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Trashers finish perfect week and clinch playoff spot

March 21, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Danbury Trashers News Release


DANBURY, CT—The Danbury Trashers finished a perfect week with a road blowout over Elmira and a playoff spot as they became the second team from the Eastern Division to clinch a spot in the Colonial Cup Playoffs. The spot was secured following Danbury's 3-0 win over Elmira last Friday combined with Richmond's 6-0 loss in Rockford, mathematically eliminating the RiverDogs from finishing in second place.

Following a relatively calm past two weeks, the Trashers return to a hectic game schedule with four in five nights starting on Wednesday evening against Richmond at 7:30pm from the Danbury Ice Arena.

TRASHERS WEEK IN REVIEW

TRASHERS BLANK ELMIRA 3-0 TO WIN 2ND STRAIGHT--CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT AFTER RICHMOND LOSS IN ROCKFORD
March 18, 2005

DANBURY, CT—The Danbury Trashers woke up after a scoreless first period to score a pair in the second period and eventually blank Elmira 3-0 before a sold out crowd of 3,005 at the Danbury Ice Arena on Friday night.

Bruce Richardson opened the scoring at the 5:51 of the second period as he dumped in a rebound off a drive from Nicholas Bilotto. Newcomer Francis Belanger added an assist as he scored a point in his first game with Danbury.

Michael Rupp then scored his 3rd of the season for his 8th point as he one-timed a rebound into a wide open net off a shot from J.F. David, who assisted along with Geno Parrish at the 16:48 mark of the second period.

The Trashers added another goal in the 3rd period as Alex Goupil netted his 21st of the season with assists from Bilotto and Richardson at the 7:09 mark.

Scott Stirling picked up a league-leading 33rd win of the season and his 4th shutout as he stopped all 19 shots faced. Kevin Kurk picked up the loss despite stopping 45 of 48 shots.

Richmond lost in Rockford 6-0 on Friday, so the Trashers clinched a guaranteed playoff spot as they cannot finish lower than second in the Eastern Division.

TRASHERS BLOW OUT ELMIRA 7-1
March 19, 2005

ELMIRA, NY--From the opening face-off until the final buzzer, the Danbury Trashers dominated the Elmira Jackals for the 2nd straight night as Danbury whipped Elmira 7-1 at First Arena.

Unlike Friday's game, which was scoreless after one period, the Trashers netted a quick goal as Jeff Daw scored on the power play on assists from JF David and Doug Christiansen at 3:36.

Elmira, shut out last night in Danbury, managed to tie the score at 1-1 with 1:45 left in the first period on a power play goal from Nathan Gillies.

However, after the end of the first period, the Trashers scored six unanswered goals in the final two periods, starting with the go-ahead tally from David at the 3:27 mark of the second. Alex Goupil and Francis Belanger also scored in the second, while Mike Bayrack added two 3rd period goals followed by Christiansen's 21st of the year to wrap-up the scoring.

The Trashers outshot Elmira 47-13 as the Jackals managed just one shot on goal in the 3rd period.

DANBURY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Scott Stirling
Goaltender
Norwood, MA
Statistics from 3/18 to 3/19: 1-0-0 Record 0.00 GAA 1.000 Save Percentage (19 of 19)

J.F. David
Defenseman
Blainville, PQ
Statistics from 3/18 to 3/19: 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 4 Points, +5 Plus/Minus

THE PIM REPORT—It was a rather un-Trasherlike week in the penalty minute department as Danbury accrued just 33 minutes over their two wins. Currently the Trashers have a league-leading 2,460 PIM's and are just 182 penalty minutes away from setting the UHL single-season record. The current record is 2,641 set by the Ashville Smoke during the 2001-02 season.

SHUTOUT CITY—The Trashers recorded their fourth shutout during their inaugural season with their 3-0 win over Elmira last Friday. Scott Stirling has been in goal for Danbury during all four shutouts this season.

STIRLING NEARS CAREER BESTS—Trashers netminder Scott Stirling is now one shutout away from tying his personal best, set during his rookie season with Trenton in 2000-01. Stirling's 33 wins this season ties his previous high set last season when he recorded 31 wins with Atlantic City (ECHL) and one each with Bridgeport and Portland of the AHL.

MARCH MADNESS—After faltering during the month of February, the Trashers have bounced back to start March with a 5-1-1 mark. The Trashers have averaged 3.86 goals-per-game while opponents have averaged just 2.00 GPG. Alex Goupil continues his torrid pace as he leads the Trashers with 11 points on eight goals in March. Six Trashers players (Goupil, Richardson, Christiansen, Daw, Bayrack, David) have all averaged at least one point per game in March.

YOU CAN'T SCORE IF YOU DON'T SHOOT—In Danbury's two wins over Elmira last weekend, the Trashers allowed the Jackals a total of three shots on goal during the 3rd period of those victories. The Jackals managed just one shot on goal in the 3rd on Saturday night at their home rink, First Arena.

STREAKS-R-US—A number of Trashers are enjoying point-scoring streaks including Alex Goupil, who has a seven-game scoring streak (8g, 3a, 11p +9). Goupil has also scored in 12 of his last 13 games (16g 4a, 20p). Team captain Bruce Richardson is working on a four game streak (1g, 5a, 6p), while defenseman Nicholas Bilotto also has an active four-game scoring streak (1g, 5a, 6p).

SKATE WITH THE PLAYERS, CHEER STIX AND GAME-USED JERSEY AUCTION HIGHLIGHT TRASHERS MARCH 26TH AND 27TH GAMES AT THE DANBURY ICE ARENA

Danbury, CT—The Danbury Trashers, proud members of the United Hockey League are offering fans the shirts off their backs and a chance to skate with the players during the final weekend of regular season home games at the Danbury Ice Arena on March 26th and 27th, it was announced.

The Motor City Mechanics will visit Danbury for the final time this season on Saturday night March 26th at 7:00pm. The first 1,000 fans will also receive Trashers Cheer Stix courtesy of the Danbury Hospital.

The Trashers will celebrate Easter Sunday and their final regular season home game on Sunday March 27th at 5:30pm against the defending Colonial Cup Champion Muskegon Fury in their first and only regular season appearance at the Danbury Ice Arena. All ticket holders are invited to skate with the Trashers following the game as a thank you to the fans for their great support all season. Skate rentals will be available at the Danbury Ice Arena.

The Trashers are also holding a game-used jersey auction during the course of the weekend. Fans will be able to bid on the "Trasher Blue" jerseys that were worn during the inaugural game on October 15, 2004 at the Danbury Ice Arena. Bidding will begin on Saturday prior to the start of the game and end during the course of Sunday's game. This is a chance for fans to acquire a major piece of historical sports memorabilia.

TRASHERS ACQUIRE BELANGER AND GAGNON FROM FLINT IN MAJOR TRADE

Danbury, CT—The Danbury Trashers, proud members of the United Hockey League have acquired the rights to forward Jonathan Gagnon and forward Francis Belanger in a trade with the Flint Generals, it was announced.

Belanger, 27, started the season with the Richmond RiverDogs, where he scored 52 points on 26 goals in 63 games. The Bellefeuille, PQ native previously played with teams in the AHL, ECHL and QSMHL during his professional career that started during the 1998-99 season. The 6-2, 227 lb forward also skated for 10 games with the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL during the 2000-01 season. Belanger is currently playing in his 7th professional season.

Gagnon, 24, also started the season with Richmond, where he scored 35 points on 18 goals before leaving to join Sherbrooke St. Francis of the LNAH, where he has scored 20 points on eight goals in 15 games. Gagnon is expected to join the Trashers at the end of the LNAH season. The 6-1, 198 lb forward previously dressed for teams in the CHL, ECHL and AHL as well as the UHL. The Longueil, PQ native is currently in his 5th professional season.

Neither Belanger nor Gagnon played a game for Flint, who acquired the pair in a trade with Richmond on March 12th along with goaltender Nathan Grobins in exchange for Jim Duhart, Kris Waltze and Dan McIntyre. Danbury also gave Flint their first round pick in the 2004-05 North American Amateur Draft.

In exchange, the Danbury Trashers shipped rookie forwards Glen Zuck and Greg Goodnough to the Generals. Goodnough, 20, scored four points on two goals in 15 games with Danbury after spending three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Zuck, 28, didn't score a point in nine games with Danbury.

TRASHERS ACQUIRE GOAL SCORING FORWARD JAY MURPHY FROM KANSAS CITY

Danbury, CT—The Danbury Trashers, proud members of the United Hockey League have acquired goal-scoring forward Jay Murphy from Kansas City in exchange for forward Gerry Hickey, goaltender Guillaume Lavallee and future considerations, it was announced by Team President A.J.Galante.

Murphy, 33, is currently playing in his 12th professional season and has 33 points on 13 goals in 29 games with the Kansas City Outlaws. He started the season with Richmond, but was traded to the Outlaws without appearing in uniform with the RiverDogs this year. The 6-2, 205 lb Ypsilanti, Michigan native has scored 677 points on 333 goals as a professional in 588 games.

Murphy has also appeared in 97 professional playoff games with 98 points on 51 goals. He reached a career-high 83 points on 55 goals with Louisiana of the ECHL during the 1999-2000 campaign.

The Outlaws will receive tough forward Gerry Hickey and future considerations in return for Murphy. The Hanover, MA native scored six points on two goals in 41 games. His 264 penalty minutes were second on the club and matched a personal best.

DANBURY TRASHERS ANNOUNCE SALE OF FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF TICKETS

Danbury, CT—The Danbury Trashers, proud members of the United Hockey League have announced the sale of first round tickets to the 2004-05 Colonial Cup Playoffs.

With the Trashers' playoff seeding still undetermined with 13 games remaining during the regular season, dates and times for Danbury's first round playoff series have yet to be announced.

All tickets to first round playoff games at the Danbury Ice Arena will cost $15.00 each. Currently tickets for the first two games at the Danbury Ice Arena are available. Ticket sales for subsequent playoff games will be announced in the event that they become guaranteed dates.

Fans may purchase tickets online at DanburyTrashers.com, by calling 866.565.7825, ext. 116 during business hours or in person at the Danbury Ice Arena in the Trashers Team Shop during store hours (see DanburyTrashers.com for store hours).

COMING UP...

Wednesday March 23rd vs. Richmond 7:30pm (Danbury Ice Arena)
Friday March 25th vs. Elmira 7:30pm (First Arena)
Saturday March 26th vs. Motor City 7:00pm (Danbury Ice Arena)
Sunday March 27th vs. Muskegon 5:30pm (Danbury Ice Arena)

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 calling play-by-play at DanburyTrashers.com.

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