News release
10 April 2007
Frank Littlejohn races in on a breakaway against Port Huron Friday night.
Jackals Win Three Of Last Four To End Season; Littlejohn Sets New Goals Record
2006-07 Record: 30-45-1, 61 points (17-20-1 Home, 13-25-0 Road), Fifth Place, Eastern Conference
The Jackals finished off their seventh season of operations and the 2006-2007 UHL Regular Season with two big home wins of the Port Huron Flags, before dropping their finale in Michigan. Elmira began the week with a thrilling come-from-behind 10-round shootout win over the Flags on Wednesday night. Frank Littlejohn scored twice to break the Jackals franchise record for goals in a single season. However, Littlejohn blew the record away with a Hat Trick on Friday, giving him 42 goals on the season, becoming the first Jackals player to score 40 or more in one year. Although the Jackals were riding a 3-game winning streak, they could not seal the deal against Port Huron Saturday night at McMorran Place Arena. They had a little consolation as defenseman Scott Drevitch scored his 7th goal of the season on the final shift of the game and on his final shot. Elmira will now prepare for another busy off-season as they look ahead to the teams eight season of operations.
4/4/07 Port Huron 3 @ Elmira 4 (3-2 in Shootout)
Elmira, NY Frank Littlejohn broke the franchise single season goal scoring record and helped the Elmira Jackals earn a come-from-behind victory over the Port Huron Flags 4-3 in a 10-round shootout Wednesday night at First Arena.
Although the Jackals playoff hopes were dashed last weekend, Elmira came out flying against the team they had been chasing, Port Huron. Defenseman Nick Harloff collected a rebound off a Scott Drevitch shot at 2:33 of the first period, faked out goaltender Dustin Traylen and scored his 6th goal of the season, assisted by Drevitch and Glenn Detulleo, giving Elmira a 1-0 lead. The Jackals even had a 5-on-3 power play for 60 seconds, but couldnt add to their lead.
The Flags struck back with two quick goals in the second period. Mark Cadotte fired in a rebound a 7:16, tying the game with a power play goal assisted by Ben Gustavson and Scott Wray. Cadotte again found the net at 9:54 when he was sent free on a breakaway by Garrett Cameron. Cadotte lifted a perfect backhand shot off the under side of the cross bar for his second goal of the game, putting Port Huron on top 2-1. But the Jackals level the score at 10:46 as right wing Frank Littlejohn scored a big goal, assisted by David Morelli and Joe Markusen. The goal made history, as it was Littlejohns 38th goal of the season, breaking Elmiras single season franchise record, previously held by former Elmira College star Jarrett Konkle.
In the third period Ben Gustavson gave the Flags a 3-2 lead at 8:39, firing in a loose puck after a prolonged scramble behind the net. But the Jackals had a few tricks left in the final minute of play. With Elmiras net already empty for the extra attacker, Port Hurons Shayne Tomlinson was whistled for tripping at 19:20, giving the Jackals a 6-on-4 power play with the empty net. It took just 8 seconds for the Jackals to cash in as they scored the equalizer at 19:28 courtesy of Frank Littlejohn redirecting a Nick Harloff shot past Traylen, forcing a shootout.
In the overtime session, the drama would stretch out longer as the normal five rounds would not produce a winner. Ben Gustavson scored first for Port Huron in the second round, but it was answered by Mike Oliveiras goal in the 3rd round. After five rounds with the score still tied 1-1, the shootout went to sudden death and then some. Ryan Markham almost won it for Port Huron, when he scored in the 7th round, but in the clutch Glenn Detulleo snapped a wrist shot through the legs of Traylen to keep the Jackals alive. Following two more scoreless rounds, goaltender Zach Sikich denied Flags forward Robert Snowball, setting up defenseman Scott Drevitch to win the game in the 10th round. Drevitch made a beautiful fake on Traylen and slotted the puck in the open net to send the 3,439 fans at First Arena home happy.
Zach Sikich earned his second straight win in goal for the Jackals, as he made 32 saves on 35 shots in regulation and stopped 8-of-10 in the shootout. Dustin Traylen took the shootout loss for the Flags, blocking 23-26 in regulation and 7-of-10 in the shootout. The Jackals improved to 29-44-1 on the season and 10-1 this year in shootouts. Port Huron fell to 28-36-10 and to 7-10 in shootouts this season. Elmira was 1-for-11 on the power play, while the Flags finished 1-for-8.
Elmira, NY Frank Littlejohn scored three goals as the Elmira Jackals earned their third consecutive victory with a 5-4 win over the Port Huron Flags Friday night at First Arena.
In the Jackals final home game of the 2006-2007 season Frank Littlejohn got the action going early with his 40th goal of the season at 4:39 of the first period, assisted by Mike Oliveira and Joe Markusen. Littlejohn, who is now improving his own Jackals single season, is the first ever Elmira player to score 40 or more goals in one season. Rookie David Morelli then knocked in a Dan Veenema shot, but referee Mike Baker disallowed the goal, saying that he lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle before Morelli scored. Port Huron answered when Ryan Markham tied the game at 11:36, assisted by Scott Wray and Ben Gustavson.
Mike Olynyk put the Flags in the lead for the first time at 5:15 of the second period, as he ripped a wrist shot past the blocker of Zach Sikich for an unassisted goal. But Elmira responded back with authority as they produced four unanswered goals in a span of 3 minutes and 42 seconds to close out the period. Marc Lefebvre scored his 5th goal of the season at 9:59, assisted by Dan Veenema and David Morelli. Frank Littlejohn tallied his 2nd goal of the game at 10:55, assisted by Nick Harloff to put Elmira ahead 3-2. Dan Veenema then scored his 6th goal of the season at 12:58, from Lefebvre and Morelli, giving the Jackals a 2-goal lead. Less than a minute later Littlejohn completed his hat trick at 13:41, his 42nd goal of the season, for a 5-2 Elmira lead after forty minutes.
But the Flags would not go away quietly as Ryan Markham fired a wrist shot past Sikich at 8:46, from Wray and Gustavson, pulling Port Huron back within two goals. Then Wray knocked in a power play goal at 11:26, assisted by Mark Cadotte and Pat Sutton. But the Jackals were able to hold off the Port Huron surge and cling to a 5-4 win, their third straight victory.
Zach Sikich earned his 7th win of the season, and 3rd in a row, as he made 29 saves on 33 shots, helping the Jackals improve to 30-44-1 on the year. Port Huron goaltender Noah Ruden took the loss, stopping 25-of-30 shots as the Flags dropped to 28-36-10. Elmira was 0-for-5 on the power play; Port Huron finished 1-for-7.
Port Huron, MI The Port Huron Flags held off the Elmira Jackals with a 5-4 win to close out the regular season Saturday night at McMorran Place Arena.
Playing in their last game of the season, the Jackals were looking to not only close out their season on a winning streak, but also to send the Flags into the post season on a losing note. But Port Huron took the lead when Ben Gustavson scored at 6:04, giving the hosts the lead after twenty minutes.
Port Huron doubled their lead two minutes into the second period on a Kris Vernarsky shot assisted by Scott Wray. But Glenn Detulleo scored his 16th goal of the season at 6:06, assisted by Dan Veenema and Marc Lefebvre. Later in the period Dan Veenema limped off the ice with an injury and goaltender Zach Sikich was given 27 minutes in penalties, including a game misconduct, for being the 3rd man in a scuffle between Chris Mann and Ben Gustavson. Due to the penalties to Sikich, Dave Lemanowicz was brought in to finish the game in goal for Elmira.
With an even shorter bench, the Jackals struck early in the third period, tying the game at 4:30 on a goal by Joe Markusen, his 7th of the season, assisted by Lefebvre and David Morelli. The Flags regained the lead 3-2 when Mark Cadotte redirected Chris Bogas shot from the blue line at 12:29. But again Elmira answered, when Yevgeny Lazarev scored a power play goal at 15:43, assisted by Mike Oliveira and Glenn Detulleo. But just 24 seconds later at 16:07, Bogas made it 4-3 Flags with a goal from the blue line. Elmira pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker and that led to a Craig Mahon empty net goal at 19:33. But in perhaps one last hurrah, defenseman Scott Drevitch scored his 7th goal of the year with a mere 7.8 seconds left in the game, ripping a wrist shot past Dustin Traylen, with assisted going to Markusen and Nick Harloff, capping off Port Hurons 5-4 win.
Dustin Traylen took the win in goal for the Flags, stopping 20-of-24 shots on goal. Dave Lemanowicz was given the loss after blocking 16-of-18 shots over the final 24:46. Zach Sikich made 23 saves on 25 shots in a no decision over 35:08 in the Elmira net.
Jackals Player & Goaltender of the Week: (Week 26)
Frank Littlejohn RW 3 GP, 5 goals, 0 assists, 5 points, +2, 0 PIMs
Frank Littlejohn had a vintage performance to close out the regular season. He broke the Jackals single season goal-scoring record on Wednesday night with two goals against Port Huron. Littlejohn then emphatically became the first Jackals player to score 40 or more goals in a season with a hat trick Friday at First Arena. Littlejohn set a new career high with 42 goals in the season, which is tied for 4th best in the UHL this year. He was also second in the league in short-handed goals with 7.
Zach Sikich G 3 GP, 2-0-0, 3.48 GAA, 0.903 SV%, 84 saves
Rookie goalie Zach Sikich finished off the regular season in style. He earned back-to-back wins at home against Port Huron, then took a no decision and earned 27 minutes in penalties on Saturday in Port Huron for an altercation with Flags forward Ben Gustavson. For the week Sikich posted a 3.48 GAA and a 0.903 save percentage to go along with his 2-0-0 record.
A NEW GOALS RECORD RW Frank Littlejohns 5-goal onslaught at First Arena put him in a category by himself. Littlejohn became the first Jackals player to score 40 or more goals in one season, setting a new franchise record of 42 goals for the 2006-2007 season. Littlejohn also set a Jackals team record for Most Short-Handed Goals in one season with seven this year.
A NEW JACKALS TEAM RECORD The 2006-2007 Jackals set a new team record and tied the UHL record for fewest shootout losses in a season (1) and fewest road shootout losses in a season (0). The Jackals were 10-1 this season in shootouts and did not lose a shootout on the road, going a perfect 4-0 away from home. Elmiras only shootout loss came on January 19th at First Arena against Quad City.
THE 400 CLUB RW Frank Littlejohn had a little extra special moment when he completed his hat trick on Friday night. Littlejohns 42nd goal of the season was also his 400th career professional point. In 561 pro games, he has racked up 231 goals and 169 assists, along with 1,834 penalty minutes.
A TRUE IRON MAN Defenseman Scott Drevitch was the only Jackals player to appear in all 76 games of the 2006-2007 regular season. Behind Drevitch was captain Erik Anderson, who missed just one game and finished with 75 games play this season. After them came rookie David Morelli with 74 games played, missing just the first two games of the season before he signed with the team, and Frank Littlejohn who appeared in 71 games this season.
NOT ENOUGH OFFENSE The Jackals struggled to score goals during the season and the 2006-2007 squad set a new team record for Fewest Goals in one season scoring just 217 goals this year. The previous record was held by the 2004-2005 Jackals team that scored 224 goals in that campaign.
PERHAPS A FOND FAREWELL Rumor has it that defenseman Scott Drevitch is contemplating retirement after his 19-year professional career. Drevitch has appeared in 1,225 games in his career, and if he does decide to hang up his skates, he certainly had a great exit. Drevitch scored with 7.8 seconds remaining in the third period Saturday in Port Huron, his 243rd career goal, which could be on his last pro shift and his last pro shot on goal.
Game Winning Goals: Frank Littlejohn (5)
Shooting Percentage: Glenn Detulleo (17.2%)
Save Percentage: Dave Lemanowicz (0.898)