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Trax move into a playoff spot

March 15, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


RECORD TO DATE: 25-18-6, .571 4th place in WHA2

THIS WEEK:

THU Mar. 18 Orlando @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Trax and Seals may have complaints about the new playoff format, but they have a chance to write their own tickets. These two teams will meet four times over the last three weeks of the season. Heading into the week, the Trax have a slight edge on Orlando for the fourth and final playoff spot. The final four head-to-head meetings will go a long way in settling the cloudy playoff picture. Macon hopes to dethrone the defending champs before the playoffs even begin.

Season Series: Macon leads 5-3-1 (Most recent: 5-4 WIN, Mar. 4 @ ORL)

SUN Mar. 21 TRAX @ Lakeland 4:05 p.m. Lakeland Center

The Trax will make their last visit to the Lakeland Center on Sunday afternoon. The building has been kind to the Trax as they have yet to lose in regulation against the Loggerheads in Lakeland. After the Sunday game, Macon will have five games left in the regular season.

Season Series: Macon leads 8-0-1 (Most recent: 7-6 SO WIN, Mar. 1 @ LAK)

LAST WEEK:

FRI Mar. 12 Jacksonville @ TRAX (5-4 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Macon Trax skated to a big 5-4 victory over the Jacksonville Barracudas on home ice Friday night. John Gurskis paced the Trax with the WHA2's first ever natural hat trick on Artic Construction St. Patrick Day Jersey Night.

Gurskis registered his natural hat trick in the second period at the Macon Centreplex. Chipping in the other two goals for the home team was Edan Welch.

Jacksonville scored the lone goal of the first period when Brett Strot put a rebound shot past Trax goalie Andy Kollar. The power play goal came at the 16:10 and sent the Barracudas into the locker room with the lead after 20 minutes.

Late in the first period the Trax went on the power, but were not able to score before the horn sounded. After intermission the Trax stormed out to tie the game just ten seconds into the middle period when Gurskis started his big night.

Just two minutes later Jacksonville took the lead back when Lyle Steenbergen netted his first of two goals on the night. It would be the last time the Barracudas would see the lead on Friday.

The Trax finished the second period on fire with three straight goals. Welch scored his first goal of the night on the power play at 5:53 to tie the game at two.

Under three minutes later Gurskis scored his second goal and eventually finished his natural hat trick at the 13:04 mark of the second period. The three goals moved Gurskis to 21 on the season.

The Trax looked like they owned the ‘Cudas when Welch found the net again early in the third period for the 13th goal of the year. All the goal did was wake the Barracudas up from their nap.

Jacksonville's Kory Baker brought the visitors within two goals with his sixth goal of the season at 8:01 of the third period. Steenbergen added his third point of the night when he cut the lead to one with just over 18 minutes remaining in the game.

Instead of quietness, the Trax second biggest crowd of the year realized the home team needed their support. All 2,712 in attendance got up and made sure the Trax knew they were behind them. Macon hung on for the victory and with Orlando's loss move into fourth place in the WHA2 standings.

SUN Mar. 14 Alabama @ TRAX (4-2 WIN) 4:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Things continue to go well for the Macon Trax. Sunday they defeated their rivals from Alabama 4-2.

Once again the Trax scored early and held on late. Art Mnatsakanov fed Andrew Katzberg who found the net at the 6:52 mark of the first period to give the Trax the 1-0 lead. The assist was the first of three on the night for Mnatsakanov.

Later in the first period, Katzberg gave the fans a treat when they dropped the gloves. Slammers' new comer Doug Mann was the recipient of a flurry of right blows from Katzberg's left hand busting open Mann's face.

The Trax extended their lead nine minutes into the second period when Craig Miller scored his 20th goal of the season. Miller becomes the fifth Trax player to reach the 20 goal plateau this season.

Alabama finally got on the board when Jorin Welsh ripped a shot from the high circle on the power play. Andy Kollar was screened by a Slammers player and never saw the puck roll on the ice.

Instead of playing conservative hockey the Trax put another tally on the board less than a minute later. John Gurskis carried the puck into the zone but was not able to get a shot off as he was tied up. Ryan Rivard trailed the play picked up the lose puck and beat Alabama goalie Jamie Ronayne.

Things got tight when Chad Peck scored just 1:52 into the final period. The next fifteen minutes of the game saw both teams play conservative hockey, neither wanting to make a mistake leading to the important next goal.

The Trax finally caught their break when Mnatsakanov intercepted the pass in the neutral zone and found Steve Zoryk ahead of him. Zoryk carried the puck into the Slammer zone and found David Deeves in a two on one situation. Deeves put the puck through Ronayne's five hole to seal the Trax victory.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX" will be at Applebee's on Tom Hill Sr. Tuesday, March 16 from 6-7pm. Come join Adam Minnick, Tommy Stewart and John Gurskis this week.

· Mar. 18—"THIRSTY THURSDAY"—For the first time the Trax are having an ALL AGES THIRSTY THURSDAY. The usual special is 2-for-1 draft beer; ALSO all fountain soda will be 2-for-1 as well.

· MAR. 18—The second and final "SEASON TICKET REDEMPTION NIGHT"—Any unused tickets can be exchanged for a ticket to the Mar. 18 game versus Orlando.

· Mar. 18—"LAW NIGHT"—The Macon Trax welcome all law professionals to the game. Anyone in the law field will receive a $3 discount on their ticket.

· Mar. 26—"BOEING/RAFB AIR FORCE NIGHT"—Boeing and the Macon Trax are teaming up to honor all the member of the United States Air Force. The Trax are offering tickets for only $5 for all Air Force members.

· Mar. 27—"BLADE SPORTSWEAR CHEERSTIX NIGHT"—The first 2,500 fans that attend the game will get a set of Pink Blade Cheerstix in honor of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

· Apr. 3—"FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT"—The Macon Trax will welcome all fans who have helped them continue to be a success in the Heart of Georgia. Tickets are only $6 ANYWHERE in the Centreplex. That includes glass and lower level seats.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Tuesday—Chuggin' With The Trax, 6-7PM Applebee's on Tom Hill Sr.—John Gurskis, Tommy Stewart, and Adam Minnick.

Wednesday—EAGLE 92.3FM, 3PM—Geoff Faulkner.

Wednesday—First Baptist Church, 5:00-6:15PM—Edan Welch, Darwin Murray.

Wednesday—Robins Air Force Base—Officers Club, 5:00-6:30—Kelvin Solari, Andrew Dickson, Andy Kollar.

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax are on a season high six game winning streak. The Trax have swept through Central Florida (Lakeland, Orlando) with an 8-0-1 record. The Trax have one more trip to each city Macon leads the league with 72 second period goals. In the last two months the Trax defense has stepped up. After allowing the most shots against in the first half of the season, the Trax allow the second fewest shots per game in the WHA2 at 33.16 per game. STANDOUTS:

DAVID DEEVES leads the league with 31 goals and is fourth in points with 70. RYAN RIVARD is tied for the league lead with six game winning goals. JOHN GURSKIS and STEVE ZORYK are third and fourth respectively in power play points.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

· JOHN GURSKIS—Gurskis registered four points in two Trax games this past week. The highlight came in Friday's win over Jacksonville when the player/assistant coach recorded the first natural hat trick in WHA2 history.



SPHL Stories from March 15, 2004


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