\'Gators head into holiday break with best record in conference

December 21, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Week in review: PEN 4, LA 3 (OT); LA 6, MIS 2; LA 6, ARK 2

A pair of convincing victories followed an impressive third-period rally to save a point, as the IceGators went 2-0-1 to finish off their pre-Christmas schedule. Louisiana began the week with a 4-3 overtime loss in Pensacola, then scored six unanswered goals in a 6-2 win at Mississippi before a 6-2 home win over Arkansas on Saturday. Louisiana's 43 points are one ahead of the Sea Wolves, who play Sunday. Even with a Mississippi win Sunday, the IceGators will have a better winning percentage.

Nathan Rempel had two goals and an assist in the first period and Danny Goneau scored twice in the second, as the Louisiana IceGators rolled over the Arkansas RiverBlades 6-2 at the Cajundome. Bobby Brown had a goal and two assists, Shawn McNeil added a goal and a helper and Derek Boogaard got his first career point, an assist, as the IceGators improved to 3-0-2 in their last five and maintained a one-point lead over Mississippi for first place in the Southwest Division. Frederic Cloutier made 31 saves and Bruce Richardson added two assists for Louisiana.

Ernie Hartlieb paced Arkansas with a pair of goals. Jason Saal got pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots, while Jimi St. John made 14 saves in relief.

Friday, Rod Sarich scored his first pro goal in the first period and Louisiana scored four times in the second, as the IceGators got goals from six different players to rally from a two-goal deficit for a 6-2 road win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves to move back into first place in the Southwest Division.

Richardson, Goneau and Chris Taliercio each added a goal and an assist, and Cloutier made 26 saves for the IceGators, who snapped a four-game road winless streak (0-1-3). Branislav Kvetan and Dennis Shiryaev also scored for the IceGators, who saw their string of eight straight one-goal games end.

Dave Paradise had a goal and an assist and Cody Bowtell also scored for Mississippi, which had its five-game winning streak snapped. Sean Matile made 30 saves for the Sea Wolves.

Tuesday, the IceGators got third-period goals from Goneau and Tony Tuzzolino to earn a point, falling 4-3 in overtime in Pensacola.

Kevin Cloutier scored the game-winner on a rebound at 2:14, just five seconds after an Ice Pilots power play had expired. Brown also scored for the IceGators, while Kyle Kettles made 23 saves.

The IceGators would like to wish their season ticket holders, fans, and the rest of the East Coast Hockey League a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Coming attractions:

FRI, LA at JCK

7:05 p.m.

The IceGators end their holiday break with a big road matchup in Jackson against All-Star goaltender Adam Hauser and the rest of the Bandits. Louisiana is 3-0-1 against Jackson this season, with the only blemish a 4-3 shootout loss December 14 at Mississippi Coliseum.

SUN, LA at BR

4:05 p.m.

The IceGators wrap up their light week at the Centroplex, where they are winless in two tries this season, including a 6-5 loss December 11. In that game, Steve Cheredaryk scored late in the third period as the Kingfish lost a two-goal lead but recovered to win. Each team has won two of the four games in the season series, with the home team winning each contest.

It may be the Christmas season, but 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.

Finally some breathing room - The IceGators' 6-2 win in Mississippi on Friday snapped the team's streak of one goal games at a franchise-record eight games. Louisiana had gone 2-2-4 in those games and is 6-4-7 in one-goal games this season. The IceGators also had their string of consecutive overtime/shootout games snapped at three, one shy of their season- and franchise-record. Louisiana 3-7 when going into overtime or a shootout this season.

"Boogie Man" makes debut - Left wing Derek Boogaard made his pro debut Friday, skating in the team's 6-2 win over Mississippi. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Boogaard was regarded as the Western Hockey League's top enforcer. He was a seventh-round draft pick (No. 202 overall) of the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Boogaard picked up 12 penalty minutes in his pro debut and an assist in his second game.

Helping each other out - Bruce Richardson, Kevin Mitchell and Daniel Goneau are all ranked in the top six of the ECHL in assists. Richardson is tied with Reading's Brad Rooney for first with 30, while Mitchell -- currently in AHL Bridgeport -- and Goneau each have 27.

But they liked the shopping so - The IceGators made their sixth and final regular-season trip to Biloxi, noted for its outlet malls, on Friday to play the Sea Wolves. The teams have played a remarkable nine times already this season, or 29 percent of their games. The IceGators and Sea Wolves won't meet each other for 34 days, after playing nine times in a span of 63 days, or an average of once a week. The teams will next meet at the Cajundome on January 24. Mississippi has played Arkansas, another Southwest Division rival, just twice so far this season.

Classy matchups - Of Louisiana and Mississippi's nine meetings this season, seven of those have had first-place implications, with the winner emerging in first. Since November 23, either Louisiana or Mississippi has held at least a share of first place for every day but two, when Arkansas was on top. Either the IceGators or Sea Wolves have been in first place for all but 15 days in the first 2 ½ months of the season.

Something about the building - The IceGators have yielded three or less goals on the road just five times in 16 games this season, and three of those contests have come in Mississippi. Louisiana earned a 3-1 win in Jackson on November 13, a 2-1 win in Biloxi on November 19, a 3-0 shutout of the Sea Wolves on November 30, got beat 2-1 in overtime in Jackson on December 14, and Friday's 6-2 win in Mississippi.

Getting a jump on them - The IceGators have scored in the game's opening 90 seconds in five of the last eight games. Louisiana, known early in the season for its slow starts and furious rallies, has scored first in exactly half of its 32 games this season.

A high number - Bruce Richardson fought Mike Renzi Saturday, moving Richardson past the 900-penalty minute mark for his pro career. Richardson picked up his 100th assist Friday.

He obviously learned something in "JuiceBoy" - Shawn McNeil has scored six of his 20 goals this season against Arkansas' Jason Saal, his former teammate.

It's all about special teams - The IceGators are 13-1-3 when yielding one or less power play goals this season, but they are 5-6-4 when allowing two or more.

Three's the magic number - Louisiana is 16-2-2 when yielding three or less goals, including a 10-0-1 mark when allowing two or less. When allowing four or more goals, the IceGators are 2-5-5.

Cloutier climbing the charts - Frederic Cloutier's played his 58th game Friday, moving past Bryan Schoen for second place on the team's all-time list. Cloutier, trails only Schoen and Doug Bonner (99) on the games played list. Bonner's 64 wins are tops on the IceGators charts.

Player of the Week Nominees

Left wing Daniel Goneau -

Recorded five points, including four goals, in leading IceGators to 2-0-1 mark last week...Had goal in third-period rally of 4-3 OTL at Pensacola on Tuesday...Notched goal and an assist in 6-2 win at Mississippi on Friday...Scored twice in the second period of 6-2 win over Arkansas on Saturday...Second on team with 41 points and tied for third with 14 goals...Twenty-seven assists are tied for second on team with Kevin Mitchell.

Goaltender Frederic Cloutier -

Went 2-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and a ..934 save percentage last week in back-to-back games...Made 26 saves in 6-2 win at Mississippi on Friday...On Saturday, turned aside 31 shots in 6-2 win over Arkansas...Has allowed three goals or less in four straight games, lowering his goals against average from 3.19 to 3.07...His 14 wins rank him third in the ECHL...Has played 1388 minutes, ranking fifth in the league.

IceGators' Practice schedule:

Monday - Off

Tuesday - Off

Wednesday - Off

Thursday - 4-6, Cajundome

Friday - 9-10, Cajundome, at JCK 7:05

Saturday - 10-11:30, Cajundome

Sunday - TBA, Cajundome, at BR 4:05



ECHL Stories from December 21, 2002


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