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Jackal Bites

January 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


It was just one of those weekends. Elmira managed to get the power play in gear this week, and even shut out the high-scoring Adirondack IceHawks 3-0 in their first game of a three in three. But back to back contests in Fort Wayne against the Komets proved to be less than kind, and the Jackals could only grab two of a possible six points from three games.

1/23/03 JACKALS 3 – IceHakws 0

Elmira managed to start things off on an upbeat note, blanking Adirondack 3-0 in their only home game of the weekend. A close checking first period saw the two teams remain scoreless after 20 minutes. Adirondack out shot the Jackals 13-10 in the first period, and Marco Emond had to come up big more than once to keep the game scoreless.

In the second period, Jody Robinson got the Jackals on the board at 8:44 when he ripped a shot from the point that beat goaltender Jason Wolfe on the blocker side to make it 1-0. Eddy Lowe and Mike Thompson set up the play, which came directly off a face off in the IceHawks zone. Brad Wingfield increased the lead to 2-0 with help from Randy Murphy and Corey Neilson at 14:37, snapping one that just wiggled through the five hole of Wolfe on its way in. Elmira poured it on thick in the second, throwing 19 shots at Wolfe, while Emond faced just six from IceHawk shooters.

Even Elmira's power play was clicking in the game, providing them with a 3-0 lead when Mike Thompson scored at 4:07 from David Lessard and Rob Guinn. The Jackals finished the game 1 for 5 on the power play to kick off a trend for the weekend of notching at least one power play goal in each game. Emond earned the win, turning aside 29 shots on goal for his second shutout of the year, and of his career.

1/24/03 Jackals 1 – KOMETS 5

Elmira entered Friday night starting down a two game set with the Komets in Fort Wayne. Those two contests had the ability to change the balance of power over the weekend, with each team not only able to earn four points, but prevent the other from gaining any ground as well. If the Jackals won both games, they would be two points in front of Fort Wayne, and in first place in the East. If Fort Wayne won both, they would extend their lead over the Jackals to six points. Meanwhile, a split would not help Elmira, as they would exit the weekend exactly where they started. In addition, the Komets had three games in hand over the Jackals to start the weekend as well.

In the first period, Fort Wayne got on the board first when Colin Chaulk scored at 7:35 of the first period from Kelly Perrault and David Alexandre Beaureguard. Several penalties were handed out in the opening frame, with Kris Mallette's double minor for roughing especially putting the Jackal penalty kill on the spot. But the Jackals managed to deny the advantage for the Komets, and escaped trailing only 1-0.

David Lessard would notch a power play goal after hitting the post three times the night before against Adirondack at the 2:41 mark of the second period to knot the game at 1-1. The Komets, however, would storm back for three more goals in the period to open up a 4-1 advantage. Michel Massie and Beaureguard scored :34 apart just short of midway through the period, and Chaulk added his second goal at 13:57 to give Fort Wayne a three goal lead. That fourth Komet goal would also spell the end of the night for Marco Emond, who stopped 9 of 13 Komet shots in 33:57 of work. Jeremy Symington stepped in, turning aside both Komets shots faced to end the second with Elmira down 4-1.

In the third period, the Komets would manage to tack on one more insurance marker at 14:02 when Bobby Stewart scored to make it a 5-1 final. Tom Lawson picked up the win with 27 saves, while Emond took the loss, and Symington finished with seven stops on eight shots.

1/25/03 Jackals 2 – KOMETS 5

The Jackals were now craving a split after dropping the first half of the two game road bill against the Komets Friday night. But Saturday, despite a pair of power play goals, would turn out no different from Friday night.

Both Elmira and Fort Wayne dented the score sheet in the first period, with Fort Wayne jumping ahead 1-0 on Kelly Perrault's power play goal at 3:32. Meanwhile, Elmira responded at 7:07 as Aaron Phillips scored from Randy Murphy on the power play, knotting things up at 1-1. Shots on goal in the period were 12-8 in favor of the Komets.

The second period saw the Komets mark on the other side of the special teams ledger, scoring a shorthanded goal at 5:05 as Bobby Stewart put one behind Jeremy Symington with help from Dustin Virag. The 2-1 lead for the Komets stuck through the remainder of the period, with both teams seeing several good chances to score, but being turned away by Jeremy Symington and Tom Lawson.

The third period finally saw someone score an even strength goal, but unfortunately for Elmira, it was Fort Wayne expanding the lead to 3-1 on Bobby Stewart's second goal of the game. The unassisted marker at 3:19 seemed to get the Jackals going a bit, and Mike Thompson scored another power play goal at 6:16 from Murphy and Glenn Stewart. It was Elmira's second man up goal of the night, and third of the two game series with the Komets. But it would not be enough, as Fort Wayne grabbed goals from Virag and Michel Massie to finish on top of a 5-2 final. Lawson stopped 21 of 23 shots faced for his second consecutive win over the Jackals, while Symington suffered the loss, turning aside 30 of 35 shots.

* * *

Elmira finishes out the weekend's action in third place in the UHL's Eastern Conference, behind Adirondack and Fort Wayne. The first-place Komets have pulled ahead by six points with 58. Adirondack is in second place by two points with 54, while Elmira sits third with 52. Port Huron is three points behind Elmira in fourth with 49, and Flint is knocking on the door with 47. Flint and Fort Wayne have played only 45 games, while Adirondack is through 46, and Port Huron and Elmira have finished 48 contests this year.

The Jackals will now have until Friday night off when the Quad City Mallards come to town for a 7 pm game. Saturday night features the Rockford IceHogs making their last regular season appearance at the Coach USA Center, and then Quad City rounds out their eastern swing with a Sunday matinee game in Elmira at 4 pm.

Tickets for those and all remaining Jackal home games may be purchased through the Coach USA Center Box Office, open 10 am to 6 pm Monday – Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday. Seats may also be obtained through all TicketMaster locations, on line at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone at (607) 722-3711.

JACKAL BITES:

- Marco Emond stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the year, and of his career on Thursday against Fort Wayne. His first career shutout came earlier this season against Rockford in Illinois.

- Jackals Forward Kevin Kerr is nearing 1,000 games in his pro career. Kerr currently sits at 989 career pro games, and is the UHL's all time leader in several offensive categories, including goals, power play goals, shots on goal, and hat tricks.

- Brad Wingfield set a UHL record last week when he recorded a penalty minute in his 24th consecutive contest. That streak came to an end the very next game against Adirondack on Thursday night, as Wingfield stayed out of the box in Elmira's 3-0 win over the IceHawks.

- Despite coming into the weekend with the league's worst power play (14% before Thursday's game), the Jackals scored all three goals in two games against Fort Wayne with the man advantage, and four of six overall on the power play. Elmira went 1 for 5 against Adirondack Thursday, 1 for 4 Friday against Fort Wayne, and 2 for 5 on Saturday against the Komets. Mike Thompson scored two of the power play goals, while David Lessard and Aaron Phillips each scored one. Elmira's percentage for the weekend was 28.6%.

- Jody Robinson's game winning goal on Thursday against Adirondack was the first of his career. Robinson scored the first goal of the game in a 3-0 shutout win over the IceHawks at 8:44 of the second period from Eddy Lowe and Mike Thompson.

NEWS AND NOTES:

The Jackals Coach's Show returns to Patrick's this week. Ryan Esselmont and Mike Hofstrand will be the featured Jackals. Show time is at 7 pm, and as always it will air live from Patrick's Deli and Tavern, 303 College Avenue in Elmira.

The Jackals Monthly Dinner Series continues on Monday, February 3rd 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!

Kevin Kerr is nearing his 1,000th game as a pro. Coming into this weekend, Kerr has played in 989 hockey games at the professional level. He is on pace for game # 1,000 some time around the week of February 17th. If he plays in ever game from now until then, the magic date will be February 15th in Flint against the Generals.

Jackalshockey.com is currently under renovation and will be back soon with a brand new look! Check back in the coming weeks for more news, more insight, and more features than ever before!

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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.

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