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ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Stingrays Edge Ice Pilots 4-3 In Shootout

March 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - Playing without their head coach and only eight forwards and five defensemen, the South Carolina Stingrays rallied to defeat the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4-3 in the shootout before 2,725 at the Pensacola Civic Center.

"That was a huge come-from-behind win," said South Carolina assistant coach Jared Bednar, who was running the bench for head coach Jason Fitzsimmons, who was serving a one-game suspension. "Our guys believe in one another. We never gave up and it was a gritty road victory. We look forward to having Fitzy back behind the bench at home tomorrow against Pensacola."

Pensacola (19-39-4, 42 points) opened the score on the power play at 14:49 of the first period. David Wrigley let go with a shot from just inside the blue line through goaltender Daren Machesney for his 19th goal of the season. Assists went to Rob Rankin and John Hecimovic.

Wrigley netted his second of the game and 20th of the campaign at the 12:56 mark of the middle stanza from Hecimovic and Dan Sullivan to make it 2-0 for Pensacola.

South Carolina (33-24-7, 73 points) closed the margin to one by a passing play from Matt Reid to Chris Chaput, who fed Peter Szabo for his 10th of the year beating netminder Evan Lindsay.

Pensacola went ahead 3-1 in the final minute of the second, as Sullivan recorded his 15th of the season from the slot. Sergei Ogorodnikov and Erik Johnson garnered helpers.

Just 14 seconds later, Donny Grover buried a rebound on Lindsay to score his ninth of the year. Assists went to Szabo and Chris Chaput to pull the Stingrays within one at 3-2 through 40 minutes.

South Carolina pulled its goalie in the dying minute, Grover tied the score at 3-3 with 1:02 remaining in regulation.

In the shootout, Jarrett Konkle and Evan Schwabe scored for the Stingrays. Machesney denied Johnson in the fourth round of the shootout to preserve the win.

South Carolina failed to convert on 11 power play chances, while Pensacola finished 1-for-10 with the man advantage. Stingrays outshot the Ice Pilots 51-36.

The Stingrays return home for a 4 p.m. game on Sunday against Pensacola at the North Charleston Coliseum. The game marks Baseball Night presented by the Charleston RiverDogs and Coburg Dairy. It's also Kids Day presented by the Carolina Ice Palace offering all kids 12-and-under a ticket for just $5 each. In addition, there is a postgame "Skate with the Rays."

Join Mike Kelly, "Voice of the Stingrays" for live play-by-play on ESPN Radio 910 The Team and online at www.stingrayshockey.com beginning at 3:45 p.m. with the Benito's Pregame Show. Watch the game live on the web telecast for $6 each at www.stingrayshockey.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Individual tickets can be purchased at the North Charleston Coliseum box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (843) 554-6060 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Discounted groups tickets, birthday packages, Kids Club information and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (843) 744-2248 or by visiting online at www.stingrayshockey.com. Stingrays Hockey - A Whole Lot Cooler!

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