Seals excite fans at home
November 1, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
THIS WEEK:
THU Nov. 3 Fayetteville @ SEALS 7:35 p.m. Silver Spur Arena
After three years of not playing each other, these two teams will battle it out on the ice once again. Fayetteville will make their first trip outside the Carolinas this season. The FireAntz come into the game holding down first place in the SPHL. It will be the first "Thirsty Thursday" of the season for the Seals with $1 beer specials available.
Season Series: First meeting of the season
All Time Series: Seals lead 9-2-0
FRI Nov. 4 Pee Dee @ SEALS 7:35 p.m. Silver Spurs Arena
Last week these two teams had a great overtime battle in South Carolina. This week the Cyclones come to the Seals' home for the first time in their team history. It should be a big night as the Florida Seals will honor the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. All scouts in attendance will receive a scouting patch and of course great ticket discounts.
Season Series: Pee Dee leads 1-0-0 (Last meeting: 4-3 OT Seals loss @ PD on Oct. 28)
All Time Series: Pee Dee leads 1-0-0
SAT Nov. 6 Knoxville @ SEALS 6:05 p.m. Silver Spurs Arena
The Seals will look to get back to their winning ways against the Ice Bears. Last week the Ice Bears took it to the Seals in the Knoxville home opener. Fans coming to the lone Sunday home game will receive a team poster courtesy of Xerographic digital printing.
Season Series: Knoxville leads 1-0-0 (Last meeting: 5-1 Seals loss @ KNO on Oct. 21)
All Time Series: Seals lead 8-5-0
LAST WEEK:
FRI Oct. 28 SEALS @ Pee Dee (4-3 OT loss) 7:00 p.m. Florence Civic Center
The Seals had to endure their third straight home opener in a visiting arena. For the first time in the young season the Seals got on the board first, but were unable to hold on to the lead. The see saw game ended with the Cyclones winning in overtime 4-3.
Florida struck first at the 7:20 mark of the first period with a goal by Lawne Snyder. The Cyclones gained intensity in the second period scoring two goals. Chris Seifert's third goal of the year tied the game at 1-1. Justin Wise beat Cyclones goalie Mark Cairns for his first goal of the season, and put the Seals back on top 2-1 shortly after. Trevor Karasiewicz answered back with his second goal of the year and tied the game at 2-2 for the second break. Jean-Francois Picard and Shaun Aebig picked up the assists.
The Cyclones captain Eric Naud scored his first SPHL goal in third period, taking advantage of a Seals cross-checking call. With Katzberg in the box for Florida, Naud re-directed a shot to give the Cyclones the first lead of the night with 5:23 left in the third. The Cyclones picked up the defense but gave up a late goal with 2:09 left in regulation. The third period ended in a 3-3 tie, treating the Cyclones fans to "free hockey" and the first overtime in the SPHL this season.
The power play once again played a key part in the game when Craig Miller was sent to the box for boarding at the 1:42 mark of the 3 on 3 overtime. Captain Eric Naud gave the Cyclones their first win at home re-directing a shot from Picard to give the Cyclones a 4-3 win in overtime.
SAT Oct. 29 Jacksonville @ SEALS (5-2 WIN) 7:35 p.m Silver Spurs Arena
Maybe Florida Seals Head Coach Tommy Stewart had this plan all along. Wait to win his first game in Florida until he saw home ice. The Seals did just that with a 5-2 victory over rival Jacksonville.
After a slow start in the first three games of the season the Seals clicked on all cylinders Saturday night in front of the home crowd. The Seals wasted very little time in exciting the fans in their new barn as Don Patrick scored just 2:16 into the game.
Florida has been without scoring from the big guns early this season. Tonight that all changed as three of the teams offensive leaders lit the lamp. Craig Miller extended the lead 12:32 into the first period on a power play goal.
The second period went by fast as the teams traded shots through the first half of the middle frame. Steve Zoryk reawakened the Silver Spurs fans with a rebound goal at the 13:01 mark. Only 91 seconds later John Gurskis took a Justin Wise pass and buried it through the littlest of daylight for one of his four points on the night.
Fans where starting to think shutout as the half way mark of the third period was approaching. The Barracudas Joel Petkoff ended that thought as he slid the puck past goalie Terry Denike. Denike went for a backhanded poke check but missed and Petkoff puck the puck through Denike's five hole.
The new top line of Wise, Zoryk and Gurskis banded together one more time late in the third period as Gurskis put a rebound home to end the Seals five goal barrage on home opener night in Osceola County. Overall the number one line combined for nine points sending the 4,325 fans home happy.
The Seals were hoping to grab their first win of the season against intrastate rival Jacksonville, but the Barracudas had other plans. In their first game of the season the âCudas sank the Seals
5-1.
Jacksonville had eight players making their pro debut and two of them came up huge. The story of the night was goaltender Pat Berrigan. The rookie net minder came within 2:24 of posting a shutout. All in all he made 29 saves to earn the victory. Mike Fougere, another Barracuda rookie, scored two goals to help pace the team offensively.
The Seals lone goal came off the stick of former Orlando Seal Nick Cammarata. After carrying the puck into the zone Cammarata put the puck into the net on a wraparound, ahead of Berrigan's stick.
SEALS TIDBITS:
- Wed.,Nov. 3, 7pm-Head Coach Tommy Stewart will be on the "Finish Line" on 740 The Team. Tune into the show hosted by Jerry O'Neil to hear what Coach Stewart thought about this past week and what lies ahead for the Florida Seals.
- Thu., Nov. 3-"Thirsty Thursday"-Enjoy $1 beer special during the Seals game. Bring your friends as we start the weekend early with an exciting hockey game and drink specials.
- Fri., Nov. 4-"SCOUT NIGHT"-All scouts (boys and girls) will be invited out to the first scout night of the year. Special group rates are available for all scouts and special activities are planned for all scouts in attendance.
- Sun., Nov. 6-"TEAM POSTER NIGHT"-The first 1,000 fans through the doors will get their very own Florida Seals team poster courtesy of Xerographic Digital Printing.
- Sun., Nov. 6-"POST GAME SKATE"-Stay after the game for the first post game skate in Florida Seals history. Fans that have their own skates will be invited to join the Seals players on the ice following the game. Skate rental will not be available.
- Thu. Nov. 10-"MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT"-The Florida Seals will honor the military in this annual event. Seals dog tags will be given out to the first 1,000 fans who attend the game. Special discounts for military personal. Stay after the game as the Seals will auction off their special game worn jerseys they wear for this event.
TEAM APPEARANCES:
- Wed. Nov. 2-"NHL Legends of Hockey"-Come out to the ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk as Chris LiPuma and Garry Unger will be a part of the Legends of Hockey from 7-8pm.
*players attending subject to change*
TEAM NOTES:
- Don Patrick has been signed, to make room Justin Kaput was waived.
- Nick Cammarata was taken off a five game tryout and sign to a full playing contract.
- The Seals have not allowed a home power play goal in nine chances.
STANDOUTS:
- ANDREW KATZBERG leads the league with 59 penalty minutes and majors to five.
- NICK CAMMARATA leads all defensemen with two goals.
SEALS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
- JOHN GURSKIS-Gurskis has a big night in the Seals home opener with two goals and two assists. The Brockton, Mass. native helped lead his team to a home opening night 5-2 victory over Jacksonville.
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SPHL Stories from November 1, 2005
- Seals excite fans at home - Florida Seals
- Ice Bears coaches show, pep rally tonight - Knoxville Ice Bears
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.
