First Home Game in Two Weeks Bodes Well for Jackals

Published on January 19, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release


GAME RESULTS:

1/14/04 ICEHAWKS 6 - Jackals 4

The Jackals went to Glens Falls Wednesday night as the last game of a long road stretch. Facing off against the IceHawks, a team who lost two of their top players (James Desmarais and Sylvain Cloutier) because of the fragility of the franchise, the Jackals were hoping to take advantage of having this past weekend off. Adirondack also had travel working against them; they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Richmond Tuesday night in Virginia and did not arrive back in Glens Falls until 7:00 am Wednesday morning.

But it would be the IceHawks who jumped out early as Frank Littlejohn and former Jackals R.C. Lyke each scored goals in the first three minutes of the hockey game to take a 2-0 lead. But the Jackals would fight back. Trevor Segstro, activitated from the injured reserve before the game, would cut the lead in half just 39 seconds after Lyke's goal. Then late in the period Don Smith scored a power play goal, his seventh, to draw Elmira level. In the second period, as has been the case lately for Elmira, Adirondack took a big lead scoring three power play goals to make the score 5-2. Elmira got one back with 11 seconds left in the period, Dean Jackson scored his first goal since returning from injury to bring the Jackals back within two.

Goaltender Peter Aubry left after two periods with an unknown injury, and Ryan McIntosh started the third. He held Adirondack scoreless while the Jackals put on the pressure; Jamie Thompson's wrap around goal with under two minutes left in the game gave the Jackals hope. However, with the net empty, Littlejohn put the nail in the coffin to finish the score line 6-4.

1/16/04 JACKALS 5 - Adirondack 2

The Jackals Are Back! In a resounding effort of near total domination, Elmira came out Friday night and took it to the Adirondack IceHawks 5-2. Randy Murphy started things off on the power play to give the Jackals a 1-0 lead after one period. In the second, Elmira scored 4 goals in the first 8 minutes to take a 5-0 lead. Nathan Gillies scored two (one on the power play) and Eddy Lowe and Mike Thompson each added goals for the home team; Jamie Thompson did not score, but he did have a three-assist night. Adirondack fought back slightly, Hugo Belanger scored late in the second period and Frank Littlejohn added one in the third, but it was not enough as Elmira got revenge on the IceHawks 5-2. Ryan McIntosh got the win for the Jackals, stopping 15 of 17 shots, while Scott Dickie and Lance Leslie split the time (though Dickie gave up all 5 goals).

1/17/04 PORT HURON 3 - Jackals 1

Coming off a very convincing victory at home against the Adirondack IceHawks Friday night, the Jackals hit the road Saturday for Port Huron. But Elmira's efforts to build off the previous night's success would fall short as the Beacons held on for a 3-1 win. Port Huron scored twice in the first period, which would prove to be enough for victory. Michel Beasoleil intercepted a clearing attempt and scored, unassisted, to make it 1-0. Late in the period Josh Tataryn found Aaron Brand hiding at the far post, and Brand did not miss, scoring the eventual game winner. After a scoreless second period, the Jackals turned up the pressure, out-shooting Port Huron 38 to 26 in the contest and with 5 minutes remaining, Cal Benazic slammed home a feed from Dean Jackson and Trevor Segstro to ruin Stu Dunn's shutout bid and give the Jackals life. Elmira swarmed the Beacons' net in the closing minutes, but it was Dunn who held the line. With under a minute to play, the Jackals pulled Peter Aubry for the extra attacker and had the puck deep in the zone, but the Beacons stole possession and shot towards the empty net. The full-ice bid was wide, but Brent Gretzky beat everyone to the puck, and he easily finished the empty netter to cap the scoring, his 26th goal of the year. Aubry finished with 24 saves on 26 shots, while Dunn stopped 37-of-38, an excellent compliment to his 52 for 55 effort on Friday.

JACKALS PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: (WEEK 13)

Nathan Gillies - RW 3 GP, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 pts, 4 PIMs, E

Nathan Gillies wrapped up his second straight Jackals Player of the Week honors with his second two-goal game of his season. Gillies had one assist in a 6-4 loss at Adirondack, had two goals at home against the IceHawks (including the game winner and a power play strike). A Cambridge, Ontario native, Gillies is the Jackals leading Rookie scorer with 19 points (12 goals, 7 assists), he is tied for second among UHL rookies in goals (12), and is fourth amongst first years in major penalties with 9.

Ryan McIntosh - G 2 GP, 1-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .905 SV%, 19 saves

Ryan McIntosh looked just as happy as the Jackals were to have a home game this week. McIntosh helped Elmira to a 5-2 win over Adirondack Friday night at the First Arena, and came in to shutout the IceHawks in the third period of a 6-4 loss Wednesday in Glens Falls. A Calgary, Alberta native, McIntosh stopped all but two shots he faced in the week, posting a 1.50 goal against average, and a .905 save percentage having to face just 19 shots over four periods.

JACKAL BITES:

· STILL ON TOP - Defenseman Kris Mallette is still leading the UHL in penalty minutes. The 6'3", 217 lb native of Comox, BC has 187 minutes on the year and is one major penalty behind Rockford's Donnie Margettie (18) for the league lead.

· ALL-STAR CALIBER - Center Randy Murphy scored the Eastern Conference All-Stars' first goal Sunday en route to an 8-3 East win. Defenseman Cal Benazic had an assist, starting goalie Peter Aubry stopped 23-of-25 for the win, and defenseman Trevor Burgess was voted to the starting lineup.

· MR. CONSISTENCY - For the second straight week, RW Nathan Gillies had his second two-goal game of his season. Cambridge, Ontario native is the Jackals leading Rookie scorer with 19 points (12 goals, 7 assists), he is tied for second among UHL rookies in goals (12), and is fourth first years in major penalties with 9.

· HEALTHY AND SCORING - Forward Trevor Segstro scored a goal in his first game back from coming of the IR Wednesday against Adirondack. Segstro was out for 6 weeks with a knee injury.

· A NEW VICTIM - Left wing Dean Jackson also scored Wednesday night, which was just his third game back from injury. The goal was his third of the season, and most remarkably Jackson's first professional goal scored on someone other than Port Huron goaltender Kory Cooper. Jackson's first three career goals, one last year and two this season, all came against Cooper.

· THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - The Jackals made their first appearance at the First Arena in two full weeks and no one was more excited about it than LW J.F. Boutin. The 27-year old extended his home scoring streak Friday night to eight straight games with an assist against Adirondack. He has accumulated 1 goal and 11 assists dating back to December 12th.

· TRANSACTIONS/PLAYER NEWS -RW Trevor Segstro was activated from the 21-day IR prior to Wednesday's game in Adirondack. D Matt Osborne was activated from team suspension and then placed on waivers Thursday. D John Donnelly, LW Neil Posillico were also placed on waviers Thursday. LW Greg Koehler is on a call up with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). D Mark Jerant remains on call up with Hershey (AHL). RW Carl Drakensjo is on the 21-day IR with a broken left leg.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Elmira Jackals Team Leaders:
Goals: Greg Koehler (18)
Assists: Greg Koehler, Randy Murphy, Don Smith (25)
Points: Greg Koehler (43)
Plus/Minus: James Sheehan (+13)
Penalty Minutes: Kris Mallette (187)
Power Play Goals: Don Smith (7)
Short Handed Goals: Randy Murphy, Nathan Gillies, Jamie Thompson (1)
Shots: Don Smith (123)
Shooting Percentage: Nathan Gillies (16.7%)
Shootout Goals: Randy Murphy, Don Smith (3)
Shootout Percentage: Don Smith (75.0%)
Saves: Peter Aubry (761)
Wins: Peter Aubry (13)
GAA: Peter Aubry (2.90)
Save Percentage: Peter Aubry (.902)

Don't miss The Elmira Jackals Coach's Show every Tuesday night live from Patrick's Pub, 303 College Ave. at 7pm. Join Jackals Head Coach Todd Brost, Owen Newkirk, and WiNGZ's Joe Monroe, along with Cal Benazic and Anthony Cappelletti for the broadcast. Tune in on WiNGZ 104.9 FM or stream it online at www.jackalshockey.com.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 19, 2004


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