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This Week in WHA2

November 21, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release


CELEBRATION, Fla. – The World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) announced the WHA2 Player of the Week is Miami Manatees right wing Oak Hewer. Hewer scored two goals and one assist in the Manatees pair of 5 – 2 home victories over the Lakeland Loggerheads and Jacksonville Barracudas this past weekend. The WHA2 Goaltender of the Week is Macon Trax Andy Kollar. Kollar made a league-record 49 saves in the Trax 6 – 2 victory over the Orlando Seals.

The WHA2 is proud to announce that "Stadio", an in-arena radio station that allows fans at the game to listen to the home town broadcaster, will be available this season. The WHA2 will roll out the program to each of its cities. Macon fans will be able to listen to Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick at the Trax home opener on November 22 by bringing a personal walkman radio. The Stadio Home of the Macon Trax is 89.5 FM. Orlando Seals fans will be able to tune into the Seals Stadio station, 96.7 FM, for the game this Sunday.

The Alabama Slammers get back into action this weekend, with three games in three nights. The busy stretch begins Friday night at the Pelham Civic Complex, as the Slammers host the Orlando Seals, in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. Game time at the P.C.C. is 7:05p.m. CST. Alabama then hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Macon on Saturday for the Trax's home opener. Then it's on to Lakeland for a pair of matches with the Loggerheads on Sunday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 26. The Slammers beefed up their offense in preparation for this weekend's games, by acquiring veteran forward Paul Vincent from Lakeland, in exchange for forward Justin Schabes. Now in his tenth pro season, Vincent has 234 goals and 306 assists. Vincent is expected to be in uniform for Friday's game against Orlando.

The Barracudas headed south to Miami on Saturday and lost their first game of the season to the Manatees 5-2. Jacksonville out shot Miami 39 – 31 for the game but came up short on the scoreboard. Head Coach Ron Duguay anticipates big defenseman Mike Johnson will be ready to play this Sunday in Macon. In another player move, the Barracudas traded recently acquired Joe Seroski to Lakeland for future considerations.

The Barracudas now get ready for the Macon Trax this Sunday at 4:05pm. Catch all the action live with the pre-game starting at 3:45 on IRN.fm. This weekend, Chomper and the Barracudas Ice Girls will be a part of the WJCT Telethon Auction. WJCT is the local Public Television station. Chomper and the Ice Girls will appear live auctioning off tickets and merchandise – all to support local television. Chomper will appear as well as the Barracudas players and the Ice Girls at the Grand Opening of the Veteran's Memorial Arena on Saturday from 11-2. The Mayor of Jacksonville, John Peyton will host the ribbon cutting ceremonies.

The Lakeland Loggerheads host the Alabama Slammers for two games at the Lakeland Center on Sunday, November 23rd and Wednesday, November 26th. Sunday's game is Cellular Unlimited Night and all fans in attendance will receive a Loggerheads magnetic schedule courtesy of Cellular Unlimited. Wednesday's game is the Loggerheads Thanksgiving food drive. Fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items which will be given to Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland. All games will be broadcast on www.irn.fm. The Loggerheads signed free agent center Dru Burgess. Burgess, 5'11", 195 lb., is a 6th year pro and native of Hamilton, Ontario. Thus far in his pro career, Burgess has amassed 104 goals and 122 assists for a total of 226 points in 244 games played. The Loggerheads will look to Burgess to be another weapon at even strength and a go-to guy on the power play.

The Trax will finally see home ice after seven months when they open up the season at the Centreplex on November 22. For the first time in WHA2 history, the Macon Trax will wear their black home jerseys. The team who claims to have the best name in the league, the Alabama Slammers, will travel to town Saturday night. Fans who get there early will receive a Burger King Magnet Schedule. During the intermissions and throughout the third period the ZOOperstars will perform. If one game was not enough, on opening weekend fans can see the Trax twice in 21 hours. The Jacksonville Barracudas come to Macon to renew the rivalry that started last season. Jacksonville comes into town well rested. The last time they played was Sat., Nov. 15 versus Miami. Sunday's game will be the final stop on a season-opening four-game road trip.

The Manatees hit the road and take on the reigning champion Orlando Seals. The Seals have one win and one loss on the season, and are ranked fourth in the WHA2. Face-off time for the Sunday game is 6:05pm. The Manatees next home game is Nov. 26th against the Orlando Seals; face-off time is 7:05 at the Miami Arena. In addition to watching the Manatees take on the Seals, come out and see the junior Manatees take on the Kendall select all-stars in a six-minute exhibition of youth hockey between periods.

The Manatees squared off against Lakeland and Jacksonville this past weekend, and emerged from the weekend series undefeated and in sole possession of 1st place in the WHA2. The Manatees make their debut on the ITC/Just Hockey "AA" Top 20 Hockey Poll, coming in at #8 among 70 eligible nationwide teams from various leagues. The Manatees have the top ranked power-play and penalty-kill in the WHA2. The Manatees power-play is operating at a 35% efficiency rate, while the penalty kill has killed off 19 of 20 opponent's power-play opportunities. Tune in every Thursday morning to listen to "The Morning Bullpen on 940 Fox Sports" at 8:30am on 940 Fox Sports Radio for the "Miami Manatee Zone."

The Orlando Seals hit the road for the first time this season traveling to Alabama to take on the Slammers at 8:05pm Eastern Time tonight and return home to TD Waterhouse on Sunday for a 6:05pm face off with the Miami Manatees. The Seals lost for the first time season, dropping a 6-2 decision to the Macon Trax on November 16. The Seals took a 2-0 lead before Macon scored six straight times, with three second period goals and three third period goals. The Seals are teaming with the Office Depot Father/Son Golf Challenge on Sunday, with dads and their sons taking part in special on ice activities to win four day tournament passes to the Office Depot Father/Son Golf Challenge at Champions Gate, December 4-7. The Adopt-A-Greyhound Association of Central Florida will be showing some of the animals available for adoption at Sunday's game, as well as an informational table on the concourse of TD Waterhouse Centre.

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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