IceGators tied for second in the ECHL

Published on March 22, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA – The Louisiana IceGators clinched their ninth straight playoff berth this past week, even though they dropped two of their three games. The IceGators are now 46-19-2 with 94 points in the ECHL standings. They are tied with the San Diego Gulls (42-13-10) for the second spot in the league.

The IceGators used the Luck O' the Irish to lockup their post-season slot on Wednesday. The St. Patty's Day tilt with the Columbus Cottonmouths saw both teams skate to a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation play. Derek Gustafson and Jason Tapp made some spectacular saves in the overtime frame to both preserve their shutouts. In the ensuing shootout, the Gators prevailed with two straight shootout goals, from Alex Materukhin to tie the shootout at 2-2 in the fourth round, and the fifth round winner by Kenny Corupe. Derek Gustafson earned his league-leading fifth shutout of the year in the 1-0 victory.

The IceGators were not so lucky against the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Friday. Josh Mizerek put up his third goal of the year with assistance from Jamie Johnson and Konstantin Kalmikov, and Frederic Cloutier stopped a penalty shot by Steffon Walby, but their efforts were not enough to pull IceGators ahead of the Sea Wolves. Mississippi put up the only goal in the first period and added two more in the third for the 3-1 win.

Saturday's game saw the Pensacola Ice Pilots line up against the Gators. The first period was scoreless for both teams, but in the second, the Pilots shot out to a 3-0 lead. The Gators rallied for two goals in the third, one from Bruce Richardson, his first back in a Gator sweater and Jamie Johnson's 12th of the year. The Gators pulled Derek Gustafson for the extra skater in the final minute, but the Pilots' Brian Eklund stymied them at every turn. Eklund faced 51 shots in the game.

UPCOMING GAMES

@ Mississippi Sea Wolves – Friday, March 26, 2004 @ 7:35 pm – The IceGators play their final two matchups with the Sea Wolves in Biloxi. The Gators 5-0 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum this season. The Gators lead the season series 8-4.

Gwinnett Gladiators – Saturday, March 27 @ 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 28 @ 4:05 p.m. – These possible first round playoff foes will play two in a row at the Frozen Swamp. The Gators won the first bout, a 4-3 victory in Gwinnett on March 9.

PROMOTIONS

Saturday, March 27, 2004 – Pack The Dome Night – If the Cajundome sells out for the first game against the Gwinnett Gladiators, beer and soda will be 25 cents during the game. Come out and see the possible playoff preview and bring your friends so you all can enjoy cheap, cold drinks and the best hockey in Louisiana.

Saturday, March 27, 2004 and Sunday, March 28, 2004 – Fan Appreciation Weekend – As a thank you to the IceGators fans and friends, the Gators will host some great on and off ice activities and have lots of prizes and give-aways, including Aeros tickets, t-shirts and gift certificates from Gators' sponsors. Fan Appreciation weekend is sponsored by Sakura Sushi Bar.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 – Two IceGators and Clawd will visit Highland Elementary in Eunice for a school assembly.

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 – An IceGator and Clawd will visit Grolee Elementary in Opelousas to read to students.

Thursday, March 25, 2004 – Two IceGators will read to students at W.W. Stewart Elementary in Basile.

Thursday, March 25, 2004 – An IceGator will read to students at Indian Bayou Elementary, just south of Rayne in Vermilion Parish.

WHO'S HOT

Derek Gustafson – The Gators' netminder just posted his fifth shuout of the year and is tied for the league lead with Columbus' Jason Tapp. He is also second in the league in goals against average with 2.10 and a 0.926 save percentage.

Kevin Mitchell and Maxime Fortunus – The Gators on loan to the Aeros had a big game on Sunday, as the Aeros beat the Norfolk Admirals 5-3. Mitchell posted his first multi-goal game by scoring two goals and Fortunus tallied his first AHL point with an assist on Mitchell's second goal.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Broken Record – Mississippi's Louis Dumont has broken Chris Valicevic's regular season career assist record of 460. Valicevic set the record in 590 career games. Dumont tallied 461 assists in 628 games. The former IceGator locked up the record with 3 assists in two games against the Texas Wildcatters this past weekend.

League Leaders – Bobby Brown still leads the ECHL in shots on goal with 326. Ben Storey is still tops in the power play points department with 39, despite playing two games in Houston last week. Jamie Johnson is in the top ten among rookie scorers with 54 points (12g – 42a).

Get ‘em While They're Hot – Louisiana IceGators Playoff Packages are now available. The IceGators are offering special discounts on 12-game packages for the 2003-04 Kelly Cup playoff run. Please visit www.icegators.com or call the IceGators office at 234-4423 for more information.

"Tickets for the Tenth" – The Louisiana IceGators have launched their season ticket drive for the 2004-05 season. Ticket packages are now on sale for full season (36 games) and partial season packages. Help the IceGators reach their goal of 1000 season ticket deposits by May 1, 2004. Deposits are $25 per seat. Please call the IceGators office at 337-234-4423 to order your season tickets for next year.

Injury Report – Left wing Brian Herbert remains on thirty-day injured reserve. Left wing Dennis Shiryaev remains on thirty-day injured reserve. Forward Jason Hamilton has been placed on the seven-day injured reserve.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 10 a.m. @ the Cajundome
Wednesday: 10 a.m. @ the Cajundome
Thursday: 10 a.m @ the Hockeyplex
Friday: 10 a.m. @ the Cajundome. Pre-Game Skate
Saturday: 10 a.m. @ the Cajundome. Pre-Game Skate
Sunday: 10 a.m. @ the Cajundome. Pre-Game Skate
Monday: OFF

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ECHL Stories from March 22, 2004


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