#johnfurgele

Greenville bolsters blue line ahead of the stretch run BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have acquired defenseman Joe Masonius from the Norfolk Admirals in exchange for defenseman John Furgele. Masonius, 23, was a sixth-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. Masonius is a product of the prestigious Team USA National Team Development Program. There, he won a World Under-17s Gold Medal, a World Under-18s Gold Medal, and took part in the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa. Masonius played his collegiate career at the University of Connecticut. He played three seasons at UConn, totaling 10 goals and 40 assists across 96 games. The 23-year-old defenseman is in his second season as a pro and will be joining his fourth pro club (South Carolina, Manchester, Norfolk, Greenville). Across 47 games as a pro, he has posted 11 points and 106 PIM. Furgele departs the Swamp Rabbits after suiting up for 12 games in the Upstate. He scored a goal and an assist in that span. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

Grizzlies score in the final two minutes of regulation BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — Down 4-0 in the first period, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits scored four unanswered goals to draw even at the halfway point of regulation. However, Mitch Maxwell scored with just two and a half minutes remaining in the third period, and Ty Lewis added an empty-net goal to give the visiting Utah Grizzlies a 6-4 win over Greenville on Saturday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Yuri Terao forced out high in the offensive zone, flipped a shot from the point, and Maxwell got inside position on the defense and tipped the puck past goaltender Jake Theut to give Utah the lead in the waning moments of regulation. Lewis scored at the 18:25 mark to put the game away. It was Michael Pelech's goal that gave Greenville hope in the final 30 seconds of the first period, down by what looked to be a commanding lead by the visitors. John Furgele snapped a shot from the point, and Pelech tipped the puck in the slot to give Greenville life. Pelech continued to lead the way heading into the second period with a strip steal to begin the frame. Jake Horton took the dish and lifted a backhander over the fallen Ouellette to cut the lead in half. Karl El-Mir and Kamerin Nault scored within a minute and six seconds of each other as the Swamp Rabbits completed the comeback to tie the game. Greenville outshot Utah 20-5 in the second period. It was the first period that was mostly all Utah. The Grizzlies outshot the Swamp Rabbits 15-9 and struck twice in the opening eight minutes. Jack Jenkins opened the scoring on a fortuitous bounce off the end wall. The puck slipped in front and Jenkins, while falling away from the net, lifted a backhander over Theut to open the scoring. Former Swamp Rabbit J.C. Brassard scored his own goal just over two minutes later off the rush. Brandon Saigeon and Griffen Molino posted goals as the Swamp Rabbits lost track of defensive coverage out in front of the net. Greenville had a power play in the midst of that span but was unable to cash in. Neither team could score on the combined six power play opportunities in the evening. The Swamp Rabbits close out the homestand with the Atlanta Gladiators on Sunday, February 2 at 2:05 p.m. With the purchase of a regularly-priced ticket at the box office, two kids 12 and under can enter for free! Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

Greenville outshoots Florida, but can't dent the back of the net BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE ESTERO. Fla. — Joe Pendenza opened the scoring at the 3:01 mark of the opening period, and Ken Appleby made 32 saves as the Greenville Swamp Rabbits were unable to dent the twine and dropped a 4-0 decision to the Florida Everblades on Friday night at Hertz Arena. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Everblades 27-19 in the final two periods, and killed off five power plays in the opening period, looking to turn the momentum around. A turnover in the offensive zone led to the first goal. A three-way passing play started the scoring for Florida as Joe Pendenza connected to start the scoring. Cam Maclise's goal directly off of a faceoff doubled the Everblades' lead five minutes later. The Swamp Rabbits got their first power play opportunity in the second period following the 'Blades third goal from Levko Koper, and even as the Swamp Rabbits pumped chance after chance towards the goal, they were unable to break the goose egg. Zach Magwood closed out the scoring at the 14:20 mark of the third on the power play. Matt Marcinew and John Furgele led the way in the shot count with five apiece. Three of Marcinew's shots were of grade-A scoring quality. The shutout was Appleby's second blank sheet of the season. Jeremy Helvig made 23 saves in the losing effort. The Swamp Rabbits turn around quickly and head to Orlando to take on the Solar Bears at noon on Saturday, January 25. Catch the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV. Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages! Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties! Read the full article

Mariners settle for a point in a heartbreaking OT defeat BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners BRAMPTON, ON – January 17, 2020 – The Mariners surrendered three different two goals leads and ultimately suffered a 7-6 overtime loss at the hands of the Brampton Beast on Friday night at the CAA Centre in Ontario, Canada. David Vallorani scored the game-winner for Brampton at 3:21 of OT while Alex Kile had three assists for the Mariners in the loss and Eddie Matsushima scored two goals. The Mariners scored twice in a span of 17 seconds to grab a 2-0 lead 4:36 into the game. Ty Ronning’s shoot-in fooled Beast goaltender Alex Dubeau, who ventured below the goal line to try and play the puck that popped out to the left circle for a gift for Eddie Matsushima. Morgan Adams-Moisan also assisted on the goal. On the ensuing shift, John Furgele drove the net and took a feed from Alex Kile, backhanding his second goal of the season – and first in 2019-20 as a Mariners over Dubeau. Brampton’s first goal was a bit controversial at the 10:43 mark when Jackson Leef appeared to be offside but was ruled to have touched up and then beat LaCouvee’s stick side with a wrister to make it a 2-1 game. Maine regained the two-goal lead at 16:20 when Morgan Adams-Moisan finished a second chance after Dubeau shut him down on a breakaway. The Beast turned the puck over to Adams-Moisan at the bottom of the right circle and he ripped a shot over Dubeau’s glove for his fourth of the season. Brampton cut the lead back to one before the end of the period when Daniel Leavens beat LaCouvee’s glove with a wrist shot from the right circle. There were a combined 31 shots in the first period, 16 by Brampton. The second period provided a little relief for the goaltenders, but still saw a total of three goals. Francois Beauchemin tied the game just 53 seconds into the period, finishing a pair of Erik Bradford chances off of LaCouvee’s pad. Beauchemin added another on the power play at 11:34 to give Brampton its first lead. With under a minute left in the period, Alex Kile set up Terrence Wallin, driving the net to tie the game at four through two periods. Just like the first, the Mariners scored two quick goals to open the third. At 2:40, Kile found defenseman Jeff Taylor between the circles, for what became Taylor’s first goal as a Mariner. Thirty-six seconds later, Matsushima capitalized on another Brampton turnover and walked in alone to beat Dubeau and make it a 6-4 game. Leavens scored at 11:49 and 18:46 (with the goalie pulled) to complete his hat trick and force overtime. In the third, the Mariners scored two goals on three shots. Vallorani used Kile as a screen to beat LaCouvee for the game-winner at 3:21 of overtime. Brampton avoided their third loss in a row, while the Mariners now have a three-game point streak despite the defeat. They gain a point of cushion on Adirondack for fourth place in the North, as the Thunder lost at Reading. The Mariners have two more games this weekend in Brampton – tomorrow at 7:15 and Sunday at 2:00 PM. They’ll return home on Friday, January 24th for Star Wars night, against Worcester once again. It’s a “1-2-3 Friday,” featuring $1 Aquafina, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the 2nd period. Star Wars characters from local fan groups will be on hand, and the first 2,000 fans in attendance will get a Mariners t-shirt courtesy of Unifirst. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Mariners outshot 31-18 in loss BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  NORFOLK, VA – November 23, 2019 – The Mariners were held to just nine shots through two periods and couldn’t dig out of a three-goal deficit in the third period on Saturday night, as they fell by a score of 5-2 to the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope. The Mariners fell back to the .500 mark at 7-7-0-1. The Mariners got off to a good start, scoring at the :58 mark, to get on the board first. Terrence Wallin and Ryan Culkin set up Maine native Ted Hart for a redirect right at the top of the crease past Admirals goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos. That was one of just four first period shots for the Mariners, however, and Norfolk got even at 9:54 when Zach Franko one-timed a pass from Sam Povorozniouk past Connor LaCouvee. The game was even at one through one. The Admirals dominated the middle frame, outshooting Maine 15-5, and scoring three goals. At 5:35, defenseman River Rymsha broke the tie when he ripped a wrister past LaCouvee’s glove off a drop pass from John Gustafsson. At 11:08, Roman Ammirato made it 3-1 when he finished a second chance, helped out again by Povorozniouk, who knocked a rebound out of the air and over to the goal scorer. A shorthanded goal by Alex Jaeckle extended the Adirondack lead to 4-1 at 14:03. Jaeckle worked a 2-on-1 with Shawn McBride and banked the rebound off LaCouvee’s pad from below the goal line. Franko netted his second goal of the game at the 3:25 mark of the third to put the game out of reach. Zach Tolkinen got a power-play goal at 9:23 to bring the deficit back to three. John Furgele and Michael McNicholas were credited with assists. Connor LaCouvee made 26 saves in the losing effort. Sakellaropoulos had a fairly easy night, facing just 18 shots, and stopping 16 for the win. The Mariners have three home games next week around the Thanksgiving holiday – Tuesday at 7 PM against the Worcester Railers, Friday at 7:15 PM against the Indy Fuel, and then Saturday at 6 PM against the Newfoundland Growlers. Tuesday is a sensory reduced game for Autism Awareness featuring no goal horn, lower noise levels, and a quiet space for fans who need relief from the normal hectic atmosphere of a hockey game. Friday features Black Friday discounts at the Mariners merchandise stand: 20% off all Mariners pucks during the first intermission and 15% off all Mariners hats during the second intermission. Both promotions are limited to five items per customer and must be purchased with a credit or debit card. Saturday night will feature specialty Aquaman jerseys as part of the league’s partnership with DC Comics. Groups of 10 or more can call 833-GO-MAINE to get tickets at a discounted price. Individual game tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, in person at the Trusted Choice Box Office at the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling the box office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Three-spot in the third lifts Maine to 8th win in last 9 games BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners  WEST VALLEY CITY, UT – February 27, 2019 – Terrence Wallin’s shorthanded goal early in the 3rd broke a 1-1 tie and the Mariners added a pair of insurance goals to cruise to a 4-1 win over the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday night at the Maverik Center. The Mariners improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine games and pulled within one point of third place in the North Division. Utah scored 1:07 into the game, quickly converting on a power play after Ryan Ferrill’s slashing penalty. Cole Ully, who was playing in his first game since December 29th on return from injury, tipped home a pass from Caleb Herbert to give Utah the early edge. The Mariners picked up their game but trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes. The second period was highlighted by penalties, including a Mariners 5-on-3 chance at 5:35 when Joey Raats was called for cross-checking and Josh Anderson went for unsportsmanlike conduct on the same play. Despite coming up empty on their two-man advantage, Greg Chase got the equalizer at 11:11, ripping a shot through a Grizzlies-induced screen. It was Chase’s 9th goal of February, assisted by Terrence Wallin and Dillan Fox. With less than a second remaining in the period, John Furgele was called for interference. At 3:47 of the third, with Maine shorthanded again, Terrence Wallin blocked a shot at the right point and broke in alone on Joe Cannata, beating him stick side to give the Mariners their first lead. It was Maine’s 9th shorthanded goal of the season and also the 9th allowed by Utah. Defenseman Josh Couturier provided insurance when he beat Cannata with a shot off the crossbar and in at 9:52 to make it 3-1. For good measure, Taylor Cammarata led a 2-on-1 rush at 15:56 and added a fourth goal. Connor LaCouvee earned his 10th win, making 31 saves. Cannata stopped 24 of 28 in the loss. The Grizzlies have dropped six consecutive games. After an off day tomorrow, the Mariners and Grizzlies resume their series on Friday and Saturday with a pair of 9:05 ET faceoffs at the Maverik Center. Maine is back home on Wednesday, March 6th at 7:00 to host the Norfolk Admirals in a “sensory reduced game” as part of Autism Awareness Night. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

Win streak halted at six BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners MANCHESTER, NH – February 23, 2019 – Just as their six-game December winning streak ended at the SNHU Arena, so did the Mariners’ February run. After falling behind 3-0 to the Monarchs, Maine goals from Dwyer Tschantz and Charles-Eric Legare made things interesting, but Manchester got away with a 5-2 win on Saturday night. The Monarchs struck twice in the first 5:05 of the game. Newcomer Kevin Dufour took advantage of a lucky bounce off a stanchion and beat Connor LaCouvee at 3:59 for the first goal of the game. At 5:05, Joe Masonius spring Drake Rymsha on a breakaway. Rymsha deked LaCouvee on a backhand and slid it between his pads to make it 2-0. A key moment occurred about five minutes into the second period when the Monarchs took two penalties in short order – Alex Rauter for tripping and Joe Masonius for delay of game, giving Maine a 5-on-3. The Mariners used their timeout but failed to score, giving Manchester momentum and at 9:28, Chris Carlisle one-timed a shot from the blue line past LaCouvee to stretch the Manchester lead to 3-0. The Mariners got one back before the end of the second as Dwyer Tschantz wristed home his sixth goal of the season, and fourth in the last five games. Assists went to Josh Couturier and Terrence Wallin. Maine trailed 3-1 at the end of two periods. Midway through the third, Wade Murphy set up Charles-Eric Legare for his first professional goal as Legare crashed the back post and tipped one past Kehler. The Mariners made a push but John Furgele took a late penalty allowing Nic Pierog to score an insurance goal on the power play and then Sam Kurker added an empty netter to bring it to a 5-2 final. The Mariners are back home tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM against the Worcester Railers, for a brief stop between road trips. A full team autograph session will follow the game in the concourse. The Mariners are also home on Wednesday, March 6th against the Norfolk Admirals for Autism Awareness night, featuring a sensory reduced game presentation. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit MarinersofMaine.com or call the Trusted Choice Box Office at 207-775-3458. Read the full article

A five-goal second period buries Mariners in St. John’s BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners PORTLAND, ME – December 11, 2018 – The Mariners were playing a solid road game through the first period and the start of the second, but things quickly unraveled in the middle frame and Maine fell 6-3 to the Growlers on Tuesday night at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Sean Day and Justin Breton had helped the Mariners build a 2-0 lead, but the Growlers got five in the second period to take control of the game. Day would score the only goal of the first period with an impressive drive to the net after collecting a pass from Luke Stork. AT 17:02, Stork worked the puck from the Mariners side of the neutral zone to Day, who cut in on a backhand and quickly slipped the puck back to his forehand for a top-shelf shot over Growler goalie Michael Garteig. Breton doubled the lead at 3:15 of the second when he flew down the center lane and cleaned up a Ryan Culkin point shot. Breton extended his goal streak to three games. At 5:41, the tide began to turn when Griffen Molino got behind the Maine defense and slipped a shot between the pads of Connor LaCouvee. Under three minutes later, Darien Plouffe tied the game, and Scott Pooley’s long blue line offering got through LaCouvee just 34 seconds after Plouffe’s goal to give Newfoundland its first lead. The Mariners tied the game up at 10:25 of the second when defenseman John Furgele joined a rush and finished a Michael McNicholas setup for his second professional goal. It looked as if the Mariners were gaining momentum back, but Matt Bradley finished a two-on-one at 15:07 to put the Growlers back ahead. With 27.8 seconds remaining, Marcus Power jammed a puck under LaCouvee’s pads that came under controversy, as the referee didn’t appear to have a look at the puck crossing the line. After conferencing with the goal judge, the goal stood, and the Growlers took a 5-3 lead into the second intermission. The Mariners replaced LaCouvee with Brandon Halverson to begin the third period, but were outshot 10-7 in the period and never seriously threatened to get on the board again. Giorgio Estephan got his 13th goal of the season at 15:13 to put a cherry on top for the Growlers. LaCouvee stopped 22 of 27 shots, Halverson stopped 9 of 10, and Garteig got his league-leading 13th win by making 18 of 21. The Mariners will go for the split of their trip to St. John’s on Wednesday night at 5:30 PM ET. Coverage on the Maine Mariners broadcast network will begin at 5:15 PM. Maine returns home Friday to host Adirondack at 7:15 PM. It’s another 1-2-3 Friday: $1 hot dogs, $2 popcorn, and $3 Bud Light Drafts through the start of the second period. It’s also the final day for non-perishable food donations for Preble Street. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling 207-775-3458. Read the full article