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Macon rides towards championship

April 12, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


FINAL REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 30-20-6, .589 3rd place in WHA2 Swept Alabama in Semi-Finals

THIS WEEK: CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (BEST OF 3)

SAT Apr. 10 TRAX @ Jacksonville Jacksonville won 3-2 in overtime

FRI Apr. 16 Jacksonville @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

TUE Apr. 20 TRAX @ Jacksonville 7:35 p.m. Veterans Arena

The best versus the hottest is on tap for the WHA2 finals. The Trax will face the Barracudas in the best of three championship series. The Trax fell in Jacksonville in game one in overtime. Macon will look to bounce back on home ice to force a game three in Jacksonville.

Season Series: Jacksonville won 9-5-0

Season Results: Nov. 23 4-3 loss @ MAC

Nov. 29 5-3 loss @ JAX

Dec. 5 7-4 loss @ MAC

Dec. 18 5-4 OT loss @ MAC

Jan. 6 4-1 loss @ JAX

Jan. 9 5-2 loss @ MAC

Jan. 16 5-2 WIN @ MAC

Jan. 17 4-1 WIN @ MAC

Jan. 24 3-2 loss @ JAX

Feb. 3 5-4 WIN @ MAC

Feb. 20 5-4 loss @ JAX

Feb. 26 3-0 loss @ JAX

Mar. 11 forfeit WIN @ MAC

Mar. 12 5-4 WIN @ MAC

LAST WEEK:

WED Apr. 7 Alabama @ TRAX (7-2 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

A solid all around effort lifted the Macon Trax to a 7-2 victory in game one of their WHA2 semifinal series with the Alabama Slammers. The Trax and Slammers play game two of the best of three series Thursday night in Alabama, with the Trax needing a win to advance to the league final.

Ryan Rivard and Steve Zoryk each scored two goals for the Trax, and Zoryk also added two assists on the night. Edan Welch had a goal and two assists, while John Gurskis and David Deeves rounded out the scoring for the Trax.

Not to be lost in the offensive explosion was a standout goaltending effort from Geoff Faulkner who turned away 39 Alabama shots. The Slammers had tied the game at one, and also at two, before the Trax scored their five unanswered goals.

Prior to the game, WHA2 announced Trax coach Tommy Stewart was named the league's Coach of the Year. David Deeves received his honor as the WHA2 Most Valuable Player, and General Manager Joe Suk accepted the award for the Trax as the Organization of the Year.

All in all, a pretty good night at the Centreplex.

THU Apr. 8 TRAX @ Alabama (4-2 WIN) 8:05 p.m. Pelham Civic Complex

The Macon Trax rallied from a two goal deficit and advanced to the WHA2 final series against the Jacksonville Barracudas with a 4-2 win over the Alabama Slammers Thursday night in Pelham, Alabama. The win gives the Trax a sweep of the best of three series.

After Alabama took a 2-0 first period lead the Trax had the only goal of a bizarre second period on Steve Zoryk's third goal of the playoffs, deflecting in a shot by Benoit Cotnoir. With 3:11 left in the period, the Trax John Gurskis was called for hooking and the officials noticed a hole had developed in the ice, creating a safety hazard.

After an extended intermission, officials determined the ice was unsafe to resume play and the game was moved to the auxiliary practice rink at the Pelham Civic Center for its conclusion.

The change of venue seemed to suit the Trax fine as Art Mnatsakanov, Andrew Dickson, and Luke Murphy scored third period goals to complete the comeback.

The Trax now move on to face Jacksonville in the league championship series, as the Barracudas beat Miami 3-2 in overtime Thursday night to win that series 2-1.

SAT Apr. 10 TRAX @ Jacksonville (3-2 OT loss) 6:05 p.m. Veterans Arena

Jamie Miller scores 5:42 into overtime to give the Jacksonville Barracudas a 3-2 win over the Macon Trax and a 1-0 lead in the best of three WHA2 Finals.

Kory Baker put the 'Cudas on the board at 7:49 of the first period when he snapped a shot from just inside the blue line past Macon's goaltender Geoff Faulkner. WHA2 MVP David Deeves tied it up for Macon at 13:44 with a backhand shot past Randy Hevey.

In the second period, Macon iced the puck with 15 seconds to play in the period. On the face-off, Lyle Steenbergen took the draw from the blue line down the side boards and broke to the front of the net untouched and slipped it through Faulkner's legs to give the ‘Cudas a 2-1 lead with just 8.2 seconds left in the period.

Macon scored early in the third when Luke Murphy picked up his second of the post season to knot the game at two each. That score stood through regulation as both goaltenders made spectacular saves. Faulkner stopped Steenbergen on a short breakaway with under a minute to play in regulation.

In the overtime, with Steve Zoryk in the penalty box for high sticking, Randy Hevey played the puck up the left wing boards to Jay McCabe who stepped in over the Trax blue line, he dropped a pass to Jamie Miller who slapped it home from the top of the circles for the game winner.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX" will be Tuesday, Apr. 13 at the Applebee's on Riverside Drive. Come for some fun Trax FINALS Talk. Adam Minnick will be back in his usual spot along with Coach Tommy Stewart and MVP David Deeves.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Players will be focusing on the playoffs and not be making and public appearances.

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax finished the season strong going 11-2 in March and April. Friday is the first time the Trax will face an elimination game this season. Macon has beaten Jacksonville five straight times at the Centreplex. The Trax and Jacksonville have each scored 13 goals in the playoffs.

STANDOUTS:

DAVID DEEVES was named MVP of the regular season after finishing the league second in points. STEVE ZORYK leads the playoff with six points (3G, 3A). LUKE MURPHY has scored on two of his three playoff shots. ART MNATSAKANOV leads all players with a +6 rating in the playoffs.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

· STEVE ZORYK—The Ottawa native started the playoffs with a bang. After finishing the season third with 33 goals, Zoryk has risen to the top of the playoff point's race with six. The forward has split his points down the middle with three goals and three assists.

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