BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves picked up their first two wins of the regular season last week and jumped from seventh place in the Central Division, into a three-way tie for first.
The Sea Wolves took both home games, downing the Columbus Cottonmouths 6-1 on Saturday and defeated the Texas Wildcatters on Sunday, 4-2, in the first-ever meeting between the teams.
After five games, Mississippi has a record of 2-1-2 and sits tied with Pensacola and Columbus for first place in the Central Division with six points. The Sea Wolves are 2-0-2 at home and 0-1-0 on the road.
WEEK AHEAD AT A GLANCE �
Monday, Oct. 27 � Day off for players.
Tuesday, Oct. 28 � Team practice, open to the public, from 10-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Gwinnett Gladiators � 6:05 p.m. CT � The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Georgia
Broadcast: ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
Thursday, Oct. 30 at Columbia Inferno � 6:30 p.m. CT � Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, South Carolina
Broadcast: ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
Friday, Oct. 31 - Team practice, open to the public, from 1-2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Pensacola Ice Pilots � 7:05 p.m. CT � Pensacola Civic Center, Florida
Broadcast: WTNI-AM 1640; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
Sunday, Nov. 2 � Day off for players.
GAME PREVIEWS �
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Gwinnett Gladiators � 6:05 p.m. CT � The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Georgia
Broadcast: ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
It�s the first-ever game between the new Central Division rivals. The teams also play head-to-head on January 13 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, to complete the two-game season series.
Formerly the Mobile Mysticks, the team was dormant last season before moving to Duluth, Georgia.
Mississippi�s all-time record against Mobile was 23-25-3 through 51 head-to-head games.
Thursday, Oct. 30 at Columbia Inferno � 6:30 p.m. CT � Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, South Carolina
Broadcast: ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
A rematch of last year�s Southern Conference Finals, won by Columbia, four games to two.
The teams have never met during the regular season.
Saturday, Nov. 1` at Pensacola Ice Pilots � 7:05 p.m. CT � Pensacola Civic Center, Florida
Broadcast: WTNI-AM 1640; Internet through msseawolves.com, by clicking on Listen Live.
This is the second of 14 games in the season series. Pensacola slipped past Missisippi, 4-3 in overtime on October 19 at the Wolves Den. Ice Pilots� Greg Chambers scored his first two pro goals including the game-winner in overtime to lift Pensacola to victory.
Former Ice Pilots� Louis Dumont and Kerry Ellis-Toddington return to Pensacola for the first time as members of the Sea Wolves.
Mississippi is 38-15-4 all-time against Pensacola, after 57 head-to-head games during the regular season.
The Sea Wolves all-time home record is 21-6-3 versus the Ice Pilots at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Mississippi is 17-9-1 all-time at the Pensacola Civic Center.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK � For the second straight week, Jeff Hutchins receives the honor. The 25-year-old scored three goals, picked up three assists and finished with a +5 rating over the two games last week. The 6-foot, 205-pound native of Toronto, Ontario tallied a pair of goals and registered an assist on Saturday, plus had a career high +4 rating in Mississippi�s 6-1 win over Columbus. On Sunday, Hutchins followed up with a goal, two helpers and +1 rating as the Sea Wolves defeated Texas, 4-2.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK � Greg Gardner receives the nod, by making 26 saves in Mississippi�s first victory of the season, downing Columbus, 6-1. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario is tied for fourth in the ECHL with a .949 save percentage and has an overall record of 1-1-1 and 1.63 goals against average.
STREAKING SEA WOLVES �
� Mississippi has won its last two games, both at home.
- Left wing Jeff Hutchins has scored in his last three games (4g) and has seven points over that span (4g-3a).
- Center Brent Gauvreau has a three-game point streak (1g-6a).
- Defenseman Austin Miller has points over his last two contests (1g-1a)
- Captain Steffon Walby has tallied six points (2g-4a) over his last two games.
SEA WOLVES TEAM LEADERS �
Goals � Jeff Hutchins, X
Assists � Brent Gauvreau, X
Points � Steffon Walby, Brent Gauvreau and Jeff Hutchins, X
Plus/Minus � John Evangelista, X
Penalty Minutes � Roger Maxwell, X
Goaltender Wins � Greg Gardner, X
Goals Against Average � Greg Gardner, X
Save Percentage � Greg Gardner, X
SEA WOLVES SPECIAL TEAMS (ECHL RANK) �
Power Play � 9 for 41, 22.0% (4)
Penalty Killing � 33 for 35, 94.3% (4)
Shorthanded Goal For � 1
Shorthanded Goals Against � 1
INJURED RESERVE � Forward Mike Gamble and defenseman Chris Cava remain on the 7-day injured reserve.
TRANSACTIONS �
10/22 � Re-signed center Sergei Kuznetsov
10/23 � Traded forward Tom Rouleau to Cincinnati for futures
10/26 � Added Chuck Thuss as emergency backup goaltender
SEA WOLVES IN THE COMMUNITY �
Wednesday, Oct. 22 � 7-8 p.m.
�Your Home Team� weekly radio show, for all ages, at Club Caribe, Biloxi. Win prizes and meet the players! Listen live on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490.
Friday, Oct. 31 � 6 p.m.
�Trick or Treat Down the Street�, Ocean Springs
Saturday, Nov. 1 � 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Alphonsus Fall Festival, Ocean Springs
Groups, organizations and companies that are interested in having members of the Sea Wolves appear at an event, are invited to call 228-275-WOLF.
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.
