FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 30th, 2014
JACKS OUTLAST KILLER BEES IN 6-5 SHOOTOUT THRILLER
Jacks never trail but need shootout to best the Bees in Home Opener
ODESSA, TEXAS – After 14 straight games on the road to start the 2014-15 season, the Jackalopes finally returned to the friendly confines of the Ector County Coliseum. 1,211 fans flocked the Coliseum on a Thursday night to watch their high-flying, offensive minded Jackalopes take on the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, who came into the contest with the 20th ranked defense in the NAHL.
The Jackalopes lit the lamp first for the first time in seven contests tonight, scoring 1:19 into the game. Christian Hausinger scored on a point shot that beat Killer Bees goalie Ben Johansson. His brother, Kenny got in on the fun at 2:43 of the first when he stole the puck at center drove down the right wing, cut toward the middle and beat the goaltender on the glove side. The Bees pulled to within one on a controversial goal, which appeared to never go across the goal line. Credit on the goal was given to Dallas Gerads and the Bees were within a goal. Derek Brown put the Jacks back up by two in the first on the power play. Christian Hausinger shot the puck toward the front of the net, hitting the post. The rebound settled for Brown in the slot and he finished the play with his fifth goal of the season. The Jacks were shorthanded when Tyler Nabozny took a penalty at 13:40 of the first. Sathis Soumelidis made it a 3-2 game on the power play for the Bees. The Jacks would answer again on Derek Brown’s second goal of the period with only 25 seconds remaining. Brown took a beautiful cross-ice saucer pass from Kennt Hausinger to put the Jacks up 4-2 at the break.
After a high-scoring first, the Bees were the only team to score in the second. Guy Roby scored at 4:22 unassisted, beating Jacks goalie Robin Johansson over the blocker hand. The Jacks held a 4-3 lead after two.
The surrendered the lead at 3:50 of the third period on a goal by Dean Balsamo. His shorthanded goal tied the game at four apiece. The Jacks went up a goal again at 6:37 on a power play goal by Kenny Hausinger. His second goal of the contest put the Jacks back out front, 5-4. After Rhys Phelps was given a five-minute major, the Bees knotted the game once again at 12:42 on Sathis Soumelidis’ second of the contest. The two teams would be tied at five after regulation.
The Bees controlled most of overtime, outshooting the Jacks, 3-1, but Robin Johansson kept the Jacks hopes alive in the extra session. The two teams played a scoreless overtime and the game went to a shootout.
All three Jackalopes players, (Leo Lumm, Derek Brown, and Max Rasberg) scored in the shootout to give the Jacks the 6-5 victory over the Bees on opening night at the JackShack.
The Jacks snapped a six-game losing streak with the win against the Bees on Thursday night. Kenny Hausinger is now tied for the league-lead in point with 22. Robin Johansson got his first win since September 26th, a 44 save performance in Wenatchee.
The Jacks finish the two-game set with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Saturday night at the JackShack. Tickets can be purchased for as low as $8 and are available at the Ector County Coliseum Box Office, http://www.jackalopes.org, or 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 —
