Seals Continue With Split Personality
Published on November 9, 2006 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. - As former New York Yankee great Yogi Berra once said, it's like déjà vu all over again.
Following a split of their two contests in week 1, the Florida Seals repeated that recipe in week 2, losing a tough game to the Jacksonville Barracudas 6-4 on Friday November but rebounding to thrash the Richmond Renegades 7-2 the very next night.
Seals' fans could be forgiven if on Friday, November 3, they were thinking they were in some kind of time warp. After watching Huntsville jump on their team for two quick goals a week earlier, they had to endure a repeat thanks to Jacksonville. First Greg LeColst and then Ryan Crowther beat Florida goalie Terry Denike before the game was six minutes old. The Barracudas added one late in the period by Caleb Moffat to take a 3-0 margin into the first break.
Following a goaltending change by the Seals at the start of the second period, things picked up for the home team. Rob Sich was able to slide a perfect pass across the crease to Glenn Painter who one timed the puck home to make it 3-1. Derek McKinlay got that one back for the Barracudas on a power play. The Seals responded with goals by Steve Zoryk and Kahlil Thomas late in the stanza, bringing Florida to within 4-3 going to the third.
The backbreaking score for Jacksonville came seven minutes into the third. Coming out of the penalty box, Patrick Doherty took the puck and went in alone on Florida net minder Matt Balsar. Doherty made a couple of moves then fired high over the young goalie to restore a two goal margin. Sich made it a one goal game with a power play goal but Doherty's second of the night with less than two minutes left sealed the victory for the visitors.
Saturday, November 4 had been marked on the calendars of many Seals fans because it was the first visit of the expansion Richmond Renegades and legendary Head Coach John Brophy. The Renegades were 3-0 coming in but it was the home standing Seals who had the cannons loaded and ready to fire.
After a scoreless first period which featured Florida goalie Matt Balsar and Richmond net minder Doug Groenestege, the Seals got on the board first when Justin Keller sent Rob Sich away for a shorthanded scoring chance. Sich's first shot was blocked but he stayed with the play and scored on a wrap around from behind the net. Later in the period, rookie Chad Haacke picked up the rebound of a Sich shot and scored. A little over three minutes later, Steve Zoryk showed off his hand-eye coordination, batting the puck out of mid air and into the net to give Florida a 3-0 cushion. Tyler Schremp got one of those back for Richmond before the end of the stanza on a man advantage situation.
The Seals' lead grew in the third. Keller started it just over a minute in when he scored on a give-and-go pass from Sich. Keller struck again five minutes later on the power play and the rout was on. Haacke's second of the night came on a two-on-one break 21 seconds after Keller's second. Richmond's Danny White ended Florida's string of three unanswered goals at the 7:25 mark. Kahlil Thomas completed the scoring in the final minute for the 7-2 final.
Slap Shots.......
Keller's two goal, three assist game against Richmond gives him 8 points, good for seventh in the league. Teammate Sich is in a tie for fourth with 9 points......Rookie goalie Balsar is leading the SPHL in goals against average (2.25) and save percentage (.933)......What, another penalty?: The Seals penalty killing unit has given up 5 goals in 39 times short, a kill percentage of 87.18% which is first in the league (Knoxville is second at 86.96%).....The power play is not so hot, having tallied just 7 times in 57 chances. Their 12.28% is seventh in the league with only Jacksonville behind them.....F Cedrick Bernier saw his first action of the season after missing the first two games with an injury. He didn't disappoint, dropping the gloves and going with Richmond's Brett Cross and David Mitchell. To make room on the roster, the Seals waived F Seth Gray......The long home stand continues this week with a pair of games. On Friday, November 10, the Columbus Cottonmouths come to the Silver Spurs Arena. It is "BellSouth Real Yellow Pages Magnetic Schedule" night. Fans will receive a free magnetic Seals schedule when they enter. Then on Saturday, November 11, join the Seals for "Military Appreciation Night" when they host the Jacksonville Barracudas. All active and retired military can bring their valid military ID to the box office and receive a game ticket for only $5. Game time both nights is 7:35 P.M.
SPHL Stories from November 9, 2006
- Seals Continue With Split Personality - Florida Seals
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