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Mississippi Pushes For Playoff Position

March 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


BILOXI, Miss. – In three games last week, the Mississippi Sea Wolves went undefeated in regulation posting a 2-0-1 record, remaining in the hunt for an ECHL postseason berth with three weeks left in the regular season.

Mississippi sits in a tie for third place with Gwinnett in the ECHL South Division and ranks in a tie for sixth with Gwinnett in the 12-team American Conference, where the top eight teams qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Sea Wolves are 10 points ahead of the ninth place Pee Dee Pride.

Last week, the Sea Wolves edged the Idaho Steelheads 3-2 in the shootout in the first-ever meeting between the teams on Tuesday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Mississippi blanked Gwinnett 1-0 on Friday at Duluth, Georgia before wrapping up the week with a 3-2 overtime loss at Columbia.

Through 61-of-72 games, the Sea Wolves have compiled a 33-22-6 overall record for 72 points.

The Sea Wolves are 18-11-2 at home, 15-11-4 on the road, 3-4 in overtime games and 8-2 in shootouts.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS – 3 gp, 2-0-1 = 5 pts

Tuesday, March 15 vs. Idaho Steelheads – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Sea Wolves 3, Steelheads 2 – Shootout Win
* Mississippi goaltender Phil Sauve turned away 31 saves during regulation and the overtime, plus five more stops in the shootout to backstop the Sea Wolves to victory.
* Sea Wolves defenseman Kerry Ellis-Toddington scored the deciding goal in the first round of the shootout.
* Other Mississippi scorers were Nick Greenough, in his return game to the team after being reacquired in a trade on March 13, and Louis Dumont.
* Idaho picked up goals from Billy Tibbetts and Brett Draney.
* Steelheads goaltender Frank Doyle made 20 saves to suffer the shootout setback.


Friday, March 18 at Gwinnett Gladiators – Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Georgia
Sea Wolves 1, Gladiators 0 – Win
* Mississippi goalie Phil Sauve stopped all 43 shots to collect his first shutout of the season.
* Sea Wolves' Nick Greenough scored the lone goal of the game, which was his second in as many games.
* Gwinnett netminder Adam Berkhoel turned aside 32-of-33 in the loss.


Saturday, March 19 at Columbia Inferno – Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, South Carolina
Inferno 3, Sea Wolves 2 – Overtime Loss
* Columbia's Eric Boulton tallied the game-winner 21 seconds into overtime.
* Other Inferno players netting goals were Walker McDonald and Brad Ralph.
* Mississippi goal scorers were Nick Greenough, registering his third goal in three games, and Darryl Campbell.
* Sea Wolves netminder Randy Petruk made 28 saves in the overtime loss.
* Inferno goalie Rob McVicar stopped 24 shots to collect the victory.


GAMES, PROMOTIONS AND BROADCASTS THIS WEEK –

Mississippi hosts Victoria on Wednesday, Louisiana on Friday before traveling to Louisiana on Saturday.



Wednesday, March 23 vs. Victoria Salmon Kings – 7:05 p.m. CT – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

* Discounted Daiquiri Night offers a $2 discount off each daiquiri.
* Watch the live web telecast for $6 online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.
* Listen live on WGCM-AM 1240 or online at msseawolves.com.

Friday, March 25 vs. Louisiana IceGators – 7:35 p.m. CT – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
* Military 2-for-1, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union, offers all military personnel, active or retired, two tickets for the price of one by showing military identification at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office.

* Cellular South / WXXV Fox 25 Honor Roll Night, offers a free kid coupon for each Honor Roll student in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone Counties.
* Watch the live web telecast for $6 online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.
* Listen live on WGCM-AM 1240 or online at msseawolves.com.



Saturday, March 26 at Louisiana IceGators – 7:05 p.m. CT – Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana
* Watch the live web telecast for $6 online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.
* Listen live on WGCM-AM 1240 or online at msseawolves.com.


GAME PREVIEWS –

Wednesday, March 23 vs. Victoria Salmon Kings – 7:05 p.m. CT – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

* First-ever visit by the only Canadian-based ECHL team and fourth meeting of the season. Mississippi leads the season series 2-1-0 after taking two of three games in December, held in British Columbia.
* The game for Victoria is its sixth in a season-ending 12-game road trip.
* Mississippi's Jay Legault has four assists and five points to the lead the team against Victoria.
* Sea Wolves' Jeff Hutchins, who is on loan to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, has notched three goals versus the Salmon Kings.
* Victoria's Brad Dexter has registered three assists and four points against Mississippi this season.
* Three Salmon Kings netted two goals versus the Sea Wolves consisting of Ryan Finnerty, Ryan Wade and Blue Bennefield.
* Victoria Salmon Kings were formerly the Baton Rouge Kingfish from 1996-2003. In 54 meetings, Mississippi's all-time regular season record against Baton Rouge was 32-19-3.
* There are four Sea Wolves that have hometown connections to the Province of British Columbia. General Manager and Coach Bob Woods was born in Chilliwack, which is located four hours from Victoria. Goaltender Randy Petruk grew up in Cranbrook, a 12-and-a-half hour drive from Victoria. Matt Underhill, who is on loan to Providence of the American Hockey League, grew up in Campbell River, which is three-and-a-half hours away from the home of the Salmon Kings. Mississippi equipment manager Greg Sieg hails from Penticton, an eight-hour drive from Victoria.
* There are 2,607 miles between Biloxi, Mississippi and Victoria, British Columbia. Approximate driving time – 47 hours, 30 minutes.


Friday, March 25 vs. Louisiana IceGators – 7:35 p.m. CT – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
* Eighth of 11 head-to-head meetings and fifth and final game in the season series at Mississippi.
* Sea Wolves are 3-3-1 in the season series and 2-1-1 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
* Mississippi won the last head-to-head game 4-3 on February 25 at Louisiana.
* Louisiana took the last game at the Wolves Den 4-3 on January 13.
* Mississippi's Louis Dumont has seven assists and nine points which is tops against Louisiana.
* Sea Wolves' Anthony Battaglia leads Mississippi with five goals versus the IceGators.
* Louisiana's Wes Mason has registered a team-leading five goals, nine assists and 13 points to lead the IceGators versus Mississippi this season.
* Driving distance between Biloxi, Mississippi and Lafayette, Louisiana – 198 miles. Approximate driving time – Three hours.
* Mississippi is 35-32-8 all-time in the regular season against Louisiana, 20-13-5 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and 15-19-3 at the Cajundome.




Saturday, March 26 at Louisiana IceGators – 7:05 p.m. CT – Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana
* Ninth of 11 head-to-head meetings and fourth of six at the Cajundome.
* Sea Wolves are 1-2-0 at Louisiana in 2004-05.


STREAKING SEA WOLVES –
* Right wing Nick Greenough has scored (3g) in three consecutive games.
* Defenseman Kerry Ellis-Toddington has assists (3a) in his last three games.
* Goaltender Phil Sauve has won back-to-back appearances.

MISSISSIPPI MILESTONE WATCH –
* Left wing Darryl Campbell is one game from 200 in his professional career.
(199 gp, 32g, 40a, 72 pts, 110 PIM)
* Defenseman Mike Jarmuth is one goal from tying the team record for goals by a rookie defenseman, set by Quinn Fair at 12 in 1996-97.
(59 gp, 11g, 17a, 28 pts, 18 PIM)
* Goaltender Phil Sauve is two appearances from 200 in his professional career.
(198 gp, 86-74-24 record)
* Left wing Bates Battaglia is three games from 550 in his professional career.
(547 gp, 85g, 127a, 212 pts, 393 PIM)
* Center Louis Dumont is five games from 700 in his ECHL career.
(695 gp, 307g, 504a, 811 pts, 896 PIM)

SEA WOLVES INJURED RESERVE –
* None.

MISSISSIPPI CALL UPS –
* Goaltender Matt Underhill was loaned to the Providence Bruins (AHL) on February 21.
* Left wing Jeff Hutchins was loaned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) on March 8.
* Defenseman Mike Garrow was loaned to the Utah Grizzlies (AHL) on March 18.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Right wing Nick Greenough tallied goals in each of the first three games since being reacquired in a trade with Reading on March 13. The 6-foot-4 and 225-pound Greenough scored a power-play on Tuesday in the Sea Wolves 3-2 shootout win over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads. A native of Windsor, Nova Scotia netted the only goal of the game at Gwinnett on Friday in Mississippi's 1-0 victory. The 24-year-old finished up his week by notching his third goal in as many games with the team in a 3-2 overtime setback at Columbia on Saturday. Greenough started 2004-05 with the Augusta Lynx, where he played in five games racking up 24 penalty minutes. In 37 games with Reading this season, Greenough scored three goals and had 78 penalty minutes.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Phil Sauve backstopped Mississippi to both of its victories last week posting a miniscule 0.96 goals-against average and fantastic .974 save percentage with a 2-0-0 record. A native of Montreal, Quebec had his week highlighted by a 43-save shutout performance at Gwinnett on Friday in the Sea Wolves 1-0 win. The 25-year-old Sauve started last week by registering 31 saves in regulation and overtime, plus five more stops in the shootout, as Mississippi defeated the Idaho Steelheads 3-2 in the shootout. Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 38th overall, in 1998, Sauve has an overall record of 9-3-2 this season with Mississippi. In his fifth professional season, the 6-foot and 195-pound Sauve has compiled a 2.90 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

TRANSACTIONS FROM LAST WEEK –
3/15 Add, Lee Jacobson, RW, Assigned by Cincinnati (AHL)
3/15 Delete, Lee Jacobson, RW, Traded to Pee Dee (ECHL) for future considerations
3/18 Delete, Mike Garrow, D, Loaned to Utah (AHL)
3/18 Add, Chris Cava, D, Activated off injured reserve

TEAM LEADERS –
Goals – Anthony Battaglia, 23
Assists – Louis Dumont, 39
Points – Louis Dumont, 57
Plus/Minus – Jeff Hutchins, +14
Penalty Minutes – Chris Cava, 156
Power-Play Goals – Anthony Battaglia, 7
Shorthand Goals – Anthony Battaglia, 3
Game-Winning Goals – Louis Dumont, 5
Goaltender Wins – Matt Underhill, 13
Goals-Against Average – Matt Underhill, 2.65
Save Percentage – Matt Underhill, .923

SPECIAL TEAMS (ECHL Rank) –
Power Play – 45-for-282, 16.0% (18)
Penalty Killing – 239-of-289, 82.7% (17)
Shorthand Goals For – 7 (T14)
Shorthand Goals Allowed – 4 (T2)

PRACTICES THIS WEEK –
Monday – 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Tuesday – 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Wednesday – 10-10:30 a.m., morning skate, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Thursday – 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Friday – 10-10:30 a.m., morning skate, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Saturday – To be determined
Sunday – Day off
* All practices are open to the public. Dates and times are subject to change.



IN THE COMMUNITY –

Monday, March 21, 7-8 p.m.
* The following Sea Wolves players will be at the monthly Sea Wolves Booster Club meeting at FEB Distributing in Gulfport to celebrate their birthdays: Anthony Battaglia, Bates Battaglia, Kerry Ellis-Toddington, Stephen Greeley, Mike Martone, Milt Mastad and Randy Petruk.



LISTEN AND WATCH BROADCASTS – Join Mike Kelly, "Voice of the Sea Wolves" for live play-by-play action of all home and away games on flagship radio station WGCM-AM 1240. Listen on the internet, courtesy of Teamline, at msseawolves.com.

Watch games live on the web telecast for $6 each at msseawolves.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Bring your radio and headphones to the home games and tune into the play-by-play broadcast on 88.5 FM inside the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

The pregame show gets underway 15 minutes before the start of each game.



TICKET INFORMATION – Celebrate "A Decade in the Den" with season tickets for the Sea Wolves 10th Anniversary Season in 2005-06 by calling (228) 275-WOLF.

Flex packs, discounted group tickets, birthday packages and fundraiser opportunities are also available by calling (228) 275-WOLF.

Individual game tickets start at $9 for children and $11 for adults. Tickets are on sale at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by telephone at (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.

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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.

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