Gulls Rip Grizzlies, 6-2
January 7, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO - There's a reason why Jesse Bennefield is an all-star this season and the Utah Grizzlies found that out the hard way Saturday night. The rookie winger netted his first career hat trick and added an assist, leading the San Diego Gulls to a 6-2 win, before 6,985 at the ipayOne Center.
Pierre-Luc Sleigher chipped in with three assists, a career high, and the Gulls set a new season high with five power-play goals, one short of the franchise record. San Diego (15-12-4) also moves three games above .500 for the first time this season and is now two points in front of Long Beach for second place in the Pacific Division.
The Grizzlies (20-12-2) move back into a tie with Idaho for third place in the West Division. It was only their third regulation loss in the last 10 games.
San Diego jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead thanks to power-play tallies by Martin Mandeville and Bennefield. Mandeville dented the scoreboard first at the 5:52 mark, taking Bennefield's pass and beating Utah goaltender Justin Eddy from between the hash marks. It was Mandeville's fifth goal and first since Nov. 18.
Bennefield then tickled the twine at 19:21 for his first goal of the night. Alex Kim had possession at center ice and threaded a pretty pass to an open Bennefield, who made a nice move to his forehand before slipping it past an out-stretched Eddy. The assist extended Kim's career-high point streak to 12 games...
Utah's Jeff Miles, who was just assigned by Milwaukee of the American Hockey League, cut the lead in half 1:14 into the second period with his 13th goal. After grabbing Matt Craig's feed, Miles streaked down the left wing and beat Weiman short-side.
Bennefield, however, netted his second and third of the game later in the middle frame, giving the Gulls a 4-1 cushion. His second of the night came at the 11:10 mark when he finished off a breakaway, beating Eddy as he was being tripped to the ice. Sleigher earned his first assist on the play.
The hat trick was completed at 14:49 with another San Diego power-play goal, its third of the game. All three forwards were crashing the net and Bennefield took Patrick Levesque's pass across the crease and easily jammed it home. It was his team-leading 16th goal of the season.
San Diego wasn't done scoring however, as two more power plays were converted early in the third period. Jonathon Shockey nailed one in from the blue line at 4:21 for his first goal of the season and first in 87 career games with the Gulls. Nikita Korovkin then got into the act, one-timing in a slapper at 6:23 for his fifth goal. Sleigher notched helpers on both tallies.
Ed Hill notched a Utah power-play marker - his fourth goal overall - at 9:02, beating Weiman from the right point. But that only gave the scorekeepers a little more work to do, as the Gulls' backstop (34 saves) shut the door from there.
The Gulls conclude their homestand Sunday against the Alaska Aces, with game-time scheduled for 5:05 p.m. It will be another Kids Night with "Skate with the Gulls" immediately after the match. San Diego will play in Las Vegas Tuesday before opening another three-game homestand. All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' Web site, courtesy of B2 Networks (All upcoming games CAN BE VIEWED). Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2006
- Aces win in Bako, 7-4 - Alaska Aces
- Ice Dogs Drop Another, Lose To Steelheads 4-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Wranglers silence Thunder 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Checkers lose two leads and game to Greenville 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Rip Grizzlies, 6-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Cruise to Victory - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Keep Ice Dogs In Check, Win 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Ice Pilots Lose 6-3 At Florida - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Falcons clip Salmon fins - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Pittman's hat trick leads Titans to 5-2 win over Royals - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators win 7th Straight in 6-3 win against Columbia - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Win Streak Snapped In Trenton, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Rays sting Lynx 6-3 - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna named Rookie of the Month - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Minard, Underhill take home ECHL Monthly awards - Alaska Aces
- Mike Kompon Loaned To Manchester - Reading Royals
- Schell called up to AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- San Diego Looks For Fourth Win In The Last Five Games - San Diego Gulls
- Lynx announce time changes for remaining home games - Augusta Lynx
- Greenville Wins In Shootout 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Aces' Underhill Named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver Of The Month - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
- Aces' Minard Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player Of The Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Munce Upon A Time: 63 Saves in Road Shootout Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Royals Pull Out Sixth Win In A Row By Beating Johnstown, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Thunder and Utah battle in physical affair in 5-1 Stockton setback - Stockton Thunder
- Ice Dogs Fire 64 Shots, Fall To Condors 2-1 In Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Grizzlies Silence Thunder 5-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Falcons splash Salmon Kings - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Gulls Steal Win From Idaho, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Checkers can't hold back Lynx, lose at Aiugusta 7-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers top Roadrunners, 3-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Gulls Score Late to Shock Steelheads, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons Return to Winning Ways - Fresno Falcons
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