Frostbite lead the league in points for second straight week

Published on March 1, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Adirondack Frostbite News Release


Adirondack started the week off slow with a road loss to Danbury, before finishing the week strong with three wins and keeping a hold on the best record in the UHL. Wednesday night the Frostbite lost to the Trashers 4-2. After a penalty filled first period both teams settled down to play two strong periods of hockey in which Danbury prevailed thanks to two goals by rookie Alex Goupil. The Frostbite avenged their loss with a 4-3 shootout victory Friday over the Richmond RiverDogs. Scott Page scored early for the Frostbite who got goals from Frank Bakrlik and Ryan Bennett as well. Richmond tied the game up with only 54 seconds left, before the Frostbite won it in a shootout on goals from Hugo Belanger and Bakrlik. Saturday the Frostbite continued their high offensive powered play as Bennett scored twice, while adding an assist, leading Adirondack to a 5-3 victory. The most entertaining game of the weekend came yesterday against Danbury, a 2-1 victory for the Frostbite. Danbury had the early 1-0 lead before Corey Lucas scored a power play goal for Adirondack in the second period and Sylvain Cloutier the game winner early in the third. With the win the Frostbite remain in first place overall with a record of 39-15-6, 84 points, one better than the Muskegon Fury. The Frostbite also remain eight points ahead of Danbury for first place in the Eastern Division.

Frostbite – 2 at Danbury – 4 Wednesday, February 23rd

The Frostbite fell just short losing to the Trashers 4-2, snapping their three-game winning streak. The first period was an eventful opening frame as at the 7:33 mark, a line brawl broke out with five players being handed game misconduct penalties including Frostbite center David Burgess and Trashers players Chad Wagner, John Mirasty, Gerry Hickey and Dave MacIssac. The Frostbite took an early 1-0 lead on the power play when Cloutier scored his 20th goal of the season assisted by Greg Koehler and Belanger. Adirondack took a 1-0 lead into the second period, but Goupil scored a shorthanded goal at 1:12 of the second period. The Frostbite regained their one-goal lead at 10:17 of the middle period when Trevor Segstro knocked home Scott Drevitch's rebound. The Trashers once again tied the score at 2-2 late in the second period when Russell Spence tallied at the 13:59 mark. In the third period, John Morlang scored the eventual game-winner at the 5:47 mark.

Frostbite – 4 at Richmond 3 (SO) Friday, February 25th

The Frostbite received shootout goals from Bakrlik and Belanger to beat the RiverDogs 4-3 on Friday night at the Richmond Coliseum. The win for Adirondack improves their record to 37-15-6 good for 80 points and first place overall in both the UHL standings and the Eastern Division. Adirondack started the first period strong as Page quickly gave the Frostbite a 1-0 lead 1:17 into the opening session. Richmond would respond with back-to-back goals taking a 2-1 lead, but midway through the second period, Bakrlik, playing with a broken nose, tied the score at 2-2. Early in the third period, Bennett gave Adirondack a 3-2 lead, an advantage that would hold up for most of the final period. With 54 seconds remaining in regulation, David Hymovitz tied the score at 3-3 sending the contest into the shootout.

Frostbite – 5 at Richmond – 3 Saturday, February 26th

For the second straight night, it wasn't easy, but the Adirondack Frostbite beat the Richmond RiverDogs 5-3 sweeping the weekend series in Virginia. Adirondack opened the scoring when Bennett scored his 15th marker of the season at 6:02 of the first period giving the Frostbite a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. Richmond responded in the second period tying the score at 1-1, but Cloutier regained Adirondack's one-goal lead at 2-1 when he converted for his 21st goal of the season at 16:49 of the middle period. The RiverDogs for the second time in the period tied the score, this time at 2-2 when David Brosseau just beat the clock knocking home a shot past Adirondack goaltender Kris Tebbs at 19:59 of the second period. The Frostbite quickly regained their one-goal advantage just 28 seconds into the third period when David Vychodil scored giving Adirondack a 3-2 lead. Richmond's Francois Belanger tied the score at 3-3 on the power play before Bennett scored his second goal of the game midway through the third period putting the Frostbite on top for good at 4-3. Koehler added a power play goal late in the third period capping off a 5-3 win.

Frostbite – 2 vs. Danbury – 1 Sunday, February 27th

The Adirondack Frostbite showed some character Sunday night beating the Dandury Trashers 2-1 in front of a crowd of 3,362 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The Frostbite now lead the Eastern Division by eight points over the Trashers. In a tight checking first period, Dandury scored the game's first goal when Jeff Daw scored on the power play at 18:44 of the first period. The first period featured a playoff type intensity with both teams providing some solid body checks. In the second period, Adirondack tied the score at 1-1 on the man advantage when Lucas scored his second goal of the season assisted by Bennett and Steve O'Rourke at 16:40 of the second period. In the third period, it was O'Rourke and Bennett again playing playmaker, this time setting up Sylvain Cloutier for the game-winning goal at 2:45 of the third period. Tebbs was once again solid in goal making 22 saves earning the game's second star.

TEAM NOTES:

IN THE HUNT: Heading into the week the Frostbite are eight points ahead of Danbury for first in the East and have the best record in the UHL, one point better than the Muskegon Fury. Right now the Frostbite have two games in hand on Danbury. The Frostbite are 25 points up on the third place Richmond RiverDogs. Adirondack has the third best home record and second best road record in the league. Only five points separate the Frostbite from the fifth place team overall.

SCORING LEADERS: Heading into tonight Hugo Belanger leads the league in scoring with 80 points. Belanger is three points ahead of Richmond's David Hymovitz. Belanger also has the second best shooting percentage in the league converting 20.3%. The Frostbite have two other players in the top 20 in scoring: Greg Koehler is tied for third with 74 points, while Sylvain Cloutier sits 14th with 62 points. Belanger and Koehler sit tied for second in the league in power play points with 34.

STREAKING: The Frostbite are on a three game winning streak and a season high seven game home winning streak. The Frostbite are 26-3-3 when scoring first and 25-0-0 when leading after the second period. Adirondack has the best goals for per game average at 3.43. Trevor Segstro is on a four game road goal scoring streak. The Frostbite are third in the league in shots against per game allowing on average 27.68.

DREVITCH ON THE D: Drevitch is second amongst defenseman in scoring with 45 points after a two assist night Saturday at Richmond. He is a point behind Missouri's Mat Snesrud. Drevitch also leads all blueliners in goals, power play goals with six and power play points with 24. He leads the league in shots with 181.

RECORD BREAKING: With a win Saturday, Coach Marc Potvin got his professional head coaching record back to .500. Bob Rapoza is three points away from 300 on his career and three games away from 600. After picking up two assist Saturday Drevitch moved into a tie for ninth on the Adirondack (UHL) All-time Points list with Trevor Senn at 101 points. After his win last night, Kris Tebbs is ninth on the Adirondack (UHL) All-Time wins list amongst goalies with 13. With the win against Danbury Sunday, the Frostbite had their highest monthly win total of the season with eleven.

POWER PLAY POINTS: Adirondack continues to make opponents pay when they go on the power play. Coming into tonight the Frostbite have the second best power play in the league, converting 21.8% of the time. Adirondack has the best road power play unit. On the penalty kill the Frostbite have worked their way up to fifth in the league, killing 84.1 percent of the time.

OUT OF THE BOX: Coming into the week the Frostbite are last in the league in penalty minutes averaging only 19.1 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 191 and majors with 25.

CLOSE CALLS: This season the Frostbite have been involved in 31 games where they either won or lost by a goal. In those games the Frostbite are 21-4-6. Only six times this season have the Frostbite either won or lost by four goals or more.

ROOKIE ON THE RISE: After a three point game Saturday night (2g, 1a), Ryan Bennett has moved into fifth amongst all rookies in scoring with 38 points. Bennett is also third amongst rookies in shots with 148, tied for first in plus/minus at +20 and leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with four.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: The Adirondack Frostbite player of the month for the month of February is Sylvain Cloutier. During the month, Cloutier led the team in scoring with 19 points.

TRANSACTIONS:

Wednesday, February 23rd – Adirondack Frostbite activated defenseman Steve O'Rourke from the seven day injured reserve.
Saturday, February 25th – Adirondack Frostbite left wing J. F. Labarre was placed on league suspension.
Monday, February 28th – Adirondack Frostbite waived goaltender Marty Magers.

THE UPCOMING WEEK:

Adirondack vs. Elmira – Wednesday March 2nd

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its 14th of 18 games this season against the Elmira Jackals Wednesday, nine at home and nine on the road. The Frostbite are 11-1-1 against the Jackals this season, winning their last match-up 5-1. 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 11 points (3g, 8a). Adirondack all-time is 46-22-7 against Elmira.

Adirondack vs. Port Huron – Friday March 4th

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its fourth of five games this season against the Port Huron Beacons Friday, three at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 2-1 against the Beacons this season, winning their last match-up 4-3. Sylvain Cloutier leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Port Huron with seven points (3g, 4a). Aaron Brand leads the Beacons in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with eight points (3g, 5a). Adirondack all-time is 13-12-2 against Richmond.

Adirondack vs. Fort Wayne – Saturday March 5th

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its third of four games this season against the Fort Wayne Komets Saturday, two at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 0-2 against the Komets this season, falling in their last match-up 4-1. Sylvain Cloutier and Trevor Segstro lead Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Fort Wayne with a goal each. Dan Stewart and Rob Guinn lead the Komets in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with three points (1g, 2a). Adirondack all-time is 4-11-0 against Fort Wayne.

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Tuesday, March 1st – Frostbite players David Vychodil, Frank Bakrlik and Henrik Bergfors will be having lunch with residents at the Westmount Health Facility from 1:00-2:00pm.

Tuesday, March 1st – Frostbite players Trevor Segstro, David Burgess, Steve O'Rourke and Ryan Bennett will be skating at the Lake George Forum in an open skate from 4:30-6:30pm.

Thursday, March 3rd – Frostbite players Scott Page, Corey Lucas, Justin Kelly and J.F. Labarre will be at 3 Guys, Games and Paintball for the Grand Opening at the new store location.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 1, 2005


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