IceGators look for something finer in Carolina
February 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
For the Week: 0-2-1
Season record: 17-23-4, 38 points, 5th place in the South Division
Leading scorers: Wes Mason 22-25-47, Chris Thompson 12-18-30
Lafayette, LA â Looking to get on a run toward playoff contention, the Louisiana IceGators found nothing but trouble in the state of South Carolina. Playing three games in 44 hours, the Gators went 0-2-1 in three games despite battling to the finish in all three.
Last Week
Friday, The Louisiana IceGators gave up three goals on odd man rushes, as the Columbia Inferno survived a late rally to defeat the Gators 3-2. Wes Mason had both goals for Louisiana, his team leading 21st and 22nd of the year. After a Mason goal at 5:04 of the 3rd brought the team within one, Inferno goalie Rob McVicar stopped 14 more 3rd period Gator offerings to clinch the one goal victory.
Saturday, The Louisiana IceGators could not find a way to solve Mike Minard, as the All-Star goalie stopped all 25 Gators offerings on the way to 2-0 Inferno win. Nathan Marsters stopped 29 of 31 Inferno shots for his 2nd hard luck loss of the weekend.
Sunday, playing shorthanded due to call ups and the flu bug, the Louisiana IceGators lost in a shoot out to the Greenville Grrrowl 4-3. The Gators new line of Pascal Pelletier, Jade Galbraith and Chris Thompson provided one goal apiece. Pelletier had his best game of the year statistically, getting a goal and two assists. Louisiana could not solve Grrrowl goalie Mike Broduer in the shootout as the rookie stoned all five IceGators shooters.
The Nominees are: The IceGators nominees for ECHL of the weekly awards are Pascal Pelletier and Goalie Nathan Marsters.
The Week Ahead
The Gators will look to salvage one game of the current four game road trip as the team will face the Greenville Grrrowl, Tuesday morning, at the unusual start time of 9:35am CST. Louisiana will be looking to avenge Sunday's shoot out loss.
On Friday, the Gators return home for on their 3rd home game of 2005. The Texas Wildcatters will supply the opposition for the 7:05pm opening face off. The IceGators are 5-2 against Texas this season. This night is Acadia and Vermillion parish nights, with residents and businesses located in the two parishes available for special discounts and recognition. For more information, call the IceGators office at (337) 234-4423.
Saturday night, the Gators and Wildcatters will finish up the home and home series with a rematch in Beaumont, starting at 7:05pm. The last time these two teams played in Texas, a league season high 15 goals were scored in a thrilling 8-7 IceGators victory.
Broadcast Info: All games this week can be heard on 960am "The Gator". In addition to the radio broadcasts, all games can be heard via the internet at www.icegators.com. Friday and Saturday night's contests can be viewed on the web via the B2 network and the team website.
Notes:
Hi, nice to meet you In the past 10 days the IceGators have seen some major roster shuffling. Called up to Houston were, David Bararuk, Chris Heid and Mark Rooneem. Out with sickness or injury were Kyle Kettles and Max Fortunus. Traded to Gwinnett was Randy Dagenais. Louisiana has added three new defensemen to the line up, in Dave McCulloch, Paul Lynch and Joe Dustin. The team is hoping to get Mark Rooneem back from Houston in time for Tuesday's breakfast affair with Greenville.
Getting Big Minutes: During his 4 year career at RPI, Nathan Marsters never played more than 35 games in an entire season. Through Sunday, the All-Star rookie had already appeared in 35 games for Louisiana. With 26 games to go in the regular season, it appears Marsters will easily break the team record of most game played by a rookie netminder. The current record is 41 set by Kyle Kettles in 2002-03.Marc Delorme holds the team record by appearing in 56 games during the 1996-97 campaign.
"Masonry Work": With 22 goals this year, Wes Mason is one goal away from tying a personal mark of most goals with one team during a regular season. Mason scored 23 goals for the Augusta Lynx during the 2001-02 season. During one hockey year, Mason's personal best came during 1999-00. Playing for three teams in three leagues, Louisville (AHL), Augusta (ECHL) and Orlando (IHL), Mason chipped in 30 regular season lamp lighters. Mason is the only player on the Gators with more than 20 goals (22) and 40 points (47).
That's a plus: Two of the IceGators most consistent players, defenseman Josh Barker and left wing Chris Thompson, lead the team in +/- rating. Both players are at +7 for the season. Only four players with more than a week on the team are in the plus column with the Gators.
Community News
Due to the road trip, "Gator Talk" at Tampico's will not be held this week.
The IceGators will return home after Tuesday morning's contest with the Greenville Grrrowl arriving, sometime in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. There is no practice time set for Thursday, but the Gators will be at the Cajundome at 10am Friday for the pregame skate against Texas.
Project MAMA
For the entire season the Gators are encouraging fans to participate in the Project MAMA. A list of supplies needed by our local troops serving overseas is listed at http://www.icegators.com/news/?cat=1&id=627 and in the lobby of the Cajundome for during every IceGators home game.. The team will have drop off points at the Cajundome for every home game and the effort will culminate our next Armed Forces Nights on March 20, 2005. On this night, children of our deployed troops will have a special day of IceGators hockey complete with a tour of the locker room and a picture with their favorite player. That picture along with supplies will be sent to loved ones overseas. Any business wanting to participate in project MAMA by donating tickets for these families, can call the IceGators office at (337) 234-4423.
Individual game tickets for all regular season home games are on sale now. Tickets are available at the Cajundome Box Office, and all TicketMaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information call the IceGators office at (337) 234-4423.
ECHL Stories from February 14, 2005
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- Johnstown Chiefs Weekly Report - Johnstown Chiefs
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- Pee Dee Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- IceGators look for something finer in Carolina - Louisiana IceGators
- Checkers finish week on short end of 6-4 score - Charlotte Checkers
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