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Game Day Program Graphic
December 20, 2003
ECHL Game # 395
Home Game # 16
Referee: Jason Rollins
Linesmen: Todd Owen, Jim O'Brien
National Anthem: Kerri Kearns


LAST TIME VS. STINGRAYS

GENERALS 3, STINGRAYS 2 (OT)

GREENSBORO - In the midst of a five-game home stand, the second longest of such streaks, the Greensboro Generals have won three consecutive games, following a 3-2 overtime victory against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Generals (11-5-0) got a major lift with five seconds remaining in the overtime period when Captain Mark Turner sent home an assist from Kurt Drummond and Eric Fortier from the right side of the goal, as the Generals kept pace with the Florida Everblades.

A sluggish opening period by both teams resulted in a lone goal, when at the 7:45 mark of the first period, the Stingrays (7-7-1) Dave Seitz sent a power-play conversion past the glove of Daniel Berthiaume. The Seitz goal gave South Carolina a 1-0 lead heading into the second.

The Generals Eric Fortier kick started the offense with a his ninth goal of the season, tying Sam Ftorek for the team-high, when a top shelf shot was rifled past Stingrays netminder Kirk Daubenspeck. South Carolina retaliated with a Shawn Skiehar goal just over two minutes later that closed out scoring in the period with the Stingrays holding a 2-1 advantage.

A goaltender battle throughout, with Berthiaume matching save-for-save with Daubenspeck, was tied at 2-2 of the third period when Fortier sent home his second goal. At the 14:41 mark, Fortier scored on a rebound goal, following a Generals breakaway, sending the crowd of 2,405 roaring at the Greensboro Coliseum. The score would remain throughout regulation, making an extra frame for both teams.

In overtime, the netminder battle continued, with the game ending in dramatic fashion. Generals captain Mark Turner got an assist from Kurt Drummond following Greensboro winning the faceoff, scoring from just beyond the circle to give the Generals the 3-2 win.

'We were able to get the puck off the face-off in our zone, after we called the time out. Drummond and Fortier brought the puck just beyond the blue line. Then Kurt made a gnat pass over their players stick and I got a good shot on goal," said Turner of the development of the game-winning play.


GONE . . . . BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

When you look at the Greensboro Generals current roster, you will find two players listed on the seven-day injured reserve, as well as two large holes of Generals that have moved to the American Hockey League. A by-product of Head Coach/General Manager Rick Adduono, players on the Greensboro Generals both with the current and last season's roster, have done exactly what any player aspires-move to the next level after learning from someone with a knowledge as wide-range as Adduono. In this case, the two current players-Sam Ftorek and Ryan Bonni - have left the bench of Adduono, and migrated to the AHL, joining a member of the 2002-03 squad, Pete Gardiner, at the next level.

Ftorek, under Adduono's tutelage for two seasons, has joined the Manchester Monarchs. Ftorek departed Greensboro after appearing in 18 games, scoring 11 goals, contributing 10 assists, all for 21 points. As a team, the Generals were in second place when Ftorek left the locker room. With the Monarchs, Sam has joined a team that currently ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division, just five points shy of Hartford. Statistically speaking, Ftorek has appeared seven games with Manchester, where he has netted one goal, one assist, and racked up seven penalty minutes. His goal came against Utah, a game in which the Monarchs tied 2-2, noted here:

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Manchester-Ftorek, Sam 1 (Seeley, Richard 5; Hayward, Leon 2) 3:05. Penalties: MCH-Kelly, Steve (Cross checking, Unsportsmanlike Cond, Double minor), 4:09. UTA-Darby, Regan (Hooking), 8:28. MCH-Kelly, Steve (High sticking), 14:47. UTA-Hay, Darrell (Interference), 18:41.

Bonni (6-4, 200 lbs.), a first-year General spent last season with the St. John's Maple Leafs of the Al-IL, played in 61 games scoring one goal, also added eight assists for nine points in 2002-03. A defenseman that has played a key role in the creation one of the best defensive units in the ECHL, playing alongside Kurt Drummond and Geno Parrish, Ryan has registered four assists and 47 penalty minutes in his time with the Generals. Bonni joined the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on December 11th, and in that time has played in two games, and has recorded only a +1 in his ice time. In the AHL's West Division of the Western Conference, the Griffins are in first place with a 16-8-4 record, maintaining a five-point lead over Chicago.

A fan favorite from last season, Pete Gardiner, is also in the American Hockey League, with the Rochester Americans. The Americans (11-8-4-3) have 29 points as a team, ranking them third in the North Division of the Western Conference, and nine points shy of Hamiliton. Gardiner has played in eight games in 2003-04 for the Americans, where he has 12 penalty minutes, along with two points and a +2 offensively. Offensively, Gardiner has netted goals in consecutive contests against Manitoba.


"Coaches Corner": The Greensboro Generals have announced Head Coach/General Manager Rick Adduono will appear on the "Our Town" radio show (WGOS 1070-AM) each Monday afternoon. The half-hour "Coaches Corner" will air each Monday at 1:00 PM throughout the season. The "Coaches Corner" segment is part of the WGOS' "Our Town" program that is hosted by "Buffalo" Jack Umlaluf and Ogi Overman weekdays from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The show will feature interviews with Adduono as well as segments with Generals players and their involvement in the community.