News release
13 October 2007
A four-goal second period turned the tide in favor of the home team as the Elmira Jackals romped to a 7-3 win over the Trenton Devils in preseason action Saturday night in front of 2,641 fans at First Arena.
Benoit Doucet led the charge of five Jackals with multi-point efforts with a goal and three assists while Luke Stauffacher chipped in with a pair goals and a helper in the win.
The victory was Elmiras first in three preseason outings, all at First Arena.
Following a 1-1 opening period in which the Jackals produced 17 shots on goal, the decisive middle frame saw Elmira register just eleven shots, but they popped home four big goals.
After the clubs traded goal just over two minutes apart to forge a 2-2 standoff, Frank Littlejohn spotted Kevin Ulanski breaking to the deep slot.
As the puck arrived, Ulanski was tripped up and sprawled to the loose puck and swept it in to a half empty cage to make it 3-2 and the Jackals never looked back.
For a team that scored just two goals in two previous contests, Elmira made it look easy the rest of the period as Doucet and Stauffacher closed out the four-goal uprising for 5-2 lead after forty minutes. The Jackals did all of their damage in a 4:38 span in the middle frame.
Bobby Robins and Pierre-Luc Faubert (1+2=3) netted third period strikes before a power play goal by Trentons Eric Castonguay sealed the scoring on the night.
Dan LaCosta started in net for the Jackals and played the first 30:02, allowing one goal on 13 shots. He gave way to Robert Gherson who allowed a pair goals on 15 shots the rest of the way to pick up the win.
Elmira closes out the preseason with a Monday night game at Reading beginning at 7:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins with Jackals Countdown to Faceoff on Magic FM (92.7/97.7) beginning at 6:35 p.m.
The Jackals open their first season of play in the ECHL with the regular season opener Friday, October 19th, against the Wheeling Nailers at First Arena (7:35 p.m.). The Main Street Block Party starts off the night at 5 p.m. and then it moves inside as history is made. All fans in attendance will pick up a Jackals/Bully Hill 2007-08 Magnetic Schedule and the first 1,000 fans through the doors will pick up a special Opening Night T-Shirt.
Great seats are still available, but are going fast. Tickets for Opening Night and all regular season home games are available by calling the Jackals offices at 734-PUCK (7825), on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the First Arena Box Office (Monday Friday 10 a.m. 5 p.m.).