IceGators win Central Division crown

April 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA – The Louisiana IceGators finished their regular season with a 48-22-2 record and 98 points, giving them the top spot in the Central Division and the first seed going into the first round of the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The fourth-seeded Pensacola Ice Pilots will travel to the Cajundome on Wednesday and Thursday for the first two games of the first round match up.

The IceGators hosted Pensacola for the last home game of the regular season on Thursday, April 1. Kenny Corupe, Semir Ben-Amor, Ben Storey and Armands Berzins put up goals for the Gators, while Derek Gustafson stopped 26 of 27 shots for the 4-1 win. The IceGators went 27-9-0 on home ice in 2003-04.

The final game of the year saw the IceGators in Biloxi, taking on their division rival one last time. Mississippi struck first and scored 4 goals before the Gators could answer. The IceGators stormed back in the second and third periods, with goals from Dennis Shiryaev, Semir Ben-Amor and Paul Ballantyne, but the late effort was not enough to lift them past the Sea Wolves. The IceGators dropped their final regular season game 4-3.

UPCOMING GAMES AND GOINGS ON

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 – Gator Talk at Buffalo Wild Wings – Join ‘Voice of the IceGators' Bruce LeVine for Gator Talk, live at Buffalo Wild Wings at 7 p.m. Buffalo Wild Wings is located at the corner of Ambassador Caffrey and Kaliste Saloom, in the Target shopping center.

Pensacola Ice Pilots – Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8 @ 7:05 pm –The IceGators and Ice Pilots will kick off the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs with back-to-back games at the Cajundome.

Pensacola Ice Pilots – Saturday, April 10 @ 7:05 pm – The third game of the first round series will move to Pensacola.

Pensacola Ice Pilots – Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14 @ 7:05 pm – If necessary, the fourth game will take place in Pensacola on Tuesday. If a fifth game is needed to decide the series, the teams will come back to the Cajundome on Wednesday.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Half The Battle Is Showing Up - Bobby Brown appeared in all 72 games for the IceGators this season and the dedication paid off. Brown average one point per game over the season, finishing with 72 points (33g – 39a). This marks Brown's second highest points total in eight professional seasons. Last year, Brown posted 79 points (37g – 42a) in 65 regular season games with the IceGators.

All-ECHL Team – Defenseman Ben Storey and goaltender Derek Gustafson were selected for the All-ECHL team last week. The All-ECHL team is selected by votes from the leagues's head coaches. Storey, named to the All-ECHL first team, has posted 58 points (19g – 39a) in 65 games this year. Gustafson, named to the All-ECHL second team, went 28-14-0 in the regular season and is currently second in the league with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.

Top Five – Five IceGators topped the 50-point mark this season: Bobby Brown (33g – 39a – 72p), Alex Materukhin (27g – 34a – 61p), Ben Storey (19g – 39a – 58p), Jamie Johnson (12g – 45a – 57p) and Kenny Corupe (18g – 37a – 55p). Brown leads the team in goals scored with 33 and Johnson tops the assist list with 45.

Between the Pipes – Derek Gustafson and Frederic Cloutier traded goaltending duties this season and the system seemed to agree with both netminders. Gustafson posted 28 wins and 14 losses in 43 games and is tied for the league-lead in shutouts with five. Cloutier went 20-8-2 on the season with a 2.31 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.

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 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. The IceGators are already over halfway to 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.



ECHL Stories from April 5, 2004


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