Ice Pilots weekly

December 18, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - The Ice Pilots begin a four game road trip in Charlotte on Tuesday night. This will be the first of four games in five nights. Following the road trip, the Ice Pilots will be home for the holidays as they begin a season long eight game home stand against Mississippi on Wednesday, December 26. Pensacola is coming off a split with the Mississippi Sea Wolves at the Hangar. The Pilots won a thrilling game in overtime on Friday 4-3 thanks to Bryan Esner's game winning goal. Mike Sgroi is averaging a over a point per game and has scored six goals in his last seven games. Rookie Luke Erickson is tied with Sgroi for the team lead in points with 15. Cam Ellsworth was the first Ice Pilots goaltender this season to win in his first start for the team. He stopped 36 of 40 shots in the two games against Mississippi.

This week's Games

Tuesday, Dec. 18 at Charlotte at 6:05 p.m. (CT).

The Ice Pilots visit the Queen City to take on the Charlotte Checkers. This is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. Charlotte has played the fewest games in the ECHL at 20 with the Ice Pilots having played the second fewest at 22. The Checkers are 9-8-3 with 21 points and sit at seventh in the South Division. They are led by Blake Bellefeuille who has 17 points in 20 games. The Checkers have rotated eight different goaltenders due to injuries and call-ups. Curtis Darling has a 2.12 GAA in five games.

Wednesday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 21 at South Carolina (Both Games at 6:05 p.m. CT)

The Ice Pilots renew acquaintances with the South Carolina Stingrays, as Pensacola will visit Charleston for the first time this season. Most recently the two teams split a two game set in Pensacola on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 as South Carolina won both contests with one coming in overtime. The Stingrays are 13-9-1 with 27 points and are fifth in the South Division. A couple of rookies lead South Carolina in scoring as Travis Morin and Paul McIlveen have 22 and 20 points respectively. Davis Parley and rookie Josh Johnson continue to split time between the pipes.

Saturday, Dec. 22 at Gwinnett at 6:35 p.m. (CT)

The Ice Pilots will battle the Gwinnett Gladiators who are off to a fast start this season. Gwinnett won both meetings during the home and home series in which both teams opened the regular season. The Gladiators are 18-5-1 with 37 points and are in second place in the South Division. Derek Nesbitt is fifth in the league in scoring with 34 points in 24 games. The Gladiators are tied for the league's best power play. Craig Kowalski and Dan Turple mend the pipes are Gwinnett.



ECHL Stories from December 18, 2007


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