31 December
The Inferno bounced back from five straight losses to sweep three games this past weekend, including two over division-leading South Carolina. More importantly, they have two healthy goalies heading into the meat of their season.
Patrick Couture returned Dec. 26 from an ankle injury and posted wins over Augusta (6-3) and the Stingrays (3-2). Josh Blackburn, who was picked up when Couture went down in November, played 13 straight games until Couture's return.
Blackburn, who was 0-4 with a 6.01 goals against average with Augusta earlier this season, was much better for the Inferno posting a 5-7-1 mark in Couture's absence.
"Josh was glad to finally get a break," White said. "He got time off with the Christmas break and then got to sit and watch a game on Thursday. I think it helped him with his confidence. Our tandem is good. We have two guys going. That's going to be important. We have a lot of games this stretch upcoming."
Couture's play since his return has been crucial to the Inferno's resurgence and if they are to remain in the thick of a competitive Southeast Division playoff race, he is going to have to continue the fine play. He is 11-5-0 on the season with agoals-against average of 2.86.
On Saturday, Couture turned away 43 of 45 shots in Columbia's overtime win. Although he let in a soft goal late to tie the game, he made two spectacular saves late in regulation and in overtime to keep the game tied and allow Chris St. Croix an opportunity to score the game-winner.
The State
If there were classified ads for hockey players, Cam Brown's wording would be simple: "Help Wanted, NOW!"
As in, right now. Before 7:05 p.m., if possible.
So far, the Kingfish coach has found a goaltender and a forward. The American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack has reassigned goalie Niklas Sundberg from the Charlotte Checkers to BR, and the team acquired forward Mike Oliveira from the Augusta Lynx for cash.
A rookie, Sundberg was 8-6-0 with a 3.27 goals against average and 89.0 save percentage for Charlotte.
The Kingfish entered Sunday's game with defensemen Steve Cheredaryk (shoulder separation) and forward Forrest Gore (groin pull) joined the 30-day injured reserve list, having last played on Dec. 21. Goalie Brian Leitza dressed but was unable to skate in the pregame warmup. A knee injury in Friday's turned out to be a tear of the lateral meniscus; Leitza is now on the 30-day IRL.
Baton Rouge Advocate
Peoria survived Dayton in a sudden-death shootout here Friday, which lasted 26 shooters in the penalty-shot phase.
The longest shootout in hockey history involved the Rivermen in a March 9, 1991 game they eventually lost, 4-3, at Milwaukee.
Peoria goaltender Tom Draper - who'll be here this weekend with Toledo - faced 21 penalty shots in the tiebreaker as the two teams combined for 42 penalty shots.
Peoria Journal Star
30 December
The Pee Dee Pride couldn't find a way around Florida All-Star goalie Rob Zepp and were shut out at home for the first time this season, 3-0, Sunday at the Florence Civic Center.
"I think anyone who watched the game could see that their goaltender was the difference in tonight's game," said Pride veteran Greg Schmidt.
Zepp, the league's top netminder, stopped all 31 shots fired at him as Florida (18-6-7, 43 points) overtook South Carolina for first place in the division.
But it was Zepp who stonewalled Pee Dee, making the tough saves look simple and improving his league-leading save percentage to .939.
"I was just trying to do my job," Zepp said. "We gave up the few chances there, but that's what I'm supposed to do. Fortunately, it worked out for us and I'm a pretty happy guy right now."
Naples Daily News
Alfie Michaud was worth watching Sunday.
Unfortunately, that's all the Peoria Rivermen did for the first 30 minutes; they watched their goaltender dive, slide and twist all around the net in a futile bid. Peoria joined him too late to stop a 4-2 ECHL loss against the Dayton Bombers in front of 2,715 at Nutter Center.
The Bombers raced to a 26-8 shooting edge by the midway point of the second period and built leads of 2-0 and 3-1 while Michaud, in his first game since he returned from Europe last week, bought Peoria time for a counterattack that arrived via 31 shots in the final 29 minutes.
It was too late, though, to keep Peoria from losing for only the second time in eight games.
"I saw everything well, and even though I had a lot of shots really none of them were that bad, our defense played well enough," said Michaud, who on Nov. 3 left the Rivermen for a stint in Finland, then returned this week.
Michaud, who hadn't played in two weeks, yielded just once in the first period while Peoria went almost 10 minutes without a shot. He robbed Ryan Vince, then made a sliding pad save on the other side of the crease off the rebound and stopped two more follow-up bids.
Peoria Journal Star
Shootouts haven't produced favorable outcomes for the Pensacola Ice Pilots this season.
Prior to Sunday's game against the Arkansas RiverBlades, the Pilots were 2-4 when the game isn't decided in overtime.
But on Sunday, the Pilots improved on that record pulling out a 4-3 shootout victory before an announced crowd of 3,387 at the Pensacola Civic Center. Pilots forward Chad Theuer earned the winning goal.
Pilots goaltender Maxime Gingras fought off the RiverBlades in overtime, shooing away eight shots, many of which came in a rapid succession.
One of four Arkansas players was able to score on Gingras in the shootout. Gingras said he has made adjustments when defending in a shootout. He stopped 35 of 38 shots for his 14th win this season.
"At the beginning of the season, I was struggling a little because I was playing too deep," Gingras said. "Now, I try to come out a little more and be a little more aggressive, and it's paid off the last few times."
Pensacola News Journal
Count the pluses in last night's 4-3 sudden-death shoot-out victory by the Lexington Men O' War over the visiting Wheeling Nailers.
There was Mark Smith, who netted all three Lexington goals in regulation, plus one of two in the shootout.
Ben Storey scored the shootout winner against goalie Mike Valley, who came into the game with 17 saves on 17 shootout shots.
Bryce Wandler, in his home debut as fill-in while Dan Murphy and Mike Smith are on recall, stopped 32 shots through overtime, and five of six in the shootout.
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Mississippi Sea Wolves have a commanding nine-point lead in the battle for the Nextel Cup with ECHL rival Jackson.
The Sea Wolves outlasted the Bandits 4-3 before 2,570 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Sunday night, staying on top of the standings in the ECHL's Southwest Division.
Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner stopped 24 of 27 shots, earning his 50th career win in his 100th pro game.
Biloxi Sun Herald
29 December
The Storm’s defense was downright offensive last night at the Sports Arena.
Boosted by power-play goals from rookie defensemen Paul Ballantyne and Trevor Read, and the flawless goaltending of veteran Tom Draper, Toledo blanked the Johnstown Chiefs 3-0.
It was the East Coast Hockey League-leading Storm’s sixth consecutive victory and second shutout of the season.
Thanks to the offensive and defensive work from the likes of Ballantyne, Read and their teammates, Draper faced just 22 shots while (Peter) Aubry saw 43.
Toledo’s veteran netminder made notable point-blank stops on Lukas Smital and Steve Hildenbrand in the first period and Dmitri Tarabrin in the third to secure his third win in as many appearances with the Storm.
The former National Hockey Leaguer has given up a total of just four goals in those three outings since being signed as a free agent on Dec. 13.
"We’ve got such a good team that the goalie’s job is to keep the team in the game by making one or two good saves at difficult times," Draper said. "I think the longer I’m on the ice, the better I’ll feel. Last game, I wasn’t happy with the two goals I gave up. Normally, I don’t think I’d give up either one of them."
Toledo Blade
Peter Hogan scored a pair of goals and Marc Magliarditi made 27 saves as the Richmond
Renegades rolled to a 6-0 triumph over the Wheeling Nailers. Magliarditi
stopped all 27 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season and the second for Richmond.
USA Today
Goalie Mike Minard didn't like the way he was being pushed around by the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and hadn't played in almost a year when he signed with the Reading Royals earlier this month. Friday, in his second start for them, the 26-year-old native of Owen Sound, Ontario, had reason to believe he made a mistake.
Homestanding Cincinnati scored five goals in each of the second and third periods and waxed the Royals 13-2. The Cyclones were 7 of 7 on the power play. Minard was left out there to endure it all. He's now 0-2-0 for Reading, with an out-of-sight goals-against average of 8.55 and a save percentage of .738.
The seven power play goals by Cincinnati are an ECHL record.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Cincinnati Cyclones whirled in and whirled out with a 4-1 victory, scoring three goals in the third period, two of them unassisted as the Bombers failed to cover loose pucks — or the men who shot them.
Worse, the nearly perfect Cincinnati goalie was Marc Kielkucki, who played for the Bombers last season and now has three victories in three tries against them this season.
"It's nice to get a chance against a team you used to play for," said Kielkucki, who remains in the Air Force and is stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base when not playing for the Cyclones. "But any win is nice."
Dayton Daily News
Bryce Wandler made his Lexington debut Friday at Greensboro, making 31 saves in a 5-2 victory. With Dan Murphy and Mike Smith on AHL call-ups to Milwaukee and Utah, Wandler was reassigned from Charlotte to Lexington by the Hartford Wolf Pack. Wandler was 0-4-1, 4.74, .820 for Charlotte, but last season with the Checkers he went 16-5-5, 2.70, .970.
Lexington Herald-Leader
Augusta was being outshot 7-2 after Goldie's goals, but the two shots were premium and only exceptional saves by Ron Vogel kept Pee Dee in the lead.
"I thought Ronnie was outstanding," said Pride coach Davis Payne. "He made some big saves that kept our lead in tact."
Vogel authored a top-flight performance, making 32 saves as the Pride were outshot 34-26.
Morning News
Chris St. Croix might have scored the game-winner, but it was goalie Patrick Couture who celebrated the most.
St. Croix blasted a slapshot through the legs of goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck to give the Columbia Inferno a 3-2 overtime win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday night at the Carolina Coliseum.
Couture was fabulous in the nets for most of the night, but it was his misplay on a fluttering shot from Matt Desrosiers with 5:07 remaining that forced overtime.
"I went too soft on it," Couture said. "I was too sure. I put my glove on it but I kind of turned the glove too soon. It was my fault."
Couture shrugged off the mistake and continued the stellar play he showed most of the night. He turned aside 43 of a season-high 45 shots.
"He was unbelievable," Inferno coach Scott White said. "He missed that one but he made some spectacular saves."
Moments after giving up the tying goal, he made a save in front of the net to keep the game tied.
"Even after the goal I was making saves," Couture said. "There was nothing I could do anymore. I had to turn the page and get over it."
The State
Former Lynx goalie Zac Bierk appeared in his first NHL game in more than two years, coming off the bench for the Phoenix Coyotes in relief of Brian Boucher in a loss to Anaheim last Sunday. He allowed one goal on 22 shotb over the final 47 minutes.
The 26-year-old last played in the NHL in 2000-01 for Minnesota, then spent the past two seasons in the minors trying to come back from hip surgery. During his stint with Augusta last season, he went 16-9-3, finishing second in the league with a .925 save percentage.
While his return to the NHL may be short-lived - Coyotes goalie Sean Burke is set to return from an injury next week - Bierk's also got an unexpected surprise during his stint with Phoenix.
During a recent trip to Los Angeles to face the Kings, Bierk was in the team hotel when he stumbled upon a 30-foot-high wall featuring a painting by his late father, David Bierk, the renowned Canadian artist who died in September after a long bout with leukemia.
"I actually came down to LA something like 10 years ago to help him hang it up," Bierk said in the Arizona Republic. "I forgot this was where we put it up until we got here. It's pretty cool to see it again."
Augusta Chronicle
25 December
Greensboro goalie Jamie Hodson will leave the Generals for the rest of December to play for the Canadian national team in the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland.
The round-robin Spengler Cup features teams from Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
"It's quite an honor to play for your country, and I'm thrilled for Jamie to get this opportunity," Generals coach Rick Adduono said. "This will be a fantastic experience for him. I'm glad he'll only miss four games or so. I'll definitely be looking forward to having him back by the first of the year."
Hodson, 22, has won his last five decisions and is 6-3-1 with a 2.40 goals against average. His .937 save percentage is the best in the ECHL.
17 December
IceGators second-year goaltender Frederic Cloutier’s next appearance in net will be his 57th, one behind Bryan Schoen for second on the team’s all-time list. Cloutier, who became the second Louisiana netminder with 40 total wins with the team, trails only Schoen and Doug Bonner (99) on the games played list. Bonner’s 64 wins are tops on the IceGators charts.
Louisiana Ice Gators Press Release
THE NUMBERS WERE ugly.
In four games with Augusta, goalie Josh Blackburn was 0-4-0 with a 6.00 goals against average and a .814 save percentage before being returned to Springfield. But in 10 games with the Inferno -- 10 consecutive games -- Blackburn is 5-4-1 with a 2.77 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
"I threw his performance with Augusta away when I was looking at him," Inferno coach Scott White said. "His work ethic is great and he's very, very athletic. He's been thrown in quite regularly and I don't see an end in sight right now."
White's only complaint is Blackburn's conditioning, though the load has been placed solely on Blackburn's shoulders with Patrick Couture nursing a high ankle sprain. Twice Blackburn has had to play three nights in a row and he's 0-2 with an .881 save percentage on the third night.
White said he hopes Couture, who has begun practicing again, can back up Blackburn starting this weekend, but it will be at least two weeks until Couture is back in playing condition, and longer still until the effects of the ankle injury disappear. The Inferno will play three consecutive nights nine times in the final three months of the season, and White would like to have Couture and Blackburn to share the workload.
"We will have a great goaltending tandem when Patrick gets back," White said. "In the playoffs, I'd like to go with one goalie, but this past week we were playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'd like to play a goalie Thursday and Saturday or Thursday and Friday. Those are the situations that make it nice to have two."
The State
There were no Zamboni-sized butterflies in Rob Zepp’s stomach for his American Hockey League debut Saturday night.
Nerves weren’t the problem. Rust was.
Zepp, the 21-year-old goaltender off to a terrific start with the Florida Everblades, watched his first six Lowell Lock Monsters games from the bench while Randy Petruk, a former Everblades goalie himself, got the nod.
Zepp still leads the East Coast Hockey League with a 1.78 goals against average and .943 save percentage, while compiling an 8-3-4 record.
After more than two weeks of being a spectator, Zepp made 33 saves in a 5-5 tie with the Springfield Falcons. Zepp allowed three first-period goals before settling down.
“I thought I played average, but I definitely got comfortable as the game went on,” he said. “The toughest part was not playing in (almost) three weeks. I wasn’t too nervous. Everyone here can really shoot the puck and there’s some great players on the ice. They’re dangerous from everywhere on the ice.”
Zepp got a taste of the AHL talent, especially when former Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brian Holzinger sent a 20-foot backhander into the top right corner while falling down at the edge of the left faceoff circle in the first period.
“That’s a great example,” Zepp said. “He’s an exceptional player, even at the NHL level.”
When Jean-Marc Pelletier returns to Lowell from Carolina, Zepp will return to Florida.
“I think I can learn a lot from my experiences up here. Hopefully I can apply them to the game (in Florida). At this point of my career it’s important to play in a lot of games,” Zepp said.
A 5-1 loss to Manchester Sunday extended Lowell’s franchise-worst winless streak to 14 games, but Zepp has enjoyed his time with the Lock Monsters.
“You get a feel for the level of play. It’s always good to be around the guys and coaching staff,” he said. “It’s frustrating ... but the guys have stayed positive. Nobody’s quit.”
NHL veteran Damian Rhodes, on loan from the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, made his Lowell debut Sunday in the loss to Manchester. Rhodes made 27 saves.
Despite the arrival of Rhodes, Zepp may stay in Lowell for another week. That’s how long Petruk is expected to be sidelined with a groin injury.
Fort Myers News-Press
16 December
Good goaltending and effective special teams can go a long way toward making up for other deficiencies.
The Lexington Men O' War were a case in point last night, holding off the visiting Wheeling Nailers 2-1.
Mike Smith made 33 saves to notch his third consecutive victory. For the second straight start, he had a shutout through two periods.
Wheeling's Zenon Konopka buried a six-attacker rebound shot with 39.6 seconds left.
"The linesman, he jinxed me out there," Smith said. "He came over to me, and I was upset at a call, the icing call. He says, 'Don't worry about it, Smitty. Look at the board. You've got 2-0 there. You've got a goose egg on the board.'
I'm like, 'No, you didn't just say that.' ... Oh well, we got a win and that's the main thing."
NOTE: After the game, Lexington goalie Dan Murphy was called up by the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals.
Lexington Herald-Leader
Three games in three nights, including 20 hours of travel.
Three goals down after the first period.
The Reading Royals have developed quite a reputation for rallying, so even the aforementioned scenario seemed surmountable.
Sure enough, the Royals tied it with three unanswered power-play goals, but Anthony Belza negated the comeback with a late game-winner to give Peoria a 5-3 East Coast Hockey League victory Sunday night at the Sovereign Center.
The Rivermen (15-8-1), who are second in the Northwest, gained control early by scoring three times during a nine-minute span on newcomer Mike Minard. One goal came on a three-on-one and another on a breakaway.
Minard, a former American Hockey League all-star who was assigned by the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 3, stopped 22 of Peoria's final 23 shots. The game was his first since April. The Royals had placed him on the injured reserve list for a week so he could get comfortable again on the ice.
“It felt good,” Minard said. “It took a little bit to get back into it. Overall, I think I did a lot of good things.”
Reading Eagle
Veteran Rivermen goaltender Duane Derksen was tremendous, stopping breakaways from goalscoring aces Colin Pepperall and Brian McCullough and robbing Brad Rooney on the doorstep to keep the ECHL's No. 4 offense under control.
"The good thing is we found a way to win one of those third games in three nights, and with a short-handed lineup," said Kevin Granato, who stepped up for three assists, and played against childhood friend and old youth hockey teammate McCullough. "Derksen was really good, although we didn't give him a lot of help on those power plays. They buried every chance they had on that. It's a different kind of power play, they put a lot of guys down low."
Peoria Journal Star
It wasn't a shutout. It wasn't even a win. But Matt Underhill's performance in net was no less impressive for all that.
The Pee Dee Pride were outshot 40-24 in a 4-1 loss to Roanoke Saturday at the Florence Civic Center despite the rookie netminder's efforts.
"He made saves that were just outstanding," Pride coach Davis Payne said. "He gave us a chance."
But the goalie himself wasn't so impressed.
"There were a couple goals that I want to have back," Underhill said. "I didn't think I played that well, personally."
The shot count favored Roanoke 14-5 after one period.
Then Underhill really came under fire.
With a little more than 12 minutes left in the second period, the Express went on a 5-on-3 power play for 1:36. Underhill, who had the league's second lowest goals-against average, was tremendous as Roanoke kept play in the Pride zone for the entirety of the advantage.
"I kind of enjoyed the 5-on-3," Underhill said with a quick laugh. "You know you're going to get a lot of shots and you've just got to be up for it."
The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder made save after save, refusing a barrage of shots from point-blank range, never getting a chance to regroup or so much as take a breath.
"The 5-on-3, you're never happy when you come away with nothing, but we certainly had enough chances. He played great," said Roanoke coach Perry Florio. "He's a kid I recruited. I was very close to getting him here and he chose to come to Pee Dee. So Davis has a good goalie there."
Morning News
Playing their third game in 68 hours and losing two defensemen to injury early, the Everblades still held on for a gutsy 3-1 victory over the Greenville Grrrowl
Cam McCormick turned in his best performance so far in net for the Everblades, stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced. He made several nice plays in front of the net that stopped Greenville power plays.
"Cam made some quality, quality plays for us tonight," Fleming said. "It gave us an opportunity to win, and he had a great weekend."
(Naples Daily News
14 December
Brent Gauvreau scored the game-winner in the shootout and Jackson rookie goaltender Adam Hauser outdueled fellow rookie Kyle Kettles with a 30-save performance, as the Bandits earned a 2-1 win at Mississippi Coliseum.
Tony Tuzzolino scored and Kettles made 31 stops for the IceGators.
There were plenty of chances for each team in the game’s 65 minutes, but the rookie goaltenders were up to task almost every time.
The teams combined for 16 shots in the first period, nine by the Bandits, but both young netminders were strong. Jackson had several good opportunities on its only power play of the period, while Hauser stopped Tuzzolino’s one-timer from the right circle with seven minutes left in the stanza.
With 12:49 left in the second, McNeil took a pass from Brown in the low circle and tried to beat Hauser, but the former Minnesota Golden Gopher was up to the task.
Just more than a minute later, the IceGators had 90 seconds of a 5-on-3. Louisiana got several good chances, including a Tuzzulino shot from the low slot, but Hauser kicked it away.
Early in overtime, it was Hauser’s turn for magnificence, as he stopped Corupe from the low slot. Kettles had his biggest save as time expired, kicking aside a Gauvreau shot.
Louisiana Ice Gators Press Release
12 December
Augusta Lynx coach David Wilkie believes the season-long search for a No. 1 goaltender has ended with the signing of David Brumby on Wednesday.
Brumby, 27, split time last season with the Columbus Cottonmouths and Pee Dee Pride. He did not re-sign with Pee Dee after Pride coach Davis Payne opted for a younger tandem of third-year pro Ron Vogel and rookie Matt Underhill.
A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Brumby has a career record of 108-96-26 with a 3.14 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 248 pro appearances. Last season, he was 21-25-7 with a 3.11 GAA and .900 save percentage. Brumby also shares the East Coast Hockey League record for shutouts in a season with seven for the Jackson Bandits in 1999-2000.
"David Brumby his whole career has been a No. 1 goalie, and he comes highly recommended," said Wilkie, whose Lynx (7-15-1) have the worst record and second-worst save percentage in the ECHL.
"We've been plagued by inconsistent goaltending all year. We've been waiting for somebody to take the bull by the horns. I think Brumby can be that guy."
While Brumby was scheduled to arrive in Augusta late Wednesday, Wilkie said he probably won't be eligible to play this weekend because of his pending immigration status.
With Wilkie handing Brumby the top job, that leaves Curtis Cruickshank and Geoff Faulkner in a battle to be the backup.
A former Washington Capitals draft pick, Cruickshank signed with the Lynx on Dec. 2 and went 1-1-0 with a 3.50 GAA last weekend. He was solid in Saturday's 3-1 win over Pee Dee but wasn't as sharp in Sunday's 6-2 loss to Greenville. The 23-year-old struggled with rebound control, which led directly to three Grrrowl goals.
Wilkie said there also is a chance Phoenix Coyotes prospect Colin Zulianello will return from Springfield of the American Hockey League before Christmas.
"Whoever performs the best will get (the backup) job," Wilkie said.
Augusta Chronicle
The Hartford Wolf Pack assigned goalie Scott Meyer to the Checkers on Wednesday, and recalled goalie Bryce Wandler. The moves were announced today by Checkers Head Coach & General Manager Don MacAdam.
Meyer played in five games for the Wolf Pack this season, sporting a 1-2 record, a 4.83 GAA and a .837 save percentage. Meyer played about a half a season for the Checkers in 2001-02, playing in 30 games with a 14-10-5 record, 2.72 GAA and .897 save percentage. Scott played 13 games in the American Hockey League last season for the Wolf Pack going 4-4-2 with a 2.14 GAA and 921 save percentage. He also played in eight games in the playoffs for Hartford, and backed up in two games for the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers.
Wandler played in eight games for the Checkers this season going 0-4-1 with a 4.74 GAA and .820 save percentage. Bryce played in 31 games for Charlotte last season with a 16-5-5 record, 2.70 GAA and .907 save percentage. Wandler holds the Checkers all-time best goals against average mark at 2.70 with a minimum of 20 games played.
NOTES: Goalie Johan Holmqvist, who played one game for the Checkers this season in Charlotte’s 5-2 win at Augusta on Nov 8, played for the New York Rangers Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks. Holmqvist relieved starting goalie Don Blackburn after two periods. It was the first NHL game for Holmqvist since the 2000-01 season when he played in two games for the Rangers.
Charlotte Press Release
11 December
John McNabb and Eric Fortier scored in the shootout and Adam Hauser went the distance in the net, helping the Jackson Bandits take a 1-0 shoot-out victory Tuesday night over the Arkansas River Blades.
Hauser stopped 26 shots overall in posting the shutout and running his record to 6-6-1 for the Bandits, who improved to 13-13-1 and pulled within a point of fourth-place Pensacola in the ECHL Southern Conference, Southwest Division standings.
Pensacola visits Jackson Friday, with game time at the Mississippi Coliseum set for 7:05 p.m.
Both teams had numerous scoring opportunities in the second and third periods but failed to cash in.
Arkansas goalie Jason Saal matched Hauser through three periods and the overtime, but the Bandits broke through in the shootout.
Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Greenville scored three goals in 2 1/2 minutes of the second period and never looked back, cruising to 4-0 win over Columbus in front of 2,122 at the Columbus Civic Center.
The game was setting up as a goalies' duel with Columbus Matus Kostur and Greenville's Jayme Platt looking practically invincible after one scoreless period, but Greenville discovered a crack in the Columbus defense and parlayed it into a crucial win between the division rivals.
Platt turned aside 34 Columbus shots in garnering the win for the Grrrowl.
The teams were scoreless until Greenville opened the floodgates four minutes into the second period. Kostur stopped 12 shots in the first period, but didn't get much help in the second period.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Greenville goaltender Jayme Platt had 36 saves for his second shutout in his last 5 appearances.
Greenville News
Despite the injuries, the Generals are unbeaten in their last seven games, including the last four away from home. They won in a shootout at Johnstown, pounded Reading 6-3 as Ftorek tallied four goals and an assist, lost to Richmond in overtime and cruised to a 5-3 victory in Charlotte. That was the 300th win of goalie Daniel Berthiaume's pro career.
Berthiaume has made five straight starts since Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Jamie Hodson was called up to St. John's of the AHL. He won't have to play three straight nights this week, though, because Hodson is expected back in Greensboro today and should be available.
Greensboro News and Record
Before the signing of free-agent goalie Curtis Cruickshank last week, Wilkie asked assistant coach John Whitwell to contact his good friend and former Lynx goalie Judd Lambert about the possibility returning.
Lambert passed. In September, he left Augusta after former Lynx coach Jim Burton decided not to re-sign him after Lambert's major reconstructive knee surgery in November 2001. He ended up moving to New Jersey to accept a head coaching job at a New Jersey high school.
Was Lambert bitter about not being offered a chance to remain with the organization as a player or assistant coach?
"He just told (Whitwell) he didn't want to come back," Wilkie said. "That was it."
Augusta Chronicle
10 December
Columbia signed goalie Jason Brown to back up Josh Blackburn. White had hoped to use No. 1 goalie Patrick Couture as the backup last weekend, but he hasn’t recovered from a high-ankle sprain suffered Nov. 15. Brown was in the Inferno’s training camp.
“I didn’t want to risk (Couture),” White said. “He’s practicing but I think he’s still a ways away. It’s a high ankle sprain for a butterfly goalie who goes up and down a lot. He hasn’t aggravated it in over a week and if he manages another week, he should be OK.”
The State
With the breakdowns in team defense, the goals against averages of Mike Morrison and Matus Kostur have skyrocketed. The Cottonmouths have allowed 17 goals in the last three games -- 10 by Morrison and seven by Kostur.
"The biggest thing is staying positive and getting back to the drawing board, to the basics," Morrison said. "You want to keep it as simple as you can and do the little things. You don't want to make more of it than it is; it's a long season."
Columbus' goaltending got a boost on Saturday when Kostur rebounded from a poor second period to give his team a chance. He shut down the Kingfish in the third period and the Snakes rallied to tie the game. He turned away three shots in overtime and all four he faced in a shootout for his second shootout win this season.
"That's how you've got to be as a goalie," Morrison said. "If you let a few early ones in, you've got to block it out and hold on. That was a good win for him."
Morrison said he's no stranger to slumps, having suffered through some during his collegiate career at Maine. His plan is just to work harder in practice.
"Coach Garber has implemented some drills to help Matus and myself out," Morrison said. "I'll stay on the ice as long as I can, be the first one on and the last off. I've been in a slump, but I'm a confident, cocky kid. I'll be back on top of the mountain shortly."
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
The South Carolina Stingrays begin two day stint building a house for Habitat for Humanity this afternoon. The team will be working today and tomorrow from 1:00 to 4:00 PM on a house at 2223 Delano Street in the Rosemont district of Charleston. This is the second year that the Rays have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
“I think this is a project that a lot of the players enjoyed last season and we were able to get a great deal of work accomplished,” explained Stingrays Director of Community Relations Mike Bonasia. “I am not sure how much experience these guys have, but that doesn’t stop them from working hard."
Mike Bonasia, Chris George, Julie Theonnes, Peter Armbrust, Matt Desrosiers, Brad Williamson, Dave Seitz, Jeff Boulanger, Brent Henley, Mike Jickling, Dean Weasler, Andy Powers and Joel Irving will be on the job today.
Darren Abbott, Sean O’Connell, Danny Foreman, Jason Fitzsimmons, Jared Bednar, Brett Marietti, Jason Oates, Kirk Daubenspeck, Trevor Johnson, Robin Gomez, Aaron Schneekloth, Adam Calder, Marty Clapton, Curtis Huppe, Ryan Brindley and Rod Taylor will work at the site tomorrow.
South Carolina Press Release
04 December
You'll need a scorecard to keep track of all the changes to the Augusta Lynx roster.
An eraser might help, too.
Five players have arrived since Friday, including goalie Curtis Cruickshank, a former Washington Capitals draft pick who was signed by Augusta as a free agent.
Augusta Chronicle
03 December
The Reading Royals have been assigned goalie Mike Minard from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Minard was drafted by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round, 83rd draft choice overall in 1995.
Minard, 26, of Owen Sound, Ont., was an AHL All-Star in 2000-01 with the St. John’s Maple Leafs. Last season, he appeared in 35 games with the team. He posted a record of 23-10-4 with a .922 save percentage. Minard has appeared in 49 games in the ECHL in his professional career with the Wheeling Nailers, New Orleans Brass and Dayton Bombers. The pinnacle of his career was appearing in three games with the Edmonton Oilers in 1999-00. He was 1-0-0 with a 3.00 goals against average.
Minard was awarded the 1999-2000 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the AHL's Man of the Year. The award is presented to an American Hockey League player who has made outstanding commitments to his local community and charitable organizations. Minard, then with the Hamilton Bulldogs, volunteered to participate in charitable events and causes in Hamilton, Ont., and the surrounding area throughout the 1999-2000 season.
Minard is expected to arrive in Reading sometime this week. His debut game with the Royals has not yet been set.
“We are fortunate enough to have an excellent relationship with Newport Sports (Minard's representatives), and after a series of discussions the decision was made that Reading was the right fit for Mike to go and resume his hockey career,” Reading Royals General Manager Ray Delia said. “Mike is a man of tremendous character, and a player who has displayed All-Star capabilities. We look forward to having him join our program.”
Reading Royals Press Release
JACKSONVILLE-- The Barracudas announce that goaltender Jeff Salajko has joined the New York Rangers organization and was assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League. Salajko, a 7 year pro from Kitchener, Ontario, was the first player signed in Barracuda history. In six games with the Barracudas, “Sal” was 0-6 with a goals against of 4.03 and a save percentage of 0.895. Salajko was selected by the San Jose Sharks in Round 10, #236 overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
Jacksonville Barracuda (ACHL) Press Release
27 November
Rookie Matt Yeats remains up with the Philadelphia Phantoms for at least 10 more days
Atlantic City Press
Cody Rudkowsky was shipped to AHL-Worcester and did not make the trip with the Titans to Richmond. Worcester needed Rudkowsky after Curtis Sanford went down with an injury. Vinnie Prestinari was signed as an emergency backup for David St. Germain
Trentonian
It was a hard-fought battle between the two Mississippi teams in the East Coast Hockey League on Tuesday night as the Sea Wolves shut out the Jackson Bandits 3-0.
The game got out of control at 5:48 of the third. Off a faceoff in the Sea Wolves' end, Jackson's Sean O'Connor knocked Dave Paradise to the ice. That instigated fights with all 12 players on the ice, including the goalies, Greg Gardner (Mississippi) and Tyrone Garner (Jackson).
Sea Wolves goaltender Sean Matile came in to mop up the shutout for Mississippi.
Biloxi Sun Herald
26 November
(Inferno Coach Scott) White said Kevin Swanson is not expected to return to Columbia this season. Swanson struggled early this season before turning in a strong performance as Couture's replacement vs. South Carolina on Nov. 16. He was 1-1-0 with a 4.74 goals against average this season.
The State
21 November
Johnstown Chiefs Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Toby O'Brien announced today that goaltender Peter Aubry has been returned to the team from the Saint John Flames (AHL). To make room for Aubry, the Chiefs released goaltender Dany Dallaire.
Aubry, 25, has appeared in six games for the Chiefs this season going 3-3-0 with a 3.14 GAA and a 0.910 save percentage. He was loaned to the Flames on Nov. 1st. He saw action in parts of two games for the Flames in relief of former Chiefs goaltender Dany Sabourin. In over 80 minutes of play, Aubry had a 2.19 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage.
Dallaire was 2-5-0 with the Chiefs in eight games this season with a 3.43 GAA and a 0.869 save percentage.
Johnstown press release
20 November
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League loaned goaltender Scott Stirling to the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the American Hockey League, it was announced tonight by Bullies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Michael Haviland.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Reading Royals, Stirling was 4-0-1 in five games with a 2.33 goals against average and a 0.917 save percentage.
The 6-2, 205-pound netminder was loaned to the AHL’s Worcester IceCats on October 22 of this year and returned to the Bullies on November 8. Stirling earned one win while with the IceCats.
The Hull, Mass., native earned ECHL Rookie and Goaltender of the Year honors in 2001 and helped lead the Trenton Titans to the 2001 Kelly Cup Championship against the South Carolina Stingrays.
Atlantic City press release
19 November
Cody Rudkowsky has been awfully sharp since returning from St. Louis/Worcester, losing a 2-1 decision in Greensboro on Thursday night and picking up the win against Reading on Sunday. The Blues’ product had a 1.50 GAA in those two starts and stopped 49 of 52 shots.
"I feel really good in there," Rudkowsky said. "The guys have been playing really good. I haven’t had to make a lot of big saves."
Trentonian
The Florida Everblades hassigned free agent goaltender Cam McCormick.
He will join the Everblades for tonight’s game against the Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths.
McCormick had been working out with his former college team, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, waiting for a chance when the Everblades called. McCormick (6-2, 220) had a stellar senior season in 2001-02, compiling a 13-6-3 mark and 1.88 goals against average.
The 25-year-old rookie replaces Daniel Boisclair, who remains out with a mystery illness. Boisclair had blood work done Saturday, but the doctors had not released the results as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to Brush.
Brush believes McCormick will be a more than adequate replacement.
“He was courted by some NHL teams, and it looked like (Philadelphia) was going to sign him as the fifth goalie in their system,” Brush said. “Trenton decided they wanted him, but then they got a proven goalie from St. Louis and let him go.”
Brush said McCormick could start at least one game this week, but Fleming would not commit to that.
Starter Rob Zepp said he would not mind playing all four games on the trip.
“I played four games in five nights once in juniors,” said Zepp, who currently leads the ECHL with a 1.88 GAA and .938 save percentage. “I’m preparing myself with the thought I’ll be going all four.”
Fort Myers News-Press
Patrick Couture's injury wasn't as serious as initially feared, but (Coach Scott) White still is searching for a temporary replacement. The biggest obstacle is the increased immigration scrutiny. In previous seasons, a Canadian could get a B-1 visa, then compete if he had applied for a H-2B visa. Now the ECHL requires players to have the H-2B visa to play.
The Inferno pay a $1,000 fee to expedite the process -- plus $130 for the visa -- but it still requires 15 business days to complete. It used to take two days, but increased background checks in the wake of Sept. 11 have increased the timetable.
"There's some goalies out there but the problem we have is their immigration status," White said. "We're looking at a couple of U.S.-born goalies or at a trade."
The State
The Rivermen are scoring just 1.87 goals per game when veteran goalie Duane Derksen plays. Peoria scores 5.09 goals per game in support of any goalie not named Derksen.
We don't know why this is, nor do we know what it means. But it is amazing.
"We're looking at that and trying to figure out why," Rivermen head coach Jason Christie said. "You want the guys to go and play hard for your goaltender."
The Rivermen have yet to reach four in any game with Derksen in net.
Peoria's 2000 Kelly Cup netminder, meanwhile, showed signs of returning to form Sunday against Wheeling after going through a stretch of 143 minutes, 56 seconds where he posted a 6.67 goals-against and .828 saves percentage.
It begs to be pointed out that those numbers in part were aggravated by poor defense in front of him. But there is no finger pointing. Derksen, who loves winning, hates losing and knows you do both as a team, at least has a sense of humor about the situation.
"I'm disappointed in how things are going, but there's no sense of letting down by any of us," Derksen said.
Then, joking, he added: "With 1.87 goals per game on my side, I guess maybe I better jump up there on the power play and get some one-timers. We need some run support."
Peoria Journal Star
NO CONTROVERSY: Yet. (Coach Gord) Dineen finds himself with a problem most coaches wouldn't mind having. He has two excellent goaltenders. The question is: How to use them?
Marc Magliarditi was signed to play most of the games, with rookie Dan Lombard filling in. Magliarditi, who had the third best goals-against average (2.26) in the league for Louisiana last year, started seven of the first eight as the Renegades got off to a 1-5 start.
After losing his first start, Lombard is unbeaten in his last five appearances and ranks third in goals-against (2.12). Magliarditi looked very sharp in Saturday's 7-2 romp over Reading.
"It always kind of works itself out," Dineen said. "The great thing about them is they get along so well, and they both work so hard. They're happy for each other, but they're competitive, too. They're good team guys."
Lombard left the team for a couple of days because of a death in the family. He's expected to return either tomorrow or Thursday.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
17 November
(Former Lynx goalie) Judd Lambert is the head coach at Notre Dame High School near Princeton, N.J., and is also serving as a goaltending coach for youth hockey teams at a nearby ice rink.
Augusta Chronicle
Apparently, the ECHL's first goalie fight of the season matched South Carolina's Kirk Daubenspeck with Pee Dee's Ron Vogel at center ice. There were no details about the mid-game punchout. The visiting Stingrays won 5-4 in a shootout.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Lexington goalie Mike Smith was recalled earlier in the day to the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies. Van Burgess, a winger, was listed as the backup to Murphy.
Lexington Herald-Leader
Nailers goaltender Mike Valley arrived moments before the start of the game from his assignment with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Wheeling Intelligencer/News Register
Cody Rudkowsky will likely get the start in goal today for the Titans, as he had a solid 28-save performance in Thursday night’s 2-1 defeat. While David St. Germain gave up six goals the following night, Armstrong was not about to blame his goaltender for the loss.
"I wouldn’t say it was his fault," Armstrong said. "Some of those goals that were scored were pretty nice. He wasn’t the difference for us. The difference was they buried their opportunities and we didn’t."
Trentonian
16 November
The Mississippi Sea Wolves were in 'paradise' Friday night after a pair of goals from veteran Dave Paradise lifted the team over the Jackson Bandits, 2-0, before a crowd of 2,769 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
In his first start this year, goaltender Sean Matile stood tall in net and earned his first shutout win of the season, taking down the Bandits' offense by saving all 35 shots on goal.
"It's a good confidence boost for him," said Sea Wolves head coach Bob Woods, who celebrated his 50th career victory of the regular season Friday.
The first period proved to be a goaltenders' duel as the game remained scoreless. Matile saved all 13 shots from their intrastate rival. On the other end of the ice, Bandits netminder Adam Hauser reciprocated by stopping Mississippi's nine shots on goal.
Biloxi Sun Herald
The Columbia Inferno returned home after a two-week road trip to find a light on ... a red light.
"This is our barn and we don't lose here," center Rejjie Stringer said after the Inferno's 7-1 victory over Charlotte on Friday night improved the team to 6-0-0 at the Carolina Coliseum.
The only setback was an ankle injury that is expected to keep goalie Patrick Couture out at least a week. Inferno coach Scott White said Couture was taken for X-rays during the game and an MRI will be performed Monday morning. White said it's at least a sprain and could be worse.
Couture had started 14 of the team's 15 games. Reserve Kevin Swanson was struggling with a .787 save percentage. Swanson entered Friday's game with five minutes remaining in the second period and the Inferno holding a 5-1 lead and stopped all 13 shots he faced.
"It's tough when you come in (off the bench) and the first shot got through him, but fortunately it hit the post," said White with his team preparing for tonight's game at South Carolina, which defeated the Inferno 8-1 during the road trip. "After that he did a decent job. He's been struggling this year, and he'd be the first one to admit it.
The ball's in his court as far as him getting this opportunity with an injury. It's up to him to be mentally strong and be ready to play the game (Saturday) night. I think he'll be fine."
White said he will try to sign an emergency backup before tonight's game who can only play if Swanson gets injured. Depending on Couture's status, the Inferno could also sign another full-time goalie.
The State
With 4:33 left, Florida rookie goalie Rob Zepp made a nice save and then Augusta's Jim Sheperd crashed into him. Zepp stayed down in the net for a couple of minutes, got to his knees with his helmet off and trainer Todd Wisocki was looking at his neck.
"They just hit me kind of hard and shook me up a bit but I'm fine," Zepp said. "The stars in my head disappeared or else I would have had a little trouble with those saves."
Zepp looked strong in the net, stop ping 29 of 30 shots, including a few point-blank saves late before beging shaken up.
Naples Daily News
The Pilots handed the IceGators their worst loss this season in a 6-1 defeat in front of 4,080 at the Civic Center.
Pilots goaltender Maxime Gingras continued his stellar play, stopping 36 of 37 shots.
Pensacola News Journal
The Peoria Rivermen took time out, then needed just 14 minutes to go from awful to awesome Friday in a 7-6 comeback over Arkansas that could be a defining game for both teams.
Peoria's Brendan Brooks notched a goal and three assists, former ECHL All-Star defenseman Arvid Rekis returned from injured reserve and scored a goal, newly acquired goaltender Mathieu Chouinard rescued veteran Duane Derksen and earned his first win in relief, and defenseman Chad Starling capped a furious four-goal, third-period comeback with his second goal of the game to win it.
There were fights, cheap shots, great shots, shaky goaltending, poor defense, unbelievable rush after rush, monster hits along the boards and backup goaltenders pushing each other around on the bench.
Derksen was driven from the game at 2:59 of the second period, trailing 4-2. Arkansas continued against Chouinard, capping a four-goal run to a 6-2 lead in a span of 4:26.
"These are games you have to try to steal," said Derksen, who later got in a brief shoving match on the benches with counterpart Jimi St. John. "I'll have to analyze what happened to me. But what happened in that third period, that was sheer determination by this team. We have a lot of hard heads in here, and it took until that third period to get the message."
"I was watching the game like everyone else," Chouinard said. "But after that fourth goal we got, I could feel the emotion in the team, and you could sense something special was going to happen."
Peoria Journal Star
15 November
“We had a good meeting after the game. Everybody wants to win,” said Chiefs rookie goaltender Dany Dallaire, who has had the bulk of the workload in net since Peter Aubry was loaned to AHL Saint John (New Brunswick) on Nov. 1. “We need to do everything to get out of this bad streak. We had a good practice (yesterday). There was a lot of enthusiasm on the ice.”
Dallaire is 2-5-0 with a 3.43 goals against average and .869 save percentage. Mark Scally signed with Johnstown last week and is 0-0-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .913 save percentage. Coach Toby O’Brien, who had dental surgery yesterday and was unavailable for comment, hadn’t named his starter immediately after the Cincinnati loss.
“For sure, it’s been tough lately for me,” Dallaire said. “I know I can play better than what I did lately. I know I can play in this league. I just have to keep working hard. I’m sure things are going to turn around for me.”
Toledo certainly won’t make it easy for the Chiefs to rebound.
The Storm has won six straight games and is 9-1-0 in the past 10. The Chiefs defeated the Storm, 5-4, in overtime on Oct. 12 at the War Memorial.
“Toledo is a good team, and we have to be ready for that,” Dallaire said. “One of their losses is to us. We’ve got to do the same thing we did when we beat those guys.”
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
14 November
The Wheeling Nailers announce today that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League have recalled Mike Valley.
Valley is the reigning East Coast Hockey League Goalie of the Week. Last week Valley was 3-0-0 with a ..939 save percentage and a 1.95 goals against average. For the season Valley has a record of 5-6-1 with a .900 save percentage and 3.73 goals against average. Two of Valley’s wins are in shootouts where he has made nine saves on nine shots faced. This is his first call-up to the AHL this season and is the third time he has played in the AHL in his career. Valley played 26 games for the Syracuse Crunch in the 1998-99 season and one game for Syracuse in the 1999-00 season.
Wheeling Press Release
The Baton Rouge Kingfish continue to make roster moves. Goaltender Paxton Schafer was waived today.
In 6 games with the Kingfish, Schafer went 2-4-0 as he made 147 saves for a .855 save percentage while posting a 4.21 goals against average.
Baton Rouge Press Release
The Peoria Rivermen expect highly touted Ottawa Senators goaltender prospect Mathieu Chouinard to join them today as the ECHL team prepares for a three-game weekend.
Chouinard, 22, was Ottawa's No. 1 pick (15th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, but returned to Shawinigan when he couldn't agree on a contract with the Senators and played 59 games (32 wins) and 56 games (36 wins) for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League powerhouse in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
Ottawa drafted him again in 2000, in the second round (45th overall). He played the last two seasons at IHL/AHL Grand Rapids, and was in Ottawa's AHL farm system at Binghamton this season. He just returned from Germany after playing for Team Canada in the 2002 Deutschland Cup.
Peoria Journal Star
Goalie Josh Blackburn did not leave for Florida with the Lynx, as (Coach David) Wilkie seems committed to a tandem of Coyotes prospect Colin Zulianello and rookie Geoff Faulkner.
Wilkie said Blackburn, also a Coyotes prospect, could end up being assigned to another team.
Augusta Chronicle
13 November
Most of the (Johnstown) goaltending burden has been placed upon (Dany) Dallaire since Peter Aubry was loaned to the American Hockey League’s Saint John (New Brunswick) Flames on Nov 1. Dallaire is 2-4-0 with a 3.14 goals against average and .876 save percentage. In his only appearance, (Mark) Scally is 0-0-1 with a 1.05 GAA and .929 save percentage. Aubry, another rookie, has a 3-3-0 record, one shutout, 3.14 GAA and .910 save percentage.
“We knew going into the year that two first-year goalies would have a tough time here and there,” O’Brien said. “With a veteran goalie, we might have two or three more wins. You talk about mistakes, it comes down to something as small as one or two mistakes where a veteran goalie might make the big save or keep you in it. A younger goalie learning could be the difference between a win or a loss."
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Jackson goalies Tyrone Garner and Adam Hauser have lived up to expectations.
Garner, on loan to San Antonio of the American Hockey League, won goalie of the week honors last week by going 3-0-0 with a 2.33 goals against average.
Hauser notched his first shutout Saturday in a 4-0 victory over defending Kelly Cup champion Greenville, S.C.
Jackson Clarion-Ledger
12 November
COLUMBIA INFERNO GOALIE Patrick Couture has been so inconsistent the past two weeks, he's consistent. Since stopping 31 of 34 shots in a 4-3 victory over Augusta on Oct. 26, he has alternated strong performances with weak: .912, .857, .904, .769, .917, .700, .933. The result was a 2-4 record on the team's recent road trip.
"There's a time in every season when things aren't going to go exactly as planned," Inferno coach Scott White said. "(Couture) was in a funk. That's the way it goes. When it happens, the other goaltender needs to go in and do the job, and that's a concern. I wasn't pleased with that. If you don't have consistent goal tending in this league, you're not going to win a lot."
Couture leads the ECHL in victories (eight) and minutes played (769) and his .896 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average are solid. But No. 2 goalie Kevin Swanson has struggled, turning in a .787 save percentage in three appearances. White planned to play Couture 40-45 games this season, but he has played in all 14 games.
The State
The Florida Everblades’ pipeline to their American Hockey League affiliate Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters remained hot Sunday night as goaltender Rob Zepp was called up.
Zepp was on the bench for Lowell’s 5-3 win over the Worcester IceCats on Monday afternoon. He replaced former Everblades goaltender Randy Petruk, who had to leave the team to handle an immigration problem.
“I was a little surprised but you got to be ready for it,” Zepp said. “It was my first call up.”
Florida coach Gerry Fleming said Zepp will be reassigned to the East Coast Hockey League’s Everblades once Petruk returns to the Lock Monsters.
Zepp said he’s tentatively scheduled to fly back Wednesday but he plans to use the time to impress the Lowell coaches.
“At the game today, I got to see what play at this level was all about,” he said. “I plan at practice to work hard so they can see I’m committed.”
Zepp has a 4-2-3 record and a 2.10 goals-against average, ranking him fourth in the ECHL.
The Nes-Press
Dan Lombard was signed by the Richmond Renegades to give Marc Magliarditi an occasional night off. From the beginning, there was no question about who was the team's No. 1 goaltender and who was the designated backup. Lombard understood he was No. 2, so he'd just have to try harder.
"It's been hard, but I knew it was going to happen," Lombard said. "Marc is an experienced, proven veteran. I didn't want to take the attitude I would basically take the year off. I wanted to make sure I was developing in practice - and if I got a chance to play, be grateful and take advantage of it."
Through the season's first 13 games, Lombard got into two of them. Magliarditi started the first five before the rookie from Yale made his Renegades' debut Oct. 23 in Charlotte. He was touched for two quick goals, then allowed two more while the Checkers had a 5-on-3 advantage, and lost 4-2. Over the next seven games, Lombard started one - a 3-2 victory in Lexington during a five-game winning streak.
Saturday, the Renegades returned from a six-game road trip having lost two straight, and coach Gord Dineen gave Lombard his third start. Richmond overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Trenton 3-2. Lombard had a brilliant third period, earning him his first back-to-back assignment Sunday against division-leading Atlantic City. Again he was the best player on the ice, stopping 39 of 41 shots as the Renegades prevailed in a shootout.
"He's really worked hard in practice," said defenseman Peter Hogan, "and he's showed up every time he's played." Translation: Lombard hasn't played like a backup.
Now what? Dineen finds himself in something of a quandary. Magliarditi (5-6-0, 3.43) thrives on work. His track record before coming here is testimony to his durability, not to mention his talent. But Lombard (3-1-0, 2.43) is hot. What's a coach to do?
"You've got to let the guy go when he's playing well," Dineen said yesterday. "He's earned the opportunity."
Richmond Times Dispatch
10 November
Meanwhile, Bandits rookie goalie Adam Hauser looked like a seasoned veteran, earning his first shutout as a pro.
Hauser, who helped Minnesota win the NCAA title last year, highlighted the second period by stopping 12 shots during seven-minute Greenville power play.
He stopped 36 shots overall — 12 in each period.
"It feels good," Hauser said, referring to his milestone accomplishment. "The guys played so well. Scoring those goals early made it easier on us as a team."
Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Two goals in the blink of an eye and 60 minutes of goaltending perfection gave Augusta Lynx coach David Wilkie his first career victory.
Colin Zulianello recorded 39 saves for his first professional shutout, and Josh St. Louis and Sergei Kuznetsov scored goals just 18 seconds apart in the first period, lifting the Lynx to a 2-0 win over the Columbia Inferno in front of 4,209 fans Saturday at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.
The victory snapped a six-game losing skid for the Lynx (4-8-0).
"I gave the puck to Zuli. I don't want it because this is not about me, this is about the guys," said Wilkie, who was in his second game as coach after replacing Jim Burton on Friday. "I'm just happy for the players. They gave a complete effort tonight."
Zulianello certainly earned the game puck after stopping them all night.
Making just his second start after missing the first month with a groin injury, Zulianello was peppered with 28 shots during the final two periods. He had to make several difficult saves late in the game to preserve the win.
"The guys played really well in front of me and kept a lot of their shots to the outside," Zulianello said. "It was nice of coach Wilks to give (the puck) to me. I think he should have it. Maybe we'll cut it in half."
Augusta Chronicle
The Stingrays, who entered with the top-ranked power play unit in the ECHL, managed only four shots and no goals on four man-advantage situations.
One reason was the solid play between the pipes by Charlotte's Niklas Sundberg, who was shaky in a 5-3 loss at home to the Stingrays earlier in the week.
Sundberg made 28 saves, including 12 in the third period. The key stops came when he turned away bids by Curtis Huppe and Matt Derosiers in the final two-minute push. Sundberg was also a bit lucky. With 2:50 remaining, the Checkers goalie found himself sprawled on the ice and out of the crease after making a save. Stingrays defenseman Trevor Johnson pounced on the rebound and left fly at the net, but the shot was smothered by a Checkers defender.
"Sundberg didn't look his best when we saw him on Wednesday, but he pretty much stole one from us tonight," said (Stingrays coach Jason) Fitzsimmons.
Charleston Post and Courier
"Our goaltender [Mike Valley] is very, very good in shootouts," (Wheeling coach John) Brophy said. "We're really good in shootouts."
Roanoke Times & World News
Remember Alexei Volkov? According to several reports prior to the season, the Manchester goalie was going to be assigned to Reading. Well, Volkov isn't even in the States any more. He has been loaned back to his Russia club, according to The Union Leader. Volkov was Manchester's third goalie and did not play in his month-long stay with the Monarchs. The Kings retain his rights.
Reading Eagle/Reading Times
The Louisiana IceGators simply can't catch a break right now.
The 'Gators put forth a much better effort Saturday, but their winless streak continued as Arkansas pulled out a 3-2 victory in overtime at ALLTEL Arena.
Semir Ben-Amor was called for holding at the 4:31 mark and 26 seconds later Long fired a wrist shot by Frederic Cloutier (5-2-2, 34 saves) from between the circles for the game-winner.
"He was battling hard," (Louisiana coach Dave) Farrish said of Cloutier. "He made some great saves and really deserved an opportunity to get it to a shoot out and try to win it. It just wasn't meant to be."
Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Jason Saal made 30 saves, including seven in overtime, to beat his former team for the second time in as many games.
Baton Rouge Advocate
Last night, the Renegades returned from a six-game road trip and beat the Trenton Titans 3-2 on Vandermeer's short-handed goal in the final minute of the second period.
Dan Lombard took it from there. The seldom-used rookie goaltender from Yale gave up two early goals, then shut down the Titans (6-5-2), who have been undergoing a major face lift lately not all of their choosing. Call-ups and a key injury to leading scorer Scott Bertoli (sidelined as many as three months with a dislocated elbow) have left the perennial Southeast Division leaders reeling.
They've won only once in the past seven games. Lombard saw to it the streak lives, making at least three game-saving stops the final two minutes. Trenton pulled goalie David St. Germain, and Lombard immediately stoned B.J. Kilbourne from right on.
"In the third period, with the lead, you just want to see every puck and give yourself a chance," Lombard said. "Just keep battling."
Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Titans had two more chances to tie the game on the power play during the third period, but Lombard, playing in only his third game of the season, made the big saves when needed for the Renegades.
The Renegades outshot the Titans 12-7 during the first period, but St. Germain was sharp. The Titans goalie made a skate save on Lent during a Renegades power play, then stopped Jayme Filipowicz with a pad save.
Trenton Times
The Titans had their chances in the third period -- including a huge power play with under four minutes left in regulation. But Lombard (24 saves) made several impressive stops--including a kick save on Andy Hedlund's slap from the point and a gorgeous glove stop on a Davyduke slapper from the right faceoff circle.
Trentonian
The combination of Columbus goaltender Matus Kostur (53 saves) and their own missed opportunities plagued the Everblades for the second straight night.
“We shot 60 times and lose the game and they shot 20 times and win the game,” Florida forward Laurent Meunier said. “I’ve never seen that before.”
Fort Myers News-Press
08 November
The Nailers have spent much of the season being outshot by opponents by a large margin, while goaltenders Mike Valley and David Chant have been asked to face up to 50 shots on any given night. This week in practice, Brophy and Young have been stressing team defensive zone coverage and the back check. All week the team has practiced twice a day to prepare to make amends for the rough start.
Wheeling Intelligencer/News Register
The Greensboro Generals' first visit to Roanoke, Va., three weeks ago wasn't easy on Daniel Berthiaume or Pete Gardiner.
Both players were reluctant castoffs of the Express, as Berthiaume was released early in the offseason and Gardiner in the final days of training camp. That alone made their return emotionally taxing. But, for good measure, there was a pregame ceremony in which the jersey of former teammate Terrence Tootoo was retired. Berthiaume was close to Tootoo, a popular Express player who committed suicide in August.
The game itself treated the Generals like a yo-yo. They fell behind 3-0. They fought back to tie it. Then lost in overtime.
The Generals are back in Roanoke tonight. But it shouldn't be nearly as stressful the second time around for Berthiaume and Gardiner. They've found peace, happiness and success with their new team, which looks to jump past Roanoke in the Northeast Division standings. Not that Berthiaume will ever forget his six seasons with the Express, or forget his fishing buddy, whose name and No. 22 he wears on his goalie mask.
"The thing is, I'm real happy to be here," Berthiaume said. "Rick (Adduono) kind of gave me the energy I needed. It's a new challenge."
Berthiaume, who'd been let go by the Express after a falling-out with coach and general manager Perry Florio, was having one of those games in goal after the emotional pregame scene.
He received a warm reception from the fans and shared his sadness with Tootoo's family, then gave up three first-period goals.
"It was real hard," Berthiaume said. "It was nice to see his parents, to be able to put a closure on it. ... I don't think it will ever sit good."
Berthiaume took the loss in overtime that night.
He's only lost once in regulation in eight starts and has a 2.70 goals against average. He won back-to-back games last weekend, despite suffering from flu symptoms, and was even credited with an assist in both victories.
Greensboro News and Record
With Colin Zulianello scheduled to come off injured reserve and make his first start tonight, Burton said the Lynx would clear a roster spot by placing either goalie Josh Blackburn or Geoff Faulkner on injured reserve. Burton added that he wants to keep Faulkner rather than release him to Macon of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
Augusta Chronicle
06 November
Hershey has called up goaltender Jeff Sanger.
The Bears had planned on recalling Royals No. 1 goalie Scott Fankhouser, but Fankhouser suffered a quadriceps injury during Sunday's game against Richmond, when he was unable to play the third period.
Fankhouser was not on the ice for Reading's practice Tuesday, so the Royals were forced to call on a pair of local rec league players Pat Noecker and Marcus Ammon so they could conduct practice.
Noecker serves as assistant to Reading equipment manager Jerry Fredericksen. Ammon occasionally helps Fredericksen.
Noecker and Ammon over the summer played semi-pro roller hockey in the Pro Inline Hockey Association, which is composed of teams from southeastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey.
The Royals expect Fankhouser to return to the ice either today or Thursday.
Sanger, a rookie, received his first AHL callup after Hershey's No. 1 goaltender Phil Sauve was recalled by Colorado.
Avalanche starter Patrick Roy is listed day-to-day with a hip injury, so Sauve was sent to the NHL club to back up David Aebischer.
Royals coach David Lohrei called Sanger's callup more of a practice assignment. The Bears don't play until Friday.
According to the York Daily Record, Bears coach Mike Foligno wasn't sure how long Sauve would be with the Avalanche.
If Sauve hasn't returned by Friday, Hershey could reassign Sanger to Reading and recall Fankhouser, Lohrei said.
Fankhouser played eight games with the Bears last season.
Reading Eagle
30 October
Today in history, 1993--Erin Whitten of the Toledo Storm becomes the first female goalie in pro hockey history to
record a win in a game when she subs for an injuried Alain Harvey at the beginning of the second
period. She makes 15 saves of 19 shots as the Storm defeats Dayton 6-5.
(thanks to Kenneth Holdren)
ZULIANELLO UPDATE: After practicing in full gear the past two days, goalie Colin Zulianello could be ready to make his first start Friday. Zulianello has been on injured reserve since suffering a pulled groin in practice one day before the season opener.
"He may be a bit rusty, but hopefully the guys will play tight, strong defense in front of him and let him get comfortable," Burton said.
But Zulianello said he is still uncertain whether he'll be ready by Friday. "We'll assess it more toward the end of the week," he said. The Lynx must clear a roster spot for Zulianello. Rookie Geoff Faulkner, who won ECHL goalie-of-the-week honors last week before struggling during his past two starts, could be the odd man out. Augusta's other goalie, Josh Blackburn, is entrenched because he is on assignment from Phoenix.
Augusta Chronicle
29 October
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League assigned right wing Brendan Walsh to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League. The Bullies also signed goaltender Ryan Kiernan, it was announced today by Bullies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Michael Haviland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Last season, Kiernan, a Bricktown, N.J., native, earned a .908 save percentage and and a 3.40 goals against average in 28 games for Massachusetts College (NCAA).
Walsh and Kiernan each will make his Bullies’ debut tomorrow when Atlantic City faces off against the Roanoke Express at 7:05 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall.
Atlantic City press release
28 October
The Augusta Lynx spent the morning at the Holiday Inn on Stevens Creek Road participating in the Have a Heart for Kids Halloween Trick or Treat. The Lynx decorated a room and passed out candy to physically and mentally handicapped children from throughout the area. Louie the Lynx, Office Manager Linda Patchin, and Assistant GM Kyle Schultz were all on hand to help entertain the visiting children. Players Josh Blackburn, Geoffrey Faulkner, Ryan Crane, and Jeff Szwez were also on hand.
Augusta press release
27 October
The Storm has placed netminder Brian Finley on the seven-day injured reserve list.
The former No. 1 pick of the Nashville Predators (sixth overall) in the 1999 NHL entry draft left Friday’s contest midway through the second period when his surgically repaired groin began acting up.
"He’s going to be off for a couple of weeks," Noel said. "He’ll probably be evaluated through Nashville, but we’re going to try to help the process."
Toledo assistant coach Mark Bernard dressed as the emergency backup last night. A goalie for the 2000-01 Storm, Bernard stood behind the bench in full gear, handling the defensive pairings as he would in a suit.
To take Finley’s place, the Storm has signed free agent Martin Fillion who went 10-8-3 with a goals-against average of 3.01 with Fort Wayne of the United Hockey League. He’ll dress tonight in Dayton.
Toledo Blade
Former Rivermen goaltender Cody Rudkowsky picked up his first NHL win earlier this week in a game started by ex-Rivermen goalie Curtis Sanford, who left with an ankle sprain. Sanford and Rudkowsky, both of whom played in the ECHL for Peoria last season, both picked up NHL victories in the past two weeks.
Peoria Journal Star
26 October
Lexington, KY- Lexington Men O' War goalie Mike Smith made professional hockey history last night at Rupp Arena during Lexington's 2-0 win over the Dayton Bombers. Making his third ever professional start, Smith shutout the Bombers, recorded his first win and scored his first goal. Smith, 20, became the first ever goalie in the history of professional hockey to post a shutout and score a goal within the confines of his first professional win. In addition, the 20-year-old, 5th round draft pick of the Dallas Stars (2001) became the youngest goalie ever to score a goal in a game, which coincided with the Men O' War's first ever home win at Rupp Arena after an 0-2-1 start. The goal was the first ever scored by a goaltender at Rupp Arena.
Smith’s goal in Saturday night’s game was the 6th ever goal scored by a goaltender in the ECHL. The last goaltender to accomplish the feat was Toledo’s Mark Bernard in March of 2001. Corwin Saurdiff, Sean Gauthier, Olie Sundstrom, and Nick Vitucci have all completed the task in the ECHL. Only seven NHL goaltenders have scored a goal in a game. The last NHL goaltender to score a goal in a game was Evgeny Nabakov of the San Jose Sharks. Only six AHL goaltenders have scored a goal in a professional game. Chris Mason of the Milwaukee Admirals was the last to score in the AHL.
"I got the dump in and looked up. I realized that I had plenty of time and just fired it down the ice," said Smith, who made 21 saves and kept Dayton scoreless on five power-play attempts. "It was pretty funny because before the game we (the team) talked about whether or not I had ever done it or even tried. I had dreamed of scoring a goal when I was growing up, and I just can't believe I have done it. It's a great feeling."
Lexinton Men O'War and ECHL press releases
Brian Finley, the sixth overall pick of the Nashville Predators in the 1999 NHL entry draft, was cruising along in the second period. But when he went down to block Chris McNamara’s power-play shot from the right faceoff circle with his stick at 7:40, Finley flinched. He left the game a short time later, having stopped all 12 shots.
Finley’s groin injury, which forced him to miss all of last season, has acted up a handful of times already this year.
"I think everyone with the Nashville organization is concerned and I think Finley is concerned," Noel said. "I think Nashville likely will step in at this point and do something. He’s a very good player with a lot of upside. This decision [of whether to keep playing him] is beyond the Toledo Storm."
Toledo Blade
25 October
The Peoria Rivermen lost a goaltender, but might get some help for their injury-laden blueline unit today from AHL Worcester.
Goaltender Alfie Michaud signed with AHL Manitoba late Wednesday night to cover injuries on that team. If or when he'll return to Peoria is undetermined.
Peoria Journal Star
23 October
The Lynx expected another major roster move Wednesday, with goalie Zac Bierk slated to join the club from AHL Springfield. It never happened, because the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes lost top goalie Sean Burke to an ankle injury in Tuesday's road win over Nashville. With Burke out, Phoenix recalled Patrick DesRochers from Springfield on Wednesday, while Bierk was summoned back to Springfield. ... Lynx coach Jim Burton said Geoff Faulkner has earned the No. 1 job in net. He'll be the starter beginning tonight in Columbia.
22 October
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League loaned goaltender Scott Stirling, it was announced today by Bullies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Michael Haviland.
The 25-year old from Hull, Mass., played 42 games with the Bullies last season, earning a 24-12-3 record, a 2.74 goals against average and a 0.918 save percentage. In eight playoff games, Stirling earned six wins, including a three-game sweep of the Trenton Titans in the Northeast Division Finals, and posted a 0.944 save percentage and a 1.84 goals against average.
In 2000-01, the 6-2, 205-pound netminder earned ECHL Goaltender and Rookie of the Year honors as a member of the Trenton Titans. That season Stirling posted a 32-10-3 record, a 0.922 save percentage, and a 2.14 goals against average.
The Boardwalk Bullies added goaltender Joe Tonzola, a native of Watchung, N.J., to the roster as an emergency backup. Tonzola played a period and half in the Bullies 4-1 preseason loss to the Trenton Titans.
Atlantic City press release
11 October
The Lynx inked a new affiliation with the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, so they now receive some of that organization’s top prospects.
Two of those play in goal with second-year ECHL player Colin Zulianello and rookie Josh Blackburn. Zulianello went 18-11-1 with a .910 save percentage for Mississippi last season, and Blackburn won a NCAA championship at the University of Michigan his senior season.
Fort Myers News-Press
Goalie Colin Zulianello was slated to start tonight's opener, but instead will start the season in street clothes. Zulianello had to be helped off the ice after pulling a groin muscle in practice Thursday. That means rookie Josh Blackburn will make his first pro start. The Lynx signed Geoff Faulkner - who was released from camp last weekend - to backup Blackburn this weekend. Faulkner was on his way to training camp with the Macon Trax of the new Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
Augusta Chronicle
The Snakes turn over the goaltending duties to a pair of highly-touted rookies, Matus Kostur of Slovakia and Mike Morrison, who played collegiately at Maine.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
In goal are two players who came close to making AHL clubs and have a good chance to be called up during the season — Andrew Allen (on a two-way with Grand Rapids) and Shane Bendera (on an NHL contract from Syracuse).
Dayton Daily News
And the newcomers aren’t quite that new. Rookies, goaltender Daniel Boisclair, defenseman Jared Newman, forwards Marty Johnston, Laurent Meunier and Anthony Battaglia spent time with the majority of Florida’s returning players early in Carolina’s training camp and over the past three weeks at Carolina’s American Hockey League affiliate Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters’ training camp.
Handed a lineup of experienced players who have spent time together has Everblades coach Gerry Fleming excited for his second season at the helm.
“We have a lot more capabilities to put three lines where anybody can score and anybody can put up big numbers,” Fleming said. “Even our defense, we have a solid core of defensemen and young goaltending. Young goaltenders are good, because they learn, they progress, they get better and they challenge each other to make each other better.”
Chemistry and experience can only carry a team so far. If the Everblades are going to make a run at the Kelly Cup, they need strong goaltending.
Rob Zepp played 13 games last season before being shelved for the season with a groin injury, while Boisclair is straight out of juniors. The two will compete for the starting job.
Florida opened the 2000-01 season with two young goalies, who had seven pro games between them. Brant Nicklin and Leorr Shtrom combined to play 12 games for Florida before both were sent packing.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,” Boisclair said. “I’m younger than the other guys. I’m going to do what I’m used to doing. I’ve always been good under pressure.”
The young netminders should be helped by the team’s experience on defense, which includes veterans (at least 250 pro games) Duane Harmer, Vince Williams, and third-year player Lee Ruff. Florida also returns Shaun Fisher and Peter Reynolds, who both played last season.
Ruff believes the defense can give the Everblades’ young netminders the support they need to be successful. “I have seen both of these guys, and they play extremely well. I’m confident with Rob Zepp and Boisclair. If they handle the puck a little more, they’ll be fine.”
Fort Myers News-Press
This is the team’s big question area. Rob Zepp, 21, returns, but he was limited to only 13 games due to a groin injury last year. Daniel Boisclair, 19, is a true rookie, having played juniors the past three years.
How quickly these two develop and the level of defensive support they receive from their teammates will be a big factor.
Fort Myers News-Press
In net is where the biggest question mark looms, but Boisclair and Zepp both are highly touted Carolina prospects and both had strong training camps.
"Everybody's anxious to see, including ourselves, what they can do," says Blaznek. "I think if we just play a solid defensive game and give them their confidence early we'll be all set, because they are young. As long as we give them that confidence and let them know we're there to help them out if they make a mistake, that will make a difference right off the bat."
Both goalies are big (Zepp at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and Boisclair at 6-2, 188), something the Everblades haven't had in the past.
Florida always had one small goalie in either Marc Magliarditi or Randy Petruk.
"Rob and I are good friends and we roomed together in Lowell," Boisclair says. "We're both big guys and we push each other hard. It's a good competition and that's good to have two good goaltenders on a hockey team because you're always on your toes. I like the situation."
Zepp looked impressive in Florida's two exhibition games against Columbus after missing most of last season with a groin injury. He played 13 games for the Blades before getting hurt, and in the offseason he dropped a lot of weight and added muscle.
Naples Daily News
Rookie goalie Adam Hauser was a proven winner on the college level, going 23-6-4 with NCAA national champion Minnesota. And he is expected to pick up where he left off.
Jackson Clarion-Ledger
The Chiefs have two rookie goaltenders, Peter Aubry, an all-conference pick at Mercyhurst College, where he went 19-7-2 last season, and Dany Dallaire, who had a 35-23-8 mark with Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Chiefs’ record-breaking goaltender Freddie Deschenes left quite a legacy when he retired after leading Johnstown to its third consecutive playoff appearance in 2002.
Last season, Deschenes tied the franchise record with 25 victories (Stan Reddick, 1991-92). It was his fourth consecutive 20-win season, tying an ECHL record.
Prior to joining the Chiefs, Deschenes had a 20-16-2 record with the former Birmingham Bulls franchise in 1998-99.
In 1999-2000, Deschenes went 23-19-6 and helped the Chiefs end a four-season playoff drought. He also had a pair of shutouts in a first-round playoff series upset over the Roanoke (Va.) Express in 2000.
During his second season in Johnstown, Deschense went 21-26-6. His 69 regular-season victories are a Chiefs’ career record.
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
From last weekend's four-on-four scrimmage victories over Peoria, the Men O' War appear strongest from back to front, starting in goal and ending with forwards.
Dan Murphy, who led the ECHL in victories last season with 30 for the Trenton Titans, stopped all 25 shots he faced in two half-game appearances against Peoria.
Jeremy Day stopped 44 of 46 shots, combining with Murphy for a .971 weekend save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average.
"The goalies stood on their heads," veteran defenseman Kevin Knopp said. "And then we get a kid sent down from the American league, Smitty (Mike Smith), so our goaltending's gonna be strong."
Lexington Herald-Leader
The difference for the 'Gators should be goaltending. Frederic Cloutier, last year's ECHL MVP and Rookie of the year returns between the pipes for Louisiana. The 21-year-old was 28-5-3 last season with a league record 1.84 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
Kyle Kettles, 21, will back up Cloutier. Kettles (6-3, 185) was 24-25-4 with a 3.11 gaa in the WHL last season.
Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Sean Matile and left wing Josh Bennett were placed on the 7-day injured reserve. Defenseman Steve Bewley and center Jarrett Gibbons were released.
Having Matile, who is nursing a sore back on injured reserve, gives Woods an extra week to make a decision on which two goalies he's going to keep.
"It'll be a week before Matile is healthy, and I'll have to make a decision after that," he said.
Biloxi Sun Herald
Duane Derksen paid attention to the Peoria sports scene this summer.
He saw the af2 Peoria Pirates win a championship in August. He saw the Class A Midwest League's Peoria Chiefs win a championship in September.
He knows people are wondering if the Rivermen can give Peoria a championship hat trick.
"Everyone has been saying 'The Pirates and Chiefs won it all, now the Rivermen have to do it, too,' " said Derksen, the veteran player-assistant coach who led Peoria's hockey team to an ECHL title in 2000. "But we have to make sure, as a team, that we take this season in the right steps.
Championship comes at the end of the list. There's a lot of things in between now and May."
The Rivermen are still waiting on goaltender Phil Osaer, who is backing Curtis Sanford at AHL Worcester while Reinhard Divis plays in St. Louis for the injured Brent Johnson.
So Peoria signed a pretty good stopgap Thursday. Scheduled to join the team tonight is Alfie Michaud, 25, who played two games in the NHL with Vancouver in 1999-2000.
The 5-foot-10, 177-pounder from Selkirk, Manitoba, led AHL Manitoba in a first-round playoff upset last season over powerhouse Worcester. He was 16-10-1 for Manitoba with a 2.68 goals-against average.
He also played for last-place ECHL Reading briefly last season, but was 5-3-2 there with a 2.58 goals-against. At NHL Vancouver, he was 0-1-1 with a 4.35 goals-against.
"We're lucky to find a guy of his caliber out there," Christie said. "He's going to give us great protection."
Michaud, league sources say, hasn't caught on with an AHL team because he reportedly wants an out-clause in his contract that will allow him to leave for Europe in eight weeks.
The Rivermen likely won't need him beyond that, so it's a perfect fit. Michaud will open the weekend as an emergency goaltender - meaning he can't play unless starter Derksen is injured - then will sign a regular contract next week.
Peoria Journal Star
After years of relying on veteran goaltenders to anchor the team, the Express has two newcomers in the net this year. Rookie Sebastien LaPlante, a ninth-round draft pick of the L.A. Kings last year, and Evan Lindsay, a third-year pro, form a goaltending odd couple.
LaPlante is listed at 5-foot-10. Lindsay is 6-2. "Sebastien is a smaller guy. He's very quick and he doesn't quit on pucks. You'll think he's down and out and he'll coming diving out of the pile to get the puck," Florio said. "[Lindsay is] big. He covers a lot of net because he stays up. Rather than going after the puck, he gets a good position and the puck hits him. He doesn't have a lot of wasted energy. They're opposite styles, Lindsay and LaPlante."
Florio said he thinks his goaltenders are going to be "great," but he expects the focus of the team to be on the other end of the ice.
Roanoke Times & World News
Besides Marietti and Seitz, getting Kirk Daubenspeck back into a Stingrays' jersey was a top priority for Fitzsimmons.
Last year's starter, Jody Lehman, opted to leave South Carolina and is playing professionally in England this season.
"We'll miss Jody. He was a tremendous goalie," Fitzsimmons said. "We don't win the Kelly Cup two years ago without Jody." Daubenspeck was the starting goalie for South Carolina during its championship season two years ago. The former Wisconsin star was 26-13-3 with a 2.72 goals against average during the Stingrays' championship season. Last season, unable to come to terms with the Stingrays, Daubensepck played with Colorado, of the West Coast Hockey League.
Backing up Daubenspeck will be rookie Dean Weasler.
Weasler spent the last four seasons at St. Cloud State University. Last season, he complied a 21-6-2 mark with the Huskies. The native of Rosemount, Minn., had a goals against average of 2.22 and a save percentage of .923.
Weasler won his first professional game as a member of the Roanoke Express last season and holds a 1-0 record as a pro. "We needed to bring in someone who we could mold," Fitzsimmons said. "Dean has a great work ethic. He wants to learn from Kirk and myself. He's only going to get better as the season goes on."
Charleston Post and Courier
One day before the season starts, the Titans' goalie situation is finally set.
Cody Rudkowsky and David St. Germain practiced with the Titans for the first time yesterday.
Head coach Bill Armstrong, though, would not name a starter for today's 7 p.m. season opener against the Richmond Renegades at Sovereign Bank Arena.
St. Germain was sent down to the Titans from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday night, two days after the American Hockey League team received Rick DiPietro from the Islanders, which gave Bridgeport three goalies.
The Titans released their third goalie, Cam McCormick, after practice yesterday.
"The team is pretty much set," said Armstrong. "I didn't really get a good look at them (Rudkowsky and St. Germain) in practice. They will both play this weekend. It is good to have both of them. We will get a better look tomorrow."
Trenton Times