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Exter's Comeback Continues With First Pro Win

February 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Wheeling's Joe Exter took another giant step forward in his hockey career. Making his first professional start, Exter had 20 saves and registered his first professional win in a 4-3 overtime victory at Cincinnati on February 7.

Signed to a contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on December 24, Exter was assigned to Wheeling on January 9. He made his first professional appearance on January 10 allowing two goals and making four saves while playing 18:44 of the third period in a 5-2 loss at Cincinnati. He made two saves and did not allow a goal while playing the final 8:49 of a 3-0 loss at Johnstown on February 4.

On March 7, 2003, Exter, then playing for Merrimack College, had his helmet knocked loose in an on-ice collision with Boston College freshman Patrick Eaves, whose knee hit Exter in the temple. Exter's head hit the ice, he was knocked unconscious and he began to convulse. Exter had suffered two skull fractures and he spent 25 minutes lying on the ice while medical staff and paramedics prepared to transfer him to the hospital. Exter spent almost two weeks in a coma at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's intensive care unit. After waking up from the coma, doctors were simply hoping that Exter would be able to walk again and felt that hockey was out of the question.

Exter, who began skating three months later, was not drafted, but had interest from several teams in the National Hockey League before the accident. As his recovery progressed, Exter said that the New York Rangers, the Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins expressed interest with all planning to sign him to an AHL contract and then assigning him to an ECHL team. If Exter plays in a combined 15 games between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2003-04, his contract will automatically be renewed for 2004-05 and he is guaranteed a spot at the Penguins training camp.


Gulls, Nailers, Royals Strong At Home
San Diego will put its ECHL season-high 11-game home winning streak on the line on Tuesday when it hosts Long Beach. The Gulls, who are 20-4-0 at home, began the streak on December 30 with a 4-2 win against Long Beach. San Diego will remain home on Friday to host Las Vegas.

The second-longest home winning streak is 10 games by Wheeling. The Nailers, whose streak began on December 31, will not play at home again until February 20 when they host Cincinnati. The Nailers are 22-4-2 at home and need five wins to tie the team record for most home wins in a season, 27 in 1994-95.

Reading has won its last six home games to improve to 15-1-2 at home, the best home record in the ECHL. Reading will host Trenton on Wednesday, Johnstown on Saturday and Cincinnati on Sunday. The Royals won a team-record eight home games in a row November 16-December 21, breaking the mark of six games set February 8-March 2, 2002. The Royals were 16-13-7 in their first season at the Sovereign Center in 2001-02 and 17-16-3 in 2002-03.

The ECHL record for most consecutive home wins is 18 by South Carolina from December 23, 1994-March 19, 1995. The ECHL record for most home wins in a season is 30 by Louisiana in 2001-02.


Gwinnett's Doell Extends Scoring Streak To 13 Games
Gwinnett rookie center Kevin Doell had two assists in the Gladiators 4-1 win on February 7 to extend his scoring streak to 13 games, the longest active scoring streak in the ECHL.

Under contract to Chicago of the American Hockey League, Doell has scored 24 points (8g-16a) during the streak that began December 20. In his first professional season, the 24-year-old Doell ranks second among ECHL rookies with 29 assists and is tied for third in scoring with 45 points and shorthand points with four. He ranks second on the team with 16 goals, 29 assists and 45 points while playing in 40 of the Gladiators' 47 games. He has also appeared in six games for Chicago of the AHL scoring two points (1g-1a).

The 13-game streak ties Doell for the second-longest scoring streak in the ECHL in 2003-04 with San Diego's Greg Barber (23 points from January 11-February 7), Mississippi's Travis Lisabeth (19 points from December 30-February 3) and Gwinnett teammate Mike Vigilante (17 points from October 29-November 28). The longest scoring streak in the league is 20 games by Mark Pederson of San Diego. Pederson scored 33 points during his streak from December 28-February 7.


Bullies Play Five Consecutive Shootouts
Atlantic City lost 4-1 in regulation to Reading on February 6 ending its streak of consecutive shootouts at five games. The Bullies streak began January 28 with a 4-3 shootout loss against Wheeling and continued until February 4 with a 3-2 shootout win against Peoria. Atlantic City won 4-3 in a shootout at Trenton on January 29 and 3-2 in a shootout at Johnstown on January 30 while losing 4-3 in a shootout against Augusta on February 1.

The ECHL record for consecutive shootouts is held by the Huntington Blizzard, who had nine shootouts in a row from January 31-February 20, 1998. The Richmond Renegades, who had six straight shootouts from November 24-December 9, 1995, have the second most consecutive shootouts in league history.


ECHL Attendance Continues To Increase
For the fourth consecutive week, the ECHL saw an increase in its average attendance from 3,715 to 3,733, up almost five percent from its average of 3,553 through the first 17 weeks of 2002-03. Idaho has a league-leading seven sellouts, including 5,006 on Friday and 5,204 on Saturday for its games against San Diego. The ECHL has had 25 sellout crowds.


Northern Division
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
 * Bullies lead the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.02 goals per game.
* Luke Curtin has a five-game point streak (1g-5a) dating back to January 28.
* Atlantic City travels to Greensboro on Thursday before hosting Wheeling on Friday and Saturday.

Cincinnati Cyclones
 * Garrett Prosofsky leads the team with 17 goals, 25 assists and 15 power-play points (7g-8a).
* Cyclones are 9-2-0 when leading after the first period and 8-9-3 in one-goal games.
* Cincinnati hosts Peoria on Tuesday before traveling to Trenton on Friday and Saturday and to Reading on Sunday.

Dayton Bombers
 * .Chad Theuer has four points (3g-1a), including two game-winning goals, in four games in February.
* Jason Deskins is tied for second in the ECHL with four shorthand goals and leads the team with 16 goals.
* Dayton hosts Reading on Friday and Idaho on Sunday while traveling to Toledo on Saturday.

Johnstown Chiefs
 * Chiefs lead the ECHL on the penalty kill with 90.1 percent (182-for-202).
* David Currie is 6-0-1 with a 1.98 goals against average in his last eight games.
* Johnstown travels to Toledo on Friday and Reading on Saturday.

Peoria Rivermen
 * Mike Valley is 14-5-6 and ranks third in the ECHL with a 2.17 goals against average.
* Rivermen are tied for third in the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.48 goals per game.
* Peoria travels to Cincinnati on Tuesday before hosting Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

Reading Royals
 * Royals have not lost in regulation at home since October 31 and have the best home record in the ECHL (15-1-2).
* David Masse has a point in seven straight games since the All-Star break (2g-8a).
* Reading hosts Trenton on Wednesday and travels to Dayton on Friday before hosting Johnstown on Saturday and Cincinnati on Sunday.

Toledo Storm
 * Alexandre Jacques has 10 points (5g-5a) in his last five games and leads the team with 42 points (22g-20a).
* Jim Abbott is tied for second among ECHL rookies with 20 goals.
* Toledo hosts Johnstown on Friday and Dayton on Saturday.

Trenton Titans
 * Matt Zultek is tied for second in the ECHL with 12 power-play goals.
* Andrew Allen is 6-2-1 with a 2.33 goals against average and a shutout in his last nine games.
* Trenton travels to Reading on Wednesday before hosting Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday.

Wheeling Nailers
 * Nailers rank second in the ECHL in scoring with 3.75 goals per game.
* J-F Dufour is tied for the ECHL lead with 41 assists and ranks second with 61 points.
* Wheeling travels to Atlantic City on Friday and Saturday.


Southern Division
Charlotte Checkers
 * Scott Meyer is 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a shutout in his last four games.
* Richard Keyes has a four-game goal streak (4g) and 10 points in his last five games (4g-6a).
* Charlotte travels to South Carolina on Friday and hosts South Carolina on Saturday and Roanoke on Sunday.

Columbia Inferno
 * Inferno leads the ECHL in scoring with 3.88 goals per game.
* Tim Smith ranks third in the ECHL with 60 points (20g-40a) and has 12 points (6g-6a) in his last 10 games.
* Columbia travels to Greenville on Tuesday and to Columbus on Friday before hosting Gwinnett on Sunday.

Florence Pride
 * Wes Goldie ranks fourth in the ECHL with 26 goals, including seven in his last 10 games.
* Sebastien LaPlante is 4-0-0 with a 2.22 goals against average in four home games with the Pride.
* Florence travels to Columbus on Tuesday, hosts Roanoke on Friday and travels to Columbus on Saturday and to Greenville on Sunday.

Florida Everblades
 * Brian McCullough is tied for second in the ECHL with 27 goals and ranks fourth with 59 points.
* Rob Zepp made 47 saves in Sunday's 3-1 win at South Carolina snapping Florida eight-game winless streak (0-6-2).
* Florida travels to Gwinnett on Tuesday before hosting Mississippi on Friday and Saturday.

Greensboro Generals
 * Daniel Berthiaume leads the ECHL with four overtime wins and is tied for fourth with 22 wins.
* Geno Parrish ranks second among ECHL defensemen with 40 assists and is third with 46 points.
* Greensboro hosts Roanoke on Tuesday and Atlantic City on Thursday before visiting Augusta on Friday.

Greenville Grrrowl
 * Greenville is 3-for-12 on the power play (25 percent) in three games in February.
* Grrrowl are 6-6-0 in one-goal games and 2-2-0 when leading after the first period.
* Greenville hosts Columbia on Tuesday, Augusta on Saturday and Florence on Sunday while traveling to Gwinnett on Friday.

Roanoke Express
 * Duncan Dalmao ranks fourth among ECHL defensemen with 22 power-play points (4g-18a).
* Express has had 49 man-games missed this season because of injury, including 43 since the beginning of January.
* Roanoke travels to Greensboro on Tuesday, to Florence on Friday, to Gwinnett on Saturday and to Charlotte on Sunday.

South Carolina Stingrays
 * Stingrays' road power play ranks second in the ECHL with 24.1 percent (26-for-108).
* Kevin Spiewak has a six-game road assist streak (6a) dating back to January 15.
* South Carolina travels to Augusta on Thursday, hosts Charlotte on Friday and travels to Charlotte on Saturday.


Central Division
Augusta Lynx
 * Jonathan Gagnon has a four-game road goal streak (4g) and has a 10-game scoring streak (9g-5a).
* Terry Marchant tallied a hat trick in his first game with Augusta, a 4-1 win against Roanoke on February 6.
* Augusta hosts South Carolina on Thursday and Greensboro on Friday before traveling to Greenville on Saturday.

Columbus Cottonmouths
 * Jason Tapp is 5-1-1 with a 2.78 goals against average and a shutout in his last eight games.
* Marc-Andre Thinel (4g-4a) and Colin Pepperall (1g-7a) each have eight points in their last five games.
* Columbus hosts Florence on Tuesday and Saturday and Columbia on Friday.

Gwinnett Gladiators
 * Kevin Doell has a 13-game point streak (8g-16a) and ranks second on the team with 45 points (16g-29a).
* Brandon Dietrich is tied for the ECHL lead with 41 assists.
* Gwinnett hosts Florida on Tuesday, Greenville on Friday and Roanoke on Saturday before playing at Columbia on Sunday.

Louisiana IceGators
 * Louisiana leads the ECHL on the power play with 23.7 percent (60-for-253).
* IceGators rank second in the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.45 goals per game.
* Louisiana travels to Texas on Friday and Pensacola on Saturday.

Mississippi Sea Wolves
 * Steffon Walby leads the ECHL with 62 points (22g-40a) and is tied for the Mississippi all-time lead with 106 goals.
* Sea Wolves ranks third the ECHL in scoring with 3.65 goals per game.
* Mississippi hosts Texas on Tuesday and plays at Florida on Friday and Saturday.

Pensacola Ice Pilots
 * Defenseman Corey Neilson is tied for the ECHL lead with 41 assists and 24 power-play assists.
* Brian Eklund leads the ECHL with 1,429 saves and is tied for the league lead with four shootout wins.
* Pensacola hosts Louisiana on Saturday.

Texas Wildcatters
 * Lukas Smital has a 10-game road point streak (9g-5a) dating back to December 12.
* Rob Guinn has 10 assists in his last 10 games and leads the team with 10 power-play assists.
* Texas hosts Mississippi on Tuesday and travels to Louisiana on Friday before hosting San Diego on Saturday.


Pacific Division
Alaska Aces
 * Aces rank third in the ECHL on the penalty kill with 88.2 percent (234-for-254).
* Joe Talbot is tied for third in scoring among ECHL rookies with 45 points (19g-26a).
* Alaska travels to Bakersfield on Tuesday, to Long Beach on Wednesday, to Fresno on Friday and to Bakersfield on Saturday.

Bakersfield Condors
 * Paul Willett (4g-7a) and Kevin Riehl (3g-8a) each have 11 points in their last 10 games.
* Condors' Shane Bendera is 6-2-0 with a 1.86 goals against average in his last eight games.
* Bakersfield hosts Alaska on Tuesday, Long Beach on Friday and Alaska on Saturday.

Fresno Falcons
 * Kris Porter leads the team with 20 assists, 30 points and 12 power-play points (3g-9a).
* Falcons rank second in the ECHL in penalty minutes with 29.0 penalty minutes per game.
* Fresno hosts Alaska on Friday.

Idaho Steelheads
 * Miguel Delisle leads ECHL rookies with 11 power-play goals.
* Andrei Vasilyev has five goals and an assist in his last five games.
* Idaho travels to Peoria on Friday and Saturday and Dayton on Sunday.

Las Vegas Wranglers
 * Greg Day has an eight-game road point streak (5g-6a) and has four goals in his last five games.
* Marc Magliarditi is 14-3-1 with a 2.21 goals against average in 19 home games.
* Las Vegas travels to San Diego on Friday and hosts Long Beach on Saturday and Sunday.

Long Beach Ice Dogs
 * T.J. Aceti made 28 saves in Saturday's 2-0 win against Trenton to earn his second shutout of the season.
* John McNabb has 11 points (3g-8a) in his last 10 games and leads the team with 42 points (19g-23a).
* Long Beach travels to San Diego on Tuesday and hosts Alaska on Wednesday before traveling to Bakersfield on Friday and to Las Vegas on Saturday and Sunday.

San Diego Gulls
 * Mark Pederson has a 14-game home point streak (12g-12a) and leads the ECHL with 31 goals.
* Gulls are tied for third in the ECHL in goals allowed with 2.48 goals per game.
* San Diego hosts Long Beach on Tuesday and Las Vegas on Friday while visiting Texas on Saturday.

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