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NAHL Odessa Jackalopes

JACKS DROP 11TH STRAIGHT IN 5-3 DEFEAT

March 8, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release


ODESSA, TX - In a feisty, white-knuckle contest that featured three fights and numerous thundering open-ice hits, the Odessa Jackalopes dropped their 11th consecutive game, a 5-3 slugfest on Friday to the defending Robertson Cup champion Texas Tornado at Ector County Coliseum. With the loss, the Jacks fell to 6-41-3 overall this season and with 15 points, remain alone in sixth place in the NAHL's South Division standings.

After a plodding start to the game, Texas broke the ice at 4:50 when CJ Reuschlein intercepted an Odessa pass in the Jackalopes zone and buried his 16th goal of the season to make it 1-0 Tornado. Despite a rapid response in pace of play from the Jackalopes, Texas extended their lead at 16:44 thanks to a brilliant breakaway pass from Max Shuart and a five-hole finish from Justin Greenberg to double the Tornado lead.

In the second period, a funky carom vaulted the Jacks back into the game, as a bounding deflection off a Cody Slocum point-shot wormed its way off the Tornado endboards, over Texas goaltender Hunter Leisner's left shoulder and into the net for Slocum's first career NAHL goal and Odessa's first tally of the game. After Scott Conway made it 3-1 Texas just shy of the midway mark of regulation, the two teams traded two more second-period scores, first from Odessa's Jude Warner at 17:12 with Anthony Olguin assisting, followed by Conway's second of the night at 18:14.

Entering the third period down 4-2 but with a power-play opportunity at hand, the Jackalopes pounced on the Tornado early. After a stinging Jimmy Peplinski slapper from the top of the right circle sprung free on the left doorstep, Odessa winger Brett Wagner poked home an extra-man tally just 19 seconds into the frame, Wagner's third goal of the season, to once again draw within a goal, this time at 4-3.

Greenberg's second goal of the contest iced things for Texas at 4:58 however, as both teams limped to a 5-3 final score. With the victory, the Tornado halted their season-long eight game losing streak while the Odessa defeat pushed the Jacks' current winless streak to 11 games, matching the team's longest stretch of futility in the 2012-13 season.

Jackalopes netminder Nick Deery made a number of memorable saves in the game, his third career start vs. Texas, but saw his record fall to 4-12-1 following a 37 save performance.

Next up for the Jacks, it's a Saturday rematch with Texas with puck drop set for 7:05 pm at Ector County Coliseum.

In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes drop the puck on their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season ticket packages for the Jacks' sophomore campaign are available now starting at just $179. To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes' ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.

Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all season long and don't forget to 'Like' the official "Odessa Jackalopes" fan page on Facebook.

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