NAHL Odessa Jackalopes

Jacks Top Brown Bears in OT for Season's First Win

Published on September 14, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release


BLAINE, MN - In a seesaw battle on day three of the 2012 NAHL Showcase, the Odessa Jackalopes defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears in overtime Friday by a final score of 5-4 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. With the win, the Jackalopes first of the 2012-13 season, Odessa improved to 1-2-0 on the season and with two points, currently sit tied for fifth place in the NAHL's South Division standings.

Unlike the first two games of the season, Friday's game saw the scoring start early, as Kenai River took a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the game when Brown Bears defenseman Eric Shand wired a shot from the left point past Odessa netminder Blake Wojtala. Less than a minute later, the Jackalopes responded to tie the game at one when Ryan Doucet snuck home his first goal of the season at 4:38 with Taylor Portner and Mike Mezzano collecting assists on the play.

Kenai River took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, but just two minutes into the second period, Odessa's Pat Thompson took advantage of a blunder by Kenai goaltender Gustaf Johansonn to once again draw the Jackalopes even with the Brown Bears. The tie was once again short-lived, however, as the Brown Bears rallied, again within a minute of the previous goal, to retake the lead at 3-2 on a Chris Nuth marker just 36 seconds later.

The Jacks proved resilient again though, as Odessa's leading scorer in 2011-12 and reigning Sebastien Thinel Trophy winner, Lawrence Cornellier, came to life late in the second period. After a lengthy offensive-zone possession, Cornellier potted his first goal of the season at 18:42 of the middle frame, a power-play marker, on feeds from Doucet and Jackalopes defenseman Tyler Minx. The game then tied at three, Odessa surged into the lead early in the third period when rookie forward Anthony Olguin deflected a Minx point shot top shelf for a 4-3 Jackalopes edge.

That lead stood up for nearly ten minutes, but late in the third period, with eight and a half minutes left to play, Kenai River tied the game at four on a laser-like wrister from Carson Vance. Despite a late power-play opportunity for Odessa at the tail end of regulation, Vance's goal sent the game into overtime and just 22 seconds into the extra session Cornellier pounded home a rebound chance off a Minx rush to deliver the Jackalopes their first win of the season by a final score of 5-4.

In his second start for Odessa, Trenton, Michigan native Wojtala was rock-solid, stopping 30 of the 34 shots he faced en route to his first win in net for the Jackalopes. Next up for the Jacks, it's a Saturday afternoon finale to the 2012 NAHL Showcase versus Odessa defenseman Mike Mezzano's former team, the Minot Minotauros with the opening faceoff set for 12:45 PM central time.

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.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 14, 2012


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