PEORIA, Ill. � Peoria�s Randy Rowe scored the game-winning goal, notched three points and was named MVP, leading the Eastern Conference to a 7-6 come from behind victory over the Western Conference, at the 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game before 7,242 fans at Carver Arena.
Just 43 seconds into action, the Eastern Conference opened the score. Eastern Conference captain, Rowe, of Peoria the All-Star Game host, beat Louisiana�s Fred Cloutier to make it 1-0.
Florida�s Brian McCullough, tied for the ECHL points lead, collected the lone assist.
The captain of the Western Conference responded at the 3:31 mark. Mississippi�s Steffon Walby re-directed a point shot from Idaho�s David Cornacchia, a former Sea Wolves teammate, and past Scott Stirling of Atlantic City, who set an ECHL All-Star Game record by starting his third straight. Mississippi�s Brent Gauvreau, tied for first in the ECHL points race, also added a helper.
At 13:59, Gwinnett�s Troy Milam sent a wrist shot from the right circle into the back of the net to give the Western Conference its first lead of the game. The goal was assisted by Bakerfield�s Andrew Ianiero and Dave Cousineau of Las Vegas.
Two minutes later, John Snowden of Texas sent the puck towards the net from a sharp angle along the goal line to make it 3-1 for the Western Conference. Nick Ganga of Long Beach garnered an assist.
In the second period, Alaska�s Joe Talbot waited patiently in the slot, goaltender Cory Campbell of Johnstown made the first move, then Talbot buried the puck at 2:30.
The fourth goal for the Western Conference was assisted by Pensacola�s Greg Chambers and Jean-Francois Plourde of Columbus.
At the 5:14 mark of the middle stanza, Reading�s David Masse cut the Western Conference lead in half, by angling towards the slot from the right wing and scoring on Gwinnett�s Michael Garnett. Florence�s Mark McRae and Charlotte�s Dusty Jamieson picked up assists.
The Western Conference would regain its three-goal lead at 7:59. Cousineau unleashed a shot from the right wing circle, off the goalpost and in, making it 5-2 for the Western Conference. Milam and Snowden registered their second points of the game, with the helpers.
Sam Paolini of Atlantic City fired a right wing wrister over Garnett�s right shoulder with four minutes to go in the period. Roanoke�s Shawn Limpright earned an assist. Just 19 seconds later,
Pensacola�s Corey Neilson quick shot gave the Western Conference a 6-3 advantage through 40 minutes. Chambers and Talbot both pick up their second points of the game with the assists.
The Eastern Conference started the third period with some nifty passing. Rowe to McCullough, who fed to Wheeling�s Jason Jaffray for a goal, beating Idaho�s Dan Ellis at 2:46.
Less than two minutes later, Toledo�s Morten Ask sent a cross-ice to Jamieson, who fired in a one-timer to bring the Eastern Conference within one at 6-5. Masse collected an assist for his second point of the game.
The Eastern Conference kept pouring on the offense and pulled even at 8:02. Jason Notermann of Johnstown found the back of the net, with assists going to Columbia�s Alex Burrows and Greensboro�s Tom Reimann.
At 11:02, Rowe made the Eastern Conference comeback complete by scoring its fourth unanswered goal of the period. Rowe, Peoria�s lone all-star player representative, lifted a shot from in close over the left shoulder of Ellis, for the eventual game-winning goal. McCullough grabbed his third assist and Paolini picked up his second point of the contest.
Additional Notes: The Western Conference pulled its goalie in the final minute, but failed to convert � There were no penalties called in the game.
The Sea Wolves get back into action at 7:35 p.m. on Friday against the Augusta Lynx at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The promotion for the game consists of 2-for-1 military night. The game broadcast starts at 7:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com. Flex packs, discounted group tickets and fundraiser opportunities are available by telephone at (228) 275-WOLF.
Individual game tickets can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster locations and by calling (228) 594-3707.
--- Box Score ---
SCORE BY PERIODS
Western Conference All-Stars 3 3 0 -- 6
Eastern Conference All-Stars 1 2 4 -- 7
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: -Rowe (McCullough, Jaffray) 0:43. -Walby (Cornacchia, Gauvreau) 3:31. -Milam (Ianiero, Cousineau) 13:59. -Snowden (Ganga) 15:59.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: -Talbot (Chambers, Plourde) 1:30. -Masse (Jamieson, McRae) 5:14. -Cousineau (Snowden, Milam) 7:59. -Paolini (Limpright) 16:00. -Neilson (Talbot, Chambers) 16:19.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: -Jaffray (McCullough, Rowe) 2:46. -Jamieson (Ask, Masse) 4:37. -Notermann (Burrows, Reimann) 8:02. -Rowe (McCullough, Paolini) 11:02.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Western Conference All-Stars 13 11 10 -- 34
Eastern Conference All-Stars 11 26 17 -- 54
POWER PLAY STATS PPG ADV SHG
Western Conference All 0 0 0
Eastern Conference All 0 0 0
GOALIES
AWAY TEAM Decision MIN S SV
Fred Cloutier 20:00 11 10
Michael Garnett 20:00 26 24
Dan Ellis LOSS 18:30 17 13
HOME TEAM Decision MIN S SV
Scott Stirling 20:00 13 10
Cory Campbell 20:00 11 8
Chris Houle WIN 20:00 10 10
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