FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday September 20th, 2013
JACKS OFFENSE THAWS OUT BLIZZARD FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON
Jacks win ends 26 game regular season losing streak dating back to 2012-13
BLAINE, MINNESOTA – Last night, the Odessa Jackalopes were shut out for the third time in their first five games after a 4-0 loss to the Springfield Jr. Blues. This morning, the Jacks looked to break out their scoring slump against the Central Division’s Brookings Blizzard. The Blizzard came into the contest at 0-2-0 and most recently took a 7-1 beating from the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Yoshihiro Kuroiwa got the start in goal, and the Jacks offense got started early in this one.
From the opening faceoff, you could tell that it was a different Jackalopes team taking the ice this morning in Minnesota. The Jacks wasted little time, scoring the first goal of the hockey game at 1:12. Off a neutral zone faceoff, centerman Lukas Laub went forward on the draw and poked the puck over to Trace Jablin. Jablin and Laub found themselves alone on the Brookings goalie Drew Weigman. Jablin gave the puck back to Laub and Laub beat Weigman between the legs. The Jacks took a 2-0 lead when Jake Kreutzer scored on a power play at 13:23. Newcomer Chris Chambers made a slick pass across the ice and Kreutzer fired the one-timer shot over the left shoulder of Weigman. The Jacks added on a late goal to take a 3-0 lead in the first. Austin Murray scored his first goal of the season at 19:51 when Jake Kreutzer found him alone in the slot. Murray took the pass and quickly shot it between the pads of Weigman. The Jacks lead 3-0 after one period and outshot the Blizzard, 11-9.
The Blizzard came out hard in the second. Conrad Sampair scored his first goal of the season at 1:15 when the Jackalopes defense left Sampair all alone on the weak side and Sampair made no mistake beating Kuroiwa and decresing the Brooking deficit to two goals. The Jacks would regain the three goal lead at 6:42 when Derek Brown scored on a redirection off a shot from the point by defenseman Jeff Martin. Trace Jablin picked up his second assist on the powerplay goal by Brown. The Jacks would strike in the final ten seconds of the period again when Mathieu Briand scored on a 4 on 2 rush for the Jacks. Briand led the rush up the ice and passed off to Drew Gannon who gave him the puck back in the slot. Briand fired the shot over the right pad of Weigman. The Jacks had a 5-1 lead after two.
The Jacks played a tight checking game in the third, but Brookings pulled back to within three on Conrad Smapair’s second goal of the game at 3:21. Yoshi Kuroiwa shut the door the rest of the way making 31 saves and the Jacks picked up their first win of the 2013-14 season and first regular season win since January 25th, 2013.
The Jacks finish up the NAHL Showcase tomorrow afternoon against the Minnesota Magicians. Fans can listen to the game on Classic Rock 102.1 KFZX and watch on FASTHockey.
In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes completed their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League and 16th campaign in franchise history. Season ticket packages for the 2013-14 season of Jackalopes hockey 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 year long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
