Bullfrogs Roll Over Ottawa, 8-5

The Bullfrogs limped back into the Pond Saturday night and just in time. Their 8-5 victory over Ottawa in the first Roller Hockey International game between the teams snapped a franchise-record five-game losing streak.

Glenn Stewart scored three goals and Victor Gervais had a goal and four assists as the Bullfrogs (8-8) moved back into third place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of St. Louis, which lost to San Jose, 11-6.

The Blades remained atop the conference standings with a 5-3 victory over Sacramento.

Ottawa (6-6-1) dropped back into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

“This was huge,” Stewart said. “It was great to get a win.”

Coach Brad McCaughey agreed.

“It was real important for us to win,” he said. “We knew nothing about Ottawa, but we knew they were a good team because they beat L.A. Thursday. So, when you go out there, you know you have to end that five-game losing streak, but you don’t have a lot of confidence because you haven’t seen them play.”

McCaughey did a fair amount of coaching in this one. The Bullfrogs jumped out to a 3-1 lead midway through the second quarter, but when Ottawa struck quickly for two goals to tie the score, McCaughey used a rare timeout to get vocal with his team.

The tactic worked. Goals by Todd Wetzel and Greg Lakovic, his first since being acquired from San Jose, made it 5-3 at halftime. Late in the third quarter the Bullfrogs extended the lead to three goals, 6-3.

The Bullfrogs outshot the Wheels, 48-33.

Wheels Coach Jocelyn Guevremont called the loss “predictable.”

“We beat L.A. and so I gave the guys a couple of days off and they went to the beach and didn’t skate at all,” he said. “I didn’t think they had their legs tonight. We missed four breakaway attempts. That would have changed the score.”

Despite the victory, the Bullfrogs continue to make changes.

They have signed defenseman Bob Woods, who is playing for Canada in the International Ice Hockey Federation World In-line Hockey Championships, and is recalling defenseman Sean Whyte.

They are expected to replace veteran Darren Perkins, who also is assistant coach. Perkins said Saturday that it is doubtful he will return this season because of an injured quadriceps.

Notes

Recently acquired winger Hugo Belanger has told the Bullfrogs he will not be available until after the World In-line Hockey Championships are over (Friday, July 25). To make room for Belanger, the 1996 Roller Hockey International player of the year, the Bullfrogs sent defenseman Kurt Seher to New Jersey, which held the rights to Belanger.