Mississippi Sea Wolves

The Mississippi Sea Wolves returned to action this weekend after a brief pause for last Wednesday night's ECHL All-Star game. Lightning goaltending prospect Riku Helenius was reassigned to the Gulf Coast from Norfolk on Friday and was on the bench backing up former Bolt prospect Ryan Munce against the visiting Charlotte Checkers. Helenius again backed up Munce Sunday afternoon at home against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Sea Wolves split the weekend games against division rivals, with Helenius seeing no game action.

Friday, January 23, 2009
Charlotte 6 @ Mississippi 5 OT
G Riku Helenius: did not play

Sunday, January 25, 2009
South Carolina 2 @ Mississippi 4
G Riku Helenius: did not play

The road ahead this week for the Sea Wolves include stops in Johnstown Wednesday and Friday, followed by a tilt against Wheeling on Saturday.

As the NHL All-Star Break begins, the Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned prospects Steve Downie and Ty Wishart to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced today. Admirals General Manager Mike Butters also announced today that prospect goaltender Riku Helenius has been reassigned from the Admirals to the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves.

Scott Jackson rang up his first professional goal, a game winning power play tally, with less than 4 minutes remaining in regulation to propel Mississippi past Gwinnett 4-3. Jackson earned First Star honors, while Chris Lawrence set up the Wolves' first goal for his first point since joining Mississippi two nights ago.

Mississippi 4 @ Gwinnett 3
D Scott Jackson: 1-0-1 (PP); -1; 0 PIM; 2 SOG; *FIRST STAR*
F Chris Lawrence: 0-1-1; E; 0 PIM; 4 SOG

Mississippi travels back to Charleston, SC to take on the Stingrays in a New Years Eve tilt Wednesday night.

Chris Lawrence and Scott Jackson turned in a repeat performance Sunday night in the rematch with the South Carolina, both turning in -2 efforts as the Stingrays defeated the Sea Wolves behind Michael Dubuc's 4 goals. Lawrence also tangled with the Stingrays' Viktor Dovgan.

Mississippi 3 @ South Carolina 6
D Scott Jackson: 0-0-0; -2; 9 PIM; 2 SOG
F Chris Lawrence: 0-0-0; -2; 5 PIM (fighting major); 0 SOG

Mississippi plays their third road game in as many nights against the Gwinnett Gladiators as the ECHL's only Monday night tilt.

Chris Lawrence and Scott Jackson joined the Sea Wolves squad in Charleston, SC tonight after being reassigned from Norfolk earlier today. Not the best of debuts, Lawrence and Jackson on the same 5-on-5 squad were on the ice for the Stingray's first and third goals.

Mississippi 2 @ South Carolina 3
D Scott Jackson: 0-0-0; -2; 2 PIM; 1 SOG
F Chris Lawrence: 0-0-0; -2; 0 PIM; 1 SOG