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Ice Pilots Weekly

January 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - The Ice Pilots finish their season long eight game home stand this week and then will head to an unfamiliar place of late, the road. The Pilots finished last week 0-2-1, earning the point in a come from behind effort against Gwinnett. Pensacola will now take on divisional foes the rest of the season as the Pilots took on Trenton last week in two home contests. The Pilots ended the season 1-3-0 against the North Division. Mike Sgroi and Mathieu Roy are tied for the team lead with 21 points. Sgroi's 11 goals leads the team. Pilots' netminder Cam Ellsworth has started 10 consecutive games.

Upcoming Home Games at 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, January 19 vs. Florida (Pink in the Rink Night with Restaurant Row)

Saturday, January 26 vs. Gwinnett (Kids 12-under free ticket w/paid adult ticket)

Tuesday, January 29 vs. Mississippi

This week's Games

Monday, Jan. 7 vs. South Carolina at 7:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots finish off the season long eight game home stand against the South Carolina Stingrays. This is the fifth of six meetings between the two South Division teams this season. The Pilots have mustered one point in the first four contests which was in an overtime loss on November 30. South Carolina had a 12 game winning streak snapped against the Everblades and now have lost their last two games while giving up 13 goals in those contests. Pierre-Luc O'Brien leads the team with 23 assists and 26 points while Josh Johnson has a 3.15 GAA and a 0.896 save percentage in goal.

Thursday, Jan. 10 at Charlotte at 6:05 p.m. CT (Charlotte Bobcats Arena)

The Ice Pilots head on the road to begin a four game road trip against the Checkers. This is the second of seven meetings this season. The first at the Hangar will not come until March 15. The initial game occurred in the Queen City on December 18 with the Checkers coming out on top 5-3 despite the Pilots scoring two goals just five seconds apart in the third period. Charlotte is 13-13-4 with 30 points, sitting seventh in the South Division. The Checkers are led by Blake Bellefeuille with 25 points. Chris Holt has started the last several games in goal and is 2-1-0 with a 2.34 GAA and a 0.924 save percentage.

Friday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 12 at Gwinnett at 6:35 p.m. CT (The Arena at Gwinnett Center)

The Ice Pilots fly into Gwinnett County for back to back games this weekend. These two rivals have taken to the ice four times this season and the Pilots are 1-2-1. The last meeting in Gwinnett saw Pensacola score their highest output of goals this season, six, in a 6-5 win. The Gladiators are currently in second place in the South Division with a record of 21-8-3 for 45 points. Jeff Campbell leads the Gladiators with 32 assists and 39 points while goaltender Dan Turple has started the last two against the Ice Pilots.

Ice Pilots Itinerary

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

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

Tuesday - Practice at 10 a.m.

Wednesday - Practice / Travel Day to Charlotte

Thursday - Pre Game Skate at 10:15 a.m.

GAME at Charlotte, 6:05 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena

Friday - Pre-Game Skate at 10:15 a.m.

GAME at Gwinnett, 6:35 p.m. at The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Saturday - Pre-Game Skate at 10:15 a.m.

GAME at Gwinnett, 6:35 p.m. at The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Sunday - Day Off

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

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.

Good Numbers

Erik Fabian currently has a three game goal scoring streak and a six game point streak.

Cam Ellsworth has started 10 straight games and 12 of the last 13.

Bryan Esner has 15 points (6g-9a) in 17 games since joining the Pilots.

The Ice Pilots are 4-4-4 in one goal games.

The Pilots have out shot their opponents 188-165 in the last 5 games.

Pensacola is 2-1 in overtimes this year.

Last week's Games

Wednesday vs. Trenton (3-1 Loss)

Eric Castonguay scored two goals and Jason Smith made 34 saves as the Trenton Devils won the first ever match up 3-1 over the Ice Pilots at the Pensacola Civic Center. The Pilots started off the first game of 2008 the right way when Erik Fabian who has been red hot of late powered his way in to put the Pilots up 1-0 with a power play goal. Trenton would even things up as Mike Rogers was awarded a penalty shot on a break up the left wing side and converted to make it a 1-1 game after one period. Castonguay scored the eventual game winner at 8:09 of the second period to make it 2-1 Trenton. He would add another in the third as Trenton scored three unanswered to take the 3-1 victory. The Pilots went 1 for 7 on the power play with 13 shots on the man advantage while holding Trenton scoreless on six attempts with eight shots. Pensacola out shot Trenton 35-29 in the game.

Friday vs. Gwinnett (3-2 SO Loss)

Erik Fabian and Luke Erickson scored third period goals to rally the Ice Pilots from a two goal deficit and earn a point in a 3-2 shoot out loss to Gwinnett at the Pensacola Civic Center. Tomas Pospisil, Lou Dickenson and Jeff Campbell scored the shoot out goals to give Gwinnett their fifth shoot out win this season. It was the first shoot out to take place at the Hangar this year. Gwinnett rode the strength of their number one power play as Matt Anderson and Mike Hamilton each scored special teams goals to give the Gladiators a 2-0 lead after two periods. It was Fabian who lit the spark for the Pilots as he scored his sixth goal of the season and his fifth in the last nine games to cut the lead to 2-1. Then, a loose puck on the doorstep was hammered in by Erickson to even the score at two. The Pilots had two power plays down the stretch including a full two minutes in over time but Gwinnett goaltender Dan Turple stopped 37 shots and helped the Gladiators to a win and extend their unbeaten streak to five games. Cam Ellsworth kept the Pilots in the game and made 30 saves. Mike Sgroi and Myles Stoesz fought in the third period.

Saturday vs. Trenton (3-1 Loss)

Brad Mills recorded a natural hat trick as Trenton defeated the Ice Pilots 3-1 at the Pensacola Civic Center. It was a scoreless first period as Trenton held the Pilots on their three power play opportunities. Brad Mills caught fire in the second as he redirected a shot off the face-off to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Then, Mills hammered in a rebound to put Trenton up 2-0 after two periods. Mills completed the hat trick with his third goal at 4:10 of the third period as he batted it out of the air, finding the back of the net. Erik Fabian extended his goal scoring streak to three games as he tipped in a feed from Bryan Esner to put Pensacola on the board but Trenton held on for the 3-1 victory.

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 Monday, January 7 at 7:05 p.m. vs. South Carolina at the Civic Center. 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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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.

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