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Glens Falls, NY-Denis
Hamel scored the 300th AHL goal of his career on
a special night at the Glens Falls Civic Center
as the Adirondack Phantoms defeated the two-time
defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears 3-1.
Hamel's milestone goal would come midway through
the third converting on a breakaway. The top shelf
tally that gave the Phantoms a 3-1 lead came off
a long stretch pass from the Phantoms zone by Mike
Testwuide. The fans rose to their feet again moments
later when legendary P.A. Announcer Dan Miner announced
to the crowd that it was his 300th all time and
that he was just the 19th AHL player to accomplish
the feat. The standing ovation was accompanied by
the Phantoms players tapping their sticks at the
bench in acknowledgment.
But with 8:30 to go in the game, the Phantoms work
was not done. They scrapped and blocked and hustled
their way onto the Bears' attack while goalie Nic
Riopel blocked their remaining efforts to preserve
the win.
Brian Willsie gave the Bears the initial lead with
a power play goal in the first period on a centering
feed from the left-wing by reigning AHL MVP Keith
Aucoin. Willsie's 11th of the year gave the Bears
a 1-0 advantage after one period.
Denis Hamel's first of the night and ninth of the
season came on the power play in the second period.
Danny Syvret fed a pass from the right point to
Hamel on the left-wing side of the crease for the
redirection for his career 299th tying the score
at 1-1. Erik Gustafsson also assisted on the tally.
Minutes later, Shane Harper picked up a turnover
in the neutral zone, went in on a breakaway and
deked a sprawling Bears goaltender Dany Sabourin
to flip home a backhander and give the Phantoms
their first lead of the night at 2-1. It was Shane
Harper's first AHL goal of the season after tallying
a goal in five games last season with the Phantoms.
Riopel had a stellar effort in net with 25 saves
on 26 shots including some showstoppers for his
first AHL win of the season after going 6-2-1 in
the ECHL with Greenville (SC). One of his best was
in the first period when Dmitri Kugryshev went in
all alone and Riopel stoned the Bears forward on
the breakaway who tried beating him short-side.
Hamel had three different chances in the final
minute to gain a hat trick with an empty netter.
His initial drive from the left defensive side missed
the goal by about a foot on the short side. Then
without about 30 seconds remaining he shoveled a
backhanded down the ice from the Phantoms bench
boards area which hit into the side of the cage
on that side. After going in behind the goal to
accept a pass from Greg Moore he tried to carry
it back in front for a wraparound by the Bears steered
him back. And then his drive all the way down ice
with 4 seconds left barely made it to the goal-line
but missed wide by a few feet.
It was Adirondack's first victory of the season
against Hershey. The Phantoms will host the Bears
again on Friday, January 14.
The Bears outshot the Phantoms 26-25 in the game
while both teams went 1-for-5 on the power play.
Notes: Defenseman Dan Jancevski moved into a tie
for 50th place playing in his 722nd career game
with Dick Mattiussi. Hamel sits 19th all-time in
scoring in AHL history and is second among active
AHL'ers. Former Hershey Bear Alexandre Giroux, now
with Oklahoma City, has 318 career goals.
The Phantoms received hundreds of coats, teddy
bears, non-perishable food items and new toys for
their various charity drives benefitting the Salvation
Army and the donators were rewarded with free Phantoms
tickets. Thanks to everyone who participated and
helped us make some happy holiday seasons for needy
kids and families in the North Country.
The Phantoms play their last game before the holiday
break and wrap up their three game homestand with
a Saturday night encounter hosting the Abbotsford
Heat.
Phantoms Upcoming Games
Saturday, December 18 - Abbotsford at Adirondack
- 7 p.m.
Sunday, December 26 - Adirondack at Binghamton -
5 p.m.
Tuesday, December 28 - Adirondack at Syracuse -
7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29 - Manchester at Adirondack
- 7 p.m.
Saturday is Phantoms T-Shirt Night for the first
2,500 fans courtesy of Papa John's.
Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games
are on sale now. Discount rates are available for
groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket
price by asking the Phantoms about their great group
rate packages.
The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season
and is the top development league for the NHL. More
than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American
Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million
fans attend AHL games every year.
Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers
prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey!
A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced
action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of
discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs,
12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex
Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you!
Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the
Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com,
or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.
Hershey Bears 1 at Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Status:
Final
Friday, December 17, 2010 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Hershey 1 0 0 - 1
Adirondack 0 2 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Hershey, Willsie 11 (Aucoin, Nycholat),
14:24 (PP). Penalties-Joudrey Her (tripping), 11:01;
Jancevski Adk (delay of game), 13:38.
2nd Period-2, Adirondack, Hamel 9 (Syvret, Gustafsson),
10:41 (PP). 3, Adirondack, Harper 1 12:11. Penalties-Nycholat
Her (delay of game), 2:09; Nycholat Her (hooking),
8:09; Fahey Her (high-sticking), 10:34; Pither Adk
(tripping), 13:19; Pinizzotto Her (slashing), 18:39.
3rd Period-4, Adirondack, Hamel 10 (Pither, Testwuide),
11:28. Penalties-Harper Adk (hooking), 5:19; Pither
Adk (holding), 7:55; Ryan Adk (hooking), 12:09.
Shots on Goal-Hershey 6-10-10-26. Adirondack 8-12-5-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 1 / 5; Adirondack
1 / 5.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 6-8-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
Adirondack, Riopel 1-5-0 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-2,621
Referees-Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Mike Emanatian
(69).
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