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This Week in the WHA2

December 12, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release


CELEBRATION, Fla. – The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced the WHA2 Player of the Week is Macon Trax forward Steve Zoryk. In games this past weekend, Zoryk had two goals versus Jacksonville and scored a hat trick in the game against Lakeland. He is on a five game point-scoring streak and has 15 points in nine games. The WHA2 Goaltender of the Week is Orlando Seals Mike Correia. Correia had a regulation and overtime shut out making 44 saves. Orlando eventually fell in the shoot out. Correia has a 2.50 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.

WHA2 Co-Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mike Eruzione, will be the celebrity weather host on the Wednesday, January 7 "Cold Pizza" morning show on ESPN2. "Cold Pizza" is a live, sports/lifestyle talk show airing Monday through Friday from 7am to 9am and repeats from 9am to 11am with live news updates. Kit Hoover and Jay Crawford host the show. ESPN2 is available in 85.6 million homes.

The WHA2 opened up the voting for the All-Star starting line-up today. Fans can visit the league or team websites to cast their votes. One lucky fan will be chosen from all ballots to win an autographed WHA2 jersey.

The Alabama Slammers travel to Jacksonville tonight to take on the first-place Barracudas. Jacksonville leads the season series 2-0, after beating the Slammers 5-2 and 2-1 (in overtime) on opening weekend. The scene shifts to the Miami Arena for games with the Manatees on December 13 and 14. The games begin at 6:05p.m. CST, with the exception of the December 14th game at Miami, which starts at 4:05pm CST. After starting the season 0-2-2, the Slammers have won five of their last six, to move into second place in the WHA2, two points behind first-place Jacksonville. Alabama split a two-game set with Orlando at the Pelham Civic Complex this past weekend. Goaltender Jamie Ronayne posted the first shut out in Slammers history on Saturday. Center Paul Vincent continues to lead the WHA2 in scoring with 21 points (11G, 10A), tied with Miami's Eric Perricone (10G, 11A). His 11 goals are best in the league. His seven power play goals are also best in the WHA2. Slammers players and staff visited the Children's Hospital on Monday, December 8th. They played games, read stories, signed autographs, took pictures and personally invited all the children and their families out to an upcoming Slammers home game. The Slammers conclude their Toys for Tots drive on Saturday, December 20th with the teams first-ever "Teddy Bear Toss." Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped, stuffed animal to the game and toss it on the ice when the Slammers score their first goal that night against the Macon Trax. All the stuffed animals will be collected and given to charity on behalf of the Alabama Slammers and the United States Marine Corps. The Slammers are offering fans a special Santa Pack ticket package. A great holiday gift idea, Santa Packs include ten ticket vouchers that allow fans to choose any game they like from the Slammers home schedule. Santa Packs are available at the Slammers Merchandise Kiosk at the Riverchase Galleria Mall, the Slammers merchandise stand at all home games, or at the Slammers office in the Pelham Civic Complex. For more information, please contact the Slammers at (205) 328-PUCK (7825).

The Jacksonville Barracudas enjoyed a four game winning streak this past weekend with two wins over Macon and one each over Miami and Lakeland. With the winning streak, the Barracudas have moved into sole possession of first place in the WHA2. Defenseman Mike Johnson stays hot as he continues his two points a game pace (2g-11a, 13 pts) since coming off injured reserve six games ago. Klage Kaebel has scored seven goals in his last four games and is tied for fourth in the league in goals (8). Kaebel's line mate Chris Hackett scored nine points (4g-5a) in his last four games. Goaltender Nate Ziemski is second in the league with a 3.00 GAA while Brandon Snee is fourth with a 3.79 GAA. The Barracudas (7-2-0, 14 pts) lead the league with the fewest goals allowed (31) through nine games. They are tied for third in offense with 39 goals. This weekend, the Barracudas put their winning streak on the line with Alabama at home tonight. It's also Thunderstick Night and the first 3000 ‘Cudas Fans receive free Thundersticks compliments of Atlantic Bay Mortgage. On Saturday, the Barracudas host the Lakeland Loggerheads. It's Jr. Barracudas Night, and the ‘Cudas will present the Jr. Barracudas Hockey Program with a check for their tickets selling efforts. On Sunday, the Barracudas start a six-game road swing with their second visit to Lakeland. Keep up to date with your favorite hockey team, the Jacksonville Barracudas with the Cuda Bites E-mail Newsletter. Log on to the official website www.jacksonvillebarracudsa.com for more details.

The Lakeland Loggerheads take on their I-4 rival Orlando Seals as they head to the Lakeland Center tonight at 7:05pm. Then it's off to Jacksonville to begin a home and home series against the Barracudas. The team returns home on Sunday, December 14th to finish out the weekend as they face off with the Barracudas again at 7:05pm. All games will be broadcast on www.irn.fm. The Loggerheads notched their first victory in franchise history on Friday, December 5th vs. the Miami Manatees 4-3. Jeremy Vokes led the charge with two goals. Currently, the Loggerheads reside in 6th place in the WHA2 with a 1-8-1 record. The Loggerheads Booster is collecting stuffed animals for the players to donate to children at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Bartow Memorial Hospital over the Holidays. Donations will be accepted at all of the Loggerheads home games in December. Stop by the Booster Club table on the concourse to make a donation or for more information. December 14th will be "Toys for Tots" night as the Loggerheads, in conjunction with 97 Country FM, will be accepting new, unwrapped toys to be donated locally to children in need. Jim Callahan has been a man on a mission recently scoring four goals and an assist in the last three games including two consecutive multiple goal games (12/6 vs. Macon and 12/7 vs. Jacksonville). Since Jeremy Vokes returned to the lineup on 11/14 he has been the Loggerheads leading scorer. Vokes has notched six goals and three assists for nine points in the eight games he's played in to lead the Loggerheads.

Tonight for the first time in their history, the Miami Manatees will travel up to Macon for a showdown with the Trax. The two teams have not met since Nov. 8 when the Manatees outscored the Trax 10-6 in the Miami Arena. On Saturday, the Trax head up to Orlando to take on the Seals. Last season Orlando was the only team to take the season series from the Trax. So far this year, Macon is perfect in two games versus the defending champs. Saturday will mark the return of the annual "Teddy Bear Toss". Fans who bring a teddy bear will receive $1 off their game ticket. Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick has publicly challenged the fans putting the mark at 8,000 bears. Can the Trax fans live up to his challenge? Come to the Centreplex Saturday, with a bear, to make it happen. All the bears collected will be given to Kids Yule Love. For the third time this season the Macon Trax fell to the Jacksonville Barracudas last weekend. Two late empty net goals made the final tally 7-4. Before the game both coaches exchanged some verbal banter in the press, and Ron Duguay was the coach who ended up with another win under his belt. In the second meeting between Macon and Lakeland on Saturday night Macon won 5-4. Steve Zoryk stole the show offensively as he recorded a hat trick. Zoryk's three goals gave the Trax their second hat trick on home ice in a week. The Trax lead the league with 46 goals and have been called for the least number of minor penalties in the league. Steve Howard leads all league defenseman with five goals.

The Miami Manatees begin their second consecutive week of playing three games in three nights. The Manatees will head to Macon for the first time to take on the Trax at 7:05 pm tonight, and then head back to Miami for two games against the Alabama Slammers on Saturday and Sunday. The Manatees have played the Trax one time this season, derailing them by a score of 10-6 on November 8th in Miami. In that first ever game for the Manatees, Darren Cain notched the first hat trick in WHA2 history. After the Manatees play the Trax, they will head home to take on the Alabama Slammers Saturday and Sunday at the Miami Arena. The two teams have not faced each other this season. Game time for Saturday is 7:05pm, and Sunday's game in 5:00pm. The Manatees are undefeated in four games at home, and are ranked second on the power-play and ranked first on the penalty-kill in the WHA2. Looking to give a great gift for your favorite hockey fans? Try the Manatees Holiday pack. For only $50, you get two Manatee T-Shirts, two Manatee Hats, two Tickets to any Manatees game, and a Manatees puck. Call the Manatees office at 305-536-7825, or just visit the merchandise booth at the next game. Be sure to get your children's photos taken with the mascot Manny Claus at the next home-stand for the Miami Manatees on Dec. 13th and 14th. Children of all ages are welcome and photos package prices will be announced soon! The Manatees invite the fans to skate with the Miami Manatees mascot and players. After the Sunday, Dec. 14th game the Miami Arena ice will be yours to enjoy. Make sure to bring a pair of skates and get ready for a good time. Catch all of the Manatees action on as Manatees broadcaster Mark Fischel calls the game from home and on the road on www.irn.fm. Due to an illness in the family, defenseman Dmitri Doulebenets has taken a leave of absence and will return to the Manatees near the end of December. The entire WHA2 family wishes him well.

The Orlando Seals play two road games this week, playing at Lakeland against the Loggerheads tonight at 7:05pm, and visit the Macon Trax Saturday at 7:35 p.m. All Seals games can be heard via the internet at www.IRN.FM. The Seals return home December 18th to face the Alabama Slammers. The Seals picked up five of a possible six points in the WHA2 standings last weekend, with a come from behind 4-3 win against the Alabama Slammers on Friday, then lost a 1-0 shootout decision to Alabama on Saturday. The Seals then beat Miami 6-3 on Sunday night to close out the weekend. Jason Elders sparked the big weekend for the Seals. He scored twice in the second period on Friday in a three goal comeback, and added two more goals in a three goal third period for the Seals on Sunday. The Seals placed center Jerry Keefe on injured reserve with a collarbone injury. Mike Sanderson also sat out the last two games with a slight injury, but he is expected to be back in the line up for tonight's game at Lakeland. Defenseman Mike Fournier played his first game for the Seals on Sunday, and picked up an assist. Seals tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket information is available by calling the Seals at (407) 447-PUCK (7825).

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.

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