Yellow Jackets vs. Old Dirty Gills, July 18th, 2007

Jackets Grab Em by the Gills

After taking the season opener, with the help of the past franchise player, Chris Hagen, the Jackets were happy to prove they could win with solid team efforts and not one man shows. They were able to do just that against the Old Dirty Gills last night.

Openening the scoring early in the first, a Frank Peronne shot rebounded high over the goaltender, and Chris Sisco, pinching in from the point, was able to smack it out of the air and into the open net to give the Jackets the 1-0 lead. Some strong team defense, some sustained offensive pressure and not to mention some rejuvinated goaltending by Matt Rovetto, kept the lead in place into the second frame.

The Jackets and O.D.G.'s kept up their tight game late into the second, when after the Jackets had several failed powerplay attempts, the ODG's were able to take advantage and score a shorthanded marker against the Jackets in the waining moments of a man advantage. The period ended in a 1 all stalemate with 15 left to play.

In the third, the Jackets showed why this team with the new jerseys has a totally different personality. Solid defensive play and all out effort led to a Jackets lead as Vinnie Degenarro and Mike Earl crashed the net chasing a rebound that found Mike "Wolf" Douglas' stick and subsequently the back of the net, making the score 2-1. A tense second half of the third ensued, as the Jackets victory was later sealed by an empty netter as Degennaro took a LaRobardier clearing attempt and smacked it home for the third tally, cementing the victory and giving the Jackets a perfect start to the young season.