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NAHL Odessa Jackalopes

Jacks Get Out-Gunned

February 4, 2017 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release


Odessa, TX - On the first night of legends weekend, the Odessa Jackalopes weren't able to channel the great alumni of this organization. Entering the game four points ahead of Topeka for 5th in the south division, it was a much needed game for Odessa, as the Jacks wanted to keep pace with the Corpus Christi IceRays.

The Topeka Roadrunners picked up right where they left off against the Jacks as they scored five goals in the third period of the game the last time these teams played. After half a period of scoreless play, Topeka got on the board first... and second... and third.

Alexei Statsenko scored his first goal in his first game for Topeka to put the Roadrunners up 1-0 just over the halfway point in the period. Jeff Makowski would go on to take a shot that Hogue would freeze, but the officials said they saw it squirt past the goal line, resulting in goal number to for Topeka before a bad bounce off the glass found it's way in front of the net for a swat by Topeka's Harper and found the back of the net.

The Jacks would retaliate with one of their own as good passing between Chase Thudium and Bastien Maia were able to find the stick of Stenlund who lifted one past Topeka's goaltender, Ryan Snowden, for the first Odessa goal of the night.

Topeka's Nigel Nelson would go on to snipe one past the Jacks goaltender, Jon Flakne, for the 4-1 lead. Just over a minute later, Jon Flakne slid through the crease and had the net come off, but Topeka fired a net that would beat Flakne into the lopsided net for the goal. Officials got together and reviewed the play, confirming the Roadrunner goal.

Odessa would score one more before period's end as Chase Thudium worked for the puck and found Ludwig Stenlund who pulled it in tight before sniping one of his own top shelf past Snowden for his second goal of the period. Ryan MacKellar would leave the game with an jury after crashing into the boards in the first period.

The Roadrunners and Jackalopes would trade goals in the second period as Harper nets his second of the game before Maia would score his second in as many games. Stenlund found Thudium who faked the goaltender before providing a pass through the defense to Maia who tapped it home for the Jacks 3rd goal.

Down by three entering the third period, the teams would just trade goals again as Topeka scored two goals early in the first period. After the second Roadrunners goal in the period, Zac Herrmann found a streaking Chase Thudium who was hauled down to the ice. Thudium's effort was too much for Topeka as, even on his backside, Thudium punched one past Snowden for the goal.

Onto the five-on-three power play, Odessa would find one more as this time it was Zac Herrmann for the one-timer to beat Snowden. The goal was Herrmann's first of the year as a Jackalope. That was where the scoring would end however as the time would eventually run out, resulting in a Jackalopes loss, 8-5.

Jonny Hogue started the game, but after the third goal was pulled for Jon Flakne. The two combined for a 20/28 night, but the veterans know how to get back on the horse and will come back with a vengeance tomorrow.

In fact, the whole Jacks team will play with a chip on their shoulder tomorrow as they look to split the weekend series with the Roadrunners.

Don't forget to buy your ticket for the Jacks game, and you also get into the Alumni game at 3pm tomorrow! There's a meet & greet following the alumni game, as well as a jersey auction for the Midland Rockhounds/Odessa Jackalopes jerseys after the Jacks game. Host families are an important part of the junior hockey experience. A host family will house the Jackalopes players, as well as be their home away from home. If you would like to be a host family, please email kleisgang@jackalopes.org or call 432-552-7825 for more information.

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North American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2017


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