Ice Pilots Weekly

Published on December 31, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - The Ice Pilots head into the New Year playing their best hockey of the season. Pensacola has won three of their last five which included wins over some of the South Division's best teams in Gwinnett and Mississippi. The Pilots are currently enjoying a season long eight game home stand. The Pilots trail the Mississippi Sea Wolves by just four points in the standings with one game in hand and are coming off a convincing 5-2 home win on Wednesday night against Mississippi. Mike Sgroi continues to lead the Ice Pilots in scoring as he netted eight goals in the month of December. Cam Ellsworth has started nine of the last 10 games of the Ice Pilots since being acquired in a trade and has backstopped the Pilots to four wins.

This week's Games

Wednesday, Jan. 2 vs. Trenton at 7:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots continue the home stand with their first ever meeting against the Trenton Devils. Fans may know them as the Titans but Trenton who is now the sole 'AA' affiliate of the Devils has followed the lead of their parent club. After a slow start, the Devils has won four out of their last five games and have earned points in each of the five. They play in the North Division and are currently in fifth place with a record of 12-15-2 for 26 points. The Devils are led by rookie defenseman Ryan Gunderson who has 20 assists. Former Gwinnett goaltender Dave Caruso backstops the Devils and has a 2.51 GAA with a 0.922 save percentage.

(ALL Kids 12 and under will enjoy free popcorn)

Friday, Jan. 4 vs. Gwinnett at 7:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots renew acquaintances with the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Hangar. The Pilots are coming off an offensive outburst in a 6-5 win at Gwinnett on December 22. Brian McGregor scored a shorthanded goal with under two minutes left to propel Pensacola to the victory. The Pilots are 1-2-0 against the Gladiators this season. While leading scorer Derek Nesbitt was loaned to the Ice Pilots AHL affiliate Rockford, Jeff Campbell has taken over the lead with 31 assists. Dan Turple took the loss in net in the last meeting and he has a 2.88 GAA with a 0.913 save percentage.

(ALL Kids 12 and under will enjoy free popcorn)

Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Trenton at 7:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots battle Trenton for the second time in four days. The Devils are taking a trip through the South and will visit the Sea Wolves twice as well. This will be the last meeting of the season for Pensacola against a non-division foe. The Ice Pilots split two games against the Reading Royals in March.

(ALL Kids 12 and under will enjoy free popcorn)

Countdown to History Head Coach John Marks is just 7 wins away from tying John Brophy for the most all time wins in ECHL History. Marks is in his 14th season in the ECHL and has 473 career wins.

Roster Moves

The Ice Pilots have added forward Jason Bloomingburg who is in his official rookie season after a short stint with Augusta and Corpus Christi of the AHL earlier this season.

Also, defenseman Andrew Morris was signed as he comes over from Jacksonville of the SPHL.

Defenseman Steve Marr is still up in Rockford, the AHL affiliate of the Ice Pilots.

Andrew Winnik and A.J. MacLean are nursing injuries and hope to be back in the near future while Daniel Sullivan is recovering as well.

Last week's Games

Wednesday vs. Mississippi (5-2 WIN)

Konstantin Kalmikov scored two goals and Mike Sgroi and Bryan Esner both converted on third period penalty shots as the Ice Pilots won back to back games for the first time this season defeating Mississippi 5-2 at the Pensacola Civic Center. Konstantin Kalmikov tipped in a pass from JC Sawyer on the power play to put Pensacola ahead 1-0. Then, Brian McGregor with his 8th of the season and first goal on home ice gave the Pilots a 2-0 lead. Mark Hurtubise put Mississippi on the board with his 6th of the season as he blasted a shot past Cam Ellsworth and it was a 2-1 lead for Pensacola after the first period. The Pilots dominated the second period as they out shot Mississippi 14-1 and Kalmikov struck again for his second of the night at 6:25 as Sawyer again with the assist to make it 3-1. The third period was a memorable one as the Ice Pilots were successful on two penalty shot attempts. First it was Mike Sgroi at 3:44 for his 10th goal of the season. Following was Bryan Esner as he deked Morgan Cey and put the puck in the back of the net for his sixth of the year to finish the scoring for Pensacola and the Pilots went on for the 5-2 win.

Friday vs. Texas (4-1 Loss)

John McNabb scored twice as the Texas Wildcatters defeated the Ice Pilots 4-1 at the Pensacola Civic Center. The Pilots and Texas played a scoreless first period with each team being held on their only power play attempt. Pensacola opened up the scoring at 7:59 of the second period as Erik Fabian scored his fourth goal in the last eight games to make it 1-0 Pilots. John McNabb took advantage of a defensive breakdown and tied the game up at one. In the third period, Max Taylor lit the lamp as Cam Ellsworth charged out far from his crease to make a play but Taylor poked it in and gave Texas a 2-1 lead. The Pilots would get a bad break as a goal was waved off which hit the referee and redirected in which would have tied the game.

Saturday vs. Florida (6-5 OT WIN)

Brian McGregor scored at 1:40 of overtime to send the Ice Pilots to their third win in four games as Pensacola defeated the Everblades 6-5 at the Pensacola Civic Center. The Pilots came back in late in the third period to force the overtime as Mike Sgroi tipped one past Everblades net minder Justin Peters to tie the game at five with just 53 seconds left. The Pilots opened the scoring as Erik Fabian dropped off a blue line pass for JC Sawyer and he blasted it by Florida goaltender Justin Peters 1-0 at 5:40 of the first period. Florida tied the game just 15 seconds later as Dan Collins fired a shot past Cam Ellsworth off a Pilots defensive zone face-off. Pensacola regained the lead at 2-1 as Jason Bloomingburg netted his first goal as an Ice Pilot as the forwards crashed the net to created traffic in front of Peters. The Ice Pilots took advantage of a Florida miscue with just 14.6 seconds remaining in the first period as Steve Ward and David Cornacchia couldn't connect to clear the Everblades zone as Erik Fabian was there for the fore-check and fed Bryan Esner for his seventh goal of the year and after one the Pilots led 3-1. In the second period, the Everblades took advantage of a couple of power plays as Preston Callender beat Ellsworth for his second of the season to cut the lead to 3-2 at 5:43. Then, Brandon Roach converted with just one second remaining to even the game at 3. The Pilots retook the lead early in the first as Mike Sgroi was credited with the goal on the power play. Joel Stepp was in front to create traffic and the Pilots went back ahead 4-3. Florida tied the game and took their first lead of the night with goals just 36 seconds apart from David Cornacchia and Kirk McDonald to take a 5-4 lead. Sgroi tied it on a tip in and Mathieu Roy created an overtime breakaway as McGregor hammered in the loose rebound to give the Ice Pilots a 6-5 OT win and their third win in the last four games.

Sunday vs. Florida (4-3 Loss)

The Florida Everblades held off another Ice Pilots rally as Kirk MacDonald and J.B. Bittner tallied a goal and an assist as they defeated Pensacola 4-3 at the Pensacola Civic Center. Florida's Steve Ward lit the lamp for his first goal of the year to put the Everblades up 1-0. Each team had three power play chances in the opening frame and the only special teams goal came shorthanded as Kirk MacDonald found a seam in the Pilots defense, firing a shot that was stopped by Cam Ellsworth but MacDonald got it back and fed J.B. Bittner on the doorstep for his second goal of the season to give the Everblades a 2-0 lead after one period. Joe Guenther would add to the lead for his second goal of the year to make it 3-0. The Pilots responded as Erik Fabian and Mathieu Roy connected to the back of the net in just 32 seconds to cut the lead to 3-2. However Kirk MacDonald beat Cam Ellsworth to put Florida back ahead by a couple. In the third period, Bryan Esner made it a 4-3 game with help from Erik Fabian but the Everblades held on despite 40 saves from Cam Ellsworth for the win. Jason Bloomingburg battled with Dan Collins in a fight five seconds into the game.

Ice Pilots Itinerary

Monday - New Year's Eve

Tuesday - New Year's Day

Wednesday - Pre-Game Skate at 10 a.m.

GAME vs. Trenton, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center

Thursday - Practice at 10 a.m.

Friday - Pre-Game Skate at 10 a.m.

GAME vs. Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center

Saturday - Pre-Game Skate at 10 a.m.

GAME vs. Trenton, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center

Sunday - Day Off

(All Practices are open to the public and all Times are CT).

Broadcast Information

You can catch all the Ice Pilots action home and away on Newsradio 1620 am, the flagship station for the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Ice Pilots' Broadcasts begin with the Hill-Kelly Dodge Jeep Pilots Pre-game 15 minutes prior to all games and concludes with Pilots Post-Game presented by Wal-Mart. Also, join Head Coach John Marks and the Voice of the Ice Pilots, Anthony Langella, Jr. for the next coach's show, Monday, January 21 from 6-7 p.m. at New York Nick's in Downtown Pensacola. The Coach's Show also airs on Newsradio 1620. Fans can get involved by asking questions live or via phone at 437-1620.

Ticket Information

Don't miss the hard hitting, exciting action, as the Ice Pilots' next home game is Wednesday, January 2 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Trenton at the Civic Center. All kids 12 and under will enjoy free popcorn as the Ice Pilots will play their first game in the New Year! 2007-2008 Group Tickets, Mini Plans, and Military Packages are still available through the Ice Pilots office. For more information, or to reserve your seats, call (850) 432-PUCK, or visit the Ice Pilots web site at www.icepilots.com.

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