BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves took five of eight possible points last week, over four straight road games, to begin their six-game road trip.
On Tuesday, the Sea Wolves started their road swing by doubling South Carolina, 6-3 at North Charleston. Mississippi edged Florence, 5-4 on Friday, then fell Saturday night, 5-4 in the shootout at South Carolina. Augusta defeated Mississippi on Sunday, 3-1.
The Sea Wolves have a record of 6-4-4. Mississippi has 16 points and is tied with the Louisiana IceGators for second place in the Central Division, five points behind the first place Gwinnett Gladiators. The Sea Wolves are 3-4-0 on the road.
Mississippi wraps up its season-high six-game road swing with games on Tuesday at Greenville and Thursday at Greensboro. The Sea Wolves return home for a Sunday game against Texas.
GAMES AND PROMOTIONS THIS WEEK �
Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Greenville Grrrowl � 6:05 p.m. CT � BI-LO Center, Greenville, SC
* Broadcast begins at 5:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at www.msseawolves.com
Thursday, Nov. 20 at Greensboro Generals � 6 p.m. CT � Greensboro Coliseum Complex, NC
* Broadcast begins at 5:45 p.m. on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at www.msseawolves.com
Friday � Travel back to Biloxi, Mississippi
Saturday � Team practice, TBD
Sunday, Nov. 23 vs. Texas Wildcatters � 4:05 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
* Broadcast begins at 3:50 p.m. on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at www.msseawolves.com
Promotions:
* �Party Four-Pack�, four tickets, four hotdogs, four soft drinks starting at only $44.
* 3rd Annual Nextel/Sea Wolves Howl Against Hunger. First 2,000 fans to bring canned goods or non-perishables for the Bay Back Mission, receive a �Howl Towel�.
GAME PREVIEWS �
Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Greenville Grrrowl � 6:05 p.m. CT � BI-LO Center, Greenville, SC
It�s the first and only meeting of the season between the teams.
Mississippi is 5-1-1 all-time against Greenville in the regular season and the Sea Wolves are 3-0-0 against the Grrrowl at the BI-LO Center.
This is Mississippi�s first visit to Greenville since the eventual 2002 Kelly Cup Champion Grrrowl knocked the Sea Wolves out of the Southern Conference Finals, three games to one. Greenville won Game 1, 8-1 on April 25, 2002. The next night, the Grrrowl edged the Sea Wolves 3-2, in Game 2. Mississippi took Game 3 in Biloxi, 5-3, but Greenville wrapped up the series at the Wolves Den, winning Game 4, 6-2. The Grrrowl would go on to sweep the Dayton Bombers in four straight games, to win the 2002 Kelly Cup.
Greenville won the only regular season meeting last year between the teams, 4-3 in the shootout at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on November 8, 2002.
Thursday, Nov. 20 at Greensboro Generals � 6 p.m. CT � Greensboro Coliseum Complex, NC
It�s the first-ever meeting between the teams. Greensboro returns the visit for the first time at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on February 6.
Greensboro is in its fifth ECHL season, with coach and general manager, Rick Adduono back for his second season. Adduono helped the South Carolina Stingrays win two Kelly Cup titles, as an assistant coach in 1997 and as head coach in 2001.
Last season under Adduono�s guidance, the Generals made the postseason for the first time in team history. Greensboro set numerous team records including wins (42) and points (93). In the playoffs, Greensboro eliminated the Roanoke Express, 3 games to 1, in the Northeast Division Semifinals. The Generals would lose to the eventual Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in the Northeast Division Finals, 3 games to 1.
Sunday, Nov. 23 vs. Texas Wildcatters � 4:05 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
It�s the second of 15 games in the season series, in the battle for the Nextel Cup.
Mississippi won the first meeting on October 26, 4-2 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Defenseman Austin Miller scored the game-winning goal for the Sea Wolves. Mississippi�s Jeff Hutchins and Steffon Walby each tallied a goal and two assists. While Sean Matile backstopped the Sea Wolves by making 21 saves. Davis Parley suffered the loss for Texas, turning away 40-of-44 shots.
The Sea Wolves first visit to the new Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas is December 19.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK � Right wing Steffon Walby is red-hot, notching two assists, nine assists and a +6 rating, while playing in three of the four Sea Wolves games last week. He is the ECHL�s points leader with 25 and is tied for the league lead with 17 assists. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Lodi, Wisconsin started the week with a four-point game, finishing with one goal, three assists and a +3 rating in the win over South Carolina. He followed it up with a season-high five-point night in the win at Florence, netting a goal, collecting four assists and a +4 rating. The 11th year pro chipped in with two assists on Saturday, in the shootout loss at South Carolina. He did not dress for the game at Augusta on Sunday.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK � Greg Gardner backstopped Mississippi in three of four games last week, posting a record 2-0-1. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario made 82 total saves on 94 shots in the contests. The 27-year-old has an overall record of 5-2-3, with a goals against average of 2.93 and .903 save percentage.
TRANSACTIONS FROM LAST WEEK �
None last week.
SEA WOLVES APPROACHING MILESTONES �
* Jeff Hutchins is one goal from setting his career high in a season (10, set last year).
* Steffon Walby is eight goals from 100 in his Sea Wolves career (134 gp, 92g-113a, 205 pts).
* Brent Gauvreau needs six goals for 50 in his Sea Wolves career (145 gp, 44g).
* Coach Bob Woods is nine wins from 100 in his pro and Sea Wolves coaching career.
LOUIS DUMONT WATCH � (Mississippi forward is in his 10th year in the ECHL)
* Played in his 600th pro game on Sunday at Augusta, picked up an assist.
* 683 career ECHL points (262g-421a), is two points behind Darryl Noren for second all-time in league history and five points from tying the all-time leader, Rod Taylor, and his 688 points.
* 262 career ECHL goals, is six from tying Jay Murphy, for seventh all-time on the league goal scoring list.
* 10 points from 700 in his pro career (262g-427a).
TEAM LEADERS �
Goals � Jeff Hutchins, 10
Assists � Steffon Walby, 17
Points � Steffon Walby, 25
Plus/Minus � Brent Gauvreau, +14
Penalty Minutes � Roger Maxwell, 95
Game-Winning Goals � Six players tied, 1
Goaltender Wins � Greg Gardner, 5
Goals Against Average (minimum three games) � Greg Gardner, 2.93
Save Percentage (minimum three games) � Greg Gardner, .903
SPECIAL TEAMS (ECHL Rank) �
Power Play � 18-78, 23.1% (5)
Penalty Killing � 72-92, 78.3% (26)
Shorthanded Goal For � 1 (T18)
Shorthanded Goals Against � 1 (T8)
INJURED RESERVE � Goaltender Sean Matile and defenseman Andrei Lupandin are still on the 7-day IR.
PRACTICE TIMES THIS WEEK �
Monday � Day off for players.
Tuesday � Morning skate, 11 a.m. CT � BI-LO Center, Greenville
Wednesday � Practice at Greensboro, time TBD.
Thursday � Morning skate, 11 a.m. CT
Friday � Day off for players.
Saturday � Day off for players.
Sunday � Morning skate, 10 a.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum
IN THE COMMUNITY �
Wednesday, Nov. 19 - 7-8 p.m.
�Your Home Team� weekly radio show, for all ages, at Club Caribe, Biloxi. Listen live on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490.
Saturday, Nov. 22 � 12 Noon (Private)
Face-Off Against Kids� Cancer Sea Wolves Saturday Sundae Social - Outback Steak House and Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. Sea Wolves players and the Face Off Against Kids� Cancer children that have been partnered with will attend an ice cream party at the Outback Steak House followed by a visit to Lynn Meadows Discover Center.
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.
