Pride Weekly

January 6, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release


LAST WEEK: After opening the week with a loss at South Carolina, Pee Dee rebounded with three straight wins over South Carolina, Augusta and Greenville to finish the week 3-1-0. The Pride reach the halfway point of the season with a 20-11-5 record for 45 points, the same number of points they had after 36 games last year. Pee Dee is in second place of the Southeast Division, one point behind Florida and two ahead of South Carolina.

Tuesday, December 31 @ South Carolina Stingrays 3 PRIDE 2

South Carolina got out to an early lead on a Curtis Huppe goal just 3:42 into the game. The Pride came back, scoring the next two goals, courtesy of Greg Schmidt and Gregor Krajnc. The Stingrays tied it midway through the second, and then scored the game winner on a power play at the 10:22 mark of the third period.

Friday, January 3 v. South Carolina PRIDE 5 Stingrays 2

A pair of Matt Reid goals, one in each of the first two periods, gave the Pride a 2-0 lead. But, the Stingrays would score the next two, including the tying goal from Matt Desrosiers just 43 seconds into the third period. The Pride would score three unanswered goals, including the final goal from Reid, as he completed his first professional hat trick, and the Pride's first trick of the season.

Saturday, January 4 v. Augusta PRIDE 4 Lynx 1

Jim Shepherd gave Augusta the lead on a goal 12:46 into the first period. The lead would not last long however, as Eric Naud tied it for the Pride just 14 seconds later. It was the first of four unanswered goals for the Pride, as Kyle Kidney scored once and Greg Schmidt added a pair and the Pride cruised to the victory.

Sunday, January 5 @ Greenville PRIDE 5 Grrrowl 2

Pee Dee completed its weekend sweep with a come-from-behind win at the BI-LO Center. Trailing 2-0 entering the second period, Preston Mizzi got the Pride on the board on a tip-in just 1:39 into the second. Goals by Mike Glumac and Eric Naud in the final two minutes of the period put the Pride on top, and Ryan Knox and Glumac added insurance goals in the third.

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Tuesday, January 7 v. Augusta 7:00 p.m. at the Lion's Den

Pee Dee opens a five-game homestand, their longest in two years, playing Augusta for the third time in an 11 day span. The Pride are 3-1-0 against the Lynx this season, including a perfect 3-0 at home. In the three games in Florence, the Pride have outscored the Lynx 16-4. Augusta is in seventh place of the Southeast Division with an 11-21-2 record for 24 points, the fewest in the league.

Friday, January 10 v. Florida 7:30 p.m. at the Lion's Den

The Pride and Everblades meet for the eighth and final time this season. Pee Dee is 3-3-1 against Florida this season. The Pride's only two shutouts this season have been at the hands of Florida goaltender Rob Zepp, both coming in his last outings against Pee Dee. Florida is 19-7-8 for 46 points and is in first place of the Southeast Division, one point ahead of the Pride.

PROMOTIONS: It's Elvis Night at the Lion's Den. Fans are encouraged to come dressed as "The King" and participate in an Elvis look-alike contest on the ice between periods.

Saturday, January 11 v. Trenton 7:30 p.m. at the Lion's Den

The first of three meetings this year between the Pride and Titans. Pee Dee is 2-1-1 all time against Trenton. The Titans are 4-1-5 in their last 10 games, but are just 4-9-2 overall on the road this season. Overall on the season, Trenton is 16-13-7 for 39 points, and is tied for fourth place in the Northeast Division.

PROMOTIONS: The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of IGA. In addition, fans who present an IGA receipt at the box office can buy one 400-level ticket and get a second ticket free.

OTHER NOTES

NAUD COMES TO LIFE

After scoring just two goals in the first 33 games this season, and not posting a tally since November 16, Eric Naud turned into a goal-scoring machine this weekend. He ended a 20-game goalless drought with his tally on Friday against South Carolina, then scored the Pride's first goal of the game on Saturday against Augusta, before tallying the game-winning goal Sunday at Greenville.

REID TIES CAREER HIGHS

With his first professional hat trick on Friday against South Carolina, Matt Reid tied his career high in goals, 17, which he set last season. Sunday, his two assists at Greenville gave him 50 points on the year, which ties his personal best, set in his rookie season of 2000-01. Reid enters this week sixth in the ECHL scoring race, just three points behind league-leaders Jason Jaffray of Roanoke and former Pride player, Buddy Smith from Arkansas.

PRIDE SCORING GOALS, AND KEEPING OPPONENTS QUIET

Pee Dee is tied for sixth in the league, averaging 3.61 goals per game, and is tied for eighth in goals against, allowing 2.97 scores per contest. The Pride are one of just four teams in the league, and the only Southern Conference member, to rank in the top 10 of both categories. The other three teams are Atlantic City, Cincinnati and Toledo.

PRIDE LEADERS

Goals Glumac 20

Assists Reid 33

Points Reid 50

+/- Reid +34

Penalty Minutes Naud 91

Shots Goldie/Glumac 114



ECHL Stories from January 6, 2003


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