ECHL ECHL

Resurgent Jackals sweep weekend action

Published on February 28, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


With a new coach in charge behind the bench last week, the Elmira Jackals won three games at home to improve to 25-23-7 on the season. With 57 points, the Jackals are part of a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference entering the final five weeks of the regular season.

General Manager Robbie Nichols made his debut as coach on Friday and the Jackals responded with a 3-1 win over Wheeling. Marco Cousineau turned aside 23 Nailers shots to record the win as three different Jackals scored goals in the win.

Elmira picked up a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Atlantic Division leading Reading on Saturday in front of 4,231 fans, the second-largest crowd in team history. Trailing 4-2 early in the third period, the Jackals got a pair of goals from Justin Donati less than two minutes apart to tie the game at four, and Yannick Tifu tallied the game-winner with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to cap the comeback. Cousineau once again earned the win in goal, making 27 saves.

The Jackals completed their weekend sweep with a 4-3 win against Trenton on Sunday. Donati (1g-3a) and Tifu (2g-2a) each had four points in the win and Cousineau finished his weekend strong with 19 saves to improve his record to 16-11-4.

Donati led the way for the Jackals during the weekend sweep with eight points (4g-4a) and a +5 rating and now leads the league with 53 assists and is tied for the league lead with 73 points. Donati finished second in the ECHL behind his brother, Justin, last season with 104 points (42g-64a). Tifu is tied for sixth in the league with 57 points (19g-38a) while defenseman Patrick Coulombe leads ECHL blueliners with 33 points (11g-22a).

Elmira concludes its four-game home stand on Wednesday as Wheeling visits First Arena. The Jackals then open a three-game southern road trip this weekend, visiting Greenville on Saturday and Sunday.

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Four sellouts highlight last week's ECHL action

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With four sell-out crowds last weekend, the ECHL saw its average attendance for the season rise to 4,177 entering the final five weeks of the 2010-11 regular season. Last week was the 10th consecutive week that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans per game.

Alaska had its first sell-out of the season on Friday against Las Vegas as 6,426 fans were on hand at Sullivan Arena for the match-up of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Elmira welcomed its second largest crowd in team history to First Arena on Saturday as 4,231 fans were in attendance for the Jackals game against Reading. It was Elmira ‚¬â„¢s ECHL-leading ninth sell-out of the season. The Jackals are averaging 3,493 per game this season which is 92.3 percent of capacity.

South Carolina had an ECHL season high crowd of 10,304 at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday against Florida.

Toledo welcomed its seventh sell-out of the season on Saturday as 8,000 fans were on hand for its game against Greenville. The Walleye, who have sold out each of their last four Saturday home games, are third in the league with 5,851 per game.

Ontario, which led the league last season after finishing second in its inaugural season in 2008-09, leads the ECHL with 6,327 per game. Stockton, which has averaged over 6,000 fans in its first five seasons and led the league in attendance for its first four seasons, is second with 6,197 per game.

To purchase tickets to any ECHL game, visit the Tickets Page at ECHL.com.

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Divisions

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Atlantic Division

Elmira Jackals

· Patrick Coulombe leads all defensemen with 33 points (11g-22a).

· Justin Donati leads the league with 54 assists and is tied for the lead with 73 points.

· The Jackals host Wheeling on Wednesday and are at Greenville on Saturday and Sunday.

Reading Royals

· The Royals have scored first in each of their last seven games.

· Andrew Sarauer is on a five-game point streak (2g-6a).

· Reading is at Cincinnati on Wednesday and at Toledo on Thursday before hosting Wheeling on Saturday and Sunday.

Trenton Devils

· Trenton leads the league with 35.96 shots per game.

· Ryan Ginand ranks fourth in the league with 63 points (25g-38a).

· The Devils are at Greenville on Friday and at Gwinnett on Saturday and Sunday.

North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones

· The Cyclones are 12-1-1 when scoring four goals or more in a game.

· Mathieu Aubin is now third on the Cyclones ‚¬â„¢ all-time goal-scoring list with 60 goals.

· Cincinnati hosts Reading on Wednesday, plays at Wheeling on Friday, hosts Toledo on Saturday and is at Kalamazoo on Sunday.

Kalamazoo Wings

· Kalmazoo is unbeaten in regulation in its last 11 games (9-0-2).

· Darryl Lloyd recorded his 100th career goal on Sunday.

· The K-Wings are at Toledo on Friday and host Cincinnati on Sunday.

Toledo Walleye

· The Walleye are 16-2-1 when leading after two periods.

· Mike Hedden scored 13 goals in 13 games during the month of February.

· Toledo hosts Reading on Thursday, Kalamazoo on Friday and Cincinnati on Saturday.

Wheeling Nailers

· Wheeling is second in the league on the penalty kill at 84.7 percent (232-for-274).

· Patrick Killeen is tied for the league lead with three shutouts.

· The Nailers are at Elmira on Wednesday, host Cincinnati on Friday and are at Reading on Saturday and Sunday.

South Division

Florida Everblades

· Matt Beca is on a five-game point streak (4g-5a).

· Florida leads the league on the penalty kill at 86.4 percent (235-for-272).

· The Everblades host South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

Greenville Road Warriors

· The Road Warriors are 26-8-1 when scoring first.

· Marc-Olivier Vallerand leads all rookies with four shorthanded goals.

· Greenville hosts Trenton on Friday and Elmira on Saturday and Sunday.

Gwinnett Gladiators

· Gwinnett is 19-0-0 when leading after two periods.

· Pat Galivan has a point in 11 of his last 15 games (5g-13a).

· The Gladiators are at South Carolina on Tuesday and host Trenton on Saturday and Sunday.

South Carolina Stingrays

· The Stingrays are on a four-game unbeaten streak in regulation (3-0-1).

· Matt Scherer is tied for second in the league with five game-winning goals.

· South Carolina hosts Gwinnett on Tuesday and is at Florida on Friday and Saturday.

Mountain Division

Alaska Aces

· Alaska is unbeaten in regulation in its last seven games (6-0-1).

· Goaltender Adam Courchaine is 7-0-1 in his last eight starts.

· The Aces are at Stockton on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Idaho Steelheads

· The Steelheads are first in the league on the power play at 24.3 percent (64-for-263).

· Marty Flichel is second in the league with 12 power-play goals.

· Idaho hosts Las Vegas on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Utah Grizzlies

· Utah is 13-0-2 when scoring four goals or more.

· Hugo Carpentier has four points in his last four games (2g-2a).

· The Grizzlies host Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

Victoria Salmon Kings

· The Salmon Kings have won nine of their last 12 games.

· Rick Cleaver has 21 points in his last 21 games (14g-7a).

· Victoria hosts Bakersfield on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors

· Bakersfield is 14-6-3 in one-goal games.

· Rookie Michael Gergen leads the league with four shootout goals.

· The Condors are at Victoria on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers

· The Wranglers are first on the penalty kill at home at 88.1 percent (89-for-101).

· Goaltender Michael Ouzas is tied for the league lead with three shootout wins.

· Las Vegas plays at Idaho on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Ontario Reign

· Ontario leads the league with eight overtime wins.

· Jordan Morrison leads the team with 41 points (15a-26a).

· The Reign are at Utah on Friday and Saturday.

Stockton Thunder

· The Thunder are second in the league in attendance with 161,119 fans (6,197 fans per game average).

· Chris Lawrence has recorded 12 points in his last six games (9g-3a).

· Stockton hosts Alaska on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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ECHL Stories from February 28, 2011


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