Jackal Bites

November 26, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


It seems that life has been one big shootout for the Elmira Jackals lately. Five of their last six games have gone to the extra session, and all three this week as the Jackals went 3-0-0, picking up OT wins in Flint, Port Huron, and Adirondack.

The Jackals started the week out earlier than usual for the club, traveling to Flint to take on the Generals on a Wednesday night, the club's first appearance at the IMA Sports Arena this year. The struggle between the two teams was back and forth, with Elmira jumping ahead 1-0 on a power play goal from Kevin Kerr. Kerr, back in Flint for the first time since being released after training camp last season, was greeted by a mixed ovation. Several Flint Kerr jerseys were in the stands for good measure. With everyone watching his every move, Kerr quickly drew the puck off the sideboards after a Glenn Stewart shot and fired it just under the crossbar over Martin Villeneuve for the 1-0 lead.

Flint would rebound to tie the game at one, but in the second period, Brad Wingfield scored on a nice feed in the slot from Randy Murphy. Murphy circled around behind the Flint cage after deking Villeneuve down to the ice, fed the puck to Wingfield in the slot where he buried it to give the Jackals a 2-1 advantage.

Once again, the Generals charged back, this time scoring twice and taking the lead at 3-2 before Wingfield netted his second of the game to tie it up once again at 3-3, which is where the game would finish regulation time. Elmira was into their second shootout against Flint, where they were 0-1 in the OT against the Generals.

The shootout went to eight exciting rounds, and Aaron Phillips broke a 2-2 OT deadlock to give the Jackals a 3-2 win. It was Elmira's first shootout win this season after dropping their first three decisions at home. Marco Emond stopped 21 of 24 shots in regulation and six of eight in the shootout to record the victory.

Elmira then traveled to Port Huron to take on the Beacons Friday night, looking to extend their mini-winning streak to three games. The Jackals jumped ahead 1-0 on Brad Wingfield's third goal in the last two games, but Port Huron scored twice in the first frame to take a 2-1 lead on goals by Chris MacKenzie and Peter Bournazakis.

In the second, the Jackals scored to even the game when David Lessard tipped home a Ryan Esselmont shot from the point. But the Beacons kept at it, with defenseman Scott Drevitch scoring to put the Beacons ahead 3-2 at the end of two, setting the stage for a crucial final 20 minutes of hockey.

The third period would feature only one goal, that by Eddy Lowe to tie the game at 3-3, and the Jackals were once again heading to a shootout. Emond would stop all four shooters he faced in the extra session, notching the win on top of stopping 38 of 41 in regulation. The Jackals, meanwhile, beat Kory Cooper twice in four attempts.

Saturday night was indeed all right for fighting as the Jackals took on the Adirondack IceHawks in Glens Falls. The contest started with the fisticuffs just :02 into the game when Wingfield squared off with Blue Bennefield. From there, two more scraps would ensue, and 76 total PIMs would be handed out in the first period alone. Elmira notched the only goal of the period when Murphy scored on the power play from Kevin Kerr and Glenn Stewart to give the Jackals a 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.

In the second, Adirondack responded with a pair of goals to grab the lead at 2-1. Hugo Belanger scored at even stregth to tie the game, and then Doug Schmidt scored on the power play to give the IceHawks the lead at 2-1. Eddy Lowe would come back for Elmira, however, poking a loose puck past goaltender Jason Wolfe in a goalmouth scramble, forging a 2-2 tie. Again, the Jackals were heading to a shootout for the third consecutive game, and fifth time in the last six games. Emond would stop three of four for his third straight shootout victory, and 24 of 26 in regulation.

Elmira wrapped up the week with a 3-0-0 record, climbing to 9-6-3 overall and 21 points, putting them in third place in the Eastern Conference. Elmira will travel more again this week, playing four games in five days starting Wednesday at home against Adirondack, then at Flint on Friday, at Quad City on Saturday, and at Missouri on Sunday.

Player of the Week Nomination - Brad Wingfield

Totals: 3 GP, 3-0-3, +2, 29 PIMs, 11 shots

Wed. 11/20 @ FLT 2g, +1, 3 shots, no PIMs 4-3 SOW

Fri. 11/22 @ PTH 1g, +1, 8 shots, 2 PIMS 4-3 SOW

Sat. 11/23 2 ADR 0-0-0, Even, 27 PIMS Goaltender of the Week Nomination - Marco Emond Totals: 3 GP, 2.66 GAA, .912 save %, 3-0-0 (all shootout wins), 13 of 16 shootout attempts stopped (.813 %), 83 of 91 shots stopped in regulation. Wed. 11/20 @ FLT 21of 24 in regulation , 6 of 8 in shootout

Fri. 11/22 @ PTH 38 of 41 in regulation, 3 of 4 in shootout

Sat. 11/23 @ ADR 24 of 26 in regulation, 4 of 4 in shootout

Jackal Bites:

· Five of Elmira's last six games have gone to a shootout, where they are 3-2 over that span and 3-3 this season. The Jackals are 3-0 in their last three OT's, with all three of those wins coming on the road. The team's last regulation win was on Saturday 11/16 vs. Flint (5-3).

· The Jackals dominated Flint on the power play over a three game stretch from 11/15 to 11/20, scoring six power play goals in those three games against the Generals while operating at a 6 for 18 clip (.333 percent).

· Randy Murphy's 12 game scoring streak came to a close against Port Huron on Friday night, as he failed to register a point in the Jackals' 4-3 SOW. The streak is the UHL's longest such streak this year.

· Kevin Kerr scored four goals and added an assist in his three games vs. Flint from 11/15 to 11/20, helping the Jackals go 2-0-1 in that three game set with his old club.

· Marco Emond becomes the second goaltender in Jackals history to win three consecutive shootout contests. Christian Soucy did it last season from 3/2 to 3/9 with wins over New Haven and Asheville (twice).

· Jackals defenseman Ryan Esselmont picked up his first multiple point game of the year with a two assist perofrmance against Port Huron on 11/22. Esselmont also recorded a +2 rating and one shot on goal in the game. NEWS AND NOTES:

The Jackals Coach's Show will be back on Tuesday night this week with Kris Mallette and Jody Robinson. Show time is at 7 pm, and as always it will air live from Patrick's Deli and Tavern, 303 College Avenue in Elmira.

Jackals defenseman Adam Borzecki stopped in town on Monday to watch the end of Jackals practice before grabbing personal belongings from his apartment in Elmira. The Polish-born defenseman said he expects to be in Syracuse at least until January, depending on how injury situations work out for the Crunch.

Tickets are still available for the next Jackal games against Adirondack (Wed. 11/27) and Kalamazoo (Sunday 12/8). 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. The Jackals Monthly Dinner Series continues on Monday, December 9th 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!



ECHL Stories from November 26, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central