Sports stats



Macon splits week

December 6, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

TUE Dec. 7 TRAX @ Jacksonville 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

SAT Dec. 11 TRAX @ Jacksonville 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

If the two teams are not tired of each other yet they should be after this week. After the teams face off in Jacksonville twice this week, The Trax will have played four of their last six games against the Barracudas. The teams split the home and home series they had last week, with the road team winning each game.

Season Series: Series Tied 1-1 (Last Meeting: 7-6 OT loss @ MAC on 12/03/04)

All Time Series: Jacksonville leads 19-10

FRI Dec. 10 FireAntz @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Fayetteville will travel to Macon for the first time since March 7, 2003. This season the teams have battled in two games in North Carolina, earning a split. The Trax look to keep the FireAntz on the losing track as Fayetteville has dropped five of their last six games heading into the week.

Season Series: Series Tied 1-1 (Last Meeting: 3-2 WIN @ FAY on 11/25/04)

All Time Series: Fayetteville leads 7-6

LAST WEEK:

TUE Nov. 30 Knoxville @ TRAX (5-1 loss) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

For the second straight time versus the Knoxville Ice Bears, the Trax had a tale of two periods. After outplaying, out shooting and out hitting the visitors in the first 20 minutes the Trax saw the Ice Bears kick it into high gear for the middle frame beating the home team 5-1.

Knoxville goalie Terry Dunbar turned away 18 Macon shots in the first frame and seemed to give his troops a jump in their step to start the second. The Ice Bears got on the board in a hurry in the second 20 minutes.

Marcus Forsberg started his three point night with a goal at 5:56. Only 14-seconds later Chris Bodnar put the puck past Mark Cairns to begin a three point night for him.

The Ice Bears weren't done as Jeff Hansen netted his second tally of the year at the 8:26 mark. In his return to Macon, where he played for many years, Todd MacIsaac lit the lamp at 10:54 and chased Cairns to the bench.

After Nick Niedert came in for relief the Trax let Rob Miller sneak in from the blue line and fire a rebound shot past the Trax goalie. The Ice Bears would be content with a 5-0 lead and their goalie having a stellar game.

The Trax showed life at the end of the second period when Lou DiMasi scored at the 20-minute mark. The goal was DiMasi's first in his professional career.

THU Dec. 2 TRAX @ Jacksonville (5-4 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

In a building the Trax love to hate, they escaped with a 5-4 victory in Jacksonville. For only the second time in two years, the Trax went into Jacksonville and won in Veterans Memorial Arena.

John Gurskis led the way with a three-point night, as he scored the first and final goals for the Trax. The deciding goal came 6:18 into the final frame when Gurskis was standing deep in the Barracudas zone and put a rebound goal past Mike Brusseau.

Macon (6-6, 12 points) did what they have done too often this year, went into the first intermission down a goal. After the break, Coach Tommy Stewart's message must have hit home.

Gurskis tied the game up at the 1:55 mark. Steve Zoryk and Edan Welch took the initial shots that were blocked and eventually the puck ended up with on Gurskis' stick as he eased it into an open net.

Jacksonville (6-4, 12) took the lead back briefly when Mike Wirll netted his third goal of the year. Less than two minutes later the Trax went on their streak.

Edan Welch re-tied the game at 3:06 on a laser beam. Only 20 seconds later Ryan Rivard took a great feed from Zoryk and threw it in the net. The Trax extended their lead at the 15:03 mark when David Deeves lit the lamp on the power play. The win moved the Trax into a third place tie with Jacksonville.

FRI Dec. 3 Jacksonville @ TRAX (7-6 OT loss) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

For the second time in two nights the Trax and Barracudas had a goal fest. It took 13 goals and over 63 minutes before Jacksonville beat the Trax 7-6 Saturday night.

Jacksonville captain Brad Federenko put his own rebound past Mark Cairns for the game winner at 2:45 of overtime. The win gave the Barracudas a split in the home-and-home series.

Like last night Jacksonville jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage when Colin Kendall took a rebound off the post and scored his first of two goals on the night. The Trax struck back four minutes later when Chris Duggan tied it up.

Late in the first Ryan Rivard gave the Trax a lift with his sixth goal of the year with only 90-seconds to go in the opening frame. Unlike last night the Trax came out flat in the second period.

Jacksonville opened up the middle frame by scoring three goals in the first 5:11. Tim Schneider started the scoring just 23-seconds into the period. B.J. Stephens and Kendall finished the goal flurry for the visitors.

After the fourth ‘Cuda goal, George Nistas two handed Trax defenseman Tom Wilson in the legs and Wilson took exception. The Trax veteran berated Nistas with multiple right hands to the face before the linesmen were able to save Nistas from any more pain.

After the Trax called a timeout, they played inspired hockey the rest of the second period. Shortly after the half way mark, David Deeves took a John Gurskis pass and netted a power play goal. With under a minute to go Deeves worked hard along the boards with Steve Zoryk keeping the puck in the zone and in Trax control. Eventually, Deeves emerged with the puck and shot it towards the net. Dominick Dawes was in front of the net and redirected it in.

The third period was almost a mirror image of the second. Jacksonville scored two goals early and the Trax came back and scored two goals late.

SAT Dec. 4 Asheville @ TRAX (5-2 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Macon Trax did not look like a team that has played four games in five nights. The Trax defeated the Asheville Aces 5-2 behind three third period goals. On a night of firsts, Nick Niedert led the way with 28 saves for his first professional victory.

Ryan Crowther netted his first professional regular season goal at the 7:03 mark to give the Trax (7-7, 14 points) the eventual game winner. The goal was shot through goalie Ryan Person's five hole, the second time on the night a Trax player shot the puck through that spot.

Craig Miller opened up the scoring late in the first period when he ripped a slap shot through the legs of Person. The Trax scored the first goal of the game for only the fifth time this season.

The second period was the only part of the game where Asheville (7-8, 14) showed some jump in their play. Less than a minute into the middle frame, Peter Bournazakis scored the first of his two goals on the night.

The Trax reclaimed the lead when Edan Welch found the back of the net for his second goal in three games at the 12:32 mark of the second period. Casey Handrahan earned the assist, his first of three points on the evening.

After the Crowther goal in the third period, the Trax kept the pressure on scoring two more goals before the night was done. Just past the half way mark of the final period, Dominick Dawes fought for the puck behind the Asheville net, eventually kicking it to Steve Zoryk.

Zoryk used his big frame and did not allow Ace Bret Roat to get near the puck. As the Trax captain took the puck up the boards with Roat on his back, he saw Handrahan streaking to the net. On one of the nicest passes you will see, Zoryk went tape to tape to the rookie defenseman and Handrahan pushed it into the net to give the Trax the two goal lead.

The Trax added a late insurance goal when Chris Dugan took a Dawes pass into the zone and gave the fans the fifth Trax goal so everyone in attendance could go home with free French fires courtesy of Burger King.

The loss was the Aces fourth in a row and dropped them to fourth place in the league standings. Asheville came to Macon a week ago as the first place team in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The win was the Trax second in their three games in three night stretch.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX"--Monday, Dec. 6 at Wagers Grill and Bar located at 3914 Riverplace Drive directly behind Outback. Join Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick, Head Coach Tommy Stewart and Nick Niedert from 6-7pm. Food and drink specials will be available every week to all Trax fans in attendance.

· Dec. 17—"TOYS FOR TOTS NIGHT"—Bring an unwrapped new toy to donate to a needy child this holiday season. All fans who bring a toy for a special kid will receive ticket specials at the box office. Every year the United States Marines gather toys for the Toys For Tots program to help needy children have a happier holiday season.

· Dec. 21—""DOUBLE COLA DOUBLE TUESDAY"—Fans should go buy a Double Cola, Ski, or Jumbo soda at their convenient stores locally owned shops for ticket specials. Bring the can product to the Trax office to get 2-for-1 ticket specials.

· Dec. 21—"THIRSTY TUESDAY"—Come to the game to enjoy 2-for-1 beer specials. All concession stands will offer fans the buy one get one free promotion.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Monday, December 6; Lake Joy Middle School @ 1:00pm; Edan Welch, David Deeves, Mike Walling

Wednesday, December 8; Lake Joy Middle School @ 1:00pm; Art Mnatsakanov, Craig Miller, Chris Duggan

Wednesday, December 8; Fuddruckers in Macon @ 6:00-8:00pm; Nick Niedert, Edan Welch, Casey Handrahan, Mark Cairns—this is a joint promotion with the CaBoosters, the Macon Trax Booster Club.

Wednesday, December 8; Rotary Club, Hockey 101 on the ice at the Centreplex @ 1:00pm; Mark Allen, Lou DiMasi, Dominick Dawes, Craig Geerlinks, Nick Niedert

Thursday, December 9; Burger King, Russell Park Way, Warner Robins; Nick Niedert, Casey Handrahan, Dominick Dawes

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax lead the league with 2 shorthanded goals.

Macon's power play is second best in the SPHL with a 27.1% success rate.

When games are decided by two goals or less the Trax are 5-1.

STANDOUTS:

JOHN GURSKIS is 5th in league scoring with 16 points (6G, 10A).

DAVID DEEVES is 4th in the SPHL in points (18) and 3rd in assists (12).

MARK CAIRNS leads all goaltenders in minutes played, logging 695:59.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

JOHN GURSKIS—Macon's player/assistant coach had a six point week. In four games the veteran from Massachusetts scored two goals and had four assists. The 5'11", 195 pound forward netted the game winning goal this past Thursday night in Jacksonville. With the six point week Gurskis has moved into sixth place on the SPHL's scoring list with 16 points.

• Discuss this story on the SPHL message board...

SPHL Stories from December 6, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Macon Trax Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central