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Pride win fourth straight

January 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release


GREENSBORO, NC - The Florence Pride had four players record two-point nights and two others pick up three points as they defeated the Greensboro Generals 6-3 Wednesday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. The win was the fourth straight for the Pride, who improve to 14-17-5 on the season.

The Generals struck first, thanks to some great passing. Just after a 4-on-4 situation ended and the Pride went on a power play, two great passes by Geno Parrish and Kurt Drummond sprung Pete Gardiner on a shorthanded breakaway. He beat Matt Underhill with a quick wrist shot from the hash marks for his third goal of the season.

Greensboro doubled its lead at the 13:10 mark. Gardiner had the puck behind the net, and centered a pass for Mark Turner, whose quick shot eluded Underhill for his 15th tally of the season.

But, the Pride would come back with three quick tallies to take a 3-2 lead to the first intermission. Kyle Kidney started the scoring with a pair of goals exactly four minutes apart. At 13:46, he took a great feed from Allan Sirois, and from a bad angle, deflected a shot off of the body off of Daniel Berthiaume for his fifth of the season. The assist extended Sirois' scoring streak to six games.

Kidney's second goal was the result of a great individual effort. He had the puck along the end boards, and pushed the puck to himself in the near corner. Kidney then skated out in front and roofed a backhander over Berthiaume at the 17:46 mark.

Florence was not done there, as with just 49 seconds left in the opening period, Jeff Szwez fed a perfect cross-ice pass to Mark McRae, who pinched in from the blue line and tipped the puck past Berthiaume for his seventh tally of the season.

The Pride added to their lead a little more than halfway through the second period. Eric Naud, making his season debut for Florence, hit Luke Earl inside of the left-wing circle. Earl's quick wrist shot beat Berthiaume to the glove side for his third goal of the season, and second with the Pride.

Greensboro would pull to within one at the 7:11 mark. Just 11 seconds into a power play, Mike Bayrack gathered in a rebound in the slot and pushed a shot past Underhill for his team-leading 18th goal of the season.

But, just 1:44 later the Pride would get that goal back, as Naud gathered in a pass from Goldie and from a wide angle beat Berhtiaume for his second point of the night.

Florence got an insurance goal at the 13:09 mark. Mark McRae's shot from the point was stopped, but Wes Goldie swooped in on the far post to put the puck home for his team-leading 19th goal of the season. Earl garnered his third assist of the night on the goal.

The Pride return home for a pair of games this weekend. Friday, they host the Columbus Cottonmouths at 7:30 on Parrothead Night. Nationally-known entertainer Barrie Cunningham will be on hand to perform a post-game concert featuring his tribue to Jimmy Buffett. All fans who come to the game dressed in Parrothead attire will receive a free ticket to a future Pride home game. Saturday, the Pride host the Columbia Inferno, also at 7:30 on Mascot Night. Paws will welcome his friends to the Lion's Den, and all mascots will take part in a mascot hockey game during the first intermission.

Tickets for all Pride home games are available at the Florence Civic Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (843) 679-9333 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group tickets are now available for the Pride's annual Christian Concert, which takes place following the January 31 game against the Greenville Grrrowl. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets starting at the low price of just $7 each. For more information, or to place your order, call the Pride office at (843) 669-7825.



ECHL Stories from January 14, 2004


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