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SPHL Fayetteville Marksmen

FireAntz Bounce Back

December 6, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release


[Fayetteville, N.C.] – The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) hosted two games over the weekend with much different results. On Friday, December 3rd the club hosted the Columbus Cottonmouths and lost 4-2. Saturday they hosted the Winston-Salem Polar Twins and won 8-0.

Friday December 3rd (vs. Columbus): The FireAntz came into the game on a 4-game skid but got on the board first as Josh Welter wristed a shot past goaltender Chad Rycroft for his first of the season at the 10:30 mark of the first. Columbus stole what momentum the FireAntz had, however, getting a goal just 26 seconds later by Chris Rook to tie the game at 1.

Then in the 2nd period FireAntz forward Jeff Coulter ripped a shot that Rycroft made the initial save on but referee Bill Kicinski lost sight of the rebound and blew the play dead, nullifying what appeared to be a rebound goal by Andrew Dickson. Columbus capitalized, netting 2 goals in 47 seconds to give the Cottonmouths a 3-1 advantage. The goals were scored by Craig Stahl and Ryan Haggarty. After Stahl's goal FireAntz coach pulled goaltender Chad Collins and inserted Tyler Nilsson. Haggarty's goal was the first shot that Nilsson faced.

Booth re-inserted Collins into the game to start the third and the FireAntz responded. R.J. Roy netted his 4th goal of the season at 1:07. That goal pulled the team to a narrow 3-2 deficit. Matt Mathias of Columbus tacked on an insurance goal at 11:26 and it would turn out to be the final goal of the game.

The FireAntz outshot the Cottonmouths 48-29.

FireAntz 4-9 on the season.

Saturday December 4th (vs. Winston-Salem): After losing their 5th in a row the previous night, the FireAntz looked to change the tide against the Polar-Twins. And change the tide they did.

The FireAntz came out firing on cylinders. Shawn Roed netted his 3rd goal of the season at 1:18 of the first period. Dean Jackson followed with his 9th to make the score 2-0 after one period. The FireAntz set a franchise and SPHL record with 32 shots in the first period. Winston-Salem only had 1 shot on net in the period.

The second period was much of the same as goals by Bryan Lachapelle, Steve Roberts (2) and Mike Fournier gave the FireAntz a commanding 6-0 lead by the end of the period.

In the third period the FireAntz added of couple more goals. Lachapelle got his 2nd of the game and 5th of the season at 2:36. Sean Edwards capped off the scoring for the FireAntz, netting his 2nd of the season, at the 9:20 mark.

Goaltender Chad Collins stopped all 22 shots he faced and notched his second professional shutout and 5th win. His goals against average is now a paltry 2.04 and his save percentage is a stellar .932.

The FireAntz outshot Winston-Salem 65-22.

FireAntz 5-9 on the season.

3 Stars of the Weekend:

Steve Roberts: 2 G, 2 A, +3

Sean Edwards: 1 G, 2 A, +4

Jeff Coulter: 0 G, 2 A, even

Recent Transactions:

12/2 D John Jarram recalled to South Carolina of the ECHL

12/2 D Rob Meanchoff signed

12/2 C Shawn Roed returned from 1-game suspension

"Local Heroes Night":

On December 11th the FireAntz host "Local Heroes Night." Prior to the FireAntz game against the Huntsville Havoc at 7:35 pm there will be a special exhibition game. At 4:30 pm the New York City Fire Department hockey team will play against the Fort Bragg Dragons at the Crown Coliseum. Your FireAntz ticket will be good for admission to both games. Call the FireAntz office at (910) 321-0123 for more information. Great seats still remain.

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