With a new Head Coach and new system, Jed Whitchurch is fighting for respect all over again ! October 1999 - Ice Land - Hamilton, New Jersey: A 5'9", 175 lb. Colgate University grad named Jed Whitchurch is fighting to impress Trenton Titans Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, Assistant Coach Mike Haviland, and General Manager Brian McKenna. Despite a plethora of critics, including Cassidy, stating that he's a long shot to make the team, Whitchurch refuses to give up his battle to win a spot on the ECHL-expansion Titans' inaugural roster. At Johnstown on October 6th, Jed notches a goal in his, and Trenton's, 1st exhibition game. However, so did eight of the other Titans candidates in the 12-3 shooting gallery against the Chiefs. The following day in Greensboro, Jed was one of four players to score in Trenton's 5-6 exhibition loss to the Generals, keeping him on the radar as his coaches firming up their roster selections. On October 8th, also at Greensboro, Whitchurch became the only player to register a goal in all 3 preseason games as the Titans again fell to the Generals 5-6. Jed's persistence paid off, earning him a spot on the Titans' regular season roster - barely.

After a couple of games as a healthy scratch, Jed Whitchurch made his professional hockey debut on October 16th as the Trenton Titans hosted the Richmond Renegades (a 2-0 loss). Six nights later in Hampton Roads, Jed lit the lantern for his 1st professional goal in a valiant attempt to rally the Titans past the Admirals (an effort that fell just short for a 3-4 loss). Six months later, Jed Whitchurch's numbers spoke volumes: 65 games played (tied for 1st on the Titans), 22 goals (2nd), 37 assists (2nd), 59 points (tied for 2nd), and a Titans-leading +29 plus/minus rating. During the Titans' playoff run, he added 5 goals in 14 games (3rd best on the team). Not only did Whitchurch make the roster, he established himself as a vital component of the Trenton Titans offense!

In addition to Jed Whitchurch's great performance on the ice during Trenton's inaugural season, he had established himself as a fan favorite off of the ice. In The Unofficial Web Site's 1st Annual Trenton Titans Fan Awards voted on at the end of the regular season, visitors to this web site fell just a single vote short of declaring Jed their "Favorite Titan". He developed a solid reputation as a player devoted to his fans, frequently going far beyond the expected autograph sessions and requisite public appearances to show his appreciation for their support. Jed's "An Open Letter to Titans Fans" put him in the spotlight as the Titans' premier ambassador to their fans. You can also add loyalty to his resume: Barely a month after the Titans' playoff run came to an end in Peoria, Whitchurch became one of the first players to sign a contract for a 2nd season in Trenton. He did this despite friends and family recommending that he pursue other opportunities, or at least wait until a replacement for Head Coach Bruce Cassidy was selected before making a commitment. Jed perceived loyalty from the Titans organization and fans, enjoyed playing for Trenton, and decided it was the right move to return some of the loyalty. After a long look from their affiliate, the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters, Jed reported to Titans' training camp for his 2nd tour of duty.

So how is it that Jed Whitchurch finds himself fighting for respect all over again less than a year after he seemed to be on top of the Titans' world? A new Head Coach and a new system can do that to even the greatest of players. When Troy Ward arrived as Trenton's new bench boss, it was clear that he had a system for the Titans that he would impliment come hell or high water. In fairness to Ward, it's hard to argue with his plan with the Trenton Titans owning the best record in the ECHL (31-11-3 .722) five-eighths of the way through their sophomore season. What happened to Jed? Well, he started the season with 2 goals and 6 points in 8 games, trailing only Mike Hall and Stu Bodtker in scoring at the end of October. Jed's production dropped off in November: 1 goal and 5 points in 10 games. Was it because Ward was playing him on the wing instead of his natural position at center? Was it because the Titans lacked enforcers to adequately protect him? As quick as the media could report and speculate on Whitchurch's slump, he went on a rampage: 9 goals (4 on the power play) and 15 points in 15 games for the month of December! After his team-leading month, Whitchurch was once again among the team's offensive leaders: 1st in goals, 4th in assists, 2nd in points, and 3rd in power play goals!

Head Coach Troy Ward was happy with Jed's performance, right? Not exactly. It earned him a first class reservation in the coach's dog house. Say what? Well, when you look deeper into the stats, Jed was -5 for the month and sank to the bottom of the roster for plus/minus rating on the season (a cardinal sin in the Troy Ward playbook). Aside from the statistical anomaly, Ward also found fault with Jed's level of play in relation to his defensive system. In January, Whitchurch saw very little ice time along with Lee Jinman (also in Ward's dog house for very similar reasons). As weaknesses on the Titans' roster became apparent, trade rumors began to surface everywhere. On January 11th, Jinman was suspended and the Titans made it crystal clear that his playing days were over in Trenton. Was he a nice guy and a valuable skilled player? Certainly! Did he please Ward? Nope. Six days later, a trade was made sending Jinman to the Pee Dee Pride (who immediately dealt him to the Arkansas RiverBlades). Media and fan attention then turned to Jed. Nice guy, plenty of talent, but in Ward's dog house. The simple fact is that a lot of teams could use a natural goal-scoring center like Jed and have the enforcers needed to let him focus on putting the biscuits in the basket. For Whitchurch, the Titans could probably acquire a quality enforcer or defenseman to plug some of the gaps in their system.

Would General Manager Brian McKenna dare trade a fan favorite because he wasn't a perfect match for Head Coach Troy Ward's defensive system? After all, Jinman was still a relative newcomer to Trenton while Whitchurch is an Original. The Titans certainly didn't hesitate in November, casting away popular scoring defenseman Eric Brule to the dismay of hundreds if not thousands of fans. No amount of fan outcry was going to prevent them from making that trade, and presumably nothing would stand in their way if they decide to trade Jed. On the record, Ward and McKenna have stated that they have no intention of trading Whitchurch. But how many times have we heard this from coaches and GM's up until the minute a press conference begins to announce a trade? Denial is the nature of their business. Ward and McKenna also make it clear that no player is bigger than the team; anyone can be traded. This leaves Whitchurch fighting for respect once again. Can he get in Ward's good graces before it is too late?

Largely due to his limited ice time, Whitchurch went into January 20th's home game against the Roanoke Express with an empty tally sheet for the month - not even an assist. It was a sharp contrast to the scoring frenzy he enjoyed the month before. The night before Roanoke, the Titans suffered a 2-1 loss against the visiting Richmond Renegades. After the game, Ward made it rather clear that he didn't appreciate his team's uninspiring effort and lackluster play. Despite the Titans' loftly position in the ECHL, even their fans were becoming quite vocal, booing any effort they determined to be unworthy.

The Titans needed inspiration. On January 20th, Jed Whitchurch delivered! Early in the opening period, he delivered a powerful hit behind Roanoke's goal, suprising almost everyone. Later in the period, with his team still off to another lackluster start later, Jed decided to make a statement. After Roanoke center John Sadowski jabbed him in the back with his stick, Whitchurch turned around and challenged him to a fight. The gloves were dropped and a fight followed. By all accounts, Jed Whitchurch held his own in his first professional hockey fight (or at least the first to warrant a fighting major). Jed's performance received a standing ovation from the fans as he skated off the ice. The Titans increased their tempo, but were still locked in a scoreless battle. Whitchurch wasn't quite done yet. In the third period, he skated across ice and delivered another big league hit, dumping Express defenseman Jeff Sproat into his teammates' laps on the bench to the delight of the Sovereign Bank Arena audience. The inspired Titans notched a trio of 3rd period goals (followed by 1 Roanoke tally) for a 3-1 victory in front of a very appreciative sellout crowd. Whitchurch, quoted by Mark Simon in The Times: "I just didn't think we were intense enough. I wanted to get the crowd going." He certainly did!

Whitchurch picked up a lone assist in the 3 remaining games for the month, for a January total of just 1 point. However, his ice time has increased. Only Head Coach Troy Ward can say whether Jed is completely out of the dog house yet. Until that day comes, there remains a constant tension in the air as fans sit on the edge of their seats. Is it a failure on Troy Ward's behalf in not finding a way to use Whitchurch's natural talent and scoring ability within the guidelines of his defensive system? After all, they call him 'Coach' for a reason, it's his job to mold the player. Doesn't he deserve the blame? Or, is it a failure on Jed Whitchurch's behalf for not being able to adapt to Ward's system? The onus should be on the player to work with the team and sacrifice invidual style and goals. Is Jed at fault for not working hard enough to improve his defensive game? Maybe the acquisition of some enforcers would permit Whitchurch to concentrate better on the defensive aspects of his game as well as boosting his production. Then again, maybe it's a just a simple case of incompatibility: Ward's a great coach with a great system, Jed's a great player, but the two just can't thrive together. In all honesty, I am definitely not qualified to make this judgment call without seeing every minute of every game.

As a fan of the Trenton Titans, I hope Ward and Whitchurch will find a way to resolve this crisis. Winning a Kelly Cup Championship would seem rather hollow without Jed Whitchurch on the team. As a Titans fan, I would like to see Jed spend many years in a Titans jersey. However, as a fan of Jed Whitchurch's, I have to say that the Titans should set him free if they won't play him. A player like Jed doesn't not deserve to ride the pine. If Ward and Whitchurch can not resolve their differences, then Jed needs to be traded to a team that will allow him to fulfill his potential. As Jed's fan, I want to see him thrive in the ECHL once again, in Trenton or elsewhere, and earn a call-up to the AHL! I think everyone involved would prefer to see that happen with the Titans. Until then Jed, keep fighting for Ward's respect -- you earned ours a long long time ago!

The 2001 East Coast Hockey League All-Star Game will feature 5 representatives from the Trenton Titans ! The fact that 3 Trenton Titans players were selected to the Northern Conference roster for the 2001 ECHL All-Star Game is not that amazing when you consider the numbers. Ten teams from which to fill 21 roster spots: somebody had to send 3 players in the North! As it turns out, both the Titans and the Charlotte Checkers received that honor while the Wheeling Nailers are the lone team in the conference without multiple selections. What is amazing is the fact that all 3 Titans were selected as starters for the game! Half the starting lineup, not too shabby! Trenton's rookie netminder Scott Stirling was pretty much a no-brainer for the honors with a 16-4-2 record, league-best 1.82 goals against average and .935 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. Titans Captain Cail MacLean (17 goals, 11 assists in 28 games) was an excellent well-deserving veteran choice, returning to the ECHL All-Star Game after missing it last year (he was with the IHL's Michigan K-Wings during the critical selection period). His selection as a starter over Toledo right wing Andrew Williamson might have raised some eyebrows, but we'll take it. Even more surprising, perhaps, was the choice of teammate Scott Bertoli as the starter at left wing, snubbing the Storm once again (James Patterson). No offense to Bertoli, but Aniket Dhadphale might be even more worthy of an All-Star spot at left wing. Mike Hall would also be a more likely All-Star if it weren't for much stronger contention at center than left wing. I guess it wouldn't be fair to those other teams if we had all 5 players going, but we shouldn't let that detract from Stirling, MacLean, and Bertoli's moment in the spotlight.

What surprised the fans, media (including many writers in 'hostile' markets), and many players the most was the fact that the ECHL's best defensive team will not send a single defenseman to the 2001 All-Star Game. Simply put: Trenton's Vince Williams should demand a recount! Titans Kam White and Steve O'Brien could both make very excellent cases for their inclusion on the Northern Conference's roster. It appears that offensive flash was a much bigger factor in the selection process than actual defensive ability. We'll just have to order up a Kelly Cup Championship to make amends. Meanwhile, Trenton fans can take pride in having 3 players on the All-Star team regardless of whether those 3 players are the most logical or only worthy candidates. They can also take pride in the selection of Titans Head Coach Troy Ward to serve as one of the Northern Conference team's two coaches. His selection was another no-brainer as he continues to guide the 2nd-year franchise to the best record in the ECHL. Not a bad start for his first season as a professional hockey Head Coach. Rounding out the list of Titans who will be traveling to North Little Rock, Arkansas for the February 13th contest: trainer Stephan Lipinski. Fans, players, and co-workers have nothing but great things to say about the work that "Pinner" does keeping our Titans out of harm's way. The 5 Titan All-Stars are pictured above with Trenton's General Manager Brian McKenna and Owner Geoff Berman. CONGRATULATIONS ALL-STARS!!!

Next years' Titans All-Stars may have a much shorter trip than Arkansas. Trenton is believed to be a top contender for the 2002 ECHL All-Star Game. Official bids have to be submitted to the league by Friday, February 2nd -- the Titans' bid is already in. The ECHL's Executive Committee will review the bids and pass their recommendation to the full Board of Governors when they meet during this year's All-Star break. Their choice for a host city should be announced soon thereafter. Factors that favor the Titans: 1) the All-Star Game is long overdue in the North, 2) Sovereign Bank Arena is coveted by the league as a premier facility, 3) Fan support for the Titans and other hockey matches (e.g. Islanders vs. Flyers exhibition) has been great, 4) The Trenton area offers an endless array of amenities. The strongest competition would probably come from the 3rd-year Florida Everblades with their TECO Arena. Florida leads the ECHL in attendance, the TECO Arena is impressive, and the Ft. Myers area isn't exactly a bad place to be in late January.

New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman Congratulates the Trenton Titans All-Stars ! You would think that New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman might have been too busy for goodwill gestures during her finals days in office before leaving for Washington, D.C. to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Not a chance! On January 23rd, Governor Whitman took time out of her busy schedule to honor the Trenton Titans' five All-Stars: Head Coach Troy Ward, Trainer Stephan Lipinski, Captain Cail MacLean, goaltender Scott Stirling, and forward Scott Bertoli. In return, the All-Stars presented the Governor with a Trenton Titans jersey complete with her name on the back. Appropriately enough, it's the Titans' third jersey with the New Jersey State House Dome logo on front. Whitman officially resigned as Governor on January 31st and was sworn in as the EPA's Administrator later in the day. New Jersey's first female Governor, she steps down after 7 years in office.

His strong defensive play is complimented by his offensive contributions, making Steve O'Brien our choice as Titanic's January Player of the Month ! It's time to right a wrong! After 10 Player of the Month selections, it's long overdue that a defenseman wins the honor of being selected as Titanic Player of the Month. Almost as bad as the ECHL All-Star snub is the fact that Titanic has recognized 4 different goaltenders, 4 different forwards (Cail MacLean is the only repeat winner to date), and one entire team, but never selected a blueliner. Our apologies go out to Vince Williams, Kam White, Eric Brule, Sergei Skrobot, Likit Andersson, Chris Feil, Dave Risk, and the other Titans defensemen whose great efforts have been ignored.

As an ECHL rookie last season, defenseman Steve O'Brien was selected to represent the Arkansas RiverBlades in the 2000 ECHL All-Star Game. The Braintree, Massachusetts native has played even better this season! O'Brien has been a steady force on Trenton's league leading defense all season with a +11 plus/minus rating and solid defensive work. Helping to fill the gap left when Eric Brule was traded, he has also been an offensive force, posting 5 goals (including a power play tally and a shootout game-winner) and 22 assists (2nd best on the team) in 40 games. In the month of January, the former University of New Hampshire Wildcat registered a goal and 7 assists in 10 games with a +4 rating. For his efforts, Steve O'Brien has recently been called-up by the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters and is Titanic's January Player of the Month!

In this month's "Dare to Compare" we'll take a look at the individual performances of 7 veteran Titans who returned for a 2nd season ! The "Magnificent Seven": Scott Bertoli, Mike Hall, Cail MacLean, Sergei Skrobot, Jed Whitchurch, Kam White, and Vince Williams. All seven players played a key role in the Trenton Titans' inaugural season success and returned to lead the 2000/2001 Titans to the best record in the ECHL. As a team, Trenton has improved greatly from their franchise's excellent first season, but how have the individuals performed? When you consider the fact that team goal production is down from 3.33 per game to 2.93 this season, it's no surprise that individual goal production is down for Trenton's top 3 returning goal-scorers. Cail MacLean (17 goals, 11 assists in 31 games) has dropped from .68 goals per game to .55, Jed Whitchurch (12g, 15a in 45 gms) has slipped from .34 to .27, and Scott Bertoli (8g, 26a in 45 gms) has fallen from .32 to .17 per game. Together, these three players account for 88% of the team's drop in goal production. Is this merely a side-effect of Head Coach Troy Ward's defensive system, or does it reflect a true drop in ability? You may be inclined to believe it's only due to the system, but then you must consider the rest of the picture. Teammate Mike Hall's goal production has risen slightly from .31 to .34 since last season, while all three defensemen have also boosted their output: Sergei Skrobot (.07 to .10), Vince Williams (.06 to .07), and Kam White (.00 to .08). Of course, Skrobot's boost came from switching to forward in a few games, so toss his numbers out, and the numbers for White and Williams are too small to build a case with. To answer the question, we must judge one individual at a time.

Scott Bertoli and Jed Whitchurch's point tallies have both fallen since last season while their plus/minus rating has also dipped. Bertoli's goal production has taken the biggest hit, while Whitchurch has suffered more in the assist column. Scott's plus/minus has slipped (+19 to +7) while Jed's has free-fallen (+29 to -6). Exhibit A: Whitchurch's performance in December with 9 goals and 15 points in 15 games (well above last season's pace), but a horrid -5 plus/minus. When his plus/minus rises, his production falls, and vice versa - rather ironic considering that there's a positive relationship between the two numbers. This, I believe, is strong evidence to support the theory that Troy Ward's defensive system is suppressing their offensive production rather than a decline in their ability being the main cause for the production lag. The price for an ECHL championship could be very costly to their individual stat sheets, but Ward made that clear when he became the bench boss.

Titans Captain Cail MacLean's numbers have seen a significant decline since last season, but rest assured, he remains the same lethal threat on offense that he has been since joining the ECHL in 1997, especially on the power play. No loss of talent here, just the system. At his side more often than not since 1997, on the Titans and previously on the ECHL's Jacksonville Lizard Kings and IHL's Indianapolis Ice, is Mike Hall. He has certainly thrived under Ward's defensive system (10 goals, 18 assists in 29 games), experiencing a slight increase in offensive production accompanied by a sharp rise in his plus/minus rating (+3 to +10). He may very well be the most improved player amongst the "Magnificent Seven" this season. Sergei Skrobot, on the other hand, is in limbo with the Titans. His performance on defense has often been careless and costly this year, but he showed real spark when moved up to forward (4g, 12a in 39 games). Unfortunatly, the Titans currently need him on the blueline and the Flyers' organization wants him to remain a defenseman. A defenseman struggling on a defense-based team is not a good thing. Sergei needs to refocus and get back to the basics of solid defense. Meanwhile, Kam White and Vince Williams continue to put the "D" in defense for the Trenton Titans. Both veterans have supplied some very timely offense (3 goals, 6 assists for Williams; 3 goals for White) while helping to hold Trenton opponents to an all-time ECHL record pace of just 2.07 goals per game. Williams (+13) and White (+14) maintain the two best plus/minus ratings on the entire Titans squad and were inexcusably overlooked when the 2001 ECHL All-Star rosters were selected. The only criticism for White is that he has taken some bad penalties this season in his attempt to fill the vacant role of enforcer (144 penalty minutes in 40 games compared to 159 PIM in 55 games last season). By contrast, Williams has become almost squeaky clean with 23 PIM in 45 games this season compared to 91 PIM in 61 games last year.

Final verdict: Hall and Williams are at their peak, MacLean is still a cut above, Bertoli and Whitchurch still have some adjusting to do, White has some thinking to do, and Skrobot needs to snap out of it. All seven remain a vital part of the Trenton Titans team that we want to see capture the Kelly Cup Championship!

Despite a humble 8-4 January performance, the Trenton Titans remain the Best in the ECHL ! (Games from 1/1/01 - 1/31/01). The Men of Steel started the new year with a league-leading 23-7-3 (.742) record and a 4-game homestand in front of them - who could ask for anything more? On January 2nd, it appeared that New Year's Eve hangovers were still well entrenched in the Titans roster during a lifeless performance against the visiting Pee Dee Pride. Trenton was outshot 30 to 25 by their guests, but more importantly, outscored 4-1. For the first time this season, Head Coach Troy Ward removed a starting goaltender, pulling Dan Murphy after 1 period of work. Ward made it clear that move wasn't due to Murphy's netminding (14 saves on 16 shots), rather it was designed to shake up the team. Didn't work. Cail MacLean's goal in the opening period was the only bright spot in the 4-1 Titans loss. It marked the first time this season that Trenton failed to start a month with a victory. Things weren't much better three nights later against the Express. Roanoke pounced on starting goalie Scott Stirling for 3 goals on 5 shots in the opening frame. He was yanked 6:45 into the game. Sasha Cucuz notched a pair of goals along with an Aniket Dhadphale tally to tie the game 3-3 after one period of play, but that was the last glimmer of life from the Trenton squad. The Titans fell 6-3 for their 2nd consecutive home loss (first time this season). Dan Murphy (4-6-1) finished the game with 15 saves on 18 shots for his 2nd straight setback following a spectacular New Year's Eve shutout.

Even championship teams have slumps. Like a championship team, the Trenton Titans rebounded magnificently! The night after their ugly loss to the Express, the Titans carved out a solid 3-1 victory over the Wheeling Nailers. Cail MacLean opened the scoring in the 1st period while Paul Spadafora and Butch Kaebel each lit the lantern in the 2nd for a 3-0 lead. Dan Murphy had his shutout bid spoiled in the final period, but made 30 saves en route to a 3-1 Trenton win. Three nights later, Murphy evened his season record at 6-6-1 with 31 saves as the Titans dismissed the Richmond Renegades 5-3. Sergei Skrobot, Mike Hall, Sasha Cucuz, Aniket Dhadphale, and Steve O'Brien each put the biscuit in the basket for the victory, earning a 2-2 split of their homestand.

The 25-9-3 Titans carried their momentum on the road for a grueling 3 games in 3 nights series against the Northwest Division's top two teams: the Peoria Rivermen and the Dayton Bombers. The defending Kelly Cup Champion Rivermen came first on January 12th. Trenton took an early advantage on another 1st period goal from defenseman-turned-forward Sergei Skrobot. Butch Kaebel added a goal for the 2-0 lead, but the Rivermen came back fighting in the third period. Sandy Cohen's 3rd period goal proved to be the difference as Peoria rallied for a pair of goals in the final frame. Scott Stirling was brilliant in goal, stopping 37 shots for the 3-2 victory, boosting his season record to 12-3-2. The following night, the Dayton Bombers became the latest victim of the Trenton Road Warriors. Paul Spadafora and Aniket Dhadphale notched goals in the opening period, but the Bombers rallied back with a pair in the 2nd frame to tie the game. In the 3rd period, Mike Hall provided the game-winner followed by a Cail MacLean empty-netter for the 4-2 victory! Dan Murphy picked up the win with 27 saves to improve to 7-6-1 on the season. The Hall-MacLean duo would also prove vital the following night against Dayton. Sasha Cucuz' 1st period goal was once again neutralized in the next period by the Bombers. The 3rd period became a playoff-worthy showdown, but goals from Mike Hall, Kam White, and Cail MacLean one-upped a pair of Bombers goals. Meanwhile, Scott Stirling stopped 31 of 34 Dayton shots for another notch in the win column. With the 4-3 final, the Titans had swept the challenging roadtrip for their 5th consecutive win, improving to 28-9-3! Trenton managed to post 11 goals on just 62 shots during the 3 games, how's that for sharp-shooting!

The streaking Titans came to a halt back at Sovereign Bank Arena on January 19th. Cail MacLean's power play goal in the 2nd period was offset by 2 Richmond goals in the period. Fine goaltending on both sides (Dan Murphy, 27 saves for Trenton) preserved the 2-1 score for a Titans loss. After the game, Head Coach Troy Ward lashed into his team for their lackluster effort once again. The game that followed against the Roanoke Express is better chronicled in "Fighting for Respect" above, but I'll summarize it again here. With Jed Whitchurch providing the inspiration (a fight and 2 marvelous hits) and firing up the SBA crowd, the Titans got a trio of 3rd period goals from Alain St. Hilaire, Vince Williams, and Aniket Dhadphale. Scott Stirling was sharp in net once again, allowing a lone goal as the Titans posted a 3-1 victory over the Express for a sellout home crowd. Trenton fans were treated to another great game on January 24th as the Augusta Lynx came to town. The Lynx broke a scoreless tie in the 2nd period for a fragile 1-0 advantage, but Mike Hall's power play tally in the 3rd period sent the game to the bonus round. After a scoreless overtime period, Aniket Dhadphale produced the shootout game-winner for a 2-1 Titans victory! All-Star goaltender Scott Stirling was pure sterling once again with 28 saves on 29 shots to boost his record to 15-3-2.

Yet again, the Trenton Titans packed their momentum for a roadtrip. Cail MacLean and Alain St. Hilaire gave Trenton a 2-0 first period advantage at Richmond on January 26th, but the Renegades responded with a pair in the 2nd period to set up the nail-biter. Butch Kaebel, a healty scratch in the previous game, earned his keep with the 3rd period game-winner as Trenton slipped past Richmond 3-2. Scott Stirling made 32 saves for his 16th victory of the season, inching closer to Bujar Amidovski's franchise mark of 19 wins. The January schedule concluded the next night with the Trenton Titans smacking into a brick wall named Daniel Berthiaume. The 35-year-old veteran of 215 NHL games (Jets, Kings, Bruins, NorthStars, Senators) has been a fixture in goal for the Roanoke Express during 6 of the last 7 seasons. On this night, he completely stonewalled the Titans as the Roanoke Express posted a 2-0 victory over the visiting Titans. There was no lack of effort from the Titans squad in this game, just NHL-caliber goaltending. Scott Stirling took the loss for Trenton with a valiant 30 save effort.

The month of January was a humble month for the Trenton Titans with an 8-4 performance, but it didn't end their reign atop the East Coast Hockey League with a 31-11-3 (.722) season record. The challengers are biting at their heels as the Titans enter the only month in franchise history (regular season) in which they have posted a losing record: 6-8-0 last season. If they can sail through February, the Titans should have a Kelly Cup playoff berth clinched. Good Like Titans!

NORTHERN CONFERENCE / NORTHEAST DIVISION (Games through 1/31/01). The Trenton Titans (31-11-3 .722) slowed their pace ever-so-slightly in December and January, but they remain the top team in the ECHL by a narrow margin over the South Carolina Stingrays. Excellent goaltending from Scott Stirling (16-4-2 1.82 .935) and Dan Murphy (7-7-1 2.30 .925), and their league-leading defense (holding opponents to a gasping 2.07 goals per game) has given the Titans a 12 point lead in the Northeast Division. In Trenton's wake, the Charlotte Checkers (22-14-9 .589) are on the move with an ECHL-best 3.80 goals per game on just 28.38 shots per game (2nd worst). Their sniper squad is led by league point leader (tied) Scott King (28 goals, 38 assists in 45 games) with his 24.6 shooting percentage, joined by goal leader (tied) Mathieu Benoit (30 goals, 22 assists in 38 games), assist leader Kevin Hilton (12 goals, 48 assists in 44 games), and Marc Tropper (21 goals, 32 assists in 44 games). Tropper leads Charlotte's ECHL-best power play (25.24%) with a league-high 14 power play goals. If the Checkers can upgrade their defense or goaltending a notch, even the Titans better run for cover! Battling Charlotte for 2nd place in Norteast, the Roanoke Express (25-21-3 .541) and Richmond Renegades (24-19-4 .553) are in a dead heat. Roanoke has been stingy, allowing only 2.69 goals per game (3rd best in the ECHL) with the help of former NHL netminder Daniel Berthiaume (16-11-0 2.21 .922). Unfortunately, the Express offense frequently has difficulty covering that, especially away from home (18-8-1 home, 7-12-2 road). Richmond has been somewhat erratic this season, especially netminding with Rastislav Stana (11-10-1 2.61 .906), Sean Matile (2-4-0 4.16 .865), and traded goalie Maxime Gingras (11-5-3 3.24 .892). Along with Trenton and Charlotte, both the Renegades and Express are sure things for the playoffs with 8 of 10 Northern Conference teams receiving bids. By contrast, the fifth place Greensboro Generals (17-24-6 .426) are currently outside of postseason contention despite random flashes of talent. Greensboro has scoring potential with All-Star right wing Joel Irwin (17 goals, 31 assists in 43 games), and defensemen Jamie Sokolsky (15 goals, 22 assists in 47 games - ECHL goal leader for defensemen) and Jason Ialongo (11 goals, 25 assists in 42 games). However, the offense can't compensate for the 3.77 goals per game that the Generals allow. Better luck next year Greensboro (if you still have a team).

NORTHERN CONFERENCE / NORTHWEST DIVISION The Peoria Rivermen (27-12-4 .674) continue to sail smoothly atop the Northwest Division waiting to defend their Kelly Cup Championship in April. Just like the Titans, the Rivermen get by with a mediocre offense, but their blueliners are 4th best in the ECHL with 2.72 goals allowed per game, thanks in part to goaltender Curtis Sanford (11-6-2 2.16 .916). Making a charge at 2nd place, the Toledo Storm (27-17-2 .609) benefit from a high-powered offense with great shot selection led by All-Star wingers James Patterson (30 goals, 31 assists in 42 games), tied for the ECHL goal lead and tops with 7 game-winners, and Andrew Williamson (28 goals, 29 assists in 57 games). They have the league's 3rd worst average of only 29.89 shots per game but register a 3rd best 3.61 goals per game. If they can improve their goaltender or defense, Toledo may Storm through the playoffs. Neck-and-neck with Toledo, the Dayton Bombers (24-14-5 .616) fare better away from home (10-8-1 home, 14-6-4 road) and have a defense that clamps down in the 3rd period (44-45-32 period by period distribution of goals allowed) in front of goaltender Alex Westlund (10-3-3 2.35 .922). All-Star starter Tom Nemeth (14 goals, 24 assists in 43 games), 2nd in the ECHL for goals and points by a defenseman, has been a vital part of the Bomber's solid run this season. Miles behind the Storm and Bombers in 4th place, the ECHL original Johnstown Chiefs are fading away with the league's worst attendance (2,313 fans per game), but still manage to cling to the Northern Conference's 8th playoff spot. Their lackluster offense produces only 2.82 goals per game, 3rd worst in the ECHL, negating a steady performance by their defense and goaltender Frederic Deschenes (14-15-3 2.76 .909). If the Chiefs don't find a spark, they may find themselves in a dog fight with the Generals for that playoff spot as they come down the final stretch. As owners of the ECHL's worst record, it's safe to say that the Wheeling Nailers (13-25-7 .367) are down for the count. Averaging only 2.58 goals per game, the Nailers are 10 points out of the playoff picture with no real excuse for optimism. The main culprit is an ECHL-worst 2.58 goals per game production that sags to a 1.93 pace in the third period.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE / SOUTHEAST DIVISION The South Carolina Stingrays (29-10-5 .716) are within striking distance of the Titans for the best record in the ECHL. All-Star right wing Jason Sessa (26 goals, 23 assists in 49 games +19) and the Stingrays run a well-balanced machine producing 3.52 goals per game (4th in the ECHL) while allowing only 2.59 goals per game (2nd best). Add strong goaltending, with Jody Lehman (9-5-2 2.29 .932 - league high 4 shutouts) and Kirk Daubenspeck (20-5-3 2.46 .919), and excellent special teams to their resume (2nd in penalty killing at 87.07 percent, 3rd on the power play at 21.53 percent). In a distant 2nd place, the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (25-14-3 .631) have won 9 of their last 10 games with a potent offense (3.62 goals per game, 2nd best in the ECHL) led by forward Brent Cullaton (26 goals, 40 assists in 42 games), tied for the ECHL point lead. The Tiger Shark feeding frenzy tends to get stronger as a game progresses (43-49-58 goal distribution by period). Third place in the Southeast Division belongs to the Pee Dee Pride (25-18-2 .578). All-Star starting center Dany Bousquet (29 goals, 30 assists in 39 games) and offensive-minded All-Star starting defenseman Trevor Demmans (7 goals, 27 assists in 45 games) lead a steady attack that will keep the Pride in good shape for the postseason picture. A sure sign that the Southeast is much weaker than the Southwest, the 4th place Greenville Grrrowl (21-23-2 .478) are currently on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. It's Home Bitter Home for the Grrrowl with an 11-12-1 record in Greenville (one of only two ECHL teams in the red with home ice advantage). Veteran netminder Nick Vitucci (13-8-1 2.83 .902), the ECHL's reigning goalie for career games and wins, is just as reliable in the net, but can't always offset Greenville's 2.85 goals per game goal production (4th worst in the league). After setting a new ECHL standard with their regular season performance last season, the Florida Everblades (19-19-5 .500) are languishing in mediocreville. Florida has the ECHL's 3rd worst defense with 3.74 goals allowed per game, chewing up talented goaltenders like former ECHL All-Star Bujar Amidovski (9-7-2 3.73 .882) and Randy Petruk (4-7-1 3.52 .894). The 2nd period seems to be a deep abyss for an Everblades squad that has allowed 70 goals in that period (49, 37 in the 1st and 3rd) alone - compare that to the Trenton Titans allowing 93 all season with 2 more games played. It's a short trip for Greenville and Florida to return to playoff contention if they can just figure out which end is up in the standings. Far less likely to recover in time for the postseason are the 6th place Augusta Lynx (17-21-5 .453). Call them the gang that couldn't shoot straight: they have a 2nd best 34.79 shots per game, but are 15th in goals at 3.21 per game. Add to their problems a league-worst penalty kill (75.48 percent) and 3.74 goals allowed per game (4th worst).

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE / SOUTHWEST DIVISION There are nine teams in the Southwest Division, yet only one has a losing record heading into February. Still leading the pack despite going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games: the Louisiana IceGators (26-14-5 .633). In keeping with tradition, the 'Gators play rock 'em sock 'em hockey with a strong offfense led by right wing Jay Murphy (24 goals, 27 assists in 37 games with an ECHL best +25 plus/minus rating), center Shawn McNeil (20 goals, 29 assists in 45 games), and center John Spoltore (8 games, 39 assists in 47 games), complimented by the ECHL's 2nd biggest brute squad (31.0 penalty minutes per game) led by forward Roger Maxwell (214 PIM). An effective penalty killing unit (85.17 percent, 3rd best in the ECHL) keeps Louisiana cruising along towards another Kelly Cup playoff run. In 2nd place, we find the red-hot New Orleans Brass (22-15-7 .580), 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Adam Edinger (20 goals, 20 assists in 40 games) quarterbacks a modest New Orleans offense while Ron Vogel (7-1-0 2.35 .938) and Alexei Volkov (9-5-3 2.78 .918) have the situation under control in goal after a series of shaking netminders. At the current pace, the Brass could challenge the Ice Gators for the Southwest Division title. The 3rd place Mississippi Sea Wolves (23-18-4 .556) are squeaky clean with an ECHL low of 17.7 penalty minutes per game with a league best penalty kill of 87.92 percent. The Mississippi defense, currently led by offense-minded Bob Woods (14 goals, 25 assists in 42 games) could use a little more support from their top guns and netminders to keep the Sea Wolves as a legitimate contender. The Mobile Mysticks (23-20-4 .532) have settled into 4th place (points but not percentage) by default as teams drop past. Left wing Jason Elders (26 goals, 25 assists in 46 games) and center Mark Turner (21 goals, 28 assists in 46 games) lead a respectable offense that has been perfectly neutralized (156 goals scored and allowed) by a shaky defense and underachieving goaliers. If recently acquired netminder Maxime Gingras can return to his former greatness, the Mysticks can rise to the top of the crowded Southwest pack. Slumping in 5th place, the Arkansas RiverBlades (20-14-10 .568) are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. All-Star center Aaron Brand (24 goals, 28 assists in 43 games) could use some assistance on offense, and the same can be said for Eric Long (+17) on defense. Goaltenders Jeff Salajko (15-8-6 2.90 .924) and Bob Janosz (5-6-4 3.26 .922) could carry them on a playoff run if the RiverBlades can make the upgrades to ensure they get there. One Achille's for Arkansas has been the shootout, where they have a 1-7 record. Another team that is slippin down the Southwest ladder is the 6th place Jackson Bandits (22-20-4 .522). The Bandits have the 2nd worst offense in the ECHL (2.59 goals per game) despite the noble efforts of All-Star winger Bobby Russell (26 goals, 23 assists in 43 games). Ironically, Jackson is tied for the ECHL lead with 11 shorthanded goals while maintaining the league's most futile power play (12.75 percent). All this makes it pretty hard for workhorse netminder Mike Tamburro (17-12-2 2.87 .901) to earn them a solid playoff bid (by win percentage they would barely grab the final wildcard bid at this time). The 7th place Baton Rouge Kingfish (20-17-6 .535) are also hanging onto a postseason invite by a thread, wishing for more home games to boost their record (12-6-2 home, 8-11-4 road). Baton Rouge's toothless offense makes it tough for moderate defense and goaltending to add games to the win column. Although the Kingfish lag behind the Bandits in the standings, games-in-hand would indicate that they should still be line for a playoff spot. The 8th place Pensacola Ice Pilots (21-21-2 .500) are a classic case of a team that takes all of the hard-fought points won at home and squanders them on the road for an even record (14-7-2 home, 7-14-0 road). Former NHL bench boss Wayne Cashman can't work miracles and needs to bolster the Pilots' goaltending and defense if he expects them to play in the postseason, because a .500 record probably won't suffice this season. Horrid special teams are another glaring weak spot for Pensacola: 2nd worst power play (15.54 percent) and 4th worst penalty kill (78.30 percent). In the Southwest basement, the Birmingham Bulls (17-22-3 .440) have the current distinction of being the only team in their oversized division with a losing record. The goal light in Birmingham is nearly worn out with defense and goaltending combining to allow an ECHL-worst 3.88 goals per game. However, netminder Leorr Shtrom (9-6-0 2.75 .919) gives the Bulls reason for hope if they can also find support for center Jamey Hicks (24 goals, 30 assists in 41 games) on offense. Shootouts have been a blessing in Birmingham, providing 7 of their 17 wins (7-1) this season, but the Bulls need to rally soon to join the playoff pack.

Making the Grade The February 2nd issue of The Hockey News has rated this season's performance of all of the NHL's players. Former Trenton Titans Ruslan Fedotenko and Todd Fedoruk both made the grade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Fedotenko received a B+ for "quietly having effective season", beating out all but 3 teammates (Roman Cechmanek, Simon Gagne, and Daymond Langkow each received an A). Fedoruk, an "enforcer with some real skills", finished in the top half of the Flyers' roster with a B- grade. They continue to shine as Trenton's most successful alumni.

Best of the Best Which team has the best record in North American professional ice hockey? Former Titans' Head Coach Bruce Cassidy's Grand Rapid Griffins, leading the IHL with a 33-8-4 (.778) record to edge out the NHL's Colorado Avalanche (35-8-8-1 .760) and the UHL's Quad City Mallards (32-10-2 .750). The ECHL's Trenton Titans have the 4th best record out of the 8 leagues' leaders at 31-11-3 (.722), followed by the WPHL's New Mexico Scorpions (30-11-2 .721), WCHL's Idaho Steelheads (28-11-3 .702), CHL's Oklahoma City Blazers (30-13-2 .689), and AHL's Worcester Ice Cats (28-12-4-2 .674).

Adding Insult to Injury Is nothing sacred in the world of Canadian NHL hockey anymore? First they lost the Great One, then they lost the Quebec Nordiques, next they lost the Winnipeg Jets. Now, with financial problems plaguing most (if not all) of the 6 remaining NHL teams, and many of those teams threatening to head south or fold, insult has been added to injury. The sacred Montreal Canadiens have been sold.... to an American! Colorado businessman George Gillett has purchased the Molson Centre and eighty percent of the team from Molson Inc. for $183 million (presumably American dollars). Molson said there were no valid offers from anyone north of the border, but Gillett supposedly has no intentions on moving the franchise from the birthplace of the NHL. Montreal Americans?

What's new on The Unofficial Web Site this month ? There's coverage of the 2001 ECHL All-Star Game available by a link on the main "ECHL" page. The Titans' "Organization" page has been updated with help from Erika Schwalb. Scattered throughout the site, there are more great photos from Peter Bronsteen, Tiffany Ruocco, Erika Schwalb, Krista Vitella, and Colin Burke. I've created an archive for the Old Guestbooks (main menu) that Yahoo/GeoCities has pretty much killed. There are new pages for the Atlantic City Admirals, Reading Royals, and Columbia Inferno available from the ECHL Teams page (which you can get to from the "TEAMS" link on many of the ECHL pages on the site). ....and a lot of little things throughout the web site.

Once again, feel free to send suggestions, corrections, contributions, and even criticism for The Unofficial Web Site of the Trenton Titans. You can send feedback to trentontitans@yahoo.com     Thank You !!!