Six-Game Homestand Starts Friday

December 1, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


RECORD TO DATE: 4-3-0 (8 points) Tied 3rd place in WHA2

THIS WEEK:

FRI Dec. 5 Jacksonville @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Macon will look for their first win of the season versus Jacksonville. Both games this year were very similar in nature. Jacksonville took early leads, Macon came back, Jacksonville hung on to win. This will be the first meeting of the season where Macon will not have a game the night before facing the ‘Cudas.

Season Series: Jacksonville leads 2-0 (Most recent: 5-3, Nov. 29 @ JAX)

SAT Dec. 6 Lakeland @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

It seems like this been an eternity since these two teams met. It was exactly one month ago when the Loggerheads hosted the Trax on a historic night. The two teams played the inaugural WHA2 game on Nov. 6 in front of over 3,500 fans. The Trax beat Lakeland 5-2 behind Ryan Rivard's two goal night. Since then things have been much of the same for Lakeland. The Loggerheads enter the week at the bottom of the league standings, still looking for their first win.

Season Series: Trax lead 1-0 (5-2 @ LAK Nov. 6)

LAST WEEK:

FRI Nov. 28 Orlando @ TRAX (6-4 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Macon Trax played a great first 40 minutes and hung on in the last 20, to defeat the Orlando Seals 6-4. The win for Macon gives them two in two games versus the Seals this season.

David Deeves was the story of the night for the Boys in Black. Deeves continues to light up the WHA2, with a hat trick and an assist versus the Seals. Deeves currently has 14 points (7G, 7A) in his first six games of the season.

The Trax looked to be in control of the game as they stormed to a 5-1 lead at the second intermission. Orlando made the game tight as they scored three straight times in the third period to close the lead to just one.

The Trax started the scoring early as Deeves began his great night 66-seconds into the game with assists from new line mates Edan Welch and Jeff Antonovich. Things looked better half way through the first period when Craig Miller found the back of the net for the fifth time this season.

Just a few minutes into the third period Deeves scored his second goal of the night, again from a Welch feed. Orlando looked to gain momentum at the 4:34 mark as they got their first tally from B.J. Stephens' stick.

As soon as Orlando gained that momentum the Trax took it away with back to back goals late in the middle period. Steve Howard side stepped a Seals defender at the blue line, fed David Deeves who got the puck right to the tape of Antonovich who buried it past Seals goalie Mike Correia.

Seals coach Jim Peak saw enough from his starting goaltender, and replaced Correia with David Goverde. The Trax Steve Zoryk's third goal of the season came in the final minute of the second period.

The third period mostly belonged to the Seals. Brad Federenko scored at the 3:14 mark. The Seals special teams kicked it into high gear in the latter stages of the game. Joe Urbanik netted a power play goal, his first of the season, to cut the Trax lead down to two. With about two minutes remaining in the game Jerry Keefe slipped through the Trax defense for a shorthanded goal.

The Trax fans were on the edge of their seats as the home team let a four goal lead slip down to one. The Trax and goalie Geoff Faulkner held their own as Deeves finished his hat trick with an empty netter to seal the Trax victory.

SAT Nov. 29 Trax @ JACKSONVILLE (5-3 loss) 12:35 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

The Trax hit the ice for their second game in only 17 hours. After winning the night before, the Trax lost in Jacksonville 5-3.

The game was very similar to the time the teams met in Macon on Nov. 23. Jacksonville scored first early in the first period. The Trax came back a couple times in the game, but the Barracudas hung on for the win.

The win was the first for Jacksonville in their new state-of-the-art facility. After almost ten thousand fans entered the Veterans Memorial Arena Friday close to three thousand returned Saturday afternoon.

Once again the special teams played a big role in the outcome of the game. The Trax were only able to convert one power play goal in their five chances. On the other side of the ice, Jacksonville scored two power play goals in seven chances.

Jeff Antonovich was the only Macon player to have more than one point (1G, 1A). Steve Zoryk and John Gurskis chipped in goals of their own in the losing effort.

The loss dropped the Trax to a 0-2 record when playing back-to-back games. Both losses happen to be at the hands of the Barracudas. The Trax will not have to wait long for revenge as Jacksonville will drive north for a match up this Friday at the Centreplex.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· A late Happy Birthday to the Trax youngest player, Art Mnatsakanov who turned 20 on Nov. 28.

· The Trax begin a season long six game home stand this Friday night (Dec. 5).

· Fans will have a chance to see every team but Alabama in the current home stand.

· The annual Teddy Bear Toss will be Saturday, Dec. 13.

· The Trax will be busy in the community this week:

Tuesday-Jones County Christmas Parade (7:00 PM)

Wednesday-Matt Arthur Elementary (1:30 PM), City Club of Macon (7:00 PM)

Thursday-Peach County High School (1:30 PM)

Sunday-Macon Christmas Parade (3 PM), Centreplex Grand Opening (2 PM) (Full Team Appearance)

TEAM NOTES:

Macon leads the league with 37 goals. The Trax are tied as the best road penalty killing team in the league with an 83.3% success rate. Macon leads the league with 16 second period goals.

STANDOUTS:

DAVID DEEVES is fourth in the WHA2 with 14 points (7G, 7A). EDAN WELCH continues to lead the Trax in assists with 10 and is second overall in the WHA2. Trax tough man ANDREW KATZBERG continues to average one major penalty a game (7 in 7 games). For the second straight week CRAIG MILLER leads the WHA2 with a 55.6% shooting percentage. Only Trax are on the WHA2 +/- leader board. DAVID DEEVES leads with a +8 while BENOIT COTNOIR, BOBBY CLOUSTON and STEVE ZORYK are right behind with a +7.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

JEFF ANTONOVICH-ANTONOVICH benefited more than anyone as Coach Tommy Stewart mixed up his lines this weekend. The Trax captain had multiple points in both games this past weekend. Friday, the Minnesota native scored one goal and had two assists. Saturday the center found the back of the net again and also added an assist in the loss. For the season ANTONOVICH is third on the Trax with 10 points (4G, 6A).



SPHL Stories from December 1, 2003


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