News release
20 December 2006
The Jackals Battle In Front Of The Port Huron Goal
Jackals Slump Hits Five Straight Games; Elmira Prepares For Big Rematch With Komets, Hounds
2006-07 Record: 13-13-0, 26 points (7-6-0 Home, 6-7-0 Road), Tied-Third Place, Eastern Conference
Week 11 Schedule: (All games are broadcasted LIVE on MAGIC 92.7 & 97.7 FM)
Friday, December 22 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Komets (15-8-0, 30 pts) First Place, Western Conference
Saturday, December 23 8:30 pm @ Chicago Hounds (8-13-1, 17 pts) Fourth Place, Western Conference
Week 10 Recap: The Jackals suffered their worst week of the season in Week 10. For the first time this year Elmira failed to earn any points during one weeks play, dropping all four games in regulation. Thus the Jackals are currently on a 5-game losing streak, their longest of the season. Elmira was without the services of Curtis Tidball, on UHL suspension, and with Dave Lemanowicz, Marc Lefebvre, Shawn Degagne and Tommy Kotsopolous all on the Injured Reserve, the Jackals were struggling to field a full lineup. Elmira suited up former Fort Wayne (UHL) and Toldeo (ECHL) star goaltender Doug Teskey, who works in the Jackals sales office, to backup starter Kris Tebbs and signed Elmira native CJ Rumsey for the week. Unfortunately the Jackals dropped both games of a home-and-home series with Port Huron, then lost in Flint Saturday night and to Kalamazoo on Sunday afternoon.
This week the Jackals will regroup with a rematch against the Fort Wayne Komets at 8:00 pm Friday at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Saturday the Jackals are in Chicago to face the Hounds at 8:30 pm before returning home for the Christmas Break.
Elmira, NY The Port Huron Flags got two goals from newcomer Bobby Kukulka, including the game winner inside the final two minutes, as they beat the Elmira Jackals 2-1 Wednesday night at the First Arena.
After a scoreless first period in which the Jackals out-shot the Flags 15-8, Elmira captain Brent Cullaton his team on the board. Cullaton took a long pass from Scott Wray, skated in on goalie Noah Ruden and snapped a wrist-shot up over the blocker for his 5th goal of the season at 6:16, assisted by Scott Wray and Erik Anderson. But the Flags came back just before the break, as Bobby Kukulka tipped in a Shayne Tomlinson power play goal at 17:18, tying the game at one.
With the game leaning toward a shootout, Kukulka swooped in and stole the game for the visitors, scoring his 2nd goal of the game at 18:35 of the third period, assisted by Greg Bullock and Tomlinson.
Noah Ruden earned his first career professional win by stopping 32-of-33 shots in goal for the Flags as they improved to (7-14-4). Kris Tebbs made 25 saves on 27 shots in goal for the Jackals, who fell to 13-10-0 on the season. Port Huron was 1-for-4 on the power play in the game, while the Jackals were 0-for-5.
Port Huron, MI The Port Huron Flags won their second consecutive game against the Elmira Jackals with a 4-2 win Friday night at McMorran Place Arena.
The Jackals got off to a rocky start when they gave up the opening goal at 7:49 of the first period. After a turnover near the blue line, Jackals goaltender Kris Tebbs robbed Ryan Markham on a breakaway, but Steve Hildenbrand swooped in on the rebound and scored for a 1-0 lead. Elmira caught up when rookie defenseman Derek Miller, playing his first pro game as a forward, scored his first career professional goal. Miller took a cross-ice pass from David Morelli and unleashed a hard slap shot from the top of the right wing circle that beat goalie Noah Ruden at 8:59. But the Flags regained the lead off another failed Jackals clearing attempt. Bobby Kukulka stole the puck off a back-check just inside the offensive blue line, and then executed a give-and-go with Greg Bullock at 15:49, Kukulkas 3rd goal in his last two games, all against Elmira.
In the second period, the Flags received three consecutive power plays in the first eight minutes, but Elmiras stingy penalty kill kept Port Huron from extending their lead. However, late in the period the Flags caught Elmira sleeping in front of their goal as rookie defenseman Craig Mahon slipped through the defenses for a one-timer. Kris Tebbs denied his initial shot but Mahon corralled his own rebound and scored his first professional goal at 18:37, assisted by Greg Bullock and Mark Cadotte.
Yevgeny Lazarev scored his 11th goal of the season at 7:14 of the third period, capping off a wonderful passing combination between Lazarev and Erik Anderson, cutting the Flags lead to 3-2; Scott Wray also assisted on the goal. But as the Jackals tried to find the equalizer, Port Hurons Mike Olynyk put the game out of reach. Olynyk knocked in a one-timer from Colt King and Chris Bogas at 19:24, giving the Flags a 4-2 win.
Noah Ruden earned his 2nd win of the season and second straight win over the Jackals as he made 26 saves on 28 shots, improving Port Huron to 8-14-4. Kris Tebbs stopped 33-of-37 shots in goal as the Jackals lost their third straight game, dropping to 13-11-0 this season. Elmira was 0-for-5 on the power play, while Port Huron was 0-for-7.
Flint, MI The Flint Generals scored four power play goals on their way to a 6-3 victory over the Elmira Jackals Saturday night at Peranis Arena.
Flint got off to a flying start as they looked to pick up their first win in 5 games against the Jackals. The Generals killed off an early Elmira power play and then saw the Jackals get called for four-straight penalties. Defenseman Gerard Miller blasted in a slap shot on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:55 of the first period, assisted by Bobby Reynolds and Terry Marchant for a 1-0 lead. Miller then doubled Flints advantage with his second power play goal of the game, scored at 9:41 on a wrist shot, his 8th goal of the year, assisted again by Reynolds and Marchant. But the Jackals pulled one back as Yevgeny Lazarev, playing through an injury suffered Friday in Port Huron, weaved his way right through the Flint defense for an unassisted power play goal at 18:41. The goal was Lazarevs 2nd goal in as many games and his 12th of the season.
Flint continued to have success on the power play in the second period. Dion Hyman collected a rebound from a Tony Tuzzolino shot that rang off the post and tapped the puck into an open net at 1:02 for another power play goal. Tuzzolino then added Flints 4th power play goal of the game at 12:18 of the period, scoring on a wrist shot from the right face off circle and extending the Generals lead to three.
In the third period, Terry Marchant gave Flint a 5-1 lead when he scored the Generals only even strength goal of the game at 2:42. But the Jackals came back as captain Brent Cullaton scored a power play goal at 13:15, assisted by Frank Littlejohn. Cullaton then set up rookie forward Dan Veenema for an even-strength goal at 18:03, cutting the Flint lead to 5-3. The goal was Veenemas first career professional goal and his second pro point; he had an assist Friday in Port Huron. The Jackals pulled goaltender Kris Tebbs in an attempt to claw back from the two-goal deficit in the final 90 seconds of the game, but Jason Selleke capped off the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:31 and a 6-3 Flint win.
Bryan Worosz earned the win in goal for Flint by stopping 30-of-33 shots as the Generals improved to 12-14-2 on the season, now tied for 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with the Jackals. Elmiras goalie Kris Tebbs made 27 saves on 32 shots as Elmira lost their fourth straight game, falling to 13-2-0 on the year. Flint was 4-for-8 on the power play; while Elmira was 2-for-9.
Kalamazoo, MI The Elmira Jackals dropped their 5th straight game as they fell to the Kalamazoo Wings 6-2 Sunday afternoon at Wings Stadium.
The Jackals came out with more energy and focus then their previous three games of the week. There was a determination in their eyes and a spring in their step, but it was the home team that got on the board first. Kalamazoo forward Glenn Detulleo scored the only goal of the first period as he knocked in a rebound on the back post for a 1-0 lead at 3:33; assists went to Jesse Rycroft and Nick Toneys.
The Jackals carried their intensity into the start of the 2nd period, but just after the midway point Elmira was called for two straight penalties. The visitors killed off the first penalty, but just 9 seconds after Wes Blevins came out of the penalty box, referee Jim Hawthorne called Frank Littlejohn for high sticking. 11 seconds later Lucas Drake scored at 13:39, doubling Kalamazoos lead. Exactly two minutes later Drake stole a pass from behind Elmiras goal and found himself all alone in front of the net. Drake slipped a backhand shot into the goal for his second strike of the game at 15:39. Drakes line cashed in again at 18:56 when Scott Dobben made it 4-0 K-Wings.
In the third period Eric Anderson put the Jackals on the board as he scored a power play goal at 6:03, assisted by Dale Lupul and Scott Wray. But this game belonged to the K-Wings as Nick Bootland made it 5-1 at 8:35 scoring Kalamazoos 2nd power play goal of the game. Bootland then scored his second straight goal at 15:58 of the third period to make it 6-1 Kalamazoo. Mark Scott would score his first goal as a member of the Jackals, unassisted at 17:06, capping off the scoring and a 6-2 K-Wings win.
Ryan Nie earned the win as he stopped 32-of-34 in goal for Kalamazoo, while Kris Tebbs made 25 saves on 31 shots for the Jackals. Elmira falls to 13-13-0 on the season and were 1-for-6 on the power play, while the K-Wings improve to 17-9-0 on the year and finished 2-for-6 on the power play.
Jackals Player & Goaltender of the Week: (Week 10)
Erik Anderson C 4 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, -3, 0 PIMs
Erik Anderson has arguably been the Jackals best all-around forward this season. During a week where the Jackals struggled to find offense, Anderson tallied three points (1 goal, 2 assists) to add to his season total of 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists), which is tied for 3rd on the Jackals in scoring. In 26 games this season for Elmira, Anderson has 3 power play goals and 2 short-handed goals.
Kris Tebbs G 4 GP, 0-4-0, 4.28 GAA, 0.866 SV%, 110 saves
Kris Tebbs continues his marathon stint in goal for the Jackals. Tebbs started all four games for the Jackals this week, playing almost 240 minutes over a span of 5 days, including play each game in a different city. Tebbs faced 127 shots, turning aside 110 of them and posted a 4.28 goals against average and a 0.866 save percentage.
THE FIRST ONE Rookie defenseman/forward Derek Miller scored his first career professional goal in the 1st period of Fridays game against the Port Huron Flags. Miller has 7 points on the season (1goal, 6 assists) in 26 games played.
TALLY UP Rookie forward Dan Veenema recorded his first professional point Friday night in Port Huron, assisting Derek Millers first pro goal. The next game against Flint Veenema scored his second point by notching his first professional goal.
LONGER STREAK Goaltender Kris Tebbs has started 18 consecutive games in goal for the Jackals. He has been relieved only twice, playing 52 of the 54 periods during that time.
ON THE BOARD Forward Mark Scott scored his first goal in an Elmira uniform Sunday afternoon in Kalamazoo. Scott has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 9 games for the Jackals.
Power Play Goals: Scott Wray & Frank Littlejohn (5)
Shooting Percentage: David Morelli (25.0%)
THERE WILL BE NO COACHS SHOW NEXT WEEK, MONDAY DECEMBER 25th, DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.
The First Arena and the Jackals would like to with everyone a safe and happy holidays! Dont forget to pick up your First Arena gift certificates just in time for the holidays.
First Arena Section 4 vs. Section 5/PA High School Basketball Shootout 2006.
Friday December 22nd features two games beginning at 6 pm. Saturday has five games on the schedule, starting at 1 pm. For more information, contact the First Arena office at 607-734-PUCK.