Seals move into SPHL semi-finals
Published on March 29, 2006 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
The Florida Seals will enter the semi-finals of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) playoffs with home ice advantage. Florida earned their spot in the round with a hard fought two games to one win over the Fayetteville FireAntz.
The Seals and FireAntz both held serve on home ice. The Seals came from behind in the first game to grab a 2-1 victory. The second game was all about Fayetteville. The FireAntz gave their hometown fans a great summer memory pounding the Seals 8-1.
Game three turned out to be one of the finest games in the SPHL history. The Seals and FireAntz battled stride for stride nearly 60-minutes. League Rookie of the Year Rob Sich scored the game's lone goal with 37.7 second showing on the clock sending Florida to the semi-finals. Terry Denike came back strong earning his first career playoff shutout.
Huntsville's series was the exact opposite of the Seals. The SPHL has been known for teams winning games on their home ice and struggling on the road during the regular season. In the series against Columbus, neither of the teams won at home. The Havoc won games one and three in the Columbus Civic Center, while losing at home in game two.
The Huntsville win guarantees a new champion will be crowned in the SPHL. The Cottonmouths will be forced to hand over the SPHL President's Cup to either Florida, Huntsville, Knoxville or Pee Dee.
The series will feature a few SPHL regular season award winners. In addition to Sich being the Rookie of the Year, Terry Denike won the Goalie of the Year award while Huntsville's Matt Carmichael won the SPHL Most Valuable Player Award.
Season Series: Florida leads 5-2-1 (Last Game: 3-1 WIN @ FLA 3/14/06)
All Time Series: Florida leads 5-2-1
LAST WEEK:
FRI Mar. 24 Fayetteville @ SEALS (2-1 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Silver Spurs Arena
The Florida Seals fought back with two third period goals earning a 2-1 playoff victory against Fayetteville. The Seals comeback was only the second win of the year for the Seals after being down after two periods.
Both goalies shined but Terry Denike got the win over Chad Collins. Rookie Rob Sich turned out to be the hero scoring the game-winning goal at the 9:05 mark of the third period. Sich's first professional playoff goal came one shift after Collins stopped David Deeves on a penalty shot.
Kory Baker stole the puck in the neutral zone and beat the Seals defense and Terry Denike to give the FireAntz the game's opening goal at 5:45 of the second period. The goal was unassisted.
The Seals went through the game without a power play. They were about to get one as Craig Geerlinks was being held behind the Fayetteville net. Steve Zoryk took the puck away behind the net and found John Gurskis in the low slot. Gurskis calmed the puck and fired it past Collins giving the Silver Spurs fans their first excitement of the night.
SAT Mar. 25 SEALS @ Fayetteville (8-1 loss) 7:35 p.m. Crown Center
The Fayetteville FireAntz came out firing on home ice. Before the fans got settled in their seats Fayetteville scored two goals and closed the game with a 8-1 victory.
George Nistas led the FireAntz with four goals and Kory Baker chipped in four assists. The Seals cut the lead down to one goal late in the first period on Justin Keller's goal, but could never tie the game up.
Fayetteville continued their offensive pressure in the second period adding two more goals to build their big three-goal lead after 40 minutes. Unlike last night the Seals would not mount a third period comeback. The FireAntz would add four final period goals to secure the victory and tie the series up.
TUE Mar. 28 Fayetteville @ SEALS (1-0 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Silver Spurs Arena
The Seals and Fayetteville battled for 60-minutes in what was one of the best games in Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) history. Rob Sich scored with 37.7-second remaining giving the Seals the 1-0 victory.
Both goalies played amazing hockey in a game that looked like it was going to overtime. Late in the third period the Seals won a draw in the FireAntz zone. Lawne Snyder launched the shot towards the net where Antz goalie Chad Collins made the save. Sich, the SPHL "Rookie of the Year" was waiting and put the rebound over Collins' left pad and under the cross bar for his second game winning goal of the series.
SPHL "Goalie of the Year" Terry Denike proved deserving of the award with his first career playoff shutout. Denike made 25 saves sending the Seals to the second round.
Florida will open up the SPHL semi-finals against the Huntsville Havoc Friday at the Silver Spurs Arena. The puck drops at 7:35 pm in the best-of-three series. The series will shift to Huntsville Sunday evening for the second game.
SEALS TIDBITS:
- PLAYOFF TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE. Call the Seals office at 407-343-PUCK to find out how you can get your hands on playoff tickets.
- WEEKEND BROADCAST SCHEDULE-All Seals games can be heard on Sports Radio 1080 WHOO and on the web at www.espnflorida.com. Every game for the Huntsville series will be available with a video web cast at www.livesportsnetwork.com/sphl.
SEALS IN THE COMMUNITY
- The Seals will practice at the Silver Spurs Arena this week. Florida's practice starts at 10am.
- Sat. Apr. 1-"EDUCATION IN THE PARK"-Kissimmee South Lakefront Park, 10am-3pm-slap shot booth, Sealvester, Seals staff and Seals Girls.
TEAM NOTES:
- TERRY DENIKE recorded the second shutout in Seals playoff history.
- This was the first time the Seals did not sweep a playoff series.
STANDOUTS:
- ROB SICH leads the playoffs with two game winning goals.
- TERRY DENIKE is the only goalie to record a shutout in the SPHL playoffs.
SEALS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- ROB SICH-The Seals rookie showed the league he can be a hero. The Windsor, Ont. native scored two goals, both game winners against Fayetteville in the three game series. Overall Sich leads the Seals with three points in the playoffs.
THIS WEEK:
FRI Mar. 31 Huntsville @ SEALS 7:35 p.m. EST Silver Spurs Arena
SUN Apr. 2 SEALS @ Huntsville 5:00 p.m. EST Von Braun Center
TUE Mar. 28 Fayetteville @ SEALS 7:35 p.m. EST Silver Spurs Arena
SPHL Stories from March 29, 2006
- Seals move into SPHL semi-finals - Florida Seals
- FireAntz fall 1-0, lose series - Fayetteville Marksmen
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.
