Jackals Journal

Published on January 2, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


ELMIRA, NY - The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL, picked up points in three of four contests last weekend, winning twice and picking up an overtime point. The Jackals finished the 2007 portion of its schedule three points behind division-leading Cincinnati.

Overall: 22-7-1-2 (47 pts.) Last Week: 2-1-1-0 (5 pts.) 2nd North Division/3rd American Conference

Wednesday, Dec. 26th - @ READING (3-4 L ot) Att: 4,968 Shots: ELM 35-24 PP: 1/3 PK: 4/5

The Jackals built a 3-0 lead up by 6:28 of the second period, only to see the Royals score the final three of the period to tie things up and move to overtime for a second straight game in the season series. Unlike December 14th when Elmira made short work of sudden death and the bonus point, it was Reading's PATRICK HERSLEY jumping on a loose puck and putting home his second of the season at 1:42 to end the Jackals' four-game road winning streak.

Friday, Dec. 28th - @ TRENTON (4-3 W so) Att: 3,036 Shots: TRE 37-35 PP: 0/7 PK: 5/7

Elmira trailed for the first time in the season series when the home team scored back-to-back power play goals in the second period, but CHAZ JOHNSON tied the game late in the middle frame before swapping third period strikes. JOEL MARTIN stopped all five shooters in the shootout while LUKE FULGHUM netted the lone goal for the Jackals to take its league-leading sixth shootout decision. For MARTIN, it was his 16th win overall and fifth shootout triumph, both tops in the ECHL.

Saturday, Dec. 29th - vs. CINCINNATI (1-5 L) Att: 4,181 (sellout) Shots: TRE 37-35 PP: 0/7 PK: 5/7

Despite being outshot 22-5 in the second period, the Jackals notched the frame's only goal as BENOIT DOUCET scored his ninth of the year to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games, tying the game at 1-1 at 15:44. But a shorthanded goal thirty-four seconds into the final period proved to Elmira's undoing in ending a six-game home winning streak. It doubled as Elmira's first regulation loss in the last 11 games.

Monday, Dec. 31st - @ JOHNSTOWN (5-2 W) Att: 3,821 Shots: 22-22 PP: 0/5 PK: 3/4

A three-goal third period gave the Jackals a 5-2 win in their first ever visit to the Cambria County War Memorial. PIERRE-LUC FAUBERT scored twice, including the game-winner thirty-four seconds into the final period to snap a 2-2 tie. FAUBERT's second goal, an empty-netter, was his 12th of the year to tie him with captain FRANK LITTLEJOHN for the team lead. LITTLEJOHN potted his 12th earlier in the contest. The win extended Elmira's road regulation unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-1-1).

This Week: Wednesday, January 2nd - @ READING 6:35 p.m. Sovereign Center

Sovereign Center in Reading is the site of the teams' third meeting in a little over two weeks and their fifth get-together overall. Splitting the first four games, including overtime decisions in the last two games, the Jackals look for their first win in Reading in three tries. Elmira and Reading will meet a total of eleven times this season.

Friday, January 4th - @ DAYTON 7:00 p.m. Nutter Center

Saturday, January 5th - @ DAYTON 7:00 p.m. Nutter Center

The Jackals and Bombers hook up for only the third and fourth times this season in their ten-game North Division series. Elmira holds the upper hand with wins in each of the first two meetings. November 9th at First Arena, JOEL MARTIN picked up his first shutout of the year with a 27-save effort in a 2-0 victory. KEVIN ULANSKI scored on the Jackals final shootout attempt November 27th at the Nutter Center to lift Elmira to 3-2 decision.

Jackals Bites: Saturday's crowd of 4,181 was the second largest of the year (4,187 November 9th - First Arena record) was the seventh sellout of the season at First Arena...Saturday's loss was the first the Jackals have suffered in eight Saturday appearances...Elmira has skated each of the last twelve games with less than 16 skaters...Pierre-Luc Faubert had his team-high point scoring streak (3+10=13) end at eight games 12/26 @ REA...Brett Pilkington has a six-game streak (2+7=9) end 12/28 @ TRE...Benoit Doucet has the hottest hand entering the week with goals/points in six straight games (6+4=10) and has found the score sheet in eleven of his last twelve games with 8+9=17 totals...Along with Doucet, Chaz Johnson has the only other active point streak at five games (4+3=7)...Doucet's six-game goal streak is the longest active streak in the ECHL...Joel Martin's win streak ended at six in Saturday's loss to Cincinnati, but made his 13th consecutive start New Year's Eve in Johnstown...Monday's win enabled the Jackals to post back-to-back 20-point months in the standings during November and December...Head coach Steve Martinson is two wins shy of 600 in his minor pro coaching career...Bruce Watson's drive for 500 games played in his pro career is stalled at 499 after surgery to remove his appendix over the Christmas break.

Jackals Amongst ECHL Leaders: Joel Martin - 17 wins (1st), 1378 minutes played (2nd), 574 saves (3rd), 2 shutouts (t-2nd), 4 shootout wins (1st)...Dan LaCosta - .934 save percentage (1st)...Pierre-Luc Faubert - 3 shootout goals (t-1st), 28 points (t-11th - rookies)...Benoit Doucet - 25 points (t-16th - rookies)...Bryan Rodney - 21 points (t-4th - defensemen), 7 goals (t-2nd - defensemen)...Joe Grimaldi - 2 shorthanded assists (t-1st - rookies & defensemen), 2 shorthanded points (t-1st - defensemen)...Trevor Hendrikx - 76 PIM (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 Monday, January 7th.

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

Tuesday, January 1st 11:00 a.m. Practice - First Arena

Wednesday, January 2nd 10:30 a.m. JACKALS @ READING MAGIC FM 6:05 p.m.

Thursday, January 3rd TBA Practice - Nutter Center Dayton, OH

Friday, January 4th 7:00 p.m. JACKALS @ DAYTON MAGIC FM 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 5th 7:00 p.m. JACKALS @ DAYTON MAGIC FM 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 6th 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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