Sea Wolves top Gwinnett, 5-3

Published on February 4, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


BILOXI, MS - The Mississippi Sea Wolves opened a seven-game homestand with a 5-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators behind a pair of goals from Jeff Kyrzakos and a 42-save effort from Ryan Munce at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Wednesday night.

The Sea Wolves grabbed a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the first period, capitalizing on poor footwork by Gladiators goaltender Joe Fallon. As Fallon shuffled across the crease, the netminder lost his footing and fell to the ice. While Fallon was on the ice, Mississippi's Mathieu Melanson attempted to stuff the puck in on a wraparound and the puck slid to Ryan Cruthers who put it in for his 21st goal of the season. Jeff Kyrzakos potted his first goal of the game when he stood on the doorstep and hammered home Mathieu Melanson's centering pass with the Sea Wolves on a five-on-three power play at 7:35. The Gladiators got their only goal of the first two periods when Sea Wolves center Alex Parent cleanly won a faceoff back into his own net at 11:58. Dirk Southern, the last Gladiator to touch the puck, was credited with the goal.

Mississippi continued to control play to through the second period, taking a 3-1 lead just 49 seconds in when Jeff Kyrzakos redirected Bill LeClerc's shot from the point for his second goal of the game. Mike Berry scored the game-winner when he drove the net from the blue line and beat Fallon on the glove side at 5:08 of the second.

The Gladiators threatened in the third period, with Jordan Fox notching a power-play goal at 12:58 and Jeff Mason scoring on a centering pass from Adam Berti to draw the Glads within one at 15:56. With just under a minute remaining, Gladiators coach Jeff Pyle signaled Fallon to come to the bench for an extra attacker, just as his team turned the puck over to Mark Rooneem in the neutral zone. Rooneem raced down the left wing against Fallon and fired into the empty net as Fallon made a desperate dive to stop the shot to no avail at 19:06 of the third.

The Sea Wolves were 1-for-5 on the power play, and Munce made 42 saves to earn his 14th win of the season.

The next broadcast of Sea Wolves hockey is Friday when the Sea Wolves host the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05 CT, and will be heard on the B2 Networks and at www.msseawolves.com. The pre-game show presented by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will begin 15 minutes before the opening faceoff!

Sea Wolves fans, come out and support a great cause this Saturday when the Sea Wolves hold their second annual Pink In The Rink game! During Saturday's game, a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Cincinnati Cyclones, the Sea Wolves will wear special pink jerseys and goaltender Ryan Munce will wear a special donated by Tony Spriolo and Sportmask of Toronto, Ontario, that has been painted by local artist Jay Livery and will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Memorial Hospital Foundation's Sea Wolves Breast Cancer Imaging Fund. Get your tickets for this great event by calling the Sea Wolves office at (228) 275-WOLF!

Stop by Hooters brand new Biloxi Beach location on Highway 90 immediately following the team's home games on Friday and Saturday for the post-game party! Grab a bite to eat or something to drink and have the chance to meet and greet your favorite Sea Wolves players at the Hooters on Highway 90 in Biloxi.

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ECHL Stories from February 4, 2009


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