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\'Gators bite Snakes in only game of week

January 13, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


The IceGators had just one opportunity to hit the ice last week, and they made quite the impression, playing arguably their best game of the season in a 7-0 win over Columbus at the Cajundome.

Bruce Richardson tied his career-high with five points (2g, 3a) and rookie Kyle Kettles began his stint as a No. 1 goalie with a bang, making 30 saves for his franchise record-tying second straight shutout in the win.

The victory was IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish's 400th career coaching victory, and came just two days after IceGators front office volunteer Rhonda Crain Franklin died at the age of 36.

There was plenty of support to go around for Kettles, besides Richardson. Bobby Brown and Daniel Goneau each had a goal and two assists, while Cal Benazic and Chris Taliercio each added a goal and a helper. Rod Sarich chipped in his second pro goal.

Rookie Matus Kostur, playing with only emergency backup Jason Brown behind him on the depth chart, finished with 36 saves for the Cottonmouths.

The IceGators needed only the first period to secure the victory.

A bad line change just 12 seconds in, which caused a too many men on the ice penalty, and a high-sticking call to Columbus' Mike Bishai led to the IceGators first goal on a 5-on-3. Richardson won the draw back to Brown at the left point, and Brown - playing the blueline on the power play - slid a cross-ice pass to Benazic all alone at the right point. Benazic's one-timer eluded Kostur glove side for the game's first goal, his 11th of the season.

Goneau converted a nifty 2-on-1 with Richardson at the 3:40 mark to give the IceGators a two-goal edge. Richardson, taking a pass from Taliercio at center ice along the right boards, skated up ice and sent the puck to a streaking Goneau in the slot. Goneau deposited the puck far side past Kostur for 17th goal of the season.

Meanwhile, Columbus' offense stuttered. The Cottonmouths, coming off a 10-shot game Tuesday in a 2-1 home loss to Columbia, had just one shot in the game's opening 12 minutes. Columbus also went without a shot on an early power play.

Brown struck with 5:56 left in the period to give Louisiana a 3-0 lead, and Taliercio's goal with 1:15 left in the stanza capped the big first period.

Coming attractions:

TUE, LA at ARK

7:00 p.m.

The IceGators have won just one of their three trips to ALLTEL Arena this season, and are 4-2-2 against the RiverBlades overall. Arkansas handed Louisiana a 5-2 defeat earlier this month in North Little Rock, and the IceGators look for revenge.

FRI, LA vs. JCK

7:05 p.m.

"Trading Spaces Night"

Fans, you won't want to miss the renewal of this rivalry. The last four games have all gone into overtime or a shootout, and there's nothing as exciting as a shootout. Louisiana is unbeaten in regulation (4-0-2) in six games versus the Bandits this season. We also pay homage to TLC's hit TV series. Look for more details later this week.

SUN, LA vs. ARK

4:05 p.m.

"Post-game skate"

The IceGators and RiverBlades meet for the 10th time this season, and for the last time until March 14. This is also Arkansas' last trip into the Cajundome this season. Also, we'll have our second post-game skate this season.

Heading out – Six IceGators will be attending Plantation Elementary this Thursday to read books to second and third graders.

Heading in – IceGators winger Dennis Shiryaev was returned to the team Sunday from AHL Houston. Shiryaev had five penalty minutes in two games with the Aeros.

Kettles approaching team mark - Kyle Kettles' shutout streak is up to 153:07, less than a period shy of Frederic Cloutier's club-record 167:08 mark. Cloutier has the top three shutout streaks in team history - 167:08 (Oct. 26-Nov. 10 of last season); 161:56 (March 2-March 12) and 157:38 (11/30-12/9). The longest shutout streak ever by an ECHL netminder is 236:03, by Hampton Roads' Darryl Paquette in the 1996-97 season.

Farrish notches No. 400 - Thursday's victory was IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish's 400th win as a coach in the pro ranks. Farrish is 400-341-78-9. With the IceGators, he sports a sparkling 121-44-18 mark. That translates into a .714 winning percentage. Doug Shedden, now in CHL Memphis, is the franchise's all-time leader in wins with 170, but it took him four seasons to accomplish that mark.

Kettles is unbeaten in 10 straight - It's been quite some time since Kyle Kettles tasted defeat in regulation. The 21-year-old IceGators rookie is 6-0-4 in his last 10 starts and hasn't lost in regulation since a 4-3 loss in Columbus on November 2. Kettles' unbeaten streak is still five games short of the team's franchise record. Teammate Frederic Cloutier was unbeaten in regulation in 15 straight games (13-0-2) to start his pro career, including eight straight wins. Later in the season, Cloutier won 11 straight decisions outright.

Team shutout streak nearly a record as well - The IceGators' team shutout streak, dating back to a 5-2 loss in Arkansas on November 8, is up to 126:48, which is the third best in team history and less than a period away from being a franchise record. Louisiana's longest shutout streak was from November 3-10 of last season by Marc Magliarditi and Frederic Cloutier (143:30). The duo also combined for a 142:15 streak from November 23-29. The previous third longest streak was 123:45, set over the final two-plus games of last season.

A third straight shutout - Louisiana has never recorded three straight shutouts and is just 60 minutes away from doing so. The IceGators had their first two sets of back-to-back shutouts last season.

‘Gators stay on top - Despite playing just one game last week, the IceGators (54 points) are two points up on second-place Mississippi in the Southwest Division. Louisiana has two games in hand on the Sea Wolves. The IceGators have held at least a share of first place every day since December 21. The IceGators' inactivity did hurt them in the race for the Brabham Cup regular-season title. Louisiana is now in third place in that race, trailing both Toledo (56) and Atlantic City (55).

Killing you softly with his song - IceGators do-it-all forward Bobby Brown, a noted musician, quietly has six points (2g, 4a) in his last two games. He is third on the IceGators with 10 multi-point games, including five games with three points. Daniel Goneau is the only IceGator with more three or more point games. Goneau has six, including a four-point contest.

Richardson's five-point game was his second - Bruce Richardson's other five-point game also came against Columbus, a four-goal, one-assist performance in a 7-3 win at the Cajundome on November 23. Richardson, who picked up the 25th five or more point game in team history, is just the fourth player to have more than one such game in a season in team history. Richardson also joins John Spoltore (five), Chris Valicevic (four), Don Parsons (three), Jon DePourcq (two) and Jay Murphy (two) as IceGators with more than two career five-point games.

A resounding shutout - The IceGators' 7-0 shutout of Columbus tied the team's most decisive shutout win. Mike Valley made 22 saves in a 7-0 home shutout of Arkansas on February 8, 2000. There was also a 6-0 shutout of Baton Rouge by Marc Delorme in 1997.

Player of the Week Nominees

Center Bruce Richardson -

Recorded second five-point night (2g, 3a) of season, tying a career-best, in 7-0 win over Columbus...Assisted on three goals in the first period, setting a team season-high for helpers in a stanza...Scored a pair of goals, one on the power play, in the third period...Was a plus-three for the game...Leads team and is *second in ECHL with 57 points (18g, 39a), while his 39 helpers lead the ECHL...Tops among all IceGators with 18 multi-point games.

Goaltender Kyle Kettles -

Won week's only game, shutting out Columbus at home, 7-0, with 30 saves...Made nine saves in the first period, 10 in the second and 11 in the third to help keep the Cottonmouths off the board on four power-play chances...Is 7-2-4 with a 2.29 goals against average, second in the ECHL, and a .924 save percentage, fourth in the league...Is unbeaten in regulation in 10 straight games (6-0-4), five shy of the team record.

Don't forget to watch Chomp Time, the weekly television show dedicated to the Louisiana IceGators.

Andy Davis hosts Chomp Time, every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Fox-15.

Make sure to follow the IceGators on 105.1 KPEL-FM, and also via the Internet at www.icegators.com.

IceGators' Practice schedule:

Monday - Depart for ARK, 10 a.m.

Tuesday - in ARK; at ARK 7 p.m.

Wednesday - 12-2, Cajundome

Thursday - 10-11:30, Cajundome

Friday - 10-11, Cajundome, vs. JCK 7:05

Saturday - 10-11:30, HockeyPlex

Sunday - 10-11, Cajundome, vs. ARK 4:05

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