Ulmer, Aulin help Pirates creep closer to playoffs

Published on March 29, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME – With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Portland Pirates appear to be strengthening the defensive form that already has made them the stingiest team in franchise history. Buoyed by multiple-point games from center Jason Ulmer and right wing Jared Aulin, the Pirates beat the Worcester IceCats last Saturday night to draw them to within three points of the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. When the Lowell Lock Monsters lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack the next day, the deficit remained at three. The work of Aulin, Ulmer and a host of others will come into play this weekend when the Pirates return home to host the IceCats on Friday and the Providence Bruins on Saturday before a Sunday trip to Manchester.

Ulmer and Aulin are at different ends of the spectrum. Ulmer, an alternate captain, has been a model of durability. He has played in all 73 Pirates' games this season, the only player to do so. He provided the quick response to the IceCats' first goal of the game, scoring 42 seconds after Worcester had taken a 1-0 lead. He would later set up a goal and then score again into the empty net in the 4-2 win over Worcester. The three-point night was a season high for Ulmer. Aulin has not been nearly as busy as Ulmer but not by choice. He sat out most of the season with an injury and has now played five games with the Pirates since joining the team when the Washington Capitals traded Anson Carter to the Los Angeles Kings. On a third-period powerplay, Aulin scored his first goal as a Pirate, one period after notching his first point with an assist on Ulmer's first goal. Aulin's goal turned out to be the game-winner. The second year man from Calgary is expected to be one of the core players in the Capitals' rebuilding effort. He laid his first bricks last weekend.

Not to be overlooked last weekend was the play of veteran forward Ivan Ciernik. Stopped on a breakaway on Friday in Springfield, he got another on Saturday in Worcester. Ulmer converted the rebound of Ciernik's shot for the Pirates' first goal. Ciernik finished with two assists and has been providing an assertive presence on the wing. The Pirates also got strong goaltending from its tandem of Rastislav Stana and Maxime Ouellet. Stana turned in his strongest effort since returning from injury, stopping 31 Springfield shots, including a handful of testers during a five-minute penalty kill at the end of regulation and into overtime, in a 1-1 tie in Springfield. Ouellet made 23 stops against Worcester the next night to earn his thirteenth win of the season. As a pair, Ouellet and Stana have helped the Pirates build the American Hockey League's third-best goals-against average at 2.01.

THE CALDER CUP COMES TO TOWN—ONE OF MANY PROMOTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK!

The Portland Pirates are just as busy off the ice as on it this week. On Saturday, several Pirates will appear at the Hannaford Supermarket on Route One in Yarmouth to sign autographs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They'll be joined by the AHL's most coveted piece of hardware, the Calder Cup. Q 97.9 will be broadcasting live from Hannaford. Fans can get their picture taken with the Cup at the game that night for just $2 with the money raised going to the Portland Pirates Foundation. Also at that game, the Pirates will be helping Make-A-Wish of Maine celebrate the granting of its 500th wish. Two dollars from every ticket to the game sold through Make-A-Wish or Central Maine Power will go to Make-A-Wish. Earlier that day, Crackers, the Pirates' mascot, will help the Habitat For Humanity kick off its walk at 8:30 a.m. from the Church of St. Mary the Virgin on Route 88 in Falmouth.

­UPCOMING GAMES:

v Friday, April 2, 2004 vs. Worcester, 7:05 p.m.

It's the third game in as many weeks between the Pirates and one of their oldest rivals, the Worcester IceCats. The Pirates are 4-3-1-1 against the ‘Cats this year. This is the final meeting of the regular season. Worcester is in third place in the Atlantic Division at 33-25-12-3. Mike Glumac leads the IceCats in scoring with 25 goals and 48 points. The Pirates snapped his 10-game point-scoring streak last Saturday. John Pohl and Jeff Panzer have each scored five points against the Pirates this season. Pohl has been hot lately with three goals against the Pirates in the last two games. Jason Ulmer is averaging a point per game in nine against the ‘Cats including a team-best six assists. Promotionally, it's a Margaritas Frozen Friday. Fans who dine at Margaritas will receive a handbill with their check good for a buy-one, get-one-free ticket offer to the game. Dunkin Donuts will be handing out free samples of hot chocolate in the lobby prior to the game, and everyone who attends will receive a free copy of Better Hockey Magazine.

v Saturday, April 3, 2004 vs. Providence, 7:05 p.m.

The Pirates welcome their fiercest foes for the final time in the middle game of the weekend. The Providence Bruins are in fourth place in the division with a record of 32-26-10-4. They are six points ahead of the Pirates with a game in hand, a game they'll make up this week. Providence has lost its last three games, one in overtime. Brad Boyes is the Bruins' leading scorer with 29 goals, 37 assists and 66 points. He has six points, including four goals, in nine games since joining the Bruins in a trade on March 9th. Andre Savage has seven points in seven games against the Pirates this year. Colin Forbes has six points in six games against the Bruins. The Pirates are 3-3-2-0 against Providence this season. Saturday is "Hockey Night in Portland". Join us for a Party on the Plaza on the Spring Street side of the Civic Center. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., join us for an outdoor barbeque and live music and get ready for the game. Also on the promotional calendar, State Farm Insurance will be giving out water bottles to the first 1,500 fans through the gate. WCYY radio will also hold a CD scramble at center ice during the first intermission.

v Sunday, April 4, 2004 at Manchester, 4:05 p.m.

The Pirates make their final visit the Manchester on Sunday. It's also their final meeting with the second-place Monarchs who start the week with a record of 38-24-6-5. Manchester is the division's hottest teams with seven wins in its last ten games. The Monarchs are an offensive juggernaut. They have the top scoring player (Pavel Rosa—79 points), the top scoring rookie (Noah Clarke—50 points) and the top scoring defenseman (Bryan Muir—48 points) in the AHL. Rosa has seven points in nine games against the Pirates. Jason Ulmer, Graham Mink and Colin Forbes all have five against the Monarchs. The Pirates are 2-4-2-1 against Manchester this season.

WEEKLY CALENDAR:

DAY DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST

Monday Mar. 29 Practice at PIA 9:45 – 11:15 AM

Tuesday Mar. 30 DAY OFF

Wednesday Mar. 31 Practice at PIA 9:45 – 11:15 AM

Thursday Apr. 1 Practice at CCCC 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Friday Apr. 2 Morning Skate at CCCC 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Game vs. Worcester 7:05 PM PRN

Saturday Apr. 3 Morning Skate at CCCC 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Game vs. Providence 7:05 PM PRN

Sunday Apr. 4 Game at Manchester 4:05 PM PRN

PRN: Pirates Radio Network

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 9: Pirates' Managing Owner/CEO Brian Petrovek speaks to the Portland Rotary Club, Portland 12:00 Noon

April 10: Pirates' Fan Road Trip to Lowell—Motor coach transportation to Lowell, a premium seat to the game and fun with other fans as you cheer on the Pirates. Spaces are available but filling up fast. Call "Our Tickets" at 787-3184.

For a complete list of past and upcoming community appearances, check out the "In The Community" section of the Pirates' web site, portlandpirates.com.

LAST WEEK:

The Pirates went 1-0-1-0 last week and hold down sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 26-27-13-7.

Friday, March 26, 2004: Pirates 1, Springfield 1 OT

The Pirates got an early powerplay goal from Mike Vigilante and 31 saves from Rastislav Stana in their final visit to Springfield. They set a franchise record with their 25th overtime game played this year. More

Saturday, March 27, 2004: Pirates 4, Worcester 2

The Pirates erased a 1-0 lead with two goals in each of the final two periods to win in their last trip to Worcester. More

TRANSACTIONS:

3/24/04 ADD Andrej Podkonicky (LW), reassigned on loan by Washington (NHL)

3/25/04 ADD Trevor Segstro (RW), signed to a PTO under emergency conditions

3/25/04 DELETE Corey Hessler (D), released from PTO

3/27/04 DELETE Jakub Cutta (D), recalled from loan by Washington (NHL)

For a list of all transactions this season, click here.

ON THE AIR:

On Tuesday, head coach Tim Army will appear on WJAB's "Morning JAB" program at 8:00 a.m. On Wednesday, Pirates' goaltender Maxime Ouellet will join the "Morning JAB" at 8:00 a.m. after being selected as the Pirate of the Month for March. On Friday, Pirates' broadcaster Dave Ahlers is a guest of WJAB's "Morning JAB" program at 8:00 a.m.

Once again this season, all the action of Portland Pirates' hockey may be heard on Flagship Station WJAB, AM-1440 and FM-95.5 in Portland and on network affiliates WKTQ AM-1450, South Paris; WTME AM-790 Rumford and 1220 AM, ESPN Radio in Sanford. All games may also be heard on the Pirates' web site, www.portlandpirates.com.

GAME HOTLINE:

Members of the media and fans can receive a recap of each Pirates' game, home or away, by calling the Pirates' office at (207) 828-4665 and dialing 3-2-2 when the automated attendant picks up. Recaps will include scoring, goaltenders, shots, powerplays, attendance and any records or notables. Game recaps and other Pirates' news is also available at www.portlandpirates.com. Official AHL box scores are available at the AHL's official web site, www.theahl.com.

PORTLAND PIRATES BASICS

RECORD 26-27-13-7

HOME RECORD 15-11-7-3

ROAD RECORD 11-16-6-4

SPECIAL TEAMS

GF OPP PCT. SHGA

POWERPLAY: 32 311 10.3% 6

SAVES OPP PCT. SHG

PENALTY KILL: 254 283 89.8% 1

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central