BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves captured seven of eight possible points last week, posting a 3-0-1 record, to move into second place in the ECHL�s Central Division.
On Tuesday, the Sea Wolves slipped past the Florida Everblades, 3-2 at TECO Arena. Mississippi edged the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4-3 in overtime on Friday at the Pensacola Civic Center. On Saturday, the Sea Wolves captured one point in a 3-2 shootout loss against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Then in the return visit at the Cajundome, the Sea Wolves trounced the IceGators 7-2 on Sunday.
Through 27 games, the Sea Wolves have 33 points with an overall record of 14-8-5. Mississippi is four points behind the Gwinnett Gladiators for first place in the Central Division. Sea Wolves are 6-1-4 at home, and have record of 8-7-1 on the road.
Mississippi plays at Texas for the first time on Friday, hosts Columbus on Saturday and travels to Pensacola on Sunday.
GAMES, BROADCASTS AND PROMOTIONS AT A GLANCE �
Friday, Dec. 19 at Texas Wildcatters � 7:05 p.m. CT � Ford Arena, Beaumont, Texas
* Broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at www.msseawolves.com
Saturday, Dec. 20 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths � 7:35 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
* Broadcast begins at 7:20 p.m. on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at www.msseawolves.com
* $2 draft beers and $2 hotdogs from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 at Pensacola Ice Pilots � 5:05 p.m. CT � Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, Fla.
* Broadcast begins at 4:50 p.m. on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at www.msseawolves.com
GAME PREVIEWS �
Friday, Dec. 19 at Texas Wildcatters � 7:05 p.m. CT � Ford Arena, Beaumont, Texas
The game marks the first-ever visit for the Sea Wolves at Texas. Mississippi leads the season series and all-time 3-0-0, with all games played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It�s the fourth of 15 games in the battle for the Nextel Cup season series.
In the last head-to-head game on December 6, Mississippi knocked off Texas 4-1. Sergei Kuznetsov netted two goals and an assist in the Mississippi win. Brent Gauvreau tallied the game-winner and Greg Gardner made 32 saves to backstop the Sea Wolves to the win.
Kuznetsov leads Mississippi with four goals and seven points in the head-to-head battles. Kuznetsov, Jeff Hutchins, Andrei Lupandin and Steffon Walby each have three assists to lead Mississippi in that department against Texas.
Wildcatters� Tony Lawrence (3a) is the top point producer for Texas against the Sea Wolves. Bob Cunningham, Steve Lowe and Brian Stacey have the three Wildcatters� goals versus Mississippi.
Saturday, Dec. 20 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths � 7:35 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
It�s the third of nine games in the season series. The teams split the first two games, both played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Columbus edged Mississippi 2-1 on November 27 at the Wolves Den. John Morlang and Jean-Francois Plourde scored in the victory for the Cottonmouths. Louis Dumont scored Mississippi�s goal, which also gave him the all-time league scoring record by registering his 690th career ECHL point.
Brent Gauvreau is tops for the Sea Wolves with three assists and four points against the Cottonmouths this season. Jeff Hutchins has tallied two goals for Mississippi, giving him the team-lead versus Columbus.
Ray DiLauro (2a) and Plourde (1g-1a) lead Columbus with two points against Mississippi.
Mississippi is 7-2-0 all-time against Columbus during the regular season. Sea Wolves are 5-1-0 all-time at the Wolves Den against the Cottonmouths.
Sunday, Dec. 21 at Pensacola Ice Pilots � 5:05 p.m. CT � Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, Fla.
Mississippi is 2-3-1 against Pensacola this season and 1-3-0 at the Pensacola Civic Center. The contest marks the seventh of 14 games in the season series.
The Ice Pilots took the opening four games in the season series, but the Sea Wolves have rebounded to win the last two, both in extra time. Mississippi edged Pensacola 4-3 in overtime at the Hangar on December 12 and had a 5-4 shootout victory at the Wolves Den on December 5.
Sea Wolves� Louis Dumont (3g-4a) and Brent Gauvreau (1g-6a) lead Mississippi with seven points each in the head-to-head battles with Pensacola. Dumont�s three goals is tops for the Sea Wolves, while Gauvreau�s six assists leads that department.
Ice Pilots� Corey Neilson (2g-8a) and Greg Chambers (3g-7a) are the top scorers for Pensacola against Mississippi. Neilson�s eight assists is a team-high against the Sea Wolves, while Jim Abbott is first for Pensacola with four goals in the games versus the Sea Wolves.
Mississippi is 40-18-4 all-time in the regular season against Pensacola. Sea Wolves are 18-12-1 all-time in the regular season at the Hangar.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK � Jim Baxter collected five points (2g3a) over four games last week. The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound native of Brantford, Ontario had an assist on Saturday in the shootout loss against Louisiana. Baxter followed it up with a four-point game (2g-2a) in the victory at Louisiana on Sunday. Baxter leads ECHL defensemen in scoring with 31 points (8g-23a).
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK � Sean Matile played in all four games last week posting a 3-0-1 record including three road victories. The 6-foot-4 and 215-pound native of Vernon, British Columbia had a .933 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average. Matile has an overall record of 6-1-2, 2.91 goals against average and .906 save percentage.
TRANSACTIONS FROM LAST WEEK �
12/10 Add Dwayne Blais, C, activated off 7-day injured reserve
12/10 Delete John Evangelista, C, placed on 7-day injured reserve
12/12 Add Roger Maxwell, RW, activated off 7-day injured reserve
12/12 Delete Andrei Lupandin, D, placed on 7-day injured reserve
12/12 Add Chuck Thuss, G, signed as emergency backup goaltender
12/12 Delete Jody Green, G, released as emergency backup goaltender
12/14 Delete Chuck Thuss, G, released as emergency backup goaltender
12/14 Add Jody Green, G, signed as emergency backup goaltender
STREAKING SEA WOLVES �
* Jim Baxter has five points (2g-3a) over his last two games.
* Jeff Hutchins has three points (2g-1a) over his last two games.
* Steffon Walby has two points (1g-1a) over his last two games.
SEA WOLVES APPROACHING MILESTONES �
* Bob Woods is one coaching win shy of 100 in his pro and Sea Wolves career
(171 gms, 99-57-14, .620 WPCT).
* Steffon Walby is two goals from 100 in his Sea Wolves career (141 gp, 98g, 118a, 216 pts) and four assists from 300 in pro career (662 gp, 296a).
* Patrick Rochon is two points from 250 in his pro career (521 gp, 36g, 212a, 248 pts).
* John Evangelista is three points from 150 in pro career (293 gp, 60g, 87a, 147 pts) and seven games from 300 in pro career.
* Sergei Kuznetsov is seven goals from 50 in his pro career (225 gp, 43g).
* Jeff Hutchins is five games from 100 in pro and Sea Wolves career (95 gp, 23g, 31a, 54 pts).
TEAM LEADERS �
Goals � Louis Dumont and Steffon Walby, 14
Assists � Brent Gauvreau, 25
Points � Brent Gauvreau, 37
Plus/Minus � Brent Gauvreau and Steffon Walby, +18
Penalty Minutes � Roger Maxwell, 151
Power-Play Goals � Jeff Hutchins, 7
Shorthand Goals � Brent Gauvreau, Sergei Kuznetsov and Steve O�Rourke, 1
Game-Winning Goals � Brent Gauvreau, 5
Goaltender Wins � Greg Gardner, 8
Goals Against Average � Greg Gardner, 2.68
Save Percentage � Greg Gardner, .917
SPECIAL TEAMS (ECHL Rank) �
Power Play � 36-166, 21.7% (5)
Penalty Killing � 139-174, 79.9% (27)
Shorthanded Goal For � 3 (T13)
Shorthanded Goals Against � 2 (T8)
INJURED RESERVE � Center John Evangelista and defenseman Andrei Lupandin are on the 7-day IR.
PRACTICES THIS WEEK �
Monday � Day off for players.
Tuesday � Optional practice 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Wednesday � 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Thursday � 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Friday � 11-11:30 a.m., morning skate, Ford Arena, Beaumont, Texas
Saturday � TBD
Sunday � TBD
* All practices open to the public; Times are subject to change
IN THE COMMUNITY �
Wednesday, Dec. 17 � 7-8 p.m.
�Your Home Team� weekly radio show, for all ages at Club Caribe, Biloxi. Catch the show live on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490.
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 the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster locations and by calling 228-594-3707.
Season seat packages, flex plans and discounted group tickets are still on sale by calling 228-275-WOLF.
