Wray Drops Three on Former Team as Flags Trounce Jackals, 6-2
Published on March 18, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Flags News Release
(PORT HURON, MICH.) - The Port Huron Flags collected a solid victory against the Elmira Jackals on Sunday night, as Scott Wray picked up the third hat trick of the season for a Port Huron player, against his former team in a 6-2 thumping.
Before three minutes expired on the clock, both sides found a way to score. At 2:01, Scott Wray took first honors, when he tipped in Pat Sutton's shot, originally set up by Greg Bullock. However, the Jackals wasted no time in responding, as Dan Veenema tied the game, unassisted, at 2:49. With a 5-on-3 advantage, Wray stunned his former teammate Dave Lemanowicz, when he rifled in a one-timer from just inside the blue line. At 15:03, Wray earned his second tally of the night off assists from Kris Vernarsky and Greg Bullock. Port Huron finished the period with the lead, although both squads recorded 9 shots on goal.
Things got heated in the middle frame, when former Flag Bobby Kukulka got tangled up at the home team bench and received ten minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. Several minutes later, Colt King reached his limit with Frank Littlejohn's mouth and the two gave the fans their first official fight of the night. With momentum on their side, Port Huron took advantage of a tripping penalty to Kim Brandwold and extended its lead, 3-1, as Steve Hildenbrand shot a missile into the net from inside the near circle, with assists from Wray and Mark Cadotte. By the end of the session, the Flags had doubled the Jackals' shots on goal, 16 - 8.
A carry-over penalty at the beginning of the third set up Wray's golden shot which landed several fans' hats on the ice, just 18 seconds into the period. The marker, from Bullock and Hildenbrand, was followed up with the fourth straight Flags' tally. Kris Vernarsky made it 5-1 with a goal from Colt King., before Elmira ended its draught. Frank Littlejohn found the net behind Noah Ruden, when he chipped home a Marc Lefebvre shot originally set up by Glenn Detulleo. However the Flags would get the last laugh, as Robert Snowball found the back door wide open behind Lemanowicz, taking a pass from Colt King at 16:13. Vernarsky received the second assist, as Port Huron put the game away, and moved five points ahead of Elmira in the standings.
Ruden stopped 25 of 27 shots in his seventh win of the season, while Lemanowicz made 30 saves on 36 attempts. Wray, Bullock and Ruden were named AT&T's First, Second, and Third Stars of the Game, respectively. Port Huron plays at home again on Wednesday night, hosting the Muskegon Fury at 7 p.m.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 18, 2007
- Rockford drops heartbreaker to Flint in shootout - Rockford IceHogs
- Wray Drops Three on Former Team as Flags Trounce Jackals, 6-2 - Port Huron Flags
- Wray Hat Trick Sends Jackals Packing 6-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Game Preview - Mallards vs. Hounds - Quad City Mallards
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.
