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SPHL Fayetteville Marksmen

FireAntz Sweep Three Over the Weekend

November 8, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release


[FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.] – The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) came into this past weekends games 0-2 for the season.

Looking for their first win, and having released their starting goaltender from the first two games, Tim Knudsen, the FireAntz looked to breakthrough versus the Columbus Cottonmouths on Friday.

Friday, Oct. 29th Recap (Columbus): The FireAntz scored early and often in the first period, jumping out to a 3-0 lead by the halfway mark of the period. Goals by Bryan Lachapelle, Steve Roberts (2nd) and RJ Roy cemented the lead for the FireAntz. The goals were scored on only 9 shots in the period. In a lackluster second period for the FireAntz, Columbus got one back as Ryan Haggerty scored to draw the Cottonmouths closer at 3-1. They outshot the FireAntz 17-9 in the second.

Player/Assistant Coach Steve Roberts scored his 2nd of the game and 3rd of the season at the 4:50 mark of the 3rd period to give the FireAntz a 4-1 lead. A penalty-filled remainder of the game and a power-play goal from Orrin Hergott closed the scoring at 4-2 and brought the FireAntz their first victory of the season.

Chad Collins was stellar in net, making his first professional start, for the FireAntz. He saved 41 of 43 shots.

Head Coach Derek Booth also earned his first career coaching win.

FireAntz 1-2 on the season.

Saturday, Nov. 6th Recap (Macon): The FireAntz got on the board early again versus Macon as RJ Roy scored just 14 seconds into the game for his 2nd of the season. Then the goaltenders for each team, Mark Cairns for Macon and Chad Collins for Fayetteville, took over and held the two teams scoreless through the end of the second period.

With the score still 1-0 Fayetteville, Steve Roberts netted his 4th goal in as many games, and third game in a row, to give the FireAntz a 2-0 lead at the 7:58 mark. Adam Solnik added an empty-netter at the 19:30 mark to lock up the 3-0 victory for the FireAntz.

Fayetteville netminder Chad Collins earned his second victory and notched his first career professional shutout stopping all 26 shots he faced.

FireAntz 2-2 on the season.

Sunday, Nov. 7th Recap (at Winston-Salem): Coming off of two wins in two nights at home, the FireAntz took to the road for the first time this season in Winston-Salem. The Polar Twins were also coming off a victory the night before, defeating the Columbus Cottonmouths 4-3.

For the third night in a row the FireAntz got on the board first on a Brent Rumble power play goal at the 16:00 mark of the first period. That was the only goal of the period despite 27 combined shots.

After a scoreless second period, Winston-Salem tied the game at 1 on a power-play goal by Graham Dearle at 2:47 of the third. The FireAntz answered back less than three minutes later on a power-play goal by Dean Jackson (his 2nd of the season) at 5:13 to give Fayetteville a 2-1 advantage. Player/Assistant Coach Steve Roberts scored his 5th of the season, and for the fourth game in a row, at 12:47 to ice the victory, 3-1 and cap off the weekend sweep for the FireAntz.

Goaltender Chad Collins saved 32 of the 33 shots he faced and earned his 3rd consecutive victory for the FireAntz.

Head Coach Derek Booth said of Collins, "Chad played exceptionally well in net for us this weekend." Booth added, "When we released Tim Knudsen he (Collins) had to step up and prove himself, and he did just that. He's been a great addition to this team."

Of the team's 3-game win streak Booth said, "We played good defensive hockey." Booth continued, "It just goes to show that when you play within the system good things are bound to happen, and they did for us this weekend."

FireAntz 3-2 on the season (2-2 at home, 1-0 on the road).

3 Stars of the Weekend:

Chad Collins: 3-0, stopped 99 of 102 shots, .971 SV%, 1.00 GAA, 1 shutout

Steve Roberts: 4 goals, +4

RJ Roy: 2 goals, 2 assists, +3

Recent Transactions:

Forward Jeff Coulter was released 11/5. In 1 game played he registered 10 penalty minutes.

The FireAntz next home game is Friday, November 19th versus the Jacksonville Barracudas. The FireAntz will be celebrating "American Pride: Military Appreciation Night" at the Crown Coliseum. Special group rates are available for the game. Call the FireAntz office at (910) 321-0123 for more information.

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