Inferno take Glads to Shootout, fall 3-2

January 2, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Columbia Inferno News Release


COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 2, 2008)-The Columbia Inferno (12-14-4-4, 32 points) played their second 10-round shootout in three games as they gained a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators (20-7-1-2, 43 points) on Wednesday afternoon.

Inferno winger Daniel Sparre gave his club a 1-0 lead 15:16 into the first period when he flipped the puck up and over netminder Dan Turple's glove-side shoulder. It was Sparre's 16th goal of the year, while defensemen Patrick Wellar and Donny Grover notched the assists.

The Gladiators tied the game 18:43 into the second period when forward Lou Dickenson's shot from the near boards got caught up in Inferno goalie Jeff Jakaitis' chest protector and fell just across the goal crease when Jakaitis moved from his post. After some brief deliberation, the referees ruled that Dickenson had scored his 13th goal of the year.

The Glads took a 2-1 lead, their first of the game, just two minutes into the second period. Winger Mike Hamilton collected a Matt Anderson rebound and flipped it past Jakaitis' outstretched blocker. The Gladiators would nurse their narrow lead until Donny Grover knotted the game 2-2 with around four minutes left in the game. Grover scored his first goal of the season when he potted an Owen Fussey rebound past Turple's blocker side.

After a scoreless overtime period, the two clubs traded shots in the shootout. After the standard five shooters, the teams were deadlocked at 3-3, with Peter Tsimikalis, Sparre and Brad Ralph scoring for the Inferno, while Dickenson, Jeff Campbell and former Inferno player Bryson Busniuk scored for the Gladiators. The two sides missed on shooters six through eight, while both Gwinnett's Ryan Mahrle and Columbia's Reid Cahsman scored in round nine. Andy Brandt then scored for Gwinnet in round 10, while a sprawling Turple was just able to get his left arm on Grover's attempt.

The Inferno peppered Turple with 51 total shots, while Jakaitis stopped 29 of 31.

The Inferno return to the Carolina Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 5 to host the Augusta Lynx at 1:05 p.m. for the second game of a home-and-home series.

Season tickets, group tickets, fundraisers and the coolest birthday parties in town are all available by calling 803.256.7825 or by logging on to columbiainferno.com.



ECHL Stories from January 2, 2008


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