Bandits Drop First Two to SeaWolves

April 15, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Jackson Bandits News Release


BANDITS ON THE RADIO - All Bandits games during the 2002 Kelly Cup Playoffs can be heard on ESPN Radio 930. Mike Sheehan, the Voice of the Bandits, brings you the play-by-play action beginning with the NEXTEL PreGame Show 15 minutes before each face-off.

CHALK TALK - Don't forget that Chalk Talk with Derek Clancey airs live this week on Wednesday on ESPN Radio 930 on location at Buffalo Wild Wings on Spillway Rd. in Ridgeland from 7 to 8 p.m. Join coach Clancey and Mike Frazer along with a special Bandits player each week to catch up on the latest happenings with your Bandits!

BANDITS RECAP - BANDITS OUST ICEGATORS - Bogdan Rudenko scored his second goal of the game with two minutes remaining in the third period to break a 2-2 tie as the Jackson Bandits defeated the Louisiana IceGators 4-2 to win Game 5 and capture the Southwest Division Semifinal series three games to two. The upset ranks as one of the biggest in ECHL history, as the IceGators had set numerous league records during the regular season including wins and points. Richard Pitirri had a goal and an assist and Sean Gillam also scored. Andrew Allen made 44 saves for the Bandits, who advanced this far for the second time in franchise history. The 1999 Chesapeake Icebreakers defeated the Columbus (Ohio) Chill is the Northern Conference Quarterfinals before bowing to the Roanoke Express in the conference semifinals.

MISSISSIPPI 5, BANDITS 2 - The Sea Wolves scored three goals late in the first period and added another in the opening minute of the second en route to a 5-2 win over the Bandits in Game 1 of the Southwest Division Finals. Dave Stewart recorded his first career playoff goal for the Bandits 3:34 into the game before the Sea Wolves began their onslaught. Randy Copley scored for the Bandits late in the third to cut the gap to 4-2, but the Bandits could get no closer. Luc Belanger stopped 34 shots for the Sea Wolves, while Mike Tamburro made 22 saves for the Bandits.

MISSISSIPPI 6, BANDITS 1 - The Bandits are on the brink of elimination after the Sea Wolves took a 6-1 win in Game 2 on Saturday. Steffon Walby scored just 1:18 into the game for the Sea Wolves, while Richard Pitirri tied it at the 3:53 mark. Jay Leach netted the eventual game-winner with 2:17 left in the opening period. Mike Tamburro made 23 saves for the Bandits while Luc Belanger stopped 37 shots for the Sea Wolves.

BANDITS MATCH-UPS - MISSISSIPPI - The Sea Wolves are riding an eight-game winning streak that dates back to the final three games of the regular season. Mississippi has won five straight in the playoffs. Brent Gauvreau leads the Sea Wolves in playoff scoring with 10 points (3g-7a) while Francois Fortier is next with nine points (3g-6a) after recording four points (1g-3a) in Game 2 against the Bandits on Saturday. Steffon Walby and Fortier were third and fourth in the ECHL during the regular season with 93 and 91 points respectively. Goalie Luc Belanger, who spent most of the season with Quebec of the AHL, has started all five playoff games. Belanger is 5-0 with a 2.13 GAA and .945 save percentage.

GREENVILLE VS. PEE DEE - The winner of the series between the Bandits and the Sea Wolves will take on the winner of the Greenville-Pee Dee series out of the Southeast Division in the best-of-five Southern Conference Finals. The Grrrowl evened the series at a game apiece with a 7-2 win in Game 2 on Saturday, one night after former Bandit David Brumby had backstopped the Pride to a 6-0 shutout in the series opener. The teams play Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday in Pee Dee. If Game 5 is necessary, it will played on Thursday in Greenville, meaning the series winner will be decided before the Bandits and Sea Wolves play Game 3 on Friday.

ALLEN TO NHL - Goalie Andrew Allen was recalled by the NHL's Florida Panthers on Thursday, less than 24 hours after leading the Bandits past Louisiana in Game 5 of the Southwest Division Semifinals. Allen becomes the third Bandits goaltender to spend time in the National Hockey League, joining David Brumby and Derek Gustafson, who each spent time last season with the Minnesota Wild. The 25 year-old native of Vankleek Hill, Ontario is 3-1 with the Bandits during the playoffs with a 2.01 GAA and .952 save percentage. Allen made an ECHL record 78 saves in the Bandits' triple-overtime Game 2 win over Louisiana on April 5. This was his first stint in the NHL. He is expected to rejoin the Bandits in time for Game 3 against the Sea Wolves on Friday in Jackson.

PATTERSON PERFORMS - Winger James Patterson leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with seven goals and is tied at the top with 11 points. Patterson recorded the first playoff hat trick in Bandits history and the first of his career in Game 2 against Louisiana. He also scored the overtime winner in Game 3 against the IceGators. Patterson led the Bandits during the regular season with 63 points (26g-37a).

RECORDS SET IN TRIPLE OT THRILLER - The Bandits triple-overtime victory in Game 2 against Louisiana was the second-longest game in ECHL history as Bogdan Rudenko scored at 15:19 of the third overtime. The game was 115:19 in game time and five hours, 19 minutes of real time as the game began at 7:37 p.m. and ended at 12:56 a.m. Bandits goalie Andrew Allen made an ECHL record 78 saves in the game as the teams combined for 139 shots (L-82, J-57), another league mark.

BANDITS BITES - Dave Stewart and Randy Copley each recorded their first career playoff goal in Game 1 on Friday against Mississippi. The Bandits will try to duplicate Johnstown's feat from the Northwest Division Semifinals, when the Chiefs rallied from a two games to none deficit to oust the Peoria Rivermen. The Chicago Blackhawks, the Bandits' NHL affiliate, finished the regular season with a 41-27-13-1 and 96 points, after yesterday 's 2-0 win over Columbus. The Blackhawks earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference and will play the St. Louis Blues in the first round beginning Thursday in St. Louis. The Norfolk Admirals, the Bandits' AHL affiliate, won the AHL's Southern Conference and currently tied in their first round series with the Hershey (Pa.) Bears at a game apiece. The series resumes on Wednesday at venerable Hersheypark Arena, the oldest current building in pro hockey, which opened in 1938 and is closing following the playoffs.



ECHL Stories from April 15, 2002


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