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Tough week for Trax

November 22, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

TUE Nov. 23 Winston-Salem @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

For the first time in their history the Polar Twins will face the Trax. Winston-Salem is lead by veteran Head Coach Bryan Wells. The Twins and Trax will renew battles between the two cities from their ACHL years. All fans who attended Saturday night's home opener get a free ticket to this game. Make sure to come out on Double Cola Double Tuesday as the Trax offer 2-for-1 ticket and drink specials.

Season Series: First meeting of the season

All Time Series: First ever meeting

THU Nov. 25 TRAX @ Fayetteville 7:35 p.m. Crown Coliseum

Fans can enjoy their holiday dinner with the sounds of Macon Trax hockey. While most Americans will be eating turkey, stuffing and more, the Trax will be on the ice looking to stomp some FireAntz. The Trax were shutout the first time they visited Fayetteville. Macon will look to get back to their winning ways on the road during the holiday.

Season Series: Fayetteville leads 1-0 (Last meeting: 3-0 Trax loss @ FAY on Nov. 6)

All Time Series: Tied 6-6

SAT Nov. 27 Asheville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Last time the two teams met, they set penalty records. The game included 11 games and over 350 penalty minutes. Late in the third period a line brawl broke out and 150 penalty minutes were assessed at one time. Asheville got the better of the Trax with the 8-3 victory, but the Trax are eager to have Asheville in their house.

Season Series: Asheville leads 1-0 (Last meeting: 8-3 Trax loss @ ASH on Nov. 12)

All Time Series: Aces lead 1-0

LAST WEEK:

FRI Nov. 19 TRAX @ Knoxville (9-5 loss) 7:05 p.m. Knoxville Coliseum

The game was actually two games in one. The Trax were outplayed by Knoxville in the first period but went to the locker room up 2-0. Nick Niedert shined in his first professional period making 21 saves while the Trax only took eight shots.

The second and third periods were very different. Knoxville came out and eventually put nine goals on the board in the final 40 minutes of play. Kevin Swider and K.J. Voorhees both had six point nights for the Ice Bears.

SAT Nov. 20 Columbus @ TRAX (5-2 loss) 7:05 p.m Macon Centreplex

The Macon Trax could not overcome a three-goal first period by the Columbus Cottonmouths, dropping their home opener 5-2 in front of a crowd of 3,599 at Macon Centreplex Saturday night. David Deeves led the Trax in scoring with two assists.

Orrin Hergott put Columbus on the board only 12 seconds into the first period. Macon goaltender Mark Cairns made the initial save on Lorne Misita's shot but could not control the rebound, which fell right on the stick of Hergott who wristed the puck low to Cairns' stick side for his second goal of the season.

A mistake in the corner by the Trax put Columbus up 2-0 at the 4:31 mark of the first frame. The puck squirted loose to a wide-open Misita in the slot who beat Cairns for his third goal of the season and second point on the night. Craig Stahl added another for the Cottonmouths at the 9:39 mark, giving them the 3-0 edge.

The Trax got back into the game at 16:46 of the first as Ryan Rivard received a perfect pass from David Deeves at the left goal post for a one-timer past Columbus netminder Chad Rycroft to pull the Trax within two at 3-1 on only their fifth shot of the game.

Casey Handrahan's first professional goal brought the Trax within one at 17:46 of the second period. Handrahan's slap shot from the top of the right wing face-off circle slid in just under the crossbar for a 3-2 score. The Trax also held the Cottonmouths to only one shot on goal in the period.

Columbus put the game out of reach for Macon at 13:36 of the third as Tom McMonagle capitalized on a two-on-two break following a Trax turnover at center ice for a 4-2 game. Hergott added another goal late in the third for the Cottonmouths for the 5-2 final.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX"--Monday, Nov. 22 at Wagers Grill and Bar located at 3914 Riverplace Drive directly behind Outback. Join Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick, Head Coach Tommy Stewart and Casey Handrahan from 6-7pm. Food and drink specials will be available every week to all Trax fans in attendance.

· Nov. 23—""DOUBLE COLA DOUBLE TUESDAY"—Fans should go buy a Double Cola, Ski, or Jumbo soda at their local grocery and convenient stores for ticket specials. Bring the can product to the Trax office to get 2-for-1 ticket specials.

· Nov. 23—"THIRSTY TUESDAY"—Come to the game to enjoy 2-for-1 drink specials. All concession stands will offer fans the buy one get one free promotion.

· Nov. 30—""DOUBLE COLA DOUBLE TUESDAY"—Fans should go buy a Double Cola, Ski, or Jumbo soda at their local grocery and convenient stores for ticket specials. Bring the can product to the Trax office to get 2-for-1 ticket specials.

· Nov. 30—"THIRSTY TUESDAY"—Come to the game to enjoy 2-for-1 drink specials. All concession stands will offer fans the buy one get one free promotion.

· Dec. 4—"Teddy Bear Toss"—Bring your teddy bear to the Trax game to donate to charity. After the Trax score their first goal, all fans should toss their bear to the ice. The Trax will take all the donated Teddy Bears and donate them to Kids Yule Love this holiday season.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Monday, November 22; Caldwell's Optical on First Street in Macon, 1:30-3:30: Edan Welch, Craig Geerlinks, Lou DiMasi

Wednesday, November 24; Kroger in Warner Robins on Watson Blvd.,4:00-6:00: Mark Allen, Mike Walling, Mark Cairns, Nick Niedert, Casey Handrahan, Dominic Dawes

Friday, November 26; Colonial Mall Macon; Promotion in cooperation with Clear Channel Communications; 1:00-5:00 Players attending from 1:00-3:00: Steve Zoryk, David Deeves, Mark Cairns,

Mike Walling, Dominic Dawes, Art Mnatsakanov

Players attending from 3:00-5:00: Craig Geerlinks, Mark Allen, Ryan Rivard, Edan Welch,

Nick Niedert, Chris Duggan

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax have the best power play with a 30.4% success rate.

Macon is third in the league averaging 37.5 shots per game.

STANDOUTS:

NICK NIEDERT set a league record with 21 first period saves on Nov. 19.

STEVE ZORYK leads the league with two game winning goals.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

CASEY HANDRAHAN—The rookie defenseman scored his first professional goal Nov. 20 against Columbus. After a clean face off won by David Deeves, Handrahan ripped the shot off the cross bar and into the net.

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