Jackals split weekend, finish 3-for-4 at home in January

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


2003-04 RECORD: 18-20-5, 41 points (11-7-5 home, 7-13-0 road), fourth place, Eastern Conference

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULED GAMES:

Wednesday, February 4 @ Richmond (25-14-4), fifty-four points, first place – Eastern Conference

Friday, January 30 vs. Richmond (25-14-4), fifty-four points, first place – Eastern Conference

Saturday, January 31 vs. Port Huron (21-16-3), fourty-five points, third place – Eastern Conference

Sunday, February 8 vs. Adirondack (17-22-6), forty points, fifth place – Eastern Conference

GAME RESULTS:

1/30/04 FORT WAYNE 5 – Jackals 0
1/31/04 JACKALS 4 – Richmond 3 (SO)

JACKALS SIGN BOURNAZAKIS

The Elmira Jackals, proud members of the United Hockey League, announced the signing of 5'11", 225-pound right wing Peter Bournazakis Saturday. The 27-year old Bournazakis is not a stranger to the United Hockey League; he played 61 games plus playoffs for the Port Huron Beacons last season. The Jackals acquired his rights in a trade from Port Huron this week, but Bournazakis had spent time with both the Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL) and the Fort Worth Brahmas (CHL) in 2003-04. The Toronto, ONT native shined in Pensacola, scoring 15 points (4 g, 11 a) and 29 penalty minutes in just 10 games played, while he tallied just one assist in four games for Fort Worth. In his first year as a professional, Bournazakis had a career high 77 points (29 f, 48 a) in 64 games with the Indianapolis Ice of the CHL in 2001-02. Bournazakis was a college star at Division III Rochester Institute of Technology, where he scored 224 points in 114 games over 4 years. The right wing wasted little time in his first game against Richmond Saturday night, getting an assist on Don Smith's second period goal.

JACKALS PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: (JANUARY)

Nathan Gillies - RW 11 GP, 6 goals, 3 assists, 9 pts, 10 PIMs, -1

January was the breakout month for rookie right wing Nathan Gillies. The 23-year old not only led the Jackals with 6 goals and 9 points to start 2004, but also put himself up to 2nd in the UHL amongst rookie goal-scoring leaders (14 goals), all of this while missing two games on his first American Hockey League call up with the Binghamton Senators. The Cambridge, ONT native had a 3-week streak, where he had at least one 2-goal game per week, scoring two against Richmond, Adirondack, and Muskegon in respective weeks. Gilles also had his first professional shorthanded goal, three power play goals, and his first game-winning goal of the year.

Ryan McIntosh – G 5 GP, 1-3-0, 2.79 GAA, .909 SV%, 99 saves

Ryan McIntosh continued to show his focus and determination in the month of January. The 27-year old led the Jackals with a 2.79 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. Pushing aside the notion that not starting on a consistent basis will ruin a goaltender's concentration, two of McIntosh's three losses in the month are highlighted by the fact that Elmira fell by one goal or an empty netter.

JACKALS PLAYER AND GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: (WEEK 14)

Eddy Lowe - C 2 GP, 2 goals, 0 assists, 2 pts, 6 PIMs, +1

For the second straight week center Eddy Lowe is the Elmira Jackals Player of the Week. The 29-year old scored twice Saturday night, leading Elmira to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Richmond Riverdogs. Lowe was also one of just five Jackals to avoid going in the minus during the 5-0 blanking by Fort Wayne Friday night. The two goals gave Lowe thirteen on the season and five for January; his 8 points for the month was second only to Nathan Gillies (9).

Peter Aubry – G 1 GP, 1-0-0, 3.00 GAA, .909 SV%, 30 saves

Goaltender Peter Aubry picked up a big home win as the Jackals beat Richmond 4-3 in a shootout at the First Arena Saturday night. Aubry stopped 30 shots in the win, his 15th of the year, to put Elmira back into the last Eastern Conference playoff spot at week's end. His shining moment of the game came when the 26-year old stoned the Richmond attackers with a perfect 5-for-5 in the shootout.

JACKAL BITES:

· THE NEW GUY – Freshly signed right wing Peter Bournazakis made an immediate impact for Elmira. The Toronto, Ontario native had an assist Saturday against Richmond in his first game for the Jackals.

· THE WALL OF ST. PIERRE – Shutout 5-0 Friday night in Fort Wayne, the Jackals could not solve Komets' goalie Kevin St. Pierre. In three meetings this season Elmira has manages just 2 goals against the big net minder (just one in each of the first two meetings).

· GOOD RIDDENCE TO JANUARY – As the first month of 2004 came to a close, the Jackals emphatically welcome February and beyond. Elmira went 4-9-0 in thirteen games, had two games postponed, were outscored 46-26, were a combined –102 as a team and went 1-8-0 in nine road games.

· A GOOD MONTH FOR GILLIES – Nathan Gillies made the best of a tough month for the Jackals. The rookie led the team in scoring (9 points), goals (6), power play goals (3), and shooting percentage (27.9%). He also scored one of Elmira's two shorthanded goals.

· HOME AND LOVING IT – Elmira shined at home winning three straight, and going 3-1-0 in January. The Jackals outscored their opponents 14-12 and out shot them 145-109 in 4 games at the First Arena.

· TRANSACTIONS/PLAYER NEWS – Acquired rights of RW Peter Bournazakis in trade with Port Huron. D Cal Benazic was placed on the 10-day IR after Saturday's game and was moved to the 14-day IR Monday. LW Jamie Thompson was moved from the 7-day to the 10-day IR Monday (retroactive to 1/25/04). LW Greg Koehler is on a call up with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). D Mark Jerant remains on call up with Hershey (AHL). RW Carl Drakensjo is on the 21-day IR with a broken left leg.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Elmira Jackals Team Leaders:

Goals: Greg Koehler (18)
Assists: Randy Murphy, Don Smith (26)
Points: Greg Koehler, Don Smith (43)
Plus/Minus: James Sheehan (+13)
Penalty Minutes: Kris Mallette (194)
Power Play Goals: Don Smith (8)
Short Handed Goals: Randy Murphy, Nathan Gillies, Eddy Lowe, Jamie Thompson (1)
Shots: Don Smith (145)
Shooting Percentage: Nathan Gillies (17.5%)
Shootout Goals: Randy Murphy (4)
Shootout Percentage: J.F. Boutin (66.7%)
Saves: Peter Aubry (844)
Wins: Peter Aubry (15)
GAA: Peter Aubry (2.91)
Save Percentage: Peter Aubry (.902)

Don't miss a special Monday Night edition of The Elmira Jackals Coach's Show live from Patrick's Pub, 303 College Ave. at 7pm. Join Jackals Head Coach Todd Brost, Owen Newkirk, and WiNGZ's Joe Monroe, along with Tom Clayton and Peter Bournazakis 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 February 2, 2004


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