This Week in the WHA2
Published on November 26, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. - The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced the WHA2 Player of the Week is Alabama Slammers forward Paul Vincent. In games this past weekend, Vincent scored two hat tricks and had a total of seven goals and three assists. This productive weekend vaulted him to the top of the league in scoring. The WHA2 Goaltender of the Week is Miami Manatees Sean Weaver. Weaver is tied for second in the league with a goals against average of 3.73 and second in the league with a .901 save percentage.
The WHA2 and IRN.FM announced that WHA2 broadcasts over www.irn.fm
The Alabama Slammers round out the month of November with three more games against the Lakeland Loggerheads tonight in Lakeland and on Friday and Saturday night at the Pelham Civic Complex. On Friday night, the first 1,000 fans will receive a FREE Slammers player photo courtesy of CDM. On Saturday, it's Fox 6 Family Night; fans can purchase a Slammers Family Pack for only $39 and receive 4 Game Tickets, 4 Hotdogs, and 4 Cokes. Also, the first 1,000 fans will receive a FREE pair of Slammers Cheer Stix courtesy of FOX 6. The Slammers took three of a possible four points on the road this past weekend, after dropping a Friday contest at home to Orlando. Paul Vincent scored three power play goals in his Slammers debut Friday night, but the Seals prevailed 5-3, before 2,475 at the Pelham Civic Complex. Ryan Prentice scored four times on Saturday, but it was the Macon Trax who prevailed in a shootout Saturday night, 8-7. The Slammers responded by grabbing the first win in franchise history Sunday night, 5-4, over the Lakeland Loggerheads. Paul Vincent's three goals, giving him seven in three games with the Slammers, fueled the offense, and Fred Beaubien made 41 saves. The Slammers won the battle of special teams as well, scoring two power play goals and scoring twice on the same penalty kill.
The Jacksonville Barracudas improved to 3-1 for six points as they wrapped up their four-game road trip to start off the WHA2 season with a 4-3 win over the Macon Trax. Barracudas Jamie Miller scored two goals and added an assist in the win. Rookie goaltender Brandon Snee made 24 saves. Snee is currently third in the league in minutes played with 220:47, and first in the league with a 2.99 goals against average. The Barracudas rank second in the league on the penalty kill (20-24, 1 short-handed goal, 83.33%). Prior to the Macon game on Sunday, the Barracudas waived Greg Capson, Greg LeColst, and Jay McCabe. The Barracudas brought defenseman Mike Johnson off Injured Reserve and signed wingers Derek Toninato and Mike Wirll. Toninato is a 5-10, 190 lb. winger who played the last two seasons with Tulsa of the Central League. Wirll's a 5-10, 205 lb. winger from Regina, Saskatchewan who split time this season between Charlotte of the ECHL and Hartford of the AHL. The Barracudas are preparing for their Home Opener on Friday night against the Miami Manatees. Face-off time is 7:05pm and the Barracudas are looking to break the record for the largest crowd to watch an indoor sporting event in Jacksonville. The current record was 10,139 on Jan. 11, 1989; Jacksonville University vs. FSU. On Saturday afternoon, the Barracudas host the Macon Trax with a special 12:35pm face-off time. Immediately following the game, there will be a Florida/Florida State Skate with the players from 3pm - 5pm. Be one of the first people to skate on the new Arena ice! The open skate is sponsored by Comcast.
The Loggerheads hit the road for two games vs. the Alabama Slammers on Nov. 28th and 29th. The team returns home for a match up with the Miami Manatees at 7:05pm at the Lakeland Center. Tonight's game is the second meeting of the season for the Slammers and the Loggerheads. The Slammers edged the Loggerheads on Sunday night by a score of 5-4. Defenseman Stephane Desjardins makes his season debut tonight returning from an injury. Newly acquired right wing Dru Burgess scored twice on Sunday vs. Alabama in his Loggerheads debut. Help the Loggerheads feed the needy! At this time of the year it is important for everyone to lend a hand to their fellow man and give back to the community. The Loggerheads are encouraging their fans to contribute to their Thanksgiving Food Drive. Fans may donate non-perishable food items that will then be given to Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Show your support and help a worthy cause! Loggerheads players will participate in a special Preferred Customer Shopping Night at Burdines in the Lakeland Square Mall. Players will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Friday Dec. 5th is Faith Night at the Loggerheads game vs. the Miami Manatees. Church and Faith groups are invited to take advantage of special group pricing ($2 off the regular ticket prices), group recognition on the video board and a special player autograph session.
The Macon Trax finish a three-game home stand when the Orlando Seals swim into town on Friday. The Seals have only lost two games since March 14 of last season. Ironically, the Trax have handed the Seals those two defeats. Six days after the Barracudas ruined the Trax opening weekend, the Trax will try to do the same to the Barracudas.
Jacksonville will be hosting only their second game in their brand new home when the Trax come to town. Last season Macon dominated Jacksonville throughout the season, but this year the Barracudas have shown they are a whole different team. After nearly seven months of darkness at the Centreplex, the Trax won their home opener 8-7 in a shootout. The Macon Trax suffered their first defeat on home ice this season when the Jacksonville Barracudas came to town. The Barracudas won 4-3 behind a two goal performance from Jamie Miller. The Macon/Jacksonville game in Jacksonville on Saturday will have a special start time of 12:35pm. Macon currently leads the league with 28 goals, 43 assists and 183 shots. The Trax are the most disciplined team in the league, averaging only 25.8 penalty minutes a game. The 59 Trax shots in Saturday's game established a new WHA2 record for shots by one team in a game.
The Manatees are home for the Holidays as they conclude a home and home series against the Orlando Seals at the Miami Arena tonight face-off time is 7:05pm. The Manatees were handed their first loss of the season by falling in overtime to the Orlando Seals by a score of 5-4 in Sunday night action in Orlando but are still undefeated in regulation. Eric Perricone successfully converted the first penalty shot in WHA2 history early in the game. With the point earned by going to overtime, the Manatees moved into sole possession of first place in the WHA2 with seven points and have earned at least a point in every game they have played this season. The Manatees have only given up 15 goals in four games. The Manatees have the second ranked power-play and top ranked penalty-kill in the WHA2. The Manatees power-play is operating at a 26% efficiency rate, while the penalty kill has killed off 93% (30-32) of their opponent's power-plays. For third week in a row, a Manatees player has earned a WHA2 Player or Goaltender of the Week award. The Manatees jumped up four spots in the ITC/Just Hockey "AA" Top 20 Hockey Poll, and are now ranked fourth overall among 70 eligible nationwide teams from various leagues. WHA2 teams also getting recognition on the Top 20 poll are Jacksonville at #12 and Orlando at #18. Looking to give a great gift for your favorite hockey fans? Try the Manatees Holiday pack. For only $50, you get 2 Manatee T-Shirts, 2 Manatee Hats, 2 Tickets to any Manatees game, and a Manatees puck.
The Orlando Seals are the first WHA2 team to defeat the Miami Manatees notching a thrilling 5-4 overtime win. David Goverde made 36 saves and Mike Sanderson netted the game winner in overtime. Brad Federenko added two goals for the Seals, including the game-tying goal with less than two minutes left in regulation. Orlando and Miami heat up the rivalry tonight when they face off in Miami at 7:05 p.m. The Seals return to the T.D. Waterhouse Centre on Saturday. That game is a Family Four Pack night with a special offer of four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, and four Seals hats all for only $52. The Orlando Seals team captains will be serving up dishes at the Sicilian Restaurant on Lee Road on Tuesday, December 9th from 6-9 p.m. Captain Brad Federenko and assistant captains Ryan Anderson and Mark White will be celebrity waiters that night at the Sicilian. The tips they collect on Si-SEAL-ian night will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. Because of the charitable donation, the celebrity tips will have to be cash or checks made out to the American Diabetes Association.
The WHA2 has six member teams for the 2003 - 2004 season: the Alabama Slammers, Jacksonville Barracudas, Lakeland Loggerheads, Macon Trax, Miami Manatees, and Orlando Seals. Each team will play a 60-game schedule. Every game will be broadcast on www.irn.fm with video broadcast of select games available throughout the season.
SPHL Stories from November 26, 2003
- Manatees Defeat Seals, 4-3 - Miami Manatees
- This Week in the WHA2 - SPHL
- Seals Serve at Sicilian - Florida Seals
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