Trax riding toward the top

December 13, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

FRI Dec. 17 Knoxville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The top two teams in the SPHL will battle in Macon Friday night. If the Trax claim their first victory of the year against the Ice Bears, Macon will move into a first place tie. The Trax have been handled twice this year by Knoxville. The Ice Bears come to the Centreplex on a two game losing streak while the Trax are riding high winning their last four games.

Season Series: Knoxville leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: 5-1 loss @ MAC, 11/30/04)

All Time Series: Knoxville leads 10-5

SAT Dec. 18 TRAX @ Winston-Salem 7:30 p.m. Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

For the first time since March 1, 2003 the Trax will travel to Winston-Salem. The two teams have battled once this season in Macon, with the Trax skating to the victory. The Polar Twins start the week in the SPHL cellar. Macon's power play is tops is the league while Winston-Salem leads the league in penalty minutes. Special teams may play a key role in the contest.

Season Series: Trax lead 1-0 (Last Meeting: 3-2 WIN @ MAC on 11/23/04)

All Time Series: Trax lead 1-0

LAST WEEK:

TUE Dec. 7 TRAX @ Jacksonville (3-2 SO WIN) 7:05 p.m. Jacksonville Veterans Arena

In a low scoring affair the Macon Trax took the win 3-2 in a shoot-out over arch enemies Jacksonville.

First period saw only one goal scored by team captain Steve Zoryk on a power play. Jacksonville came out in the second period scoring a lone goal and tied it when B.J. Stephens lit the lamp.

Jacksonville took the lead in the third period with a power play goal from Jamie Miller, but soon after Chris Duggan brought it back to another tie.

The wide open 3-on-3 overtime produced no scoring and forced the contest to be decided by the shoot-out. John Gurskis & David Deeves each scored for the Trax while Mark Cairns stood tall blocking all but one shot. The end result was a Trax victory and putting Macon above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

FRI Dec. 10 FireAntz @ TRAX (6-4 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

For only the second time this season the Trax have won three games in a row. Friday night Macon beat Fayetteville 6-4 on home ice.

Art Mnatsakanov and John Gurskis led the way with two goals each. Mnatsakanov put the Trax ahead for good 8:47 into the final frame when he beat goalie Tyler Nilsson on the power play. The power play goal was one of three on the night for the Trax.

The Trax led 4-2 after two periods but gave up the lead within 23-seconds. Former Trax defenseman Andrew Dickson threw the puck towards the net where Shawn Roed redirected it into the Trax net. Shortly after the FireAntz tied the game up when Brian Lachapelle threw the puck towards the net and Macon defenseman Dominick Dawes deflected it off his skate into his own goal.

Mnatsakanov started the scoring on the night when he came out of the penalty box, took a two line pass from Chris Duggan and buried the breakaway into the net 9:22 into the game. After Lachapelle tied it up three minutes later the Trax stole the lead on their first power play goal of the night when John Gurskis scored his first tally on the evening.

The Trax came out for the second frame a man down. After killing the Fayetteville power play the Trax had trouble clearing their zone. The FireAntz worked the puck around to Roed who re-tied the game at two.

The Trax went back to the power play and good things happened. With the two man advantage, the FireAntz attempted to clear the zone. Mnatsakanov used his entire body to trap the puck in the zone and keep the pressure on Fayetteville.

The puck was moved to Steve Zoryk who found David Deeves on the bottom of the circle. Deeves quickly got the puck to Craig Miller who buried his seventh goal of the season to give the Trax the 3-2 lead. Gurskis scored his second goal late in the middle frame to give the Trax the two goal lead after 40 minutes.

Steve Zoryk added an empty net goal to secure the Trax victory with only five seconds left in the game. The win gave the Trax their second three game winning streak of the season.

SAT Dec. 11 TRAX @ Jacksonville (4-3 OT WIN) 7:05 p.m. Jacksonville Veterans Arena

The Macon Trax have fallen in love with dramatic goals. The Trax pulled out an overtime win against Jacksonville Saturday night 4-3.

Macon was down most of the third period. Trax coach Tommy Stewart pulled his goalie with 2:24 to go in regulation. It took the Trax almost the entire time to score the game-tying goal.

With only 3.7 seconds to go Edan Welch took a pass from Casey Handrahan and then found John Gurskis alone in front of the net. Gurskis buried the goal to tie the game and send it to overtime.

In the extra session Edan Welch lit the lamp 1:43 in to give the Trax their fourth win in a row. The game-winning goal was great work by all three players on the ice. Chris Duggan took the puck in his own zone and moved it to Handrahan. The rookie defenseman found Welch in stride at the blue line.

Welch skated around Jacksonville's Jamie Miller and moved the puck to the top of the crease. After Barracuda goalie Terry Denike missed with a poke check, Welch calmly put the puck into the open net to send the crowd home unhappy.

In the extra session most people would have picked the Barracudas to win the game. The Trax were short a few skaters coming into the game due to injuries. In the first period, Art Mnatsakanov was assessed a game misconduct leaving the Trax with only three defensemen. Late in the second period, Mark Allen left the game after bruising his shoulder. The troops that were left on Tommy Stewart's bench dug down deep and fought for their tenth victory of the season.

The game was not your typical Jacksonville styled contest. The Barracudas came out trying to establish a physical presence on the ice. The first period featured three goals, all on the power play, two game misconducts and 56 penalty minutes.

Jacksonville got on the board first when B.J. Stephens scored on a rebound goal from Kory Baker. The Trax tied it up on their second power play chance of the night as David Deeves hit the twine.

Later in the first, the Trax got a goal they probably shouldn't have. Craig Miller calmly skated into the Jacksonville zone on the man advantage. From the bottom of the circle, near the boards, Miller threw the puck towards the net. Denike never put his stick on the ice and watched it slide past him into the net.

The second period started with the Trax on a seven-minute power play. The Trax only had three shots the entire stretch.

The Barracudas took the seven-minute penalty kill and used it to gain momentum. Tyler Perry scored 11:53 into the middle frame to tie the game at two. Six minutes later George Nistas would tie the game up.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX"--Monday, Dec. 13 at Wagers Grill and Bar located at 3914 Riverplace Drive directly behind Outback. Join Trax broadcaster Adam Minnick, Head Coach Tommy Stewart and Edan Welch from 6-7pm. Food and drink specials will be available every week to all Trax fans in attendance.

· Dec. 14—"CABOOSTERS HOLIDAY PARTY"—The Macon Trax Booster Club will hold a Holiday party for the Macon Trax players. If you are not a member of the CaBoosters yet, come by the party to check sign up and support the Trax players during this holiday season. The dinner begins at 6pm at the Lake Wildwood clubhouse. For more information log on to www.4maconhockey.com.

· Dec. 17—"TOYS FOR TOTS NIGHT"—Bring an unwrapped new toy to donate to a needy child this holiday season. All fans who bring a toy for a special kid will receive ticket specials at the box office. Every year the United States Marines gather toys for the Toys For Tots program to help needy children have a happier holiday season.

· Dec. 21—"BLACK AND GOLD NIGHT"—Nowhere else can fans watch hockey and Georgia Tech football on the same night. Come out to the Centreplex as the Trax will play against the Polar Twins and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will be in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Trax are scheduled to have a TV set up so fans can watch both events at the same time. Any fan who shows their Georgia Tech pride will receive $2 off their game ticket. In addition, all beer will be 2-for-1.

· Dec. 21—""DOUBLE COLA DOUBLE TUESDAY"—Fans should go buy a Double Cola, Ski, or Jumbo soda at locally owned shops and convenient stores for ticket specials. Bring the can product to the Trax office to get 2-for-1 ticket specials. Call the Trax office for a list of places Double Cola is sold.

· Dec. 21—"THIRSTY TUESDAY"—Come to the game to enjoy 2-for-1 beer specials. All concession stands will offer fans the buy one get one free promotion.

· Dec. 31—"NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH THE TRAX—Join the Macon Trax as they send out the old year and ring in the new one on the ice. The Trax staff will look their best on the last day of 2004 and invite the fans to do the same. Any fan coming to the game in formal attire will receive $2 off their ticket. Come to the hockey before you hit your New Year's Eve Bash.

· Jan. 1—"BULLDOG NEW YEAR'S DAY"—The Georgia Bulldogs will beat up on the Wisconsin Badgers early in the day and the Trax will look to roll past the Havoc at night. Any fan who wears any UGA clothing will receive $2 off their game ticket. To show their Georgia pride, the Trax will wear the special red jerseys for the game.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Monday, December 13, Applebee's on Riverside Drive, Macon; 12:00-1:30; David Deeves, Craig Miller, Craig Geerlinks, Edan Welch, Ryan Rivard, Lou DiMasi

Monday, December 13, Boys and Girls Club of Macon, 4:00-6:00; Nick Niedert

Tuesday, December 14, Children's' Hospital, 3:00-5:00; Mark Allen, Nick Niedert, Casey Handrahan

Tuesday, December14, Booster Club Christmas Party, Club Lake Wildwood; 6:00-9:00; Full Team

Thursday, December 16, Rotary Club, Gray @ Big Sky Grill; 12:00-1:00; Ryan Crowther and Craig Geerlinks

Thursday, December 16, Ring the Bell with Salvation Army, Sam's Club @ Eisenhower Parkway; 4:00-6:00; Mark Cairns and Nick Niedert

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

Macon's four game winning streak is their longest to date this season.

The Trax lead all of minor league hockey with a 29.69% power play.

Macon has won eight of their last 10 games.

Macon's six road wins lead the SPHL.

STANDOUTS:

JOHN GURSKIS is 4th in league scoring with 20 points (9G, 11A).

DAVID DEEVES is 3rd in SPHL points (23) and 2nd in assists (15).

STEVE ZORYK is 3rd in the league with 11 goals. MARK CAIRNS leads the SPHL with 9 wins.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

MARK CAIRNS—The Trax goaltender led the Trax to a perfect week. The Little Britain, Ont. native went 3-0 with a 2.94 GAA and a .924 save percentage. The three wins have moved Cairns to the top of the league with nine wins on the season.



SPHL Stories from December 13, 2004


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