FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, December 19, 2014
CREEL SHINES IN JACKS 3-2 LOSS TO KILLER BEES
Bees score late to take lead; Creel makes 24 saves in Jacks debut
ODESSA, TX – After two defeats at the hands of the Lone Star Brahmas, the Jackalopes returned to the friendly confines of the Ector County Coliseum Friday night to take on the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Both teams came into action tonight riding modest losing skids, the Bees had dropped their past four and the Jacks were winless in their last five contests. Making his Jackalopes debut in goal tonight was Chicago, IL native Tanner Creel, who spent last season at the United States Military Academy in West Point, but left at the start of the 2014-15 season to pursue other opportunities.
The Jacks wasted little time, getting on the board at the 0:49 mark of period number one. Corey Hoffman scored his second goal of the season by banking the bank off of a Bees defenseman from behind the goal line to put the Jacks up a goal. The Bees tied the game at 6:18, when the Jacks had difficulty getting out of their own zone. Former Fairbanks Ice Dog Logan Wendling tied the game at 1-1, firing a shot over the right pad of Tanner Creel. The Jacks answered back on a 5:00 power play opportunity a little more than midway through the first. Lane Valimont took a slap shot from the blue line that bounced off the Bees goaltender and right to Jacks captain Chad Guderian, who deposited his fifth goal of the season to put the Jacks back out front, 2-1.
A mostly tightly contested second period, finally gave way to a Jacks power play opportunity at 9:19 when Connor Wood was called for boarding. The Jacks could not cash in on this power play and the Bees tied the game at 14:45. Kyle Stephan finished a three-on-one rush by redirecting a Logan Wendling shot past Creel to tie the game at 2-2. Shots were 16 apiece after the middle frame.
In the third, both teams exchanged chances, leaning upon their respective goaltenders to make big saves, Creel and Ben Johansson answered. Finally, the Bees struck after the pressure in the Jacks zone became insurmountable. Guy Roby scored on a shot from the right circle that beat Creel over his left shoulder to give the Bees their first lead of the contest. The Jacks pulled Creel late, but could not find a way to mount the equalizing goal, dropping the contest 3-2.
The Jacks host the Bees again tomorrow night for Teddy Bear Toss night at the JackShack! Bring a new teddy bear to the game and throw it on the ice when the Jackalopes score their first goal. The bears will be collected as presented to child at the Odessa Regional Medical Center and Rays of Hope in Midland. For tickets call, 888-695-0888 or go to http://www.westtexastix.com/
In 2014-15, the Odessa Jackalopes will embark upon their fourth season in the North American Hockey League and 18th in the Permian Basin. Season tickets are on sale now! 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 year long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
