Gillis Now Three Away from 500 Win in his Coaching Career

(Prescott Valley, AZ) – Head coach, Paul Gillis, earned his 100th win behind the bench for the Odessa Jackalopes with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Sundogs on Wednesday night at Tim’s Toyota Center.  The win also gives Gillis 497 overall in his professional coaching career.

Four different players scored for the Jackalopes in the game as Odessa’s record improved to 29-6-3 on the season.

The Jackalopes struck early in the first period with a pair of goals in the first 5:06 of the game.  Patrick Mbaraga scored his first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the left point that deflected off a Sundog player and in the net.  Kory Karlander then powered a shot between the top of the circles past Doug Groenestege to make the score 2-0 for Odessa.  Arizona cut the lead to 2-1 when Chris Bartolone’s shot from the point was good for a power play goal at 14:45.

Jeff Pierce made it a 3-1 lead for Odessa with the only goal of the second period.  Pierce wristed a shot from between the circles that just crossed the goal line after Groenestege caught a piece of it.  The power play goal was his 18th of the season at 9:19.

Both teams traded goals in the third period as Jean Bourbeau made the score 4-1 with a shorthanded, breakaway goal at 10:22.  Andrew Winnik scored his first goal of the season for Arizona on a centering pass from behind the net at 14:14 to make the final score 4-2

Joel Martin stopped 19 of 21 shots to earn his 15th win of the season.  Odessa is now 4-0-0 against Arizona this year.

The Jackalopes continue their three-game set against Arizona on Friday.  Game time is set for 8:05 PM Central.  The action can be heard on 102.1 Jack FM.

The Odessa Jackalopes are the Central Hockey League affiliate for the NHL’s New York Islanders and the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The team is in the middle of their 13th season in the Permian Basin.  Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-PUCK or visiting jackalopes.org.