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Ice Pilots Weekly

January 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


FORT MYERS, FL - The Ice Pilots are coming off a gritty effort on Saturday night in Gwinnett that saw them beat Gladiators on the road 3-2. Pensacola will end the road trip on Tuesday against the Everblades before coming home and getting some much needed rest. The Pilots will then have three of the next four at the Hangar beginning with Pink in the Rink night on Saturday against the Everblades. Mathieu Roy who had the game winning goal in the victory on Saturday leads the Ice Pilots with 24 points (9g-15a). Pilots' net minder Cam Ellsworth has allowed just three goals or less in six of the last seven games.

This week's Games

Saturday, Jan. 19 vs. Florida at 6:30 p.m. CT (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots return home for the first annual Pink in the Rink night at the Hangar. The game completes a home and home series against the Everblades. The Ice Pilots players will be wearing pink jerseys and these jerseys will be auctioned off following the game. The Ice Pilots have teamed up with Santa Rosa Medical Center to help raise money for breast cancer research and prevention with the net proceeds from the jerseys going to benefit the American Cancer Society. Also, there will be restaurant row prior to the jersey auction as after the game; fans will be able to sample food complimentary style from local restaurants.

Tuesday, Jan. 15 at Florida at 6:30 p.m. (Germain Arena)

The Ice Pilots take on the Florida Everblades in the sixth meeting of the season between the two teams. Captain Dan Sullivan is expected to make his return to the lineup as he has missed the last 28 games due to injury. The Pilots are 2-3-0 against the Everblades this season. The last meeting in Germain Arena was on November 24 with the Pilots heading out of town with a 3-1 road victory. Mathieu Melanson and Derek Damon are tied for the team lead in points with 34 while Damon is coming off a natural hat trick in Saturday's win in Augusta. Goaltender Justin Peters is 13-7-2 with a 2.91 GAA.

Upcoming Home Games

Saturday, January 26 vs. Gwinnett at 7:05 p.m. (Kids 12-under free ticket w/paid adult ticket)

Tuesday, January 29 vs. Mississippi at 7:05 p.m.

Monday, February 4 vs. Columbia (Businessperson's Special at 12:05 p.m.)

Tuesday, February 5 vs. Columbia at 7:05 p.m. (Mardi Gras Parade on the Ice - Free Beads)

Ice Pilots Itinerary

Monday - Practice at 11 a.m.

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

GAME at Florida, 6:30 p.m. at Germain Arena

Wednesday - TBD

Thursday - Practice at 10 a.m.

Friday - Practice at 10 a.m.

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

GAME vs. Florida, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic 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 6 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 474 career wins.

Good Numbers

Erik Fabian has 11 points (5g-6a) in his last 10 games.

He has five assists against the Everblades, including four in the last two meetings.

Cam Ellsworth has started 14 straight games and 16 of the last 17.

In six of the last seven games, Ellsworth has allowed just three goals or less.

Bryan McGregor has scored in back to back games.

Mathieu Roy leads the team in shots with 145 and is in the top 10 in the ECHL.

Bryan Esner has a plus 5 which leads with Ice Pilots.

The Ice Pilots are 4-2-1 since November 24 against Florida and Gwinnett.

Last week's Games

Monday vs. South Carolina (3-2 Loss)

Josh Johnson made 38 saves as the Ice Pilots ran into another hot goaltender and the South Carolina Stingrays held on for a 3-2 win over the Pilots at the Pensacola Civic Center. The two clubs played a scoreless first period and then Bryan Esner found the back of the net against his old team as he banged in a rebound to put the Pilots up 1-0 in the second period. Erik Fabian started the two on one with help from Mathieu Roy. Fabian extended his point scoring streak to seven games. The Stingrays answered as Pierre-Luc O'Brien fired in a shot from the left wing wall past Cam Ellsworth to even the score at one. The Stingrays took their first lead on a two on one as Marty Guerin fed Cail MacLean to make it 2-1 at the end of two periods. The Stingrays would create another odd man rush and Scott Romfo fired a shot from the left point with traffic in front to make it 3-1. The Pilots cut the lead to one as Mike Sgroi netted his team leading 12th goal of the season with a feed from Joel Stepp. Pensacola would have some late scoring chances but Johnson who was named ECHL goaltender of the month held off the Pilots en route to the 3-2 win.

Thursday at Charlotte (6-0 Loss)

Ryan Murphy and Dusty Jamieson each scored two goals and Chris Holt made 34 saves for his second shut out as the Charlotte Checkers blanked the Ice Pilots 6-0 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Charlotte took advantage on an early break at 1:31 of the first period as the puck went off of Ryan Murphy in front of the net from a Jared Nightingale shot in the high slot to make it 1-0 Charlotte. At 7:28, Chris Capraro netted a power play goal to increase the lead by two goals. Dusty Jamieson would close out the first period scoring with a special teams goal, this one came shorthanded on a feed from Murphy and it was 3-0 Checkers after one. Charlotte added to the lead as Murphy tallied his second of the night at 2:10 of the second as it was 4-0 after two periods. Cam Ellsworth stopped Chris Capraro on a penalty shot at 9:17 of the period. Blake Bellefeuille added a power play goal in the third and Jamieson scored his second of the night and the Checkers went on for the 6-0 win. The Pilots out shot their opponent for the fifth straight game.

Friday at Gwinnett (3-1 Loss)

Lou Dickenson scored the go-ahead goal 1:36 into the third period as the Gwinnett Gladiators took the first of back-to-back games with the Ice Pilots 3-1 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. The first period was even steven as Tomas Pospisil was fed with a pass in the high slot and beat Cam Ellsworth to put Gwinnett up 1-0. Joel Stepp created a breakaway, was pulled down and somehow regained his balance as he fed Bryan McGregor to even the score at one. A delayed penalty shot was upcoming but Stepp made a spectacular play to get it to McGregor and the teams were tied at one after the first period. The Pilots and Gladiators played a scoreless second and then Lou Dickenson circled the perimeter in the Pilots zone, handing off to Pospisil, then getting a feed back to fire it past Ellsworth and give Gwinnett a 2-1 lead. Matt Anderson would add one at 10:44 and the Gladiators defeated the Pilots 3-1. Cam Ellsworth stopped 40 shots in a losing effort.

Saturday at Gwinnett (3-2 WIN)

Team leading scorer Mathieu Roy fired a blast at five minutes of the third period past Gladiators net minder Craig Kowalski to put the Ice Pilots ahead for good and get a 3-2 win at Gwinnett in the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Pilots played with just 14 skaters but fought hard for a full 60 minutes. Bryan McGregor beat Gwinnett goaltender Craig Kowalski from the left wing side at 8:58 of the first period to put the Pilots up 1-0. Lou Dickenson led off the second as he netted his 14th goal of the season beating Cam Ellsworth to tie the game at one. The Pilots answered back as it was Erik Fabian getting the Pilots power play going with his 8th goal of the season to make it 2-1 Pensacola. However, Chad Denny tied the game at two with a chance on the doorstep. The third period saw the Pilots go up for the third time in the game as Mathieu Roy took advantage of a bad Gwinnett line chance and blasted a shot from the top of the right wing circle to make it 3-2 Pensacola. The Pilots fought off a couple of Gwinnett's top power play opportunities in the third and snapped a seven game skid with a 3-2 road win at Gwinnett.

Flight Deck

The Ice Pilots have introduced the new flight deck, available at the Hangar for home games. The Flight Deck is located between sections 105 and 108 on the event level and is a perfect party area for groups, business associates and birthday parties. It can come complete with a cash bar and catered food. For more information, contact the Ice Pilots at 432-PUCK.

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 us 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 Saturday, January 19 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Florida at the Civic Center. It's Pink in the Rink Night, as the Ice Pilots will be wearing pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off following the game! The net proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. 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 . Pride in Pensacola!



ECHL Stories from January 14, 2008


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