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Macon's week goes well

December 28, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

FRI Dec. 31 Columbus @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Macon and Columbus will end the calendar year squaring off on the ice. These two rivals will promise to send 2004 out with a bang. The Trax and Columbus have split their first two meetings; each has won on the others home ice. It will be the first time the Georgia rivals will play since November 20. Columbus skates in as the league's hottest team and has moved up from the bottom of the SPHL standings.

Season Series: Tied 1-1 (Last Meeting: 5-2 loss @ MAC, 11/20/04)

All Time Series: Tied 1-1

SAT Jan. 1 Huntsville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Schedule sometimes throws weird quirks at teams. The Trax visited the Havoc twice in the first five games of the season. This will be the first time Huntsville will travel to Macon this season. The teams were evenly matched in the two contests splitting them on the Von Braun Center ice. Fans are encouraged to wear their Georgia Bulldog apparel. All fans who show their UGA pride will receive $2 off their ticket price (excluding boxcar).

Season Series: Tied 1-1 (Last Meeting: 4-3 OT WIN @ HSV on 11/13/04)

All Time Series: Tied 1-1

LAST WEEK:

TUE Dec. 21 Winston-Salem @ TRAX (6-3 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Macon Trax took the back end of a home-and-home series with a 6-3 win over Winston-Salem. Player/Assistant Coach John Gurskis paced the Trax with three goals, netting the first hat trick of the year for the Trax.

Macon (11-9) had to fight from behind to get the win on home ice. Winston Salem (6-16) outplayed the Trax in the first period, much like they did Saturday night in North Carolina.

The Polar Twins took a 3-2 lead into the locker room after the first twenty minutes. The teams roared out to a fast start by scoring a combined five goals in the game's first nine minutes.

Geoff Rollins got the scoring started with a power play goal just under two minutes into the contest. Only 19 seconds later the Trax were given their first power play chance of the night. John Gurskis scored his first of three goals early on the man advantage for the Trax.

The Trax came out in the second period looking like a whole new team. The first two shifts saw the Boys In Black put pressure on Polar Twins goalie Jomar Cruz. Cruz turned away most of the 19 second period shots that were fired his way.

Ryan Rivard gave his team a shot in the arm when he dropped the gloves with Chris Kovalcik at the 8:06 mark. Rivard won the fight when he switched to punching with his right hand to send the Winston-Salem defenseman to the ice.

Five minutes later the Trax would finally light the lamp to tie the game. Gurskis calmly took a Craig Miller rebound to the edge of the crease and found an open five hole to his liking. Less than a minute later Gurskis again put a rebound goal past Cruz, this time from a Dominick Dawes shot, to finish the hat trick.

When the second period came to an end the Trax looked like a team that was in second place in the league. Macon held the Polar Twins to only three shots in the middle period, franchise record lows for both teams.

The third period was also controlled by the Trax. Mark Allen scored at the 8:56 mark, in his first game back after injury. David Deeves would add an empty net, short handed goal with two seconds left to cap the Trax comeback.

The Trax held the Polar Twins to only four shots in the final frame and 18 over all in the game. The win pushed the Trax into a second place tie with Columbus in the SPHL standings.

THU Dec. 23 TRAX @ Asheville (6-5 loss) 7:30 p.m. Asheville Civic Coliseum

Macon opened the game with a slow first period and could never recover. The hometown Aces escaped with a 6-5 victory Thursday night.

Of the Aces first eight shots, four found the back of the net. Head Coach Tommy Stewart called a time out only 12:47 into the game after seeing too many odd man breaks into his team's zone. After the timeout he pulled starting goaltender Mark Cairns to save him from further goals due to lackluster efforts from his teammates.

The Trax eventually made a game of it scoring three times in the middle period, and once in the third to close the gap to one. Late in the game it looked like the Trax were going to roll to a tie as they were given a late power play opportunity.

The power play was short lived as the officiating crew made a crucial high sticking call against Art Mnatsakanov. Stewart felt the call was inaccurate and showed the referee his displeasure, earning a game misconduct.

The Trax were forced to play the final four minutes a man down. They worked the puck deep in the Asheville zone on many occasions but could not find the net for a sixth time.

SAT Dec. 21 Jacksonville @ TRAX (5-2 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Five unanswered goals on Christmas Night led the Trax to a 5-2 victory over the Jacksonville Barracudas. Mark Allen led the Trax with two goals and one assist.

Macon played strong early in the first period with early shots on net and physical play. After an early power play chance the Trax went flat in the final 14 minutes of the opening frame.

Jacksonville (9-10) took advantage of their many power play opportunities early in the game. Jason Silverthorn scored his first goal in his debut as a member of the Barracudas at 13:34 of the first period.

The Trax once again came out very physical in the second period. Jacksonville's Greg LeColst used his stick in a way Trax forward Ryan Rivard did not appreciate. Rivard took exception and dropped the gloves and landed a flurry of lefts to LeColst's head. LeColst never got a punch off and turtled immediately after Rivard started the tussle. With LeColst not throwing a punch the referee assessed Rivard 17 minutes worth of penalties, forcing the Trax shorthanded for seven minutes.

LeColst extracted his revenge scoring on the lengthy power play giving the Barracudas the two goal lead. Little did they know the Trax and Mark Cairns would shut the door the rest of the game.

At 13:15 of the middle period Trax captain Steve Zoryk outworked two Barracudas behind the rest and stuffed the puck past goalie Randy Hevey to cut the ‘Cuda lead to one. The goal was Zoryk's 14th of the year, which leads the team.

Mark Allen started his three point night when he put a Lou DiMasi rebound in the back of the net at the 16-minute mark. John Gurskis started the play by carrying the puck into the Jacksonville zone. As he saw he did not have much room, Gurskis put on the brakes and waited for his teammates to join him in the offensive zone.

DiMasi took a cross ice pass from Gurskis and fired it towards the net. A mostly open net to throw the puck into.

With just over a minute to go in the period, the Trax would finally take the lead for good when David Deeves lit the lamp for the 11th time this season. Allen working hard to block a Barracuda shot and deflected the puck to Deeves who had a two-on-one. Deeves looked to pass to Craig Miller but his line mate was covered so he kept the puck himself and ripped it over Hevey's shoulder.

The third period was owned by the Trax. Chris Duggan added an insurance goal early and Lou DiMasi hit an empty net late to secure the Trax victory.

Macon's General Manager Joe Suk earned the victory as he coached the team as Tommy Stewart served his one game suspension. It was his fourth win as a head coach at the minor league level.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX"--Monday, Dec. 28 at Wagers Grill and Bar located at 3914 Riverplace Drive directly behind Outback. Join Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick, Head Coach Tommy Stewart and John Gurskis from 6-7pm. Food and drink specials will be available every week to all Trax fans in attendance.

· Dec. 31—"NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH THE TRAX—Join the Macon Trax as they send out the old year and ring in the new one on the ice. The Trax staff will look their best on the last day of 2004 and invite the fans to do the same. Any fan coming to the game in formal attire will receive $2 off their ticket. Come to the hockey before you hit your New Year's Eve Bash.

· Jan. 1—"BULLDOG NEW YEAR'S DAY"—The Georgia Bulldogs will beat up on the Wisconsin Badgers early in the day and the Trax will look to roll past the Havoc at night. Any fan who wears any UGA clothing will receive $2 off their game ticket. To show their Georgia pride, the Trax will wear the special red jerseys for the game.

· Jan. 8 and Jan. 15—"SCOUT NIGHT"—The Macon Trax will honor all scouts in Middle Georgia. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are invited to come out and enjoy a special night of Trax hockey and Scouting. Please call Tammy at the Trax office at 478-742-4TIX ext. 2 for all the ticket discount information.

· Jan. 28—"GUNS ‘N' HOSES NIGHT"—The Trax will honor all the fireman and police officers in Middle Georgia. Any member of the area's "Finest" or "Bravest" will receive $2 off their tickets. During the intermissions, the Trax will feature special games pitting the two fraternities against each other.

· Jan. 29—"COLLEGE NIGHT"—Calling all college students in the Mid-State. The Trax are proud to announce their first annual COLLEGE NIGHT. All college students can come to the Trax game for only $5. Show your college ID at the ticket office to get the lowest ticket prices of the season. Every intermission game will have college students participate. Come out and make the first annual "College Night" a party to remember.

· Feb. 4—"BOEING MILITARY NIGHT"—The Trax bring back an annual tradition. Macon Hockey and Boeing are proud to honor the nation's soldiers with a night all to their own. Members of the military can show their military ID cards to receive great ticket specials. The Trax will wear special military jersey made possible by Boeing. These special game worn jerseys will be auctioned following the game.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Monday, Jan 3; Kroger Celebrity Bag, Tom Hill, Macon; 4-6; Nick Niedert, Mark Allen, Mark Cairns, Craig Geerlinks, Casey Handrahan, Lou DiMasi

Wednesday, Jan 5; Central Fellowship, Macon, 1:30; Nick Niedert

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

Macon is 7-0 when taking a lead into the third period.

The Trax continue to lead the SPHL with a 27.3% power play, but are last in the SPHL in power play opportunities.

In games decided by two goals or less the Trax are 8-3.

STANDOUTS:

DAVID DEEVES has scored a goal in three straight games.

MARK ALLEN has five assists in three games since returning from injury.

LOU DIMASI leads the team with seven points in his last five games.

MARK CAIRNS leads all goaltenders with 11 wins.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

MARK ALLEN—After missing a few games due to injury Allen has stormed back to form. In three games this week the St. John's Newfoundland native registered seven points. In each of the three games this week the forward had multiple points. Overall the 6'2", 210-pounder had two goals, five assists and a +5 rating.

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