SPHL Fayetteville Marksmen

Fournier ceremony caps off big weekend

February 26, 2007 - SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release


[FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.] - The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) welcomed back Mike Fournier to the Crown Coliseum for "Hometown Heroes" night on Saturday and retired his number 34 FireAntz jersey. Fournier is the all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes for the FireAntz and was the team captain for two seasons. The FireAntz followed up the jersey-retirement ceremony by defeating the Knoxville Ice Bears and capping off a perfect weekend, moving into a tie for 3rd place in the SPHL with their fifth consecutive win.

Thursday, February 22nd (at Pee Dee): The FireAntz began their three-games in three-nights stretch in Pee Dee on Thursday.

The FireAntz jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the 5:00 mark in the 2nd period. Goals were scored by Rob Sich (3, 30), B.J. Stephens (26), and Jarrett Robertson (14). Pee Dee would close to within three on two goals by Jeff Marler and Edan Welch by the end of the second frame.

In the third period Daryl Moore inched the Cyclones to within one goal at 5:30. Sich would net his fourth tally of the game and 31st of the season at 15:29 to give the FireAntz a three-goal cushion once again. Goals by Moore and John Gurskis (extra attacker) made the final score a respectable 6-5.

Friday, February 23rd (vs. Columbus): The FireAntz returned home Friday to take on the first-place Columbus Cottonmouths.

The FireAntz fell behind early as the Cottonmouths took a two-goal advantage on scores by Ryan Rutz (power play) and Lorne Misita. B.J. Stephens (27) scored with just ten seconds remaining in the first frame to gain momentum going into the intermission.

Fayetteville capitalized on the change in momentum and scored five goals in the second period, blowing the game wide open. Josh Piro (10), Pekka Saittakari (3), Josh Welter (18), Tim Velemirovich (23), and Marc Norrington (6) all scored in the frame to give the club a 6-2 lead going into the 3rd period.

Saittakari capped off his great evening with his first professional 2-goal game at 18:36. The rookie defender from Heinola, Finland was +5 to go along with his two tallies. The FireAntz triumphed over the first-place Cottonmouths 7-2.

Goaltender Chad Collins was remarkable between the pipes turning aside 33 of 35 shots on goal.

Saturday, February 24th (vs. Knoxville): The FireAntz hosted the Knoxville Ice Bears on Saturday looking to win their 5th consecutive contest. Former Captain Mike Fournier returned for the game and wore his current uniform, that of the United States Air Force, for a ceremony to retire his number 34 FireAntz jersey.

The FireAntz would have to make a comeback for the second consecutive night as Knoxville took a 2-1 lead going into the second frame. Goals were scored by Mike Tuomi on the power play, Rob Sich (32), and former FireAnt Matt Kohansky. Tuomi would extend Knoxville's advantage in the 2nd period with his second of the game.

Trailing 3-1, Sich (33, 34) would complete his natural hat trick by rattling off two goals in the first 4:01 of the final frame. Rookie defenseman scored on a laser from the point giving the club a 4-3 advantage at 13:37. Sich (35) would cap off the night with his fourth of the game and league-leading 35th of the season by scoring into the empty net at 18:56. The FireAntz won 5-3 and pulled into a tie for 3rd place in the standings with Huntsville, just two points behind the Ice Bears and five behind first-place Columbus.

Goaltender Chad Collins (21-11-5) was stellar in net once again for the FireAntz, saving 36 of 39 attempts on goal.

Recent Notes:

Forwards Chris Ferguson and Nick Kormanyos remain on the 30-day IR. Forward Bryan Dobek (day-to-day) missed the three games over the weekend but is expected to be in the lineup for the FireAntz next game.

Defenseman Mike Clarke, with six assists over the weekend, moved into first place on the all-time FireAntz assist lead, passing Kory Baker. Clarke has 81 assists in 74 games played with the club. Baker had 79 assists in 77 games from 2004-06.

Forward Tim Velemirovich continues his strong push for the Rookie of the Year award, tallying a goal and seven assists over the three-game weekend. He was also +5. Velemirovich remains atop the leaderboard among rookies with 65 points on 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points, 6 ahead of Knoxville's Mike Tuomi. His 42 assists are also tied for third most in the SPHL.

Forward Rob Sich has moved into the league-lead in goals with 35, surpassing Ryan Rutz of Columbus who has 31. Sich also has moved into second place on the points list with 69, just two shy of Knoxville's Kevin Swider. Sich has also appeared in three fewer games.

3-Stars of the Weekend

Rob Sich: 8 goals, 2 assists, 10 points, +5

Tim Velemirovich: 1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points, +5

Mike Clarke: 6 assists, +3, now holds all-time FireAntz assist record

Upcoming:

The FireAntz remain home for another I-95 rivalry weekend as the Richmond Renegades come to the Crown on Friday, March 2nd. On Saturday, March 3rd, the FireAntz play host to the Pee Dee Cyclones on "Cape Fear Harley Davidson Night." The night is brought to you by Cape Fear Harley Davidson, Cedar Creek Urgent Care, Larry Lee Plumbing and Master Exterminators. Great seats still remain for both games. Call the FireAntz office for group rates or more information at (910) 321-0123.

Check out the Fayetteville Marksmen Statistics



SPHL Stories from February 26, 2007


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