Denike Backstops Seals' 60 Minute Effort In Win
Published on November 22, 2006 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
KISSIMEE, Fla. - On Thanksgiving Eve, the Florida Seals hockey team was looking to avoid the farmer's axe and finally defeat their rivals from Jacksonville.
Mission accomplished.
The Seals got a full sixty minute effort from the veterans and rookies alike along with the rock solid performance of Terry Denike in net to beat the visiting Barracudas 3-1 at the Silver Spurs Arena.
"The guys played really hard for sixty minutes and look at the results," Seals Captain Steve Zoryk, one of the goal scorers, said. "This losing stuff isn't fun."
Florida's special teams have been a problem of late and they were put to the test early. Back to back penalties forced the Seals to kill 3:58 within the first six minutes. They did so, allowing a mere three shots on Denike. With just over seven minutes left in the period, the Seals used hustle to open the scoring. Ryan Fultz outfought a Jacksonville defenseman to get a shot on Barracudas net minder Darcy Munro. Munro made the save but Zoryk was there to bang the rebound home.
Denike and Munro continued to be stone walls into the second. Denike absolutely stoned Tyrone Garner with a diving save. Two minutes later, the Seals doubled their lead when Ryan Coghlan took the puck out of a scrum in the corner, walked in front and beat Munro between the legs.
"I think they (Florida) got their chances and they buried them," Jacksonville coach Rick Allain said. "We didn't capitalize on our chances."
The third period again belonged to the goalies. Munro kept the Cudas in the game with a huge save on Coghlan just past the midway point of the period. Denike did his part at the other end as the Seals had two penalties to kill. Jacksonville finally dented Denike with 1:08 left when Garner scored on a rebound from in front of the net. The Cudas pulled Munro in the final minute but Kahlil Thomas put an end to their comeback hopes with an empty net goal.
"We all know it's in this hockey club, that's for sure. It's just whether or not they want to come pay the price from the first minute to the last minute," Seals coach Tommy Stewart said. "We had a lot of chances. Terry Denike played (like) the old Terry Denike tonight and we did a good job."
Denike, who has won two of his last three starts, made 31 saves in the game to backstop the win.
"It felt great. The guys came to play," Denike said. "That's what it's going to take - sixty minutes from everybody. I was just happy that I could help my team secure the win."
After enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday following an early practice, the Seals return to the ice at the Silver Spurs Arena on Friday night against the Columbus Cottonmouths. Game time is 7:35 p.m.
SPHL Stories from November 22, 2006
- Denike Backstops Seals' 60 Minute Effort In Win - Florida Seals
- Ice Bears with the Assist - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Battered Barracudas Look to Start Winning Streak - Jacksonville Barracudas
- Cyclones head into holiday weekend - Twin City Cyclones
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