ECHL ECHL

Alaska Climbs Into First Place In Pacific

December 8, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Beating Long Beach 7-3 on Tuesday, Alaska moved into first place in the Pacific Division with a 13-8-1 record, marking the first time since March 16, 1999 when Alaska was a member of the West Coast Hockey League that the Aces have been in first place.

The Aces beat Long Beach 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday and lost 4-3 in a shootout at San Diego on Sunday, finishing the week with a 14-8-2 record. Alaska, who plays at Fresno on Tuesday, is two points ahead of Idaho (14-8-0) and Las Vegas (12-5-4) and eight points ahead of San Diego (10-7-2).

The Aces have three of the Top 10 scorers in the ECHL led by rookie Charles Linglet, who ranks fifth with 30 points. Joe Talbot is tied for sixth with 29 points and Mike Scott ranks 10th with 28 points. Linglet, who was named CCM ECHL Rookie of the Month for November, leads ECHL rookies in points with 30 and assists with 20 and is tied for the rookie lead with 10 goals. The 21-year-old is tied for second among rookies with five power-play goals and a plus-minus of +10. Scott ranks second in the league with 14 goals while Talbot is tied for third with 13 goals.


Everblades On Six-Game Home Winning Streak
Posting back-to-back wins over Greenville on Friday and Saturday, Florida increased its home winning streak to six games, tying the ECHL season high set by Roanoke, which won six straight home games from November 1-27.

The Everblades improved to 14-4-4 and moved into first place in the Southern Division, four points ahead of Greensboro (14-7-0) and Columbia (13-5-2). Florida will host Mississippi on Tuesday and Columbia on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Columbus on Sunday.

It is the third straight home sweep and the fourth sweep overall at TECO Arena for Florida in 2003-04, which improves to 8-0-2 at home. The Everblades posted back-to-back wins against Florence on November 21-22, Charlotte on November 14-15 and Louisiana on October 24-25. Florida lost 4-3 in a shootout to Gwinnett on October 31 and 3-2 in overtime to Gwinnett on November 1. The team record for consecutive home wins is nine games (Dec. 3-Jan. 22) during the 1999-2000 season when Florida won a team record 28 home games (28-7-0).

Florida's line of Brian McCullough, Keith Anderson and Brent McDonald has combined to score 95 points (37g-58a) in 22 games. McCullough leads the ECHL with 16 goals and 35 points and is tied for the league lead with five game-winning goals. Anderson is tied for third in scoring with 31 points (12g-19a) while McDonald is tied for fourth with 20 assists and tied for sixth in scoring with 29 points. Among ECHL rookies, Florida's Carl Mallette is tied for third with eight goals and 20 points and is tied for sixth with 11 assists.


Irbe, Chiefs On NHL Cool Shots
Arturs Irbe and the Johnstown Chiefs will be featured on this week's edition of Cool Shots, the National Hockey League's weekly television program that airs across the United States and Canada.

NHL Productions visited Johnstown and Cambria County War Memorial on November 13-14 to shoot footage for its feature story on Irbe, a two-time NHL All-Star.

Cool Shots is scheduled to air on Tuesday, December 9 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN and on Sunday, December 14 at 2:30 a.m. on ESPN2. It is scheduled to be broadcast in Canada at 12 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 14 on CBC and on Monday, December 15 at 12:30 p.m. on TSN.


Quintet Of Teams On Three-Game Winning Streak
Wheeling has won three games in a row, equaling its season high (Nov. 26-29), and six of its last seven improving to 14-7-1 to move into second place in the Northern Division, one point behind Johnstown (14-5-2). The Nailers have not qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs since 1997-98 when they lost in the Northern Conference Finals to eventual champion Hampton Roads. Wheeling, who is 8-5-2 at home, will host Toledo on Friday and Atlantic City on Sunday while traveling to Dayton on Saturday.

Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak as it opened its West Coast road trip with three straight wins beating San Diego 3-1 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday and Long Beach 6-2 on Sunday. The three-game winning streak is the longest of the season for the Checkers, who have improved their road record to 7-3-2. Charlotte will visit Bakersfield on Tuesday and Friday and Fresno on Wednesday.

South Carolina has won a season-high three straight games improving to 11-9-1 and fifth place in the Southern Division, two points behind Roanoke (12-9-1). The Stingrays are 6-6-1 at home, beating Reading 3-2 on Tuesday and Gwinnett 2-1 on Saturday, and 5-3-1 on the road, winning 3-2 in overtime at Florence on Friday. South Carolina hosts Gwinnett on Friday and plays at Greenville on Saturday.

Mississippi has a three-game winning streak, beating Pensacola 5-4 in a shootout on Friday, winning 4-1 against Texas on Saturday and closing out the week with a 5-3 win at Louisiana on Sunday. The three straight wins equals the season high (Nov. 9-14) for the Sea Wolves, who are 11-8-4 and tied for third place with Pensacola (12-7-2), two points behind Louisiana (13-5-2) and seven points behind Gwinnett (15-5-3). The Sea Wolves will visit Florida on Tuesday and Pensacola on Friday and then play a home and home with Louisiana, hosting the IceGators on Saturday and visiting the Cajundome on Saturday.

Las Vegas has won its last three games, including a 4-2 win against Atlantic City on Wednesday, improving to 12-5-4 and tied for second place with Idaho (14-8-0), two points behind Alaska (14-8-2). The expansion Wranglers will look to end a six-game road winless streak (0-4-2) when they visit Fresno on Sunday. Las Vegas has won five straight home games and is 10-0-1 at home.


Ice Pilots Goaltender Eklund Scores Goal
For the second straight season an ECHL goaltender has scored a goal as Pensacola's Brian Eklund became the seventh goaltender in league history to score a goal on Friday. Eklund's goal was scored at 5:35 of the first period when the puck got by a Mississippi defenseman and rolled the length of the ice into the Sea Wolves goal, which was empty as the result of an upcoming penalty call, to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead. Selected in the seventh round (226th overall) by Tampa Bay in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Eklund was the last player to touch the puck for Pensacola and received credit for the unassisted goal. Eklund stopped two of four shooters in the shootout and had four saves in overtime and 50 saves overall in the 5-4 shootout loss at Mississippi.

Under contract to Tampa Bay of the National Hockey League, Eklund is 12-4-1 with a 2.64 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in 17 games for Pensacola. Eklund, who was named the ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week for November 24-30, leads the ECHL with 602 saves while ranking second in wins with 12 and fifth in minutes with 1,024.

The last ECHL goaltender to score a goal was Mike Smith of the Lexington Men O' War on October 22, 2002. With Lexington leading 1-0 late in the third period, Dayton dumped the puck behind the net where Smith gained control and flipped it out of the zone. The puck hit in the center face off circle and then slid untouched into the empty net at 19:04. Smith's goal was featured on ESPN's NHL 2Night.

Corwin Saurdiff of Hampton Roads became the first ECHL goaltender to score a goal, accomplishing the feat during the 1994-95 season, and Charlotte's Nick Vitucci, Erie's Olie Sundstrom and South Carolina's Sean Gauthier all accomplished the feat during the 1995-96 season. Toledo's Mark Bernard scored a goal on March 27, 2001 against Johnstown.


Attendance Up Three Percent From Last Season
Through the first eight weeks of the season, attendance in the ECHL remains ahead of last season. The ECHL is averaging 3,670 per game, up three percent from 3,562 per game in 2002-03.


Northern Division
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
 * Luke Curtin has two goals and seven assists in his last five games.
* Scott Stirling is tied for third in the ECHL with 11 wins and ranks fourth with a 1.78 goals against average.
* Atlantic City hosts Cincinnati on Friday and visits Wheeling on Sunday.

Cincinnati Cyclones
 * Tyler Masters is 3-0-1 with a 1.47 goals against average in his last four games.
* Ryan Brindley is tied for the ECHL lead among defensemen with seven goals.
* Cincinnati hosts Johnstown on Wednesday and plays at Atlantic City on Friday.

Dayton Bombers
 * Martin Paquet has two goals and five assists in his last three games.
* Bombers are 3-0-0 when leading after the first period and 5-3-2 when out shooting their opponent.
* Dayton hosts Peoria on Thursday, Reading on Friday and Wheeling on Saturday.

Johnstown Chiefs
 * Cory Campbell is 5-0-1 and leads the ECHL with a 1.30 goals against average.
* Johnstown leads the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.05 goals per game.
* Chiefs travel to Cincinnati on Tuesday and Peoria on Friday and Saturday.

Peoria Rivermen
 * Josh Kern has a five-game point streak with eight points (5g-3a).
* Rivermen are 7-3-3 through the first 13 of 26 straight games against Northern Division opponents.
* Peoria travels to Dayton on Thursday before hosting Johnstown on Friday and Saturday.

Reading Royals
 * Defenseman Ian Turner has recorded a goal in three of his last four games, including the game winner in a 2-1 overtime win at Augusta on November 30.
* Royals rank third in the ECHL on the power play (22.0 percent) and penalty kill (88.5 percent).
* Reading travels to Dayton on Friday before hosting Trenton on Saturday and Toledo on Sunday.

Toledo Storm
 * Toledo is 6-0-2 in games that go past regulation (2-0 in overtime and 4-2 in shootouts).
* Storm's road power play ranks third in the ECHL with 87.8 percent (43-for-49).
* Toledo travels to Wheeling on Friday and Reading on Sunday.

Trenton Titans
 * Chris Houle leads the ECHL with a .949 save percentage and ranks second with a 1.64 goals against average.
* Matt Zultek ranks second in the ECHL with seven power-play goals.
* Trenton travels to Greensboro on Friday and Reading on Saturday.

Wheeling Nailers
 * Nick Boucher is 5-0-0 with a 2.10 goals against average in his last six games.
* J.C. Ruid has two goals and five assists in his last five games.
* Wheeling hosts Toledo on Friday, travels to Dayton on Saturday, and hosts Atlantic City on Sunday.

Southern Division
Charlotte Checkers
 * Checkers are 3-0-0 on their West Coast swing and have outscored their opponents 13-6.
* Benoit Dusablon scored a hat trick in Sunday's 6-2 win at Long Beach.
* Charlotte plays at Bakersfield on Tuesday and Friday, and at Fresno on Wednesday.

Columbia Inferno
 * Rob McVicar is 4-1-0 with a 1.87 goals against average in his last five games and leads the ECHL with three overtime wins.
* Tim Smith leads the team with 17 assists and 24 points.
* Columbia travels to Florida on Friday and Saturday.

Florence Pride
 * Pride's power play ranks second in the ECHL with 22.6 percent (24-for-106).
* Victor Gervais leads the team with 17 assists and 22 points.
* Florence travels to Roanoke on Friday before hosting Roanoke on Saturday and Augusta on Sunday.

Florida Everblades
 * Everblades lead the ECHL in scoring with 4.00 goals per game.
* Brian McCullough leads the ECHL with 16 goals and 35 points.
* Florida hosts Mississippi on Tuesday and Columbia on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Columbus on Sunday.

Greensboro Generals
 * Daniel Berthiaume leads the ECHL in wins (14) and minutes (1232), and ranks second in saves (598).
* Rookie Tom Reiman is tied for the lead among ECHL defensemen with seven goals.
* Greensboro hosts Gwinnett on Thursday and Trenton on Friday before traveling to Columbus on Saturday.

Greenville Grrrowl
 * Scott Kirton has 12 points (7g-5a) in his last five games and a five-game goal streak (7g).
* Greenville's home penalty kill ranks fourth in the ECHL with 89.1 percent (41-for-46).
* Greenville travels to Augusta on Friday before hosting South Carolina on Saturday and Roanoke on Sunday.

Roanoke Express
 * Shawn Limpright has eight points (4g-4a) in his last five games and leads the ECHL with eight power-play goals.
* Express are tied for fourth in the ECHL in scoring with 3.50 goals per game.
* Roanoke hosts Florence on Friday before traveling to Florence on Saturday and Greenville on Sunday.

South Carolina Stingrays
 *David Brumby is 2-1-0 with a 1.65 goals against average in his last three games and ranks third in the ECHL with a .940 save percentage.
* Ed Courtenay has six points (3g-3a) in his last five games and leads the team with 18 points (6g-12a).
* South Carolina hosts Gwinnett on Friday and plays at Greenville on Saturday.

Central Division
Augusta Lynx
 * Jason Saal is 6-1-1 with two shutouts and a 1.36 goals against average in his last eight games.
* Rob Stanfield has scored only two goals this year, but both have been game winners.
* Augusta travels to Columbus on Tuesday, hosts Greenville on Friday and Gwinnett on Saturday, and plays at Florence on Sunday.

Columbus Cottonmouths
 * Matus Kostur earned the Cottonmouths first shutout of the season making 17 saves in a 1-0 win at Florence on Friday.
* John Morlang has six points (5g-1a) in his last five games.
* Columbus hosts Augusta on Tuesday, Greensboro on Saturday and Florida on Sunday.

Gwinnett Gladiators
 * Michael Garnett is 3-1-0 with a 1.20 goals against average in his last four games and is tied for tied for third in the ECHL with 11 wins.
* Brandon Dietrich is tied for the ECHL lead with 21 assists.
* Gwinnett travels to Greensboro on Thursday, South Carolina on Friday and Augusta on Saturday.

Louisiana IceGators
 * Louisiana ranks second in the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.10 goals per game.
* IceGators' power play leads the ECHL with 27.0 percent (27-for-100).
* Louisiana hosts Texas on Friday and travels to Mississippi on Saturday before hosting Mississippi on Sunday.

Mississippi Sea Wolves
 * Steffon Walby has seven points (4g-3a) in his last five games and ranks second in the ECHL in scoring with 32 points (12g-20a).
* Mississippi travels to Florida on Tuesday and Pensacola on Friday, returning home to host Louisiana on Saturday before traveling to Louisiana on Sunday.

Pensacola Ice Pilots
 * Corey Neilson is tied for the ECHL lead with 21 assists and leads ECHL defensemen with 27 points.
* Brian Eklund leads the ECHL with 602 saves and ranks second with 12 wins.
* Pensacola hosts Mississippi on Friday before traveling to Texas on Saturday and Sunday.

Texas Wildcatters
 * Bob Cunningham leads the team with 13 goals and 25 points.
* Wildcatters rank 30th in the ECHL in goals allowed with 3.82 goals per game.
* Texas travels to Louisiana on Friday before hosting Pensacola on Saturday and Sunday.

Pacific Division
Alaska Aces
 * Charles Linglet leads ECHL rookies with 20 assists and 30 points.
* Mike Scott ranks second in the ECHL with 14 goals.
* Alaska travels to Fresno on Tuesday.

Bakersfield Condors
 * Bakersfield ranks second in the ECHL in shots allowed with 26.75 shots per game.
* Line of Johan Astrom, Kevin Riehl and Andrew Ianiero combined for 10 points (4g-6a) in 5-1 win against Fresno on Friday.
* Bakersfield hosts Charlotte on Tuesday and Friday, and Long Beach on Sunday.

Fresno Falcons
 * Greg Bullock has three goals and three assists in his last five games.
* Falcons are 7-1-1 when leading after the first and 3-4-1 in one-goal games.
* Fresno hosts Alaska on Tuesday, Charlotte on Wednesday, Long Beach on Friday and Las Vegas on Sunday.

Idaho Steelheads
 * Dan Ellis is 5-2-0 with a 1.87 goals against average in his last seven games.
* Steelheads are tied for fourth in the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.45 goals per game.
* Idaho travels to San Diego on Friday and Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers
 * Dave Cousineau leads ECHL rookies with six power-play goals and is tied for the lead among ECHL defensemen with seven goals.
* Marc Magliarditi is 2-2-1 with a 1.58 goals against average in his last five games and ranks fifth in the ECHL with 10 wins.
* Las Vegas travels to Fresno on Sunday.

Long Beach Ice Dogs
 * Ice Dogs rank 30th in the ECHL in scoring with 2.20 goals against average.
* John McNabb leads the team with 11 goals and 18 points.
* Long Beach travels to Fresno on Friday and Bakersfield on Sunday.

San Diego Gulls
 * Trevor Koenig is 4-2-1 and leads the ECHL with three shootout wins.
* Gulls' home
penalty kill ranks second in the ECHL with 90.7 percent (49-for-54). * San Diego hosts Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

Check out the ECHL Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 8, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central