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Sea Wolves begin playoffs at home against Pensacola on Wednesday and Friday

April 1, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


BILOXI, Miss. - The Mississippi Sea Wolves finished the regular season with three straight wins and head into the 2002 Kelly Cup Playoffs with the slogan 'Ready 2 Howl!' The Sea Wolves' organization would like all fans to wear red for the playoffs. The number two represents Mississippi's quest for its second Kelly Cup in franchise history.

The Sea Wolves have home-ice advantage in the Southwest Division Semifinals against the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Game One in the best-of-five series is Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The puck drops for Game Two on Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the Wolves Den.

After the 72-game regular season, Mississippi compiled a 41-26-5 record for a total of 87 points. The Sea Wolves finished second out of eight teams in the East Coast Hockey League's Southwest Division. At home this season, the Sea Wolves posted a record of 19-14-3 and were 22-12-2 on the road.

LAST WEEK: (3-1)

Sea Wolves (3) at Arkansas (5); Tues., Mar. 26 - ALLTEL Arena, North Little Rock

Sea Wolves (3) at Jackson (1); Wed., Mar. 27 - Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson

Sea Wolves (8) vs. Baton Rouge (4); Fri., Mar. 29 - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Sea Wolves (4) at Baton Rouge (3) OT; Sat., Mar. 30 - Riverside Centroplex

2002 Kelly Cup Playoffs Southwest Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series):

Game 1 - Wednesday, Apr. 3 vs. Pensacola - 7:05 p.m. - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Game 2 - Friday, Apr. 5 vs. Pensacola - 7:35 p.m. - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Game 3 - Saturday, Apr. 6 at Pensacola - 7:05 p.m. - Pensacola Civic Center

*Game 4 - Sunday, Apr. 7 at Pensacola - 5:05 p.m. - Pensacola Civic Center

*Game 5 - Tuesday, Apr. 9 vs. Pensacola - 7:05 p.m. - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

(* - if necessary)

PLAYOFF SERIES PREVIEW:

Mississippi Sea Wolves vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots

The Sea Wolves record in the eight-game season series against Pensacola was 3-4-1. Mississippi at home was just 1-3, while at the Pensacola Civic Center the Sea Wolves finished 2-1-1. The Ice Pilots won the last two head-to-head battles, 5-4 in the shootout at Pensacola on January 24 and 5-3 at Mississippi on January 15. Mississippi sniper Francois Fortier led the Sea Wolves with eight goals and five assists for a total of 13 points in the season series against the Ice Pilots. Pensacola's Louis Dumont led the Ice Pilots with 16 points, which included five goals and 11 assists. Greg Pankewicz topped the goal scoring department for Pensacola with eight goals in the season series including the only hat trick scored by a Sea Wolves' opponent on January 24 at Pensacola in the Ice Pilots 5-4 shootout victory. The Sea Wolves number one ranked power play converted 25 per cent of the time going nine for 36. The Ice Pilots were 11 for 48, good for 22.9 per cent efficiency.

SEA WOLVES' PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Left Wing Francois Fortier picked up points and goals in each of the four Mississippi games last week for a total of five goals and four assists. The 22-year-old native of Beauport, Quebec ended the week with a four-point performance at Baton Rouge on Saturday. Fortier scored the game-winning goal and collected three assists in a 4-3 overtime win. Fortier is under contract to Quebec of the American Hockey League.

SEA WOLVES' GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK:

Colin Zulianello went 3-1 last week, posting three consecutive wins to finish the regular season. The 23-year-old made 45 saves in a 3-1 win at Jackson on Wednesday. The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario then won a home and home set against Baton Rouge to head into the post season on a roll. Zulianello was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes in September, 2001.

TRANSACTIONS:
03/27/2002 Add SCOTT MOON (G) added as emergency backup
03/29/2002 Add CHUCK THUSS (G) activated from IR
03/29/2002 Delete SCOTT MOON (G) released as emergency backup
03/31/2002 Delete DARREN MARTENS (LW) waived

INJURED RESERVE:

Forward Nick Greenough remains on the 7-day injured reserve with a knee injury.

Forward Brad Ralph continues to be on the 30-day IR with a season-ending shoulder injury.

Forward John Evangelista remains on the 30-day IR with a season-ending right knee injury.

CALL-UPS:

Forward Michael Ryder and defenseman Francois Beauchemin remain on recall to the Quebec Citadelles of the American Hockey League.

STREAKING SEA WOLVES:

Heading into the post season, forward Francois Fortier has a four-game goal streak (5g) and points in four straight games (5g-5a).

Team captain and assistant coach Steffon Walby has a four-game point streak (4g-6a) and two-game assist streak (4a).

Veteran defenseman Jeremy Rebek has a two-game point streak (1g-4a) and assists in two consecutive games (4a). Goaltender Colin Zulianello has backstopped the Sea Wolves to three straight victories.

SEA WOLVES ON THE AIR:

Tune into live coverage of the playoffs on flagship radio station WVMI News Talk 57. The hard hitting, fast paced Sea Wolves' hockey excitement can also be heard across the internet at www.MsSeaWolves.com.

Tickets for the playoffs are on sale at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster outlets, online at www.TicketMaster.com and by calling (228) 594-3707.



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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