Trax skate to victory
December 4, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release
[Macon, Ga.] â The Macon Trax did not look like a team that has played four games in five nights. The Trax defeated the Asheville Aces 5-2 behind three third period goals. On a night of firsts, Nick Niedert led the way with 28 saves for his first professional victory.
Ryan Crowther netted his first professional regular season goal at the 7:03 mark to give the Trax (7-7, 14 points) the eventual game winner. The goal was shot through goalie Ryan Person's five hole, the second time on the night a Trax player shot the puck through the spot.
Craig Miller opened up the scoring late in the first period when he ripped a slap shot through the legs of Person. The Trax scored the first goal of the game for only the fifth time this season.
The second period was the only part of the game where Asheville (7-8, 14) showed some jump in their play. Less than a minute into the middle frame, Peter Bournazakis scored the first of his two goals on the night.
The Trax reclaimed the lead when Edan Welch found the back of the net for his second goal in three games at the 12:32 mark of the second period. Casey Handrahan earned the assist, his first of three points on the evening.
After the Crowther goal in the third period, the Trax kept the pressure on scoring two more goals before the night was done. Just past the half way mark of the final period, Dominick Dawes fought for the puck behind the Asheville net, eventually kicking it to Steve Zoryk.
Zoryk used his big frame and did not allow Ace Bret Roat to get near the puck. As the Trax captain took the puck up the boards with Roat on his back, he saw Handrahan streaking to the net. On one of the nicest passes you will see, Zoryk went tape to tape to the rookie defenseman and Handrahan pushed it into the net to give the Trax the two goal lead.
The Trax added a late insurance goal when Chris Dugan took a Dawes pass into the zone and gave the fans the fifth Trax goal so everyone in attendance could go home with free French fires courtesy of Burger King.
The loss was the Aces fourth in a row and dropped them to fourth place in the league standings. Asheville came to Macon a week ago as the first place team in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The win was the Trax second in their three games in three night stretch.
Macon will enjoy two days off before heading to Jacksonville for a Tuesday night showdown with the defending champion Barracudas. Friday night the Trax will return home to face the Fayetteville FireAntz. Both games will start at 7:05 pm.
All Trax broadcasts can be heard on Talk Radio 1670 WMWR starting 15 minutes before the puck drop. Tickets for all home games start as low as six dollars. Call the Trax at 478-742-4TIX to reserve your seat.
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SPHL Stories from December 4, 2004
- Trax skate to victory - Macon Trax
- Huntsville wins second consecutive over Asheville - Huntsville Havoc
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