ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Back To California, Starting Wednesday In Bakersfield

March 16, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Update

For the second-straight weekend, the Grizzlies won two of three games Friday-Sunday to improve to 25-23-6-10 on the year. The Grizzlies currently sit ten points above the Phoenix RoadRunners in the ECHL's West Division and would open a best-of-seven playoff series against the Alaska Aces if the playoffs began today. The Grizzlies have eight games left in the regular season with four at home and four on the road.

If It Seems Like The Grizzlies Have Spent A Lot Of Time In Bakersfield Lately....

Utah will complete a stretch of five games, making four separate trips, in Bakersfield in 17 days this week.

Player Of The Week Nominee

After Rob Hennigar won the ECHL's player of the week award last week, the Grizzlies this week nominated Mark Pavli who scored in all four games and had three goals and two assists.

Welcome Aboard

After being acquired in a three-team trade Thursday, Peder Skinner joined the Grizzlies in Bakersfield Friday and scored goals in his first two games with Utah. Defenseman Brett Beauchamp, acquired in a trade Wednesday from Cincinnati had his first career multiple-point game Friday with two assists. Utah also added two six-foot-three defensemen in Chris Clark and Chris Brooks this past week via trades.

Hot Rookie

Dan McDonald, who the Grizzlies signed out of the University of Ottawa on March 4, has two goals and five assists in his first eight games as a professional.

March

Rob Hennigar continues to lead the ECHL in scoring during the month of March with two goals and 12 assists for 14 points in seven games. Hennigar is on pace to be the second Utah player to win the ECHL's Player of the Month award in the last three months. Ryan Kinasewich won it for January.

Robert Gherson Returns

Robert Gherson was assigned to Utah by the AHL's Chicago Wolves Thursday and went 2-1 this past weekend in his first action in a month. He earned his first shutout of the year Sunday stopping all 22 Steelheads shots and went 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage Saturday and Sunday.

Mole Update

Mike Mole also had a strong week for Utah. In his only start Wednesday, he stopped 25 of 26 shots through overtime before being called-up to Bridgeport Thursday. Sunday, Mole stopped 26 of 29 in his 08-09 AHL debut in the Sound Tigers 3-2 loss.

More Goaltender Talk; Mannino's First NHL Win

Peter Mannino who went 4-3-0-2 with the Grizzlies in February with a 2.73 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage with Utah's leanest lineup of the year, earned his first NHL win Sunday stopping 40 of 42 shots in the Islanders 4-2 win in Chicago.

After This Week

The Grizzlies complete the regular season with four of their final five games at home starting Tuesday, March 24 when they welcome the Phoenix RoadRunners for a Tuesday, Wednesday series.

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 16, 2009


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