Going That Extra Mile

Published on February 2, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


ATLANTIC CITY - WEEK RECORD: 2-0-2

SEASON RECORD: 30-10-3 2nd NORTHERN

BULLIES REWIND: The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies went to a shootout in every game last week, winning two and losing two, and earned 6 out of a possible 8 points to pull within 3 points of the first place Wheeling Nailers. The Bullies still hold two games in hand over Wheeling.

Wednesday, Mark Kosick's goal in the fourth round of the shootout proved to be the game-winner as the Wheeling Nailers defeated the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-3 in a shootout before 2116 at Boardwalk Hall. Wheeling jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Bogdan Rudenko at 10:28 of the first period and Ben Blais at 6:51 of the second respectively. Yet the Bullies would mount a comeback and score three times unanswered to take a 3-2 lead. First, Jon Cullen tipped home Jim Henkel's rebound by Nailers goalie Nick Boucher at 16:37 of the second on the power play to cut the deficit to 2-1. Dave Reid would net the equalizer when his one-time drive found the back of the net at 3:30 of the third. Luke Curtin would give the Bullies a momentary lead as he sprung free from the pack shorthanded and slipped the puck by Boucher at 4:59 of the third. However, Wheeling's Jake Ortmeyer tied the score at 3-3 when his shot from the right point sifted its way through traffic and by Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling at 9:05 of the period, setting up Kosick's dramatics in the shootout. The Bullies out-shot Wheeling for the game 42-40. Stirling stopped 37 shots. The Bullies went 1-10 on the power play.

Thursday, Jon Cullen scored twice and Luke Curtin provided three assists and the decisive goal in a shootout as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies edged the Trenton Titans 4-3. Cullen, who had a goal and an assist the previous night vs. the Wheeling Nailers, opened the scoring 3:59 into the game with his team-leading ninth power-play goal of the season. The 26-year-old then snapped a 2-2 tie early in the second period with a second marker. Curtin assisted on all three regulation goals by Atlantic City, extending his points streak to four games (three goals, five assists), and registered the clincher in the shootout, beating Chris Houle to push the Boardwalk Bullies to 15-1-2 over their last 18 games. Jake Moreland, who has a 1.13 goals-against average over his last five outings, stopped 27 shots to earn his fifth straight win. Tyler Kindle and Dan Riva scored in a 71-second span of the second period for Trenton and Matt Zultek netted the lone goal of the third to tie the game at 3-3. Houle recorded 27 saves for the Titans, who lost their third consecutive game to Atlantic City and fourth straight shootout overall.

Friday, Josh Prudden tallied the game-winner in the shootout and Scott Stirling stopped all three shooters as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies defeated the Johnstown Chiefs 3-2 before 1925 at the War Memorial. After a scoreless first period, Johnstown opened the scoring at 7:56 when Pierre-Luc Courchesne's one-time drive on a two-man advantage power play found the back of the net behind Stirling for a 1-0 lead. Larry Courville gave the Chiefs a 2-0 edge when he tipped home Brent Biloudeau's rebound at 15:13 of the second. The Bullies would fight back to start the third period with two goals in the first 2:02 seconds. First, Jim Henkel stuffed home a rebound by Johnstown goaltender David Currie at 41 seconds to cut the deficit to 2-1. 1:21 later, Stefan Rivard tipped the loose puck by Currie at 2:02 to tie the game at 2-2, setting up the Bullies victory in the shootout. The Bullies out-shot Johnstown 34-30 for the game. Atlantic City went 0-8 on the power play.

Sunday, the Augusta Lynx survived a furious third period comeback by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and Louis Goulet recorded the game-winning goal in the shootout as the Lynx defeated the Bullies 4-3 before 5031 at. The game marked the fourth straight for the Bullies that has gone to overtime or a shootout, tying Alaska for the ECHL season-high. Augusta (18-22-4) opened the game with three first period goals. Matt Dzieduszycki rifled a slap shot from the high slot by Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland at 2:48 on the power play to give the Lynx a 1-0 lead. Scott Kelman extended the lead to 2-0 when his shot from the left point trickled through the pads of Moreland at 12:35. That goal ended Moreland's night as he was lifted in favor of Scott Stirling. Initially, the move didn't pay off as Josh Bennett found the loose puck at the top of Stirling's crease and tucked it behind him at 15:06 to give Augusta a 3-0 advantage. The Bullies (30-10-3) would begin their comeback in the second period. Jim Henkel split the defense and fired a shot top shelf by Lynx goaltender Gregg Naumenko at 4:30 to cut the deficit to 3-1. In the third, Aaron Foster brought the Bullies to within one as he took Stefan Rivard's drop pass in front of the net and tucked it by Naumenko at 1:43 to make the score 3-2. Jon Cullen netted the equalizer on the power play at 9:36 deflecting Luke Curtin's point shot to tie the game 3-3. After a scoreless overtime, Stirling stopped one of five shooters while Naumenko stopped two of four Bullies shooters. Atlantic City out-shot Augusta 37-24. Moreland and Stirling made a combined 21 saves. The Bullies went 1-2 on the power play.

BULLIES "TOP DAWG" AWARD: Each Monday from now until the end of the season, Public Relations and Broadcasting Manager Dan Weiss will select the Bullies "Top Dawg" for the week. This week's winner is Jim Henkel who finished the week with 3 goals and an assist, and is currently riding a 6-game scoring streak. Honorable mention goes out to defenseman Dave Reid who recorded a goal and two assists and is also riding a 4-game scoring streak. Previous winners below include:

10/20/03: Jim Henkel (4 goals, 2 assists)
10/27/03: Luke Curtin (1 goal, 2 assists)
11/3/03: Brian Fahey (0 goals, 5 assists)
11/10/03: Scott Stirling (55 shots, 53 saves)
11/17/03: Matt Hubbauer (1 goal, first professional)
11/24/03: Jon Cullen (2 goals, 3 assists)
12/1/03: Josh Prudden (1 goal, 2 assists)
12/8/03: Luke Curtin (2 goals, 6 assists)
12/15/03: Stefan Rivard (1 goal, 3 assists, 400 Career Points)
12/22/03: Scott Stirling (35 shots, 33 saves, 100 Career Wins)
12/29/03: Luke Curtin (2 goals, 3 assists, OT GW goal)
1/5/04: Brian Fahey (3 goals, GW goal)
1/12/04: Luke Curtin (4 goals, 4 assists)
1/19/04: Stefan Rivard (4 goals, 1 assist)
1/27/04: Aaron Foster (3 goals, 1 assist, 2 GW goals)

HENKEL OFF TO LOWELL: Bullies center Jim Henkel has been loaned to Lowell of the American Hockey League. It's the third call-up of the season for the Hazlet, NJ native who has also spent time with Grand Rapids and Worcester in the AHL. Henkel has 2 goals and 1 assist in 18 AHL games. He ranks fifth on the Bullies in scoring with 14 goals and 25 points, and is currently riding a 6-game scoring streak.

60 MINUTES NOT ENOUGH: The last four Bullies games have been decided by shootout, an ECHL season-high. In the process, the Bullies have also tied Alaska with four consecutive games going to overtime, the most this season in the ECHL. Florida, Columbia, Gwinnett, Peoria, and Toledo have each gone to overtime or a shootout on three consecutive occasions. Last year, 19 Bullies games were decided in either overtime or a shootout.

MINNESOTA MIRACLES: Minnesota natives Luke Curtin and Jon Cullen combined on the Bullies third goal Sunday against Augusta in the third period. Had either not tallied a point, it would have marked just the second time this season that Curtin AND Cullen together have failed to score in consecutive games. Curtin or Cullen has managed to tally a point in 36 of the Bullies 43 games this season.

QUICK STARTS HALTED: The Bullies have surrendered the first goal in three out of their last four games. Prior to Wednesday's game vs. Wheeling, the Bullies had scored the first goal in 13 out of their last 16 games. The Bullies are 25-1 this season when scoring first and 5-9-3 when surrendering the first goal.

MORELAND'S HOME SHUTOUT STREAK ENDS: Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland gave up the first two goals of his career at Boardwalk Hall on Sunday, ending his home shutout streak at 122:48 seconds. Moreland recorded shutouts at home on October 22 vs. Roanoke and January 17 vs. Charlotte. The Grand Forks, ND native was also replaced in net during a game for the third time this season. Moreland came out on January 2 in Peoria after suffering a cut on his chin.

BULLIES IN THE COMMUNITY: "Wooly" and the Bullies will be hanging out at the after-school program at Beth El Synagogue (500 North Jerome Avenue) on Tuesday from 6:30PM-7PM. Saturday, "Wooly" stops by Boscov's at the Shore Mall from 12PM-1PM to help promote "Heart Week."

POWER PLAY FOR UNITED WAY: The Bullies have teamed up with United Way of Atlantic County to sponsor the Power Play for United Way. For every power play goal the Bullies score this season, Trump Plaza, Sands Casino Hotel, Advance Door & Supply, Kline Construction and HR Solutions will donate $10 dollars to United Way of Atlantic County. The Bullies tallied 4 more power play goals last week to run their season total to 46, good for $2,300 dollars towards the Power Play for United Way.

STAY ONLINE WITH THE BULLIES: Follow the Bullies throughout the season by pointing your computer mouse to www.boardwalkbullies.com. You can read game updates, get to know your favorite Bullies, and find out where "Wooly" and the team will be appearing next. Click and score with www.boardwalkbullies.com!

GAME CHANGE: The Bullies would like to remind all fans that the scheduled Saturday, March 20 game vs. Peoria has been moved to Wednesday, February 4 at 7:05PM. Season tickets printed for Game #32 will be valid on February 4.

UP NEXT: The defending ECHL Kelly Cup Champions host three games at Boardwalk Hall this week beginning at 7:05PM on Wednesday against Peoria. Every Wednesday home game this season is "Wild Wednesday" sponsored by Coors Light and Molson Canadian. All college students, casino workers, military and service industry personnel get in for just $6 dollars with a valid ID. Don't forget about our new $2 dollar beer special as part of "Wild Wednesday". Friday and Saturday, the Bullies battle the Reading Royals at 7:05PM. Friday is "Ladies Night" and "Hockey 101" at Boardwalk Hall. All ladies can purchase premiere, mezzanine, or upper bowl tickets and receive a $3 dollar discount. This ticket promotion excludes inner circle seats and $6 dollar upper bowl seats. For more information or to order tickets, call (609) 348-PUCK. Catch all three games live on the Surfer Network at www.boardwalkbullies.com beginning with the pre-game show 20 minutes prior to face-off with Dan Weiss.

BULLIES SCHEDULE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2ND

Monday, February 2: Off Day

Tuesday, February 3: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Wednesday, February 4: Morning Skate 10AM; Bullies vs. Peoria 7:05PM (Game Change From March 20)

Thursday, February 5: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Friday, February 6: Morning Skate 10AM; Bullies vs. Reading 7:05PM

Saturday, February 7: Morning Skate 10AM; Bullies vs. Reading 7:05PM

Sunday, February 8: "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer" Movie Matinee 12PM-2PM (Ventnor Movie Theater, Ventnor)

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