News release
4 March 2012
Elmira, N.Y - The Elmira Jackals (36-21-2-2) secured their first shutout in 106 regular-season games on Sunday afternoon at First Arena, silencing the Reading Royals (27-26-3-4), 3-0. Goaltender Brian Stewart made 14 saves in the win as the Jackals notched their 21st home victory of 2011-2012, tying their club mark within an ECHL season.
Rob Bellamy chipped in a centering feed from Jordan Pietrus, giving the Jackals a power-play goal at 4:12 and a 1-0 advantage.
Corey Cowick took a pass from John Kurtz and backhanded a puck in through a screen past Mark Owuya to extend Elmira's lead to 2-0 at 15:16 of the opening period.
Jean Bourbeau poked a puck away from Reading's Mikael Bedard to Jimmy Martin who fed Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel in the slot to set up Elmira's third goal. Dieude-Fauvel wristed a puck past Owuya's stick to make it 3-0 at 2:13 of the second, closing out the scoring for the afternoon.
Stewart (21-10-1-0) earned his second professional shutout and first since he and the Bakersfield Condors blanked the Las Vegas Wranglers on Mar. 26, 2011. Owuya (8-3-2-1) made 28 saves on 31 shots in the loss.
Elmira's last shutout occurred on Dec. 18, 2010, when the Jackals and goaltender Mike Brodeur beat Toledo, 5-0. The shutout was Elmira's first under head coach Pat Bingham. Bingham's 2003-2004 Wheeling Nailers hold the ECHL record for shutouts in one season with 11. The Jackals are 3-0 at home in Sunday contests this season. Elmira also posted 21 home victories in 2007-2008. The Jackals have five home games left in the season. The win was Elmira's 10th against Reading in 15 tries this season. The 14 shots by Reading were a season low by any club against Elmira