Ice Pilots Continue Best Start Ever With 5-1 Record

November 3, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


The Pensacola Ice Pilots go into the week with a five game winning streak and in second place in the Central Division with a record of 5-1 for 10 points. The Ice Pilots continue to be off to their best start ever with a 5-1 record. The Ice Pilots defeated Columbus at home last Thursday night 6-2. Peter Bournazakis scored two goals in the game for the Ice Pilots. Dwayne Hay, Tyler Beechey, Brad Cruikshank and Corey Neilson also scored goals for the Ice Pilots. Brian Eklund stopped 32 out of 34 shots.

The Ice Pilots won their fifth game in a row with a 6-2 win vs. Mississippi on Saturday night. Jim Abbott scored a hat trick for the Ice Pilots. Dwayne Hay, Peter Bournazakis and Tyler Beechey also scored goals for the Ice Pilots. Corey Neilson tied an Ice Pilots team record with five assists. Neilson tied a team record of most assists and points in a game. Greg Chambers picked up three assists in the game. Brian Eklund was the winning goalie stopping 40 out of 42 shots.

The Ice Pilots are home this Friday and Saturday night as Fresno makes first ever trip to "The Hangar."
The Ice Pilots will play their first ever meeting vs. the Fresno Falcons this Friday and Saturday night at "The Hangar." Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. It will be the first time that the Ice Pilots will play a team in the ECHL who played in the WCHL last year. Fresno is 2-3 on the season with 4 points which is good for last place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Kris Porter is the top scorer for Fresno with 4 goals, 4 assists for 8 points. Nolan Schaefer is the top goalie for the Falcons with a record of 2-2 and a 2.23 goals against average and .931 save percentage. The Florida Lottery will be giving away prizes at the game.

Ice Pilots play at Texas on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots will finish the weekend with their first ever trip to Beaumont, Texas on Sunday afternoon for a 5:05 p.m. face-off. The Ice Pilots defeated Texas earlier this season on October 25th at "The Hangar" 7-2.

Ice Pilots in Second Place
The Ice Pilots are in second place in the Central Division after their first six games with a 5-1 record for 10 points. Visit the Statistics page of icepilots.com for current League Standings.

Ice Pilots leaders
Forward Peter Bournazakis and defenseman Corey Neilson are the top scorers on the Ice Pilots with 11 points and are among the leading scorers in the league. Bournazakis is fifth in the league with a .364 shooting percentage. Neilson is the top scoring defenseman in the league with 11 points and leads all defenseman with 9 assists. Greg Chambers is second in the league among rookies in scoring with 10 points and is second among rookies with 8 assists. Ryan Craig is third in the league among rookies with 8 points. Jean Francois Soucy is fifth in the league among rookies with 29 penalty minutes. Goalie Brian Eklund is ranked first in the league with 210 saves and second in the league with 5 wins.

Ice Pilots in the Community
Brad Cruikshank and Kent Sauer will be at N.B. Cook Elementary School on Wednedsay morning. Cruikshank and Jamie Herrington will make an appearance at the downtown Library on Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Practice Schedule for the week
The Ice Pilots will practice at the Civic Center Today and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. The Ice Pilots will practice at the Civic Center on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. The Ice Pilots will not practice on Thursday because of a concert at the Civic Center. The Ice Pilots will have a pre-skate on Friday at 10 a.m. and play home to Fresno at 7:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots will have a pre skate on Saturday at 10 a.m. and play home to Fresno at 7:05 p.m. The Ice Pilots will leave after the game on Saturday night and play at Texas on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

Nominated Player of the Week
Ice Pilots defenseman Corey Neilson has been nominated by the Ice Pilots for the ECHL Player of the week. Neilson scored a goal and picked up 6 assists in the two games last week. Neilson tied a team record for most assists and points in a game with 5. Brian Eklund has been nominated for Goalie of the Week. Eklund went 2-0 last week with a 2.00 goals against average.

Season Ticket Packages are available with year round payments
Full season ticket packages and 16 game packages are available with year round payments. The following is a list of the full season ticket plan with year round payments: $22 seats for floor and glass is $49.99 per month, $15 seats for sides is $35.99 per month, $13 seats for goal and lower upper level is $32.99 per month, $10 seats for upper level is $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 receive two free tickets with a minimum of 25 tickets purchased and group members are eligible to become an MVP. Each group member fills out and 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 hot dogs, cokes, cake and 10 $13 lower goal 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 $179 for a party of 10. $15 is added for each additional guest. For more information call 432-PUCK.

Assigned Players from Tampa Bay
The Ice Pilots currently have five players on the roster assigned from Tampa Bay. They are goalie Brian Eklund and forward Dwayne Hay. Forward Jean Francois Soucy, forward Ryan Craig and defenseman Jeremy Van Hoof are also assigned from Tampa. Ryan Craig was called up to Hershey last Friday.

Kerr's Kids
This season the Ice Pilots are introducing "Kerr's Kids." Thanks to Ice Pilots owner Tim Kerr and SMG (Pensacola Civic Center), the Ice Pilots would like to invite six children and their escorts to a game. The Ice Pilots will provide free admission, a goodie bag for each child and SMG will provide a hot dog and soda for each guest. Accessible seating will be arranged for "Kerr's Kids" in section 105. If you are interested in attending one of the Ice Pilots home game through "Kerr's Kids" please contact the Ice Pilots office at 432-7825 and ask for Melinda Palmer or Jeanne Gallagher.

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, Cox Media channel 2 and at icepilots.com sponsored by Sports Avenue. The pre-game show on Friday night vs. Fresno is 7:00 p.m. The pre-game show on Saturday night vs. Fresno is 6:30 p.m. and the pre-game show on Sunday at Texas is 4:30 p.m.

Coach's Radio Show has new location this season
The Ice Pilots Coach's Radio show is broadcasted from the Gutter Lounge at Phoenix Crossing inside the new Liberty Lanes this year located at 3200 North Palafox Street. 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 the players, head coach Todd Gordon and members of the Ice Pilots office staff all season long. Forwards Jim Abbott and Brian Collins will be the player guests tonight.



ECHL Stories from November 3, 2003


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