Jackals Win Exhibition Game 6-5
October 7, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Elmira, NY - The Elmira Jackals White Team had a 5-goal lead after the first period, but narrowly held off the Jackals Blue Team 6-5 in Elmira's Exhibition Game Saturday night at First Arena.
The atmosphere was very pro-Jackals as the team held their intra-squad scrimmage one week before their UHL season opener. Left wing Scott Wray wasted little time putting the Blue Team in front, blasting the first shot of the game past White Team goaltender Michael Dilorenzo a mere 15 seconds into the game; defenseman Chris Shaw assisted on the goal. But the early strike only seemed to wake a sleeping giant as the white team erupted for six straight goals to close out the period.
New Jackals forward Frank Littlejohn tied the game at one at 3:31 assisted by fellow newcomer Scott Drevitch. Forward Jason Kwon, who was invited from the Jackals Tryout Camp, gave White the lead with a power play goal at 4:34, assisted by Littlejohn and Erik Anderson. Blue tried to halt the momentum when defenseman Justin Schmit dropped the gloves with White defenseman Milan Maslonka, but to no avail. Slovakian forward Jan Skvarka made it 3-1 White at 9:24, assisted by Marc Lefebvre. After Schmit came out of the penalty box, Dan Veenema fired a shot off of Schmit's stick and in for White's 4th goal at 12:39, assists were given to both Maslonka and Skvarka. Littlejohn tallied his second goal of the night at 13:51, assisted by Anderson for a 5-1 lead, and then Anderson finished off the first period scoring with a goal at 18:25 assisted by Drevitch and Littlejohn. The former Adirondack teammates combined for six points on the night.
Trailing by five goals, the Blue Team mounted a comeback in the second period. Curtis Tidball, who squared off with Veenema in the first period, started the rally with a goal at 1:54, assisted by Brad Macnab. Then Jean-Francois Soucy, a late arrival to the Jackals training camp, scored a power play goal at 7:17, assisted by Evgeny Lazarev, and the Blue Team was back to within three goals. White Team defenseman Dan Hickman fought Blue Team defender Dale Lupul at 8:54, but again it did not change the trend of the period. David Poulin scored the Blue Team's third straight goal of the period at 14:15 to get his team back within two-goals after two periods.
Momentum appeared to be favoring the Blue Team when they were awarded a power play a mere two-and-a-half minutes into the final period, but they failed to capitalize on their efforts, thanks to some great saves by White Team goaltender Kris Tebbs. The Blue Team found a way past Tebbs at 8:25 when Lupul snapped a sharp wrist-shot from the high slot underneath the cross bar to cut the White Team's lead to one. The Blue Team pulled their goalie with just under two minutes left in the contest, but they could not find the equalizer as White clung to a 6-5 victory.
Michael Dilorenzo earned the win, making 15 saves on 18 shots for the White Team; Kris Tebbs finished the game for White, stopping 23-of-25 shots. Shawn Degagne was charged with the loss for the Blue Team, while making 15 saves on the night. Leni DiCostanzo replaced Degagne at the midway point and stopped 9 of the 10 shots he faced. The White Team was 1-for-6 on the power play, while Blue ended 2-for-7.
The Jackals open the 2006-07 UHL season with their home opener at the First Arena as they host the defending Colonial Cup Champion Kalamazoo Wings on Friday October 13th at 7:35 pm. They will also face off against the Wings on Sunday October 15th at 4:05 pm in Elmira.
FIRST ARENA REC RINK
The ice is HOT at First Arena - Visit our website for a complete list of Public Skating times and Arena Programs at www.firstarena.com - Come in to the COOL place to be!
The First Arena Rec Rink offers public skating, skating lessons, hockey programs, figure skating, birthday parties, and much more....
www.jackalshockey.com - BEAST OF THE EAST! - www.jackalshockey.com
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 7, 2006
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