Ice Pilots Can Clinch Playoff Spot This Week

February 24, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


The Ice Pilots went 0-2-1 this past week losing at Louisiana last Wednesday night 5-3. The Ice Pilots picked up a point last Friday night with a 3-2 overtime loss at Baton Rouge and lost at Mississippi on Sunday 3-2. The Ice Pilots are currently in third place in the Southwest Division with a record of 31-20-6 for 68 points.

PLAYOFF RACE
The top five teams in the Southwest Division qualify for the playoffs. The number 4 and number 5 team will play in a one game playoff and the winner will play the number one team in the opening round and number two will play number three. Visit the Playoff Race on icepilots.com for an updated playoff scenario.

PLAYOFF CLINCHING ON THE HORIZON
The Ice Pilots can clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday night if Baton Rouge losses in regulation or in overtime or a shootout at home vs. Arkansas on Wednesday night. If Baton Rouge defeats Arkansas on Wednesday night, the Ice Pilots can clinch a playoff spot on Thursday at Arkansas with a win or an overtime or shootout loss.

REMAINING SCHEDULE HAS 12 OUT OF 15 GAMES AGAINST DIVISIONAL OPPONENTS
The Ice Pilots will play 12 out of their final 15 games against divisional opponents. The Ice Pilots have three games left vs. Mississippi with 2 at home and 1 away, 2 games left with Louisiana with 1 away and 1 at home, 3 games left with Arkansas with all 3 away and 4 games left with Jackson with 3 at home and one away. The Ice Pilots have one home game left with Florida and play one game home and away vs. Columbus.

WRAP UP FOUR GAME ROAD TRIP ON THURSDAY NIGHT
The Ice Pilots will wrap up their four game road trip this Thursday night at Little Rock, Arkansas vs. the RiverBlades with a 7:00 p.m. face-off. The Ice Pilots have a record of 5-3-1 vs. Arkansas this season including a record of 4-1-1 at home and! 1-2 on the road.

NEXT HOME GAMES ARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH VS. FLORIDA AND SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST VS. JACKSON AT 7:05 P.M.
The Ice Pilots next two home games will be on Friday, February 28th vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots are 1-4 vs. Florida this season with a record of 1-1 at home and 0-3 on the road. The Ice Pilots will play home to Jackson on Saturday, March 1st at 7:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots have a record of 4-2-1 vs. Jackson including a home record of 3-0 and 1-2-1 on the road. The Ice Pilots will also play Jackson on Tuesday, March 4th at 6:05 p.m. in their make up game from October 25th due to the power outage at the Civic Center. All ticket stubs for the October 25th game will be honored for the March 4th game.

PROMOTIONS FOR NEXT TWO HOME GAMES
The first 3,000 fans will receive a Verizon Wireless Pennant on the game February 28th vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. It is a Papa John's Family Night. A family of four can purchase 4 tickets, 4 slices of pizza, 4 sodas and one game program for $44. It must be ordered through the Ice Pilots office. Saturday, March 1st vs. Jackson at 7:05 p.m. the Ice Pilots will wear their Mardi Gras Jerseys sponsored by Hill Kelly Dodge with a post game jersey auction. The first 3,000 fans will also receive pom poms sponsored by Jackson Hewitt. The Ice Pilots will also have their Mardi Gras Parade on the ice for Saturday's game.

Community Calendar
The Ice Pilots will participate in the Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Pensacola on Saturday and will participate in the Mardi Gras Parade at Pensacola Beach on Sunday.

Ticket Information
Fans can purchase individual game tickets in person at the Civic Center Box Office, at any Ticketmaster location, Charge by Phone at 434-7444 or through the Ice Pilots website at www.icepilots.com. Individual game tickets cost $22 for floor and glass, $15 for sides, $13 for goals and lower upper and $10 for upper level tickets. Season tickets are available for the full season, 16 game plan, 8 game plan and flex package. Fans can ! call the Ice Pilots office for ticket information at 432-PUCK.

ICE PILOTS NEW YEAR ROUND SEASON TICKET PACKAGE
The Ice Pilots are now offering year round payments for season tickets. Season tickets for the 16 game plan on a 6 month payment plan are as follows: $15 seats (sides) are $35.99 per month, $13 seats (behind the goals and lower upper level) are $32.99 per month, $10 seats (upper level) are $24.99 per month. The following is a list of prices for full season tickets on a 12 month payment plan: $22 seats (floor and glass) are $49.99 per month, $15 seats (sides) are $35.99 per month, $13 seats (behind the goals and lower upper level) are $32.99 per month, $10 seats (upper level) are $24.99 per month.

Group Tickets
Group tickets are available at the Ice Pilots office. A group of 15-24 will receive $2 off per ticket and scoreboard recognition. A group of 25-99 will receive $2 off per ticket, scoreboard recognition, the group leader receives two free tickets with a minimum of 25 tickets purchased and group members are eligible to become an MVP. Each group member fills out an MVP card, (cards are mailed with the group tickets), and drops the card in the MVP box at customer service before the game, and has the opportunity to win a valuable prize! Groups of 100 or more will receive scoreboard recognition, two free tickets, MVP cards plus $3 off per ticket and an opportunity to perform the national anthem or participate in the ceremonial puck drop (Subject to availability and approval).

Birthday Parties
Celebrate your birthday with the Ice Pilots. The Ice Pilots birthday party package includes hotdogs, cokes, cupcakes, 10 game tickets, a special gift pack for the birthday person delivered by Iceman, a birthday card signed by the Ice Pilots and scoreboard recognition. The package price is $200 for a party of 10 and $15 for each additional guest. For more information call 432-PUCK.

Ice Pilots top scorers
Greg Pankewicz is the top scorer for the Ice Pilots with 66 points and leads the team w! ith 34 goals. Pankewicz is tied with three other players for first in the league with his 34 goals. Pankewicz is ranked first in the league with 271 shots. Pankewicz is also third in the league with 15 power play goals. Louis Dumont leads the team with 44 assists. Brad Dexter is third in the league among scoring defenseman with 45 points. Maxime Gingras is second in the league in minutes played with 2655 and second in the league with 1422 saves. Gingras is fourth in the league with 22 wins and fifth in the league with a .919 save percentage.

Player of the week nominees
Kevin Cloutier has been nominated for player of the week and Maxime Gingras has been nominated for goalie of the week.

Practice Schedule for week
The Ice Pilots will have an off ice workout at the Civic Center on Monday at 9:30 a.m. and will practice at the Civic Center on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. The Ice Pilots will leave for Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. and will practice in Little Rock on Wednesday morning. The Ice Pilots will play at Arkansas on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The Ice Pilots will play home to Florida on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. and play home to Jackson on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots will have Sunday off.

Columbus Game Time Changes
The Ice Pilots games at Columbus has been changed. The new starting time for the games on Saturday, March 29th is 6:30 p.m. central time.

Assigned Players from Tampa Bay and Springfield
The Ice Pilots have four assigned pro players from Tampa Bay of the NHL. They are defensemen Jeremy Van Hoof, Marek Priechodsky and goalie Brian Eklund. Harlan Pratt is currently playing for Cincinnati of the AHL. Forward Chris Gignac, defenseman Brad Dexter and goalie Maxime Gingras are assigned from Springfield of the AHL.

Listen to games on the Ice Pilots Hockey Network
Fans can listen to Ice Pilots games on the Ice Pilots Hockey Network. The network includes flagship station WCOA AM 1370, Mediacom's preview guide channel 51, Cox Communications channel 22 in Pens! acola, channel 2 in Ft. Walton, channel 23 in Crestview and on the web at www.icepilots.com sponsored by Sports Avenue. The pre game show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night will begin at 6:30 p.m.

New call-in Radio pre-game show this season featuring Ice Pilots President Charles Felix
At every Sunday home game this season, fans will have the opportunity to call and talk to Ice Pilots President Charles Felix during the pre-game show on the Ice Pilots hockey network. The show will be 15-20 minutes long taking phone calls at 478-3116 or emails at chester@icepilots.com.

Ask Athletic Trainer Jason Serbus of Nova Care a Question
Fans can go to the Ice Pilots website at www.icepilots.com for all of the latest news on the Ice Pilots and including "Ask the Trainer" featuring Ice Pilots athletic trainer Jason Serbus of Nova Care. Fans can ask Jason questions on anything concerning the medical field and the status of the Ice Pilots players.

Coach's Radio Show at Sal's Pizza Pub and Grill
The Ice Pilots Coach's Radio show is at Sal's Pizza Pub and Grill this season located at 620 E. Nine Mile Road. The show is broadcasted on the Ice Pilots hockey network from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Fans can hear the radio show on WCOA AM 1370 and on the internet at www.icepilots.com sponsored by Sports Avenue. Fans can meet Ice Pilots Head Coach Todd Gordon, Assistant Coach Ray Edwards and Ice Pilots President Charles Felix. The player guests for the radio show tonight are Jeremy Van Hoof and Matt Poapst.



ECHL Stories from February 24, 2003


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