Tonight’s Preview: The Jackalopes look to go .500 in the regular season for the first time in team history while earning a series sweep against the Bulls in the regular-season finale Saturday night. Friday’s win was Odessa’s eighth against Amarillo, moving the Jacks to 10-35-3 all-time against their long-time rival.
Last Time Out: The Odessa Jackalopes got five of their seven goals Friday from defenseman and earned themselves a convincing 7-3 victory over the Amarillo Bulls at Ector County Coliseum. Danny Kiraly and Cooper Zech each potted a pair and Dean Shatzer was sharp stopping 30 shots while earning his fourth straight win.
Going Dancing: Friday’s win punched the Jacks their second postseason ticket in junior-team franchise history edging out the Corpus Christi IceRays for the final spot in the South. The Jacks lone postseason appearance before 2015-16 came back in Odessa’s inaugural NAHL year, 2011-12. In 2011-12, Odessa finished up the regular season with a record of 27-28-5 and a postseason record of 1-3-0. The Jacks lost their lone postseason appearance against Amarillo.
Dominant D: Five of the seven Jacks goals Friday were potted by d-men including a pair by Danny Kiraly (11,12) and Cooper Zech (7,8) and one from Jake Levin. Kiraly’s 12 goals, 28 assists, and 40 points are all single-season franchise records for a Jacks defenseman. Levin’s goal Friday was his 2nd in as many games and his third of the year.
Fierce Pierce: Jacks left-wing Pierce Pluemer poked home his ninth goal of the year Friday and now has 10 points (8g, 2a) in his last ten games and a plus-one rating. Pluemer will be out of the Jacks lineup Saturday in the season finale due to an illness.
Brown’s Town: Jacks third-year left-wing Derek Brown had three assists Friday for his 17th multi-point game of the year. Brown is fifth in the NAHL in points at 64 (14g, 50a) and his 50 assists is a single-season Jackalopes record. Brown is second in Jacks team history in games played (167), first in points (128) and first in assists (88).
CAN-AM: Jacks right-wing Gray Marr netted his 16th goal of the year Friday and is now tied with Zach Zech for the second most goals on the team. The Twin Butte, AB, CAN, native has assimilated nicely south of the border in his final year of junior hockey. Marr is third on the jacks in points (51) and second in assists (35).
Jackalopes Broadcast: Join the voice of the Jacks’ Nick Nollenberger live for every game on the Jacks flagship station Classic Rock 102.1 FM and fasthockey.com.
