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IceGators maintain division lead

February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA -The Louisiana IceGators split their two games this past weekend and held on to the top spot in the Central Division. They are tied with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies for third place in the ECHL The IceGators are 34-13-2 with 70 points in the standings.

The IceGators started their two-in-two weekend with a tilt against the Texas Wildcatters at Ford Arena. Friday the 13th proved unlucky for the team from Lafayette, as they lost to the Wildcatters 4-1. Derek Gustafson made his fifth-straight start in net for the Gators, which beat his previous season-high of four straight starts.

Former Gator Martin Masa continues to plague his old team, as he scored the first goal just 13 seconds into the game. Gustafson came out of his crease to play the puck and Masa jumped on the clearing pass and shot into the open net. The Gators tied it up at one-all on the power play, with a top-shelf wrister from Alex Materukhin at the 4:47 mark. Materukhin scored his 17th of the year when Bobby Brown checked Masa off the puck and Rod Sarich skated it into the zone and gave the puck to Materukhin.

John Campbell scored the go-ahead goal for the Wildcatters late in the first period. Ashlee Langdone lit the lamp twice more, once in the second period and once in the third to help the Wildcatters put the game out of reach for the Gators. The Gators went 1-for-4 on the power play and kept the Wildcatters from scoring on their three man-advantage chances. The Gators put 37 shots on Davis Parley, their second lowest shot total of the season against Texas.

Valentine's Day was much sweeter for the Gators as they defeated the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4-2. The Gators got on the board first when Jamie Johnson broke open and skated in on Brian Eklund and put a top shelf wrister into the net for his ninth of the year. Kenny Corupe earned his first point after coming back from injury. Ben Storey also put up a point on the power play goal. The Pilots pulled even a few minutes later when Gator netminder Derek Gustafson popped out a rebound off a shot from Brad Cruikshank that ricocheted off Chris Taliercio's skate and back past Gustafson.

The Louisiana IceGators made a decisive come-back in the second period. Josh Mizerek scored his second goal of the year in just his second game since coming back from injury. With the Gators on the power play, Ben Storey earned his second helper of the evening when he got the puck to Mizerak, who was waiting in the slot. Mizerek's shot hit Eklund and bounced up and over the goaltender's shoulder and across the line. Goaltender Derek Gustafson also earned an assist on the tally.

Captain Bobby Brown put up his 28th of the year when Eklund got caught behind the net and cleared the puck to Ed McGrane instead of another Ice Pilot. McGrane slid the puck to Brown at the far post, who wristed it into the back of the net to put the Gators up 3-1. Early in the third period, Dwayne Hay put a wrist shot past Gustafson from the far circle to pull the Pilots within one goal. Semir Ben-Amor countered with his seventh goal of the year when Alex Materukhin flew into the Pilots' zone and passed to Ben-Amor who got the puck over a sprawling Eklund.

The IceGators take to the Frozen Swamp tonight to face off against the San Diego Gulls. The Gulls lead the Pacific Division with 72 points and are tied with the Wheeling Nailers for the top spot in the ECHL. It is Ladies Night tonight, with all Ladies getting Buy One, Get One Free tickets. Post-game, the Date-A-Gator Bachelor Auction will be held in the Mardi Gras Ballroom, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Race for the Cure.

UPCOMING GAMES

Columbus Cottonmouths – February 20, 2004 @ 6:30 pm – The IceGators travel to Georgia for their first tilt against the Cottonmouths since January 2, when Columbus shut-out the Gators 6-0. This will mark the seventh tilt between these two teams this season. The Gators lead the season series 4-2.

Texas Wildcatters – February 22, 2004 @ 5:05pm – The Gators travel back to Beaumont for a rematch with the Wildcatters. The Gators lead the season series 10-2 over their neighbor to the west. The IceGators have set season-highs in both shots on goal and penalty minutes against Texas.

PROMOTIONS

Monday, February 16, 2004 – Ladies Night: All Ladies will get Buy One, Get One Free tickets. The drink special will be $2 Margaritas. After the game, several of the IceGators will be auctioned off for dates in the Date-A-Gator Bachelor Auction. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Race for the Cure.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 – Two IceGators and Clawd will visit Ascension Pre-School at St. Barnabas and Ascension Day School to read to the students.

WHO'S HOT

Bobby Brown – The Gators captain is currently tied for third place among ECHL goal-scorers with 28. The right wing has 51 points (28g – 23a) in 49 games this season and he is second in the league in shots on goal with 196.

Ben Storey – The defenseman continues to make an impact on the blue line and on the power play. Storey is first in the ECHL with 33 power play points (12g – 21a). Among defensemen, he is fifth in total points and tied with Mississippi's Jim Baxter for the league-lead in goals scored with 14.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Take an IR and Call Me In the Morning: IceGators fresh off the Injured Reserve have shot out of the gate this season. Brian Herbert scored a goal in his first game back, on January 23 vs. Texas. Josh Mizerek and Kenny Corupe took only two games to collect points after being activated from IR. Last Saturday against Pensacola, Mizerek scored his second goal of the year and Corupe earned helper #26.

Nobody Does It Better: As of Monday, February 16, 2004, the IceGators are still leading the league in power play percentage, at 24.1%. The Gators have scored 63 goals on 261 man-advantage chances this season.

Injury Report: Left wing Brian Herbert has been placed on seven-day injured reserve. Center Kenny Corupe has been activated from thirty-day injured reserve. Defenseman Josh Mizerak had been activated from seven-day injured reserve.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Monday: 10 am @ the Cajundome. Pre-game skate
Tuesday: 10 am @ the Hockeyplex
Wednesday: 10 am @ the Hockeyplex
Thursday: In Columbus
Friday: In Columbus. Pre-game skate
Saturday: Tentatively 3:15 pm @ the Hockeyplex
Sunday: 9 am @ the Hockeyplex. Pre-game skate
Monday: OFF

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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.

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