Sea Wolves Ring Up Royals 5-3

January 1, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Sea Wolves ended the calendar year by rallying from a 2-0 deficit to score five unanswered goals, halting the Reading Royals 10-game unbeaten streak on the road with a 5-3 victory at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

"We got the effort we needed in the second and third periods," Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. "All three lines were contributing and that's going to be key to our future success. We're going to need to play just as good tomorrow if we want to upend the Ice Pilots at Pensacola."

Reading (14-9-1, 29 points) connected on the power-play at the 10:21 mark. Eric Fortier whipped the puck in front from the right circle and it got by Mississippi goaltender Jason Wolfe to make it 1-0. Fortier's fourth tally was assisted by Preston Mizzi and Beau Geisler.

With 54 seconds remaining in the first, Fortier went back to work on another power-play and scored his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, which was set up by Reading's captain Cail MacLean.

Mississippi (13-12-3, 29 points) sliced the lead in half in the second period. Travis Lisabeth cut in off the right wing and deked Reading netminder Barry Brust at 3:50 to deposit his sixth goal of the year. Assists were garnered by Kerry Ellis-Toddington and Louis Dumont, who extended his point streak to five games.

The Sea Wolves got back on even terms at 16:13 of the middle stanza. From behind the Royals net, Mississippi's Jeff Hutchins registered his 100th point in a Mississippi uniform over his career, fed Jay Legault, who buried his sixth goal of the season and extended his point streak to a career-high 11 games. Lisabeth also collected a helper for his second point of the game.

Just 44 seconds later, Mississippi took a 3-2 lead. Darryl Campbell fed a right circle pass to Lucas Drake, who unleashed a wrist shot into the back of the net for his second goal of the campaign. Chris Cava also had an assist.

The Sea Wolves grabbed a two-goal lead at 4:26 of the third. Mississippi's Russ Guzior, who was activated off the injured reserve earlier in the day, crashed the net to score his first of the year. Helpers were handed to Pat O'Leary and Lisabeth, who collected his third point of the contest.

Late in the game, Reading pulled Brust for the extra attacker. Milt Mastad scored a 200-footer into the empty net with 1:45 remaining. Legault collected the lone assist.

Just 29 seconds later, Mizzi scored off a faceoff with a quick shot off the draw, but it was a case of too little too late.

Mississippi was unable to capitalize on two power play opportunities, while Reading went 2-for-5. Royals outshot the Sea Wolves 31-27.

Additional notes: Defenseman Mike Martone appeared in his 200th regular season game with Mississippi, while center Louis Dumont and defenseman Kerry Ellis-Toddington played in their 100th game with the Sea Wolves.

Mississippi continues three games in three days at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at Pensacola against the Ice Pilots at the Pensacola Civic Center. Watch the live web telecast for $6, courtesy of B2 Networks, online at msseawolves.com. Listen live on flagship radio station WGCM-AM 1240, or online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of Teamline.

The Sea Wolves next home game is at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It's Kids Day, allowing all children 12 and under a ticket for $5 each. Following the game there will be a postgame party for all ages at the Village Sports Pub, Edgewater Village, Biloxi.

Individual tickets for Sunday's home game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.

Flex packs, discounted groups tickets, birthday packages and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com.



ECHL Stories from January 1, 2005


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