 |
| L-R: Murray Eaves, Pete Mahovlich, Dave Strader and Dave Casey |
It began with a wonderful center-ice ceremony
honoring our four inductees into the Adirondack
Hockey Hall of Fame. By the time the evening had
concluded, Michael Leighton had made a season-high
48 saves in an exciting 3-2 victory over the Worcester
Sharks.
Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame Night, presented
by Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company,
got underway in Heritage Hall at 5:00 with the
inductions of four greats from Adirondack hockey
past; Dave Casey, Murray Eaves, Pete Mahovlich
and Dave Strader. All four received impressive
and heartfelt ovations as they walked onto the
ice right before game-time. Congratulations to
everyone in our third Hall of Fame Class.
After that, the fans were treated to a doozy of
a game on Fan Appreciation Night. Jason Akeson,
Tye McGinn and Ben Holmstrom all scored in the
victory while Matt Ford picked up a couple of
assists. But it was clearly Michael Leighton who
stole the show saving one of his finest performances
for perhaps his last game of the season.
The win clinched a plus-.500 record for the Phantoms
who improved to 37-34-4 as they swept the season
series over the Sharks two games to zero.
Worcester jumped out to an early 14-5 shots advantage
as Leighton got into his groove. 18-year-old Derek
Mathers went at Worcester captain Mike Moore in
his efforts to spark the Phantoms. And boy did
he ever. The rookie call-up from the Peterborough
Petes of the OHL dealt a number of punishing shots
in the bout to fire up the team and the big crowd.
Shortly after the fight, Jason Akeson on the power
play would cut his way to the net from the left-wing
wall and move around the Worcester goalie with
nice stick-work for his 13th goal of the year
and team-leading 54th point.
Adirondack extended the lead to 2-0 in the second
period when Tyler Brown gained entry into the
zone and cruised wide around the Sharks' defense
to the left circle to set the opening for his
centering feed to Tye McGinn to chip in his 12th
of the season.
Contact with Leighton late in the second period
appeared to be the culprit leading the way for
Worcester's first goal on their 28th shot when
Jack Combs was able to take advantage before Leighton
could get to his feet. An irate Leighton would
fling off some of his equipment, throwing his
blocker to the wall in frustration at the no-call,
and received an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction
as a result.
Less than a minute after that, Oskars Bartulis
was in the box on a cross-checking call and Adirondack
found themselves down two men for more than a
minute.
It was a golden opportunity for Worcester to climb
back into the game and equalize. But the Adirondack
penalty-kill came through clutch again with a
number of big saves and clears to maintain the
2-1 advantage into the second intermission.
Worcester blasted away again early in the third
period and Leighton made 10 straight saves in
just the first six minutes to keep Adirondack
in front.
Finally, Adirondack would break free out of their
own zone and catch Worcester cheating a little
bit. The Phantoms converted on their 4-on-2 rush
when Cullen Eddy would center to Ben Holmstrom
for the goal. Holmstrom's 14th of the year and
second of the weekend made it 3-1.
Worcester got it back a minute later and then
were able to pull their goalie at the end of the
game but the Phantoms were able to hang on for
the victory. Rob Bordson almost tacked on another
for the Phantoms in the final seconds but his
line-drive for an empty-netter rang off the post.
Michael Leighton came out for a curtain-call in
accepting his #1 Star of the Game honors and applauded
for the fans and showed his appreciation for their
great support in his season-and-a-half spent in
the North Country.
It was a great ending to a truly wonderful evening
in Glens Falls that began with great appreciation
of Adirondack's hockey past and then a fine show
of Adirondack's hockey present.
Fans received Phantoms T-Shirts courtest of Papa
John's and dozens of great prizes were given away
on Fan Appreciation Night including many autographed
Phantoms and Flyers gear.
The 2012 class of the Adirondack Hockey Hall of
Fame Class includes:
- Dave Casey - Longtime trainer for the Adirondack
Red Wings who missed only two games in his 14
years with the team and is the only person to
have won four Calder Cup rings with Adirondack
- Murray Eaves - Starred for the Adirondack Red
Wings from 1987-90 and set the all-time team record
for points in a season with 118. Won the award
for best sportsmanship in the AHL in consecutive
years.
- Pete Mahovlich - Four Stanley Cup championships
with Montreal who provided veteran leadership
when he came to Adirondack and helped them to
their first Calder Cup championship in 1981
- Dave Strader - First ever broadcaster for the
Adirondack Red Wings and a Glens Falls native
who continues to reside in Glens Falls while he
broadcasts games nationally for NBC and NBC Sports
Network
Many fans aren't ready for the season to end but
the last game of the year comes up Sunday at 5:00
against Norfolk. The Admirals have shattered the
hockey record books with their historic 27-game
win streak. Norfolk came from behind to win in
overtime in Binghamton to keep the streak alive.
Adirondack has a chance to close out the season
on an impressively high note if they can end the
incredible streak of the Admirals.
The fans were treated to some video-board messages
from the players on Fan Appreciation Night thanking
them for their wonderful and boisterous support
of the team all season long. We couldn't do it
without you! Sincere thanks for a great season
as well as awesome night on Fan Appreciation Night
with the Phantoms. One game to go, Phantoms fans!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, April 15 (5:00) - Norfolk Admirals at
Adirondack Phantoms. Last game of the regular
season! Sunday Family 3-Pack Specials.
Monday, April 16 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour
LIVE at McGinny's. Special Guest, Phantoms Executive
Vice President Chris Porreca chatting about the
season and the big "I'm In" campagin.
Also with Tim McManus of the Post-Star and Voice
of the Phantoms, Bob Rotruck.
I'm In! We need 1,756 season ticket holders for
next season to conclusively prove the viability
of Glens Falls as a great hockey market. The league
and other teams are watching! Currently, we have
over 400 season ticket holders for next year.
It's a great start. Keep it up, fans! To join
the "I'm In" campaign, contribute your
$50 down-payment to a season ticket for 2012-13
or ask about a 22-pack or 12-pack ticket plan.
Together we can do this. Call the Adirondack Phantoms
at (518) 480-3355.
The Sunday Family 3-Pack is available for ALL
Sunday home games! Get 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs,
3 sodas, 1 large popcorn and 1 program all for
only $39. That's a savings of $26!
Worcester Sharks 2 at Adirondack Phantoms 3 -
Status: Final
Saturday, April 14, 2012 - Glens Falls Civic
Center
Worcester 0 1 1 - 2
Adirondack 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Akeson 13 (Gustafsson,
Ford), 15:58 (PP). Penalties-Ford Adk (cross-checking),
0:20; Acolatse Wor (tripping), 9:37; Moore Wor
(fighting), 11:59; Mathers Adk (fighting), 11:59;
Demelo Wor (tripping), 14:08.
2nd Period-2, Adirondack, McGinn 12 (Brown),
7:57. 3, Worcester, Combs 16 (Lucia, Petrecki),
16:43. Penalties-Ford Adk (hooking), 1:27; Petrecki
Wor (interference), 4:21; Zolnierczyk Adk (hooking),
14:19; Leighton Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct),
16:43; Bartulis Adk (cross-checking), 17:40.
3rd Period-4, Adirondack, Holmstrom 14 (Ford,
Eddy), 7:57. 5, Worcester, O'Hanley 4 (Lucia),
9:06. Penalties-Acolatse Wor (misconduct), 10:12;
Mathers Adk (misconduct), 10:12.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-13-21-50. Adirondack
10-6-9-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 5; Adirondack
1 / 3.
Goalies-Worcester, Heemskerk 0-1-0 (25 shots-22
saves). Adirondack, Leighton 28-26-1 (50 shots-48
saves).
A-4,088
Referees-David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Rich Patry (52), Chris Low (88).
|
= Tickets 
= Listen Live
= Watch Live