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String of one-goal games continues; \'Gators tied for 1st

December 16, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Week in review: BR 6, LA 5; MIS 3, LA 2; JCK 2, LA 1 (SO); LA 4, JCK 3 (OT)

The IceGators ran their streak of one-goal games to a franchise-record seven this week, going 1-2-1 but moving into a tie for first place in the Southwest Division with Mississippi with 38 points.

Sunday, Louisiana finally prevailed after losing its last five, one-goal decisions, as Bobby Brown batted a puck out of midair for his second goal of the game with 55.1 seconds left in overtime to give the IceGators a 4-3 win over Jackson.

Bruce Richardson and Cal Benazic each scored and Frederic Cloutier made 25 saves for Louisiana, which snapped a five-game winless streak (0-2-3).

Adam Hauser, bidding for his fifth straight win, turned aside 36 shots, including 18 in the first period, but yielded Brown's game-winner. Reagan Rome, Sean Gillam and Brent Gauvreau each scored for the Bandits, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

J.P. Morin started the winning play with a clearing pass out of the IceGators zone to Kevin Mitchell in the neutral zone. Mitchell streaked into Jackson territory by the right boards, and attempted to flip a pass to Brown between the circles. The pass went off a Bandit player's stick right to Brown, who knocked the puck in at waist-height for his 10th goal of the season.

Saturday in Jackson, Gauvreau scored the game-winner in the shootout and Hauser outdueled fellow rookie Kyle Kettles with a 30-save performance, as the Bandits earned a 2-1 win.

Tony Tuzzolino scored and Kettles made 31 stops for the IceGators, who tied a season-high with their five-game winless streak.

Friday, Louisiana got a goal late to make things interesting but fell at home to Mississippi, 3-2. Benazic scored just 33 seconds into the game, but the IceGators yielded goals later in the first to Kent Davyduke and Steffon Walby and didn't score again until the final minute.

Cloutier made 32 saves, including 16 in the second period, for Louisiana. Shawn McNeil scored with 15 seconds remaining with the extra attacker on.

Wednesday in Baton Rouge, Steve Cheredaryk had the game-winner late, and three assists, in the 6-5 Kingfish win.

Nathan Rempel had two goals for the IceGators, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the game heading into the third period.

IceGators give back during holiday season - The IceGators, despite a busy schedule, will be out in the community in this, the final week before Christmas. Early in the week, the team will be delivering canned food and money donated to St. Joseph's Diner. Thursday, the IceGators' big holiday season in the community culminates with two big appearances. At 1:30 p.m., Bruce Richardson, Daniel Goneau, Bobby Brown, Kenny Corupe, Kevin Mitchell and John DePourcq will be going to Women's and Children's Hospital to deliver teddy bears. From 5:30-8 p.m., Shawn McNeil, Cal Benazic, Nathan Rempel, Louis Mass, Shawn Skiehar and Rod Sarich will be at Acadian Village as part of the Toys for Tots campaign. The first 500 people to bring a toy for "Maria's Toy Box" will get free admission to Acadian Village to view the lights, thanks to Regions Bank. The first 500 will also get a gift from the IceGators. Acadian Village proceeds benefit the Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens.

Coming attractions:

TUE, LA at PEN, 6:05 p.m.

The IceGators wrap up an eight game in 12 day stretch. Each team owns a lopsided win in the season series, with the Ice Pilots winning 6-1 on home ice and Louisiana beating Pensacola 6-3 at the Cajundome on Thanksgiving night. The teams will meet 10 times in the final 3 1/2 months of the season, counting Tuesday.

FRI, LA at MIS, 7:35 p.m.

The IceGators and Sea Wolves will be meeting for the ninth time, with first-place in the Southwest Division likely on the line again. These two teams take it to the wire every time they play, with Louisiana holding a 5-2-1 advantage in the season series. The IceGators and Se Wolves have met 50 times, with each team walking away with 25 wins.

SAT, LA vs. ARK, 7:05 p.m.
"Santa Claus, Christmas post-game skate with the IceGators"

The IceGators send their fans on the Christmas holiday in style, with an appearance by Santa Claus, and their first-ever post-game skate with the players, immediately following the game at the Cajundome. It's also season-ticket redemption night, and the Booster Club will be auctioning off the Christmas ornaments that the players painted last month.

Chris Taliercio's ornament

For a complete view of the IceGators' ornaments, please click here.

Teddy Bear Toss a smashing success - The IceGators' Teddy Bear Toss on December 7 netted 945 bears for needy children in Acadiana. Thank you for all your help!

I Got You Babe - A reminder that "Ice Packs" make great Christmas presents, and anyone buying an Ice Pack in December, or referring someone who buys one, will get entered into a drawing for two IceGators suite tickets to see Cher at the Cajundome on March 6.

Down to the wire - The IceGators are giving fans their money's worth this season, especially in December. Louisiana has played seven straight one-goal games, bettering the old franchise mark of five, set twice, most recently from February 10-21, 2001. This season, the IceGators are 6-4-6 in one-goal games. In 2001-02, Louisiana finished its record-setting campaign 21-5-4 in one-goal games.

Tuzzolino streaking - Winger Tony Tuzzolino was scoreless in his first two games with the IceGators after getting assigned to the team from NHL Minnesota, but since then he's been on a roll. Tuzzolino is in the midst of a career-best nine-game point streak, with 14 points (7g, 7a) in that span. Tuzzolino's current streak is two games shy of the team season-high, set by Shawn McNeil and Bruce Richardson.

The friendly confines - Center Bruce Richardson, the team leader with 40 points, has 30 of those at the Cajundome. Also, 12 of his 15 goals this season have come on the "Frozen Swamp."

It's when he does his best work - Shawn McNeil has scored three extra attacker goals in the last 11 games, two of which forced overtime and gained the IceGators a point. McNeil's third extra attacker tally came Friday against Mississippi, and it brought the IceGators within 3-2 with 15 seconds left.

A key to victory - The IceGators are 11-1-2 this season when yielding one or less power play goals, but they are 5-6-4 when allowing two or more. Louisiana's PK unit ranks 15th in the ECHL at 81.3 percent.

Cloutier hits 40-win mark - Sunday, Frederic Cloutier became the second IceGator to record 40 wins, joining Doug Bonner (64). He also moved into third place on the team's all-time games played list among goaltenders. His 57 games are one behind Bryan Schoen for second. Bonner leads all Louisiana netminders with 99 games played. In his career, Cloutier is 40-10-7 with a 2.33 goals against average, the second-best in ECHL history.

Getting the first and last word - The IceGators have scored in the game's opening 90 seconds in three of their last five contests and have scored in the opening 2:30 of a period on 14 occasions this season. Louisiana has also scored in the final 2:30 of a period 20 times in 29 games, including three times Sunday.

Player of the Week Nominees

Forward Bobby Brown - Had four points (3g, 1a) in leading IceGators to 1-2-1 record last week...Had goal and assist in 6-5 loss at Baton Rouge on Wednesday...Scored twice, including overtime game-winner with 55.1 seconds left, in Sunday's 4-3 home win over Jackson...Batted the winning goal in out of mid air...Fifth on team with 25 points, despite not playing in seven games while being loaned to AHL Cincinnati.

Goaltender Frederic Cloutier - Was 1-2-0 with a 3.95 goals against average and a .867 save percentage last week...Made 21 saves in 6-5 loss at Baton Rouge on Wednesday...Turned aside 32 shots in a strong effort Friday at Mississippi, but took the tough-luck loss, 3-2...Stopped 25 shots in 4-3 overtime win over Jackson on Sunday...Is 12-5-4 with a 3.17 goals against average and a .893 save percentage this season...Twelve wins are tied for third among ECHL goalies.

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