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Ice Pilots Weekly

March 17, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - The Ice Pilots are fighting for their playoff lives as they take to the ice against the Charlotte Checkers tonight. Pensacola still trails Mississippi by 12 points, now with just one game in hand and three head-to-head meetings all coming in the last seven days of the season. The Pilots have lost six games in a row but have a favorable schedule in the last several weeks of the season. Bryan Esner leads the Ice Pilots with 47 points (22g-25a).

This week's Games

Monday, March 17 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Charlotte (Pensacola Civic Center)

The Ice Pilots finish off the season series with the Charlotte Checkers. Pensacola has won just once in six tries vs. Charlotte this season. The Pilots will look to salvage the final game in the three game series and keep their playoff hopes alive. Jeff Kyrzakos leads Charlotte with 47 points (19g-28a) and Chris Holt has started six straight games leading the Checkers to a 5-1-0 record during that span.

Monday is Team Photo Night as all fans in attendance will receive a 2007-08 Ice Pilots team photo courtesy of Wal-Mart

Wednesday, March 19 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Columbia (Carolina Coliseum)

The Pilots take to the road for a three game trip beginning in Columbia, SC against the Inferno. The Ice Pilots have faced Columbia five times this season and are 1-2-2 vs. the Inferno. The last meeting came on February 16th in Columbia with the Ice Pilots falling by a goal 3-2. The Inferno is in 6th place in the South Division and is led by Jeff Miles who is one of the top scorers in the league with 63 points (26g-37a). Jeff Jakaitis and Todd Ford have split time evenly in the cage for the Inferno this year.

Friday, March 21 at 6:35 p.m. CT at Augusta (James Brown Arena)

The Ice Pilots travel to Augusta, GA to take on the Lynx. Pensacola ruled the Lynx back in February, sweeping a weekend series in Augusta. The Ice Pilots won both of those games in overtime and are 2-1-0 against Augusta this season. The Lynx will travel to Pensacola for back-to-back games next week which will conclude the season series. Augusta sits in 7th place in the South Division. Louis Goulet leads Augusta with 52 points (17g-35a) and Bobby Goepfert has started the majority of games late for the Lynx.

Saturday, March 22 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Columbia (Carolina Coliseum)

The Ice Pilots finish off the trip back in Columbia against the Inferno. It may be the final time ever for Pensacola in the Carolina Coliseum as the Inferno are not scheduled to play next season and are awaiting a newly constructed arena in a suburb of Columbia.

Season Tickets

Season Tickets are on sale for the 2008-09 season. There are two levels of pricing, the lower level and the upper level. Tickets for next season start at just $432 if you put a $75 deposit down by May 30th. Mini Plans are also available as well. Season tickets include a gift, the "never wasted a ticket" program, savings off of Ice Pilots merchandise and much more. To purchase your season tickets, call the Ice Pilots at 432-PUCK.

Upcoming Home Games

Monday, March 24 vs. Augusta at 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 25 vs. Augusta at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 30 vs. Mississippi at 5:05 p.m. (Saturn Sunday and Recycle Sunday)

Ice Pilots Itinerary

Monday - GAME vs. Charlotte, 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Civic Center

Tuesday - Travel Day to Columbia

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

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

Thursday - Practice, TBD

Friday - Pre-Game Skate in Columbia

GAME at Augusta, 6:35 p.m. at James Brown Arena

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

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

Sunday - Day Off

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

Good Numbers

Mathieu Roy is fifth in the league with 235 shots.

The Ice Pilots have scored a power play goal in five straight games.

Pensacola is 10-6-5 when scoring first.

The Ice Pilots are 10-2-0 when allowing just 2 goals or less.

Pensacola is 8-2-1 when leading after the first period.

Bryan Esner's plus ten leads the Ice Pilots

The Ice Pilots are averaging 30.5 shots on goal this season.

Pensacola is 13-7-7 in one goal games.

Ice Pilots in the Community

Sat. Mar. 22 Hoops for Education at Santa Rosa Community Center

Last week's Games

Saturday vs. Charlotte (3-1 Loss)

The Charlotte Checkers made their first visit to the Hangar this season, defeating the Ice Pilots 3-1 in front of 4,622 at the Pensacola Civic Center on Saturday night. The teams combined for 30 first period shots as Charlotte went ahead 1-0. Blake Bellefeuille tallied his 13th goal of the season finishing off a 3 on 1 play as he sent a backhanded shot past Ice Pilots goaltender Cam Ellsworth to give Charlotte the first lead of the game. Charlotte out shot the Ice Pilots 17-13. Charlotte added to their lead in the second period as Tom Pyatt who had been sent from the AHL, danced towards the net, firing a top shelf shot to make it 2-0 after two periods of play. The Pilots tried to be the comeback kids again as Patrick Bordeleau tipped in a loose puck for his 4th goal of the season and it cut the lead to 2-1 for Charlotte but they went back ahead by two as Chris Capraro got credit for his 21st goal as it went in off a Pilots player and Charlotte won game one of the three game series 3-1. Shots were even at 38 as Cam Ellsworth played well again making 35 saves in the loss.

Sunday vs. Charlotte (6-4 Loss)

Tom Pyatt scored two goals and Lee Falardeau added a goal and an assist as the Charlotte Checkers defeated the Ice Pilots 6-4 on Sunday at the Pensacola Civic Center. The Checkers started strong in the first period as back-to-back goals by forward Tom Pyatt gave Charlotte a 2-0 lead after one period of play. Pyatt got his own rebound to give the Checkers their first goal of the game then scored shorthanded on a rush to make it 2-0 Charlotte. Lee Falardeau assisted on both first period goals. Charlotte increased the lead to 3-0 in the second period as Chris Capraro pointed a shot from a tough angle on a rebound attempt. The Pilots awoke as they scored two goals a minute and 37 seconds apart. First it was Adam Hobson on the power play, blasting a one timer in the back of the net. Then, Luke Erickson hammered in a rebound and after two periods, Charlotte led by one, 3-2. The Checkers responded with a good third period start and went back ahead by three goals. Lee Falardeau tallied his 13th goal of the season and then it was Bruce Graham with a one timer between the circles to make it 5-2 Checkers. The Pilots didn't let a couple of goals stop them from coming back again. Erickson netted his second goal of the night to cut the lead to two. JC Sawyer fired a shot which was initially stopped by Chris Holt but he found his own rebound and the back of the net as well to make it 5-4 but the Checkers' Justin Maiser scored an empty netter and Charlotte won 6-4.

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.

Tickets for Troops

The Ice Pilots have started a new program this season called Tickets for Troops. It encourages individuals and businesses to purchase special ticket packages to donate to the local military. The package includes 10 tickets for just $80. For more information call 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 conclude with Pilots Post-Game presented by Wal-Mart. You can also listen to all of the home games inside the Hangar on 100.1 FM. The final radio show of the season will take place on Monday, April 7 from 6-7 p.m. at New York Nick's in Downtown Pensacola.

Ticket Information

Don't miss the hard hitting, exciting action, as the Ice Pilots' next home game is Monday, March 17 at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Charlotte Checkers at the Civic Center. It is Team Photo Night as all fans in attendance will receive a 2007-2008 team photo courtesy of Wal-Mart. 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.

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