Frostbite become first team to clinch playoff spot

Published on March 14, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Adirondack Frostbite News Release


The Frostbite won two out of three this weekend on their way to being the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Wednesday, Adirondack had their largest offensive output of the week scoring four times in the third period on their way to the 7-4 victory over the Richmond RiverDogs. The Frostbite followed up the performance with a 5-1 victory over the Danbury Trashers Friday night to clinch a playoff spot and guaranteed themselves nothing less than a second place finish in the Eastern Division. Saturday, Adirondack suffered their only loss of the week 3-1 to Danbury. The Frostbite remain tied for first in the overall standings with Muskegon at 92 points. Adirondack also has a nine point lead over the Trashers for first place in the Eastern Division.

Frostbite – 7 vs. Richmond – 4
Wednesday, March 9th
The Adirondack Frostbite regained the top spot in the United Hockey League standings by beating the Richmond RiverDogs 7-4. Greg Koehler scored twice in the third period leading Adirondack to their 41st win of the season. The RiverDogs took a 4-3 lead early in the third period only to see the Frostbite score four unanswered goals in earning the two points. Scott Drevitch tied the score at 4-4 at the 2:21 mark of the third period, followed by Koehler giving Adirondack a 5-4 advantage at the 7:20 mark of the final period. Koehler scored his second of the game at 13:04 of the third period, followed by David Burgess' tally at 16:24 capping off a 7-4 win. The night didn't start out perfect for Adirondack as David Hymovitz scored at the 9:32 mark of the opening period giving Richmond a 1-0 lead. The Frostbite responded shortly after when Justin Kelly set up Scott Page 15:17 into the first period tying the score at 1-1. In the second period, the Frostbite twice took a one-goal lead only to see the RiverDogs even the score. Sylvain Cloutier put Adirondack up 2-1 just 46 seconds into the middle period only to see Richmond's Brett Cross tie the score at 2-2 at the 2:59 mark of the second period. Ryan Bennett regained Adirondack's lead at 3-2 when he scored at 13:02, followed by the RiverDogs' David Brosseau tying the score at 3-3 1:11 after Bennett's goal.

Frostbite – 5 at Danbury 1
Friday, March 11th
Adirondack led through the first two periods by a goal, before scoring four times in the third period on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Danbury Trashers. With the win, the Frostbite clinched a playoff spot and have guaranteed themselves nothing less than a second place finish in the Eastern Division. Bennett scored early in the first period to give the Frostbite a 1-0 lead and extend his point scoring streak to eight games. The lead lasted until early in the third period when the Trashers tied the game on a power play goal from Nic Bilotto. The Frostbite answered back with a goal from Koehler, before adding a short handed goal by Hugo Belanger and two even strength from Kamil Kuriplach and Burgess. For Kuriplach it was his first goal of the season. With the way this season playoff format is set up, the Frostbite have guaranteed themselves nothing less than the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Frostbite – 1 at Danbury – 3
Saturday, March 12th
The Adirondack Frostbite went for a sweep on Saturday night against the Danbury Trashers, but fell just short losing to their divisional rival 3-1 at the Danbury Ice Arena. Despite the loss, Adirondack continues to have a nine point lead for first place in the Eastern Division. The night started out well for the Frostbite as captain Hugo Belanger gave his team a 1-0 lead just 1:53 into the first period. After Belanger's goal, Danbury responded with two goals of their own during the opening period as Alex Goupil knocked in a rebound at 10:25 of the first period. Jeff Daw gave Danbury a 2-1 lead at 19:11 of the first period, a lead the Trashers would not give up on this night. In the second period, Danbury added a second power play goal when Doug Christiansen converted at 16:52 giving the Trashers a 3-1 advantage.

TEAM NOTES:
IN THE PLAYOFFS: With Friday's victory over the Danbury Trashers the Adirondack Frostbite became the first team in the UHL to clinch a playoff birth. Since the Frostbite can finish no lower than second in their division the Frostbite have guaranteed themselves nothing lower than the sixth seed. The Frostbite are nine points ahead of Danbury for first in the East, with a game in hand, and are tied for the best record in the UHL, with the Muskegon Fury. Adirondack has the second best home and road record in the league.

SCORING LEADERS: Heading into the week Hugo Belanger leads the league in scoring with 86 points. Belanger is three points ahead of Flint's Bobby Reynolds. The Frostbite have two other players in the top 20 in scoring: Greg Koehler is tied for fifth with 80 points, while Sylvain Cloutier sits tied for 14th with 68 points. Belanger is second in the league in shooting percentage converting 20.4% of the time.

STREAKING: The Frostbite are on a season high eleven game home point streak. The Frostbite are 27-4-5 when scoring first and 27-0-0 when leading after the second period. Adirondack has the second best goals for per game average at 3.45. The Frostbite are third in the league in shots against per game allowing on average 27.47. Ryan Bennett is on an nine game point scoring streak. The Frostbite have earned a point in eight of their last nine games.

DREVITCH ON THE D: Scott Drevitch is tied for first amongst defenseman in scoring with 50 points. He is tied with Missouri's Mat Snesrud. Drevitch also leads all blueliners in goals with 13 and power play goals with seven. He leads the league in shots with 202. Bob Rapoza has moved into the top 20 amongst defensive scorers as well. He sits tied for 17th with 26 points.

RECORD BREAKING: Bob Rapoza is a point away from 300 on his career. After picking up three points Wednesday Cloutier moved into tenth on the Adirondack (UHL) All-time Points list with 105 points. Cloutier is two games away from 800 and two assists away from 300.

MATHEMATICS: Coming into tonight's game all but five teams in the league could mathematically still catch the Frostbite. Adirondack eliminated Elmira, Kansas City and Motor City last week, Richmond Saturday night and Port Huron Sunday. Five down, eight to go. Every team is also still mathematically alive to make the playoffs.

GREAT GOALTENDING: Despite Frostbite goalie Derek Gustafson missing over a month of action he sits just outside the top ten in goals against average at 2.73 and is still in the top five in the league in wins with 27. Kris Tebbs is fourth in the league in shootout save percentage at 78.9%. He is also tied for seventh on the Adirondack UHL All-Time wins list with 14.

OUT OF THE BOX: Coming into the week the Frostbite are last in the league in penalty minutes averaging only 18.6 per game. Adirondack is also last in the league in minors and second to last in the league in majors. Despite all of this Scott Page leads all rookies in penalty minutes with 200 and majors with 26.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: Heading into the week the Frostbite have the second best power play in the league converting 20.6% of the time. The Frostbite have the best road power play in the league converting 21.3% of the time.

CLOSE CALLS: This season the Frostbite have been involved in 33 games where they either won or lost by a goal. In those games the Frostbite are 21-4-8. Only seven times this season have the Frostbite either won or lost by four goals or more.

ROOKIE ON THE RISE: Bennett is now fourth amongst all rookies in scoring with 47 points. Bennett is also fourth amongst rookies in assists with 28, fourth amongst rookies in shots with 163, first in plus/minus at +26 and leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with five.

TRANSACTIONS:
None.

THE UPCOMING WEEK:
Adirondack vs. Elmira – Wednesday March 16th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its 15th of 18 games this season against the Elmira Jackals Wednesday, nine at home and nine on the road. The Frostbite are 11-1-2 against the Jackals this season, falling in a shootout in their last match-up 3-2. Hugo Belanger leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Elmira with 22 points (9g, 13a). Carl Drakensjo leads the Jackals in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with 12 points (3g, 9a). Adirondack all-time is 46-22-8 against Elmira.

Adirondack at Motor City – Friday, March 18th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its fourth of five games this season against the Motor City Mechanics Friday, three at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 3-0-0 against the Mechanics this season, winning their last match-up 6-3. Hugo Belanger leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Motor City with five assists. Kyle Kos leads the Mechanics in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with two goals. Adirondack all-time is 3-0-0 against Danbury.

Adirondack at Muskegon – Saturday, March 19th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its third of four games this season against the Muskegon Fury Saturday, two at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 1-1-0 against the Fury this season, falling in their last match-up 2-1. Sylvain Cloutier and Justin Kelly lead Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Muskegon with two points each (1g, 1a). Robin Bouchard leads the Fury in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with four points (3g, 1a). Adirondack all-time is 6-21-3 against Muskegon.

Adirondack at Quad City – Sunday, March20th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its final game of two games this season against the Quad City Mallards Sunday, both on the road. The Frostbite are 0-1-0 against the Mallards this season, falling in their only match-up 4-2. Trevor Segstro and Don MacPherson lead Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Quad City with a goal each. Mike Kompon and A.J. MacLean lead the Mallards in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with three points (1g, 2a). Adirondack all-time is 5-19-4 against Quad City.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16th Elmira at Adirondack 7:05 pm Glens Falls Civic Center
FRIDAY, MARCH 18th Adirondack at Motor City 7:00 pm Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena
SATURDAY, MARCH 19th Adirondack at Muskegon 7:30 pm L.C. Walker Arena
SUNDAY, MARCH 20th Adirondack at Quad City 4:00 pm The Mark of the Quad Cities

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 14, 2005


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