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Frostbite prepare for five-game road trip

March 28, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Adirondack Frostbite News Release


The Frostbite rebounded from a tough road trip on this past weekend with a 5-1 victory over the top team in the league, the Muskegon Fury Wednesday night. David Burgess had a hat trick, while Ryan Bennett and Greg Koehler each had three point games. The only loss for Adirondack came Friday night 5-2 at the hands of the Motor City Mechanics. Joe Burton had two goals, while Justin Kelly had the Frostbite's lone two goals. Adirondack bounced back Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Elmira. J.F. Labarre had two goals and an assist, while Kamil Kuriplach scored the game winner and added an assist. The Frostbite finished the week with the second best record overall at 45-20-8, 98, four points behind the Muskegon Fury for the best record in the UHL.

Frostbite – 5 vs. Muskegon – 1

Wednesday, March 23rd

It didn't take the Adirondack Frostbite long to take control of the game Wednesday night and end their three-game losing skid. Adirondack used three first period goals and a hat trick by David Burgess to build a comfortable advantage and cruise to a 5-1 win over the Muskegon Fury. The Frostbite opened the scoring just 43 seconds into the first period when Burgess scored his first goal of the night giving Adirondack a 1-0 lead. Greg Koehler gave the Frostbite a 2-0 advantage when he converted at 2:56 of the opening period, followed by a J.F. Labarre marker at 11:36 giving Adirondack a 3-0 first period lead. In the second period, the Frostbite built a 5-0 lead when Burgess scored his second and third tallies of the contest leading the boys from the North Country to a well deserved victory. Derek Gustafson ended the night stopping 23 of the 24 shots on goal.

Frostbite – 2 vs. Motor City 5

Friday, March 25th

The Adirondack Frostbite fell behind early on Friday night on their way to a 5-2 loss against the Motor City Mechanics in front of 4,479 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Justin Kelly scored both Frostbite goals, his 21st and 22nd tallies of the season. Motor City built a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back as Brandon Fleenor, Mike Burgoyne and Joe Burton all converted for the Mechanics in the opening 20 minutes of play. Frostbite goaltender Derek Gustafson allowed three goals on 11 shots and was pulled after the first period. In the second period, Kelly cut the Frostbite deficit in half as he scored his first marker of the night just 1:31 into the middle period. Jeff Doyle halted any Adirondack momentum as he gave Motor City a 4-1 lead at 2:44 of the second period. After falling behind 5-1, Kelly scored his second goal of the game late in the third period ending the Frostbite evening. Adirondack will look to rebound Saturday night when they host the Elmira Jackals at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Frostbite – 5 vs. Elmira – 2

Saturday, March 26th

The Adirondack Frostbite responded from Friday night's setback with a well deserved 5-2 win over the Elmira Jackals Saturday night in front of 4,351 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. It was the second straight night with a crowd of 4,000 plus for the Frostbite. After falling behind 1-0 after the first period, the Frostbite quickly tied the score 1-1 in the second period when Ryan Bennett converted on the power play at 3:05 of the middle frame. Elmira regained their one-goal lead in the second period when former Frostbite defenseman Jason Jaworski one-timed a shot past goaltender Derek Gustafson at the 10:27 mark of the second period. Adirondack once again evened the score when Frank Bakrlik scored at 13:50 of the middle tying the score at 2-2. The Frostbite took control in the third period when Kamil Kuriplach gave Adirondack a 3-2 advantage when he converted at 3:43 of the third period. The Frostbite took a 4-2 lead when Bob Rapoza's slap shot found the back of the net at 8:05 of the final frame. J.F. Labarre added an empty net goal with six seconds remaining in the game capping off a 5-2 win.

TEAM NOTES:

IN THE PLAYOFFS: The Adirondack Frostbite are one of six teams 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 and have the second best record in the UHL, four points behind the Muskegon Fury. If the Frostbite can take three out of four this week they can clinch the Eastern Division Title. Adirondack has the second best home record in the league.

SCORING LEADERS: Heading into tonight Hugo Belanger leads the league in scoring with 94 points. Belanger is two 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 89 points, while Sylvain Cloutier is 15th with 74 points.

STREAKING: The Frostbite had a season high 13 game home point streak snapped last night. The Frostbite are 29-2-0 when leading after the second period. Adirondack has the second best goals for per game average at 3.51. The Frostbite are second in the league in shots against per game allowing on average 27.59. Belanger is on a five game road point scoring streak.

DREVITCH ON THE D: Scott Drevitch is first amongst defenseman in scoring with 57 points. He is five ahead of 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 217. Bob Rapoza has moved into the top 20 amongst defensive scorers as well. He sits tied for 14th with 30 points.

RECORD BREAKING: Derek Gustafson moved into second on the Adirondack (UHL) All-Time Games Played List with 51. Kris Tebbs is first on the Adirondack (UHL) All-Time Goals Against Average List at 2.57. Friday night David Burgess recorded his 100 point on his pro career. Frank Bakrlik played in his 100th pro game Saturday. Kamil Kuriplach is a game shy of 400 on his pro career.

MATHEMATICS: Coming into tonight's game all but eight teams in the league could mathematically still catch the Frostbite. Adirondack eliminated Elmira, Kansas City, Motor City, Richmond, Port Huron, Flint, Quad City and Missouri. Eight down, five to go. Every team but Elmira, Kansas City Port Huron and Richmond are also still mathematically alive to make the playoffs.

GREAT GOALTENDING: Despite Gustafson missing over a month of action he sits just outside the top ten in goals against average at 2.76 and is still in the top five in the league in wins with 29. 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 rookies in penalty minutes with 221 and leads all rookies in majors with 29.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: Heading into the week the Frostbite have the second best power play in the league converting 21.2% of the time. The Frostbite have the best road power play in the league converting 21.9% of the time.

CLOSE CALLS: This season the Frostbite have been involved in 35 games where they either won or lost by a goal. In those games the Frostbite are 21-6-8. Only nine times this season have the Frostbite either won or lost by four goals or more.

ROOKIE ON THE RISE: Bennett is now third amongst all rookies in scoring with 56 points. Bennett is also fourth amongst rookies in assists with 35, third amongst rookies in shots with 183, and tied for fifth in the league in plus/minus at +31. He leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with five.

TRANSACTIONS:

Wednesday, March 23rd – Frostbite center Sylvain Cloutier was placed on a three game league suspension

Friday, March 25th – The Adirondack Frostbite signed right wing Lyon Porter to a 14-Day Amateur Tryout Agreement

Monday, March 28th – The Adirondack Frostbite activated center Sylvain Cloutier from a league suspension

THE UPCOMING WEEK:

Adirondack vs. Danbury – Wednesday March 30th

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its 17th and final game this season against the Danbury Trashers Wednesday, nine at home and eight on the road. The Frostbite are 9-6-1 against the Trashers this season, falling in their last match-up 3-1. Hugo Belanger leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Danbury with 21 points (7g, 14a). Bruce Richardson leads the Trashers in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with 18 points (5g, 13a). Adirondack all-time is 9-6-1 against Danbury.

Adirondack at Port Huron – Friday, April 1st

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its fifth and final game this season against the Port Huron Beacons Friday, three at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 2-1-1 against the Beacons this season, falling in their last match-up 4-3 in a shootout. Sylvain Cloutier leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Port Huron with eight points (3g, 5a). Aaron Brand leads the Beacons in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with nine points (3g, 6a). Adirondack all-time is 13-12-3 against Port Huron.

Adirondack at Flint – Saturday, April 2nd

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its fourth and final game this season against the Flint Generals Saturday, two at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 2-0-1 against the Generals this season, falling in their last match-up 6-5 in a shootout. Hugo Belanger leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Flint with five points (2g, 3a). John DiPace leads the Generals in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with three points (2g, 1a). Adirondack all-time is 17-16-3 against Flint.

Adirondack at Fort Wayne – Sunday, April 3rd

The Adirondack Frostbite will play its fourth and final game this season against the Fort Wayne Komets Sunday, two at home and two on the road. The Frostbite are 1-2-0 against the Komets this season, winning their last match-up 4-2. Scott Drevitch leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Fort Wayne with three assists. Tom Nelson leads the Komets in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with four points (2g, 2a). Adirondack all-time is 5-11-0 against Fort Wayne.

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