Jackals Defeat Beacons 5-2, End 2002 With Win
Published on December 31, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
New Year's Eve has been good to the Elmira Jackals. The Jackals defeated the New Haven Knights back on December 31st of 2000, and Tuesday night they defeated the Port Huron Beacons 5-2 at the Coach USA Center to end the 2002 calendar year on a positive note, ending a three game winless skid and closing to within a point of the Beacons in the hotly contested Eastern Conference race.
Thomas Clayton started the ball rolling for the Jackals at 14:29 of the first period when he put the puck towards the Beacon goal, and it deflected past starter Kory Cooper off the skate of defenseman Frank Bowen to give the Jackals a 1-0 lead. Eddy Lowe and Mike Thompson picked up assists on the goal. Brad Wingfield made it 2-0 just 24 seconds later when he scored on a wrister over Cooper's glove at 14:53 with help from Kris Mallette. At the end of the period, Elmira's Aaron Phillips was awarded a penalty shot against Cooper for being hauled down on a shorthanded breakaway. After a long delay during which several protests came from various members of the Beacons, Phillips finally attempted the shot, and was stopped by Cooper to keep it 2-0 at the end of the first period.
In the second stanza, Elmira jumped out to a 3-0 lead when Mike Hofstrand scored a shorthanded marker just 1:07 in from Phillips and Corey Neilson. Neilson himself would score from David Lessard and R.C. Lyke to give Elmira a 4-0 lead at 4:02. That goal would also spell the end of the night for Cooper, who surrendered four goals on 14 shots. Bujar Amidovski replaced him and was greeted in similar fashion. Phillips connected to make it 5-0 soon after Amidovski entered the game, atoning for the penalty shot. Lessard and Hofstrand grabbed the helpers at 8:01. The Beacons wouldn't go quietly in the second period, however, as they managed a goal from Brent Gretzky to make it 5-1. Jason Firth and Pete Bournazakis assisted at 10:53 of the second period to head into the locker room down by four.
In the third period the Beacons drew closer as Bobby McKillop scored from Chris MacKenzie and Scott Drevitch just 4:51 into the final session, but that's as close as they could manage. Elmira held on the rest of the way for the 5-2 win, despite being out shot 34-30 by the Beacons. Marco Emond earned the win in stopping 32 of 34 Beacon shots. Amidovski finished off by stopping 15 of 16 shots the rest of the way for Port Huron.
Elmira gets back to action on Saturday, January 4th at 7 pm against the Quad City Mallards. Then Flint comes to town on Sunday at 4 pm to take on the Jackals before they head out on a six game, 10-day trip that will take them through Kalamazoo, Muskegon (twice), Quad City, Missouri, and Rockford.
ECHL Stories from December 31, 2002
- Jackals Defeat Beacons 5-2, End 2002 With Win - Elmira Jackals
- Benazic, McNeil ignite comeback as IceGators ring out 2002 the right way - Louisiana IceGators
- Kingfish fall in shootout, 3-2 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Generals move within one point of first - Greensboro Generals
- Blades Earn Point in 2-1 Overtime Loss - Florida Everblades
- Generals Game Night Notes - Greensboro Generals
- K-Wings Week in Review for December 30th-January 5th - Kalamazoo Wings
- Baxter, Scott and Gardner Tops in December - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Jackal Bites - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers Change Game Time - Wheeling Nailers
- Grizz Fall to Griffins - Utah Grizzlies
- Wings Stadium/K-Wings and Quota Club Team Up - Kalamazoo Wings
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