Elmira Jackals Weekly

Published on April 1, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


ELMIRA, N.Y. - April 1, 2013 - The Elmira Jackals welcome the beginning of April with the anticipation of the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Elmira qualified for the tournament for the sixth year in a row and, as the fifth seed, will face the Florida Everblades in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Last Week's Record: 2-1-0

Regular Season Record: 40-25-7, 87 pts., 2nd Place Atlantic Division, 5th Place Eastern Conference

Regular Season Leaders:

Goals - Andrew Rowe: 29

Assists - Andrew Rowe: 43

Points - Andrew Rowe: 72

+/- - Jordon Southorn: +27

PIMs - Kevin Harvey: 191

PPG - Andrew Rowe/Kyle Bushee/Jean Bourbeau: 5

SHG - Louie Caporusso/Andrew Rowe: 3

Wins - Maxime Clermont: 20

GAA - Ian Keserich: 2.35

SVP - Ian Keserich: .926

* Not on current roster

Previewing the Upcoming Week:

4/5 & 4/6 at Florida - 7:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m., All-Time Playoff Record vs. FLA: 3-7 (0-2 series)

One year after the Everblades upset the regular-season-conference-champion Jackals en route to their first Kelly Cup championship, Elmira has its chance for revenge. The Jackals and Everblades meet in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal with the 'Blades holding home ice advantage as the fourth seed. After the first two games in Estero, the series shifts to Elmira for Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5 (if necessary) on April 10, 12, and 13.

The Jackals and Everblades met twice during the 2012-13 regular season with Florida winning twice on home ice. Those games took place on November 9 and 10, and both teams sport a different look since then. Of the 18 players that dressed for the Jackals in those games, only eight were still with the team at the end of the regular season. Kevin Harvey was with the team, but missed both games due to a suspension. By contrast, Florida only dressed four players in its final regular season game who also played against Elmira back in November.

The Jackals went 0-3 in their three playoff games at Germain Arena last season, and are winless in their last five games there since a 4-2 win on December 10, 2011. When the Jackals and Everblades met in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Elmira won Game 2 of the best-of-five series for its only playoff win on Florida ice. Elmira took the Everblades to a decisive Game 5 at First Arena that spring, but the Everblades picked up a one goal win that night.

Day-by-Day Schedule:

4/1/13 - Optional Skate at First Arena, 10:30 a.m.

4/2/13 - Practice at First Arena, 10:30 a.m.

Depart for Florida, 2:00 p.m.

4/3/13 - Practice in Orlando Fla., 10:30 a.m.

4/4/13 - Practice at Germain Arena 11:00 a.m.

4/5/13 - Pre-Game Skate at Germain Arena, 11:00 a.m.

Jackals at Everblades, 7:30 p.m.

4/6/13 - Pre-Game Skate at Germain Arena, 11:00 a.m.

Jackals at Everblades, 7:00 p.m.

4/7/13 - Off

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series Schedule:

Game 1: Friday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. at Florida

Game 2: Saturday, April 6, 7:00 p.m. at Florida

Game 3: Wednesday, April 10, 7:05 p.m. at Elmira

Game 4: Friday, April 12, 7:05 p.m. at Elmira

*Game 5:Saturday, April 13, 7:05 p.m. at Elmira

*Game 6: Monday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. at Florida

*Game 7: Wednesday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. at Florida

Times on the day-by-day schedule are subject to change. For media members planning to cover practices please call or email Ray Schmitt in advance to confirm times.

Jackals Broadcast Information

All Elmira Jackals broadcasts are carried on WEHH AM 1600 and FM 93.9. Fans can also access live streaming of the broadcast online on their computer, smartphone, or tablet at www.1600wehh.com. America One provides pay-per-view internet TV broadcasts of all Jackals games as well. Check out how you can watch the Jackals on America One by clicking here. All Jackals broadcasts begin 10 minutes prior to faceoff with "The Jackals Pre-Game Show."

Recapping Last Week:

3/27 at Wheeling: L 2-6

The Jackals' final tour through the Atlantic Division got off to a rocky start as the Wheeling Nailers used a four goal second period to down Elmira 6-2. The loss snapped the Jackals' four game winning streak against the Nailers and sent them to their second loss in a row. Andrew Rowe had a two assist night with the helpers on goals by Matt Tassone and Steven Kaunisto.

3/29 vs. Trenton: W 4-1

Maxime Clermont became the fourth ECHL-era Jackals goalie to reach the 20 win plateau as his 28 saves backstopped Elmira to a 4-1 win over Trenton. He came 4:28 away from his first pro shutout, but Jacob Cepis spoiled the party. Elmira's offense came from four different sources with Jordon Southorn, Jean Bourbeau, Andrew Rowe, and Rob Bellamy doing the damage. Bellamy and Bourbeau ascended the 20 goal mark with their scores.

3/30 at Reading: SOW 3-2

Elmira had authored many impressive comebacks this season, but saved one of its best for last. Trailing by one in the third against the Eastern Conference's top team, and playing against a hostile crowd of nearly 7,000, the Jackals' Matt Tassone provided the tying score with just over eight minutes to play. Ian Keserich slammed the door on Reading's offense from there, including all three attempts in the shootout. Andrew Rowe, Matt Carter, and Kyle Bushee provided the offense in the breakaway competition to power the win.

Quick Hits:

* Andrew Rowe finished as the Jackals' top scorer in the regular season with 72 points (29G, 43A). He ranked seventh overall among ECHL skaters. It marks the first time in four years that the Jackals have not boasted the league's top scorer after Dustin Gazley (85 points in 11-12), Justin Donati (94 points in 10-11) and Justin Donati (114 points in 09-10) claimed the honor.

* Of the 20 active players on Elmira's roster at the end of the regular season, nine have Kelly Cup playoff experience. Kyle Bushee has played the most games (22) and advanced the farthest when his Wheeling Nailers went to the Eastern Conference final against Kalamazoo in 2011. Chaz Johnson has the most playoff points with 17 (7G, 10A) over 20 games. Four of the players (Jordan Pietrus, Rob Bellamy, Jean Bourbeau, and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel) were a part of Elmira's playoff run in 2012.

* The quarterfinal series between Elmira and Florida will showcase two of the best offenses in the league. Elmira closed the regular season with the third best offense in the league thanks to 247 goals (3.43 per game). Just ahead of the Jackals was Florida with 260 (3.61 per game). A big key to the series could be the first period. Florida won just over 84 percent of its games when scoring first, while the Jackals outscored opponents 72-51 in the first period during the season. The only team to give up fewer first period goals was Alaska at 48.

* Jordon Southorn finished second among ECHL defensemen with a career-best +27 plus/minus rating. Only Idaho's Matt Case (+30) was better. He was even or better in 13 of the 14 games he played in March and, for the season, he was even or better in 54 of his 64 games. His +27 rating is the third best in Elmira's ECHL history behind Brennan Turner's +33 in 09-10 and Pierre-Luc Faubert's +29 in 07-08. Southorn also set career highs in games played (64), goals (11), assists (23), points (34), and penalty minutes (77).

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