Jackal Bites
Published on April 2, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
The Elmira Jackals ended their 2001-02 regular season campaign this week with a record of 45-21-8, good for 98 pts. and first place overall in the UHL's Eastern Conference.
The Jackals played five games this week, going 1-3-1, picking up their only win against the Knights in a shootout in New Haven 5-4. Things started out tough for the Jackals when they had to travel to Fort Wayne for a game against the Komets, originally scheduled for the previous week but postponed due to ice problems. The Komets parlayed three goals to open the game into a 3-2 win over the Jackals, with Eddy Lowe and Ben White scoring for the Jackals in the loss.
Wednesday the Jackals went right back at it with the BC Icemen, dropping this one 4-2 in regulation. David Lessard and Eddy Lowe scored for the Jackals, while Christian Soucy stopped 25 shots in the loss for Elmira. Friday, the Jackals would host the Icemen at home, but still fell to the same results, this time in a shootout by a 4-3 score. Trevor Burgess, Mike Thompson, and Greg Olsen scored for the Jackals in regulation, but Erasmo Saltarelli stopped all four shooters he faced to earn the win for the Icemen.
Saturday, the Jackals would travel to New Haven, and despite falling behind 3-1 and 4-2, the Jackals outscored the Knights 2-0 in the third period to force overtime, where they were able to take the game in a ten round shootout 5-4. Jeremy Symington stopped 30 of 31 in regulation and 9 out of 10 in the shootout to earn the win for the Jackals. Mike Thompson, Eddy Lowe, Brad Wingfield, and Greg Olsen scored for the Jackals in regulation, with Randy Murphy and Olsen scoring in the OT to pick up the win.
Sunday, the Jackals came back home with 98 points on the season, looking for a 100 point season. The BC Icemen, the team that ended the Jackals record-tying winning streak earlier in the year, were the opponent again for the team at the Coach USA Center. The nineteenth meeting between the two teams would go to the Icemen by a 3-1 score. Mike Thompson scored the only goal of the game for the Jackals to tie it up at one, but that was as close as the Jackals would get, finishing the season with the loss. Christian Soucy stopped 25 of 27 shots faced, and Glendon Cominetti added the empty netter for the win.
Elmira will now head into the playoffs against the New Haven Knights in the first round. Games 1 and 2 will take place Wednesday, April 3rd and Friday, March 5th at the Coach USA Center at 7 pm. Game 3 will be held at Ingalls Rink at Yale University in New Haven at 7:35 pm, and Game 4, if necessary, will be held at 6:05 pm on Sunday at the New Haven Coliseum. Game 5, if needed, will be played Tuesday, March 9th at the Coach USA Center at 7 pm.
JACKAL BITES:
- The Jackals finished the season with franchise highs for points (98) and wins (45).
- Christian Soucy finished with the league lead in shootout wins (11) and total saves (1,478); finished second in save percentage at .917 %, tied for third in wins (29), minutes (2950), and shutouts (3); and finished third in shootout save percentage (.803 %).
- Jeremy Symington led all rookie goaltenders with 2.86 GAA and a .909 save %; tied for first in wins (16) and shutouts (1).
- The Jackals owned a winning record against every team they faced this season except Flint (0-2) and Fort Wayne (1-1).
- The Jackals won a Conference high 40 games against Eastern Opponents this year.
- Elmira only allowed one shorthanded goal at home this season, tying them for the least with Muskegon.
- This will be the Jackals first full playoff series. They lost to Knoxville in last year's play - in game in Tennessee, 1-0.
- Elmira did not lose a game at home in regulation all season when leading after the first period (15-0-1)
- Elmira took first, third, and fifth in the penalty minute category in the individual competition (Brad Wingfield, John Murphy, Shawn Legault), and was awarded the silver medal for a 34.1 PIM average per game.
ECHL Stories from April 2, 2002
- Murphy and Todd Garner League Accolades - Fresno Falcons
- Condors Playoff Tickets Go On Sale April 8th - Bakersfield Condors
- Jackal Bites - Elmira Jackals
- Spoltore Named Player of the Week - San Diego Gulls
- Steelheads Capture WCHL Awards - Idaho Steelheads
- Four Gulls Named to All-WCHL Team - San Diego Gulls
- Generals Jersey Auction - Greensboro Generals
- Ice Dogs' Attard and Ewasko Named to All-Rookie Team - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Royals Rooney and DiLauro Called Up to Springfield - Reading Royals
- Yetman,Galbraith called up to AHL - Augusta Lynx
- Rally Your Bombers Tonight at Bargos - Dayton Bombers
- Steelheads in the Mainstream - Idaho Steelheads
- Pensacola's Dumont Wins ECHL Scoring Title - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - Kelly Cup Playoffs - ECHL
- Louisiana's Cloutier Named CCM/ECHL Rookie of the Year - ECHL
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