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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizz Report

October 14, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Friday, October 11 Grizzlies 1 @ Houston 3 at the Compaq Center

~The Grizzlies began the 2002-03 season with a 3-1 loss in Houston versus the Aeros. Jeremy Stevenson started off the scoring with a power play goal early in the first period. Stevenson would later add his second goal giving Houston a 2-0 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the first period. Utah's John Erskine pulled the Grizz to within a goal with the team's first goal of the season. Erskine had just exited the penalty box, taking a pass from Jim Montgomery and blasting a shot past Houston goaltender Dieter Kochan. Midway through the second period, Houston added to their lead with Mark Cullen's first AHL goal. In the game, Kochan made 33 saves for Houston, while Utah's Corey Hirsch was outstanding making 42 saves in a losing effort for Utah.

Stat of the Game: The Grizzlies were 0 for 11 on the power play, while killing 8 of 9 shorthanded chances.

Saturday, October 12 Grizzlies 1 @ Houston 3 at the Compaq Center

~Houston defeated the Grizzlies in the team's second of the two-game weekend series by the same score as game one. Some things in this game were different than the first as the Grizz scored first when Steve Ott cleaned up a deflected John Erskine shot to score his first ever AHL goal. Jim Montgomery added an assist on Ott's goal giving him helpers in each of Utah's first two games. The Aeros came back with first period goals by Tony Virta and Rickard Wallin taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The score would stay at 2-1 until the final minute when Curtis Murphy scored an empty net goal. Houston's Derek Gustafson made 20 saves in the game, while rookie Jason Bacashihua made 47 saves.

Stat of the Game: The Grizzlies were outshot 50-21.

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

Friday, October 18 & Saturday, October 19 Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Rampage at the E-Center 7:00 pm

~The Grizzlies and Rampage will battle for the first time ever as San Antonio is an expansion team in the AHL. The Rampage serve as the primary affiliate of the Florida Panthers and house several former Grizzlies from last season including Ryan Jardine, Wade Flaherty, Serge Payer, Kyle Rossiter and Paul Elliott. The Rampage lost their first and only game of the season 6-2 at Milwaukee. Igor Ulanov and Juraj Kolnik were the goal scorers for San Antonio, while Jeff Toms had a pair of helpers. Flaherty made 35 saves. The Rampage have several players with NHL experience including Rocky Thompson, Joey Tetarenko, Pierre Dagenais and Jim Campell.

Strength: Goaltender Wade Flaherty is one of the best. Last year with the Grizzlies he went 22-13-5 with a 2.35 gaa. In his career, Flaherty has played 119 games in the NHL.

SHORTS

"Ersk" Doesn't Just Get Under The Opponents "Skine": John Erskine had a weekend to remember in Houston with the two losses symbolizing the only negative. The big defenseman scored the Grizzlies' first goal of the season in the first period of game number one versus the Aeros on a blast from just within the blueline. Erskine appeared to be primed to score his second goal the next night but the puck was deflected right onto the stick if Steve Ott who scored his first AHL goal giving a helper to Erskine. Putting points on the scoreboard wasn't all that he did as he also compiled 35 PIM's and finished the weekend as a +1.

Goaltenders Seeing Some Rubber: Grizzlies' netminders Corey Hirsch and Jason Bacashihua took turns facing some blasts as Hirsch stopped 42 of 45 shots (.933 save %) on Friday night and Bacashihua stopped 47 of 49 shots faced (.959 save %). The pair gave up five goals (Houston scored an empty net goal on Saturday) on 94 shots for a combined save percentage of close to 95 percent.

Montreal Contributes To The Cause: The Utah Grizzlies received three players from the Canadiens prior to the start of the season; centers Eric Landry and Eric Chouinard and defenseman Matthieu Descoteaux. Between the three players, 86 NHL games have been participated in with Landry leading the way with 68 games in the NHL.

Grizzlies' Lose Sim Before First Game: The Grizzlies were assigned RW Jon Sim last week prior to the beginning of the season giving the offense an additional weapon but before he could lace the skates up for one game he was re-called by Dallas to replace Jason Arnott who is going to miss two weeks with a sprained ankle. Sim has yet to dress in the Star's first three games. Talk Hockey On KFAN: Be sure to catch Steve Brown and Steve Harms on Tuesday at 2:00 pm on KFAN-1320 AM when they discus the games from Houston and take a look ahead to this weekend's home opener versus San Antonio. Tomorrow's guests include Grizzlies' Head Coach Don Hay calling in live from the Grizzlies' Face-Off Luncheon and San Antonio Rampage goaltender Wade Flaherty.

Cyber-Stuff: Don't miss any of the latest news about the Grizzlies. Check out www.utahgrizzlies.com to get the scoop and be sure to play Grizzlies' power play trivia for an opportunity to win tickets to upcoming Grizzlies' games.

On The Air: All Grizzlies action can be heard on ESPN Radio 1230. The Ford Pre-Game show begins 15 minutes prior to face-off.

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