmira but the Royals edged the Jackals 3-2 in a nine-round shootout duel between Marc Cheverie and Philipp Grubauer. This week's back-to-back pair features the first two of four games between Elmira and Reading in the month of January. They will go at it again in a pair of games on January 19 and January 21 in Reading then the season series will take a break until February 6.

1/6 vs. Trenton - 4:05 p.m., Home vs. TRE 1-1-0, Away vs. TRE 2-1-1

The Jackals welcome the Titans to First Arena for the first time since November 17 when the division rivals square off on Sunday. The Jackals began their road trip in Trenton on December 19 and suffered a 5-4 setback which broke a streak of four straight games against Trenton in which the Jackals earned at least one standings point (3-0-1). The Titans enter the week with a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games but have lost two in a row against conference-leading Reading. Elmira enters the week one point behind Trenton in the division standings but will have three home games against the Titans in January to try to make up the difference. The Titans are 5-7-3 away from home while the Jackals sport a 9-6-1 record at home.

Day-by-Day Schedule:

12/31/12 - Jackals at Nailers, 5:00 p.m.

1/1/13 - Off - New Year's Day

1/2/13 - Practice at First Arena, 10:30 a.m.

1/3/13 - Practice at First Arena, 10:30 a.m.

1/4/13 - Pre-game Skate at First Arena, 10:00 a.m.

Jackals vs. Royals, 7:05 p.m.

1/5/13 - Pre-game Skate at First Arena, 10:00 a.m.

Depart for Reading, 12:30 p.m.

Jackals at Royals, 7:05 p.m.

1/6/13 - Jackals vs. Titans, 4:05 p.m.

* A community event that is not open to the general public. Media members are still able to attend and provide coverage of the Jackals' community involvement. Please call Ray Schmitt at 607-734-7825 x 3216 or email him at ray@firstarena.com to arrange for coverage.

Jackals Broadcast Information

All Elmira Jackals broadcasts are carried on WEHH AM 1600 and FM 93.9. Fans can also access live streaming of the broadcast online on their computer, smartphone, or tablet at www.1600wehh.com. America One provides pay-per-view internet TV broadcasts of all Jackals games as well. Check out how you can watch the Jackals on America One by clicking here. All Jackals broadcasts begin 10 minutes prior to faceoff with "The Jackals Pre-Game Show."

Recapping Last Week:

12/27 at Cincinnati: W 4-3

Dustin Gazley put on a show against the Cyclones by scoring a pair of second period goals and setting up another to help the Jackals capture a 4-3 win in their first of two visits to Cincinnati this season. The Jackals found themselves down 1-0 after one despite out-shooting the Cyclones 12-10 in the first. Gazley went to work quickly in the second and erased the deficit with his seventh goal of the season 3:36 in. Andrew Rowe scored off of a setup by Gazley just under five minutes later to put Elmira in front for the first time then set up Gazley's second of the night at 13:43 to pad Elmira's lead to two. The Jackals needed that pad because Cincinnati's Anthony Bitetto scored his first pro goal 1:10 later to cut into their advantage. But Chaz Johnson notched the eventual game winner at 3:10 of the third to secure the road win. Cincinnati clawed back within striking distance when Garrett Wilson scored from the slot with 6:15 to play. But goalie Maxime Clermont and the Jackals' defense withstood the late surge and held on for the win.

12/28 at Evansville: W 6-3

Elmira made its first-ever visit to Evansville, and the Ford Center, a memorable one by winning an unpredictable, back-and-forth affair. Evansville's Kevin Baker and Josh Beaulieu scored 31 seconds apart in the first period to give the IceMen a quick 2-0 advantage. But after recollecting themselves the Jackals got to work in the offensive end. Jack Downing and Andrew Rowe provided the firepower to make sure the game went into the second deadlocked at two. Dylan Clarke struck first in the second to restore Evansville's lead, but Elmira responded again, this time with Dustin Gazley scoring a four-on-four goal. The game went into the third, once again, deadlocked. Downing made short work of erasing the tie with his second goal of the game 1:34 into the third. That lead stood up all the way until the end where Rob Bellamy and Louie Caporusso added insurance markers in the final minute. Max Clermont earned his second straight win with 40 saves.

12/29 at Fort Wayne: L 5-6

Box Score

Elmira and Fort Wayne locked horns for the first time since January of 2007 when the teams were members of the United Hockey League. Those in attendance at Allen Memorial Coliseum were treated to an offensive shootout that included six combined goals in the third period. Elmira struck first with a quick opening period goal by Kyle Bushee only to have the Komets answer back with a shorthanded marker from J.M. Rizk with just over five left in the session. Andrew Rowe restored Elmira's one-goal lead just over four minutes into the second with his third goal in as many games. That was the last lead Elmira held because the Komets scored three straight goals, including two in the second. With the Jackals down 4-2 early in the third Kyle Bushee notched his second of the night to start the comeback effort. It took a slip backwards when Matt Firman tucked a backhander past Marc Cheverie with 9:01 gone by. Chaz Johnson lit the fire back under the Jackals with a power play goal at 13:53 then Jordan Pietrus stoked the flames with his fifth goal of the season at 15:39. While the game seemed destined for overtime the Komets had different plans and scored with 42 seconds to go. Rizk potted his second of the game for the winner.

Quick Hits:

* Dustin Gazley's current four-game assist streak is tied for his longest of the season. It is the second longest of his career following a 10-game streak (16A) from 3/3 to 3/25/12.

* Elmira concludes a season-long stretch of seven straight games away from home this week. The Jackals are 2-4-0 on the trip and have won two of their last three on the trip. The back-to-back wins over Cincinnati and Evansville marked the second time this season the Jackals won back-to-back road games.

* The Jackals' special teams should receive a boost upon returning to First Arena. The Jackals rank third in the ECHL at home on the penalty kill at 87.5 percent but on the road are 18th at 76.5 percent. The power play doesn't have much discrepancy with a 23.6 (7th) percent mark at home and 22 percent (6th) on the road.

* Louie Caporusso has nine assists in December and has an assist in nine of the 13 games. He is averaging over a point per game this month with 14 (5G, 9A). The second-year pro out of Michigan is working on a four-game point streak which is his second longest of the season. He had an eight-game streak (3G, 8A) from 11/24 to 12/15/12.

* The Jackals play each of their next four games against Atlantic Division opponents which gives them a chance to make ground in a division race where the second, third, and fourth place teams are separated by one point. The next four after that will be against North Division foes.

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