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Penalty-box brawl punctuates end of winless streak

November 11, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


The IceGators broke a five-game winless slide (0-3-2) in fine fashion on Sunday, scoring four unanswered goals for a convincing 4-1 win over defending Kelly Cup champion Greenville at the Cajundome. The game was marred by a third-period brawl in the penalty box which saw six misconduct penalties handed out.

Frederic Cloutier continued his strong play, despite having a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) coming into the game, stopping 35 shots, including the final 33 of the game. Cloutier also helped the IceGators turn aside the Grrrowl's last 13 power plays of the game. Nathan Rempel had the game-winning goal and an assist.

The IceGators were comfortably ahead 4-1 in the third period when things got out of control. With Louisiana's Jeff Worlton already in the penalty box, Bruce Richardson and Alexandre Burrows each went to the box. Dave Kaczowka was serving Burrows' second minor, for roughing, while Shawn Skiehar went in for Richardson's roughing penalty.

Thirty-five seconds later, each player was involved in the fight in the penalty box, as officials intervened. Richardson, Worlton and Skiehar picked up game misconducts, while Rempel was assessed a gross misconduct. Burrows and and Kaczowka each got game misconducts.

Shawn McNeil, Rempel and Richardson scored 3:32 apart in the first period and Daniel Goneau added a second period tally. Louisiana, which got two assists from Kevin Mitchell, was one game shy of its longest winless span in team history.

The victory was an impressive rebound from a dramatic 3-2 overtime loss at Arkansas less than 24 hours earlier. Eric Long's power play goal, his second of the night, gave the RiverBlades the victory with 2.1 seconds remaining in the extra session.

Jason Saal made 30 saves to beat his former team for the second time in as many games, while Frederic Cloutier was outstanding in net, allowing three goals on 37 shots. Goneau scored two goals for the IceGators. Thursday, Saal was the star also, stopping 36 saves for his first ever win at the Cajundome as an opposing player, as the RiverBlades cruised to a 5-2 win. Terry Marchant scored twice and added an assist, while former IceGator Matt Pagnutti added a goal and two assists.

McNeil and Richardson each scored for the IceGators.

Coming attractions:

WED, LA at JCK, 7:05 p.m.

It's an entirely different Jackson team than the IceGators saw in a 6-1 win at the Cajundome on October 27. Derek Clancey has the Bandits rolling, having won five straight since their trip to Lafayette. Jackson's last three wins have come by a combined 10-1 margin. Goaltender Tyrone Garner, who led Greenville to the Kelly Cup last season, got recalled to AHL San Antonio over the weekend.

FRI, LA at PEN, 7:05 p.m.

The IceGators make their first trip of the season to the Sunshine State for the first of 11 meetings with the Ice Pilots. Pensacola has struggled early; a 4-4-3 record has the Ice Pilots in fifth place in the Southwest Division.

The IceGators return home for a three games in three nights stretch on November 22-24, with one game against intra-state rival Baton Rouge and two against Columbus.

Don't forget to watch Chomp Time, the weekly television show dedicated to the Louisiana IceGators. Andy Davis hosts Chomp Time, every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Fox-15.

Make sure to follow the IceGators on 105.1 KPEL-FM, and also via the Internet at www.icegators.com.

Celebrities in attendance - Witnessing Sunday's game with Greenville were the ECHL's new president, Brian McKenna, as well as pro wrestling legend "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, who presented the colors during the National Anthem. Duggan was in town to wrestle Kamala the Ugandan Giant. Unfortunately, Duggan had already left by the third-period fight in the penalty box.

League leaders update - Shawn McNeil's 12 goals lead the ECHL, and his 75 shots are 19 more than anyone else has. Bruce Richardson is tied for second with 81 penalty minutes, and Jeff Worlton is fourth with 78. Worlton leads all defensemen and rookies in penalty minutes and majors (eight). Kevin Mitchell's 15 points are tied for the most among ECHL defensemen, and his 14 assists lead the category.

GatorBladin' for Arthritis set for Sunday - Fans, help the IceGators raise money for the Arthritis Foundation in the annual GatorBladin' for Arthritis event, this Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the Cajundome. It's your chance to meet the players, and have a good time for a worthy cause. For more information, call Ryan Stanzel at the IceGators office (234-4423), or Rhonda Huebner at the Arthritis Foundation (989-9475).

Ride your horse - Frederic Cloutier has started four straight games for the IceGators for the first time in his young career, and he's the first Louisiana netminder to start that many in a row since Jason Saal began five straight games from February 16-23, 2001. Saal went 1-4-0 in those games. The team record for most consecutive starts by a goalie is 11, set by Marc Delorme from February 19-March 13, 1997. Delorme was relieved by Bryan Schoen three times in the streak, however.

IceGators always welcome Kelly Cup champions - Sunday, The IceGators improved to 4-2-1 when hosting a defending Kelly Cup champion. They beat South Carolina 1-0 last November 9.

A lot of penalties, but... - The IceGators' 105 penalty minutes in Sunday's win over Greenville may seem like a lot, but its only the 10th-most penalized game in team history. Louisiana's franchise record was a 150-penalty minute game on October 31, 1998, against South Carolina, a contest the IceGators won 11-2. The most penalty minutes in the three-year Dave Farrish regime had been 91, in a 6-1 win over New Orleans last February 17. Louisiana has cracked the 100-penalty minute plateau in 13 games in franchise history. Sunday was the first 100-penalty minute contest since the franchise-record game against South Carolina.

Still looking for the strong start - The IceGators did score first in one game last week, but have allowed their opponent to score the game's first goal in eight of their last 10 games and nine overall. Last season, Louisiana failed to score first in just 19 games.

Quotable - IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish, on Sunday's win over Greenville, which featured a penalty box brawl and his team in camouflage uniforms: "We were shortstaffed out there, playing with only seven or eight forwards, and I thought it was kind of apropos that we wore the camouflage, because we looked like a MASH unit. At times it was like guerilla warfare."

He goes at them early - Left wing Shawn McNeil has scored Louisiana's first goal in eight of 13 games this season.

Richardson hot - Bruce Richardson's point streak is up to seven games, two better than his previous career best. The streak, which started with a four-helper game on October 27 against Jackson, includes 11 points (3g, 8a). Richardson has a point in all but two games this season.

Player of the Week Nominees

Left wing Daniel Goneau

Had five points (3g, 2a) and was a plus-four in leading IceGators to 1-1-1 record, including team's only two goals in 3-2 OT loss at ARK Saturday...Began week with an assist in 5-2 home loss vs. ARK on Thursday...Finished with two points (1g, 1a), including second-period goal, in 4-1 whipping of Greenville on Sunday...One of six IceGators averaging a point a game this season, as he has six goals and seven assists in 13 games.

Goaltender Frederic Cloutier

Went 1-1-1 with a 2.92 gaa and a .913 save pct. last week, but rebounded nicely from Thursday's 5-2 loss vs. ARK, which saw him allow five goals on 31 shots...Was 1-0-1 with a 1.92 gaa and .945 save pct. in final two games on the week...Made 34 saves in 3-2 OT loss at ARK on Saturday...Sunday, had best game of season with 35 saves, including the final 33 of the game, in 4-1 win over defending Kelly Cup champion Greenville.

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