Sports stats



High fives all around as IceGators keep rolling

October 25, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA - Nathan Rempel and Chris Taliercio (pictured, from tonight's game) each scored twice as the Louisiana IceGators rallied from an early deficit for an impressive 5-2 win over the Arkansas RiverBlades at the Cajundome.

Shawn McNeil scored his seventh goal in four games for Louisiana, which has averaged five goals a game in tying its best start in franchise history (2000-01) at 5-0-0. Frederic Cloutier made 22 saves to run his record to 4-0-0. Cloutier's win was his 32nd as an IceGator, moving him past Bryan Schoen into third place on the team's all-time list.

Former IceGator Matt Pagnutti and Kyle Kos each scored for Arkansas, while former IceGator Jason Saal made 28 saves.

Pagnutti's shot from the left point through a crowd got past a screened Cloutier on the power play at 12:48 of the first period, but thanks to McNeil, the lead didn't last long.

McNeil responded with a textbook move at the 15:25 mark. He took a pass from Cal Benazic at the blueline and faked a defender to the ground. McNeil was almost tripped up himself, barely staying on his feet. He then crossed with Kenny Corupe, manuevered himself into the slot and ripped a shot top shelf past Saal, his former teammate.

The IceGators went on top 2-1 at the 3:07 mark of the second on Rempel's shorthanded score, the team's first of the season. With Corupe in the box for boarding, Cloutier made a spectacular save with his body. Three RiverBlades crashed the net, but the IceGators got the puck up ice. J.P. Morin, Rempel and Bruce Richardson headed up ice, 3-on-2. Richardson left a drop pass for Rempel, then created a screen, and Rempel beat Saal for the one-goal edge.

Taliercio put Louisiana up 3-1 at the 13:10 mark of the middle period with a power-play score. Brown, in the left circle, slid a pass to the middle point to Kevin Mitchell. Mitchell's slapshot went off Taliercio in front of a crowded Saal, giving the IceGators the two-goal edge.

The IceGators have now outscored their opponents 11-0 in the second period this season.

Taliercio's second goal, the rookie's fourth in four pro games, came at 1:27 of the third period and removed any thoughts of a comeback. Daniel Goneau streaked up the right side along the boards and slid a pass between defenders to Taliercio. The Dartmouth product hit Saal with his first attempt, but worked hard to get the rebound, which he put over the sprawled netminder.

"It's something I noticed about (Taliercio) early in training camp," said IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish. "He's got a nose for the net."

Arkansas got within 4-2 at 11:45 of the third, just six seconds after the IceGators had killed off a full two minutes of 5-on-3. Kos slid between the circles in transition, and Mike Cirillo hit him with the pass, which Kos deposited past Cloutier.

"I thought that for the most part, special teams played great for us again," said Farrish, whose team was 2-for-8 on the power play and killed off seven of eight shorthanded chances. "With the closer games being called, it's certainly going to be more important for us."

Rempel finished the scoring at 15:02 of the third, pushing his own rebound by Saal. McNeil and Benazic picked up the assists on the goal, which was Rempel's fifth against Arkansas. He has 12 career goals.

The game was highlighted by four sets of fighting majors, including a heavyweight battle between Dennis Shiryaev and Mark Scott. The two battled for more than a minute before the ground broke their fall.

Fan favorite Jeff Worlton also fought Cirillo late in the game, leaving the ice to a standing ovation.

Gator Bites:

Brown, McNeil, Mitchell and Rempel each have at least a point in each of the team's first five games.

McNeil has points in each of his last 12 regular-season games, dating back to last season. He has 20 points (12g, 8a) in that span.

McNeil's four-game goal-scoring streak ties a career-high, accomplished twice. The last time McNeil had a goal in four straight games was from January 27-February 3, 2001.

McNeil has scored Louisiana's first goal in three of five games. Five of his seven goals have put the IceGators in front, tonight's tied the game and the other was an insurance goal that put his team up by two.

Mitchell has points in each of his last 10 regular-season games, dating back to last season. He has 13 points (1g, 12a) in that span.

Mitchell's assist was the 50th point of his pro career.

Cloutier has allowed two goals or less in 29 of his 40 pro games, including 13 of his last 16.

Goneau's assist was the 100th of his North American pro career. He picked up his 100th goal and 200th point Sunday in Mississippi.

The IceGators and South Carolina Stingrays (also 5-0-0) are the only ECHL teams left without a loss of any kind. The only team higher up without a loss of any kind is Louisiana's AHL affiliate, Houston (7-0-0).

Cloutier's 40th game played as an IceGator tied Saal for fifth place on the team's ledgers.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from October 25, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Louisiana IceGators Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central