News

Smoke draw first blood
The Smoke beat the Speed in the season opener in Knoxville 5 - 2. Rookie and new acquisition Jean-Francois Dufour got a hat trick. The game started out rough with five penalties and three fights before either team got a shot on goal. Things settled down and Smoke showed what they are made of. Todd MacIssacs also scored a goal for the Smoke in the second period. Blaine Russell appeared to come alive and fended off Speed players with the help of Tom Wilson and Bob Rapoza. According to those at the game Forrest Gore is also a Smoke force to be reckoned with. Looks like the Smoke are off to a good start. I hope there will be many Asheville fans in Knoxville tonight to cheer them on to a second victory.
Let's Go Smoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smoke Remain Undefeated
Smoke triumphed over the Speed again on 10/14/01 beating them 3-2 at the Knoxville arena. Shultz, Gore and Payne scored one goal each. The Smoke suffered numerous injuries throughout the game - sidelining many players including veteran Cory Peterson. It appeared the Speed's strategy for the night was to take out the more experienced players - but that strategy backfired. The first two periods and the third period last night, we couldn�t play a system I learned when I was 14 years old and that�s a disgrace," said Speed coach Vandenberghe. The Smoke 2001-2002 team is shaping up to be a good one. Encourage all your friends and family to come out to the first home season game on November 2nd, and remember to be nice to a Speed fan.

Smoke Suffer First Setback
It was a tough game for the Smoke against the BC Icemen on Friday 10/19/01. The first period opened up with two quick goals at 12:14 and 12:37 in the first by BC players Volterra and Cominetti. Asheville's Todd MacIssacs scored at 17:28 with an assist by Forrest Gore. Shots on goal were pretty even with 25 for the Smoke and 26 for BC. Blaine Russell had an amazing performance between the pipes fending off many rushes on goal with the help of defensemen Bob Rapoza and Tom Wilson. There was an anxious moment for Smoke fans as Russell took a stick to the neck and the game had to be stopped for several minutes. Unfortunately the referrre did not see fit to penalize the BC player responsible. Altough to us Smoke fans the penalities seemed lopsided the official reports was 26 for each team. The result was seven power plays for each team - the Smoke were unable to benefit and the Icemen had one power play goal. Mallette and Lannigan had good games as well showing that they will be a solid part of the Smoke team this year. The final goal was in the third at 14:17 by BC's Volterra.
The Smoke face Elmira tonight and fans will be in the chat cheering them on. Let's Go Smoke!

Smoke fall to the Jackals
Smoke suffered a 5-1 loss to the Elmira Jackals on 10/20/01. The Jackals got two goals in the first one at 3:56 and another at 5:15. The Smoke rallied with a goal by Forrest Gore in the second ar 5:53 - assist by Mallete and MacIssacs. Jackals were able to take advantage of two power plays in the second to take them to a 4-1 lead. Jackals had a total of 7 power plays and converted on 3 of them. The Smoke had 9 power plays and were only able to make 1 count. The Lair was appalled after Jackals fans cheered when the phsycian was called to the Smoke locker room to tend to Shane Lannigan who was injured in a fight. Wishing Shane a speedy recovery. The third was riddled with Smoke penalties and delayed by two panels of broken glass. Game PIM totals 23 for the Smoke and 47 for the Jackals. Shots on goal 32 Smoke and 31 Jackals. Referee Jim Hawthorne must have attended George Harrison's course for referees - this guy was unbelievable. The Jackals clinched the win with another power play goal in the third making the final score 5-1. The Dragon's Lair stands firm behind their team and will be here to cheer them on to another win when we face Quad City on the 24th.
Let's Go Smoke!!!!

Mallards make a Mockery of Hockey
Staying true to form the Mallards show that they have no respect for the game of hockey or the welfare of players. On 10/25/01 the Smoke met their rivals for the first time this season in a fight and penalty filled game. Total Smoke penalties were 141. Total game PIMs 214 - 14 majors for fighting, 6 - 10 min. misconducts and 5 game misconducts. The Smoke got off to a great start with a score by Shane Lannigan at 9:02 in the first - assist were by Rapoza and MacIssacs. The Mallards game back with goal at 15:90 in the first to send the game 1-1 at the end of the first. The Mallards scored at 1:22 in the second and Sean Fitzgerald answered the challange with a goal at 18:32 in the second with assist by Wagner and Gore. Mallards came back and scored two more in the third and the game was called with approximately 10 seconds left. As all Smoke fans know the biggest concern of the night was the injury of Kris Mallette who was knocked unconcious by MacFarlane late in the third. MacFarlane continued to land punches AFTER Mallette was unconcious casuing Smoke players to see red. Payner came out of the sin bin to explain to MacFarlane that was not fair play and has been slapped with a suspension pending review according to the UHL news. Now we all know that something bad must have been happening or Payne would have never left the box knowing the consquences. Chad Wagner has also been suspended pending review supposedly for exceesive fighting - yet official records show Topperowski was only invovled in one fight. According to the Mallards announcer Chad and Topper were at it no less than five times during the game. Topper also picked fights with almost every Smoke player there. There was also an incident where Mallard goalie Dimaline left the crease and became third man in which was totally unaddressed by the ref. So where is Topper's suspension? Where is Dimaline's suspension? As we all know Topper's penalty and the rest of the Mallards are not going to happen because Richard Brosal is not going to allow. MacFarlane did get a suspension for starting the fight with Mallette. Mallards also recieved two instigating calls during the game. The Smoke will prevail in the face of adversity. The Dragon's Lair would like to send well wishes to Kris Mallette for a speedy recovery. We would also like to let all the Smoke players know we are behind you 100%!!!!!! Let's Go Smoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!