Jackals split on the road, conference finals move to Elmira

Published on April 26, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release


GAME RESULTS:

4/23/04 PORT HURON 3 - Jackals 1 (Port Huron Leads Series 1-0)

The Port Huron Beacons took a 1-0 series lead as they took Game One of the UHL Eastern Conference Finals Friday night 3-1 over Elmira. Port Huron took an early lead when Adam Dewan found the net at 7:28 of the first period. Dewan was the beneficiary of some fantastic fore-checking by Jason Firth, who forced a turnover and got the assist for a 1-0 Beacon lead. Dewan would score his second of the game, his seventh of the playoffs, at 12:37 on the power play from John Vary and Brent Gretzky to make it 2-0. After a scoreless second period, Elmira finally cracked the armor of goaltender Kory Cooper, who was fantastic in net for the Beacons. Thanks to a great Jackals' fore-check, Nathan Gillies forced a turnover to Eddy Lowe, who then found J.F. Boutin at the top of the crease and the winger slid the puck past Cooper to cut the Port Huron lead in half at 1:34 of the third. The two teams battled fiercely through the remainder of the game. The Jackals pulled Peter Aubry with under a minute left to try to equalize, but Gretzky stole the puck and fired it into the empty net with 15 seconds left to put the icing on the cake. Cooper picked up the win, stopping 33-of-34 shots. Aubry was equally impressive in goal, keeping out 31 of the Beacons 33 shots. Notes: The two teams combined for 70 minutes of penalties, 36 PIMs in a very physical first period alone. Bob Crummer and Sam Miller each received fighting majors for their scrap at 12:51 of the first period. Elmira was 0-4 on the power play, while Port Huron was 1-for-6 on the night. The Jackals out-shot the Beacons 34-33 in the contest.

4/24/04 JACKALS 3 - Port Huron 2 Overtime (Series Tied 1-1)

The Elmira Jackals notched a huge victory 3-2 over the Port Huron Beacons Saturday night in overtime, courtesy of an Eddy Lowe goal. The Eastern Conference Finals Series now moves to the First Arena in Elmira tied at one game apiece. Port Huron took an early lead for the second game in a row as Brent Gretzky scored on the power play from Jason Firth and Adam Dewan at 7:11 of the first period. The Beacons made it 2-0 when Rob Hisey found Joe Sewel in the slot for a goal at 4:53 of the second period. But unlike Game 1, Elmira would crack the wall of goaltender Kory Cooper before the third period. The captain, Trevor Burgess, blasted a slap shot from the far side face off circle that ripped through Cooper and into the back of the net at 18:36 from J.F. Boutin and Carl Drakensjo. Trailing 2-1 going into the third period, Elmira continued to bombard the Beacon's net; after being out-shot 12-6 by Port Huron in the first period, the Jackals managed a 16-10 advantage in the second period, and continued the trend in the third by firing 11 shots one Cooper. They only needed one to go in and at 10:06, with one second remaining on a Port Huron bench minor for Too Many Men, Randy Murphy scored the equalizer from Lowe. Despite both teams having late third period power plays, this game was headed to overtime. But unlike the first round of the playoffs, where Elmira lost their only overtime excursion in double OT to Richmond and Port Huron beat Flint twice in extra time, tonight would be different. At just 4:23 into the first overtime period Eddy Lowe, who had been denied multiple times during the evening by Cooper, unloaded a turn-around shot that hit the Beacons' goaltender, dropped behind him and then rolled past the goal line to end the game.

JACKALS PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: (WEEK 27)

Eddy Lowe - C 2 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 pts, 4 PIMs, +1

Eddy Lowe was a big reason for the Jackals split of the first two games of the UHL Eastern Conference Finals in Port Huron. Lowe assisted on the only Jackals goal Friday night in a 3-1 defeat, and came back with the game-winning goal in overtime to beat the Beacons 3-2.

Peter Aubry - G 2 GP, 1-1-0, 1.93 GAA, .935 SV%, 58 saves

Peter Aubry has continued to turn up the intensity of his play during the post season. The 6'3" 200 lbs goaltender has numbers that are impressive on their own. When put into the context of Games 1 & 2, Aubry's play is spectacular. He shut down the Beacons in both third periods and held Port Huron at bay long enough for the Jackals to grab an overtime winner.

JACKALS NEWS:

Bobby K Activities Wednesday
Bobby K activities for the kids Wednesday Night. Bring your family for a great night of Playoff Hockey, plus special FREE attractions for the kids. Bobby K will be here with a Moonbounce inflatable and Inflated Hockey Sports Arena.

White Out Scheduled For Eastern Conference Finals
The Jackals are planning to hold a Wear White Night - or White Out - for Game Three of the UHL Eastern Conference Finals against the Port Huron Beacons. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the First Arena in support of the Jackals quest for the Colonial Cup.

JACKAL BITES:

· 600 AT HOME - The Jackals are just two goals away from 600 scored at the First Arena. Their 598th goal was a big one, as LW Jamie Thompson's last second heroics put Elmira into the Conference Finals.

· 500 ON THE ROAD - The Jackals scored their 500th goal on the road as a franchise Saturday night in Port Huron. It couldn't have come at a better time, as Eddy Lowe slapped home the game-winner in overtime to beat the Beacons.

· 100 BEACONS - In approaching another goal-scoring milestone, the Jackals are two goals away from the century mark against Port Huron. Elmira has scored 98 goals in their 4 years of competition against the Beacons.

· SURPRISING STREAK - RW Nathan Gillies, who is currently leading the team in shots (24) during the playoffs, has a different kind of streak going. The rookie forward has a 5-game penalty minute streak to his credit, acquiring 15 minutes over all 5 Jackals playoff games thus far.

· TRANSACTIONS/PLAYER NEWS - LW Adam Tackaberry was activated Saturday; Tackaberry and F Chris Welch are the two eligible Amateurs on the Jackals playoff roster. LW Dean Jackson was a scratch for Game Two with an upper-body muscle strain. C Don Smith is on call up with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Cal Benazic is on the 21-day IR, out for the season.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Elmira Jackals Playoff Team Leaders:

Goals: Jamie Thompson (5)
Assists: Trevor Burgess (8)
Points: Jamie Thompson, Trevor Burgess (10)
Plus/Minus: Simon Poirier (+8)
Penalty Minutes: Bob Crummer (23)
Power Play Goals: J.F. Boutin, Randy Murphy (2)
Short Handed Goals: Nathan Gillies, Jamie Thompson (1)
Shots: Nathan Gillies (24)
Shooting Percentage: Randy Murphy (27.3%)
Saves: Peter Aubry (205)
Wins: Peter Aubry (4) GAA: Peter Aubry (2.67)
Save Percentage: Peter Aubry (.923)

Don't miss the The Elmira Jackals Coach's Show broadcast LIVE this Tuesday night from Patrick's Pub, 303 College Ave. at 7pm. Join Head Coach Todd Brost, Owen Newkirk, and WiNGZ 104.9's Joe Monroe, along with Dean Jackson and Bob Crummer for the broadcast. Tune in on WiNGZ 104.9 FM or stream it online at www.jackalshockey.com

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 26, 2004


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