Long Beach Claws Out of Cellar With 5-3 Win

Published on January 25, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Long Beach Ice Dogs News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach Ice Dogs, playing arguably their best hockey yet this season, downed the Fresno Falcons 5-3, before a crowd of 3,899. Forward Nolan Graham scored two goals, one at 5:23 of the second period and the other 14:47 into the third period, vaulting the Ice Dogs (13-24-2) out of the cellar of the ECHL's Western Division.

Alex Kim got the offense started in the first period, scoring 10 seconds into a two-man advantage on a crossing pass from Mark Gouett at 18:55. Fresno (11-23-5) countered in period two, when Scott Borders knocked the puck in from the left crease at 8:04. Blair Clarance tied it at two goals apiece, when the Falcon center scored off assists from Brad Mehalko and Kory Mullin at 15:59. Ice Dogs defender Lee Sorochan slapped the puck past Fresno goalie Dave Marlin at 18:29, giving Long Beach a 3-2 lead going into the final frame.

Despite rough play at both ends of the ice, Long Beach managed to knock in two more goals, one by Mark Gouett with 3:44 in the third, which proved to be the game winner, and another from Graham off a pass from John McNabb at 14:47 to put the Ice Dog lead to 5-2. Fresno answered late in the third when Boris Protsenko slapped one past Ice Dog goalie T.J. Aceti at 19:55.

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ECHL Stories from January 25, 2004


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