FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 12, 2012
TORNADO RIPS THROUGH ODESSA, 9-1
Volonnino scores lone Jacks goal in lopsided defeat on Veteran’s Day.
ODESSA, TX–In the third of 12 scheduled regular season meetings between the two teams in 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes fell to the Texas Tornado Monday at Ector County Coliseum by a final score of 9-1. With the loss, the Jacks’ third of the season against Texas, Odessa fell to 4-12-2 overall this year and with ten points, remain alone in sixth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings.
After an even start to the game, the Jacks faltered late in the first period, surrendering three goals in the span of less than three minutes from 16:39 to 18:50, two to Andrew Mayer and another to Scott Conway, to enter the second period down 3-0. Texas kept up the pressure in the middle frame, notching a Jackson Leef marker at 1:55 and after a Matt Volonnino goal for Odessa at 3:13 that briefly made it 4-1, sprayed three more tallies past Jacks goaltender Andrew Pikul in the period to take a 7-1 lead after two.
In the third period, Odessa battled hard, but a pair of CJ Reuschlin goals leaked through to stake the defending Robertson Cup champion Tornado to their final 9-1 margin of victory. Leef (1G, 2A), Conway (2G, 1A), Brandon Hawkins (1G, 2A), Jason Eddy (2A), Mayer (2G), Mitchell McPherson (1G, 2A) and Reuschlein (2G) all claimed multiple points in the game as Odessa’s Ryan Doucet saw his season-long five game point streak halted at five games.
After Pikul surrendered seven goals on 24 shots through the majority of the first two periods, Blake Wojtala made 16 saves on 18 shots faced in relief for the Jackalopes. Facing the NAHL’s top-ranked power play, the Odessa penalty kill was stout on Monday, turning the Tornado aside on three of Texas’ five man-advantage chances.
Next up for the Jacks, it’s the finale of a four-game homestand on Tuesday, as Odessa drops the puck vs. Texas at 7:05 pm at Ector County Coliseum.
In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes drop the puck on their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season ticket packages for the Jacks’ sophomore campaign 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 season long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
