Jackals Weekly

Published on April 3, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


The Elmira Jackals will kick off their 2012 Kelly Cup Playoff run tonight, as they take on the Reading Royals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Elmira owns the top spot in conference, having gone 45-22-2-3 in the regular season, while Reading enters the postseason as the eighth seed, posting a 36-28-4-4 record in the 2011-2012 campaign. The Jackals and the Royals will play Games 1 and 2 at the Sovereign Center on Tuesday and Wednesday and will return to First Arena for Games 3, 4 (if necessary) and 5 (if necessary) on Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Wednesday, March 28

Elmira 2, Trenton 1

Sun National Bank Center

Artem Demkov scored the overtime-winning goal at 4:03 of the extra session, giving Elmira a 2-1 victory over the Trenton Titans. Demkov added an assist as well on Mike Radja's first-period goal while Timo Pielmeier made 30 saves on 31 shots in his final appearance with the Jackals during the regular season before being recalled to the AHL's Albany Devils. The win was Elmira's 20th on the road, tying its franchise record.

Friday, March 30

Elmira 3, Reading 2 (OT)

First Arena

Elmira fell behind Reading, 2-0, in the first period, but for the sixth time this season against the Royals in that situation, the Jackals came back to earn the victory. Mike Radja put Elmira on the board in the first period while Dustin Gazley tied the game with a power-play strike in the third. Gazley put home the game winner 43 seconds into the overtime period to lift the Jackals past the Royals, 3-2. The win was Elmira's 45th, tying a franchise record set in the 74-game UHL season of 2001-2002. Elmira jumped over Gwinnett by one point into first place in the Eastern Conference standings with one game remaining in the season, as the Gladiators fell that night to the Florida Everblades in regulation.

Saturday, March 31

Wheeling 4, Elmira 3 (SO)

WesBanco Arena

The Jackals connected three times on the power play in the second period, overcoming a 1-0 deficit to establish a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Craig Rivet, Matt Campanale, and Mike Radja all scored in a 4 minute, 53 second span to give Elmira the two-goal advantage. At the start of Elmira's third period, the Gladiators lost to the Everblades, giving the Jackals the Eastern Conference regular-season championship. The Nailers rallied, getting goals from Jordon Southorn and Paul Crowder to tie the game, 3-3. In the shootout, Andrew Hotham and Zack Torquato scored for the Nailers, giving them the come-from-behind 4-3 victory. The shootout loss was the first in Brian Stewart's career. He had gone 13-0 in his first 13-career appearances in the shootout.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday, Apr. 3 - Elmira at Reading, Game 1, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 7:05 p.m., Sovereign Center

Wednesday, Apr. 4 - Elmira at Reading, Game 2, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 7:05 p.m., Sovereign Center

Friday, Apr. 6 - Elmira vs. Reading, Game 3, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 7:05 p.m., First Arena

Saturday, Apr. 7 - Elmira vs. Reading, Game 4 (if necessary), Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 7:05 p.m., First Arena

Monday, Apr. 9 - Elmira vs. Reading, Game 5 (if necessary), Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 7:05 p.m., First Arena

A REGULAR SEASON WORTH REMEMBERING

The Jackals enter the playoffs coming off of one of their most memorable and successful regular seasons in franchise history, having won their first conference championship since joining the ECHL. Elmira set franchise records in ECHL play for victories (45) and home wins (21), and tied the record for road wins (20). The Jackals won 11 shootouts, tying the ECHL record for shootout victories in a season in the league's overtime/shootout era. Elmira was also involved in a slew of nailbiting games, with 57 of the Jackals' 72 regular-season contests being decided by one or two goals. The Jackals led the league with 26 one-goal wins. Dustin Gazley had a spectacular rookie year, becoming the fifth first-year skater in league history to lead the ECHL in points (25g-60a-85p). He was named the ECHL Rookie of the Year and was selected to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and the All-ECHL First Team.

PLAYOFF BROADCAST INFORMATION

Elmira's playoff radio broadcasts can be heard on 99.5 WOKN FM in the Elmira area and on 102.5 FM in Corning, as the Jackals and the Pembrook Pines Media Group work to bring you up-to-date coverage of the team's run toward the 2012 Kelly Cup. The broadcast will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the game with the Hilltop Inn Countdown to Face-off. Eric Levine will continue to provide the play-by-play for all Jackals postseason games. The broadcasts are also streamed free-of-charge on 995WOKNElmira.com.

Jackals fans can also purchase postseason packages to watch the games online through America One by clicking here.

FIRST THOUSAND FANS RECEIVE T-SHIRTS THIS FRIDAY

The Jackals will return home this Friday to host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and the first 1,000 fans in the building will receive a Jackals playoff t-shirt courtesy of WYDC-TV Big Fox. To reserve your seats to see the Jackals battle the Royals in the first round of the postseason call (607) 734-PUCK (7825), visit the First Arena Box Office, or log onto JackalsHockey.com.

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