FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 25, 2013
CORNELLIER’S FOUR POINTS LEAD JACKS TO VICTORY
Deery stops 35, Jacks snap ten-game skid in 4-3 win over Corpus.
ODESSA, TX– In the first game following a lengthy, eight-game road trip, the Odessa Jackalopes’ homecoming proved memorable Friday, as the Jacks gutted out a 4-3 win over the Corpus Christi IceRays at Ector County Coliseum. With the victory, the Jacks’ first since December 15th, Odessa snapped a ten-game losing streak and with 14 points, remain alone in sixth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings.
Taylor Portner got the Jackalopes out to a lightning-quick start, wiring home his fourth goal of the season on a one-time chance just 35 seconds into the game, courtesy of Lawrence Cornellier and Anthony Olguin. Portner’s goal, the lone tally of the first period, gave way to Olguin’s tenth score of the season at 8:15 of the second, a laser-like wrister from the high slot, assisted by Cornellier and Portner, that doubled the Odessa lead.
After Brandon Smith responded for Corpus at 12:31 of the second to draw the IceRays within a goal, the third period turned into the Lawrence Cornellier show, as the newly-minted Odessa captain and leading scorer netted back-to-back tallies, his third and fourth points of the night, at 7:06 and 9:55 to push the Odessa lead to its largest point at 4-1. To their credit, Corpus Christi battled back and made things interesting with Beau Walker scoring twice in the final ten minutes of the game, but Jackalopes netminder Nick Deery fought through a late IceRays barrage to preserve a one-goal victory by a 4-3 final.
In his first start since allowing seven goals on 22 Texas Tornado shots on January 18th, Deery stole the show Friday, stonewalling the ‘Rays on 35 of the 38 shots he faced. With the win, the Lacrosse, Wisconsin native improved to 4-6-0 on the season and 2-4-0 in nine appearances for the Jackalopes.
Next up for the Jacks, it’s a chance to sweep, as Odessa plays host to Corpus Christi on Saturday in the finale of a two-game weekend series with the opening faceoff set for 7:05 pm at Ector County Coliseum.
In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes drop the puck on their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season ticket packages for the Jacks’ sophomore campaign are available now starting at just $179. To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all season long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
