Jackals Slide Past Komets In Opener
Published on October 15, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Elmira, NY - The Elmira Jackals kicked off their 5th anniversary season with a shootout win over the Fort Wayne Komets Friday night at the First Arena.
The Jackals jumped all over the defending Tarry Cup Champion Komets as soon as the first puck dropped. Just thirteen second into the new season former Jackals defenseman Rob Guinn received a two-minute minor penalty for tripping and the hometown boys would not waste their chances. Newcomer Jason Sessa knocked home the first goal scored in the UHL this season just 1:11 into the first period; a power play goal assisted by Vaclav Zavoral and Jamie Thompson. Fired up by the home crowd, Elmira extended their lead to two at 7:08 when rookie Derek Campbell scored his first goal of the year from Sessa and the First Arena was all smiles.
The second period was the complete opposite. Despite out-shooting Elmira 17-11 in the first period, the Komets were without a goal. But a delay of game Bench Minor called on the Jackals at 0:00 of the period, for a warm-up violation, seemed to set the tone of the middle frame. Fort Wayne did not score on the ensuing man-advantage, but they did cut the lead in half when Kevin Kotyluck scored at 4:26 from Sean Venedam and Dustin Virag. Both teams played evenly but it was the Komets who would draw level late in the period. Forward Chris Grenville took advantage of some space right in front of the crease and beat Jackals Goaltender Greg Hewitt at 17:20; assists coming from Shane Kenny and Tim Kruekl.
After a fairly eventful but goalless third period, the defending Eastern Conference champions found a shootout in their opening night fate. Both Virag and Jamie Thompson scored in the opening round of the shootout; then after Hewitt stoned P.C. Drouin, Jason Sessa gave Elmira the lead for good. In round three both goaltenders made fine saves, but it was Hewitt who again denied Fort Wayne, this time Grenville. Leading 2-1 with one round pending, Adam Nittel unleashed a vicious wrister into the top shelf, beating Kevin St. Pierre over the catching glove, to seal victory for the Jackals.
Hewitt, who earned the #2 star honors on the night, finished with a massive 42 saves on 44 Komet shots during open play and 3-of-4 in the shootout for the win. St. Pierre stopped 34-of-36 in regulation, 1-of-4 in the shootout to earn a point for Fort Wayne. The Jackals return to the ice Saturday as they host the expansion Danbury Trashers for the first time.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 15, 2004
- Outlaws shoot 'em up in 5-3 inaugural game win - Kansas City Outlaws
- IceHogs roll over Mallards in opener - Rockford IceHogs
- Trashers win inaugural game 3-1 over Adirondack - Danbury Trashers
- Jackals Slide Past Komets In Opener - Elmira Jackals
- The Showdown Begins at Kemper Arena - Kansas City Outlaws
- 2004-05 Season Begins At Richmond - Port Huron Flags
- RiverDogs game notes - Richmond RiverDogs
- Mallards Add Feistiness - Quad City Mallards
- Countdown to face-off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Luciuk and Zalapski on K-Wings Live this week - Kalamazoo Wings
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