PENSACOLA, Fla. � Pensacola�s Chris St. Jacques scored two goals including the game-winner with 3:12 remaining in regulation to lift the Ice Pilots past the Mississippi Sea Wolves 4-3 in front of 6,156 at the Pensacola Civic Center.
�It was a heck of a hockey game,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �Both teams battled extremely hard. We had chances, but give them credit. You can�t make mistakes against the first place Ice Pilots. They�ll make you pay.�
Pensacola (36-13-4, 76 points) started the scoring on a point shot from Jason Beckett that just squeaked through goaltender Randy Petruk, who was making his Mississippi debut. Beckett�s unassisted goal at the 9:30 mark of the first period was his ninth of the season.
Mississippi (26-20-4, 56 points) tied the game just seconds after Louis Dumont served a penalty. Dumont stepped out of the penalty box and let go with a slapshot from the top of the left circle tipped by Darryl Campbell past goaltender Todd Ford at 13:05. Campbell�s fourth of the campaign and second in as many games was assisted by Anthony Battaglia.
In the second, the Sea Wolves went ahead on Dumont's 16th tally of the year. The Sea Wolves captain jammed in a loose puck for an unassisted goal to make it 2-1 Mississippi at 4:17.
The Ice Pilots got back on even terms at 8:57 on a delayed penalty call going against the Sea Wolves. Pensacola pulled its goalie for the extra attacker and St. Jacques netted his 12th goal of the year at the top of the crease. Helpers went to Ryan Stokes and Aaron Phillips.
Pensacola regained its lead on a 2-on-1 break. Cam Keith centered for Scott May, who chipped home his 11th goal of the season at 15:53. Stokes was also awarded an assist giving the Ice Pilots a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of action.
Mississippi tied the score in the third at 3:01. Anthony Battaglia beat Ford on a shot low to the stick side from the right circle notching his team-leading 21st goal of the campaign and 50th goal of his professional career. Helpers went to his brother, Bates Battaglia and Dumont, which was his 500th career ECHL assist.
St. Jacques went back to work and deposited his second of the game on a scramble in front of the Sea Wolves net at 16:48. Ryan O�Keefe garnered the lone assist.
In the final minute, Bates Battaglia went in all alone on a breakaway, but Ford denied him with a chest save.
Mississippi failed to convert on four power play chances, while Pensacola went 0-for-2. Ice Pilots outshot the Sea Wolves 44-30.
Additional note: The Sea Wolves Booster Club put together a bus trip and had a contingent of Mississippi fans in attendance � During the first intermission, two former Pensacola players, Shane Calder and Chad Queenville were inducted into the Ice Pilots Hall of Fame � Prior to the Sea Wolves/Ice Pilots game an Ice Pilots Alumni Game took place consisting of current Pensacola team owner Tim Kerr among former Ice Pilots players Martin �Choo Choo� Chouinard, Scott LaGrand, Kelly Hultgren, Eon MacFarlane, Andrew Rodgers, Craig Brown, Harold Hersh, Christian Sbrocca and Scott Malone.
Mississippi wraps up its three-game road trip with a game beginning at 5:05 p.m. tomorrow against the Texas Wildcatters at Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. Watch the live web telecast for $6, courtesy of B2 Networks, online at msseawolves.com. Listen live on flagship radio station WGCM-AM 1240 or online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of Teamline.
The Sea Wolves next home game is at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday against the Florida Everblades at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Individual tickets for Tuesday�s home game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Flex packs, discounted groups tickets, birthday packages and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com.
--- Box Score ---
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 1 1 1--3
Pensacola 1 2 1--4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Pensacola-Beckett 9 (unassisted) 9:30. 2,
Mississippi-Campbell 4 (Dumont; Battaglia) 13:05. Penalties:
Legault, MIS (Tripping), 5:37. Corbeil, MIS (Interference), 9:56.
Dumont, MIS (Obstr goalie interfe), 10:55. O'Keefe, PEN (Elbowing),
14:18. Hay, PEN (Cross checking), 17:54.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Mississippi-Dumont 16 (unassisted) 4:17. 4,
Pensacola-St. Jacques 12 (Stokes; Phillips) 8:57. 5, Pensacola-May 11
(Keith; Stokes) 15:53. Penalties: Stillman, PEN (Roughing), 6:09.
Neilson, PEN (Fighting, Major), 14:53. O'Leary, MIS (Fighting, Major),
14:53.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Mississippi-Battaglia 21 (Dumont;
Battaglia) 3:01. 7, Pensacola-St. Jacques 13 (game winner) (O'Keefe)
16:48. Penalties: Stokes, PEN (Holding), 5:15.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 9 12 9--30
Pensacola 15 17 12--44
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0 of 4, Pensacola - 0 of 2.
Goalies: Mississippi-Petruk (44 shots, 40 saves; record: 0-1-0).
Pensacola-Ford (30 shots, 27 saves; record: 13-3-1).
A: 6156. Referee: Ernst. Linesmen: Deliman; Wright.
