News release
9 December 2005
Richmond, VA The Elmira Jackals continued their struggles in the state of Virginia as they were beaten 7-4 by the Richmond Riverdogs Friday night at the Richmond Coliseum.
Richmond jumped out early on the Jackals in the first period as John DiPace scored a power play goal at 1:38 that went off the post on its way into the net. Chris Chaput came back with a power play goal of his own at 6:36 from Kontantin Kalmikov and Florian Iberer.
Chaputs goal was a tap-in created by a beautiful back-door pass by Kalmikov to tie the score. Richmond surged in front again as DiPace stole a loose puck and beat Ryan McIntosh again for an unassisted goal at 7:58. Bobby Kukulka made it 3-1 at 11:16 as he was sent in on a breakaway by Jason Cassels. Elmira got one back at 14:20 when newcomer Jason Sessa made an immediate impact, blasting home a power play goal from Trevor Burgess and John Donnelly to make it 3-2 after one period of play.
In the second period it was Richmonds counterattack which continued to plague the Jackals. Mike Oliveira scored a short-handed goal at 6:17 on a breakaway and Dennis Mullen then came out of the penalty box at 7:09 and scored on his breakaway and all of a sudden it was 5-2 Richmond. Elmiras woes continued when Joey Bastien scored a short-handed goal at 10:33 for a 4-goal lead, Richmonds second short hander of the period. Jason Sessa cranked in his second power play goal of the game at 11:36 from Kevin Cooper and Mike Dombkiewicz and Chris Chaput brought Elmira back to within 2 goals with a strike at 17:58 from Kalmikov and Donnelly to make it 6-4 Richmond after two.
In the third period, Richmond would put the nail in the coffin at 9:01 when Oliveira scored his second goal of the game to finish off the Jackals 7-4.
Doug Groenestege earned another win against Elmira by stopping 40-of-44 in the game. Ryan McIntosh started for the Jackals making 4 saves on 7 shots before being lifted after 11 minutes. Nick Boucher played the final 49 minutes and was credited with the loss while making 23 saves on 27 shots.
The Jackals continue their Virginia weekend by heading to Roanoke Saturday to face off against the Vipers at 7:30 pm at the Roanoke Civic Center. Sunday Elmira is back in Richmond for a 4:00 pm matinee against the Riverdogs.