
Chiefs declaw 'Catters
February 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release
Johnstown, PA - Johnstown battled through 65 minutes of play Friday night and pulled out a 5-4 win, thanks to the shootout heroics of Alexandre Imbeault.
Texas would find the score sheet first, as Jordie Preston slipped the puck past Chiefs netminder Jason Bacashihua at 6:14 of the first, assisted by Riley Emmerson and Dan Welch. Little more than a minute later, Johnstown answered on a Vincent Zaore goal from Nicolas Bachand and Tyler Hirsch at 7:36. The Chiefs would take the lead as Mike Sgroi shoveled the puck from center ice ahead to Jean Desrochers into the Texas zone. Desrochers would hammer his shot home at 17:02, in the closing seconds of the Chiefs' power play. Johnstown carried a 2-1 advantage to the dressing room after one.
The Chiefs would barrage Wildcatters goaltender Jeff Pietrasiak with 16 shots and manage to find the back of the net two more times in the second period. Randy Rowe would open the scoring on the man advantage at 2:02 of the second, with helpers from Joey Olson and Rob Drummond. Sgroi notched a goal for himself at 8:28 of the period, assisted by Desrochers and Ray Macias. Texas battled to overcome a three-goal deficit, tallying two goals less than a minute apart. Brandon Benedict found the twine at 15:57 on a 3-on-2 break with Scott Champagne and Kevin Baker. The Wildcatters struck again as Welch lifted the puck past Bacashihua at 16:37, assisted by Colin Nicholson. Johnstown held a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Texas would bring the game to a 4-4 deadlock 4:36 into the third, as David Schulz scored on a pass from Nicholson. A Wildcatters goal by Welch was waved off midway through the period, as the net came off. Neither team would find the net through the rest of regulation, though Drummond and Rowe came close on a short-handed break late in the period.
A bench minor for too many men left Johnstown with a 4-on-3 power play in overtime, but the Chiefs failed to capitalize on the man advantage. Macias and Olson scrambled for the Texas net in a 2-on-1 break, but the shot sailed wide.
Alexandre Imbeault would provide the game-winning goal for the Chiefs in the first round of the shootout. None of the Wildcatters' five shooters could slip the puck past Bacashihua.
The Chiefs went 2-for-4 on the power play and fired 32 shots at Texas goaltender Pietrasiak. Bacashihua earned the win in net for Johnstown, turning aside 31 of 35 attempts.
Johnstown faces division rivals the Dayton Bombers on Saturday night for "Man's Night". Join the Chiefs for a celebration of manhood. If you can't make it to the War Memorial on Saturday, be sure to come out Sunday, February 24, for "70s Night." All fans sporting 70s wear will receive $1.00 off their tickets at the box office, and the best dressed flashback fan will receive a prize from the Chiefs. Great seats are still available for both games at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial. Call 536-5156, or visit www.johnstownchiefs.com to get yours today!
ECHL Stories from February 15, 2008
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- Steelheads Stunned In Overtime By RoadRunners, 5-4 - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Hold On 2-1 Versus Bakersfield - Bakersfield Condors
- Royals Salvage Shootout Win Over Dayton, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Condors edged by Grizzlies, 2-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Chiefs declaw 'Catters - Johnstown Chiefs
- Devils Blown Back by Cyclones, 7-0 - Trenton Devils
- Catters Salvage Point with Shootout Loss, Streak Stalls at Eleven - Texas Wildcatters
- Stingrays Get The Better Of The Ice Pilots 5-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Inferno Singes Sea Wolves 3-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Gladiators Fend Off Jackals 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Melanson's late goal sinks Charlotte as Blades win third straight, 2-1 - Florida Everblades
- Infero sink Sea Wolves 3-2 - Columbia Inferno
- Gladiators Muscle Past Jackals, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Checkers Fall To Everblades, 2-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Rays Sting Ice Pilots 5-2 in Charleston - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- KB Home Checks Prices At Riverbend In Stockton - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- RoadRunners Add Saturday's Game To Radio Schedule - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Jackals Announce Roster Moves - Elmira Jackals
- Marks Two Shy Of Tying Brophy For Career Wins Record - ECHL
- Sea Wolves Announce Events For Hockey Week On The Coast - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Stingrays Salute Youth Hockey in the Lowcountry Tonight as Team Hosts Pensacola - South Carolina Stingrays
- Monday's Game Against Wheeling Moved to March 26 - Dayton Bombers
- Catters Cruise Through Elmira 6-3, Winning Streak at 11 - Texas Wildcatters
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Chris Blight Loaned To Albany - Reading Royals
- Blades lose three, get one from AHL - Florida Everblades
- Freddie Names Little Caesar As Running Mate, Brittany Wilkinson As Campaign Manager - Fresno Falcons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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