Seals find winning touch on the road
February 21, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
THIS WEEK:
THU Feb. 23 SEALS @ Pee Dee 7:35 p.m. Florence Civic Center
Florida has not had an easy time versus the Cyclones this season. Three of the first six head-to-head games have been sent to overtime. The Seals need one more point to secure a playoff spot in their first Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) season.
Season Series: Florida leads 4-0-2 (Last Game: 2-1 OT WIN @ PD 2/16/06)
All Time Series: Florida leads 4-0-2
FRI Feb. 24 SEALS @ Fayetteville 7:30 p.m. Crown Center
Through eight games the series can't get any closer. Each team has won four games and six games have been decided by two goals or less. The FireAntz have protected their home ice against the Seals, allowing only one overtime win for Florida in four tries.
Season Series: Series Tied 4-4-0 (Last Game: 3-1 loss @ FAY 2/03/06)
All Time Series: Florida leads 13-6-0
SAT Feb. 25 SEALS @ Columbus 7:30 p.m. Columbus Civic Center
Finally, the 13-game road trip ends. The Seals will finish their long trip in the same place the first weekend of this road trip ended. Columbus and the Seals have battled twice on the Seals record road trip. Each game was decided by a lone goal and showed this is a budding SPHL rivalry. Last time the Seals visited Columbus, the Snakes scored with only one-tenth of a second remaining in overtime.
Season Series: Columbus leads 6-2-0 (Last Game: 3-2 OT loss @ COL 2/09/06)
All Time Series: Columbus leads 6-2-0
LAST WEEK:
THU Feb. 16 SEALS @ Huntsville (3-2 WIN) 8:05 p.m. Von Braun Center
The Florida Seals and Huntsville Havoc needed extra time to sort out who would emerge in fourth place in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) standings. For the first time this season the Seals won in a shootout 3-2.
The Seals controlled most of the game with quality shots, good defense and team play. Regulation and overtime wasn't enough to find a winner in the game. In fact, the standard five-shootout rounds still could not produce a winner in this SPHL battle. Rob Sich scored the game winner in the sixth round of the shootout in a game that looked like it would be settled in regulation.
The game was tied for over 19-minutes in the third period. David Deeves fed a pass across the low hash marks to Steve Zoryk who tipped it into the net giving the Seals a 2-1 lead with 28-seconds remaining in the contest. On the very next shift Huntsville pulled their goaltender and Craig Bushey tied the game with nine seconds to go forcing overtime.
The Seals jumped on the board first. David Deeves worked hard in the corner of the ice eventually seeing an open Justin Keller in the slot. Keller had room and kept the puck on the ice through Havoc goalie Jomar Cruz.
Chris Peach tied the game up in the second period proving the game would be exciting throughout. The teams skated hard in the third period trading shots and had a couple near misses.
Casey Handrahan may have had the save of the game. With Huntsville on the power play Terry Denike made a save but was unable to recover. Peach launched a shot towards the open net and Handrahan got in the way making the save with his stick.
FRI Feb. 17 SEALS @ Pee Dee (2-1 OT WIN) 7:35 p.m. Florence Civic Center
For the second straight night the Seals won in an extra session. Friday night Florida squeaked past Pee Dee 2-1.
Art Mnatsakanov was the latest hero for the Seals as his fifth goal of the year was the overtime winner. Trevor Hammer and David Deeves both moved the puck inside the Seals zone avoiding the Cyclones fore-checking. Deeves fed the puck to Mnatsakanov who dangled down the ice and fired the puck over Mark Cairns at the 2:10 mark.
Florida kept the Pee Dee goalie busy throughout the night firing 53 shots on net. Terry Denike had a much busier night than last night against Huntsville stopping 31 Pee Dee shots.
The Cyclones scored first as Geoff Rollins tipped a shot into the net on the power play in the opening period. Less than two minutes later Dominick Dawes was turned away by Cairns, but Andrew Katzberg found the rebound and slid it into the net.
SAT Feb. 18 SEALS @ Jacksonville (4-3 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
What an exciting night for the over 100 Seals fans who made the trip to Jacksonville. The Seals came from behind to beat their rivals 4-3 Saturday night.
Jacksonville took control early with a Pat Doherty shorthanded goal 4:47 into the game. The game turned physical early as both teams threw their weight around legally and even illegally at times.
It was also a night of unlikely scorers helping their teams. Trevor Hammer tied the contest in the second period and gave the Seals the lead in the third period with his third and fourth goals of the season. With the Seals holding the one goal edge the rivalry the fans have been waiting really took off.
Seals newcomer, Bret Peppler dropped the gloves with Jan Arvonen and showed his new fans how tough he is. Later in the period Ryan Rivard was bested in a fight with George Cantrall. Even without more fighting in the game play still remained physical.
Jacksonville player/assistant coach Bret Strot had been pushed around all night by the physical Seals play. Strot lost his temper and brutally crosschecked rookie Rob Sich across the face after the whistle. Strot was assessed a five minute major for cross checking. As the players went back to the bench Barracudas Head Coach Ron Duguay lost his cool.
Duguay leaned over his bench and exchanged words with individuals on the Seals bench. The Seals kept their discipline and didn't even flinch. In fact many of the Florida players could be seen smiling and laughing at the oppositions brain trust.
Back on the ice the teams continued an offensive explosion in the third period. George Cantrall scored his first goal in a Barracudas uniform. Florida had seen enough and decided it was time to secure their seventh victory against Jacksonville this year.
Andrew Katzberg put a rebound from a Dominick Dawes shot to the back of the net giving the Seals a lead they would not surrender. Justin Keller added, what turned out to be, a shorthanded game winning goal. Ryan Webb scored late for the âCudas ending the five goal period by both teams.
SEALS TIDBITS:
- Pre-order tickets through the Seals office for any March home game and you will receive the same number of free tickets for "Fan Appreciation Night" on Mar. 18.
- Fri. Mar. 3-"SCOUT NIGHT"-The Seals will hold their final "Scout Night" of the season. All Boy, Cub and Girl Scouts will be invited to the Silver Spurs for the night. Scouts and their families will receive highly discounted tickets and a patch to commemorate the night. Contact your Scout leader to get the order form.
- Fri. Mar. 3-"KIDS NIGHT OUT"-The monthly event returns as the Seals come back to the Silver Spurs Arena. All Osceola County students will be given vouchers from their schools good for a free ticket with paying adult.
- Fri. Mar. 3-"COMFORT INN FOAM FINGER NIGHT"-The first 1,000 fans through the Arena doors will get their very own Comfort Inn/Florida Seals #1 Foam Finger.
- Sat. Mar. 4-"PACK THE HOUSE FOR CHARITY"-A portion of all sales for the game against Columbus will be donated to various local charities. In addition former Buffalo Bills legend Thurman Thomas will be on hand signing autographs.
- Sat. Mar. 4-"GUARANTEED WIN NIGHT"-The Seals are guaranteeing a win to all their fans. If the Seals fail to win against the Cottonmouths, each fan will receive one free ticket to the following home game on Mar. 14.
- Tue. Mar. 14-"TWO FOR TUESDAY"-Florida will host their final "Two For Tuesday" promotion this season. Fans can come out and get two tickets for the price of one when the Seals host Fayetteville.
- Thu. Mar. 16-"THIRSTY THURSDAY"-Cheap beer is the name of the game on this night. Fans can drink responsibly for $1 during the game.
- Thu. Mar. 16-"BIKE NIGHT"-Every fan that rides their motorcycle to the game will get a free game ticket. Inside the arena different bikes will be on display. Contact the Seals office if you would like your bike displayed in the arena or on the ice.
- Fri. Mar. 17-"ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY"-The Seals O'Seals will have a yee old good time on St. Patrick's Day. Fans can catch special fun all night long and there are sure to be a few surprises along the way. In addition, Florida will hold their final specialty jersey auction. You can bid on the special St. Patrick's Day jersey throughout the game in the main lobby.
- Fri Mar. 17-"SEALS SHAMROCK PIN NIGHT"-The Seals will give away Florida Seals Shamrock Pins to the first 500 fans through the gate.
- Sat. Mar. 18-"FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT"-The Florida Seals will honor you, the fan on the final home game of the year. The night will feature many things to show the loyal Seals fans how much we appreciate the support you have given us throughout this year and years past. The first 1,000 fans will get Coggin Cheerstix.
- WEEKEND BROADCAST SCHEDULE-Thursday and Saturday will be on WAMT 1190 and Friday's game will be on SportsRadio 1080 WHOO.
SEALS IN THE COMMUNITY
- Mondays and Tuesdays during the month of February the Seals will practice at the Space Coast Ice Plex. The Seals are scheduled to be on the ice at 10am. Please note that this is tentative and the Coach may cancel practice at his discretion. All practices at the Space Coast Ice Plex are open to the public.
TEAM NOTES:
- NICK NIEDERT has been acquired in a trade with Huntsville.
- CRAIG MILLER is expected to return to the lineup this weekend.
- The three game road win streak is the longest such streak for the Seals this season.
- The Seals need one more point to clinch a playoff spot.
- Thursday was the first time this season the Seals have played in a shootout, giving them 11 extra sessions games this season.
- The Seals have given up a league low five shorthanded goals.
STANDOUTS:
- DAVID DEEVES is tied for tenth in league scoring with 50 points (14G, 36A).
- TERRY DENIKE is second in goals against (3.08) and wins (19), first in shutouts (2) and saves (1123).
SEALS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- TERRY DENIKE-The Seals goalie got back on track leading the Seals to three victories over Huntsville, Pee Dee and Jacksonville. The Burlington, Ont. Native finished 3-0, with a .970 save percentage and 1.92 goals against average.
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SPHL Stories from February 21, 2006
- Seals find winning touch on the road - Florida Seals
- Denike named SPHL Player of the Week - SPHL
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