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Generals Intelligence Report

March 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greensboro Generals News Release


PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: MARK TURNER, CENTER (3 GP; 3 G; 1 A; 4 PTS, +4): vs. COLUMBIA In retaliation for the game's lead, Greensboro began the second period netting two consecutive goals; both off the stick of team Captain Mark Turner. Turner took advantage of Inferno netminder Josh Blackburn leaving goal to make a defensive recovery, putting the puck on net, tying the game at 2-2. His second goal, coming in unique fashion, occurred when on a breakaway Turner was held forcing a penalty shot. Converting his second goal of the game, Turner sent the puck over the left shoulder of Blackburn for a 3-2 lead...vs AUGUSTA Generals Captain Mark Turner took advantage of a mistake by Lynx goaltender Gregg Naumenko, who attempted to flip the puck past Turner who stole it in his own zone to convert a shorthanded opportunity, giving Greensboro a 1-0 lead at the 7:46 mark...vs CHARLOTTE Speedster Mike Bayrack outlasted the Checkers defense creating a one-on-one in the offensive zone, netting his team-leading 31st goal of the season, after Turner found Bayrack penetrating the Checkers defensive zone.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: JAMIE HODSON (82 SH—75 SV; 1.09 GAA; 0.914 SV%): vs. COLUMBIA On a power-play goal by Barrie Moore, after receiving a drop down pass from Derek Eastman, the Inferno assumed a 1-0 lead just 3:23 into the game. The Inferno would again strike, when just inside the face-off circle, Terry Harrison sent a shot top shelf past a kneeling Jamie Hodson for a 2-0 lead. ...vs AUGUSTA Led by a defensive Jamie Hodson, the Generals gave the 5,057 in attendance reason to cheer. Augusta s Scott Corbett would convert a rebound shot off the glass and send it past Jamie Hodson for a 1-1 tie. In limiting Augusta to just seven shots on goal in the second frame, Greensboro managed to work in its own offensive zone, with the result being two goals. Just over one minute later, the Lynx Brandon Doria cut the Greensboro margin in half, when he took advantage of a Louis Goulet pass, sending it past Jamie Hodson. Jamie stopped 38 shots on goal, seven coming in the final period, to give Greensboro its only victory of the week...vs CHARLOTTE DID NOT PLAY.

LAST WEEK RECAPS

INFERNO 5, GENERALS 3

GREENSBORO—The opportunity for the Greensboro Generals to close within five points of the divisional leading Columbia Inferno slipped by the wayside, as Greensboro lost 5-3 at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Generals (32-22-1) fell short in the first game of a four-game home stand, however look to rebound Thursday night when taking on the Charlotte Checkers.

Columbia (34-16-6), known for grabbing an earlier lead especially considering that they enter the game with an 8-1-0 record when leading after the first period, grabbed the early advantage. On a power-play goal by Barrie Moore, after receiving a drop down pass from Derek Eastman, the Inferno assumed a 1-0 lead just 3:23 into the game. The Inferno would again strike, when just inside the face-off circle, Terry Harrison sent a shot top shelf past a kneeling Jamie Hodson for a 2-0 lead. The Generals then turned to offensive juggernaut Mike Bayrack, and after netting a goal for his sixth consecutive contest, following a give and go with Joel Irwin found himself alone in front of the Columbia net, cutting the lead to 2-1.

In retaliation for the game's lead, Greensboro began the second period netting two consecutive goals; both off the stick of team Captain Mark Turner. Turner took advantage of Inferno netminder Josh Blackburn leaving goal to make a defensive recovery, putting the puck on net, tying the game at 2-2. His second goal, coming in unique fashion, occurred when on a breakaway Turner was held forcing a penalty shot. Converting his second goal of the game, Turner sent the puck over the left shoulder of Blackburn for a 3-2 lead. The Inferno's offense was then sparked when Robin Carruthers managed to get behind the Generals defense, scoring on Hodson. Columbia's Matt Ulwelling then crossed over Kurt Drummond, sending the Inferno to a 4-3 advantage at the 18:23 mark. Just twenty seconds later, Alexandre Burrows scored off the face-off, sending each team to the locker room, as Columbia lead 5-3.

A scoreless third period for both teams, Greensboro managed 10 shots on goal as opposed to the Inferno's seven. The loss now pushes the Generals nine points from first place, and with an idle Florida Everblades team in third place, Greensboro will remain one point from second place.

GENERALS 4, LYNX 2 GREENSBORO—With the weekend looming large and the Greensboro Generals looking to make a charge in the divisional standings, a 4-2 win over the Augusta Lynx pushed Greensboro 11-games over the .500 mark. Led by a defensive Jamie Hodson, the Generals gave the 5,057 in attendance reason to cheer.

The Generals (33-22-1) came out hitting on all cylinders, and it was obvious from the opening period. From a solid defensive effort, checking Augusta (23-26-6) solidly against the boards, and most important the shots on net, Greensboro was ready from the face off. Generals Captain Mark Turner took advantage of a mistake by Lynx goaltender Gregg Naumenko, who attempted to flip the puck past Turner who stole it in his own zone to convert a shorthanded opportunity, giving Greensboro a 1-0 lead at the 7:46 mark. Just over a minute three minutes later, Augusta s Scott Corbett would convert a rebound shot off the glass and send it past Jamie Hodson for a 1-1 tie. Despite being out shot 11-7 in the opening period, Hodson continued to make remarkable plays for the Generals.

In limiting Augusta to just seven shots on goal in the second frame, Greensboro managed to work in its own offensive zone, with the result being two goals. The first of which came as Dave LoPresti shot from inside the left face off circle, and had the puck ricochet off the stick of Joel Irwin for his 11th of the season. The Generals would then rely on the fleet of foot, when Mike Bayrack and Matt Elich found themselves in two-on-one coverage, where Elich converted a shot to give the Generals a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.

Mike Bayrack, who ended a consecutive goal scoring streak at six, would again prove large in the third period, when he found defenseman Kevin Grimes alone in the left face off circle, who put a slap shot on goal for a 4-1 lead, at the 15:17 mark. Just over one minute later, the Lynx Brandon Doria cut the Greensboro margin in half, when he took advantage of a Louis Goulet pass, sending it past Jamie Hodson.

CHECKERS 6, GENERALS 5 GREENSBORO—With the Greensboro Generals hosting Fan Appreciation Night at the Greensboro Coliseum, the Charlotte Checkers played the role of spoilers earning a 6-5 road victory. Greensboro (33-23-1) could only manage two power-plays, opposed to the Checkers (29-21-7) which had nine opportunities converting four. Greensboro, with 10,981 in attendance cheering them on, would only manage 26 shots on goal, nine of which came in the final period.

The Checkers attempted to steal the roar from the crowd on-hand, when from just inside the face-off circle, Chad Wilchynski converted Charlotte 5-on-3 opportunity. Greensboro would retaliate, when Matt Chandler scored following a rebound off the forearm pad of Charlotte s goaltender Scott Meyer. Greensboro then used speed to convert a shot on goal on Charlotte, when on a wrap around behind the net, Matt Elich kicked the pass to Kurt Drummond from the left circle making the score 2-1 at 11:56. The Checkers answered with two consecutive goals, coming within thirty seconds of each other as Chad Wilchynski converted a power-play opportunity at the 16:37 mark, penetrating the left face off circle, sending the shot past Greensboro s Daniel Berthiaume. Richard Keyes answered, allowing Charlotte to take a 3-2 lead into the second, when he sent a shot from just beyond the face-off circle.

In the second, Greensboro kicked off the scoring, tying the game at 3-3, just 1:21 into the frame. Speedster Mike Bayrack outlasted the Checkers defense creating a one-on-one in the offensive zone, netting his team-leading 31st goal of the season. The Checkers answered just beyond the midpoint of the second period, when in a 5-on-3 power-play Richard Reyes sent a shot off the post behind Berthiaume. The goal gave Charlotte a 4-3 lead, ending second period scoring.

Each team found the net in the third, with Matt Turek kicking off scoring for Greensboro after sending a shot top shelf to knot the game at 4-4. The Checkers responded at the 9:30 mark, with an Allan Egeland goal as he faded away to Berthiaume s left side to give the Checkers a 5-4 lead. A defensive miscue just over two minutes later, as the Generals defense attempted to slap the puck out of the air, sending the shot in net for a 6-4 advantage. The Generals had one last attempt, following a Derek Crimin goal on a deflection of a Likit Andersson shot, cutting the lead to one with 1:25 remaining. Greensboro, however, could get no closer.

IN THE BARRACKS

TIED FOR SIXTH: Greensboro Generals Captain, and team leader in points, Mark Turner ranks sixth in the ECHL amongst scorers with 65 points (24 g; 41 a). The Columbia Inferno's Tim Smith leads the way with 75 points, and Turner is currently is three points shy of fifth place Louis Dumont (Mississippi).

RACKING UP GOALS: After scoring nine goals in his last seven games, and breaking a consecutive games goal scoring streak at six games, the Generals Mike Bayrack is third in the the ECHL with 31 goals in the 2003-04 season. "Racker", as he is commonly known to his teammates, ranks behind Brian McCullough, Florida (34 g) and Mark Pederson, San Diego (37 g) for the ECHL lead.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT: All year long the Greensboro Generals defensemen Kurt Drummond and Geno Parrish have been the mark of consistency. Parrish has moved to third (7 g; 47 a—54 pts) in the category for ECHL defensemen. In a tie for fourth, with Ben Storey (Las Vegas), his teammate Kurt Drummond has amassed 51 points (9 g; 42 pts) setting up one of the best defensive units in the ECHL. The two rank first (Parrish, 47) and tied for third (Drummond, 42) in assists. Furthermore, Parrish has recorded 18 power-play assists, ranking him fifth in the respective category.

ALEX THE GREAT: Generals defensive toughman Alex Andreyev ranks third in the ECHL in a distinctive category, major penalties. Andreyev has 17 major penalties, ranking behind Jason Hamiliton (Las Vegas) and T.J. Reynolds (Wheeling).

"Coaches Corner": The Greensboro Generals have announced Head Coach/General Manager Rick Adduono will appear on the "Our Town" radio show (WGOS 1070-AM) each Monday afternoon. The half-hour "Coaches Corner" will air each Monday at 1:00 PM throughout the season.

The "Coaches Corner" segment is part of the WGOS' "Our Town" program that is hosted by "Buffalo" Jack Umlaluf and Ogi Overman weekdays from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The show will feature interviews with Adduono as well as segments with Generals players and their involvement in the community.

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