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'Cats, Grizzlies Tie 3-3 in First Ever Meeting

December 20, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


WORCESTER, MA-In their first-ever meeting, the Worcester IceCats and Utah Grizzlies tied 3-3 Friday night at Worcester's Centrum Centre.

While happy to get a point, the 'Cats squandered one-goal leads in the second and third periods. Worcester's goaltender Curtis Sanford denied the Grizzlies the extra point with a breakaway save on Utah's Eric Chouinard as the final seconds ticked away in overtime.

Worcester's Igor Valeev tied the game 1-1 in the first period after Chouinard put the Grizzlies ahead with the game's first goal. 'Cats Captain Eric Nickulas gave his club a 2-1 lead after he scraped up a rebound in front of Utah goalie Corey Hirsch on the power play.

Jim Montgomery tied the game at 2-2 with a rocket from the slot before John Pohl again gave Worcester the lead 2:29 into the third period. Nickulas set up the power play goal with a nifty behind-the-back pass right to Pohl's stick blade. Montgomery struck again, though, and closed out the scoring on the power play with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.

During the game, the wives and girlfriends of IceCats players raffled off handmade ornaments. The ornaments, made by the players, raised over $1500 for Rachel's Table of Worcester. Rachel's Table provides nutritional meals for underprivledge children.

Worcester travels to Albany Saturday night and Providence Sunday afternoon before enjoying the Christmas break. They get back at it Friday, December 27th, with a 7:05 PM tilt vs. Albany at Worcester's Centrum Centre.

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