Pirates Haunt Phantoms

December 9, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Glens Falls, New York - Ethan Werek scored his first professional goal with just 19 seconds left to snap a 1-1 tie and give the Portland Pirates a 2-1 win victory over the Adirondack Phantoms Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Werek scored the goal on a backhand move off a feed from Matt Watkins shorthanded. The goal would be Portland's first shorthanded marker of the season.

After a scoreless first period in which the Pirates outshot the Phantoms 18-9, Portland scored first just 2:15 into the second period after defenseman Chris Summers stole the puck from Jason Akeson near the Adirondack blue line. He skated down the left wing and fed a cross ice pass to Trotter for the tap-in goal.

But, Cullen Eddy would tie the score just 47 seconds into the third on a one-timer from the right circle. Assists went to Shane Harper and Tom Sestito.

Both netminders were solid throughout. Curtis McElhinney made a number of heart stopping saves, and tallied 23 stops in the victory, his seventh this season. Michael Leighton stopped 35 shots in the loss as Portland outshot Adirondack 37-24 for the game.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak for Portland (11-10-1-1). Adirondack (13-9-1-1) has now lost three straight.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were: 1. McElhinney POR; 2. Leighton ADK; 3. Werek POR.

The Pirates will play again tomorrow night, Saturday, at 7 p.m., at the Webster Bank Arena against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Fans can catch all of the action with broadcaster Jeff Mannix on the Portland Pirates Radio Network, WPEI 95.9 and 95.5, beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

Pirates hockey will return to the Civic Center on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. when the Manchester Monarchs come to town for the sixth of 12 meetings this season. The Portland Pirates Holiday Toy Drive will continue and all toy donations to Toys for Tots and cash donations to the Bruce Roberts Toy Fund will be rewarded with a pair of tickets to a future Pirates game. The Bruce Roberts Toy Fund assists children from birth through age 18 in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and York counties during the holiday season. Parents and legal guardians of children 18 and under can apply at The Welcome Center, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, and through local service organizations or call (207-791-6672) to have an application sent by mail.

Now is the time to cash in on great savings by purchasing discounted ticket plans and advance tickets for the Pirates 2011-12 season. Ticket packages are available to meet all budgets and schedules. Call a Pirates ticket representative today at 207-828-4665 x350 to reserve your seats for any combination of games that Pirates hockey, "Coyotes Style", has to offer. Individual tickets for the each of the remaining 28 home games of the Pirates 2011-12 regular season schedule are on sale and fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Pirates ticket office, Cumberland County Civic Center box office (open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.



American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2011


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