FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, March 06, 2015
PERCISTENCE PAYS OFF FOR JACKS IN 6-4 WIN
Jacks relinquish three-goal lead in the second; battle back in the third to best Killer Bees
ODESSA, TX – Coming into tonight’s tilt with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, the Odessa Jackalopes felt confident. In their previous six contests, the Jacks picked up points in four of those games. The last time these two teams met was all the way back on December 20, 2014, a 4-3 win for the Jackalopes. The Bees came into play tonight trying to build on their eight point lead on the Amarillo Bulls for the final playoff spot in the South. The Jacks were looking for their elusive 10th win of the season, and trying to build some confidence to take in to the final stretch of the season.
The Jackalopes scored the first goal of the contest at 5:45 on Kenny Hausinger’s (Sacred Heart) 18th goal of the season. It was setup up by Razmuz Waxin-Engback and Corey Hoffman (Cornell). The Bees were quick to answer on the power play on a goal by Anthony Croston (Arizona State) at 7:10. The Jacks would strike for three unanswered goals to end the first period, started by Hampus Sjodahl at 9:10, then Razmuz Waxin-Engback at 16:29, and finished off by Derek Brown (Niagara) at 17:55. The Jacks took a 4-1 lead after one period and outshot the Bees 12-6 in the frame.
The Killer Bees stormed back in the second, starting with a shorthanded tally by Dallas Gerads at 4:24 of the period. The Bees were granted a power play at 6:34 and Gerads struck again on a deflection at 7:38 to make it 4-3. At 14:23, Guy Roby got things back to level on his seventh goal of the season, finishing of a two-on-one with Elliot Lorraine. It was 4-4 after 40 minutes and the Jacks were outshot 9-8 in the period.
5:27 into the third, Hampus Sjodahl scored his second of the game, and 16th of the season, to put the Jacks out front on a sharp-angled shot from the right wing. The Jacks tightened up defensively at the right time, led by goaltender Tanner Creel making two sparkling saves late to preserve the lead. Kenny Hausinger cashed in on a late power play for his second of the game to put the Jacks in the driver’s seat at 6-4. The two teams emassed 64 minutes in penalties during a late dust up that involved Matt Beranek and Dakoda Menslage for the Jacks and Dallas Gerads, Stahis Soumelidis, and Anthony Croston for the Bees. The Jacks would hang on for a 6-4 win at the JackShack and snap an 11-game winless streak with the win.
The Jackalopes will do battle with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees once again Saturday night in Odessa. To purchase tickets, visit the Ector County Coliseum Box office or call (432) 552-7825. And to keep up with your Jackalopes, visit http://www.jackalopes.org/
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 —
