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Trax Take Four Points on Weekend

January 5, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


THIS WEEK:

TUE Jan. 6 Trax @ JACKSONVILLE 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

The Trax will try to solve the Barracudas. So far this season Jacksonville has had Macon's number. In four meetings, the ‘Cudas have come away with four wins. Currently, the Barracudas are the only team in the WHA2 that the Trax have not beaten. The last time the two teams met, The Trax were able to force overtime on Dec. 18. Mike Wirill scored the game winner at the Centreplex.

Season Series: Jacksonville leads 4-0 (Most recent: 5-4 OT loss, Dec. 18 @ MAC)

FRI Jan. 9 Jacksonville @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

For the second time in four days the two teams will square off. The home and home set will be very important for both teams. Macon looks to gain ground on teams ahead of them, while Jacksonville fights through two big injuries. Last week both their goalies, Brandon Snee and Nate Ziemski, have been placed on the injured reserve. Taking their places are former NHL goalie Rob Stauber and rookie Randy Hevey

Season Series: Jacksonville leads 4-0 (Most recent: 5-4 OT loss, Dec. 18 @ MAC)

SAT Jan. 10 Lakeland @ TRAX 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

Last weekend the two teams met twice. Both times the Trax came out in the high end. Lakeland sits at the bottom of the WHA2 standings, but has recently made some roster moves to improve their club. Besides the two games the Trax blew out the Loggerheads, Lakeland has battled their opponents tough this season. The Turtles lead the league with four losses in overtime or shootout.

Season Series: Macon leads 4-0 (Most recent: 3-1 WIN, Jan. 4 @ LAK)

SUN Jan. 11 Alabama @ TRAX 4:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

BLOWOUT SUNDAY BLOWOUT SUNDAY—ALL UPPER LEVEL TICKETS ONLY $5!!!

The fiercest rivalry in the WHA2 is renewed this week. Every game these two teams have played, have been fun for the fans. In four games this season, two of the games have gone to a shootout. Besides the close games, the Trax and Slammers have not been afraid to exchange punches. If you like lots of goals and lots of fights, you may want to be at the Centreplex Sunday afternoon.

Season Series: Macon leads 2-1-1 (Most recent: 4-3 SO loss, Dec. 20 @ ALA)

LAST WEEK:

FRI Jan. 2 Lakeland @ TRAX (9-1 WIN) 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

A two game losing streak did not sit well with the Trax as they destroyed the Lakeland Loggerheads 9-1 in front of 1,320 fans. Jeff Antonovich led the way for the Trax as he scored his first hat trick of the season.

The Trax have not scored many goals early in the game this season, but Antonovich changed that trend as he started the scoring 92 seconds into the game. The goal was just the start of a successful night for Macon.

Edan Welch gave the Trax a two goal lead at the 11:47 mark of the first period. Steve Zoryk won the draw back to defenseman Steve Howard. Howard teed the shot up and Welch was able to redirect the shot in front of Loggerhead goalie Tyler Moss.

Early in the second period Antonovich scored as he took a Welch feed and buried the shot just two minutes into the middle period. The Loggerheads tried to mount a comeback with an Evan Levi power play goal at the 4:07 mark.

The Trax struck back with a power play goal of their own when Benoit Cotnoir found the back of the net from just inside the blue line after David Deeves won another draw. Later in the period Zoryk continued January the way he ended December, very hot.

Luke Murphy and Zoryk came down the ice untouched and exchanged three passes between the two of them, the final one landed on Zoryk's stick and he buried it for his first goal of the game. Before the period was over, Bobby Clouston started a rush and after Zoryk and Murphy touched the puck, Clouston scored his second goal of the season at the 15:05 mark.

The third period was much of the same for the Trax. Antonovich finished his hat trick, again scoring within the first two minutes of the period for his ninth goal of the season. David Deeves netted his 10th goal of the season, to give him a five point night.

The final goal of the night came from the Trax hot man Zoryk. He took a feed from John Gurskis and gave the Trax their ninth goal of the night. With the assist Gurskis has now scored in a WHA2 record 12 straight games.

The eight goal victory is the highest margin is victory in any WHA2 game this season. The nine goals scored set a new franchise record for the Trax.

SAT Jan. 3 Orlando @ TRAX (2-1 loss) 7:35 p.m. Macon Centreplex

What a difference a day makes. Last night the Macon Trax found the net nine times, tonight only once. The first place Orlando Seals came to town and beat the Trax 2-1.

Macon (8-8-2, 18 points) threw shots at the net and had some prime scoring chances, but the Seals (14-4-1, 29) goalie David Goverde made 38 saves to preserve the victory.

The offensive hero of the night was Seals' center Seamus Galligan who put the puck through Geoff Faulkner's five hole with 1:28 to go in the game. Galligan's fourth goal of the season turned out to be the game winner.

Orlando started the scoring two minutes into the game on a shorthanded goal by B.J. Stephens. The game remained quiet for most of the next two periods.

Just past the half way mark of the third period the Trax faced their biggest hurdle of the night. Referee Mark Galloway assessed a questionable boarding call to Craig Miller. Head Coach Tommy Stewart did not agree with the call the official made. Stewart earned a bench minor for his action and the Trax faced a five on three situation for two minutes.

After a successful penalty kill the Trax fans rose to their feet and tried to spark Macon to a goal. It worked as Steve Zoryk ripped a wrist shot that went past Goverde on the short side at the 14:37 mark.

The Centreplex came to life for the first time all night and momentum looked to swing in the Trax direction. It was short lived as the Seals eventually regained the lead and sent the Trax to their eighth loss of the season.

SUN Jan. 20 Trax @ LAKELAND (3-1 WIN) 7:05 p.m. Lakeland Center

What a difference 48 hours makes. Friday the Trax hosted Lakeland set a few different records on their way to a 9-1 shelling of the Loggerheads.

Sunday night in Lakeland, the home team defended their ice quite well before eventually losing to the Trax 3-1. The first period was slow and sluggish as both teams were playing their third game in three nights.

The Trax got on the board first when Luke Murphy found a trailing Andrew Katzberg 7:43 into the second period. Katzberg took the pass and buried past Loggerheads' goalie Tyler Murray. The goal was the first of Katzberg's professional career. Up to this point the Yorkton, Sask. native has been known for his tough play, not his scoring.

The Trax added to the lead half way through the game when Jeff Antonovich netted his tenth goal of the season. With the score 2-0 the Trax looked to be in control of the game, due to the play of goalie Geoff Faulkner.

Faulkner was playing in his third game in three nights and could not have looked sharper on his way to a 40 save performance. Late in the third period Faulkner lost his shutout when the Trax misplayed a puck in the neutral zone. Lakeland's Jim Callahan was able to put home a rebound for a shorthanded goal. That was the only time the Loggerheads would light the lamp.

Luke Murphy added an empty net goal for Macon with under a minute to go in the game to ice it for Faulkner and the Trax. The win gave the Trax two wins in three games over the weekend.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!! The Trax have announced two "BLOWOUT SUNDAYS" Jan. 11 and 18 the Trax are selling ALL upper level seats for ONLY $5! Tell your friends.

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX" will be Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Applebee's on Riverside Drive in Macon. Come by between 6-7pm as Adam Minnick will be joined by Head Coach Tommy Stewart and Clubhouse Player of the Month Steve Zoryk.

Team Appearance: Thursday Jan.8 at Geico Insurance in Macon from 11:30am-1:30pm. BOEING MILITARY NIGHT IS SATURDAY, JAN. 17. All active military members can purchase for $5. Special Military Jerseys will be auctioned after the game.

TEAM NOTES:

Macon continues to sport the top offense in the WHA2 with 84 goals. While Macon's penalty kill leads the league with an 83.5% success rate, the Trax have given up a league worst seven shorthanded goals. Macon set two record on Jan. 2. The nine goals scored were the highest in team history, and the eight goal victory was the widest margin in team and league history. JOHN GURSKIS (mouth) and EDAN WELCH (groin) are both day-to-day with their injuries. Macon has picked up MATT BROWN from the waiver wire. ANDY KOLLAR is expected to return to the Trax Wednesday.

STANDOUTS:

After a strong December, STEVE ZORYK has moved into the league lead with 18 goals. DAVID DEEVES is eighth in WHA2 scoring with 27 points (10G, 17A). ANDREW KATZBERG continues to be the tough man in the WHA2 with 17 major penalties. GEOFF FAULKNER is second in the WHA2 with six wins.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

· GEOFF FAULKNER—Faulkner played in all three games for the Trax over the weekend. He had his finest outings of the season. The Windsor Locks, Conn. native posted a 2-1 record and 1.35 goals against average and a stellar .957 save percentage. On the season the 5'10", 175 pounder is second in the WHA2 with 6 wins.

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