FireAntz take sole possession of first place
Published on December 12, 2005 under SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release
[FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.] - The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) won both games this weekend and moved into sole possession of first place. In both games, the FireAntz would trail by scores of 3 to 1, but came back to win each night.
Friday, December 9th (vs. Huntsville): The FireAntz hosted the Huntsville Havoc on Friday night. The teams had split the first two meetings of the season, with the Havoc defeating the FireAntz, 4-1, on December 2nd.
Tyler Perry got the FireAntz going early, with his ninth of the season, at 1:40 of the 1st period. Huntsville's Craig Bushey would knot the score at 1 by the end of the period.
Bill Monkman gave the Havoc a two-goal lead, on back-to-back tallies, to start the second period. Trailing 3-1, the FireAntz answered with a Nick Kormanyos (4) goal and two power play goals by Mark Phenow (2, 3) to give the club a 4-3 edge going into the 3rd.
Huntsville tied the game just 1:32 into the frame on a goal by Tom Phillips. That would be the last goal that Glenn Ridler (8-0-0) would allow. Newcomer, Jeff Antonovich, would notch the game-winner at 17:01. The FireAntz held on for the 5-4 victory. The win pulled the FireAntz to 9-0-0 on home ice this season, the best in the SPHL.
Huntsville outshot the FireAntz 42-29.
FireAntz 13-3-2 on the season. (2-1-0 vs. Huntsville)
Saturday, December 10th (at Pee Dee): The FireAntz looked to continue their winning ways as they traveled to I-95 rival Pee Dee on Saturday. The FireAntz were 3-0-1 versus the Cyclones, this season, coming into the contest.
The Cyclones scored three goals on 20 shots in the 1st period, the 3rd goal coming at 19:59. Troy Linna (6) also scored in the frame.
The FireAntz would tie it up in the 2nd on goals by Kory Baker (4) and Nick Kormanyos (5).
The 3rd period saw five goals between the two clubs. Patrick Doherty and Eric Naud scored for Pee Dee. Baker (5, 6, 7) had all three FireAntz goals in the period. The FireAntz won 6-5. Baker's four goals tied a season record for number of goals in a game with Josh Welter and Rob Whidden, each of whom accomplished the feat on November 15th against Jacksonville.
The FireAntz outshot Huntsville 65-41.
FireAntz 14-3-2 on the season. (4-0-1 vs. Pee Dee)
3 Stars of the Weekend:
Kory Baker: 4G, 3A, 1 GWG
Mark Phenow: 2G, 2A
Mike Clarke: 4A
Recent Notes:
12/6 F Dean Jackson named SPHL Player of the Month (November)
12/7 F Brett Roat waived
12/7 F Caleb Moffat recalled to Odessa (CHL)
12/7 G Jorge Alves signed to a contract
12/7 F Jeff Antonovich signed to a contract
Noteworthy:
F Dean Jackson is 4th in the SPHL in scoring with 25 points (13G, 12A)
D Mike Clarke is 2nd in the SPHL in assists with 20 and 1st among defensemen in scoring with 22 points (2G, 20A)
The FireAntz are now in sole possession of 1st place in the SPHL with 30 points (14-3-2). They are 2 points ahead of the Knoxville Ice Bears.
FireAntz in the Media:
Monday: Head Coach Derek Booth will be on the "Brett and the Bad Boy" radio show on WFNC 640 am. The show starts at 6pm and will be broadcast live from It'z Sports Bar.
Tuesday: Defenseman Mike Clarke, leading scorer among defensemen in the SPHL, will be on "The Cage" radio show on ESPN Radio/WFAY 1230 am. The show starts at 5pm and will be broadcast live from The Big Apple Restaurant and Sports Pub.
Wednesday: Forward Dean Jackson, November's SPHL Player of the Month, and Head Coach Derek Booth will be on "FireAntz Weekly" on Time Warner Cable, channel 7, at 10 pm. The show will re-air on Friday at 5:30 pm.
Upcoming:
The FireAntz next home games are Friday, December 16th and Saturday, December 17th at 7:35 pm at the Crown Coliseum. Make sure to get your tickets now as they are going fast.
Season tickets and Corporate Partnerships for the 2005-2006 campaign are still available. Contact the FireAntz office (910) 321-0123 for more information.
SPHL Stories from December 12, 2005
- FireAntz take sole possession of first place - Fayetteville Marksmen
- 'Cudas weekly update - Jacksonville Barracudas
- Seals add another week of perfection - Florida Seals
- Cyclones Face Knoxville at Home on Friday - Twin City Cyclones
- Huntsville Havoc Weekly Update for 12 December - Huntsville Havoc
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