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Jackals Journal

December 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL, won both games last week with divisional triumphs over Reading and Trenton to maintain the North Division lead by two points over Cincinnati.

Overall: 18-6-0-2 (38 pts.) Last Week: 2-0-0-0 (4 pts.) 1st North Division/2nd American Conference

Friday, Dec. 14th - vs. READING (5-4 W ot) Att: 3,408 Shots: ELM 38-35 PP: 2/4 PK: 7/8

The Jackals mounted their biggest come-from-behind effort of the season after trailing 4-1 heading into the third period. Solid penalty killing set put Elmira in position to comeback in the final period with goals from FRANK LITTLEJOHN, PIERRE-LUC FAUBERT (pp) and InGlas Co ECHL Player of the Week BRYAN RODNEY (pp). RODNEY's goal tied the game at 4-4 with 4:20 left in regulation before SCOTT MAY took just forty-six seconds to end the game in sudden death, flipping home a JEKABS REDLIHS rebound, for Elmira's third win this season when behind after two periods.

Saturday, Dec. 15th - vs. TRENTON (4-3 W) Att: 3,920 (sellout) Shots: ELM 27-22 PP: 0/2 PK: 2/3

BRUCE WATSON's second goal of the year 6:13 into the final period lifted the Jackals to their 18th win of the year despite a hattrick performance by the Devils' TREVOR KELL. Holding three different one-goal leads, KELL answered back each time before WATSON's tally stood up as the game-winner. FAUBERT set up three of the four Elmira goals while KEVIN ULANSKI scored for a second straight game.

This Week: Friday, December 21st - @ WHEELING 7:35 p.m. WesBanco Arena

Saturday, December 22nd - @ WHEELING 7:35 p.m. WesBanco Arena

The Jackals and Nailers meet for the fourth and fifth times in their nine-game North Division season series with Elmira having taken both previous meetings. Most recently, the Jackals rallied for five unanswered goals in a 5-1 win at WesBanco Arena December 9th against an undermanned Nailers' squad. BRYAN RODNEY led the way with a career night that included two goals as part of a four-point effort. RODNEY was one of five players with multi-point games with CHAZ JOHNSON netting his first two-goal game of his ECHL career, including the game-winner 7:26 into the second period. The Jackals netted a season-high three power play goals in the win.

Jackals Bites: Saturday's game was the sixth sellout of the season at First Arena with Elmira averaging 92% capacity through December 15th...With pair of win on home ice over the weekend, the Jackals have won their last six at First Arena (last loss November 11th vs. BAK 2-6)...Team is on current four-game winning streak and six-game points streak (5-0-0-1)...Saturday's win left the Jackals a perfect 6-0 on Saturdays this year...Friday's come-from-behind win over Reading was the club's third when trailing after two periods and the 4-1 deficit after 40 minutes was the largest deficit to be overcome in those wins...Elmira begins a stretch of games Friday in Wheeling that sees the club playing eight of its next nine on the road where the team is 8-3-0-1... The Jackals had an ECHL record occur off of the ice Saturday night when seven players were loaned to the illness ravaged Albany River Rats of the AHL with three (Chris Busby, Brett Pilkington and Bryan Rodney) making their AHL debuts in Albany's 4-3 Sunday loss in Bridgeport. Pilkington and Ulanski netted assists for the River Rats while Joe Grimaldi picked up seven penalty minutes, including a fighting major in a tussle with Bridgeport's Joe Rullier... Kevin Ulanski broke a 12-game goalless slide with strikes in each of Elmira's wins last weekend...Pierre-Luc Faubert extended his team-high point streak to six games with a three-assist effort Saturday, marking a personal best for assists and points in a game for the first-year pro. Faubert's performance jumped him back into the team scoring lead with 23 points (9+14)...Goaltender Joel Martin started his seventh consecutive contest and notched his fourth win in a row Saturday. Martin continues to the lead the ECHL in wins with 13 and has won seven straight on home ice...Defenseman Bryan Rodney continues to lead ECHL blue liners in scoring despite having a three-game goal/point streak (5+4=9) end in Saturday's win. Friday night, Rodney put a third straight multi-point performance on the board with a goal and two assists. He had a hand in all three goals in that third period rally, including the game-tying goal with 4:20 left in regulation...Head coach Steve Martinson is six wins shy of 600 as a head coach...Bruce Watson is five games shy of 500 played as a pro.

Jackals Amongst ECHL Leaders: Joel Martin - 13 wins (1st), 1016 minutes played (2nd), 2 shutouts (t-2nd), 3 shootout wins (t-1st)...Dan LaCosta - .934 save percentage (t-2nd)...Pierre-Luc Faubert - 3 shootout goals (t-1st), 23 points (t-10th - rookies)...Bryan Rodney - 21 points (1st - defensemen), 7 goals (2nd - defensemen)...Joe Grimaldi - 2 shorthanded assists (t-1st - rookies & defensemen), 2 shorthanded points (t-1st - defensemen)...Trevor Hendrikx - 64 PIM (5th - defensemen), 22 minors (t-4th - defensemen)...Tomas Kudelka - 2 GWG (t-1st - defensemen)

Jackals On the Air: All 72 regular season games will air live on MAGIC FM (92.7/97.7) beginning with the Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off 30 minutes prior to game time (except televised games). WETM-2 will televise 11 Friday night contests live from First Arena with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night. A free audio stream and a pay-per-view video stream are available at www.jackalshockey.com. The team's weekly Coach's Show airs Mondays throughout the season from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. on NewsTalk 1230/1450 live from O'Ryans Sports Bar & Grill, 159 Prescott Avenue - Elmira Heights. The show is also available on-line via www.jackalshockey.com. The next edition of the Coach's Show will air tonight, Monday, December 17th.

On-Ice This Week (subject to change) Radio/TV airtime

Tuesday, December 18th 10:30 a.m. Practice - First Arena

Wednesday, December 19th 10:30 a.m. Practice - First Arena

Thursday, December 20th 10:30 a.m. Practice - First Arena

Friday, December 21st 7:35 p.m. JACKALS @ WHEELING MAGIC FM 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, December 22nd 7:35 p.m. JACKALS @ WHEELING MAGIC FM 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, December 23rd No Practice

Tickets for all Jackals home games may be purchased in person at the Gray Street box office at First Arena (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 722-3711, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com and by calling 734-PUCK (7825).

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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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