Utah Ready For Game One In Wilkes-Barre

April 10, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA (Apr. 10, 2003) - The Utah Grizzlies begin a best-of-three qualifying round playoff series tonight in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton against the Penguins. Face-off at the First Union Arena is set for 7:05 PM (EST).

The Grizzlies and Penguins met four times during the regular season with Utah claiming victory in three of those contests. The team's split a pair of games in Wilkes-Barre. The Penguins finished the regular season 36-32-7-5 placing them eighth in the Western Conference, while Utah finished 37-34-4-5 and in the ninth seed in the conference. The team's were separated by just one point during the regular season.

Wilkes-Barre was aided on Sunday, the final day of the regular season, when they were assigned forwards Guillaume Lefebvre, Eric Meloche, Tomas Surovy and Michel Sivek. All of who spent considerable time with Wilkes-Barre's parent club the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Finishing the season without a loss (4-0-2), the Penguins are led by strong forwards and a tremendous tandem in net with Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Sebastien Caron. Aubin was named the AHL's Player of the Week during the final week of the regular season after posting two wins a tie and a sub 1.00 goals against average.

For Utah, they will depend on their veterans such as Jim Montgomery, Greg Hawgood, Mark Wotton and Eric Landry. Montgomery finished the year among the league leaders with 68 points (22-46=68), Hawgood was the top scoring blueliner in the league with 57 points (15-42=57) and Landry lead the team with 26 goals.

All of the Grizzlies playoff action can be heard on ESPN Radio AM-1230. Join the Ford Pre-Game Show tonight beginning at 4:45 PM (EST).

ECHL Stories from April 10, 2003

• Grizzlies Can't Overcome Four Goal First Period; Fall 5-2 - Utah Grizzlies
• Playoffs Start with ThunderStix and Jersey Auction - Bakersfield Condors
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Aces Bulk up Front Office Staff - Alaska Aces
• Schneekloth Heads Back to Grand Rapids - South Carolina Stingrays
• All-Star Defenseman assigned to 'Clones - Cincinnati Cyclones
• Blades Host Jersey Auction Tuesday - Florida Everblades
• St. Pierre Named WCHL MVP - Bakersfield Condors
• Express Season Ends with Playoff Loss, Season Tickets on Sale Now - Roanoke Express
• Utah Ready For Game One In Wilkes-Barre - Utah Grizzlies

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