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Jackals Clinch Playoff Spot as They go 3-1-0 over Four Game in Five Day Stretch

March 25, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


A busy week for the Elmira Jackals saw them play four games in five days this week, starting in Flint on Wednesday and ending up back in Michigan on Sunday after a pair of home games Friday and Saturday. Along the way, the Jackals would clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, and pull one point ahead of the Adirondack IceHawks for second place and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 3/19/03 Jackals 4 – GENERALS 3 (SO)

The trend of the two-goal lead continued in Jackal games this week, either for or against the club. This time it was Flint scoring twice to open the game and grab a 2-0 win. Frankie Nault picked up a loose puck and fired it through a screen to beat Marco Emond just 1:18 into the contest. Martin Woods made it a two-goal lead with a power play goal at 7:54 before David Lessard put the puck home behind Paxton Schafer at 15:38 with help from Mike Thompson and Randy Murphy. The Jackals headed into the locker room down by just a goal at 2-1.

The second period saw Flint extend their lead to 3-1 when Gary Roach scored the only goal of the period at 5:07. Elmira came back in the third, however, on the strength of Lessard's second goal of the game at 7:00 from Glenn Stewart, and Brad Wingfield's equalizer at 9:07 from Thompson and Mike Hofstrand to make it 3-3. The game went to a shootout, where Emond stopped all five shooters faced while Wingfield once again came through, scoring the only goal of the extra session in round five for the Jackals. With the win, the Jackals picked up not only two points, but clinched a playoff berth in the UHL's Eastern Conference. With the shootout win, Emond once again reclaimed the lead in that category with nine this year.

3/21/03 JACKALS 3 – Kalamazoo 2

Elmira looked to avenge a loss to the Kalamazoo Wings in Michigan from last week on Friday night, the last meeting between the two teams for the regular season. With the two-goal rule firmly in place, Mike Thompson scored at 5:18 from David Lessard and Eddy Lowe, followed by Aaron Phillips' shorthanded marker at 9:29 Mike Hofstrand and Corey Neilson for the 2-0 lead.

Kalamazoo would try to bounce back with a power play marker at 14:51 of the second period, as Dan Hodge scored to make it 2-1. But Phillips would score his second of the game at 17:12 from Glenn Stewart to re-up the lead to two goals. Third period action saw the K-Wings pull within one once again, as Mark Vilneff scored at 7:45 to close the game to 3-2. After the goal, however, both defenses held fast and there was no further scoring. Marco Emond stopped 34 shots to earn the win, while Chad Alban stopped 18 of 21 in taking the loss. During the course of the game, Brad Wingfield picked up 41 minutes in penalties to surpass Andy Bezeau's old league mark of PIMs in a single season (542), with a new total of 574 minutes. Wingfield, who also picked up three fighting majors and a game misconduct, earned himself a two game suspension as well due to accumulation of game misconducts. Earlier this season he set the league record for most consecutive games with penalty minutes at 24 straight contests.

3/22/03 JACKALS 4 – Beacons 3

For the fifth straight game, a team scored two goals to open a Jackals contest. Eddy Lowe marked at 3:08 from Kris Mallette and Dean Jackson to open the scoring. The assist was Jackson's first point as a professional, and the sellout crowd of 4,063 rewarded him with a huge ovation upon the announcement of his feat. Glenn Stewart's power play marker at 16:16 made it 2-0 from Randy Murphy and Trevor Burgess, but Port Huron jumped back into the action with a goal at 19:50 from Derek Wood.

In the second period, the Beacons tied the game at 2-2 when John Vary scored his 12th of the year on the power play at 8:31. It was the only goal of the period and left both teams hungry for a win heading into the final frame. Elmira went ahead by a goal at 6:45 when Jackson scored his first goal as a pro, following up his first point earlier in the night. Lowe and David Lessard assisted on the goal. Mike Hofstrand appeared to ice the game for the Jackals at 19:12 when he notched a power play marker from Stewart and Rob Guinn, but Chris MacKenzie scored on a breakaway with just 27 seconds remaining to pull the Beacons within a goal. With goaltender Kory Cooper on the bench, the Beacons pressed hard but were unable to score the equalizer as the Jackals took home a 4-3 win. Marco Emond stopped 27 shots for the win, while Cooper deflected 28 of 32 in the loss. As a side note in the game, Jackals Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Tom Callahan called the game on radio while his brother, Greg, served as Port Huron's emergency goaltender. Although Greg did not see action, it could be the first time in a UHL game that this unique brother-brother combination has occurred.

3/23/03 Jackals 2 – BEACONS 4

Elmira looked to sweep the home and home against Port Huron on Sunday in matinee action at McMorran Arena, visiting the Blue Water Area for the last time in the regular season. For the sixth consecutive game, a two-goal lead appeared... but it belonged to the Beacons. Chris MacKenzie scored at 3:02 of the first, followed by Pete Bournazakis at 12:07 for the 2-0 lead. Corey Neilson picked up a dubious five-minute major for slashing and a game misconduct midway through the first period, handicapping the Jackals for the rest of the evening. The Beacons' second goal would come during a 5-on-3 while the major penalty was in progress.

The second period was Elmira's time to shine, as they scored twice to get the game tied up at 2-2. David Lessard scored from Aaron Phillips and Randy Murphy at 4:44, and then Glenn Stewart notched a goal at 17:12 from Phillips and R.C. Lyke to forge the tie. There would be no further scoring in the second, once again setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Port Huron took advantage of a bounce to make it 3-2 when Derek Wood deflected a point shot by Scott Drevitch at 7:21 of the third period. Elmira pressed for the tying goal, but could not find the mesh behind Kory Cooper. Instead, it was Brent Gretzky scoring into an empty net to cement a 4-2 Beacon victory. Cam McCormick took the loss in his first Jackal start, stopping 29 shots. Cooper finished with 30 saves on 32 shots for the win. The victory ensures Port Huron a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs as well, with Flint now having to hang their hopes on the possibility of crossing over to the Western Conference for a berth.

* * *

Despite having lost on Sunday, the Jackals are still one point up on Adirondack for home ice advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The two clubs will meet this weekend in a crucial home and home that determines who will start round one at home, and who will have to go on the road in the best of five series. Friday the teams meet at the Coach USA Center at 7 pm, then head to Glens Falls for a 7:30 pm tilt. The weekend will wrap itself up on Sunday with the Flint Generals in town at 4 pm for the last game of the regular season.

Tickets for next weekend's 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.

PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS:

Player of the Week – David Lessard, RW
4 GP, 3-2-5, 13 shots, +2, 2 PIMs

DATE TEAM OPPN HV GM# G A PTS +- SHOTS PIM MI MA 10 GR GM MT PP SH
03/19/03 ELM FLT V 346 2 2 1 7
03/21/03 ELM KAL H 350 1 1 1 2 2 1
03/22/03 ELM PH H 355 1 1 2
03/23/03 ELM PH V 362 1 1 -1 2 1

Goaltender of the Week – Marco Emond
3-0-0, 2.67 GAA, .915 save percentage DATE TEAM OPPN H/V G# W L T MIN GA SHO EN TOT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT RESULT
03/19/03 ELM FLT V 346 1 65:00 3 25 15 4 6 W 4-3
03/21/03 ELM KAL H 350 1 59:53 2 34 12 14 8 W 3-2
03/22/03 ELM PH H 355 1 60:00 3 27 7 11 9 W 4-3

JACKAL BITES:

- With a first round matchup with the Adirondack IceHawks looming on the horizon, it is curious to note the two clubs have never faced each other in post-season play, despite their rivalry. Elmira was eliminated in the play-in game against Knoxville their first year, and marched through New Haven and B.C. on their way to the Colonial Cup Finals last year.

- Greg Callahan, brother of Jackals broadcaster Tom Callahan, served as Port Huron's emergency goaltender on Saturday night. It might have been the first time in league history that one brother was part of a team involved in a game broadcast by the other.

- David Lessard is now on a six game scoring streak, the longest current one on the Jackals. Over that stretch, Lessard has 3-5-8, and the Jackals have gone 4-2-0.

- Brad Wingfield obliterated Andy Bezeau's old UHL record for most penalty minutes in a season when he recorded 41 against Kalamazoo Friday night en route to a current season total of 574, with three games left to play. Earlier this year, Wingfield also set the mark for most consecutive games with penalty minutes recorded, finding his way to the box in 24 straight games.

- Dean Jackson scored his first ever pro point and pro goal on Saturday night in the Jackals' 4-3 win. Jackson, a former Elmira College player, was one of Elmira's picks in the North American Amateur Draft this season.

NEWS AND NOTES:

The Elmira Jackals Coach's Show will air live from Patrick's, 303 College Ave. on Monday, March 24th at 7 pm. Speical guests Dean Jackson and Kris Mallette join Jackals Head Coach Todd Brost, Tom Callahan, and WiNZ's Joe Munroe for an hour of fun and informative Jackal talk. Tune it in on your home for Jackals Hockey, WiNGZ 104.9!

Jeremy Symington has won his last three starts for the Binghamton Senators, going 3-1-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .922 save percentage since joining the club. Good luck Symer!

The Elmira Jackals will have at least one more chapter in the Monthly Dinner Series At Horigan's, with the date to be determined. Horigan's is located at 365 Davis St. in downtown Elmira, where Irish Hospitality Is Always On Tap!

Jackals Playoff Packages are now on sale to everyone! Packages go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 17th at 10 am. Prices are as follows:

REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFF PACKAGES

PLAYOFFS INDIVIDUAL
Restaurant $21.00 $23.00 ($276) $24.00
VIP $15.00 $17.00 ($204) $18.00
Center Ice $13.00 $15.00 ($180) $16.00
Endzone $10.00 $12.00 ($144) $13.00

All seats that remain unused can either be put towards a down payment on packages for next season, or refunded through the Coach USA Center Box Office.



ECHL Stories from March 25, 2003


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