'Cats Five-Goal Outburst Highlights Weekend

April 1, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


Wed., Apr. 2 vs. Lowell Lock Monsters - Worcester's Centrum Centre

IceCats vs. Lock Monsters: IceCats Trail Season Series 3-4-0
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com
The 'Cats enter the home stretch of the regular season with a game against the Lock Monsters on Wednesday at the Centrum Centre. Lowell will bring a 19-47-7-3 record to the table tomorrow night. The AHL's last place team is 8-27-1-2 away from their home ice. The last meeting between these two teams resulted in a 3-1 win by the 'Cats in Lowell on March 20th. That game was highlighted by the return of Johnny Pohl to the IceCats scoresheet. Pohl had been sidelined with an injury for 21 games. Including tomorrow night's game, Lowell has four games remaining in their season.

Fri., Apr. 4 vs. Manchester Monarchs - Worcester's Centrum Centre

IceCats vs. Monarchs: IceCats Lead Season Series 3-1-1-2
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com
Friday night's contest is the third time in seven days these two teams square-off. The IceCats were able to defeat the Monarchs, 5-3 on Friday night and 7-6 in overtime on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's game saw the 'Cats score five third period goals, two of them in a span of five seconds. Those two goals established a new IceCats franchise record for the two quickest goals and also tied an AHL record for the two quickest goals by the same team. Jeff Panzer recorded the 'Cats first hat trick of the season when he scored at the 1:53 mark of overtime. Manchester is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 38-22-10-6 record, 92 points.

Sat., Apr. 5 @ Portland Pirates - Portland, ME

IceCats vs. Pirates: IceCats Lead Season Series 3-2-1
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com
The IceCats play a crucial game against the Pirates on Saturday evening in Maine. The winner of this game will hold the extremely important tiebreaker (season series) should these two teams wind-up in a points and wins tie at the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday. The winner of the season series would wind-up seeded ahead of the other. Currently Portland has 82 points with a record of 32-26-12-6. Worcester has one more win and one more point than the Pirates, with both teams having four games remaining. Saturday's game is sure to be an all out battle.

Sun., Apr. 6 vs. Springfield Falcons - Worcester's Centrum Centre

IceCats vs. Falcons: IceCats Lead Season Series 5-0-2
Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com
The Falcons and 'Cats meet for the last game of the regular season on Sunday. The Falcons have secured 72 points in the standings with three games remaining. The St. John's Maple Leafs have 69 points while Albany has 68. Both Albany and St. John's still have the potential to catch the Falcons for the 10th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Springfield is 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and is on a two game winless skid (0-1-1-0). The Falcons play in Saint John, New Brunswick on Wednesday and Friday before playing in Worcester on Sunday.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Worcester & Neighboring Communities

ICECATS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES: CALDER CUP TOUR:

The AHL's top prize, the Calder Cup, will be on display at various locations throughout the day on Friday, April 4th. The Cup will be on display at the Quinsigamond Elementary School from 9:30-11:30, the Auburn Mall from 3-4 PM and numerous other locations throughout the Worcester area. Scratch will make a personal appearance with the Cup at the UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center from 12:30 to 1:30 that day. It will also be on display at the IceCats game starting at 6 PM on the Centrum Centre concourse.

'CAT TAILS:

* The IceCats are unbeaten at home in their last eight games (5-0-3).

* Jeff Panzer and Aris Brimanis established a new IceCats franchise record for the two quickest IceCats goals - :05 apart in the third period on March 30th against Manchester. The goal also tied an AHL record for the two quickest goals by the same team.

* Worcester is three points behind Bridgeport for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Seeds 1-6 do not have to participate in the 'play-in' round. Teams that finish 7-10 must compete in a three game mini-series to earn a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

* Goaltender Curtis Sanford is ranked seventh in the AHL with a 2.44 goals against average through 39 games. Sanford also checks-in with a .918 save percentage.

* Jeff Panzer registered the IceCats first hat trick of the season in Sunday's 7-6 come-from-behind overtime win over Manchester.

* Johnny Pohl was the IceCats selection for player of the week. Since returning on March 19th from an injury that cost him 21 games, Pohl has notched six goals and two assists in seven games: 7(6/2/8).

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 25: 2 WINS, 1 LOSS

5-3 WIN - Fri., Mar. 28 @ Manchester Monarchs - Manchester, NH ATT: 9,916

GOALS: WOR: Terry Virtue, Ernie Hartlieb, Mike Stuart, Jason Dawe, Johnny Pohl MANCH: (2) Healey, Dietrich
NOTES: Friday night in Manchester, New Hampshire, the IceCats defeated the Monarchs, 5-3. Defenseman Terry Virtue and center Johnny Pohl both had a goal and two assists. Jason Dawe registered a goal and an assist. Dawe's 15th goal of the season proved to be the game-winner. Goaltender Reinhard Divis made his fifth appearance in net for the IceCats, turning aside 33 shots to improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season.

3-0 LOSS - Sat., Mar. 29 @ Portland Pirates - Portland, ME ATT: 6,974

GOALS: WOR: --NONE-- PORT: Farrell, C. Ferraro, Pettinger
NOTES: Saturday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, the IceCats were defeated by the Pirates, 3-0. The loss was just the second loss in 10 games for the 'Cats (6-2-2). The game featured three consecutive fighting majors in the span of 4:18 in the second period. Defenseman Brett Scheffelmaier went toe-to-toe with respected and seasoned pugilist, Mel Angelstad. The 'Cats rookie landed four consecutive and solid rights to force Angelstad to the ice. Despite racking up 3332 career PIM's, Angelstad was Portland's Man of the Year and Most Popular Player last season. Worcester was unable to convert on any of their eight power play opportunities.

7-6 WIN - Sun., Mar. 30 vs. Manchester Monarchs - Worcester's Centrum Centre

ATT: 7,512
GOALS: WOR: (2) Johnny Pohl, (3) Jeff Panzer, Aris Brimanis, Jeremy Yablonski MANCH: Giuliano, (2) Bekar, Brennan, Aldous, Rosa
NOTES: Sunday afternoon at Worcester's Centrum Centre, the IceCats staged the best comeback in their nine-year franchise history. Trailing 6-1 entering the third period, the IceCats scored five goals in the third period and one in overtime to cap a remarkable 7-6 victory. Jeff Panzer began the comeback when he scored from his knees four minutes into the third. Rookie Johnny Pohl then scored just under two minutes later. Panzer registered his second of the contest to bring the 'Cats to within two goals. After a goaltender change by Manchester, defenseman Aris Brimanis set a new IceCats franchise record when he scored just five seconds after Panzer's marker. Pohl scored his second of the contest to tie the game at six all with 1:13 remaining. Worcester began their 12th overtime home game of season fast and furious with intense pressure in the Manchester zone. Jeff Panzer finished the improbable comeback when he tipped defenseman Mike Stuart's shot from the point past goalie Travis Scott. Panzer's goal, his third of the night, was the IceCats first hat trick of the season, first overtime win at home (1-1-10) and only the third comeback of the season when the 'Cats where losing after two periods. The 'Cats are unbeaten in eight straight home games (5-0-3). Jeremy Yablonski's first period goal was his first career AHL goal.

IceCats Leaders

Goals: 23 Sergei Varlamov
Assists: 36 Sergei Varlamov
Points: 59 Sergei Varlamov
PIM'S: 151 Igor Valeev
Plus/Minus: +16 Matt Walker

Upcoming Games

* Wed., Apr. 2; 7:05 PM Lowell Lock Monsters vs. Worcester IceCats Worcester's Centrum Centre

* Fri., Apr. 4; 7:05 PM Manchester Monarchs vs. Worcester IceCats Worcester's Centrum Centre

* Sat., Apr. 5; 7:05 PM Worcester IceCats @ Portland Pirates Portland, ME

* Sun., Apr. 6; 4:05 PM Springfield Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats Worcester's Centrum Centre



American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2003


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