Elmira Blanked In South Carolina

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - On the night of his 22nd birthday Jackals goalie Maxime Clermont found himself locked in a tight goaltender's duel with the top netminder in the ECHL - Jeff Jakaitis. Jakaitis was just good enough to lift South Carolina to a 2-0 win over the Jackals on Tuesday night. The loss dropped Elmira to 9-16-3 on the season.
 

Click here for tonight's box score.

Elmira was quick to put the pressure on the 'Rays off of the opening faceoff and registered the first three shots of the game. Ludwig Karlsson had the best chance to dent the scoreboard first when a Mathieu Gagnon point shot created a juicy rebound in front of Stingrays' goalie Jeff Jakaitis. Karlsson got a good shot off of that chance, but Jakaitis answered with a pad save to keep the game scoreless. At the other end of the ice Clermont stopped 13 of the 14 shots the 'Rays sent his way, but Zach Currie nudged a rebound home at 16:41 to open the scoring. Jeremy Price created the chance off of a faceoff win with a hard, low point shot.

Elmira was behind the eight ball to start the second period as South Carolina took 1:49 of carryover power play time into the frame. The Jackals were able to hold the fort and stay within a goal when the teams returned to full strength. Elmira couldn't sustain the momentum from the successful penalty kill, though, and South Carolina was able to double its lead as a result. Derrrick Pallis unleashed a slap shot from the right point that was stopped by Clermont, but Peter Boyd dunked home the rebound for his ninth goal of the year. The Jackals ramped up the attack from there and managed 11 shots against Jakaitis, but couldn't put one past him.

The Jackals threw everything and the kitchen sink at Jakaitis in the third period. They were dominant territorially and in shots as they tried to battle out of the two-goal hole. Elmira's effort produced 16 shots on goal and limited the Stingrays to just four. Jakaitis was at his best when his team needed  him and turned away each shot he faced to preserve his third shutout of the year.

Clermont stopped 28 shots but shouldered the loss. Elmira was 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

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UPCOMING FIRST ARENA EVENTS:   

 

Saturday, January 4: Elmira Jackals vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m. M & T Bank Thunderstick Giveaway. Click here for tickets. 

Friday, January 10: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. His Tabernacle Faith and Family Night. Click here for tickets.

Saturday, January 11: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. 4-for-$44. Four tickets and a ton of great coupons all for just $44. Click here for tickets.

Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18: Speedway On Ice. Feel the thrill of motorcycles and ATVs racing around the First Arena ice at over 60 mph with no brakes!Click here for tickets.     

 

Friday, January 31: Wine on Ice, 6:00 p.m. Click here for tickets.

 

Saturday, February 1: Wine on Ice, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. sessions. Click here for tickets.

Elmira Jackals Game Preivew

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - For the fifth year in a row the Jackals ring in the new year on the road. Tonight they pay their first visit to the North Charleston Coliseum for a showdown with the South Carolina Stingrays.

WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa and New Jersey/NHL & Binghamton and Albany/AHL (9-15-3) at South Carolina Stingrays - Boston/NHL & Providence/AHL (21-5-3)

WHAT: Jackals Away Game #16. Head to SplitRock Brewing Company at First Arena for tonight's watch party and enjoy the game on the big screens! Game broadcast on Gem 98.7 FM begins at 5:50. Click here to listen live online.

WHERE: North Charleston Coliseum - 5001 Coliseum Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418

WHEN: 6:05 p.m.

 

The Jackals are facing the Stingrays tonight for the first of four meetings this season, and first of two at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Jackals went 2-1-0 against the Stingrays during the 2012-13 season which moved their all-time record against South Carolina to 6-8-1. It was just the second year in which the Jackals posted a winning record against the Stingrays. Tonight the Jackals will contend with the ECHL's top goaltender in Jeff Jakaitis. He currently leads the ECHL with a 1.63 goals-against average and is second in wins with 16. The Stingrays' skaters, meanwhile, have been called up to the AHL at a rapid rate and South Carolina enters today without five of its top six point producers. Rob Bellamy is Elmira's hottest scorer of late with three points (2G, 1A) in his last three games.

Tonight the Jackals are playing on the road on New Year's Eve for the fifth year in a row and the sixth time in the seven years since they have joined the ECHL. Thanks to last year's 3-2 win in Wheeling the Jackals have a two-game New Year's Eve winning streak, and they are 4-1-0 on this date reaching back to 2007. This is the first time the Jackals have faced the Stingrays on New Year's Eve. South Carolina hasn't hosted a New Year's Eve game since 2011, but is 3-2-0 in New Year's Eve home games since 2007.

  

Click here for tonight's media kit.

Click here for Elmira's game notes.

Click here for South Carolina's game notes.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

  

Elmira Jackals Game Preview

GREENVILLE, S.C. - December 29, 2013 - The Jackals and Road Warriors season series is tied at one game each. Today the Jackals try to clinch the season series in their final visit to Greenville.

WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa and New Jersey/NHL & Binghamton and Albany/AHL (9-14-3) at Greenville Road Warriors - New York/NHL & Hartford/AHL (13-14-2)

WHAT: Jackals Away Game #15. Head to SplitRock Brewing Company at First Arena for tonight's watch party and enjoy the game on the big screens! Game broadcast on Gem 98.7 FM begins at 2:45. Click here to listen live online.

WHERE: Bon Secours Wellness Arena - 650 N. Academy St., Greenville, S.C. 29601

WHEN: 3:00 p.m.

 

The Jackals are facing the Road Warriors tonight for the final of three meetings this season, and second of two at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Jackals are 1-1-0 against Greenville this season after a 4-2 setback last night. The Jackals last visited Greenville March 1 to March 3 for three games in three days and came away with five of a possible six points. Elmira is 4-2-1 all-time in Greenville and 7-2-1 against the Road Warriors overall. The Road Warriors come into tonight's game as one of the hottest teams in the league with five wins in their last six. They also boast reigning ECHL Goalie of the Week Connor Knapp who was 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average last week. Elmira, meanwhile, has fallen in its last four contests; a streak that comes on the heels of a stretch where the Jackals won 5 of 6 from 11/30 to 12/15.

Last night Rob Bellamy put himself at the top of the list for the most games played in the Jackals' ECHL era. Bellamy's 161st game put him one ahead of Chaz Johnson as the new leader. Bellamy celebrated the achievement with an assist and now has 87 points in his Jackals career. Teammates of Bellamy's for the last three years, Jordan Pietrus (157) and Jean Bourbeau (139), are also likely to surpass the 160 game mark this year. Bellamy ranks 11th in the Jackals all-time history in games played. Ed Lowe leads with 413.

  

Click here for tonight's media kit.

Click here for Elmira's game notes.

Click here for Greenville's game notes.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

  

Road Warriors Triumph Over Jackals

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Elmira Jackals dropped their season finale against the Greenville Road Warriors by a 6-3 score on Sunday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The loss moved Elmira's record to 9-15-3 on the season.
 

Click here for tonight's box score.

The Jackals came storming out of the gates and were rewarded for the effort with a 1-0 lead before the game was even two minutes old. Christian Ouellet used a toe drag to give himself some space for a shot off of the right wing. Road Warriors goalie Connor Knapp made the initial save but Dane Walters lurked on the doorstep and blasted home the rebound for his first professional goal at 1:49. Walters was far from done in the first as he also challenged Bretton Cameron in his first professional fight at 15:39. Walters wouldn't have a chance to complete the "Gordie How Hat Trick," though, because he received a game misconduct for not having his fight strap properly attached. The scrap came seconds after Greenville's Brad Cole provided the tying score. Scott Greenham received his second start in a row and turned away 15 shots in the first.

While the first period was a tightly contested defensive battle, the second period opened up the offense for both clubs. Elmira tallied early to stake claim to the lead at 2-1. Jakub Culek fired off a wrist shot from the right wing circle that beat Knapp under the blocker for his fifth strike of the year. Greenville, responded, though with three straight to go up by a 4-2 score. Mark Olivier-Vallerand tied it with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 3:56 and was followed up by Mike Marcou at 7:17 and Justin Vaive at 11:10. Rob Bellamy potted his eighth of the year 3:02 after Vaive's marker to draw the Jackals within one, but Josh Nicholls scored off the rush with a minute and 50 seconds remaining in the frame to restore Greenville's two-goal lead.

Greenville played a stifling style of defense in the third and kept Elmira from putting together a comeback bid. The Jackals managed eight shots against Knapp with the best chance belonging to Nick Tuzzolino. The defenseman cut down the left wing and whipped a one-timer on goal but Knapp snatched it with his catching glove. With Knapp able to shut the door, the Road Warriors tacked on an extra goal from Vaive with 14:48 gone by to set the final.

Greenham ended the night with 40 saves in the loss while Knapp turned away 38 for the win. Elmira was 0-for-1 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

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UPCOMING FIRST ARENA EVENTS:   

 

Saturday, January 4: Elmira Jackals vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m. M & T Bank Thunderstick Giveaway. Click here for tickets. 

Friday, January 10: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. His Tabernacle Faith and Family Night. Click here for tickets.

Saturday, January 11: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. 4-for-$44. Four tickets and a ton of great coupons all for just $44. Click here for tickets.

Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18: Speedway On Ice. Feel the thrill of motorcycles and ATVs racing around the First Arena ice at over 60 mph with no brakes!Click here for tickets.     

 

Friday, January 31: Wine on Ice, 6:00 p.m. Click here for tickets.

 

Saturday, February 1: Wine on Ice, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. sessions. Click here for tickets.

Jackals Turned Back By Road Warriors

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Elmira Jackals put up a valiant comeback effort on the road on Saturday night but fell by a 4-2 score to the Greenville Road Warriors at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The loss moved Elmira's record to 9-14-3 on the season.
 

Click here for tonight's box score.

Elmira was looking for a quick start to help work its way back into the win column, but it was a former Jackal that put the visitors at an early deficit. Andrew Rowe collected the rebound of a Brayden Irwin shot and lifted it over the catching glove of Elmira's Scott Greenham 12:23 into the contest. The goal was Rowe's seventh of the season. Elmira was quick to respond, though, and used a 2-on-1 to cash in the tying score. Rookie defenseman Patch Alber stepped up on the rush with Rob Bellamy and tapped home his first professional goal 38 seconds after Rowe's strike. The Road Warriors were able to answer back with a power play marker by Mike Marcou at 18:49 to reclaim the lead and head into the intermission ahead by one.

Elmira came out surging to start the second and built up a 6-1 shot advantage over the first five minutes of the stanza. Greenville goaltender Scott Stajcer withstood the challenge and kept his team in the driver's seat. After absorbing the early pressure, Greenville took to the offensive and struck for a pair of goals to build up a three-goal lead. Jordie Johnston slammed home a rebound at 13:50 for his tenth of the year and Josh Nicholls followed with a penalty shot score at 15:21 to give Greenville its biggest lead of the night. Elmira put 14 shots on Stajcer in the second but was unable to convert and headed into the third trailing by three.

The Jackals tried to kickstart the rally in the third period with a sparkling goal by Matt Carter. The winger beat a defender wide on the right wing and rifled a shot over Stajcer's blocker for his seventh goal of the season. The shot hit paydirt with just 2:08 gone by in the frame and gave Elmira a shot to climb back in it. The Jackals kept their foot on the gas pedal and launched 14 additional shots on Stajcer, but Greenville's netminder kept the door closed the rest of the way and sealed the final score.

Greenham made 36 saves in his first start since December 6 but shouldered the loss. Elmira ended the game 0-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

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UPCOMING FIRST ARENA EVENTS:   

 

Saturday, January 4: Elmira Jackals vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m. M & T Bank Thunderstick Giveaway. Click here for tickets. 

Friday, January 10: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. His Tabernacle Faith and Family Night. Click here for tickets.

Saturday, January 11: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. 4-for-$44. Four tickets and a ton of great coupons all for just $44. Click here for tickets.

Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18: Speedway On Ice. Feel the thrill of motorcycles and ATVs racing around the First Arena ice at over 60 mph with no brakes!Click here for tickets.     

 

Friday, January 31: Wine on Ice, 6:00 p.m. Click here for tickets.

 

Saturday, February 1: Wine on Ice, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. sessions. Click here for tickets.

Elmira Jackals Game Preview

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Tonight the Elmira Jackals begin their second southern road trip of the season with a visit to the Greenville Road Warriors. The Jackals will look to avoid back-to-back regulation losses for the first time since November 15 and 16.

WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa and New Jersey/NHL & Binghamton and Albany/AHL (9-13-3) at Greenville Road Warriors - New York/NHL & Hartford/AHL (12-14-2)

WHAT: Jackals Away Game #14. Head to SplitRock Brewing Company at First Arena for tonight's watch party and enjoy the game on the big screens! Game broadcast on Gem 98.7 FM begins at 6:45. Click here to listen live online.

WHERE: Bon Secours Wellness Arena - 650 N. Academy St., Greenville, S.C. 29601

WHEN: 7:00 p.m.

 

The Jackals are facing the Road Warriors tonight for the second of three meetings this season, and first of two at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Jackals are 1-0-0 against Greenville this season thanks to a 3-0 win in Elmira on November 1. The Jackals last visited Greenville March 1 to March 3 for three games in three days and came away with five of a possible six points. Elmira is 4-1-1 all-time in Greenville and 7-1-1 against the Road Warriors overall. The Road Warriors come into tonight's game as one of the hottest teams in the league with four wins in their last five. They also boast reigning ECHL Goalie of the Week Connor Knapp who was 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average last week. Elmira, meanwhile, is trying to avoid losing back-to-back games in regulation since November 15 and 16.

Jackals winger Rob Bellamy has played seven games against Greenville since joining the Jackals in 2011 and has been highly productive in those contests. He has registered at least one point in five of the seven, and four of those have been multi-point efforts. Bellamy's first ever games in Greenville were played in last March's three-in-three and he logged five points (3G, 2A) and a +2 rating. His totals against Greenville: 7GP, 7G, 3A, 10Pts, +6, 10 PIMs.

  

Click here for tonight's media kit.

Click here for Elmira's game notes.

Click here for Greenville's game notes.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

  

Jackals Derailed By The Royals

ELMIRA, N.Y. - In their final home game of 2013 the Elmira Jackals were unable to slow down Reading's attack and fell by a score of 6-2 at First Arena on Thursday night. The loss dipped Elmira's record to 9-13-3 on the season.
 

Click here for tonight's box score.

Click here for tonight's postgame comments.

The game got off to an inauspicious start when former Jackal Louie Caporusso buried Reading's first shot of the game. His initial bid clanged off of the post to the right of Elmira goalie Maxime Clermont, but Caporusso bulled his way to the rebound and jammed it home for his sixth of the season. Reading's lead ballooned to two just over 10 minutes later when Dustin Gazley banged home a rebound for his seventh of the season. Then Elmira began to dig its way out of the hole when Kyle Bushee fired a wrist shot past Reading's Riley Gill at 13:27. The goal was Bushee's fourth of the year and second in as many games against Reading. Despite a 16-7 Reading shot advantage, the Jackals headed into the intermission down just one.

The Jackals and Royals struggled to a near stalemate for much of the second period, but it was the Royals who blinked first and allowed Elmira to tie the score. Jordan Pietrus fed the puck to Ludwig Karlsson in the left wing circle and the Jackals' rookie alertly spotted Rob Bellamy alone on the doorstep. Bellamy tapped home Karlsson's feed for his seventh of the year at 13:03. Elmira couldn't enjoy that feat for long, though, because Reading's Doug Clarkson slammed home the rebound of a fluky bounce in front 1:26 after Bellamy's goal. Elmira had a chance to tie it again with a late second period power play, but after Reading killed it off T.J. Syner accepted a breakaway pass and scored on Clermont with less than a second remaining in the period.

Reading fed off of the momentum of Syner's late goal and cashed in two more in the third. Michael Cjakovsky slapped home a shorthanded goal at 5:10 and Syner finished off a pretty passing play from Gazley to at 8:53 set the final score. Reading was smothering in its own end and limited the Jackals to just four shots in the final stanza.

Clermont turned away 31 shots but was saddled with the loss. Reading's Gill stopped 20 for the win. Elmira ended the contest 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.

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UPCOMING FIRST ARENA EVENTS:   

 

Saturday, January 4: Elmira Jackals vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m. M & T Bank Thunderstick Giveaway. Click here for tickets. 

Friday, January 10: Elmira Jackals vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. His Tabernacle Faith and Family Night. Click here for tickets.

Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18: Speedway On Ice. Feel the thrill of motorcycles and ATVs racing around the First Arena ice at over 60 mph with no brakes!Click here for tickets.     

 

Friday, January 31: Wine on Ice, 6:00 p.m. Click here for tickets.

 

Saturday, February 1: Wine on Ice, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. sessions. Click here for tickets.

Elmira Jackals Game Preview

ELMIRA, N.Y. - Tonight the Elmira Jackals return home from a four-game road trip to tangle with their bitter rivals - the Reading Royals. The Jackals will head back on the road after tonight so this is Elmira's final home game of 2013. WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa and New Jersey/NHL & Binghamton and Albany/AHL (9-12-3) vs. Reading Royals - Washington/NHL & Hershey/AHL (12-9-1) WHAT: Jackals Home Game #12. The ZOOperstars! are back tonight with all of their wacky antics. Click here for tickets. Game broadcast on Gem 98.7 FM begins at 7:20. Click here to listen live online. WHERE: First Arena - 155 N. Main St., Elmira, N.Y. 15901 WHEN: 7:05 p.m.   The Jackals are facing the Royals tonight for the sixth of 16 meetings this season, and second of seven at First Arena. The Jackals are 2-2-1 against Reading this season, including an 0-1-0 mark at home, after a 3-2 win in Reading on December 15. The Royals have been Elmira's second-most common opponent to this point of the season but haven't been to Elmira since the Jackals' home opener on October 25. The Jackals have gone 2-1-1 in Reading since that time and enter play tonight with a 4-2-0 mark in their last six home games. Reading has gone 2-3-1 over its last six games, but enters tonight on a two-game win streak and 2-0-1 in its last three road games. Matt Carter, who has two points in his last three games, leads Elmira against Reading with four points (2G, 2A). Philip-Michael Devos has been in the AHL on loan to Syracuse for the past month. Nick Tuzzolino was picked up in a trade from Fort Wayne on Nov. 25 but was called up to AHL Rochester before he ever arrived in Elmira. Both have returned to the team coming out of the Christmas break. Devos' eight assists still rate third on the team while Tuzzolino's .54 points/game average is higher than any defenseman currently with the Jackals.      Click here for tonight's media kit. Click here for Elmira's game notes. Click here for Reading's game notes. Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Saturday, January 4 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Get here early to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the door to get your free M & T Bank Thundersticks! Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.