Ice Pilots Weekly

February 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - The Ice Pilots stay on the road this week as they will travel to South Carolina; Columbia and Charleston to be exact. Pensacola will face-off with the Inferno and the Stingrays for three straight games beginning Thursday. The Ice Pilots extended their season long three game winning streak last Monday and made it a four game unbeaten streak on Tuesday. The Ice Pilots finished last week with a 2-1-1 record and are 4-1-1 in their last six games.

This week's Games

Thursday, Feb. 14 at Columbia at 6:05 p.m. (Carolina Coliseum)

The Ice Pilots will celebrate Valentine's Day as they visit the Carolina Coliseum for the first time this season. This game will feature Pink in the Rink for the Columbia Inferno. The Ice Pilots have played Columbia three times this season and are 1-1-1. Jeff Miles leads Columbia in scoring with 50 points (20g-30a) and is one of the top 10 scorers in the ECHL.

Friday, Feb. 15 at South Carolina at 6:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)

The Ice Pilots take a quick two hour trip to North Charleston to battle the Stingrays. South Carolina has taken all five meetings as the Ice Pilots have only mustered one point. It came in a 3-2 overtime loss on November 30th at the Hangar. Travis Morin is tied for seventh in the ECHL in scoring with 51 points (23g-28a). Goaltenders Davis Parley and Josh Johnson have led the Stingrays and each has under a 3.00 GAA and over a 0.900 save percentage.

Saturday, Feb. 16 at Columbia at 12:05 p.m. (Carolina Coliseum)

The Ice Pilots will take on the Inferno in a Saturday afternoon matinee. Following the game, the Pilots will return home before heading to Biloxi to battle the Sea Wolves on Tuesday night. Goaltenders Todd Ford and Jeff Jakaitis each have earned a win against the Ice Pilots this season.

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 - Day Off in Charlotte

Tuesday - Practice in Columbia

Wednesday - Practice in Columbia

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

GAME at Columbia, 6:05 p.m. at Carolina Coliseum

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

GAME at South Carolina, 6:05 p.m. at North Charleston Coliseum

Saturday - GAME at Columbia, 12:05 p.m. at Carolina Coliseum

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 2 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 478 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

Erik Fabian and Bryan McGregor visited Lipscomb Elementary School in Pensacola to read to children and participate in the reading awards celebration last Thursday.

Ice Man participates in Arbor Day Tree Seedling Giveaway with International Paper on Saturday in Pensacola.

Good Numbers

The Ice Pilots are 4-1-1 in the month of February.

Goaltender Mike Brodeur was 2-0-1 with a 1.59 GAA and a 0.947 save percentage last week.

Mathieu Roy leads the Ice Pilots in scoring with 32 points (12g-20a).

Bryan Esner leads the team in goals with 16.

Michael Cohen has 10 points (3g-7a) in his last eight games.

Last week's Games

Monday vs. Columbia (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 vs. Columbia (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 at Charlotte (4-0 Loss)

Lee Falardeau scored two goals and Mike Ayers made 32 saves as the Charlotte Checkers shut out the Ice Pilots 4-0 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Defenseman Kenny Smith gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead in the first period as he found a way to slap the loose puck past a diving Mathieu Roy. The two clubs combined for 29 shots in the period. The Ice Pilots fought strong in the first six minutes of period number two and tried to take advantage of a power play but Checkers goaltender Mike Ayers made some key saves to keep it a 1-0 Charlotte lead. At 10:11 of the period, veteran Dusty Jamieson scored his 16th goal of the season and the Checkers had a 2-0 advantage. Just 41 seconds later Lee Falardeau gave Charlotte a 3-0 lead with his sixth goal of the year heading into the third period. Falardeau netted his second goal of the night to end the scoring as Mike Ayers stopped all 32 Ice Pilots shots and the Checkers went on for the 4-0 win. Dan Sullivan fought Jared Nightingale before leaving with an injury and Erik Fabian battled with Ryan Constant.

Sunday at Charlotte (2-1 WIN)

Mike Brodeur made 37 outstanding saves and Michael Cohen and Mathieu Roy scored as the Ice Pilots held off the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Forward Michael Cohen took advantage of a turnover in the Charlotte zone and fired one past Checkers net minder Chris Holt to put the Ice Pilots ahead 1-0 after the first period of play. The Ice Pilots had two 5 on 3's in the second period and converted on their first as Mathieu Roy slapped a turn around shot past Holt. Cohen assisted on the goal as it gave the Ice Pilots a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. The Checkers finally got on the board late in the third as a one-timer from the slot from the stick of Mike Bayrack beat Brodeur and it was 2-1. The Checkers had a late power play and pulled the goaltender Holt for the extra attacker but Brodeur held off the Checkers making 37 saves as he was huge down the stretch and the Ice Pilots defeated Charlotte 2-1.

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 1620am, the flagship station for the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Ice Pilots' Broadcasts begin with the Hill-Kelly Dodge Jeep Pilots Pre-game Show 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, next 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 11, 2008


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