FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 20, 2012
JACKS STARS SHINE AT TOP PROSPECTS TOURNEY
Krogman, Virtanen, Obregon impress at league-wide scouting showcase.
TROY, MI – On day one of the 2012 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Troy, Michigan, a trio of Jackalopes standouts distinguished themselves as elite members of the South Division team in a 7-4 loss to their Central Division counterparts. In a Monday evening showdown in front of hundreds of college and pro scouts, the South Division squad got goals from Odessa players Josh Obregon and Mikko Virtanen and Jackalopes leading scorer Jalen Krogman contributed three shots in a see-saw defeat.
Obregon broke the ice late in the first period of a scoreless game when he stuffed a go-ahead marker past Austin Bruins netminder Tyler Bruggeman at 16:46 on a play assisted by Texas Tornado players Nick Neville and Taylor Herndon. After the Central scored two unanswered goals to take the lead and the South tied the game at two, Virtanen put his side up by a goal with just 12 seconds remaining in the middle period when he potted an even-strength marker on feeds from Corpus Christi IceRays forwards Perry D’Arrisso and Beau Walker.
After surrendering the lead, then briefly tying the game at four midway through the third period, the South Division surrendered three unanswered goals the rest of the way to eventually drop a 7-4 decision to their Central Division foes.
Krogman, Virtanen, Obregon and the rest of their South Division teammates are back in action Tuesday at 7:00 pm eastern and Wednesday at 9:00 am EST. All Top Prospects games are broadcast live and available online at www.FASTHockey.com.
The NAHL’s Top Prospects Tournament serves as the league’s premier annual scouting event and features round-robin action between teams made up of standouts from each of the NAHL’s six divisions and a ‘U18 Selects’ squad featuring the NAHL’s top players under the age of 18.
Next up for the Jackalopes, it’s a crucial two week stretch as the Jacks do battle with the Corpus Christi IceRays in four consecutive games, beginning with a Friday, February 24th home contest with Odessa’s playoff livelihood hanging in the balance. Entering the final month of the regular season, the Jackalopes remain nine points back of the IceRays in fifth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings. Head-to-head with the IceRays this season, Odessa is 3-1-2 and has earned points in five of the two teams’ six meetings.
The Odessa Jackalopes celebrate their 15th Anniversary in 2011-12 and drop the puck on their inaugural campaign as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-7825 or by visiting the Jacks online at www.jackalopes.org.
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 —
