Pelletier's Debut Spoiled By Stingrays
December 6, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
While rookie goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier played well in in his first professional start for the Elmira Jackals, the South Carolina Stingrays used two third period goals to down the Jackals 3-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C. on Sunday evening.
Pelletier, signed by the Jackals to a contract before Sunday's game, stopped 18 of 21 Stingrays shots in his ECHL debut. The Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Quebec native was initially brought on as emergency backup goaltender as a result of Chris Holt being recalled by the Binghamton Senators on Nov. 24.
The South Carolina Stingrays used a short-handed chance to record the game's first goal. After a Jackals offensive zone turnover, Trent Campbell took the puck up the left wing and fed Keith Johnson who tipped the puck home at 7:06 of the second period.
Elmira fought back immediately, however. Nine seconds after South Carolina's goal, Mat Robinson battled in front to chip a puck past Stingrays goaltender Todd Ford to make it 1-1 on the power play at the period's 7:15 mark.
The teams skated into the third period knotted up, but Stingrays forward Matt Fornataro scored two goals in the final session for the 3-1 victory. His first came at 1:33, when he cut in on Pelletier and beat him stick side to make it 2-1. After the play, Brendan Connolly was whistled with a five minute major penalty, giving the Stingrays an extended man advantage. Fornataro knocked a feed from Rob Ricci home at 4:15 on that power play to make it 3-1.
While they had a few good chances down the stretch, the Jackals were unable to solve Ford in the game's final minutes. He made 34 of 35 saves on the game for his ninth victory of the season. While his 18 saves kept the Jackals in the game, Pelletier fell to 0-1 in 2009-2010.
The Jackals' record dropped to 10-9-2-1, while South Carolina extended its winning streak to seven games, improving to 16-6-1-3.
Elmira will be in Johnstown for a game on Friday for a game with the Chiefs. The Jackals then head to Toledo for Saturday and Sunday games with the Walleye.
Don't forget to purchase your Jackals Holiday Stimulus Package! On Saturday, Dec. 26, the Jackals host the Reading Royals at 7:35 p.m. For $44, fans will receive four tickets to the game, four sodas, four boxes of popcorn, four chuck-a-pucks, four skating sessions at the First Arena Recreational Rink, and four skate rentals. There are only 200 packages available, so get yours today. To purchase this package, call (607) 734-PUCK (7825) or visit the First Arena Box Office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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