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This week in the WHA2

January 30, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release


CELEBRATION, Fla. – The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced the WHA2 Player of the Week is Miami Manatees forward Kevin Swider. In games last weekend, Swider had five goals and three assists. Swider also scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the WHA2 All-Star Team the victory over the Jacksonville Barracudas. The WHA2 Goaltender of the Week is Jacksonville Barracudas Randy Hevey. Hevey won both games he started and made 64 saves on 67 shots. Hevey's 2.72 goals against average leads the league. Hevey has .913 save percentage. This is the second time he has received Goaltender of the Week honors.

The WHA2 wrapped up the Inaugural WHA2 All-Star Game and Festivities in Jacksonville after a thrilling overtime win by the WHA2 League All-Stars over the Jacksonville Barracudas 7 – 6 on Tuesday night. WHA2 Co-Chairman of the Board and Olympic Gold Medalist Mike Eruzione dropped the ceremonial first puck, signed autographs for fans, and was a special guest on the IRN.FM broadcast during the second period. Macon Trax forward Steve Zoryk was named the MVP of the All-Star Game. Zoryk scored the first goal of the game and assisted on the game-winning goal by Miami Manatees forward Kevin Swider in overtime. Overall, Zoryk had two goals and three assists.

Lakeland resident Diane Hancock is the lucky winner of the WHA2 autographed practice jersey. She won by visiting www.wha2.com and voting for the All-Star starting line-up back in December. The jersey has the autographs of the entire All-Star Team, the entire Jacksonville Barracudas team, and Co-Chairman of the WHA2 Board Mike Eruzione.

The WHA2 and the ESPN Club have partnered up for Tuesday night "SportsTalk Live!" Every Tuesday at 7pm (with the exception of February 10), a member of the WHA2 will be the featured guest at the ESPN Club on Disney's BoardWalk. Orlando Seals Assistant Coach and now defenseman Chris LiPuma will be the guest on February 3.

The Alabama Slammers All-Stars were brilliant in the 7-6 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Barracudas during the first annual WHA2 All-Star Game on Tuesday Night. Alabama's All-Star forwards Doug Lawrence and Ryan Prentice both scored third period goals to send the game into overtime and goaltender Jamie Ronayne made 14 saves for the victory. The Slammers (17-12-3, 37 points) hit the road again for three games this weekend as they traveled to Lakeland on Thursday night and games in Jacksonville on Friday and Macon on Saturday night. The Slammers lost for the first time to the Loggerheads despite a third period rally with a pair of goals from Chad Peck and a game tying goal from Jeff Mead. The teams battled deep into the third period trading chances back and forth before Lakeland's Harper was able to wrist the puck past Slammers goaltender Fred Beaubien to give Lakeland the lead for good. The Slammers return home to the Pelham Civic Complex for a five game home stand beginning Friday, February 6 when they take on the Macon Trax. Slammer Tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling 205-715-6000 or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of ten or more can order their tickets through the Slammers office by calling 205-328-PUCK (7825).

The Jacksonville Barracudas wrapped up last week snapping a three-game losing streak beating the Macon Trax on Saturday 3 - 2 at the Veteran's Memorial Arena. The ‘Cudas, not known for the rough stuff, started throwing their bodies around early. This led to a scrap between Jamie Miller and Macon's Ryan Rivard bringing the nearly 6,200 fans to their feet. Lyle Steenbergen scored twice, while Miller added two assists to lead the ‘Cudas to the win. On Saturday, the Barracudas beat up on the Orlando Seals 4 - 1. The ‘Cudas took the body again as defensemen Greg Capson and Justin Hellegards dished out some big hits wearing down the Seals. Mark Phenow scored a pair of goals while Miller and Derek Toninato added two assists each in the win. This weekend, the Barracudas put their 11-game home winning streak on the line with games against Alabama on Friday night and Miami on Saturday night. The Barracudas have not lost since opening night's 6 - 2 loss to Miami on November 28. On Sunday, the Barracudas head to Orlando for a battle with the Seals. The ‘Cudas have not won at the TD Waterhouse Center since December 14, 2002 when Kory Baker scored the game winner in a 4 - 3 win over the Seals. In the community, goaltender Nate Ziemski visited the Pediatric Center at Shands Hospital on Thursday handing out autographed programs and Teddy Bears to the children. Thursday night, the Barracudas hosted an "After Hours" event with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. According the Chamber representatives, it was the best attended event yet as a few hundred people packed in to the Amsterdam Sky Cafe.

The Lakeland Loggerheads and Orlando Seals rivalry has proven to be all it was built up to be at the beginning of the season. The "I-4 War" has been very entertaining with closely contested games, hard hits, overtime game winners, shootout victories, and all the while the two team's fans going at each other in the stands. On Saturday, January 31, the Loggerheads plan to "Bite the Seals" in a special promotion designed to play on this bitter rivalry. There will be a "Seal Eating Contest" where fans will try and eat the most cake (decorated like an Orlando Seal of course) without using their hands, "Bobbing for Seals", "Seal Bowling", a "Seal Toss", and a "Bite the Seals" sign and spirit contest where fans are encouraged to make, bring and display any signs or props showing which team has the best fans in the WHA2. The Loggerheads are offering fans a chance to have a special dinner and night out with your favorite Loggerheads players. The Loggerheads are holding a post-game "Bachelor Auction" immediately following the game on Saturday, January 31 versus the Orlando Seals. Fans will be able to participate in a live auction from the stands and bid for dinner for two with the player courtesy of Winners Circle located at 3234 S. Florida Avenue immediately following the game.

The Macon Trax are coming off their roughest week of the season. A four game road trip only produced three points. Overtime losses in Lakeland and Miami, coupled with a regulation loss to Jacksonville and a shootout loss to Orlando has put the Trax back at the .500 mark. The Trax will have a busy weekend as they complete an eight game in 13 day stretch. After the Feb. 3 game versus Lakeland, the Trax will hit the road for a 10-game road trip. Macon will not see home ice again until February 29th. Congratulations go out to Forward Steve Zoryk for being selected as the Inaugural WHA2 All-Star Game MVP. The game took place in Jacksonville Jan. 27 in Jasonville. Joining Zoryk on the All-Star roster from the Trax were center David Deeves and Rookie defenseman Art Mnatsakanov who was voted as a starter.

The Miami Manatees concluded their second home stand in two weeks by winning all three games. The Alabama Slammers came into town last Friday and were soundly defeated 5 – 1. Manatees' goals were scored by Greg LeColst, Dan Donnette, Josh Liebnow, Darcy Johnson, and Kevin Swider. Saturday night the reigning champion Orlando Seals came to Miami only to get clubbed 7 – 3. Oak Hewer scored three goals, Donnette, Darren Cain, Zdnek Vanc, and Swider also scored in the win. The Manatees took on the Macon Trax in the last game before the All-Star break. Macon has yet to win in Miami and that remained the case after the Manatees derailed the Trax in the overtime session on a Swider break-away goal to seal the 7 - 6 victory. Defenseman Tom Perry, Swider, and Hewer all attended the All-Star Game and made an impact. Heading into the overtime session, Swider's scored to give the WHA2 All-Stars a 7 - 6 victory.

The Orlando Seals head into a stretch of three games in three days hosting the Lakeland Loggerheads Friday night at 7:05 p.m., playing at Lakeland Saturday at 7:05 p.m., and host the Jacksonville Barracudas in a special Sunday afternoon contest at 1:05 p.m. Fridays' game can be heard on AM 740 The Team in Orlando, and all three games are available worldwide at www.IRN.FM. The Seals are hosting their second annual Faith Night on Friday night. Following the game, the Dove Award winning band Brother's Keeper will be performing in concert at TD Waterhouse Centre. The Seals will be hosting Orlando's largest Super Bowl pre-game party on Sunday. Fans who come to the game which begins at 1:05 p.m., wearing any piece of attire of any NFL team will receive one FREE ticket to Sunday's game for each ticket they purchase. After dropping 7-3 and 4-1 decisions at Miami and Jacksonville respectively last Saturday and Sunday, the Seals got back on the winning track with a 3-2 shootout win over the Macon Trax on Wednesday night. Jason Elders and Mike Sanderson each scored regulation goals and shootout goals for the Seals in that win. Defenseman Mike Fournier had two assists for the WHA2 All-Stars in a 7-6 overtime win over Jacksonville in the All-Star Game Tuesday night. Brad Federenko also had an assist for the All-Stars. Goaltender David Goverde stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and also picked up an assist while playing in the first half of the game.

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. Every game will be broadcast on www.irn.fm with video broadcast of select games available throughout the season.

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