Sports stats

Ice Pilots Weekly

February 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - The Ice Pilots began this week coming off back-to-back wins in Augusta against the Lynx. Pensacola is playing their best hockey of the season as they took three out of a possible four points against the Columbia Inferno in a short two game home stand on Monday and Tuesday. The Ice Pilots are now unbeaten in four games and will head on the road to begin a season long seven game road trip starting Saturday in Charlotte.

This week's Games

Monday, Feb. 4 vs. Columbia at 12:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center) (2-1 WIN)

Bryan Esner scored two goals and Mike Brodeur made 19 saves as the Ice Pilots defeated the Columbia Inferno 2-1 on Monday afternoon at the Pensacola Civic Center. The victory gives the Ice Pilots their first three game winning streak this season. Esner fired a shot from the high slot 12:17 into the first period beating Inferno net minder Jeff Jakaitis to make it 1-0 Ice Pilots. Phil Youngclaus and Michael Cohen picked up assists on the goal. Columbia answered just 14 seconds later as Owen Fussey's shot from the left wing mid wall beat Brodeur to even the score at one. The second period saw the Ice Pilots regain the lead as Esner netted his second goal of the afternoon and team leading 15th of the season and the Pilots had a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. J.R. Bria and J.C. Sawyer chipped in with assists on Esner's second goal. Brodeur and Jakaitis made some spectacular saves in the third period and the Ice Pilots held off a late 6 on 5 for the win. Pensacola has now killed off 16 consecutive power plays as Columbia finished the game 0 for 4. For the fifth time this season, the Ice Pilots were held to just one power play opportunity.

Tuesday, Feb. 5 vs. Columbia at 7:05 p.m. (Pensacola Civic Center) (3-2 OT Loss)

Reid Cashman scored with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to give the Columbia Inferno a 3-2 win over the Ice Pilots at the Pensacola Civic Center. Mac Faulkner gave Columbia a 1-0 lead at 6:19 of the first period as it was Brad Ralph with the feed to the slot. Pensacola answered as defenseman J.C. Sawyer took a pass from Bryan Esner and found the back of the net to make it 1-1. Michael Cohen added an assist on the goal, his third in the last two games. Esner gave the Ice Pilots their first lead of the night with his third goal in the last two games with help from Mathieu Roy and Sawyer and it was 2-1 Ice Pilots after two periods. With just 2:08 left in the third period, Brad Ralph somehow trickled the puck past Mike Brodeur and tied things up at two as the game went to overtime. Cashman fired a shot from the left wing side to win it. The Ice Pilots earn a point in the overtime loss and their unbeaten streak is extended to four games.

Saturday, Feb. 9 at Charlotte at 6:30 p.m. (Charlotte Bobcats Arena)

The Ice Pilots begin their seven game road trip in Charlotte against the Checkers. Head Coach John Marks returns to where he began his ECHL coaching career and sits just 3 wins away for becoming the all-time coaching wins leaders in ECHL history. It is the third meeting of the season as the Checkers have taken both contests. Jeff Kyrzakos who came over from the Phoenix Roadrunners leads the Checkers in scoring while Blake Bellefeuille is right behind.

Sunday, Feb. 10 at Charlotte at 3:05 p.m. (Charlotte Bobcats Arena)

The Sunday afternoon matinee is the final meeting between the two teams in Charlotte. The Pilots will finally get the Checkers in the Hangar beginning on March 15 for three games. Charlotte has gone through eight goaltenders this season. Mike Ayers has a 0.904 save percentage.

Upcoming Home Games

Friday, February 22 vs. Gwinnett at 7:05 p.m. (College Night, $5 tickets for students, faculty and family)

Friday, February 29 vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. (Faith Night)

Saturday, March 1 vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. (Boy Scout Night)

Ice Pilots Itinerary

Monday - GAME vs. Columbia, 12:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center (2-1 WIN)

Tuesday - GAME vs. Columbia, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center (3-2 OT Loss)

Wednesday - Day Off

Thursday - Practice at 10 a.m.

Friday - Travel Day to Charlotte

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

GAME at Charlotte, 6:30 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena

Sunday - GAME at Charlotte, 3:05 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena

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

Countdown to History Head Coach John Marks is just 3 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 477 career wins.

Tip-A-Pilot

Ice Pilots players will be serving up food and beverages at the annual Tip-A-Pilot on Thursday, February 21st from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beef 'O' Brady's on Nine Mile Road to benefit the Favor House, a local non-profit for abused women and children. The entire Ice Pilots team will be dressing as waiters for the evening and fans will have the opportunity to be served by their favorite Ice Pilots players as all tips will go to the Favor House.

Radio Show

The next show will take place on Monday, February 18 from 6-7 p.m. at New York Nick's in Downtown Pensacola.

Ice Pilots in the Community

Thursday, Feb. 7 - Reading at Lipscomb Elementary School, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9 - International Paper Arbor Day Party at University Mall, 8-10 a.m.

Good Numbers

The Ice Pilots are 8-6-4 in one goal games this season.

Bryan Esner leads the team with 16 goals.

Pensacola has killed off 19 of the last 20 opposing powerplays (95.0%).

Mathieu Roy is second amongst ECHL rookies in shots with 178.

The Ice Pilots have won the first of back to back games two straight times.

Last week's Games

Tuesday vs. Mississippi (8-5 Loss)

The Ice Pilots scored five unanswered goals in the third period but ended up falling at the end to Mississippi 8-5 at the Pensacola Civic Center. Mississippi scored seven goals in the first 40 minutes and looked like they were going to continue complete control of the game but the Ice Pilots awoke with a five goal third period rally but Lance Monych insured the victory with an empty netter to the Sea Wolves the victory. Monych, Marek Kvapil and Jason Tejchma who ended up with the game winner, each scored two goals in the win. At 7:17 of the third period, Michael Cohen lit the lamp for his first goal as an Ice Pilot and first of two on the evening. Daniel Sullivan with a rush to the net received a great feed from Mathieu Roy to cut the lead to 7-2. Then at 12:08, Bryan Esner struck with a shot from the top of the left wing circle to make it 7-3. Cohen and Esner would each add their second and all of a sudden it was a 7-5 game. Mississippi would cling to the two goal lead and Bryan McGregor had a chance stopped by Morgan Cey and the Sea Wolves went on for the victory. Each team had a power play goal on the evening. The Ice Pilots out shot Mississippi 25 to 12 in the third period.

Friday at Augusta (2-1 WIN)

Cam Ellsworth made 35 saves and Mathieu Roy scored the game winning goal for the second straight time as the Ice Pilots snapped a five game skid with a 2-1 win over the Augusta Lynx at James Brown Arena. Roy fired a blast from the right wing circle as he just exited the penalty box to give the Pilots the lead for good at 10:44 of the third period. Joel Stepp fired a cross-ice feed as Roy went top shelf on Augusta net minder Gerald Coleman. It was a copy of a game winning goal Roy had a couple of weeks back in the last Ice Pilots win in Gwinnett. Pensacola got the scoring underway as they took advantage of their second power play. Michael Cohen cycled along the left wing wall, backtracking to the line and sending a pass to Bryan Esner along the wall. Esner fed Erik Fabian in the slot for his 10th goal of the season to put the Ice Pilots up 1-0 after the first period of play. Augusta evened the score in the second period as Igor Pohanka received a tape to tape feed from James Brannigan as he found the back of the net, 1-1 after two periods of play.

Saturday at Augusta (3-2 OT WIN)

Joel Stepp scored two goals including the overtime game winner at 1:33 of the extra session to give the Ice Pilots a weekend sweep at James Brown Arena as Pensacola won 3-2 in overtime. Mike Brodeur who made his first appearance back from the AHL since December 9 for the Ice Pilots made 25 saves in the victory. Augusta scored the game's first goal as Adrian Veideman lit the lamp for his 5th of the season tipping the puck past the glove side of Brodeur at 6:10 of the first period to give the Lynx a 1-0 lead. The Pilots answered in the second period as Dan Sullivan redirected a shot from Preston Briggs at the point for his 4th goal of the season to tie things up at one. Pensacola went ahead for the first time as Mathieu Roy who had the game winner last night dove to get the puck to Joel Stepp, creating a breakaway and Stepp finished to give the Pilots a 2-1 lead. However, Matt Auffrey evened the score with his team leading 16th goal as he hammered in a rebound to make it 2-2. It was the first multi-goal game this season for the veteran Stepp as Pensacola won their second in a row for the first time in a month. There were a couple of first period fights as Brian McGregor dropped the gloves for the first time in his pro career, opposing Jeremy Schenderling and just 39 seconds after Jason Bloomingburg squared off with James Brannigan.

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, tonight, Monday, February 18 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 Friday, February 22 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Gwinnett at the Civic Center. It is College Night, as tickets are just $5 for students, faculty and family. Group Tickets 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.



ECHL Stories from February 6, 2008


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.

Other Recent Pensacola Ice Pilots Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central