Bullies Scratch Out A Pair of Wins

February 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


ATLANTIC CITY - WEEK RECORD: 2-1 - SEASON RECORD: 32-11-3 - 2nd NORTHERN

BULLIES REWIND: The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, playing with a short bench all week, earned four out of a possible six points in three home games last week to run their record to 32-11-3 with 67 points, three behind the Wheeling Nailers for the top spot in the Northern Division.

Wednesday, Scott Stirling stopped 3 of 4 Peoria shooters in the shootout and Josh Prudden netted the game-winner in the third round as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies defeated the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 in a shootout before 1498 at Boardwalk Hall. Peoria opened the scoring at 4:51 of the first period when Adam Edinger picked up the loose puck in front of Stirling and rifled it behind the Bullies net minder to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead. The Bullies fought back to tie the game 1-1 as Jon Cullen's wrist shot from the right-wing circle sifted its way through traffic and by Peoria goalie Mike Valley at 7:38 of the period. Brian Fahey gave the Bullies the lead in the second with a slap shot from the left-wing circle on the power play at 9:00 for a 2-1 advantage. But Peoria would fight to get the equalizer in third period with the power play as Bret DeCecco re-directed Joe Vandermeer's shot from the point by Stirling at 14:11 to tie the game 2-2 and send it to overtime and an eventual shootout. Peoria out-shot the Bullies 34-24 for the game. Stirling stopped 32 shots for his 24th win of the season, which ties his own single-season franchise record for wins by a goaltender set back in 2001-02. The Bullies went 1-5 on the power play.

Friday, Brad Church netted a pair of goals and Cody Rudkowsky stopped 34 shots as the Reading Royals defeated the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-1 before 2423 at Boardwalk Hall. The loss was the first at home in regulation for Atlantic City since November 25 when the Bullies fell 4-2 to Cincinnati. After a scoreless first period, the Royals got on the board on the power play when Church batted David Masse's pass out of mid-air and through Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling at 7:09 of the second for a 1-0 lead. The undermanned Bullies playing without regulars Stefan Rivard, Preston Mizzi, Pierre-Luc Sleigher, and Steve Munn would quickly counter to net the equalizer at 16:41 on the power play when Brian Fahey rifled a shot past Rudkowsky to tie the game 1-1. Reading would take the lead for good at 19:34 of the period as Kent Davyduke raced up the left wall and slid the puck far side along the ice by Stirling to gain a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Graig Mischler added to the Royals edge when he put home a rebound past Stirling at 7:42 of the third on the power play to make it 3-1. Church added his second of the night with an empty-net goal at 19:38. Reading out-shot the Bullies 39-35. Stirling stopped 36 shots in falling to 24-9-3 on the year. The Bullies went 1-5 on the power play.

Saturday, Scott Horvath tallied a pair of goals and Jake Moreland stopped a season-high 35 shots as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies defeated the Reading Royals 5-2 in front of 3653 at Boardwalk Hall. The win was the Bullies 18th in their last 23 games. Atlantic City opened the scoring at 10:28 of the first period when Luke Curtin from a sharp angle in the left corner snapped the puck over Royals goalie Cody Rudkowsky for a 1-0 lead. Horvath made it 2-0 early in the second when he picked up John Longo's rebound in the slot and slipped it underneath Rudkowsky at 1:39. Reading would crack the scoreboard at 3:17 of the second shorthanded as Scooter Smith's blast from the left-wing boards sailed over Moreland's glove and into the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Bullies would counter 1:40 seconds later when Evan Wax tipped the puck out of mid-air and by Rudkowsky at 4:57 to regain their two goal lead at 3-1. The goal was the first professional for Wax. After a Mat Snesrud goal at 8:59 brought the Royals back to within one, Horvath lit the lamp for the second time when his drive from the slot on the power play got through Rudkowsky at 12:04 to give the Bullies a 4-2 edge. Brian Fahey capped off the scoring for the Bullies at 16:18 of the third. Reading out-shot the Bullies 37-31. Moreland's victory was his eighth of the year. The Bullies went 1-7 on the power play.

BULLIES "TOP DAWG" AWARD: Each Monday from now until the end of the season, Public Relations and Broadcasting Manager Dan Weiss will select the Bullies "Top Dawg" for the week. This week's winner is Jake Moreland who stopped a season-high 35 shots in Saturday's big 5-2. Honorable mentions go out to forward Luke Curtin (1 goal, 4 assists), defenseman Brian Fahey (3 goals, 1 assist), and forward Evan Wax (1st career goal). Previous recent winners below include:

1/5/04: Brian Fahey (3 goals, GW goal) 1/12/04: Luke Curtin (4 goals, 4 assists) 1/19/04: Stefan Rivard (4 goals, 1 assist) 1/27/04: Aaron Foster (3 goals, 1 assist, 2 GW goals) 2/2/04: Jim Henkel (3 goals, 1 assist)

24 AND HOLDING: Goaltender Scott Stirling took the loss on Friday, thus remaining one victory shy of breaking his own franchise record for single season victories. At 24-9-3, Stirling leads the ECHL in wins, shootout wins, and goals against average. He ranks second in save percentage behind Trenton's Chris Houle. Stirling is 8 wins away from tying his career high for wins in a season.

WE CAN BE HEROES: With three assists each during Saturday's 5-2 win over Reading, rookie forwards John Longo and Josh Prudden each recorded the first three-point games of their career. They also join the exclusive company of Luke Curtin, Kirk Furey, and Stefan Rivard as Bullies to tally three assists in one game this season. Rookie forward Scott Horvath also notched the first multiple-goal game of his career with a pair of markers on Saturday. Out of the 15 points registered by the Bullies on Saturday, 13 came from rookies.

FEELS LIKE NORTH DAKOTA: With his 35-save performance on Saturday, rookie net-minder Jake Moreland continues his stellar play at Boardwalk Hall. In 4 starts at home this season, Moreland is 3-0 with a 1.25 goals against average and a .956% save percentage. He has stopped 87 of 91 shots faced.

SUIT BY DAY, JERSEY BY NIGHT: Emergency forward Evan Wax capped off a memorable weekend in his return to hockey with the game-winning goal, the first of his professional career, Saturday vs. Reading. Wax, a rookie from Syosset, NY, gave up hockey after completing his collegiate career at Yale University to take a job at Goldman & Sachs as a financial consultant. Despite seeing limited minutes over the weekend, Wax got himself to the net and batted Luke Curtin's rebound out of mid-air by Cody Rudkowsky to give the Bullies what at the time was a crucial 3-1 lead in the second period. In addition to being apart of the 2002-03 ECAC All-Academic team, Wax enjoyed a standout career with the Elis scoring 32 goals and adding 42 assists in 96 career games. Wax and fellow emergency forward Ryan Moynihan return to the real working world today.

HOME SWEET HOME: Friday's home loss to Reading was the first loss in regulation for the Bullies on home ice since a 4-2 defeat against Cincinnati back on November 25. Since then, the Bullies had gone 10 games over two months and eleven days without a home ice loss in regulation. Atlantic City rebounded with a 5-2 win over Reading on Saturday and is now 17-4-2 this season at Boardwalk Hall, 8 wins shy of tying the franchise record for home wins in a season set by last year's Kelly Cup Champions.

STILL GOING, AND GOING, AND GOING...Despite a bit of a hiccup on Super Bowl Sunday, the Bullies are still unbeaten in regulation when Luke Curtin scores a goal at 19-0-1. Curtin scored last Sunday vs. Augusta in a furious third period comeback, but the Bullies fell to the Lynx in overtime.

IT'S PINKY! Spice up your Valentine's with an Atlantic City legend. Join the Bullies at 7:05PM on Saturday, February 14 at Boardwalk Hall as they battle the Wheeling Nailers and pay tribute to the one and only Pinky Kravitz! It's a night filled of fun with Atlantic City's most colorful personality. As part of "Pinky Kravitz Night", the Bullies will donate $3 dollars from all $12 dollar ticket pre-sales with the mention of Pinky, to the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Atlantic City.

POWER PLAY FOR UNITED WAY: The Bullies have teamed up with United Way of Atlantic County to sponsor the Power Play for United Way. For every power play goal the Bullies score this season, Trump Plaza, Sands Casino Hotel, Advance Door & Supply, Kline Construction and HR Solutions will donate $10 dollars to United Way of Atlantic County. The Bullies tallied 3 more power play goals last week to run their season total to 49, good for $2,450 dollars towards the Power Play for United Way.

STAY ONLINE WITH THE BULLIES: Follow the Bullies throughout the season by pointing your computer mouse to www.boardwalkbullies.com. You can read game updates, get to know your favorite Bullies, and find out where "Wooly" and the team will be appearing next. Click and score with www.boardwalkbullies.com!

UP NEXT: The defending ECHL Kelly Cup Champions will play three games in three nights beginning at 7PM Thursday at the Greensboro Coliseum against the Greensboro Generals. The Bullies return to Boardwalk Hall at 7:05PM Friday and Saturday to host the first place Wheeling Nailers. For more information or to order tickets, call (609) 348-PUCK. Catch Thurday's game from the Greensboro Coliseum on ESPN Radio 1450AM and all three games live on the Surfer Network at www.boardwalkbullies.com beginning with the pre-game show 20 minutes prior to face-off with Dan Weiss.

BULLIES SCHEDULE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9TH

Monday, February 9: Off Day

Tuesday, February 10: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Wednesday, February 11: Practice 8AM-10AM; Depart for Greensboro 10:45AM

Thursday, February 12: Morning Skate 11:15AM; Bullies @ Greensboro 7PM

Friday, February 13: Bullies vs. Wheeling 7:05PM

Saturday, February 14: Morning Skate 10AM; Bullies vs. Wheeling 7:05PM

Sunday, February 15: Off Day



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2004


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