Titans gear up for series against Chiefs

Published on April 10, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Titans posted a record of 1-2-0 in their final week of the 2005-06 regular season to finish the year in fifth place in the North Division at 31-35-6.

The Titans started the week of play at the Sovereign Bank Arena against the Wheeling Nailers. The Nailers scored four unanswered goals with the help of Brendon Hodge's four-point night (2g, 2a) as the Trenton Titans fell 4-1 on Tuesday. Only 5:35 into the first period, Jim Henkel gave the Titans a 1-0 lead with his 21st goal of the season. Wheeling quickly responded at 8:13 when Eric Sonnenberg fired a shot past Rejean Beauchemin. Just 3:45 later, Hodge deflected Luis Tremblay's point shot for the go-ahead goal and the Nailers never looked back. Hodge scored his second goal about six minutes later to end the scoring for the period. Only 5:26 into the second frame, Tremblay potted his 14th goal of the season to lock up the win for the Nailers.

In the rematch on Friday, five different players lit the lamp for the Nailers as they downed the Titans by a score of 5-1 at WesBanco Arena. Arpad Mihaly gave Wheeling the early lead when he deposited his own rebound past Beauchemin at 6:41 of the opening period. Later in the first, Tim Verbeek would pick up the eventual game-winning goal as he tipped home Sonnenberg's centering pass with just 2:46 left until the intermission. The Nailers would add two more in the middle period to make it 4-0 when Hodge picked up a power play goal at 11:39 and Sonnenberg gathered up his third assist on the game on Cam Paddock's tally at 19:24. Trailing 5-0 late in the final period, Scott Selig foiled Andy Franck's shutout bid, beating him through the five-hole with just twelve seconds left in the contest.

Scott Bertoli returned from his assignment with the Norfolk Admirals to pick up the game-winning goal for the Trenton Titans in a 2-1 victory over the Reading Royals at the Sovereign Bank Arena in their regular season finale. Jim Henkel fired a home-run pass from Trenton's blueline to Bertoli who fired a wrister that beat Cody Rudkowsky to the glove side for the go-ahead goal with 6:59 left in regulation. After a scoreless first period, the Titans went up 1-0 as Vince Williams intercepted an errant pass at center ice and fed Henkel behind the defense for his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. Kevin Saurette tied the score 1-1 at 13:15 of the middle period with his first professional goal. Rejean Beauchemin returned to his stellar form making 38 saves to register his ninth win of the year.

The Titans now take the ice for their first round, best-of-three series versus the Johnstown Chiefs. Game 1 starts tonight at 7:30pm at Cambria County War Memorial. The series will come back to Sovereign Bank Arena on Tuesday, April 11 before returning to Johnstown on Thursday, April 13 for Game 3, if necessary.

LAST WEEK: 1-2-0
Tuesday, April 4 vs. Wheeling, L 4-1
Sovereign Bank Arena
- Nailers Goals: Sonnenberg, Hodge - 2 (pp, ev), Tremblay
- Titans Goals: Henkel
- Nailers Goalie: Franck (31-30)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (32-28)
- TRE PP: 0-1
- TRE PK: 2-2

Friday, April 7 @ Wheeling, L 5-1
WesBanco Arena
- Nailers Goals: Mihaly, Verbeek, Hodge (pp), Paddock, Doyle (sh)
- Titans Goals: Selig
- Nailers Goalie: Franck (22-21)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (39-34)
- TRE PP: 0-3
- TRE PK: 5-6

Saturday, April 8 vs. Reading, W 2-1
Sovereign Bank Arena
- Royals Goals: Saurette
- Titans Goals: Henke, Bertoli
- Royals Goalie: Rudkowsky (25-23)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (39-38)
- TRE PP: 0-1
- TRE PK: 4-4

Titans Notables
- The Titans finished 18-8-3 when scoring the first goal.
- Trenton owns the fourth best penalty kill at home (170-for-200, 85.0%).
- The Titans tied the ECHL season high for goals scored in a game (9) and winning margin (8).
- Trenton was tied for the second in the league with 21 wins in one-goal games.
- The Titans are 90.6% on the penalty kill (29-of-32) in their last six games
- Jin Henkel has 13 points (7g, 6a) in his last 11 games.
- Scott Bertoli led the Titans this season with 19 multi-point games and 24 power play points.

North Division Quarterfinal Preview vs. Johnstown:
- Game 1 - Monday, April 10 @ Cambria County War Memorial, 7:30pm B2 Networks

- Game 2 - Tuesday, April 11 @ Sovereign Bank Arena, 7:00pm WBCB 1490AM

- Game 3 - Thursday, April 14 @ Planet Ice, 7:30pm (if necessary) TBD

- The Titans return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth time in seven-year history of the organization and are the reigning Kelly Cup Champions.
- The Titans are 36-29 all-time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
- This is the second meeting between Trenton and Johnstown in the playoffs.
- The Titans defeated the Chiefs in four games in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2001.
- Trenton Titans Head Coach Tony MacAulay has twice appeared in the postseason with the Roanoke Express in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
- MacAulay becomes the 23rd coach in ECHL history to direct two different teams to the postseason.
- Trenton was 6-7-0 in the 2004-05 season series against Johnstown.
- The Titans are 35-21-4 all-time against the Chiefs.
- Johnstown forward Dennis Packard has five assists and is +6 in his last five games.
- Jean Desrochers has four goals and an assist in his last five matches for the Chiefs.

'05-'06 Regular Season Leaders
Titans Chiefs Goals: Jim Henkel - 22 Goals: Justin Kelly - 31
Assists: Scott Bertoli - 47 Assists: Justin Kelly - 40
Points: Scott Bertoli - 67 Points: Justin Kelly - 71
Plus/Minus: Scott Bertoli - +6 Plus/Minus: Dmitri Tarabrin - +10
PIM: Dave McCulloch - 175 PIM: Brandon Elliot - 207
Wins: Rejean Beauchemin - 9 Wins: Morgan Cey - 17
GAA: Rejean Beauchemin - 2.97 GAA: Josh Disher - 2.13
Save Pct.: Rejean Beauchemin - .914 Save Pct.: Josh Disher - .952

Playoff Tickets
Tickets for the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs are now available by calling (609) 599-9500 or (888) SBA-TIXX. Game 2 of the Titans' best-of-three series versus the Johnstown Chiefs will take place at the Sovereign Bank Arena on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00pm.

Practice/Game Schedule:
Monday, April 10 - Pre-game skate @ Cambria County War Memorial - 11:15am
Game 1 @ Johnstown - 7:30pm
Return to Trenton
Tuesday, April 11 - No pre-game skate
Game 2 vs. Johnstown - 7:00pm

If Necessary,
Wednesday, April 12 - Practice @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:30am Leave for Johnstown
Thursday, April 13 - Pre-game skate @ Planet Ice - Johnstown, PA - 11:15am
Game 3 @ Johnstown - 7:30pm

Tentative North Division Semifinals Schedule (if necessary)
Friday, April 14 - Pre-game skate @ Toledo Sports Arena - 11:15am Game 1 @ Toledo - 7:30pm
Saturday, April 15 - Pre-game skate @ Toledo Sports Arena - 11:15am Game 2 @ Toledo - 7:00pm
Return to Trenton
Sunday, April 16 - Day off
Monday, April 17 - Practice @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:30am

TITANS BROADCAST INFO:
Tune in as the Voice of the Titans, Mike O'Brien, brings you all of the Titans hockey action on WBCB 1490AM on Sunday through Thursday and WSTR-91.3 FM on Friday and Saturday. Fans can also watch or listen in on the Titans website, www.trentontitans.com.

B2 Networks also brings you live action for Titans games. Go to www.trentontitans.com to watch and listen to the game. Video broadcasts are available for a charge of $6 per game, while audiocasts are free of charge. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

Final Titans Stats Leaders - Regular Season:
Goals: Jim Henkel - 22
Assists: Scott Bertoli - 47
Points: Scott Bertoli - 67
Plus/Minus: Scott Bertoli - +6
PIM: Dave McCulloch - 175
Wins: Rejean Beauchemin - 9
GAA: Rejean Beauchemin - 2.97
Save Pct.: Rejean Beauchemin - .914

Final Team Stats - Regular Season:
Record: 31-36-5, 67 pts (5th, North Division)
Home: 20-13-3
Away: 11-23-2
Power Play: 50 for 341- 14.7% (21st)
Penalty Kill: 332 for 403 - 82.4 % (13th)

Transactions
04/05/2006 Delete GEORGE BOZAK (G) emergency back-up goaltender
04/06/2006 Add MIKE ACOSTA (D) signed contract
04/06/2006 Add GEORGE BOZAK (G) emergency back-up goaltender
04/08/2006 Add SCOTT BERTOLI (LW) returned from Norfolk (AHL)

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ECHL Stories from April 10, 2006


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