JACKSON, Miss. � It was a hard-fought battle between the two Mississippi based teams in the East Coast Hockey League, as the Sea Wolves blanked the Jackson Bandits 3-0 at the Mississippi Coliseum.
The Sea Wolves also lead the Nextel Cup series against the Bandits, 9 points to 2.
Mississippi (12-6-2) opened the score in a shorthand situation. Mississippi captain Steffon Walby stole the puck in the Bandits zone, then deked goaltender Tyrone Garner, making it 1-0 for the Sea Wolves. The goal was Walby�s 10th of the year, and fourth shorthand tally.
At the 19:29 mark of the first, the game turned physical. Bandits� John McNabb cranked Sea Wolves� Chris Cava into the boards awkwardly. McNabb was issued a five-minute major penalty for kneeing, plus a 10-minute misconduct and game misconduct.
The major penalty against McNabb carried over to the second period, and the Sea Wolves would be held at bay.
But seconds later, Mike Scott fed a pass to Jeff Hutchins in front, he snapped a shot past Garner�s blocker, giving Mississippi a 2-0 lead.
Later in the middle stanza at 14:33, John Evangelista re-directed an Austin Miller pointshot, making it 3-0 for Mississippi.
The game turned ugly again at 17:05 of second. Walby cross-checked Bandits� captain Sean Gillam into the boards. Walby was issued a five-minute major for hitting-from-behind and a game misconduct, handing Jackson a five-minute power play. Gillam did not return.
On the ensuing man advantage, Jackson (9-12-0) came up empty.
The game got out of control at 5:48 of the third. At a face-off in the Sea Wolves end, Jackson�s Sean O�Connor headbutted Dave Paradise to the ice. That instigated fights with all 12 players on the ice, including the goalies.
By the end of the game, Mississippi had 15 penalties, totaling 67 penalty minutes. Jackson was handed 26 penalties for 164 penalty minutes.
Sea Wolves goaltender Sean Matile came in to finish for Gardner. The pair made a total of 26 saves to register the shutout for Mississippi.
The Sea Wolves next game is at home on Thanksgiving Thursday at 7:05 p.m. against the Baton Rouge Kingfish.
Individual Sea Wolves game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
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