Just one more

February 17, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Baton Rouge Kingfish News Release


Kingfish forward Jason Norrie needs just one goal to tie his career high for goals in a season. Norrie tallied his 19th goal of the season in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Mississippi Sea Wolves. During the 1999-00 season, Norrie tallied 20 goals with the B.C. Icemen of the United Hockey League.

Helping out: Kingfish forward Mike Kiesman has been having a banner season with the Kingfish this year as he added another assist in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Mississippi. Kiesman with his eighth professional team has finally found his place with the Kingfish. In 38 games with Kingfish this year, most as a defenseman, Kiesman has tallied a career-high 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points despite playing out of position.

Gimme two: Joe Guenther tallied two goals in the Kingfish's 5-4 loss to Mississippi on Thursday. It is just the second time this season that Guenther had scored two goals in a game. In addition, Guenther broke out of a scoring slump where he had just four points in his previous ten games combined.

On the score sheet: Goaltender Niklas Sundberg picked up an assist in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Louisiana IceGators. Sundberg joins goaltender Paxton Schafer as the only Kingfish goaltenders that have picked up assists this season. Schafer's helper came on opening night in the ‘Fish's 7-6 win over the Jackson Bandits. For Sundberg, it was his second professional assist and second on the season. He picked up a helper back in November with the Charlotte Checkers.

Retired: Defenseman Curtis Menzul retired this past week. He joins Trevor Wasyluk as the second Kingfish to retire mid-season. Menzul came to the Kingfish with Dwayne Blais from the Mississippi Sea Wolves in a trade for Sean Peach back on January 13th.

On the Move: The Kingfish made a couple of transactions over the weekend. On Saturday, the Kingfish traded forwards Bryan Richardson and Mike Oliveira to the Greensboro Generals for Mike Bell. In a separate transaction, the Kingfish dealt defenseman Trevor Demmans to the Columbia Inferno for defenseman Erik Adams. On Sunday, The Kingfish acquired Mike Martiniello and Jim Vickers in exchange for Steve Cheredaryk. Due to the winter weather in the northeast, Vickers, Martiniello, Bell and Adams have been unable to make the trip to Baton Rouge.

Last Week's Games: 0-2-0, 0 pts.

February 13, Mississippi 5, Kingfish 4

Dave Paradise's blast from the high slot broke a scoreless tie at the 16:34 mark of the first period on the power play. The Kingfish tied the game at one early in the second period on the power play as Mike Oliveira slipped the puck over Greg Gardner and inside the far post. Mississippi regained the lead on the power play as Paradise added his second goal of the game, again from the high slot, at the 7:02 mark of the period. Paradise completed the hat-trick two minutes later as he pulled Niklas Sundberg out of his net and fired it past the goaltender on the power play. Walby gave the Sea Wolves a 4-1 lead at the15:37 mark of the period on the power play. Joe Guenther cut the lead back to two goals with just 55 seconds left in the period as he picked up a rebound off the back dasher and stuffed it past Gardner. The Kingfish took the momentum into the third as Jason Norrie fired a shot out of a crowd camped in front of the Sea Wolves net past Gardner. Joe Guenther tied the game at four as he deflected a Mike Kiesman shot from the point past Gardner with 6:30 to play in the third. The Sea Wolves used the power play to their advantage as Davyduke scored the game winner with 4:56 left in the third as he fired a shot that rolled up Sundberg's arm and into the net. Niklas Sundberg turned aside 41 Sea Wolves' shots in the losing effort.

February 14, Louisiana 3, Kingfish 2

The Kingfish jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Dwayne Blais pushed the puck into the net as it sat on the goal line. Bobby Brown threaded the needle as he pushed the puck through Niklas Sundberg's five hole 52 seconds later. The IceGators took at 2-1 lead as Bobby Brown added his second of the night with a laser over Sundberg's right shoulder at the 9:26 mark of the first period. Marquis Mathieu tied the game at two as a Kingfish power play expired. He muscled through the neutral zone and let a slap shot go from the right point that beat Kettles over the right shoulder at the 14:58 mark of the period. Shawn McNeil tallied the game-winning foal at the 5:33 mark of the second as his centering pass redirected off of Niklas Sundberg's stick and into the net. Neither team could pick anything up in the final period as the Kingfish out shot the IceGators by 31-35 margin in the loss.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, February 18th, vs. Arkansas, 7:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Ninth meeting with the RiverBlades this season. Kingfish are 2-5-1 this season against the RiverBlades. Kingfish have scored an ECHL high this season for goals in a period with 5 goals in the third period in the Kingfish's 6-4 win over the RiverBlades on November 29th.

Friday, February 21st, vs. Pensacola, 7:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Last meeting this season with the Ice Pilots. Pensacola leads the season series 8-2-1. Six of eleven meetings this season have ended by a 4-3 score. Just two games this season with the Ice Pilots have been decided by more than one goal. Ice Pilots won the last meeting, a 5-2 win in Pensacola on February 1st.

Saturday, February 22nd, vs. Mississippi, 7:05 p.m. (sportsjuice.com)

Game 9 of the Coca-Cola Cup Challenge. Sea Wolves lead the series 7-1-0. Kingfish's only win came on November 24th and broke the Kingfish's 11 game winless streak. Ironically, the streak began on October 27th vs. the Sea Wolves.

Sunday, February 23rd, @ Arkansas, 6:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Last meeting with the RiverBlades in Arkansas this season. Kingfish are 1-3-1 this season against the RiverBlades in North Little Rock. Including this season's games, the Kingfish are 11-17-4 all time against the RiverBlades.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

All practices are open to the public unless otherwise specified, Please call to verify practice times.

Monday: 10 a.m. to 12 noon skate @ Centroplex

Tuesday: Game vs. Arkansas, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 12 noon skate @ Centroplex

Thursday: Game vs. Pensacola, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

Friday: Game vs. Mississippi, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

Saturday: Game @ Arkansas, 6:05 face off (bus leaves after Mississippi game)

Sunday: tentative day off

Get Your Group On: Call the Kingfish office at 225-336-GOAL to find out about special rates and benefits for groups and birthday parties at a Kingfish game. Check out all the fun an excitement at the ‘Fish Tank' this season.

Around Town: Join a handful of Kingfish players at the Albertson's on Florida Boulevard this Wednesday, February 19th. The Kingfish will be signing autographs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bringing a Smile: The Kingfish will be bringing smiles to the children's wing at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital off Essen Road on Thursday. A few Kingfish players will visit and talk with the children staying at the hospital.



ECHL Stories from February 17, 2003


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