Jacks Earn Franchise Record 48th Win
March 20, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release
(Odessa, TX) - On the final night of the Central Hockey League's regular season the Odessa Jackalopes topped the Rapid City Rush in a 4-2 win at the Ector County Coliseum in front of their largest crowd of the season of 4,808. The win was Odessa's 48th of the season, setting a new franchise record, and makes them the CHL's first 100-point team since the 2003-04 Laredo Bucks.
Odessa carried a 3-2 lead into the third period before Collin Circelli made it a two-goal cushion with his team leading 37th goal of the season at 6:24 on the power play.
The win finalizes Odessa's record at 48-11-5 this season -- one win better than the 2001-02 team that went 47-11-6.
Dominic Leveille opened up the game's scoring at 4:21 of the first period on a loose puck in front of the net. Rapid City tied the game as Colt King put a spinning, forehand pass through the crease and onto the stick of Rich Hansen, who tapped it in at 11:00. The Jackalopes took a 2-1 lead on Mike Lesperance's slap shot between the top of the circles for a power play goal at 15:24.
Rapid City tied the game at 2-2 in the second period on a goal from Scott Wray at 8:41. Leveille then regained the one-goal lead for Odessa with his second goal of the game at 10:28. Leveille deflected a Phil Plante shot from the point for his 22nd of the year on a 5-on-3 power play.
Joel Martin stopped 22 shots to earn his 27th win of the season. Martin's record of 27-6-2 gives him an .800 win percentage on the year, eclipsing Mike Gorman's record of .798 when he went 32-7-3 in 2001-02.
Leveille led all skaters with three points (two goals, one assist) for his 19th multi-point game of the season.
With the Ray Miron President's Cup Playoffs beginning on Monday, the Jackalopes now await the winner of the Texas-Corpus Christi opening round series before they start their postseason run. Odessa's Conference Semifinal series will begin on either Friday, March 26th or Saturday, March 27th depending on how long the three-game series between the Brahmas and IceRays lasts.
The most update information on Odessa's playoff schedule can be found at http://www.jackalopes.org. All playoff games can be heard on Classic Rock 102.1 FM.
The Odessa Jackalopes are the Central Hockey League affiliate for the NHL's New York Islanders and the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The team is in the middle of their 13th season in the Permian Basin. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-PUCK or visiting jackalopes.org.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2010
- Eagles End Regular Season With Win - Colorado Eagles
- Rush Drop Final Game of the Regular Season 4-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Golf Tournament Rescheduled; Playoff Tickets On Sale Now - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Brahmas Top 'Bugs to End Regular Season - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Americans end regular season with 5-3 win over Gorillas in front of a sellout crowd - Allen Americans
- IceRays Beat Killer Bees 6-3 In Regular Season Finale - Corpus Christi IceRays
- RiverKings Enter Playoffs After Another Win Over Tulsa - Mississippi RiverKings
- Jacks Earn Franchise Record 48th Win - Odessa Jackalopes
- Bucks Bring The Thunder, Win Finale 7-4 - Laredo Bucks
- Thunder Ends Season With Loss - Wichita Thunder
- Amarillo Ends Season in Allen - Amarillo Gorillas
- Texas Heads Into Postseason With Win, Beat âBugs 4-2 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Get Your Playoff Tickets Now - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bucks Close Out Regular Season Tonight - Laredo Bucks
- Mudbugs Down Mavs On "Jim Sprott Night" - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mudbugs to Open Playoffs Against Eagles - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Rush Win Northern Conference Title Despite 5-4 Shootout Loss to Gorillas - Rapid City Rush
- Nothing Special: 'Dogs Net 7 on Special Teams in Win - Colorado Eagles
- Arizona Tallies Franchise-Record Six Power-Play Goals in 7-6 Win - Arizona Sundogs
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