BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves suffered a 5-4 setback to the Louisiana IceGators on Friday at the Cajundome.
After 44 games, the Sea Wolves are 26-14-4. Mississippi is tied for second place in the Southwest Division with the Arkansas RiverBlades, with 56 points. At home this season, Mississippi has posted a record of 16-7-3. The Sea Wolves are 10-7-1 on the road.
The Week Ahead at a Glance:
Monday, Jan. 27 � Practice open to the public from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28 � Practice open to the public from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29 � Practice open to the public from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30 � Travel to Dayton, Ohio
Friday, Jan. 31 at Dayton Bombers � 6:30 p.m. CT � Nutter Center
Saturday, Feb. 1 at Wheeling Nailers � 11:00 a.m. CT � Wheeling Civic Center
Sunday, Feb. 2 at Toledo Storm � 2:00 p.m. CT � Toledo Sports Arena
Game Previews:
Friday, Jan. 31 at Dayton Bombers � 6:30 p.m. CT � Nutter Center
The first and only meeting between the teams this season. It's the fourth all-time head-to-head match-up. The previous three meetings have all been at Dayton, with the Bombers winning all three.
The last meeting at the Nutter Center, Dayton defeated Mississippi, 6-1 on January 23, 2000.
The game marks the return for the Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner, who played parts of the last two seasons with Dayton. Mississippi defenseman Jim Baxter (1999-00) and forward Cody Bowtell (1997-98) are also former Bombers.
Dayton defenseman Jason Crain goes up against Mississippi for the first time since a trade on November 27.
Saturday, Feb. 1 at Wheeling Nailers - 11:00 a.m. CT - Wheeling Civic Center
The game marks the first and only meeting all-time between the teams.
Sea Wolves rookie forward Stu Pietersma returns to Wheeling to play against his former team for the first time since being claimed off waivers on October 22. Pietersma leads the East Coast Hockey League with 23 fighting majors.
Mississippi�s Bob Woods goes up against his former bench boss John Brophy for the first time. Woods played under Brophy in Hampton Roads in 1995-96.
Sunday, Feb. 2 at Toledo Storm � 2:00 p.m. CT � Toledo Sports Arena
The first and only meeting between the teams this season. The Sea Wolves all-time record against the Storm is 1-1-0, with both games being played at the Toledo Sports Arena.
Mississippi won the last game at Toledo, 6-5 in the shootout on January 22, 2000.
Sea Wolves defenseman Chris Cava (2000-01) returns to Toledo for the first time with Mississippi.
Player of the Week:
Rookie forward Mike Scott scored one goal in the loss at Louisiana. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound native of Calgary, Alberta has 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 38 games this season. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade with Atlantic City on October 29.
Goaltender of the Week:
Sean Matile made 30 saves on Friday, only to suffer the setback against the IceGators. The 6-foot-4 and 215-pound native of Vernon, British Columbia has a record of 6-4-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average and .927 save percentage this season. The 28-year-old is in his fourth year of pro hockey and first season with Mississippi.
Injured Reserve:
* Forward John Evangelista and left wing Josh Bennett are on the 7-day injured reserve.
* Goaltender Mike Buckley and defenseman David Cornacchia continue to be on the 30-day IR.
Call Up:
* Forward Kent Davyduke remains on loan to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
Streaking Sea Wolves:
* Veteran forward Cody Bowtell has a five-game point streak (5g-3a) and goals in three straight games (4g).
* Rookie forward Mike Scott has points in four consecutive games (2g-3a) and goals over his last two games (2g).
* Veteran forward Dave Paradise has points in four straight games (1g-3a).
* All-Star forward Steffon Walby has a four-game point streak (3g-3a).
* Rookie forward Jeff Hutchins has points over his last two contests (2a) and assists in two consecutive games (2a).
Sea Wolves �On the Air�:
Listen to live play-by-play action on the Sea Wolves flagship radio station Q 92.5 FM. Bring your radio and headphones to the home games! The hard-hitting, fast paced hockey excitement is also available across the internet at MsSeaWolves.com by clicking on �Listen Live�, which links to SportsJuice.com.
Sea Wolves in the Community:
Monday, January 27
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Hooters, Biloxi � Q 92.5 FM � �Your Home Team� weekly radio show
Tuesday, January 28
11:00 a.m.
Harrison County Child Development Center �Winter� Field Trip
Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Cody Bowtell and Derrick Byfuglien
12:00 p.m.
Blood Drive
Keesler Air Force Base
Josh Bennett and Travis Lisabeth
3:00 p.m.
YMCA�s 21st Century After School Program, Career Day, Gorenflo Elementary
Chris Cava, Greg Gardner, Jeff Hutchins, Austin Miller, Sean Peach and Stu Pietersma
Thursday, January 30
9:30 a.m.
Three Rivers Elementary School - �Hooked on Good Character�
Hook
Saturday, February 1
7:00 p.m.
Air National Guard Center, Gulfport
Sweetheart Social
Hook
Groups, organizations and companies interested in having members of the Sea Wolves appear at an event, are invited to call 228-275-WOLF (9653).
Individual game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
