Jackal Bites

October 28, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


It turned out to be a perfect weekend for the Elmira Jackals, as they grabbed all six possible points in three games. The Jackals started out on a positive note with a 6-2 win at home over Adirondack, and then kept things rolling their way with a 5-4 win at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Sunday saw the Jackals defeat the Port Huron Beacons for their third win of the weekend, coming from behind for the second time in two games for a 4-3 win.

On Thursday night, the Jackals managed to jump out to a 4-0 first period lead, their best start of the season. Mike Thompson got the ball rolling at 12:34 with help from Adam Borzecki and Corey Neilson, followed by Aaron Phillips' marker at 14:05 from Mike Hofstrand and Tom Clayton. The Jackals pulled ahead 3-0 when Brad Wingfield netted his second of the year from Randy Murphy and Jody Robinson at 15:46, and Eddy Lowe scored on the power play with just :13 left in the period to make it 4-0. Thompson and Kevin Kerr picked up the assists on the goal.

In the second period, Adirondack would replace starting goaltender Tyler MacKay with Jason Wolfe. Then Elmira would give one back when James Patterson scored to make it 4-1, but Murphy restored the four goal lead with the Jackals' second power play marker at 16:09, with Borzecki and Neilson each picking up their second assists of the contest. The third period saw the Jackals once again allow an Adirondack goal, this time to Trevor Senn, but Murphy's second of the game, also on the power play, made for a 6-2 final. Wingfield and Rob Guinn added the helpers on the goal.

Overall, Elmira went 3 for 12 on the power play Thursday, climbing out of a 1 for 29 drought to start the season. Marco Emond made his first start in goal for the Jackals, turning aside 24 of 26 shots, some in spectacular fashion. Emond's right pad save on Frank Littlejohn just three minutes into the contest proved to be key, keeping the game scoreless and allowing Elmira to grab the first goal and proceed from there. In the third period, the game took on a scrappier tone, with the two teams collecting 91 PIMs, 67 by Adirondack.

Friday saw the teams in a rematch at the Glens Falls Civic center to cap the home and home series. The IceHawks appeared ready to turn the tables on the Jackals as Bogdan Rudenko put his club ahead with a power play marker at the 8:00 mark, but Kevin Kerr would notch his first goal of the year at the 13:17 mark to even the contest. Mike Thompson picked up the assist for the Jackals on the goal.

The game remained tied at one into the second period, when Rudenko netted his second of the game, followed by JC Ruid's fourth of the year to make it 3-1 Adirondack. Kerr would reply for Elmira with his second goal from Eddy Lowe and Ryan Esselmont as the period drew to a close.

In the third, Elmira scored twice within :39 to go from trailing 3-2 to leading 4-3. Randy Murphy's third of the year from Corey Neilson tied the game, and then Aaron Phillips netted one with help from Tom Clayton to grab the lead. Frank Littlejohn poked home a loose puck in front of Marco Emond to tie the game at four, but the Jackals would reply when Clayton scored the game winner from Mike Hofstrand at the 16:45 mark of the third period, holding on for the 5-4 win. Emond stopped 35 of 39 shots to earn his second straight win.

With Saturday off, the Jackals traveled to Port Huron to battle the Beacons on Sunday in matinee action. The Jackals found themselves falling behind in this one as well, with Port Huron pairing up power play goals. Pat Powers and Yannick Carpentier moved the team out in front 2-0 at the period break, and while Elmira peppered Kory Cooper with 17 shots, they had nothing to show on the scoreboard.

In the second period, the Jackals would reply with a power play goal of their own. Tom Clayton tipped in a shot by Jackal newcomer Glenn Stewart, who joined the team prior to the game on Sunday. Corey Neilon also picked up a power play assist to pull the Jackals within 2-1. The Jackals would then tie the game when Kevin Kerr scored his third of the year from Jody Robinson and Mike Thompson at the 7:04 mark. Port Huron came back with one of their own before the period ended to re-establish their lead. Michel Beausoleil found the net behind Marco Emond, making his third straight start for the club. The two teams were battling hard through 40 minutes, with the Beacons up 3-2.

The third period, however, was Elmira's time to shine. The Jackals knotted the game at three with Brad Wingfield's goal at the 7:11 mark. Stewart and Randy Murphy picked up the assists on the equalizer, and then Kevin Kerr scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the year by picking the puck out of the air just below the crossbar. Thompson and Adam Borzecki were given assists on the eventual game-winning goal, as the Beacons failed to score after that. Emond turned aside 28 of 31 in picking up his third consecutive win in the nets for Elmira.

The Jackals' next game action will come on Halloween, as the Muskegon Fury come to town for the first match between the two teams since the Colonial Cup Finals last season. Game time is 7 pm, with a host of special activities planned for the evening. There will be trick or treating for the kids, along with a costume parade on the ice between periods. Fans are encouraged to wear all black to help the Jackals with a Halloween Black Out! Tops Friendly Markets will provide candy for children in costume, and Jackal players will wear special jerseys during the game to be auctioned off after the action. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit MDA.

The Jackals will then host Fort Wayne on Friday night at 7 pm before hopping a bus out to Muskegon for a 7:30 contest there. That game marks the Jackals' first trip to the L.C. Walker Arena since last year's finals.

JACKAL BITES:

- Kevin Kerr scored a pair of goals Friday and Sunday, quickly notching his first four goals of the year. Kerr is the UHL's All-Time leader in several categories, and improved his career stats in goals (411), Most Game Winners (57), and Most Shots On Goal (2160).

- Tom Clayton has a personal points scoring streak going, currently at three games. Joining Clayton on his scoring binge at three straight games are Kevin Kerr , Mike Thompson, Randy Murphy, and Corey Neilson.

- Marco Emond went 3-0 this weekend with a .935 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA. This weekend was Emond's first action in the Jackal nets this season. The Valleyfield, PQ native attended camp with the Jackals last season but was released right before the regular season in favor of current teammate Jeremy Symington. Symington went 6-0 to start his Jackal career last season.

- Glenn Stewart picked up two assists in his Jackal debut on Sunday against the Port Huron Beacons. Stewart signed with the club before Sunday's game, and assisted on Elmira's first and third goals of the contest.

- The Jackals have now won their last three games in a row, and have not lost a game in regulation to the IceHawks stretching back to 2/17/02, a 6-3 loss at the Coach USA Center.

- The Jackals will host Muskegon on Halloween at the Coach USA Center, the first time the two teams will face each other since the Colonial Cup Finals last spring.

PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS:

GOTW – Marco Emond. Emond went 3-0 with a .935 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA with the Jackals this weekend. Emond stopped 24 of 26 shots against Adirondack in a 6-2 win on Thursday, then turned aside 35 of 39 on Friday to take both halves of the home and home with the IceHawks in the 5-4 win in Glens Falls. Sunday, Emond blocked 28 of 31 Port Huron shots to secure the win his third of the season. Emond made several spectacular saves, especially against Adirondack, to enable the Jackals to secure six points this weekend.

POTW – Kevin Kerr. Kerr notched 4g, 1a for 5 points and a +3 rating with ten shots this week. Thursday against the IceHawks Kerr chipped in a helper on the Jackals' first power play goal of the night, also recording a +1 rating for the night. Friday Kerr scored twice for the Jackals in Glens Falls, adding four shots, and finishing even for the contest. Sunday Kerr added two more goals, including the game winner, and six shots to combine with a +2 rating for the contest. Kerr's 40 percent shooting percentage is the highest on the Jackals squad.

NEWS AND NOTES:

The Jackals Coach's Show this week will feature Kevin Kerr and Marco Emond. The Coach's Show is broadcast live from Patrick's, 303 College Ave. in downtown Elmira at 7 pm on WiNGZ 104.9. Join Tom Callahan, Head Coach Todd Brost, and WiNGZ's own Joe Munroe for an hour of all things Jackals!

Tickets are still available for this Thursday's game against the Muskegon Fury, and Friday's contest versus Fort Wayne. Seats may be purchased through all Ticket Master locations, online at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone at (607) 722-3711. You may also come to the Coach USA Center Box Office, open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturday's 10 am to 4 pm.

Come celebrate Halloween with the Jackals and Tops Friendly Markets! There will be trick or treating for the kids, along with a costume parade on the ice between periods. Fans are encouraged to wear all black to help the Jackals with a Halloween Black Out! Tops will provide candy for children at the game, and Jackal players will wear special jerseys that night to be auctioned off after the game. A portion of the auction proceeds will go to benefit MDA.

The Jackals Monthly Dinner Series continues on Monday, November 4th at 6 pm at Horigan's, 365 Davis St. in Elmira. Join the Jackals for dinner, trivia, and lots of fun! No reservations are required at Horigan's, where Irish Hospitality Is Always On Tap!

Blade will appear at the Arnot Mall from 11-11:50 am and then at Guthrie Medical Clinic next door from 12 – 1 pm on Saturday, October 26th. Stop by and say hi to the Jackals' furry, friendly mascot as he appears at various places in the community!



ECHL Stories from October 28, 2002


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