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Trashers can clinch playoff berth this week

March 14, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Danbury Trashers News Release


Danbury, CT—The Trashers took one step closer to a playoff berth during their inaugural season with a 3-1 win over Adirondack last Saturday night. With 83 points and 13 games to play, Danbury is just three points away from guaranteeing a spot in the playoffs. The Trashers can earn their spot outright on Friday with a win over Elmira and a Richmond loss to Rockford.

The Trashers return to the ice on Friday night at 7:30pm against Elmira as the first 2,500 fans will receive a Trashers seat cushion courtesy of Prestone, then head to ElmiraÂ’s First Arena on Saturday evening for a 7:30pm showdown with the Jackals.

In preparation for the Trashers first playoff appearance, 1st round playoff seating is currently available at the Danbury Ice Arena during team store hours. Currently playoff tickets are only available in person, with Internet and phone sales soon to be announced. All first round playoff tickets will cost $15.00 each.

TRASHERS WEEK IN REVIEW

TRASHERS TOP FIRST PLACE FROSTBITE 3-1

March 12, 2005

DANBURY, CT—Alex Goupil and Doug Christiansen each netted power play goals before a sold out crowd of 3,005 at the Danbury Ice Arena as the Trashers topped first place Adirondack 3-1 on Saturday night.

Early in the first period it looked like Adirondack was going to repeat their four-goal third period as Hugo Belanger scored his 29th of the season on the FrostbiteÂ’s first shot of the game at 1:53 of the opening period. However the Trashers buckled down and utilized their power play to tie the score at 1-1 on GoupilÂ’s 20th goal of the season as he knocked in a rebound past Derek Gustafson on assists by Bruce Richardson and Nicholas Bilotto at 10:25 of the first period.

Goupil set up Daw from behind the Adirondack net for his 22nd of the year at the 19:10 mark of the 1st period, with Bilotto adding his 2nd assist of the game. The Trashers added another power-play goal at the 16:52 mark of the period as Christiansen tapped in a drive from J.F. David at the point. Michael Rupp was also given an assist on the play, the 5th of the season and 7th point from the former N.J. Devil and current Phoenix player.

Scott Stirling stopped 25 of 26 shots as he picked up his 32nd win of the season while Derek Gustafson stopped 31 of 34 in a losing cause. Danbury closed the gap to nine points on the first place Frostbite.

FROSTBITE CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT WITH 5-1 WIN OVER TRASHERS

March 11, 2005

DANBURY, CT—Adirondack’s four unanswered goals in the 3rd period snapped a 1-1 tie and catapulted the Frostbite into the UHL playoffs with a 5-1 win over the Trashers before 2,490 on Friday night at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Ryan BennettÂ’s 18th goal of the season opened the scoring for the Frostbite at 2:57 of the first period on a shot that last touch Jeff DawÂ’s stick before trickling into the Danbury net to give Adirondack a 1-0 lead.

Shortly after the Frostbite scored, DanburyÂ’s Jon Mirasty and AdirondackÂ’s Scott Page dropped the gloves at center ice in a top-notch fight that will be remembered as perhaps the best of the season at the 4:09 mark of the first period.

Danbury out shot the Frostbite 7-2 in the 2nd period, but it ended up scoreless as Mirasty glanced a backhanded shot off the post in what was the closest goal scoring opportunity for the Trashers in the first two periods.

Nicholas Bilotto finally put Danbury on the scoreboard with a power-play goal at the 1:48 mark of the 3rd period with a one-timer off a good pass from Alex Goupil. Bruce Richardson also assisted on BilottoÂ’s 5th of the season. Danbury gained the man-advantage after David Vychodil was sent off for hooking at the 1:12 mark of the final period, but the Trashers also lost Michael Rupp on a 10-minute misconduct at the same time.

In a mirror repeat of AdirondackÂ’s 7-4 come-from-behind win over Richmond on Wednesday night, the Frostbite erupted for four unanswered goals, starting with Greg KoehlerÂ’s 28th of the season at the 5:27 mark followed by a shorthanded goal from Hugo Belanger at the 6:24 mark. Kamil Kuriplach also netted his 1st of the season while David Burgess added his 22nd later in the period.

Danbury finished 1-5 on the power-play while Adirondack was 0-7. Scott Stirling stopped 23 of 28 shots while Kris Tebbs saved 21 of 22 for his 14th win of the season.

The Frostbite improve to 42-15-8 for 92 points while Danbury slips to 38-23-5 and are 11 points behind the first place Frostbite, but are still 20 points ahead of 3rd place Richmond in the battle for the 2nd Eastern Division playoff spot.

DANBURY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Scott Stirling
Goaltender
Norwood, MA
Statistics from 3/11 to 3/12: 1-1-0 Record 3.00 GAA .890 Save Percentage (49 of 55)

Nicholas Bilotto
Defenseman
Montreal, PQ
Statistics from 3/11 to 3/12: 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 3 points, -2 Plus/Minus

TRASHERS TIDBITS

· With Alex Goupil scoring his 20th of the season in Danbury’s 3-1 win over Adirondack on March 12th, the Trashers became the first team in the UHL this season to have five 20+ goal scorers (scoring 20 or more in one uniform).

· Goupil has scored 6 of the team’s 17 goals during the month of March. During his current five-game scoring streak, the rookie forward has eight points on six goals and is +4 with zero penalty minutes.

· Four of Nicholas Bilotto’s five goals this season are on the power play.

· With 13 games to play, the Danbury Trashers are on pace to shatter the UHL single-season record for penalty minutes. The current record is 2,641 set by the Ashville Smoke during the 2001-02 season. The Trashers currently have 2,427 penalty minutes.

· The Trashers need just three points in the standings to clinch the 2nd playoff spot in the Eastern Division. Danbury has 83 points with 13 games to play while Richmond has 61 points with just 12 left this season. A combination of Trashers wins and RiverDogs losses adding to three points will also clinch Danbury a playoff spot.

SKATE WITH THE PLAYERS AFTER THE REGULAR SEASON FINALE ON MARCH 27TH

As a special gift to all fans, the Danbury Trashers are inviting all ticketholders to the March 27th regular season home finale against Muskegon a chance to skate with the players after the game. Tickets for the 5:30pm Easter Sunday game are going quickly, so make sure and purchase a ticket to the game in order to participate. Skate rentals will be available at the rink.

COMING UPÂ…

Friday March 18th vs. Elmira 7:30pm (Danbury Ice Arena)

Saturday March 19th at Elmira 7:30pm (First Arena)

The first 2,500 fans on Friday night will receive a Danbury Trashers seat cushion courtesy of Prestone. There are only four more chances to see the Trashers before the playoffs and there is a good chance that Danbury will be able to clinch a playoff spot, so get your tickets before they run out as the Trashers have completely sold out eight times this season.

Tickets for all Trashers games can be purchased online at DanburyTrashers.com, or by calling 866-565-PUCK during business hours. The Trashers team shop at the Danbury Ice Arena is open from Noon-5pm on Sunday, Noon-6pm on Monday, Noon-7pm on Tuesday through Friday, and from 9am-5pm on Saturday. Fans unable to attend any Trashers game may listen to the free audio webcast or purchase the B2 Live TV video feed with Phil Giubileo at DanburyTrashers.com.

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