This Week in the WHA2
December 5, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. â The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced the WHA2 Player of the Week is Macon Trax center David Deeves. In games this past weekend, Deeves scored a hat trick and added an assist. He is first on his team and fifth in the league in scoring with seven goals and seven assists in seven games. The WHA2 Goaltender of the Week is Orlando Seals David Goverde. Goverde is second in the league for wins and second in the league for minutes played. Goverde has a 3.39 goals against average and a .890 save percentage.
The Alabama Slammers host the Orlando Seals at the Pelham Civic Complex on Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6, at 7:05 pm CST. After this weekend's games, the Slammers hit the road for games in Jacksonville on December 12, Miami on December 13 and 14, and Orlando on December 18. All games can be heard on www.irn.fm. After starting the season 0-2-2, the Slammers have won four straight, sweeping Lakeland last week. The four victories have moved Alabama into sole possession of second place in the WHA2, one point behind first-place Miami. Center Paul Vincent leads the WHA2 in scoring (10G, 10A) with 20 points. He was voted last week's WHA2 Player of the Week. Winger Doug Lawrence is third in league scoring (2G, 15A) with 17 points. His 15 assists lead the league. Goaltender Jamie Ronayne ranks second in goals against average (2.93) and first in save percentage (.928). Slammers gear makes a great Christmas gift. For a selection of available items, stop by the Slammers' office in the Pelham Civic Complex, the team's merchandise kiosk in the Riverchase Galleria Mall, or call 328-PUCK (7825). You can also see what's available at the team's website, www.slammershockey.com.
The Jacksonville Barracudas had a big home opening weekend drawing nearly 13,000 fans. Opening night drew the largest crowd to ever watch a hockey game in Jacksonville when 9,589 people came out to watch the Barracudas host the Miami Manatees in the brand new Veteran's Memorial Arena.
Barracudas are second in the league in over-all attendance (11,715) trailing only Orlando (13,539) who has already played four home games.
On Friday night, the Barracudas lost to the Manatees 6-2. Lyle Steenbergen picked up both Barracudas goals. Mike Johnson picked up a couple of assists while Chris Harper added an assist. On Saturday, the Barracudas came out with something to prove and delighted the fans with a 5-3 win over the Macon Trax. Klage Kaebel lit the light twice while Mike Johnson added four assists. Johnson now has seven assists in his first three games since coming off injured reserve. Goaltender Nate Ziemski made his first start of the season making 24 saves in the win. The Barracudas now look forward to eight of the next 12 on the road in December. This Friday, the Barracudas travel to Macon for a date with the Trax. On Saturday, they return home to face the Miami Manatees for Benjamin Moore Puck Night. The first 1,500 people in attendance will receive a free hockey puck and also get to enjoy the Zooperstars during intermission. On Sunday, the âCudas travel to Lakeland for the first meeting of the two clubs this season. Catch all the action both home and away at jacksonvillebarracudas.com through IRN.FM.
The Loggerheads will be hosting the Miami Manatees at the Lakeland Center on Friday, December 5 then head to Macon on Saturday the 6 to face the Trax. The team returns home on Sunday, December 7 for their first match up of the season with the Jacksonville Barracudas. All games will be broadcast on www.irn.fm. The Loggerheads earned their first point of the season on Nov. 28 in Alabama. Chris Cerrella scored with 14 seconds left on the clock to complete yet another comeback and force the overtime session. Loggerheads players took part in the 16 annual Downtown Lakeland Holiday Walkabout on Tuesday, December 2. The entire Lakeland team was on hand signing autographs, handing out free tickets to the kids, and spreading holiday cheer. The Loggerheads have sponsored a float in the Lakeland Christmas Parade for the Lakeland Roller Hockey Association and will be on board showing their holiday spirit and waving to the crowd. There might even be a few t-shirts thrown to the crowd! Dru Burgess had made his presence felt for the Loggerheads since being signed as a free agent. Burgess has registered two goals and three assists for five points in four games as a Loggerhead. Since Jeremy Vokes returned to the lineup on November 14 he has been the Loggerheads leading scorer. Vokes notched three goals and three assists in the five games he's played in to lead the Loggerheads. Rookie goaltender Carl Poissant made his first two starts of the season versus the Alabama Slammers on November 26 and 29. His play between the pipes was stellar as he made 52 saves for a 3.01 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.
The Macon Trax Macon will look for their first win of the season versus Jacksonville on December 5. This will be the first meeting of the season where Macon will not have a game the night before facing the âCudas. On Saturday, Macon will take on the Loggerheads. It was exactly one month ago when the Loggerheads hosted the Trax for the WHA2's first ever game on Nov. 6. The Trax defeated the Orlando Seals 6-4 on November 28. The win for Macon gives them two wins 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 seven games of the season. The Trax hit the ice for their second game in only 17 hours when they headed to Jacksonville on November 29. After winning the night before, the Trax lost in Jacksonville 5-3. 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. The Trax begin a season long six game home stand this Friday night, December 5. Fans will have a chance to see every team but Alabama in the current home stand.
The Miami Manatees have announced the signing of right wing Dan Donnette. Donnette, 24, spent the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons at Northern Michigan University. Appearing in 81 games, Donnette scored 11 goals and 26 points, while accumulating 42 penalty minutes. Prior to attending school at Northern Michigan, Donnette played the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers. In 105 games, Donnette scored 16 goals and 49 points with 60 penalty minutes. In those two seasons, Des Moines finished with the best record in the USHL. Donnette made his professional debut this season with the Fort-Wayne Komets, playing in six games before joining the Manatees. Donnette has played in two games with the Manatees, earning a +1 rating. The Manatees concluded the month of November by going 5-1-1 and leading the WHA2 with 11 points. For three consecutive weeks, a Manatees player was named the WHA2 Player or Goaltender of the Week. Eric Perricone, Oak Hewer, and Sean Weaver all came away with the honors. Perricone and Hewer are in the top five in league scoring, while Tom Perry leads all defenseman in the WHA2 with 10 points.
The Orlando Seals travel to Alabama for games Friday and Saturday at 8:05 p.m., eastern time, and return home to entertain the Miami Manatees and some other very special guests Sunday at 6:05 p.m. Sunday. The world famous ZOOPERSTARS featuring Whale Gretzky and Mario LeMule among others will be performing their very special act throughout Sunday's game. All Seals games can be heard via the internet at www.IRN.FM.
After dropping a 4-3 decision at Miami on November 26 and a 6-4 contest in Macon on November 28, the Seals got back to the winning ways with a 6-2 victory over Miami on Saturday. The win was the largest margin of victory in WHA2 this season. Jerry Keefe, who scored his first goal of the season on November 23, hasn't stopped since. He scored a goal in all three games last week, and with goals in four straight games, now has the longest current goal streak in the league. The second longest streak belongs to his teammate B.J. Stephens who has goals in three straight games for the Seals.
The WHA2 has six member teams for the 2003 â 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.
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SPHL Stories from December 5, 2003
- Trax Fall To Jacksonville - Macon Trax
- Manatees Fall to Loggerheads, 4-3 - Miami Manatees
- This Week in the WHA2 - SPHL
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