ESTERO, Fla. � Roger Maxwell and Tom Rouleau scored two goals each to lead the Mississippi Sea Wolves past the Florida Everblades, 6-3.
The teams split two preseason games at TECO Arena. Mississippi�s next game is the season opener at 7:35 p.m. on Friday against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�We played the type of hockey that I was looking for,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods. �We wanted to cut down the shots and clean up our own end. Goaltender Mike Buckley played well and our guys worked hard, in another physical game. Roger and Tom were rewarded with a pair of goals. I�m really looking forward to the start of the regular season at home on Friday.�
Jim Baxter, the 2002-03 ECHL Defenseman of the Year, opened the score for Mississippi on the power play at 7:41, beating Daniel Boisclair on a shot from the blueline. Austin Miller picked up the lone assist.
The Everblades responded with a man advantage of their own. Carl Mallette netted his third goal in two games at 16:27, tying the score at one.
In the second, the Sea Wolves scored three times. Rouleau tallied at 5:19, with Travis Lisabeth and Andrei Lupandin collecting helpers on the goal.
Lisabeth, who finished the game with three points, scored his second in as many games at 10:55, with Brent Gauvreau and Lupandin assisting, giving the Sea Wolves a 3-1 lead.
Gray Shaneberger pulled Florida to within one at 15:22 of the middle stanza, beating goaltender Mike Buckley, who played the entire game for the Sea Wolves.
Maxwell regained Mississippi�s two-goal advantage tipping home a shot by Lisabeth. Gauvreau also picked up an assist.
In the third, Rouleau and Maxwell both netted their second goals of the game, giving Mississippi a commanding 6-2 lead. Mike Gamble assisted on the Rouleau marker. Baxter and Kerry Ellis-Toddington registered helpers on Maxwell�s second of the contest.
Florida�s Jamie O�Leary completed the scoring at 16:09.
There were two fights in the game, Sea Wolves� Chris Cava knocked around Ryan VanBuskirk and Mississippi�s John Evangelista got the better of Roberto Bissonnette.
Sea Wolves� Jeff Hutchins received a game misconduct for being the third man in an altercation involving Mississippi�s veteran Louis Dumont and Florida�s Jon Insana.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-4 power play opportunities, while Florida went 1-for-7 with the man advantage. The Everblades out shot the Sea Wolves, 32-23.
Additional Notes: All-ECHL First Team Right Wing in 2002-03, Steffon Walby, did not make the trip ... Other Sea Wolves players not in the lineup included the last original Sea Wolves player, Patrick Rochon, along with defenseman Rob Davidson ... Former Mississippi enforcer, Stu Pietersma, did not dress in either preseason game for Florida.
There are a limited number of tickets still available for the season opener on Friday. Two banners will be raised on opening night, commemorating Mississippi�s on-ice success over the past two seasons. Individual game tickets, start at $9 for children and $11 for adults.
Tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
Season seat packages, flex plans and discounted group tickets are still on sale by calling 228-275-WOLF.
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