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November 30, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

TUE Nov. 30 Knoxville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Knoxville makes their first trip to the Centreplex since February 7, 2003. The Trax look to avenge a 9-5 loss when the teams met a couple of weeks ago in Knoxville. The Ice Bears come into the game tied with Asheville for first place in the SPHL.

Season Series: Knoxville leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: 9-5 loss @ KNO on 11/19/04)

All Time Series: Knoxville leads 9-5

THU Dec. 2 TRAX @ Jacksonville 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

FRI Dec. 3 Jacksonville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Fans will get to see a rematch of the league final from last season. The Trax and Barracudas battled in the finals for two great games. The Barracudas came out victorious, but the Trax look to send a message to Jacksonville with a home and home series this weekend. Last year Jacksonville dominated the Trax in their new home as the Trax are still looking for their first victory in Veterans Memorial Area. After the Thursday match up both teams will hop aboard their team bus and get ready for a Friday night game in Macon.

Season Series: First Meeting

All Time Series: Jacksonville leads 18-9

SAT Dec. 4 Asheville @ TRAX 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

TEDDY BEAR TOSS

BRING A TEDDY BEAR TO DONATE AND RECEIVE TICKET SPECIALS

The Trax and Aces played a great game the previous Saturday. Again the league’s first place team will travel to Macon for a Saturday night affair. The Trax will look to score early so all the fans in attendance can get their teddy bears on the ice to benefit Kids Yule Love.

Season Series: Tied 1-1 (Last meeting: 4-2 WIN @ MAC on Nov. 27)

All Time Series: Tied 1-1

LAST WEEK:

TUE Nov. 23 Winston-Salem @ TRAX (3-2 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Macon held on Tuesday night to gain their first home win of the season by a 3-2 margin over Winston-Salem. Steve Zoryk led the Trax with two first period goals and Matt Cairns stood tall in net to seal the victory.

The Trax did something they have not done well all season, came out firing on all cylinders in the first ten minutes. Zoryk opened up the scoring at 49 seconds. Edan Welch worked the puck from the corner to John Gurskis who found Zoryk in the slot for the tally.

Just less than three minutes into the game Zoryk capitalized on a Polar Twin turnover in their own zone. The Trax captain took the loose puck just inside the blue line and scored from almost the exact same spot as his first goal. With the two goals Zoryk leads the Trax with eight goals in the young season.

After a silent second period, Winston-Salem got on the board when Steve Lajoie was left all alone in front of the Trax net. The Trax did not settle and scored a power play goal when Art Mnatsakanov lit the lamp for the first time this season.

The Polar Twins got back to within one late in the period when Shaun Aebig found a seam in the Trax defense and buried the puck for his fourth goal of the year. That would be the last time the Polar Twins scored.

Cairns was tested all night but would not let Winston-Salem through his brick wall. In front of close to 2,000 happy fans, the Little Britain, Ont. native made 38 saves in the game for his third victory of the year.

THU Nov. 25 TRAX @ Fayetteville (3-2 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Crown Center

The Trax ate the FireAntz on Thanksgiving in Fayetteville 3-2. Veteran John Gurskis scored a shorthanded goal late in the second period to give Macon the edge.

In their first trip to the Crown Coliseum the Trax were shutout by Antz goalie Chad Collins. Tonight it took the Trax until five minutes into the second period to score, but once they found the hole they used it well.

A FireAntz loss was a Trax gain. Chris Duggan scored his first goal as a member of the Trax at 5:13 of the middle period. The goal was extra sweet for Duggan as he was cut by Fayetteville earlier this season.

Craig Miller added his fourth goal of the season just over a minute later on a hard working goal. Miller skated hard down the ice to save an icing call. After a few passes to Deeves and Rivard, Miller was able to stuff the rebound to the back of the net.

The FireAntz took advantage of their power play opportunities in the final two periods. Both their goals came with the extra man, one in the second and another in the third period.

In goal Mark Cairns stood tall again to earn his fourth victory of the season. The Trax backstop turned away 28 Fayetteville shots to preserve the win. With the win the Trax have won back-to-back games for the first time this year.

SAT Nov. 27 Asheville @ TRAX (4-2 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Two weeks after the Trax were blasted by the Aces; Macon got its revenge in a 4-2 win on home ice. David Deeves led the way for the Boys In Black with two goals.

Dominick Dawes chose a perfect time to score his first professional goal. After taking out two Asheville players behind the net, Dawes redirected Mark Allen’s shot into the net at 11:35 of the third period.

Asheville started the scoring 14:10 into the game when Chris Ferguson scored his first of two goals on the night. That was the only scoring in a first period where the teams combined for 28 shots.

Whatever Head Coach Tommy Stewart said to the Trax in the locker room worked. David Deeves netted his first of two goals on the night when Ryan Rivard and Craig Miller found him on the door step just 70-seconds into the second period.

The Aces retook the lead three minutes later when Ferguson lit the lamp again. After seeing Asheville take the first two power plays of the night the Trax finally got their chance just past the half way mark of the game.

The Southern Professional League’s top power play kicked it into high gear as Mark Allen scored his second goal of the season to get the Trax back to even. Both teams started to play a physical style of game late in the second period, not willing to give up any odd man breaks.

After the Dawes goal in the middle part of the period, Deeves added an empty net goal to seal the Trax victory. Macon goalie Mark Cairns made 28 saves for his third consecutive victory, in each game only giving up two goals.

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 Mark Allen from 6-7pm. Food and drink specials will be available every week to all Trax fans in attendance.

· Nov. 30—“”DOUBLE COLA DOUBLE TUESDAY”—Fans should go buy a Double Cola, Ski, or Jumbo soda at their convenient stores locally owned shops 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 29; Byron Middle School; 1:30-2:30 pm

Monday, November 29; Gold’s Gym; 4-6 pm, Chris Duggan, Art Mnatsakanov

Wednesday, December 1; Dry Branch Elementary School; 1:30-3:30 pm, Nick Niedert, Mike Walling

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax have killed off 15 of their last 17 penalties.

Macon’s power play is second best in the SPHL with a 25% success rate.

STANDOUTS:

MARK CAIRNS is second in the league with 5 wins.

DAVID DEEVES has registered 9 points in his last 7 games.

STEVE ZORYK leads the SPHL with 2 game winning goals.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

MARK CAIRNS—The Trax goalie has led the team to three straight victories. The Little Britain, Ont. native helped the Trax to a perfect week with three solid performances. In addition to going 3-0, the 5-8, 185-pounder had a 2.00 goals against average and had a .940 save percentage.

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